scaffolds

I have been asked by email about the selection of Jose Capillan in the Ml rule draft draft by the Giants. I didn't expect Capellan to be drafted, but there is a history. In the 2002 ML rule draft the Detroit Tigers drafted a 21 yrs LHP latin pitcher (like Capellan) away from the Red Sox, by the name of Wilfredo Ledezma. Ledezma only had pitched 23 2/3 IP in his last two years in the Red Sox system, all in 2002 after missing all of 2001 with elbow surgery. besides his health issues, he was well known for his lack of sucess and lack of control, but he was also known to have a fastball in the 93-94 range. Ledezma was up and down between the minors and Detroit until last years when he was traded to Atlanta and latter on to the Padres where he will be the Spring. Ledezma fastball then was the only thing that he had over Capellan (his fastball tops out at 90, but better change up and breaking pitches) because Capellan has been very effective in every level that he has pitched, without health questions or ability to throw strikes, if ledezma have made it so far there schouldn't be a question that Capellan would stick with the Giants in 2008.

For those who don't know how the minor league drafts works, each organizations gets to protect 100 players out of their minor league system, every other one is draft elegible, which means any player who gets drafted in the minor league draft isn't a top prospect, however in Apodaca's case he was one of the better players draft elegible which explain why the Sox made the deal with the Reds for them to draft Apodaca for the Sox.

According to BA the RED Sox have signed minor league FA 3B keith Ginter. In addition LHP Jay Marshall who was on the Sox 40 man roster was released and claimed by the A's.

The Red Sox lost LHP Jose Capellon (to the Giants) and RHP Lincoln Holdzcon (to the Phillies) in the rule 5 draft in addition the Sox lost Dominican RHP Maurico Mendez to the Pirates in the AAA (minor league draft) The Red Sox passed on in all the phases of the draft. I most admit that i didn't check the original signing of Capellan who like Argenis Diaz who was protected on the 40 man roster signed in 2003 but didn't started playing until 2004. Capellon who is a 21 yrs Domincan hasn't been consider a top or elite prospect mainly because his fastball tops out 90, but has a good change up and breaking pitches. Before 2007 Capellon's ERA hasn't never been higher than 2.79 it was 3.69 (in 2007) and his batting average against was never higher than 233 ( 238 ave in 2007) Capellan is a player who must watch his weight and had has in the past some inmature issues. Holdzcon is a big about 6-5 243 right handed reliever who throws hard but some times has issues with throwing strikes. Mauricio Mendez is 6-6 200 22 yrs Dominican Right handed reliever with a fastball in high 80's from a high 3/4 release point. his off speed pitches are a bit behind. Capellon and Holdzcon must be offered back to the Sox if they don't make the MLB roster out of Spring training, however Mendez is now property of the Pirates and doesn't have to.

According to what i have heard, De La Rosa has some tools, but its raw.

For those who follow International scouting the Red Sox have signed Dominican outfielder Chris De la Rosa.

The Red Sox have signed minor league free agent Jonathan Van Every and have placed him in the 40 man roster. Van Every an outfielder has played in the Guardians system is a 28 yrs L/L and 6-1 190, in 2006 Van Every played in AAA. The Sox now have 38 players in the 40 man roster.

Some Red Sox Winter league stats. Chris Carter in 36G a 355 Ave 138 AB 16R 49 H 7 doubles 2 triples 4 HR 24 RBI 7 BB 13 So. Brandon Moss in 15 G a 322 Ave 59 AB 6 R 19 H 4 doubles but 0 tripples or HR 6 RBI 3 Bb 15 So. Carlos Fernandez in 17 G a 273 Ave 33 AB 3R 9 H 1 double 0 tripples or HR 6 RBI 0 BB 7 So. Jose Alvarez 7 G 1 GS 3.09 ERA 11 2/3 IP 7 H (0 HR) 6 BB 11 K Jose Capellan 6 G ( all as a reliever) 2.45 ERA 3 2/3 IP 4 H ( 0 HR) 1 BB 1 K Travis Hughes 19 G 0. 81 ERA ( all as a reliever) 14 SV 22 1/3 IP 10 H 5 BB 22 K

I don't have an issue if you have a different view, however my point isn't from newspaper people, but people that i have talk to, in regards to Cora his value is to a team like the Red Sox as spare part, not to a team that is regrouping like the Twins.

I couldn't disagree more, Cora doesn't have any value to the Twins, Anderson and Tejeda are very good prospects, but they are too far from the ML for the Twins like, they want ML players or players who will ML ready very soon.

For those who wonder why Argenis Diaz had to be protected in the 40 man roster after playing only four ( 2 in the VSL and two in the States- 2004-2007)) when someone of his age should had to play 5 minor league season before being protected, the answer is Diaz was signed in 2003 to a 2003 contract and while he didn't play in 2003 that counts when it comes to the rule 5 protection.

Well, First of all I believe that the Red Sox can put a package to trade for Santana that doesn't have to include Buchholz, there isn't a question that Santana is a stud and that the Red Sox needs to do anything possible to keep him away from the yankees, having said that Buchholz is one of the very few minor league pitchers that potentially is a #1, an Ace of a staff and ML readyas a 23 yrs, whose arm hasn't been abused, a fresh arm. The quality of his pitches has been talked about enough, there's a big difference between Buchholz and the next pitching prospect (Bowden) a pitcher like Buchholz doesn't come along very often. The Red Sox can replace Youkilis and to a lesser extend Ellsbury, because Crisp can hold the fort until one of Che-Hsuang Lin, Ryan Kalish. Reid Engel or even Ryan Dent is ready.

If Youkilis is a deal maker or breaker he is gone, that's a non brainer, now i have been hearing that the Twins have not interest in Lowrie. If it comes to a package that may include Youkilis, Ellsbury and Buchholz, the only one that's no tradeable is Buchholz.

According to BA the Red Sox signed RHP Lee Gronkiewicz a 5-10 29 yrs who has played for team USA the last couple of years as a middle reliever.

While Hansen's ERA and HR allowed a concern, those who had seen him pitch believe that he has improved. Bard lack of command its a work in progress, i believe his season in the Hawaiian league proves that his future its as a short reliever. Lowrie season also proves what many believe that his bat isn't ready for ML.

With the end of the Hawaiian Winter league and the Arizona Fall league, here are somme final stats. From the Hawaiian league: Argenis Diaz's bat slowed down in the final days, but was the league batting champ with 358 ave, also was second in the league with 38 H and first with a 421 OBP. In 32 G 106 AB 17 R 38 H 5 double, 2 tripples and 0 HR 16 RBI 10 BB, 18 So. 2 SB,3 CS, 443 SLG, 421 OBP and 9 errors. Jason Place hit for a 213 Average in 26 G and 80 AB 16 R 17 H 6 doubles 0 tripples and 4 HR, 8 RBI 13 BB, 39 So, 2 SB, 2 CS, 438 SLG, 330 OBP and 4 Errors. Daniel Bard piched in 16 g (all as a reliever) 0 W 0 L 1.08 ERA 16 2/3 IP 8 H (0 HR) 5 HB 15 BB 15 K 2 Wp and 136 batting average against. Jimmy James in 8 G (all as a starter) 2 W 3 L 3.31 ERA in 35 1/3 IP 32 H (3 HR) 15 BB 43 K ( 6th in the league) and a 242 batting average against. From the Arizona fall league: Dusty Brown in 15 G a 273 Ave 55 AB 1 R 15 H 1 doublw 0 tripples and 0 HR 1 RBI 6B 12 So 0 SB or CS 291 SLG 344 OBP and 3 Errors. Jed Lowrie in 24 G 163 Average in 98 AB 12 R 16 H 5 double 0 tripples and 1 HR 14 RBI 15 BB 14 So, 3 SB and 3 CS 245 SLG, 236 OBP and 3 Errors. Jon Still in 25 G a 146 average 82 AB 10 R 13 H 3 double 0 tripples and 2 HR 8 RBI 15 BB 22 So 0 SB or CS 256 Slg, 278 OBP 0 E. Craig Hansen 5 G ( all as a reliever) 0-1 5.87 ERA 5 IP 6 H ( 2 HR) 1 BB 8 K 1 WP 300 batting average against. Daniel Haigwood 7 G ( all as a starter) 1-2 4.87 ERA 20 1/3 IP 24 H (2 HR) 12 bb 17 K 1 WP and a 300batting average against. Lincoln Holdskom 7 G ( all as a reliever) 1-0 3.86 ERA 7 IP 2 H ( 0HR) 4 BB 10 K 1 WP and 087 batting average against. Jose Vaquedano 11 G ( all as a reliever) 0-1 4.61 ERA 13 2/3 16 H ( 0 HR) 6 BB 11 K 3 WP and a 291 batting average against.

Well, if the Sox have to spice it up. the Twins needs middle infield help, how about adding Jed Lowrie to the package. So it will be Crisp, Youkilis, Lester and Lowrie for Santana.

The Twins issues with resigning Johan Santana are well known as its the possibility of the Twins trading him this off season, but Santana isn't their only problem. The possibility of Torii Hunter coming back to Minesota are slim to none, the Twins don't have anyone to fill this big hole, in addition third base has been a hole for the Twins for years. The Twins have young RHP who are ready for the ML, but Francisco Liriano while a great prospect has had health issues, which lead us to that the Twins needs a CF, a third baseman and a left handed starting pitcher if they where to trade Santana. With the Sox resigning Lowell have those pieces and pieces that are affordable to the Twins for a few years. I am talking about a trade of Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester to the Twins for Santana. With the Sox trading for Santana not only keep him away from the Yankees, but with a healthy Santana they will be in the W.S. in 2008 again.

To the best of my knowledge the 40 man roster must be set tonight (11/19) by midnight, for now the Red Sox 40 man roster looks like this. Pitchers: Josh Beckett RHP Craig Breslow LHP Clay Buchholz RHP Bryan Corey RHP Manny DelCarmen RHP Brendan Donnelly RHP Devern Hansack RHP Craig Hansen RHP Kyle Jackson RHP Jon Lester LHP Javier Lopez LHP Edgar Martinez RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP Hideke Okahima LHP Jonathan Papelbon RHP David Pauley RHP Curt Schillings RHP Kyle Snyder RHP Julian Tavares RHP Mike Timlin RHP Tim Wakefield RHP Catchers: Dusty Brown George Kottaras Jason Varitek Infielders: Alex Cora Chris Carter * Argenis Diaz * Mike Lowell Julio Lugo David Ortiz Dustin Pedroia Kevin Youklis Outfielders: Coco Crisp JD Drew Jacoby Ellsbury Brandon Moss Manny Ramirez Jonathan Van Every Roster stands at 38 players

I have been asked by Email to compare Anthony Rizzo (Sox's 6th round pick) and David Mailman (Sox's 7th round pick) from the 2007 draft. To start with both Rizzo and Mailman are outstanding prospects, both where mainly a first baseman in High school and are left handed hitters and throwers. I have talked about Rizzo in different occasions, Rizzo who just turned 18 yrs projects more power (to all fields) than Mailman, but power isn't just Rizzo's game he would hit for average and its an above average defender as a first baseman. Mailman who turned 19 yrs last month its a better athlete than Rizzo and because of it could play RF as a pro, his arm its also above average, as a hitter Mailman has outstanding mechanics in his swing and its whats called a pure hitter.