Posts Tagged ‘Baseball America’
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May Farm Report: Promotions & Emotions - Part 2June 3rd, 2008
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Before diving into part two of my May farm report, I’d be remiss not to mention the upcoming amateur entry draft held this Thursday through Friday.
The Red Sox, as the defending World Champions, own the final pick, 30th overall, in the first round, but the club also has a supplemental first round pick, 45th overall, in their arsenal. That’s because pitcher Eric Gagne, although a major bust during his brief tenure with the Sox, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a Type B free agent—a status that earns the player’s former team a sandwich pick prior to the beginning of the second round. So, at least Gag-me was good for something.
If available, look for the Sox to nab junior shortstop Reese Havens out of the University of South Carolina with their first round selection Thursday afternoon.
The six-foot, one-inch left-handed hitter finished the collegiate season with a .359 batting for the Gamecocks, slugging 18 home runs in all while toting an impressive .486 on-base percentage. Havens also excelled in the Cape Cod Baseball League this past summer, adjusting well to wood bats as he batted .314 with five home runs.
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April Farm Report: A Master and His Bard - Part 2May 2nd, 2008
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In continuing my quick and dirty April farm report for the Red Sox, it’s now time to assess the organization’s Single-A affiliates.
Ah yes, the lower levels of the minor leagues, where young high-ceiling prospects either thrive towards a quick promotion from obscurity or languish into the doldrums of baseball mediocrity.
A quick note before we proceed: Lancaster’s Clear Channel Stadium is a joke.
Now, let me explain. You see, the park sits 2,500 feet above sea level with high winds … no, rather, a jet stream … consistently blowing straight out to right field all day, every day. In terms of park factors, we’re talking about the (pre-humidor) Coors Field Effect times ten here.
Don’t believe me? OK, chew on this: last season, a series between Lancaster and Lake Elsinore produced not only a 30-0 game but a total of 95 hits (!), 83 runs (!!), and 23 home runs (!!!) in all during the three-game set. Yikes.
Therefore, as a result, the stadium is a hitter’s paradise and a pitcher’s worst nightmare, Freddy Krueger style. And it’s also not limited to just Lancaster as most parks in the California League favor the batsmen over their counterpart atop the mound. So, keep that in mind.
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April Farm Report: A Master and His Bard - Part 1May 1st, 2008
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There’s a reason why many Red Sox followers remained hesitant when it came to the discussed but never-to-be trade for ace lefty and change-up king Johan Santana this past off-season.
Just call it prospect envy.
With the success of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, last year’s American League Rookie of the Year, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, a key cog in Boston’s World Series sweep of the Rockies, and right-hander Clay Buchholz, owner of a no-hitter in his second major league start, the fans of the Olde Towne Team are starting to expect similar results from each farmhand that makes his way up to the big club.
Add into the mix shortstop Jed Lowire, who has filled in admirably as a super-sub on the major league roster due to injuries in the Boston infield this season, and right-hander Justin Masterson’s impressive spot start against the Angels last week, and this phenomenon of lusting after the unknown—like the backup quarterback in football—only intensifies.
And fans aren’t alone when it comes to prospect envy.
Ultimately, the Red Sox front office, led by general manager Theo Epstein, felt the price for Santana—four top prospects … and a huge contract—was not one worth paying.
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Sickly Sox Regress To The MeanApril 28th, 2008
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Five days. That’s all it takes. From a six-game winning streak filled with memorable late-inning heroics to a five game nose-dive the Red Sox would like to soon forget as the team heads into its first off-day since April 7, a span covering 20 straight games played in between.
But with a run differential that didn’t match their spiffy 15-7 record heading into Wednesday’s contest against the Angels, the Sox were due for a little regression towards the mean—though, ideally, not in the span of 120 hours. Of course, a team-wide bout with the influenza epidemic of 2008 hasn’t helped matters.
Ravaged by a nefarious flu bug, the Sox were forced to dip into the depths of their system when ace Josh Beckett and the so-far-undefeated Daisuke Matsuzaka fell victim to the pervasive virus last week during a three game set with the Angels.
As a result of the unexpected scratches, Boston called up two starters from the minors—Triple-A Pawtucket right-hander David Pauley, a middling young arm who had previously made his debut in 2006, and fellow righty Justin Masterson, a top five prospect in the Sox system making the jump from Double-A Portland. In addition, Jon Lester took to the hill on three days rest in the middle game of the series.
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Red Sox Win Series, Lose LowellApril 11th, 2008
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The Red Sox may have won the home opening series against the Tigers, but they did so at a cost.
That’s because before Boston doubled up Detroit in a 12-6 slugfest Thursday night, the team found out it would be minus the services of third baseman and five-hole hitter Mike Lowell until at least April 25 as a result of a sprained left thumb suffered on a diving stop in the top of the first inning of Wednesday’s contest.
With Lowell, last year’s World Series’ MVP, landing on the 15-day disabled list, the team purchased the contract of 23-year-old Jed Lowrie from Triple-A Pawtucket. The switch-hitting Lowrie, rated by Baseball America as the organization’s fifth best prospect, has so far been groomed as Boston’s shortstop of the future or even trade bait in the right deal. Yet he does have experience all over the infield from the minors.
Although off to a cold start with zero runs batted in over nine games, the loss of Lowell will present the Red Sox with their first real challenge on the young season while also testing the team’s depth as they head into a weekend series against the Yankees.
