scaffolds

With the end of March comes the start of the minor league season which of course means the end of Spring training for the minor leaguers and the end of this thread.

I was able to confirmed the release of luis Soto which by the way signed with the Cincinati Reds after a couple days after his release, also released are third baseman Scott White, SS Pedro Vasquez, catcher Dan Millano, catcher Steve Torrealba, LHPs Adam Blackley and Mike Conroy and RHP Ben Howard. The Sox have signed 27 yrs RHP James Russ recently released by the marlins and Russ will pitch at Lancaster and 25 yrs Venezuelan LHP Carlos Vasquez. back in camp from its tour in the Giants and Reds camp is Jose Capellan (before heading to Greenville) and like Vasquez will be on the Sox Extended Spring training for now. The Sox low A team (Greenville) is going to start is season minus 3 top prospects who will be in the DL, SS Oscar Tejeda who came to Spring traing with arm issues ( but schould start practicing in about a week) Ryan Kalish (who had wrist surgery) Kalish is already practicing and Carlos Fernandez (who broke his hand in a pool accident in Venezuela) and like Tejeda should start practicing soon all of them will be in Extended Spring training. Also in Extended Spring training because of injuries are C Juan Apodaca (broken hand/ had the cast taken off a couple days ago) LHP Kyle Fernandes and RHP Cody McCallister all of them from the Lancaster's roster, in addition RHP Bryson Cox and LHPs Andrew Dobbies, Thomas Hottovy from Portland's roster are also in Extended Spring training camp because injuries. The Red Sox isn't considering Jon Still a catcher anymore, but a first baseman at Lancaster and with top prospect Lars Anderson on its roster Still will have to DH most of the times. With Apodaca on the DL and Still not longer a catcher, Lancaster's catchers will be former infielder Zak Farkes and former Indepedent leaguer Bennis Blackmon. Also in Lancaster there was a couple of roster surprises when Jason Place beat out Josh Reddick (Greenville) and at third base when Puerto Rican Jorge Jimenez beat out Venezuelan Manuel Arambarris ( Greenville) The talk in baseball is that the Red Sox didn't want to send any of their top pitching prospects to Lancaster and with Richie Lentz and Jimmy James as their top pitching prospects on its roster it seems to back up that. At Greenville there weren't many surprises on its roster, but RHP Austin Bailey and catcher Wil Vasquez where one, in addition young outfielders David Mailman and David Marks took the opportunity of Kalish and Fernandez being on the DL. I will not post the Sox minor league rosters, don't know how much interest is there for it and there are some other boards that schould have it, but if there is any questions I will be glad to answer it.

Did anyone like Francona's move to bring Snyder in after taking a 3-2 lead? Snyder should never pitch with the Sox leading in the second half of a game.

There was a rumour flying around this afternoon that Luis Soto was released, i will double check it.

There are rumours that RHP Barry Hertzler and 2B Michael Chambers has been released, but haven't been able to double check it.

Chih-Hsiang Huang and Che-Hsuang Lin are back in camp after playing for Taiwan national team. Like i mentioned earlier Anthony Alvarado and Pedro Rodriguez who both missed 2007 with injuries will be playing in the Dominican (DSL) in 2008. Rosters haven't been set and most players are playing at least a level higher than they will be playing to start the 2008 season, however all could change this weekend and earlier next week when cuts should be made.

Minor league rosters should be set next week

Spivey future with the Sox could be very short unless there is a lot injuries. A note that i left out is that Australian Adam Blackley and Taiwan Chih-Hsien Chiang and Che-Hsuang Lin are not in camp and are playing for their country National team.

In addittion to the International players mentioned before the following minor league free agents (signed by the Red Sox over the Fall and Winter) are in camp. Mike Conroy LHP Ben Howard RHP Melvin Mancebo RHP*# Matt Miller RHP Junior Spivey OF Rich Thompson OF * Haven't been able to get much information on him. # Not longer in camp

Pitching prospects Caleb Clay and Wang-Yi Lin who had TJ surgeries in the Spring last year are ahead of schedule and have done bull pen activity. Venezuelan RHP Pedro Rodriguez who had his surgery in the Spring isn't in camp. Dominican bonus baby Michael Armanzar has made the switch to third base (from SS) and high regarded prospect Will Middlebrooks will stay at SS at least for now, by the way both Almanzar and Middlebrooks are shorter (6' 3") than originally reported. Because Middlebrooks is going to play SS in regular basis the Sox brass has made the decesion to play high touted SS prospect Rafael Espinosa in the DSL so he could play in a regular basis. Dominican RHP Manuel Jimenez like his fellow country man and Red Sox prospect Felix Ventura (RHP) didn't sign their profesional contract until turning 20 yrs (not very common for a Dominican prospect) because of their heights Ventura is 5'9" and Jimenez is 5'10" but both show promised as relievers. Jimenez showed a very live arm while throwing batting practice. Domincan outfielder Roberto Feliz also showed a very live bat as the ball exploded as it made contact with the ball in batting practice.

Spring traing at the Red Sox minor league complex is in full force. There are 55 Internationals players in the complex, not counting a full hand of Puerto Ricans. There are some players in camp who some people in the industry are surprised that they would had be in camp and some who aren't that they would had been expected. The first timers in Spring training are Dominicans: Michael Almanzar 3B Stolmy Pimentel RHP Cesar Cabral LHP Roberto Feliz LF Anataner Batista RHP Charlie Rosario RHP Manuel Jimenez RHP Wilfredo Pichardo 2B* Sandy Madera C # Miguel Asencio RHP# Venezuelans: Ronald Bermudez OF Yeiper Castillo RHP Leandro Marin RHP Joantoni Garcia SS* Maykol Sanchez C* Steve Torrealba C# Colombian: Randy Consuegra RHP Taiwan: Chia-Chu Chen C Australians: Michael Lennox (but as a pitcher and not as a third baseman) David Thorpe RHP German: Jennel Hudson RHP There was talk that recently signed Japanese catcher Hayato Doue was in camp, but I wasn't able to confirmed it. While Australian Lennox was in camp fellow countrymen David Harriott and Justin Eramus both RHP prospects wheren't. * Surprised that they are in camp. # minor league free agents. Players that aren't in camp Anthony Alvarado RHP Pedro Rodriguez RHP Rafael Espinosa SS Manel Rivera LHP Dennis Neuman RHP

Oscar Perez is a name on the rise for the July second date of the International signing period. Perez who is a 15 yrs Venezuelan catcher is getting a 20 days look in the Red Sox minor league complex.

The word is that it may take more than 3 Millions dollars to sign Michelle Inoa.

While its early a few names have been rumoured for the early phase (starts July second) of the 2008 International signing period. Dominican RHP Michelle Inoa is the hottest name around. Inoa who won't be 16 yrs until September is 6-7 200 has a 92-93 fastball. Carlos Perez also a Dominican is 6-2 180 and the LHP has a fastball in the 88-91 range. Venezuelans Johenser Ceballos and Yorman Rodriguez are the top names in their country. Ceballos a 6-5 200 RHP throws a 88-90 fatsball. Rodriguez a outfielder has plus-plus power potential and speed. A few other Dominican names that has been rumoured are 6-3 170 RHP Robinson Vargas, outfielders Gonzalo Briones, Randy Martinez, Hector Matos, Rafael Rodriguez and Edwin Matos, a 6-1 175 catcher Angel Reyes and 2B/SS Jonathan Baez and Anderson Lopez, Gustavo Pierre and Lorgie Pineda. Venezuelan Luis Pineda an outfielder also has been talked about. Puerto Ricans middle infielder Alexi Llanos, Luis Montanez and Bengy Gonzalez outfielders Danny Ortiz and Javier Rodriguez, catchers Antonio Jimenez, Felix Agosto and Hector Ortiz and RHP Julio Rodriguez and Ryan Gonzalez are names to keep an eye for the June 5-6 2008 draft.