scaffolds

Unless they trade for Tejada or perhaps or Michael Young and neither is as good with the glove as Gonzalez is, they may be stuck with Lugo and way over pay him, but over pay for Lugo and the DL man (Drew) is way bad business. If they sign Lugo they need to stay away from Drew and give Wily Mo a chance in RF.

So Lugo with a decent bat (no very good or great bat) and a average defense is worthed 8-10 millions. LOL......

Those who have read my posts in this page or any other page knows how i feel about the importance for an organization to sign players from latin America. Indentifing, scouting and signing is phase A, but this thread is about the next step in the development of the talent when it comes to the States, we can called those steps phase B. The Sox do a good job in the early stage of phase B which is Spring training for those young latin players when they first comes to the States. In Spring training the Sox have Latin coaches like Luis Alicea, Walter Miranda, Victor Rodriguez and Goose Gregson (speaks fluent Spanish), in addition most of the latin leagues coaches are also in camp and most of the latin scouts are known to spend some days in camp. All of this Spanish speaking personnel help the young latin talent in their early stage of their baseball carreers. The problem is when Spring training closes and those Latin American coaches head back to their countries, the coaches that coaches in the States goes to the minor league cities where they going to be coaching and those young latin America players are staying in town (Ft Myers) for extended training. In extended training that is where the Sox needs to do a better job with only Felix Maldonado, Brian Whelan and Walter Miranda as the only Spanish speaking personnel in camp. Miranda is a pitching caoch and does a good job with the latin pitchers, Maldonado is semi- retired limeted field helper (the Sox called him an advisor) who does a good job with helping the latin players with their off the field life and Whelan who teaches English to the players. There isn't a Spanish speaking hitting coach in camp unless Rodriguez is in town, but as the hitting coordinator he has to travel from minor league club to club. With a large group of Latin pitchers only one coach isn't enough. In conclusion for now the Sox needs to have more Spanish speaking coaches in camp. Returning to the phase A for a minute an organization can't afford be tagged anti- latin or one that doesn't give chances to Latin players which lead us to the next point. The Red Sox released 3 players and had another player retired in 2006 understrange circumstances when they released Dominicans Richard Santana, Moises Santa and Venezuelans Jose Ortiz while Jesus Garcia retired. None odf these players are the typical players that someone will see in the waiver wire this soon with they talent. Moises Santa: Contrary to some reports that you may have seen in some web pages board posted by bone head poster, one who has never seen this player play even if it hit him in the ASS, nor was qualified to comment on it. Santa wasn't waived because of talent as he led the DSL in 2004 in HR and in 2005 while playing in his first year in the States for the GCL he hit for a 309 average in 110 AB. Santawas also the Sox top hitter in the 2006 Extended Spring training. Santa had some off the field issues which may had lead to his release. Richard Santana may had been one of the better middle infielder in the system, in 2004 he led the DSL in stolen bases and an ALL STAR in The same league with a 304 ave. In 2005 in the GCL Santana more than held his his own, before his release (reasons unknown) in the middle of the 2006 Extended Spring training. Jose Ortiz was the top pitcher for the Sox in the 2004 VSL and again member of the league ALL Star team, in 2005 in the GCL led the Sox in games pitched with 13 a 3-1 W/L record and 3.31 ERA. The laft hander Ortiz didn't project to be a starter but showed a lot potential as a reliever before was released like Santana in the early part of the 2006 Extended Spring training. Jesus Garcia led the 2004 VSL in HR and also was the league ALL star catcher, in 2005 in the GCL hit for 264 in 106 AB, there where some talk among many that taught that Garcia was the Sox top catching prospect going into the 2006 Spring training. Garcial unlike the other 3 players wasn't released, but according to some rumors decided to retired mainly because of the lack of playing time he was getting in the 2006 extnded Spring training. In conclusion the Red Sox needs to avoid circumstances like this if they want to develop a good Latin America program.

When you post that good defense isn't worthed that much, you lost all of you credibility.

With Alex Gonzalez signing signing with the Reds makes this thread mute. In my opinion it was a big time mistake by Theo and the Sox front office in not resigning Gonzalez.

That's as non productive corner infield as they could come and TEK as the 6th hitter, weak, weak.

While he isn't among the 50 top minor league, not yet anyway, but a player on the rise is Colombian RHP Jorge Rodriguez. The 22 yrs is 6-1 180 isn't as well known perhaps as Miguel Socolovitch is to those who don't follow the minor leagues prospects, but for who does he isn't an unkown. Unlike to Socolovitch who projects as a closer, Rodriguez projects as a starter and has a 93-94 fastball and a very good curve ball, while his change-up is a work in progress. Rodriguez was very raw when he signed in 2003 and it showed in his first in the DSL, but after his first year he has been getting better and better and in 2006 in the GCL (first year in the states) he showed again his talent and was the starting pitcher in the GCL championship game. Stats for 2006 in the GCL 5G 4GS 30 IP 22 H (1 HR Allowed) 11BB 22K 210 BAA More than likely Rodriguez will start at Lowell in 2007.

I guess alcohol and a poster that calls himself a moderator in another web page did it, I apologize to who got offended by it.

Yeah my grammar sucks, but heck don't feel bad because your baseball knowledge sucks.

What did you said?

MCHammer, SON OF BITCH is this f***ing your problem? since isn't get your f***ing ass out of it.

Ksushi: f***ing jack ass everytime that I have read your posts they aren't only clue less, but is like if you are talking about a different player or don't know what they are talking about like your Post about Papelbon JERK.

A MOTHER f***ER ASS HOLE like you Jsinger down who likes to be putting down in web pages when you know that they won't respond on those pages if a f***ing coward like you. At least i get paid for for my opinion while the only thing you know is licking Mike Andrews ASS.

You must be watching a different pitcher than I have, Papelbon's slider is average at best.

A two pitch staring pitcher has very little room for mistakes.

700; I never said that he wasn't going to have sucess, just that he isn't a 1 or a 2. Papelbon breaking pitches are average, not more than that and while I am a Yakee hater it doesn't stop me to see that Wang has a plus, plus sinker.

Some Red Sox are fanatics and they fall in love with its players like Youkilis and Papelbon and fails to see the whole picture. There is a big difference between being a fan and a fanatic. there are a lot fanatics in boards like this.

One more point, Becket is a proven ML pitcher one that won 15 and 16 with very average teams like the Marlins in 2005 and the Red Sox in 2006.

No problem at all.

Bard and perhaps Bowden more than likely won't be ready for the 2008, but there is a very good chance Buckholz will along with relievers Hansen, Del Carmen, Martinez, Jackson and Cox.

Bosox; My post was mainly directed to Manny's Post. I never said that Papelbon will be a worst starter than some of the free agents starters in the market, but that he won't any better than Becket and that he is better and has more value as a closer than he would be as a starter.

Without a question i disagree, Like i posted earlier Papelbon is a two pitch pitcher and the reason his splitter was so good as a closer it was because it worked off his plus fastball which he won't have as starter. Beckett indeed allowed 36 HR, but unless you have a cristal ball we don't know how manny HRs Papelbom will allowed in a full season as a starter, again Papelbon isn't a 1 or 2.