scaffolds

Catcher Alberto Concepcion who in 2006 played in Portland has been released.

Don't understand the love affair for Youkilis, Lowell isn't only a better defense third baseman, but has a better range, a Gold Glover, in addition to be the better hitter of the two. Lowell may only be the Sox's starting third baseman for one year, but Youkilis isn't his replacement Chad Spann.

Red Seat; there isn't a chance that Lugo has a better range than Gonzalez. Counsil and Pedroia aren't ML starting Shortstop caliber, they are second baseman who would hurt a team defense (not just in errors, but in range) if they play in a regular basis. The Red Sox can carry Gonzalez and even Pedroia in their line up if they can get a productive firstbaseman and Pena doing his job in RF.

Sweeney still can hit and he is far from wash up, but the health issues is another matter, at his 2006 salary it would be to much of a gamble, at half of what he made in 2006 its worth the gamble.

700; If Sweeney could stay in the field and play first base he would be the best answer, but because there are still some health questions about him and addition he is a lot more expensive than some of the above mentioned.

Posters keep posting about Youkilis lack of hitting in the second of the 06 season was due to the fack that he was playing hurt, well Youkilis wasn't a 100%, but very players are at 100% the last month or two of the season, the problem wasn't that he was hurt, but that the rest of league learned how to pitch to him, this happens a lot with first year players and some have a very good first half to them struggle the rest of their ML carreer.

A third baseman or a first baseman with 13 HR, 70 RBI and 120 strike outs is below average. Mike Lowell isn't just a better hitter than Youkilis but a better defender, Lowell and his Golden Glove caliber defense its needed back if the Sox wants to compete in 2007, Lowell isn't the problem, first base is, Youkilis can be traded in a package deal (him by himself woun't bring much) orbe a utility player.

Red Seat; Fenway is more made for Nady than Duncan.

I have talked in other threads that while Kevin Youkulis has value to the Red Sox mostly as an utility player he isn't the production hitter that the Sox needs at first base. So the question is who should be the Sox first baseman in 2007? Its well know that the 07 free agent market its very light and the only free agent possibility is Carlos Lee, but Lee might be too expensive and there should be a lot of competetion for his services. Which means the Sox may have to trade for a first baseman, but Who? Mike Sweeney has been an All Star before, but at 35 yrs his skills has decline some, has had health issues lately and its very expensive, Ben Brousard or Shea Hillenbrand could be, but there are some question about them. The best answer is Xavier Nady a 28yrs who in 2006 played for the Mets and Pirates and in 430 AB hit for 280 ave 28 doubles and 17 HR 337 OBP and 453 SLG, in addition Nady salary in 06 was $427, 000 which means he will not be expensive, one final note Fenway is the type of park that can Xavier Nady an All Star.

Ray10; Talking about Josh Papelbon as a prospect has to be a joke, you can't be serious about it and to a lesser extend Pauley and Brown. Jackson; i disagree on both point, when an organization minor league system gets rank how soon the prospect will get to the big leagues isn't as important as the quality of the prospect. The Sox minor league system ranking will drop this off season compare to last year, but the drop will be a sight one.

BA ranked the Sox system #7 last Winter, the 10-12 ranking is what i expect the Sox to be ranked after ML promotions, trades and new signings. The Sox only have three position players that could be POTENTIALLY considered to be 5 tool players and they are Luis Soto, Jason Place and Moises Santa, a fourth one Luis Sumoza one day might, but as one of the youngest player in the system he isn't in that group yet. In the power department Claudio Arias is the top power hitter in the system and not one else is close to him in this department, however his issues with strike outs and injuries haven't improved. The 2007 season, Arias sixth as a minor leaguer will be his most important in his baseball carreer and most likely in Portland. Chris Turner will be next in line power wise, but like Arias has issues withe strike outs.Aaron Bates and Jon Egan are players to keep an eye on in 07 specially Bates if he plays in the California league like its expected, but the future power hitters in the Sox system haven't play a game as profesionals, i am talking about Lars Anderson, Tyler Weedem and Angel Beltre. When you are the #1 prospect in the system and a position player you're expected to be also the best pure hitter, but that isn't the case with Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury is the #1 prospect becasue of the combination package of hitting, speed and defense. The best pure hitters are Carlos Fernandez and Ryan Kalish with Yahmed Yema not too far off and Manuel Arrambaris and Chih-Hsien Chiang in the near future. The Sox's only #1 type in a pitching rotation prospect is Daniel Bard with Buchholz and Bowden more likely to be #2 types and with Felix Doubront and Caleb Clay not far off them, but in the future. The Sox prospects as relievers looks strong and promosing with potential closers like Bryson Cox and Miguel Socolovitch and set ups like Edgar Martinez, Kyle Jackson and Justin Masterson with Dustin Richardson been a left handed reliever to keep an eye on.

Both Jackson and Spann are in their fifth year in the minor leagues, which means that they are draftable in the rule 5 draft if not proctected.

A 15-18 ranking its way too low, the Sox's elite prospect are Ellsbury and Buchholz with Bowden in the outside, however Dustin Pedroia isn't very highly ranked by the evaluators, for sure not as highly as the Red Sox fans do.

With the probability of Loretta, Nixon, Gonzalez, Cora, Mirabelli and Kappler filing for free agency after the World series, the non tendering of Kyle Snyder and the questionable return to the 40 man of Alvarez and Pauley the Sox roster will be in the light side going in to the Winter meetings, however Alex Gonzalez might resignresign but that won't take place before the meetings. Unless a surprised move the only additions to the roster should be Chad Spann, Kyle Jackson and perhaps Phil Seibel. PS BA is reporting that the Sox has lost the service of top scout Gary Rajsich who among the players who he signed is Jon Lester.

There isn't any question that the talent in the Sox system has improved considerable in the last three, but is the program where it needs to be? the answer is NO, no yet, the Sox system should be ranked somewhere 10-12 this Winter with the strongest point been in depth and its weakest lack of super star or elite prospects.

The signing of Timlin if is more than a back up plan isn't a good move. Timlin isn't close to the pitcher that he was in 2004 and if the plan isn't for him to pitch in the eight inning or better isn't a bad move, until the young relievers are ready.

Bosox; Pauley doesn't project any better than a #5 in a ML starters rotation, with a very slim chance to be a #4, i like Gabbard better and expect the Sox not to protect Pauley this Winter, there is really very slim chance that the Sox would loose him in the rule 5 draft.

The comparison of Youkilis and Hatteberg is a fair one, i also agree that trading Youkilis not in a package isn't going to bring a lot of value back and also that there isn't much in the free agent market when it comes to first baseman or production hitters, unless we are talking about Carlos Lee but his asking price maybe out of what the Sox would be willing to pay, so yes the new first baseman would have to come in a trade. I take Nick Johnson over Youkilis any day, but again he isn't the answer of what the Sox needs.

Three bases on balls is too many in four innings, specially for a pitcher like Pauley, that doesn't have room for a mistake.

Thank You, Yes most of them might not make to the GCL, but there is a lot of talent in Latin America and the Sox are doing a decent job there, but they could be doing a lot better. In Latin America the talent is a lot less expensive than in the Pacific Rim.

Bosoz; I was also surprised that Natale wasn't send out to the HWL, according to reports at the end of the season his glove work has improved. Natale has been some what old for the leagues that he has played in, but i won't make to much out of that. Natale has enough bat for a second baseman, but not enough for a regular DH.

Like i have mentioned in another thread, the Sox can't compete in the AL with Manny and Ortiz as their only source of production, specially with corner infielders like Youkilis and lowell. Lowell is a golden glove caliber defender, so the one to the bench or traded has to be Youkilis.

With the Graduation of pitchers Arbert Jimenez, Jose Alvarez, Pedro Perez, Armando Zerpa, Victor Galde and Pedro Rodriguez and infielders Yamaico Navarro, Ricardo Burgos and probably Victor Zerrano, plus the early signing period additions, the Red Sox 2007 may look like the following besides any other signings in 2007. Catchers; Alan Atacho (V)* William Alvarez (V)* Marcial de La Nieve (D)@ 1B- Nelson Bonilla (D)* Can also play third Base 2B- Wilfredo Pichardo (D)# SS- Jackvil Avila (V)@ 3B- Pedro Chourio (V)# INF Luis Diaz (D)@ INF- Eudi Cordones (D)@ LF- Juan Bonafacio (D)# CF- Ronald Bermudez (V)@ RF- Jose Sierra (V)@ OF- Roberto Feliz (D)@ OF- Miguel Meregildo (D)@ Pitchers; SP- Cesar Cabral LHP (D)@ SP- Brandon Ulloa RHP (D)@ SP- Manuel Pimental LHP (D)# SP- Stormy Pimental RHP (D)# SP- Anthony Alvarado RHP (V)# SP- Edwin Lopez LHP(D)* SP- Yeiper Castillo RHP (V)@ RP- Emilio Valera RHP (D)# RP- Rafael Vargas RHP (D)* RP- Gustavo Zarraya RHP(V)@ RP- Raul Mayorca LHP(V)* RP- Victor de la cruz RHP (D)@ RP- Anataner Batista RHP (D)@ RP- Alberto GIL (D) D= Dominican V= Venezuelan *= Third year in the Latin leagues @= Second year in the latin leagues #= First year in the latin leagues Rafel Gil is playing in his fourth year in the latin leagues, but only because his making the switch to be a pitcher from a catcher.

Hairps, Nice to hear from you again and thank you for nice words. Bryson Cox:is more than likely the first Sox draft pick that reaches the ML, perhaps as early as in the second half of the 2007 season. Cox has a plus, plus fast ball and outstanding slider, a former infielder who dropped in both the 06 and 07 draft because of command issues that he seemed to have fix. Probably should had been ranked a little higher, but because he only had a cup of coffee in high A ball I would like to see more out of him. Justin Masterson: I spoke recently to a veteran scout that told me that Masterson remind him of a young Bob Stanley. Red Sox fans should remember him. Masterson has a 92-93 sinker, the rest of the other pitches aren't as advanced. According to what i have heard the Sox plan to use Masterson as a starter in 2007, coming out of the draft most scouts that saw him (I didn't see him pitch in college) speculated that his future was as a reliever. he should open the 07 in the new California club. Kris Johnson: Its well known that Johnson is coming back from TJ surgery and didn't pitch in the 06 college season until the second half. In the 06 season he was some what inconsistent, but that was probably because he wasn't fully back from the surgery. Johnson's fastball normally sits in the high 80's and touches low 90's consistent. I believe that the Sox are going to take it slow with Johnson and would had him start the 07 season in Greenville.