scaffolds

Bosox, Yes Moss was disappointing in the Dominican Winter league, specially after a hot start, however I still like him over David Murphy and i guess i am not alone on this, i read the other day BA's Jim Callis and he shares the same opinion. The 2007 at Pawtucket will be very important for Moss.

The Dominican Winter league regular season has ended and the following Sox prospects played in it. Catcher Alberto Castillo 42 G 288 AVE 139 AB 18 R 40 H (6 doubles 0 tripples 4 HR) 15 RBI 22 BB 21 SO 1 SB 417 SLG and 385 OBP. Outfielder Brandon Moss 29 G 228 AVE 114 AB 15 R 26 H (5 doubles 1 tripple 5 HR) 16 RBI 12 BB 28 SO 1 SB 421 SLG and 302 OBP. Short stop Ed Rogers 44 G 158 AB 23 R 43 H ( 9 doubles 0 triples 1 HR) 4 RBI 14 BB 24 SO 9 SB 0 CS 348 SLG and 331 OBP. Outfielder Luis Soto 2 G 200 AVE 5 AB 0 R 1 H 1RBI 0 BB 2 SO. Catcher Junior Moreno 2 G 1000 AVE 2 AB 0 R 2 H 0 BB 0 SO The Mexican Winter league regular season ended, there where ex Red Sox farm hand playing in this league, but not actual Sox prospect.

Wakefield is what he is, mainly a innings eater, but he could very inconsistent, at best he is a #4, and he may win 15 wins but its very unlikely.

If Papelbon can close without any other health issues he is the best answer, besides he is a better closer than he is a starter. Lester is going to be in Pawtucket for at least the first half of the season, not only because of the health issues, but because he needs to refine his pitching.

The Red Sox might not admitted, not for now anyways, but the signing of Pineiro may not be for him to be a reliever, he is much better as a starter than he may be as a reliever, there is talk among baseball people that one of the reason the Sox haven't made a move to fill the closer issues is because they may had a change of hart and thatPapelbon may be the closer at the of Spring training and the signing of Pineiro may be sign of it and become the fifth starter on the rotation, there's also talk that Papelbon would only pitch just one inning at the time and a reduced games pitched in a row.

AZblue thank you, couldn't remember his name.

According to my sources BA is going to rank the Sox minor league system as the #11 among the 30 teams. If you read the tops post of this thread we rank them 10-12.

First of all, i haven't been to Wilmington's park, but from different sources that are familiar with the park that i have talk to claim that when the ball its hit in the air to right field in that park the ball dies. Again just going by what i was told.

Again getting back to the thread; After being traded to the Red Sox from the Mets organization in 2005 Ian Bladergroen wasn't all the way back from wrist surgery and because of that and the fact that he played in one of hardest park for a left handed power hitter to play in (Wilmington) his numbers where down. In 2006 Spring training Bladergroen and the Sox organization claimed that he was fully healthy, but again he put up very similar numbers that he did in 2005 with the exception that he double his HR out put from 4 to 9, however those numbers where not what the organization was expecting from the big first baseman. Which leads of the question was the park the reason for his numbers? Was Bladergroen fully healthy in 2006? or was it because of hitting ability? In 2007 must likely in Portland the Sox organization expect Bladergroen to answer that question.

With Drew, Manny and Pena as the Sox corner ofs Moss won't be a regular for the next two years, but i expect to see Moss in Boston in 2008.

Matt Goodson, Chris Jones and Gary Galvez have similar stuff, a fastball in the 89-91 range and while their breaking stuff or off speed is some what different in general are consider to be no more than average at best ML pitchers. Goodson and Jones are projected to be starters but like with fellow Sox prospect David Pauley their ceiling isn't more than end of rotation type. Goodson and Jones in college had health issues and while they have been healthy as a pro in general that's always a question mark. Goodson at Wilmington in 2006 saw his ERA jump to 3.92 from 2.76 at Greenville in 2005 and while more than likely he will pitch in Portland in 2007 it needs to see how he handles the jump. Jones on the other hand while he held his own at Greenville in 2006 its going to pitch not only in a hitters park, but in a hitters league like the California's league. Galvez whom the Sox signed out of Cuba back in 2003 really hasn't pitched like many expected and in 2006 at Wilmington really struggle in his first year in high A to the point that he went from the high 20's Red Sox prospect list to not be found in the top 50, however he may be the type of pitcher that needs to repeat a level to have sucess like he did in 2005. Galvez projects as a middle reliever one who could pitch back to back days. Galvez like Jones needs to see how they handle the California lleague in 2007.

No Curtis was a LHP out of the Virginia H.S., the pitcher you are talking about (can't remember his name) was a flame throwing RHP out of Texas (H.S.) he cut his ring finger (I believe) and damaged his tendon that he couldn't pitch again, but i believe that he tried to make a come back as an outfielder if i am not mistaken with Detroit and couldn't cut it.

Mr Crunchy; The worst way to judge pitching prospects its by their win and losses, i believe that if Juan Pena had be able to stay healthy he would had been a ML pitcher, but injuries are part of the game. Lomasney and Wedge had a very good defense game, but they couldn't hit. John Curtis is another matter, he had the arm (specially for a lefty) but not the desire, as a Red Sox prospect he was always out of shape, present Red Sox prospect Michael Rozier remeinds me of Curtis (Rozier needs to get in better shape) Brian Rose in the other hand was a bull dog but very average ML talent.

First of all, Lowrie and Natale have some talent, that's why an organization doesn't give up on them, but like i posted before there are questions that hopefully will be answered in 2007 not just for Lowrie and Natale, but also for Pedroia at the ML level.

Jed lowrie has shown that he isn't s short stop, he doesn't have the range or the arm for the position, but as a second baseman he could be above average when it come to defense. Coming out of Stanford there where a lot of question if Lowrie could hit using wood bats, because he had struggle using them in summer leagues, however he had a very good first year in Lowell of course using wood. In 2006 the question came up again was the reason because he had a down year because of the big jump from lowell to Wilmington or because of his hitting problems. that question needs to be answer in 2007, where would Lowrie play its another question, if he plays short stop (the Red Sox brass may want to see him play another season at the position) it could be at Portland, but if they move him back to second base it would be in Lancaster (the new high A team) because he needs to play every day and Natale would be the Portland second baseman.

A outfielder that can play all 3 outfield positions but one that has a questionable bat is more of a fifth outfielder than one who can play in the corners but with a better bat who will be the fourth outfielder.

Chad Spann rebounded in 2006 at Portland with a good season and in the Arizona fall league. Spann like with Moss there are questions if he could hit for enogh power to play as a regular at the ML level. Spann a former H.S. short stop is more athletic than kevin Youkilis, while he needs some work with his glove he has a better range than Youkilis, in general like with Moss the 2007 season at Pawtucket will be a key to determine his future.

Getting back to the tread topic. Jeff Natale second base defense and DP work may never be more than average, but there is a chance that Natale will be a offensive second base man. Natale has very quick hands that generates very good bat speed which leads to more pop specially for someone of his size 5-9 about 175. In 2006 not only he showed that he could handle low a ball pitching, but also high A ball when he hit for a conbine of 23 doubles and 17 HR not to mention 84 runs scored and 87 RBI, (between Greenville and Wilmington) not too bad for a former 32th round draft pick, but Natale will only go as far as his bat will take him and the 2007 season at Portland will be a big text for him specially when its well known that the jump to AA its the biggest in the minors.

AZ Blue i agree that Moss may have the least amount of questions of this group, Moss defense and arm's are very playable for a RF and are at least average, as a hitter he has a fairly short quick stroke that he generates good power and while i don't believe that he will for a 300 average he could hit in the 270- 280 area. The question that most scouts ask about Moss still remains will he hit for enough power to be an everyday RF. Moss had an very good season at Portland in 2006 and starred very well in the Dominican Winter league before he faded after the mid way point. Moss is a better prospect than David Murphy is and while he may not be abe to play CF like Murphy can the rest of Moss game is better than Murphy. The 2007 will tell a lot about of Moss future.

Well i am going to spend more time in this later, but for now there isn't a question that Lowrie has some talent, but he may have more questions than the rest of this group. For now the only question that he has answered is that he isn't a short stop.

With the minor leaguers reporting to Ft Myers for Spring training in about two months its about time to talk about the Red Sox minor league prospects. The following is a list of Sox prospects that have talent, have put op some numbers in the minors, but there are questions about them. 1- Jeff Natale 2B 2- Chad Spann 3B 3- Brandon Moss RF 4- Jed Lowrie 2B 5- Matt Goodson RHP 6- Chris Jones RHP 7- Ian Bladergroen 1B 8- Andrew Pinkney 3B 9- Jeff Corsaletti LF 10- Gary Galvez RHP Commnets to follow