phillysoxfan115

I trust your judgement scaff, but how on earth can you say that a 16 year old boy will be in the top 10 of a vastly improved (probably top 10 in the league) farm system? I too love his power potential, but I just can't imagine a 16 year old at the top of a solid farm system. I know Angel Villalona went to the very top of the Giants farm system when he signed, but that is one of the worst systems in the league.

I'm very confused, can someone clear up the Pressley situation. I know they drafted a pitcher named Pressley in the 11th round and an outfielder named Presley in the 24th round. Any info to help me decipher between the two would be great. I know the outfielder was considered the best prospect in Colorado and his name is Matt, but this Ryan vs. Thomas business is very confusing. Thanks for any possible info.

The Red Sox have signed Taiwanese CF Che-Hsuang Lin to a signing bonus of $350k. You can get video by searching his name in Yahoo video. I would post links, but I do not have 15 posts yet so I can't post with links. Lin is someone the Sox have targeted since last year. He has plus plus speed (runs the 100 meter in 10.75 seconds!), plus defense (all the video is of him in the field except 1 seeing eye single up the middle), and plus hitting for average. He is the prototypical leadoff hitter. He is 18 and will possibly start in the GCL this year.

At first glance, I'd say this draft is meh at best, but as I think about it, I think it is pretty good given their picks. Yes they could have had Harvey, Crosby, and more players of that caliber, but they did get solid players. The one thing that is odd to me is the similarities to last year's draft besides the 1st round of course. Nick Hagadone is a lefty who is a relative unknown kinda similar to Kris Johnson. You got Hunter Morris who is very like Jon Still with the power but thats it. You got the senior signs in Chris Province and Bryce Cox. So, as I thought about it, right now it looks weak, but we can't tell until after MLB's slotting period (1-11 rounds), when the Sox can start to use their deep pockets and not piss of Bud Selig. However, if the draft continues this way for the entire draft, then I'd be less than thrilled, especially when it was speculated that the Roger Clemens $ was going into the draft.

Very painful to know that the day of the draft that Julio Lugo costs us the 20th pick (and possibly Rick Porcello), he's the one that makes the error that allows Shannon Stewart to come up in the 9th inning and break up the No-No.

I'd love it if the Yanks took Brackman. He is demanding a multi-million dollar deal, and he's destined to be a reliever. He's struggled not only because of personal tragedy but because he's not used to having strain. He is a raw pitcher due to the lack of pitching experience due to his previous basketball commitment. He is injury prone and could not hold the #1 starter spot on NC State!!! Yes he has a good fastball, but so did Dan Bard and we've all seen what happened to him. Yes he's "flashed" a great curveball, but he's never really put it together. Greg Peavey is a pitcher who is represented by Scott Boras and has a solid commitment to Oregon State, so he will fall. His other main detractor is his lack of upside. Scouts think he hasn't improved much since freshman year so it's possible he's done improving. He is also probably destined for the pen. Matt Harvey could fall also for the fact he's represented by Scott Boras, but I believe he wants a major league contract and last I checked the Yankees do not give amateurs major league contracts. Also he's a lifelong Red Sox fan. MiLB.com has scouting reports on most players and some have videos: Brackman: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=brackman Peavey: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=peavey Harvey: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=harvey

Scaff, Do you have any info on any of the players signed from September to date besides Consuegra?

#44 and #43 are out. They are Zach Daeges and Dustin Richardson

Wheeler would cost more, but it has nothing to do with what announcers say. It would be the fact he's cheaper, been more reliable recently, and hasn't lost his secondary stuff. Lidge can't throw his slider for a strike, so teams wait for his fastball, which is good, but its like Beckett in that if that's all you throw, you're toast. The Astros love Wheeler, and would not give him up unless Lidge starts out the year absolutely lights out, and even then it would take a lot for Wheeler. If you're looking for anyone on the Astros bullpen, your best bet to both come fairly cheap and succeed in Boston (not a given ever), is Chad Qualls.

We can't trade Kris Johnson, he was drafted less than a year ago. I'm 90% sure there's a rule stating you can't trade a guy less than a year after he was drafted.

We are already guaranteed a supplemental 1st rounder for A-Gon, and if Foule signs we get another. However, Lugo most definitely does not deserve 8 mill, even in this market. He's never batted .300, never had an OBP over .362, He's played 5 playoff games and only gotten 1 hit!!! It's a toss-up in my mind, I don't mind losing the pick, but I'd rather see it go to relief pitching, just because I think Lugo is trash.

The White Sox have very few prospects worthy of being put in with Santana in a deal for Manny, especially with Josh Fields needing to be Crede's replacement should this trade go down. I'd prefer a move to the Dodgers. The Sox could definitely pry Broxton and Loney (I'd prefer LaRoche if possible), and possibly another minor leaguer, or if it is legal in the rules of baseball, ask the Dodgers not to offer JD Drew (and Julio Lugo??)arbitration (allowing the Sox to keep the 20th pick in an absolutely stacked draft).