2014 Prospect Mega Thread

[mvp 78]

If every 1st rounder worked out, the Cubs would've had a WS by now. Thankfully, the Yankees drafting has been far behind the Sox for a few years now.

[a700hitter]

Vitek was taken in a draft that also yielded Brandon Workman, Bryce Brentz, Anthony Ranaudo, Sean Coyle, and Garin Cecchini. Workman was the 8th inning guy in a World Series run, and there is plenty of other talent in that group to make up for the Vitek pick.

He blew a first round pick. It is never a good thing to blow your firsdt pick. Other guys were picked after Vitek that made or will make the majors. Christian Yellich would have been nice. Overall, it might have been a good draft, but blowing your first pick is still a black mark.

[a700hitter]

If the Cubs kept a few of their first round picks like Josh Donaldson and Andrew Cashner, maybe they wouldn't be sucking it so hard.

[Spudboy]

You wins some and you loose some.

 

I'm not upset or surprised that this has happened. Being a first round pick in any sport does not guarantee success.

 

We should all be grateful and encouraged that much of the Sox drafting appears to have been effective.

[a700hitter]

You wins some and you loose some.

 

I'm not upset or surprised that this has happened. Being a first round pick in any sport does not guarantee success.

 

We should all be grateful and encouraged that much of the Sox drafting appears to have been effective.

Yep, it is an imprecise science at best.

[seabeachfred]

Vitek was taken in a draft that also yielded Brandon Workman, Bryce Brentz, Anthony Ranaudo, Sean Coyle, and Garin Cecchini. Workman was the 8th inning guy in a World Series run, and there is plenty of other talent in that group to make up for the Vitek pick.

 

From the looks of things we did very well in that draft so there's no reason pouting over spilled Ovaltine. I have a strong feeling we are going to get our money's worth from most of the rest of that list and not too long from now either.

[seabeachfred]

If the Cubs kept a few of their first round picks like Josh Donaldson and Andrew Cashner, maybe they wouldn't be sucking it so hard.

 

Both Donaldson and Cashner Ted?? That is a double whammy if I ever saw one. It's one thing to blow it on one prospect but two of that quality is alarming. For the Cubs sake those four young prospects that project so well had better make up for losing those two. Can you believe that for the last 105 seasons the Cubs have not won a World Series or even a league title in the last 68 seasons. Brother that's what you call a Tsunami of a drought.

[User Name]

Cashner has been average (3.91 away ERA to 2.54 at home) outside of Petco, and Donaldson was projected to be an average (at most) regular who exploded last year in what can be attributed to a conflagration of statistical flukes and is very likely to regress massively this season. Terrible examples.

[Station 13]

Seadogs kicks off with a stellar performance from Henry Owens.

 

6IP 0H 2BB 9K

 

Mookie Betts 4/4 HR

Swihart 2/3 3B

[SoxFanForsyth]

Henry Owens overall AA line:

 

43 IP, 1.26 ERA, 3.6 BB/9, 13.4 K/9.

 

Silly numbers. AAA by June. MLB by August.

[Spudboy]

Henry Owens overall AA line:

 

43 IP, 1.26 ERA, 3.6 BB/9, 13.4 K/9.

 

Silly numbers. AAA by June. MLB by August.

 

Still, it is AA.

 

I agree that he is likely going to be in Pawtucket sometime this summer if he keeps up this level of performance.

 

If so, maybe he gets a cup of joe in the bigs this year too.

 

It's interesting to think about in any case.

 

We also have Workman. He has demonstrated that he can get it done in the bigs. I see him as being a fill-in starter before Owens but who knows?

[Palodios]

Six no hit innings by Owens... I see a few others pointed it out, but this guy has been, and continues to be untouchable in the minors. He'll force his way to the majors soon enough.

[Station 13]

Mookie Betts with another 4H game, including a HR, raising his season average to .453

[Behindenemylines]

Six no hit innings by Owens... I see a few others pointed it out, but this guy has been, and continues to be untouchable in the minors. He'll force his way to the majors soon enough.

 

I hope this isn't the reason the Sox don't sign Lester. Owens is the real deal, but he is still a few years away. Lester is an ace for the next few seasons.

[jacksonianmarch]

Owens has real deal stuff. There is a reason why he's not rifling through your system. His stuff is top shelf, his command is not. If he cut down on the walks, he'd already be in Boston. Last yr, in his big breakout campaign, he walked 68 in 135IP, good for 4.5BB/9IP. This yr, he walked a total of 2 in his first 2 starts before walking 7 in his last 11IP. If he came to the bigs with that command, he'd be demolished. Reminds me a lot of Andrew Miller. Dominant stuff from the left side, poor repetition of his delivery. The thing with Miller was that he was rushed to the bigs the same year he was drafted and never developed. Take your time with this kid and you might end up getting something special. But counting on him as the replacement for Lester only hastens his development and you risk losing him.

[Station 13]

Swihart doing very well in AA. He might be edge out by Vazquez as the catcher long term and will have to play a different position.

[Station 13]

Betts picks up 2 more hits, he now reach safely in 45 consecutive games. (going back to last year)

[rjortiz]

Swihart doing very well in AA. He might be edge out by Vazquez as the catcher long term and will have to play a different position.

 

Probably would be more useful as a trade chip.

[Station 13]

Matt Barnes will finally start this Friday.

[win red sox]

Swihart doing very well in AA. He might be edge out by Vazquez as the catcher long term and will have to play a different position.

 

I've seen this on a couple of boards, and just curious why? I mean Swihart projects to be an impact player at a premium position. Swihart has plus bat speed, plus defensive skills, #4 catcher on most prospect rankings. Vasquez has fringe bad speed, struggles blocking balls, but has an elite arm. I would take Swihart, and it's not even close.

[win red sox]

Mookie update went 2/7 today with a hr, sitting at 418/455/658

[Station 13]

Mookie now reach 50 straight games. Season: .418/455/.658

 

Barnes also made a debut: 5IP 6H (bunch of seeing eyes, 1 infield hit), 1ER 2BB 2K

Edited April 27, 2014 by Station 13

[jacksonianmarch]

So the heir apparent to Lester had another rough outing, this time vs the Yankees AA affiliate. 5IP 9H 6ER 3BB 4K and a homer given up to Gary Sanchez. Pump the brakes a little on this kid being ready to play in the bigs next yr. Give him some time to development

[Station 13]

Betts and Swihart are rocking AA.

 

Minors: Pedroia .307/.392/.452 Betts .310/.400/.459

 

Both have more walks than strikeouts. Exciting to have Pedroia jr in the system.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's definitely on the trade market. My bet is he is the next guy dealt for pitching at the deadline

[Station 13]

I don't see it. Red Sox going to build around Xander. Betts will play somewhere 3B or LF till Pedroia hangs up.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't see it. Red Sox going to build around Xander. Betts will play somewhere 3B or LF till Pedroia hangs up.

 

Dustin is 30 and signed for a long time. He's gonna be retired in about 8-10 yrs. You don't have a guy play out of position past their arbitration years on a presumed big time contract while you wait. Betts doesn't have the arm for 3b nor the range for SS. He's a 2b and hence, he's redundant in this system

[Station 13]

Dustin is 30 and signed for a long time. He's gonna be retired in about 8-10 yrs. You don't have a guy play out of position past their arbitration years on a presumed big time contract while you wait. Betts doesn't have the arm for 3b nor the range for SS. He's a 2b and hence, he's redundant in this system

 

I really believe he got 5 year left in that 5'7" body.

[Station 13]

Another aspect of Mookie that is overlook is his speed. He swiped 38 last year, already 8 this year. He's a lead off hitter that can hit, work count, and run. We've mostly hear/read about his bat. Betts isn't Ellsbury on the bases. His speed is comparable to Victorino early in his career.

[Station 13]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/04/24/mookie-betts-getting-more-exposure-portland/7s07ioXk6yJOFbVtdIfkuJ/story.html

 

Some quotes:

 

After coming out of nowhere and hitting .314 with 38 stolen bases last season at two Single A levels, he was suddenly on everyone’s radar.

 

Betts, drafted in the fifth round in 2011 out of John Overton High in Nashville, was never cut from the same cloth as the players he would see on the cover of Baseball America.

 

Experts and media fawned over many players from that draft, including the four players the Red Sox drafted in the first round — Matt Barnes, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, and Jackie Bradley Jr.

 

Even a year ago, it was easy to look at Betts as a statistical anomaly. At one point, his on-base percentage was 200 points higher than his batting average.

 

But after Betts hit .356 in May, he never let up.

 

From May through the end of the season, Betts hit .342 with 13 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases, jumping from Single A Greenville to High Single A Salem.