Hugh2

If anything these guys are ranked later by the national outlets because soxprospecs focus is soley on the Sox. They get wind of and eyes on these guys sooner than anyone else. Both Devers and Bogaerts didn't show up on national rankings until about 1 year after they broke into the Soxprospects top 20 rankings. Another thing to consider is the group of guys who would hypothetically rank right now as 18-19 year olds IFA in a system missed an entire year two years ago. That might not seem like much now, a year removed, but a lot of those guys get ranked based on hype and shine coming out of the international market and not actual track record. Who knows where these guys will rank by year's end. For all we know Baseball America had Miguel Bleis right outside the top 100 and with a strong 2022 he could be a top 50/100 prospect by this time next year. Baseball America did name drop Bleis as a breakout candidate for 2022. You're not wrong, but I think you're being way too premature in that assertation. I will certainly not make such one, not yet at least.

and it's not like these guys you're talking about immediately ranked as a top 2 prospect. Bogaerts debuted in the top 20 as the 18th ranked prospect in the system. Devers debuted at 18th as well. The Sox literally have two international prospects in their top 20 ranked higher than 18th right now.

The were instantly ranked, but they weren't instantly ranked high. The list of guys I just gave you are all ranked now too and could shoot up the ladder with good campaigns in 2022.

I whole heartedly disagree. The only group of players who exist who could fit your criteria pretty much all have a ONE in front of their age. You say these things are excuses but not excuses? That would make more sense to me if we were talking about a prolonged period of time. That argument works when your system hasn't turned out a legit starting pitching prospect in almost two decades. Also, keep in mind we have the missed Covid year that really screwed up these kids. People like Miguel Bleis, Brainer Bonaci, Wilkenson Gonzlaez, and Eddison Paulino are all legit prospects who could have take a huge step forward last year if they had another year of development under their belts. I'm not saying you're wrong but it's way way way way way way too early to say such, especially when the team itself is still flush with homegrown IFA talent, some of which is still cost controlled.

I think that's a very unfair take for a couple of reasons. The first couple years in your window we literally were disallowed from signing anyone. The best signing out of the 2017/2018 class was considered by many to be the best IFA signing that year but he died tragically. Everyone after that is 20 or younger. There are kids 16/17 years old playing in the DSL this year, that we realistically can't project anything upon. The next Micky Mantle could be there for all we know. Also, holding people up to the Bogey/Devers standard is a little unfair. Those are legit elite guys, you don't have to turn out an elite guy every year to have a successful system.

Exactly. That, plus the 5 year lead time, and one could expect the Sox not of not had any meaningful contributions from the IFA class in a while. The system has some nice IFA in it though now.

I think that’s a little unfair, 2018 was only 4 years ago, when those kids would have been 16. Some are turning 21 this year but most are much younger. Let’s see what 2018-2021 looks like 5 years from now.

Eovaldi is still just 32, which doesn’t seem particularly young for a pitcher but I get the vibe he’s going to be the guy who pitches until he’s 40 if he wants to. 4 more years! 4 more years!

That's kind of my concern with him as well. My hope is he is able to make enough improvements to be a good LF/RF.....but if he's a corner guy that puts a little bit more pressure on his bat. I think Duran is good, but I don't think he's going to live up to the hype he's had which may mean he ultimately disappoints a lot of people.

I don't disagree with a single thing you just said. I just A.) don't think it's guaranteed to happen this year and B.) think us fans tend to over estimate how quickly guys will be ready and how soon they will be called up. History as a very long track record of proving B correct, even if you don't agree with the first part the second part is irefutable.

I feel as if more often than not prospects come up and at the very least struggle for a month or two before they get grounded. A good example of that on this current team is Xander Bogaerts.

Ok, but that was in Low A 3 years ago now. He has power, that's without question, I'm just not convinced he's ready for the majors and if he is at some point this year I'm not convinced the team is going to bring him up unless there's also a need. There's a stronger incentive to start a prospect at the beginning of the season and let him play all year. If you don't have a need for him at the MLB level come August, why burn the roster spot on the 40 man. So I also question whether or not the Sox are going to bring him up. I don't think it's out of the question he comes up with, nor do I think it's highly unlikely....but I think it's very plausible we don't see him until next year. Regardless, my point is the same. We can take Casas out and throw a different name in there. Later in the year we will be talking about Yorke, in a year or two it will be Mayer....or whoever is hitting well in A/AA ball that the news reports as a top prospects. We always want guys to be ready and it's really easy to use minor league stats as anecdotal evidence that they're.

23 at-bats in the Olympics don't close the gap from effectively jumping from AA to the majors. He's still developing his power, only 14 home runs last year. People are saying he's the kind of hitter who will eventually hit 30 a year and I think and hope they're right but he only hit 14 last year mostly in AA and we're saying he's ready. Why do we never learn our lessons with prospects and always want them rushed as fans? Dalbec looked good enough down the stretch last year to allow Casas to come up in due time. No need to rush anyone. I'd rather have him start the season in 2023 more ready and get that extra draft pick per the new rules of starting rookies and getting picks in the finish high in ROY/MVP voting. Still, I think there's decent chance we see him at the end of this year. If there are injuries and he's mashing he will get the call up. I'd set the over/under on July 20th. I'll take the over.

I think it's almost a scientific fact that fans always think a prospect is ready before he actually is. I also don't think there's any evidence he's "more ready than Duran is" even by minor league at-bats, which isn't as telling as one would think. Casas has 33 at bats above AA ball, Duran had 244 with a higher OPS than Casas. I think we're just dreaming on Casas because he has that shiny #1 prospect tag. I think he's going to be stud.........but he could easily not be ready and that's ok.

That seems very suspect. As a general rule of thumb, people tend to over estimate how soon someone will make the majors AND how soon they will actually contribute in a meaningful way. They can't all be Mookie Betts.

I think there's a very good chance we don't see Casas until early 2023, and that's fine.

Storys career away OPS: .752 Bogaerts career away OPS: .755 I'm not concerned. Most players hit worse away from home.

You know what I love the most about arguing sports with people on the internet? Is forgetting. Some of you do such a great job of remembering, it's admirable really. I remember arguing with someone, somewhere about Bloom not being afraid to spend the money, and the Sox willing to go over the cap but for the life of me I just can't recall who I need to specifically call out so I can have my AHHHH HAAAAA I TOLD YOU SO MOMENT!!!! To be fair, I was 100% certain we would sign an outfielder and not have JBJ as a starter, and that's looking like a big maybe at this point.

Nothing, they will eat nothing. They will give you good prospects to take on that contract. Now’s the time to take on a meets contract, platoon him with JBJ and get a prospect in return.

I mean…I’m not exactly going to bet on him becoming a good OFer either but I’am optimistic and curious.

Dalbec actually has the arm and is quick for a 1B, came up at 3rd. I'd be interested to see how he looks out there this spring. If Dalbec continues to hit and Casas forces his way up it would be the best move to make mid season.....Assuming we don't see a resurgence of JBJ's bat.

What...Frank German doesn't excite you???? 5.12 ERAs in AA as a 23 year old don't just grow on trees you know.

Carlos Correa is an average player on a talented team has got to be the dumbest take I've read in a VERY VERY VERY long time.

With the DH coming to the NL I wonder if JDM becomes extremely marketable. That money + the Salary cap rises means the Sox could easily sign both Suzuki and one of Bryant/Correa. Correa fills the obvious middle infielder hole we have.

Some might even say I’m stunning and brave