Sox top 20 from John Sickels

[TheKilo]

1) Lars Anderson, 1B, Grade A-: Will hit for power and average, I’m confident home runs will increase.

 

2) Michael Bowden, RHP, Grade B+: Another personal favorite, strong command of solid stuff.

 

3) Daniel Bard, RHP, Grade B: Can hit 100 MPH, turned things around, command still a question but huge upside.

 

4) Josh Reddick, OF, Grade B: At this point I’m not that worried about Double-A struggles. Not a walk machine but it seems to work for him.

 

5) Ryan Westmoreland, OF, Grade B: No numbers yet, this is based on scouting reports indicating power, speed, and good plate discipline.

 

6) Michael Almanzar, 3B, Grade B-: Needs work with strike zone judgment, but huge upside. Miguel Cabrera type? If he gets the zone under control. . .

7) Ryan Kalish, OF, Grade B-: Strong leadoff skills, and young enough for the power to come.

 

8) Nick Hagadone, LHP, Grade B-: Can’t rank higher than B- until we see how he comes back from Tommy John. Excellent stuff when healthy.

 

9) Yamaico Navarro, SS, Grade B-: Tools and youth, with good offensive upside for a middle infielder.

 

10) Oscar Tejeda, SS, Grade B-: Tools and youth. I will cut him some slack due to health problems this year.

 

11) Casey Kelly, SS-RHP, Grade B-: A really difficult grade. Tremendous tools, skills suck at this point, is he a hitter or pitcher?

 

12) Bryan Price, RHP, Grade B-: High upside arm, though he might advance more slowly if used as a starter than as a reliever.

 

13) Kyle Weiland, RHP, Grade B-: Much more effective as a pro than in college.

 

14) Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Grade C+: Borderline B-, high-upside arm, very projectable.

 

15) Stephen Fife, RHP, Grade C+: I like this guy a lot and he is a breakthrough candidate in ’09, good stuff, good command, pitched well at Utah and then again in the NY-P.

 

16) Argenis Diaz, SS, Grade C+: Great glove, not sure about the bat due to lack of power.

 

17) Che-Hsuan Lin, OF, Grade C+: Great tools, defense, speed, still working on the power.

 

18) Luis Exposito, C, Grade C+: Interesting catcher with power, doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves.

 

19) Zach Daeges, OF, Grade C+: Excellent on-base skills with enough pop to keep the pitchers honest, could rank lower depending on what you want to emphasize.

 

20) Richard Lentz, RHP, Grade C+: Terrific K/IP ratios, command still needs work, but a bullpen sleeper.

[BSN07]

 

As most of you know, I don't know alot about some of the Sox lower prospects. But who's this Almanzar kid? Cabrera type? Is he serious? Anyone got anything else on him?

[TheKilo]

From Soxprospects:

 

Scouting Report: A tall, lanky shortstop - Almanzar is extremely athletic, but also very raw. He's very thin now, but his frame looks like it has room to add a lot of muscle and strength. He signed at the age of 16 and hadn't played much organized ball prior to his signing, despite that he's the son of former MLB pitcher Carlos Almanzar. Offensively, Almanzar has a ton of potential, but showed present tools by dominating the GCL during a short stint at the age of 17. His approach is advanced in some places and raw in others. He fidgets a lot in the box, and has an open stance that tightens up a lot after a huge timing step. Regardless, he generates a lot of bat speed and has plus plus power potential. He has a smooth swing, with fluid movements throughout his upper body. Speed on the basepaths is average to below average. Almanzar is also a work-in-progress defensively. Not a great fielder at 3B yet, despite that he spent much of his (albeit limited) time before signing at SS. His arm is very strong but erratic. Glovework and footwork also need work, but the tools are there. Basically, he's the ultimate raw toolsy player, and the Red Sox apparently are hoping to turn him into a star from the ground up.

[Cocos Disciples]

Almanzar excites me. If we don't get Teixeira I wouldn't mind seeing a future with Almanzar at 3B, Youk at 1B and Lars DHing. Though he is quite young.

[Dipre]

Problem with Almanzar is, that the way i see it, it's hit or miss, superstar or unfulfilled potential, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground with him........

[jacksonianmarch]

Almanzar excites me. If we don't get Teixeira I wouldn't mind seeing a future with Almanzar at 3B' date=' Youk at 1B and Lars DHing. Though he is quite young.[/quote']

 

Almanzar may end up in the SAL or the NYP this upcoming yr. Assuming he goes one level at a time (due to his defensive inadequacies) until he gets to AA, he wont be big league water cooler fodder until 2012-2013. By that time, Youks will be on the way down or in another org. Guys with Almanzar's upside and distant proximity cannot be considered with today's club. We are talking 4 yrs down the road, when this team will look markedly different. And I think this kid ends up in a COF spot or at 1b. He's not a very good IFer right now and is way behind a lot of the glove first dominicans that are signed in the INTL forum. But that bat is special and he should make it to the bigs based off that alone.

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah he's a bit far off. He's an exciting prospect though.

[Dojji]

I don't really worry too much about a prospect or get that excited about them until they start doing it in AA. That's about the point where I start raving. That's why Lars Anderson excites me now, but not so much last year. THat's also the point where I fell in love with Jed Lowrie and started backing off my skepticism of Ellsbury.

 

Until they hit AA I as a fan say let them come as they may and we'll see what they do once they play against high minors competition.

[ydeologi]

There's a good article in today's Boston Globe about the Sox scouting organization. Focuses a bit on Lars Anderson. Among other things, it says the Sox have arguably the best in MLB, and it talks about how the Sox are offering bigger dollars than a slot would normally command to stockpile their system.

[naptownsoxfan]

I don't really worry too much about a prospect or get that excited about them until they start doing it in AA. That's about the point where I start raving. That's why Lars Anderson excites me now, but not so much last year. THat's also the point where I fell in love with Jed Lowrie and started backing off my skepticism of Ellsbury.

 

Until they hit AA I as a fan say let them come as they may and we'll see what they do once they play against high minors competition.

 

Yeah, hard to get excited about a guy until he has played and put up good stats in AA ball.Really untill then it is like playing in college for these guys, competition is better than High School but not really "pro" level ball yet.

[a700hitter]

Yeah' date=' hard to get excited about a guy until he has played and put up good stats in AA ball.Really untill then it is like playing in college for these guys, competition is better than High School but not really "pro" level ball yet.[/quote']This guy will not see the big club in 2009 for anything more than a cup of coffee. I don't get excited about a player until he hits the big time. I'm not interested in anything beyond 2009 when April rolls around.

[naptownsoxfan]

This guy will not see the big club in 2009 for anything more than a cup of coffee. I don't get excited about a player until he hits the big time. I'm not interested in anything beyond 2009 when April rolls around.

 

Lars dosen't perk your intrest a little?

[a700hitter]

Lars dosen't perk your intrest a little?

Not even the slightest bit. Let the FO get excited about him. I don't watch Pawtuckett or the Sea Dogs.

[example1]

Not even the slightest bit. Let the FO get excited about him. I don't watch Pawtuckett or the Sea Dogs.

 

This is why I find it hard to take your opinion seriously with regard to how minor leaguers should be used to improve the MLB team. Doesn't it matter to you that some players at that level are the next Tony Clark and some are the next MVP? It isn't that hard to pay attention to who the best players are in the Sox minor league system, and other minor league systems.

 

I think it means your valuation of the franchise and its assets is skewed... how else can one see it? I understand not saying "Lars Anderson is the best hitter in baseball", but if the Sox talent scouts believe he will be better than a vast majority of MLB hitters, doesn't that mean something to you?

[a700hitter]

This is why I find it hard to take your opinion seriously with regard to how minor leaguers should be used to improve the MLB team. Doesn't it matter to you that some players at that level are the next Tony Clark and some are the next MVP? It isn't that hard to pay attention to who the best players are in the Sox minor league system, and other minor league systems.

 

I think it means your valuation of the franchise and its assets is skewed... how else can one see it? I understand not saying "Lars Anderson is the best hitter in baseball", but if the Sox talent scouts believe he will be better than a vast majority of MLB hitters, doesn't that mean something to you?

I am a fan not the GM. I don't see these guys play, so I don't get excited about them. Most of them never make it, so why should I get excited. I hear about these guys, but I don't get excited about them until they get to Fenway.

[example1]

I am a fan not the GM. I don't see these guys play' date=' so I don't get excited about them. Most of them never make it, so why should I get excited. I hear about these guys, but I don't get excited about them until they get to Fenway.[/quote']

 

Right, you pay them no mind. So when other people are discussing their value (and they DO have value) and you come in and talk about the FO not being willing to deal such and such a player, or criticizing them for not wanting to get expensive players because they may block a youngster coming up, I can't give it much credence.

 

A guy like Lars Anderson IS GOING TO BE A BIG LEAGUE TALENT. Guys that can hit as well as he does, at his age, are few and far between. Baseball is baseball is baseball, and at the AA or AAA level we're talking about great players, excellent players. If Anderson were part of a worse franchise he might be already be chalking up MLB statistics and would suddenly become very valuable in your eyes. But because he plays in the Sox system and is blocked by very, very good MLB players like Ortiz and Youkilis it seems he (and his type) are virtually non-existent to you.

 

My point is that a lot of these guys at the top end of the prospect market MATTER and shouldn't be ignored. That doesn't mean you have to pay milb.com to watch Gulf Coast League games.

[redsoxrules]

 

A guy like Lars Anderson IS GOING TO BE A BIG LEAGUE TALENT. Guys that can hit as well as he does, at his age, are few and far between. .

 

that's an opinion not a fact

[naptownsoxfan]

that's an opinion not a fact

 

It's a pretty good opinion.

[a700hitter]

Right, you pay them no mind. So when other people are discussing their value (and they DO have value) and you come in and talk about the FO not being willing to deal such and such a player, or criticizing them for not wanting to get expensive players because they may block a youngster coming up, I can't give it much credence.

 

A guy like Lars Anderson IS GOING TO BE A BIG LEAGUE TALENT. Guys that can hit as well as he does, at his age, are few and far between. Baseball is baseball is baseball, and at the AA or AAA level we're talking about great players, excellent players. If Anderson were part of a worse franchise he might be already be chalking up MLB statistics and would suddenly become very valuable in your eyes. But because he plays in the Sox system and is blocked by very, very good MLB players like Ortiz and Youkilis it seems he (and his type) are virtually non-existent to you.

 

My point is that a lot of these guys at the top end of the prospect market MATTER and shouldn't be ignored. That doesn't mean you have to pay milb.com to watch Gulf Coast League games.

I can read the scouting reports just like anyone else. Based on what I read, I think I can evaluate trades involving our prospects as well as any other fan. However, I still don't get excited about a prospect until he plays for the big club. What is to get excited about? If I haven't seen the guy play, why would I get excited? He might never even wear the Red Sox uniform. My lack of excitement doesn't diminish my ability to evaluate a trade. Excitement is an emotional state. It doesn't enhance judgment. As a social worker, I thought you would know that. I hope the New Year finds you in good cheer, because you have been grumpier than usual lately, which surprises me in light of the fact that your icon is about to assume the Presidency.

[Dipre]

I can read the scouting reports just like anyone else. Based on what I read' date=' I think I can evaluate trades involving our prospects as well as any other fan. However, I still don't get excited about a prospect until he plays for the big club. What is to get excited about? If I haven't seen the guy play, why would I get excited? He might never even wear the Red Sox uniform. My lack of excitement doesn't diminish my ability to evaluate a trade. Excitement is an emotional state. It doesn't enhance judgment. As a social worker, I thought you would know that. I hope the New Year finds you in good cheer, because you have been grumpier than usual lately, [b']which surprises me in light of the fact that your socialist icon is about to assume the Presidency[/b].

 

That's a pretty lame statement to make, so you fail, and i have de-read your post.

 

Have a good day, sir.

[Soxfan1]

which surprises me in light of the fact that your socialist icon is about to assume the Presidency.

 

Pathetic

[a700hitter]

Haha, I forgot the Obama supporters here view him as a savior. I hate to break it to you chumps, but the country doesn't need saving. We've survived a great depression, World Wars and a Civil War. Second, he is a politician, and no politician can be trusted. I was just poking fun at Example who is probably the most ardent supporter of Obama on this forum. I thought he would be in a better mood considering that he will be President in a couple of weeks. Lastly, what in my statement is offensive. I called the man a socialist icon. Is the term socialist a pejorative term. There are socialist parties in many European governments. Example I is on record as having Socialist beliefs. Should I have used the term liberal icon instead or is that also a pejorative term? He acknowledges that he is not a conservative. What's the deal with you Obama groupies, you will go ballistic at the slightest impugning of the man? Are you kidding? After 8 years of retards running their mouths in the most outrageous ways about Bush, including endless conspiracy theories about him being complicit in 9/11? Get a grip.

[Cocos Disciples]

Politics always make friends.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

WHAT THE f***

 

 

edit

[a700hitter]

WHAT THE f***

 

 

Yeah, because the Palin show and George W. II belong in a Sox prospects thread.

The original post was not political commentary. I was merely questioning why Example I has been so grumpy lately. Others took political offense to a very innocuous comment. It had nothing to do with Bush, and I never mentioned -----, not even in my reply. You are the first one to do that, and I agree with you that it has not place in a Sox prospects thread, so why don't you go back and edit it out of your post.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The original post was not political commentary. I was merely questioning why Example I has been so grumpy lately. Others took political offense to a very innocuous comment. It had nothing to do with Bush' date=' and I never mentioned Palin, not even in my reply. You are the first one to do that, and I agree with you that it has not place in a Sox prospects thread, so why don't you go back and edit it out of your post.[/quote']

 

Why bother? Its already in yours.

 

 

 

All you did to start it off was accuse someone of having socialist beliefs. How does that belong here in the first place, and how is that worse than my post?

 

 

This needs to be moved.

[a700hitter]

Why bother? Its already in yours.

You mentioned her name first in your post. I've edited it out of my reply post. Why don't you do the same.

All you did to start it off was accuse someone of having socialist beliefs.

Is socialist a bad word? Would that be grounds for a libel suit?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Don't think randomly going after someone on the grounds of them supposedly being socialist is the best way to do business, especially in a thread where its completely irrelevant (pretty much everywhere).

 

 

 

No point in continuing this. If a mod wants to move it, they'll move it.

[a700hitter]

Don't think randomly going after someone on the grounds of them supposedly being socialist is the best way to do business, especially in a thread where its completely irrelevant (pretty much everywhere).

 

 

 

No point in continuing this. If a mod wants to move it, they'll move it.

I've edited the word socialist from my original post, so it should not be moved and it is appropriate for this thread. The apoplectic reply posts by you and others who seized on the word socialist should be removed. BTW Obama's entire career has followed a socialist path, but apparently you are unfamiliar with his career.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Sweet god.

 

 

 

There is an off-topic forum for this. 2, in fact.