Should Kalish make the team next year?

[Yaz Sideburn]

We do still have Bowden and Tazawa for possible injury replacement duties.

 

wasn't bowden moved to the pen?

[Dojji]

Doesn't mean he can't move back.

[User Name]

I'm not very good with the young'uns. Where is this guy projected to be someday, offensively?

 

If he continues to progress, that is.

[BSN07]

This kid is growing on me fast.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Doesn't mean he can't move back.

 

i think he was moved to the pen for a reason though. his outlook as a starter isn't very bright

[Dojji]

I'm not very good with the young'uns. Where is this guy projected to be someday, offensively?

 

If he continues to progress, that is.

 

If he continues to progress this kid has a 5 tool potential that's darn close to a 5-tool reality. His ceiling is at least Nick Markakis with 20 SB ability and quite possible more. The big question is whether he'll hit 20 homers in the big leagues, and frankly he's demonstrated enough power in the minors that it'd be unwise to bet against him. He's as athletic as anyone I've seen, nearly as fast as Ellsbury, and the power is just the cherry on top. This kid is looking like the real thing, and I'm excited.

[Dojji]

i think he was moved to the pen for a reason though. his outlook as a starter isn't very bright

 

Or perhaps he was moved to the pen because that's where his opportunity to play in the majors before he runs out of options is.

[Palodios]

The more I watch the guy, the more he seems like one of the "gamer" types that the Sox love so much. I'm loving watching him play because every day, it seems like he's the best outfielder on this team right now. He can very easily hit .280/20 HR/20 SB with exceptional defense. The only real question I have is-- whether 40 games in AAA is enough.

[Will617]

He's not close to as fast as Ellsbury, but he's supposed to have good speed. His speed is supposed to be really good, but I haven't been impressed by it in the majors (not that he's as slow as Manny - he has decent range in the field and looks kind of fast, but 20 SB might be a bit optimistic). He's got good power though - whatever he's hit so far, he has hit really hard. His patience at the plate has also looked good for being 22 years old, although that wasn't really on display last night.

[ORS]

I don't think 20 swipes is at all optimistic. He's already got 25 this year in the minors, and has swiped 85 in 360+ MiLB games, which is a rate of 38 per 162.

[Will617]

Maybe he has an excellent approach to baserunning. He hasn't really displayed elite speed IMO, but maybe that'll change over the season.

[DirtDog331724632256]

we need more stolen bags. this kid can steal bags

 

therefore he should be in the lineup

 

 

now if only our pitching could throw some strikes

[SCM33]

I think Kalish will do fine for us but I do think he is a little ways away. A Kalish/Ellsbury/Drew OF kind of scares me for next season in terms of offensive output. I think that once Drew is off the books, and we can add another OF who also comes with a reputation as a proven slugger makes more sense. Then Kalish can play RF where his talents can be utilized rather than LF where we tend to hide players like Mike Greenwell, Reggie Jefferson, Wil Cordero, Troy Oleary, Kevin Millar (spot starts), Kevin Youkilis (spot starts) and Manny Ramirez. LF for Boston is like DH#2. Kalish would be wasted there. I do suppose if he proves himself he can sit out there for a season however.

[Palodios]

I don't think Kalish is wasted in left. His good defense shows, and I've seen him make a lot of plays from shallow left field that not a lot of guys would have gotten to. Plus his arm is a rocket, and I can see him gunning down base runners. I think Dojji seems to think Drew might be better suited for left where he can stay healthy, and then put Kalish into RF, which would work too.

 

What I see happening is they trade Ellsbury, get Werth, and platoon the L and R bats of Kalish and Cameron.

[alphilip77]

I don't think Kalish is wasted in left. His good defense shows, and I've seen him make a lot of plays from shallow left field that not a lot of guys would have gotten to. Plus his arm is a rocket, and I can see him gunning down base runners. I think Dojji seems to think Drew might be better suited for left where he can stay healthy, and then put Kalish into RF, which would work too.

 

What I see happening is they trade Ellsbury, get Werth, and platoon the L and R bats of Kalish and Cameron.

 

So in your scenario, between Kalish, Werth, Drew,and Cameron, who would play what?

[Palodios]

Personally, I'd like to see Werth in left, Kalish in center, Drew in right, Cameron as the 4th outfielder. Kalish isn't great in center, but I think its the best lineup. Some might argue that Cameron is an expensive 4th outfielder, but when you have Drew on your roster, that's not quite true.

[alphilip77]

I like the sound of that lineup. And by the time Drew and Cameron leave, Reddick would hopefully be ready to man RF and Nava could be the 4th OF.

[example1]

I've been thinking about the Kalish comparison for awhile.

 

On the low side I think the Sox have at least a Gabe Kapler on their hands in Kalish. On the top side (and I mean the "everything breaks right and he maxamizes his potential like Pedroia did" side) the player he reminds me most of is actually of OF Chase Utley. Good defender, very good speed, makes consistently solid contact, good pop off his bat.

 

Before the Yankee fans and cynical Sox fans rip me for that comparison, take a look at Utley's minor league numbers. Kalish is younger than Utley was when he came up and has better OBP and AVG (marginally). The Sox are very high on this kid--his AAA manager has used the words "future superstar", and I don't think that is because they see him as another Gabe Kapler.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I keep seeing Werth's name being brought up on this forum. What makes you think the front office would sign him when they could have just re-signed Bay?

[Palodios]

Wait, are you talking about the 2B Utley that has had the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th best WAR stats for position players the last couple years? I don't think I'm skeptical about Kalish, but that might be pushing it.

 

Bay had injury and defense concerns, and would have pushed them over the edge on payroll. They have a lot more money coming off the books this year, and Drew's contract is about up.

[Dojji]

I would definitely rather go after Crawford than Werth. Crawford's build is favorable for our short left field wall and our deep right field with room to plug a gap. The only concern is that it'd probably push Pedroia off the #2 hole, and really why is that a concern? Pedroia can hit anywhere.

[Palodios]

Well, technically Crawford would be hitting 1st in this lineup with Ellsbury out, and Scutaro would probably be back to 7th. Crawford and Ells both hit lefty, so it shouldn't displace Pedroia.

[Dojji]

I wouldn't count Ellsbury out of next year's lineup. I don't think we'd exactly be trading him at the zenith of his value, do you? Unless the price was just about irresistable I suspect Ellsbury will be manning center for the Sox next year -- and since any of Werth, Kalish and Crawford would add a third lefty to the lineup, I think a guy like Cameron makes sense as a 3 position substitute who can and likely will play all 3 positions on a regular basis

[example1]

Wait' date=' are you talking about the 2B Utley that has had the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th best WAR stats for position players the last couple years? I don't think I'm skeptical about Kalish, but that might be pushing it. [/quote']

 

It IS pushing it, which is why I put it at the end of the spectrum for potential. That's kind of the point of the old 1% projection.

 

Ben Zobrist, Franklin Gutierriez, Grady Sizemore and Nick Markakis have all had top WARs within the past few years too. If it is okay to shoot as high as Markakis then I'm going to go a little higher and say Utley. There was nothing about Utley that predicted his rise to the top. His minor league numbers didn't portend HOF quality, neither did his size, speed or power.

 

Add in the fact that Kalish plays for a great team (a la Zobrist) in a great hitters park and I think that his counting stats could be very high in 5-6 years when he's 27/28.

 

Do I think he's likely to be Utley? No. I think he's more likely to be like Markakis.

[Dojji]

I'd take Markakis out of Kalish. I'd take it and run. But I don't think there's any reason to limit him to that projection. He's highly talented and fundamentally sound in the modern-baseball meaning of the term (meaning he takes walks, makes quality contact, and defends well). I think the sky's the limit. Chase Utley? Torii Hunter? Pre-juice Bonds? Why not?! This kid has all the talent he needs to get there.

 

Course, if he fills out to that point he'll probably move fulltime to right field, but if he fills out he'll be hitting more than enough to justify a corner outfield spot anyway so it's all good..

[Spudboy]

This is an excellent thread. Lot's of good ideas from everyone.

 

This off season will be huge. Theo has his work cut out for him.

 

Speaking only about what the Sox should/could do with the outfield, the situation is complicated by the fact that the Sox are comited to CF and RF at $22. Mil. through 2011.

 

I think the Sox should try to move Cameron (paying a large part of his tab). He's just not what is needed at 38-39 years old coming off surgery. Eat the mistake. Drew is not going to sign with what he will want next year and that's good. Move him too. That won't be easy. But if the Sox swallow half of his money, there is a possibility.

 

 

Now, grab Crawford for left, Ellsbury in center, Kalish in right.

 

Or, assuming that Drew can't or won't be moved, trade Ellsbury for someone of impact and have Drew play his contract out.

[Dojji]

No way should you sacrifice Ellsbury because of one more year of Drew. If that's the answer, you're asking the wrong question. There's plenty of ways to juggle the roster to have Crawford, Ellsbury, Drew and Kalish all on the same roster, especially if DH is open.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I really like the idea of going after Crawford, which would open up a lot of options.

 

Next year the OF could be Crawford/Ellsbury/Drew (amazing defensively and offensively) with Kalish being integrated to take over for Drew after the year leaving Crawford/Ellsbury/Kalish long term.

[Spudboy]

No way should you sacrifice Ellsbury because of one more year of Drew. If that's the answer' date=' you're asking the wrong question. There's plenty of ways to juggle the roster to have Crawford, Ellsbury, Drew and Kalish all on the same roster, especially if DH is open.[/quote']

 

You're preaching to the wrong person here. I want Ells on this team. Imagine three athletic, speedy outfielders. It changes the complexion of the team. But that's not a bad thing.

[Dojji]

You're preaching to the wrong person here. I want Ells on this team. Imagine three athletic' date=' speedy outfielders. It changes the complexion of the team. But that's not a bad thing.[/quote']

 

Oh yes. That's why I was so passionate about keeping Ellsbury. If our infield and catcher are Youk-Scutaro/Lowrie-Pedroia-franchise 1B-VMart, that would be the ideal lineup to support speed because all of those guys other than the unknown 1B are high average hitters who favor the double over the homer. Put a guy who can fly on base ahead of high average hitters in a doubles park like Fenway and you have an ideal combo.