Which prospects do you want to see in Boston this year?

[Orange Juiced]

We know we'll see the following guys, in some capacity:

 

Bradley, Jr.

Bogaerts

Middlebrooks

Workman

Britton (most likely)

 

But who else do you want to see play for the big club this year? There are just so many talented players in the system right now. I know if we see too many of them that means the Sox have likely suffered a lot of injuries, so we don't really want that. But there are some players I'd still like to see up for at least a cup of coffee: Webster, Ranaudo, Brentz.

 

How about you guys?

[mvp 78]

I'd like to see more Rubby.

[Thunder]

If WMB struggles, I'd experiment with Cecchini. Assuming we'll need some youth behind the plate in the dog days, we have Lavarnway. I want to see him hit better, for his own sake.

[Station 13]

Matt Barnes, strikeout stuff. Ease him in by giving him relief appearances.

 

And hopefully Webster makes a turnaround in 2nd chance.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Station 13

[Thunder]

Matt Barnes, strikeout stuff. Ease him in by giving him relief appearances.

 

And hopefully Webster makes a turnaround in 2nd chance.

 

Yes. I've been raving about Matt Barnes since I saw him play at UConn. He's the real deal. Quote me on that if you need to.

[wyo-sox]

Vazquez

[reYoukilis]

Vazquez

Ditto. Id love us to be set up with a great long term catcher

[Palodios]

Owens was untouchable in the low minors last years. If he can keep that up through AA/AAA, he could potentially be 2014's Wacha.

[a700hitter]

I know that this thread is about which prospects that we want to see with the big club in 2014. My answer is that beyond Bogaerts, Middlebrooks (no longer a prospect, he's a young major leaguer) and Workman, I don't want to see to many at Fenway except at the Futures games. The reason why is if we start seeing lot of these guys it would mean that we are suffering injuries and under performance. Here's who I look forward to seeing when I am in Ft. Myers in order of preference:

 

Bogaerts will be there (I missed him last year)

Owens

Cecchini

Betts

Swihart

Barnes

Renaudo

Ball

Marrero

 

Vasquez isn't on the list because I saw him last year. He is fun t watch. Behind the plate, he is like a cat. He reminds me of a young Pudge Rodriguez.

[mvp 78]

Betts is working out at SS this spring.

[sk7326]

Positionally, the only guy who is not projected to be here I want to see is Vasquez. I think if he can show any sort of big league hitting ability - and his minor league contact rates show some optimism here - I'd think very seriously of starting him if Pierzienski is as mediocre as I expect him to be.

 

Pitching wise, I don't want to see ANY of the kids up here starting since that means that one of our Top 5 guys is hurt or ineffective. But I am more bullish on Barnes than Webster for big league impact. I'd love for them to just tell Webster to forget about starting and convert him into a multi-inning bullpen weapon. His stuff could seriously play up in that role - but his flaws (command, lack of secondary pitches) look really bad in the rotation.

[sk7326]

Betts is working out at SS this spring.

 

His potential is exciting. Have to give him a run at SS. Even if he is blocked when it is time for him to come up, I could see him as our Ben Zobrist, a super mega-utility guy if he continues his developmental leaps.

[Dojji]

On the subject of catchers, I'd be curious to see what Dan Butler can do if there's a reasonable time and place give him a chance.

[Jaddy]

I expect to see some Vazquez with our two catchers closing in on 40. De La Rosa could impact the pen. I'd expect Webster, Renaudo, and Barnes to come up and make some impact. Other than that I'm with a700hitter, we don't want to see too many kids in the bigs this season, our WS roster is still mostly intact.

 

@a700hitter I'm sure leaving Bradley Jr. off your list was an honest mistake. What do you think of the young CF? Personally, I love his cornrows.

 

Edit: Vazquez just went yard over the Fenway South monster

Edited February 27, 2014 by Jaddy

[reYoukilis]

I expect to see some Vazquez with our two catchers closing in on 40. De La Rosa could impact the pen. I'd expect Webster, Renaudo, and Barnes to come up and make some impact. Other than that I'm with a700hitter, we don't want to see too many kids in the bigs this season, our WS roster is still mostly intact.

I agree but if Middlebrooks doesnt produce, Im ready to see me some Cechinni. They say hes the Wade Boggs type, very high average, though without alot of power. He went 2-3 today

[a700hitter]

I expect to see some Vazquez with our two catchers closing in on 40. De La Rosa could impact the pen. I'd expect Webster, Renaudo, and Barnes to come up and make some impact. Other than that I'm with a700hitter, we don't want to see too many kids in the bigs this season, our WS roster is still mostly intact.

 

@a700hitter I'm sure leaving Bradley Jr. off your list was an honest mistake. What do you think of the young CF? Personally, I love his cornrows.

 

Edit: Vazquez just went yard over the Fenway South monster

I left him off my list because I saw a lot of him last Spring. I like his patience at the plate and he has an aggressive swing. Good arm.

[Dojji]

I definitely want to see Vazquez before I see Lavarnway. Lavarnway was a negative on both sides of the plate in the chances he got in Boston last year. What we have here is an offense guy who didn't hit. I say give the chances we get to Vazquez first this year, let's get some real defense going behind the dish. We haven't really had great defense at the catching position since Tek got old.

 

I suspect there will be playing time for all 3 of our Pawtucket catchers given the age of our starter and backup. Injuries are almost an inevitability.

[seabeachfred]

I definitely want to see Vazquez before I see Lavarnway. Lavarnway was a negative on both sides of the plate in the chances he got in Boston last year. What we have here is an offense guy who didn't hit. I say give the chances we get to Vazquez first this year, let's get some real defense going behind the dish. We haven't really had great defense at the catching position since Tek got old.

 

I suspect there will be playing time for all 3 of our Pawtucket catchers given the age of our starter and backup. Injuries are almost an inevitability.

 

I know you're not much of a Lavarnway fan but at least be accurate. He was not a negative on both sides of the plate last year. He hit 299 in his little time with the Red Sox, and it has come down to the fact that they do not think he has what it takes to be a catcher. However, I think the Red Sox have screwed up on this guy and have programmed him to fail. Look at Salty; he was total s*** behind the dish and yet the team went with him for three seasons. With Ryan, they tried to chance his batting approach when they thought he was swinging too much for power even though he showed good ability to drive the ball. Trying to turn him into a singles and doubles hitter didn't work. I agree with you on Vasquez with one qualification. If he expects to be the first string catcher for the Red Sox he better hit better than he does and show some power. Blake Swihart is a much better hitter and projects into almost as good a catcher as Vas is. Perhaps long range they might move Blake to first base but they are talking about doing that with Middlebrooks too, and there is still a good chance Travis Shaw could continue to show what he showed with the bat this past winter in the AFL. I also think with all these possibilities things will just have to sort themselves out over the next couple of years, but the Red Sox are not known for carrying two or three defensive men in their lineup at the expense of hitting and I don't think they will. You want to play for the Red Sox, you have to be able to hit.

[sk7326]

If Vasquez is the defender he has shown coming up, he can be a .240/.310/.390 sort of guy and be an average big league starter.

 

You look at Vasquez' minor league career and he has always had some good contact rates - enough that he should be able to provide some empty average at worst. The Red Sox did a good job rescuing Salty who was adrift as a prospect and evolved into a legitimately above average starter. Lavarnway is a terrible receiver who also stopped being a good hitter. That means in the final analysis, he is not a real starter. Swihart is the best long term prospect, but Vasquez might still be a guy with a starter's ceiling. Having legitimate depth in the sport's most deserted position is kind of amazing.

[Jaddy]

I just saw the Vazquez play on the MLBtv replay of the game today. They talk about this kid's "pop rate", wow. Granted the pitch was high but he was out of his crouch and the ball was out of his hand it seemed before the ball was even in the glove.

[reYoukilis]

Like WMB, Lavarnway deserves a chance to redeem himself. Not because of any fairness or anything, just to actually know what youve got.

 

He may never be a great defensive guy but could be a good pitch caller whom the pitchers feel comfortable with.

Edited March 2, 2014 by reYoukilis

[seabeachfred]

Like WMB, Lavarnway deserves a chance to redeem himself. Not because of any fairness or anything, just to actually know what youve got.

 

He may never be a great defensive guy but could be a good pitch caller whom the pitchers feel comfortable with.

 

Well he caught "a full game" this afternoon if you know what I mean. Couch and Kehrt---who the hell are these guys anyway? They did everything they could to give the game away. Well they can thank Farrell for giving them a chance to show what they could do and next time they had better do better. Never heard of these two before. Are they just invitees or what? As for Lav he got a good workout today and I'm sure John will give him some more work to see what he can do. Great to see the Red Sox on the tube again even if I have to see the on my computer screen.

[reYoukilis]

Yeah without Lavs pitch blocking we very well could have blown it.

 

Having said that it was a nice win with good showings from XB and JBJ.

 

Edit - BTW Mr seabeachfred, Im wondering how is the online baseball? I live in Texas so cant see the Sox, do you recommend it? Thanks in advance.

Edited March 2, 2014 by reYoukilis

[seabeachfred]

Yeah without Lavs pitch blocking we very well could have blown it.

 

Having said that it was a nice win with good showings from XB and JBJ.

 

Edit - BTW Mr seabeachfred, Im wondering how is the online baseball? I live in Texas so cant see the Sox, do you recommend it? Thanks in advance.

 

Youk---I get the MLB package, the prices varies in how much you want besides the games--post games, special events, etc. I get mine automatically renewed every year. I get only the games and then it is shut down. Call MLB at 1-866-800-1275 and someone will give you the lowdown. Sitting and watching it on the computer is not as good as watching a game on TV but I would much rather watch the Red Sox this way then have to endure watching the Angels and Dodgers on LA Television. Come to think of it, the Bums are no longer on regular TV out here so it is just the Angels.

[reYoukilis]

Thanks again. I just might have to do that.

[cbbosox]

Brentz- (if one of our OF's go down)

Vazquez-(if /when one of our catchers go down)

Ranaudo-(if/when we need another starter)

[Spitball]

Youk---I get the MLB package, the prices varies in how much you want besides the games--post games, special events, etc. I get mine automatically renewed every year. I get only the games and then it is shut down. Call MLB at 1-866-800-1275 and someone will give you the lowdown. Sitting and watching it on the computer is not as good as watching a game on TV but I would much rather watch the Red Sox this way then have to endure watching the Angels and Dodgers on LA Television. Come to think of it, the Bums are no longer on regular TV out here so it is just the Angels.

 

I am not sure how much I pay either since it is automatically renewed, but it is well worth any price. I have a Roku and watch it on my regular television.

[Behindenemylines]

I think you will see a lot of the kids this season. The Sox got by last season with limited injuries so this season there is probably going to be a bigger need for help from AAA. Those prospects that are putting up good numbers will probably get a chance sometime this season.