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I think it is fair to say that few people really know what the Sox system has in it. There's a chance that there isn't much talent aside from Iglesias and Ranaudo; there's also a chance that many of the higher upside draft talent from last year and the year before could be very good players. Guys like Cecchini, Perkins and Coyle are all basically wild-cards. We will have to see. I have little doubt that the Sox system will be near the top again in two years.

But Montero is a beast. Another stupid discussion about "well, they haven't done it yet so you shouldn't think they might!" Jesus. The scouts know better. The minor league numbers know better. The front offices know better. I think it is safe to say that Montero is going to be a beast. Likewise, anyone who has watched Kalish play is hard pressed not to salivate over the tools. He's not in single-A, he is ready to play in Boston (as evidenced by his actually playing there last year). It isn't a stretch to project him to the next level. Let's stop talking out of both sides of our mouths, accepting that one unproven prospect is a sure thing while criticizing other prospects because they are unproven. It's stupid for people to do it on any side.

You are confident about it. Not sure of it. Why did his FB velocity dip to 93.2 last year, from 94.2 he year before and 94.3 the year before that, and 95.1 the year before that? He still throws very hard to any mortal man, but his once elite arm has now become merely really good. If he doesn't have good command with it (he doesn't) then his otherwise decent secondary pitches are less effective and overall he's just a decent pitcher. He's nowhere near as good as the more complete pitchers the Yankees have had in similar roles in the past (he's not David Cone or Mike Mussina or David Wells), who were all consistent command pitchers with the ability to outsmart opponents and bear down in tough situations. He just doesn't seem to be capable of actually pitching. He's a thrower.

I'm sorry, but what exactly makes you think that the AJ Burnett who finished the year last year will be much more successful than he was? There was very little impressive about him, certainly not from a guy who is supposedly in the prime-of-his-prime. I thought he was a bad signing when they got him, and he has done nothing to dispell that thought. His arm is very live but at his age he really should have put it together more consistently than he has. He's like Beckett but even less consistent and more of a headcase. As for Hughes, I think he's a very good pitcher. His ceiling is a full season like his first half last year and I think he could have a Cy Young or two when he's done. Very good pitcher. Yankees fans should be as excited about him as Sox fans are of Buchholz, IMO.

I think the Sox (and a few other "moneyball" teams) secretly are putting a $$ premium on defensive abilities, especially at positions of high defensive importance. I wouldn't be shocked to see them make a significant move for a really great defensive catcher in the next year or two. Catcher, SS, CF can all be less-hit, great field positions, especially wth the offense and supplemental defensive players they have at 2B, LF, RF, 1B, etc.,

Have you actually seen him at all? I haven't, other than things like the AZFL all-star game and clips here and there. Again, the Sox talent evaluators gave the kid an MLB contract and the reports are all positive. I don't think there's reason to think he'll hit .180. Yes, there is a Mendoza-line-esque number that he could hit that would keep him out of the lineup, but it is lower than it is for most. I'm thinking Alex Cora level (career .652). That's pretty bad offensively.

But the Red Sox have seen plenty of both and seem intent on putting Iglesias at SS eventually. There is nothing about his game that says when he's 26 he won't be manning a MLB starting spot and that he won't be a starting SS for the rest of his (hopefully long) career. His glove is literally good enough to justify that on its own given his age. Any bat will just be gravy. We can all argue on this site all day long but none of us know anything compared to the people who see him every day. When a minor league coach says that Ryan Kalish could be an MLB superstar and people here are questioning whether he's going to be good enough to be an MLB regular (not you, mind you) I think that says something. People should just have some faith in the talent ealuators and rely less on needing to be personally impressed. That's just me though...

I think football is less entertaining to talk about than baseball is. For the general audience it is probably the better sport to watch because there is so much hinging on every play and every game, but in terms of being able to intellegently discuss the players and their skills, baseball's huge sample size makes it more interesting during non-game times.

Great post. Stats are fun. I think it's fascinating that the Sox added two other solid and established bullpen arms this year, but Bard is easily the best pitcher in the bullpen. That's some great depth. I can't help but wonder if the Sox are still tempted to convert Bard into a SP. His arm is so good and his stuff is so easy that it has to be in the back of their minds, no?

He's never going to get what he thought he would get a few years ago. AT BEST he will sign a deal like Soriano's someplace, but that will take a really successful season and a desperate team. That also wouldn't flip the world of closer contracts on their heads, the way he hoped it would.

I don't really like the Soriano move for the Yankees. It will probably make them a better club (anyone would benefit from adding a guy like Soriano) but it will happen at the expense of their team over the longrun, while ALSO boosting another team in the same division with another draft pick. I don't see a lot of value-added for the Yankees in this move. He's a great pitcher, but he has an injury history and he's about to be paid almost what JD Drew makes... or what guys like Lester and Pedroia etc., will make when their current deals max out. His best season amount to two (2!!) WAR. That's not because he's bad but because his place on the team is inherently less significant than starting pitchers or starting fielders/batters. I don't hate the move for the Yankees, I just think it resembles the yankees of 2005 more than what I thought they would be in 2011. They've gotten better at not just throwing money (and draft picks) at the problem, until they become even slightly desperate. Then they throw prudence and patience out the window and just get the guy they feel they need. This is a splash move to get Jacko (and his fan-type) to be happy. Anyone who thought Tampa was going away after losing their stars better think again. I believe this team now has picks # 24, 31, 32, 38, 50, 54, and 57 in the 2011 draft. That's a lot of picks. Also, anyone else wondering what Papelbon is thinking about right now? Yankees have their bullpen set for a few years, Sox acquired Jenks and have leverage. Paps is looking longingly at Anaheim and hoping he can end up in a place like that. Maybe he would do a reasonable extension now... ya, right!

Has the season started yet? I've had enough offseason, time to move on to bigger and better things, IMO.

The Sox will have picks 19, 26, 36 and 41, and maybe 50 if Lopez signs somewere. That's one of the best scenarios that could have possibly happened this offseason. They will have a monster draft.

5 or 6 year deal it sounds like... No, thanks.

I'm fine with it too. Oki is probably as good a mediocre lefty reliever as we could have hoped to land. Plus, if he regains any of his old effectiveness then they will be in good shape. I've always liked him too. He's certainly not the best reliever, but having him go to another team so this team can pick up another warm body from the scrap heap doesn't make much sense to me either.

Yes, I can actually be funny sometimes. I've been happy for a long time with how this team is run and these acquisitions are no different. I did expect multiple big acquisitions eventually--whether that was Justin Upton, Felix Hernandez (past), Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Carl Crawford or any of the other really exciting players that make up the sport--I just didn't expect those moves to happen in one week in 2010. I thought it would be after next season. I have no problem with it coming early and don't see another player like that coming along any time soon. Who will be the next $100m free agent available? Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols maybe? Otherwise, I don't see any really good players on the horizon. In that context, and in a number of other contexts, the Crawford move makes a lot more sense. The reason I will sometimes be unclear about my thoughts on these issues is that there are a lot of variables involved and many moving parts. What is the financial benefit to the team of being assured a playoff spot? What about the benefit of hurting the Rays and Yankees while helping the Sox? What about having two elite basestealers at the top of a lineup to mess with opposing pitchers' minds? I don't have hard numbers for these factors, but I imagine the Sox do and that they base their decisions off of those. That's the reason I both defer to the Sox FO and tend to agree with their moves. After a move is made and I hear their rationalization for it I tend to find myself agreeing with them. I also disagree about the need for lots more FA acquisitions. You're right that this is a team with the $ to make key acquisitions, and I don't expect that to change. I also think they will do everything in their power to have home-grown players to build around in as many positions as possible. It's just good business.

Not a big fan of the Crawford move? Look at the posts. You won't find anywhere where I say he would be a bad move for the team. Perhaps you have me mistaken with someone else. Here, I did some of the work for you: http://www.talksox.com/forum/596875-post41.html http://www.talksox.com/forum/594875-post783.html http://www.talksox.com/forum/594895-post790.html http://www.talksox.com/forum/595996-post1031.html In one of those posts I actually said "My dream offseason would be trading some package around Ellsbury for Upton, and then signing Carl Crawford. All of this is prefaced by my assumption that the team plans to sign Adrian Gonzalez for 2012 so trading for him seems less lucritive than a controlled guy like Upton." I prefered Werth's numbers and smaller contract but once he signed such a huge deal I had no problem with them not signing him. I was just surprised when they signed Crawford. Pleasently surprised. He's one of the most exciting players in the league. Who wouldn't love to watch him?