Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

by Randy Booth on Jan 6, 2008 6:11 PM EST in Minors Comment 17 comments

Baseball America recently released their breakdown of the Red Sox farm system. Here's their top 10 list:

Clay Buchholz, rhp
Jacoby Ellsbury, of
Lars Anderson, 1b
Justin Masterson, rhp
Jed Lowrie, ss
Ryan Kalish, of
Michael Bowden, rhp
Nick Hagadone, lhp
Oscar Tejeda, ss
Josh Reddick, of

BA has a much different top 10 than we do. Like John Sickels, BA really loves Lars Anderson but I have never seen him this high on a list before. But BA knows what they're doing, so I don't doubt them. They also think Lars is the best hitter for average and power in the Red Sox system. For a full list of superlatives (best infield arm, best fastbell, etc.) check out the link.

I love their 2011 Red Sox team, too:

Catcher           Mark Wagner
First Base        Lars Anderson
Second Base       Dustin Pedroia
Third Base        Kevin Youkilis
Shortstop         Jed Lowrie
Left Field        Ryan Kalish
Center Field      Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field       Josh Reddick
Des. Hitter       David Ortiz
No. 1 Starter     Josh Beckett
No. 2 Starter     Clay Buchholz
No. 3 Starter     Daisuke Matsuzaka
No. 4 Starter     Jon Lester
No. 5 Starter     Michael Bowden
Closer            Jonathan Papelbon

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Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

Jacoby should be ahead of Buccholz.

Andrew

by BoSox415 on Jan 6, 2008 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

I think we're all excited about Jacoby, and why not? The speediest player in Boston in quite awhile, and should be an extremely good defensive CF once he learns the nuances of the triangle, etc.

That being said, every ML team would take a Clay Buchholz before a Jacoby Ellsbury if given the chance. Clay is in the right spot, IMO.

by Allen Chace on Jan 6, 2008 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

That was a dig at me, wasn't it?

Juuuust kidding :)

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 6, 2008 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

There's not much I say that isn't a dig on you.

by Allen Chace on Jan 6, 2008 10:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

Second speediest. Buchholz can beat Ellsbury in a race

by Schulz on Jan 6, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

I thought Buchholz had said they were about the same speed... but still, that's a big accomplishment.

by Liza on Jan 6, 2008 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

Excellent point.

by Allen Chace on Jan 6, 2008 10:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

massorotti had a good point today, saying we should start to seriously hoard prospects in order to replace our offensive stars in a few years. he even mentions a possible Hanley trade. story below:

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/06/sunday-morning-mlb-rumors-rays-bucs-tribe/

by em3 on Jan 6, 2008 10:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

I saw the Hanley idea today. Thought it was an interesting thought, but really kind of out there. I hate giving up a prospect and then just getting him back a couple years later...

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 6, 2008 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

This is one of those things, though, where the "hoarding" would involve guys like Place, Middlebrooks, Almanzar...by the time the Marlins can't afford Hanley, guys like the ones mentioned as possible targets in a Santana deal will all be 25+.

Thus, I don't see why we couldn't do both, though I agree with you that turning around and trading to get Hanley back could seem a little silly, and I really wouldn't be a fan of it if he hasn't moved positions by then.

by Allen Chace on Jan 6, 2008 10:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From Jim Callis' Q&A about the ranking

Q: Better prospect and arm overall - Buchholz or Joba? Which one ranks higher on your personal Top 50 list?
A: Jim Callis: Chamberlain has a better pure arm, but Buchholz has a deeper arsenal of plus pitches. In other words, Chamberlain can throw harder, but he can't match Buchholz' repertoire of plus fastball, plus-plus curveball, plus slider and plus-plus changeup. I had Buchholz at No. 2 and Chamberlain at No. 3 on my personal Top 50 list, with Jay Bruce at No. 1.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 6, 2008 11:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2011 team

That 2011 team looks surprisingly good. Obviously we'll need to make some acquisitions- probably at C, OF, and SP. Other than that, it's not a bad roster.

by Schulz on Jan 7, 2008 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: 2011 team

It looks good, but what are the odds our 2011 team has 12 home grown players?

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 7, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: 2011 team

I guarantee you that will not be our 2011 team. Too much happens in the world of baseball. Guys will be traded.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jan 8, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: 2011 team

Yeah, definitely. No way that happens.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 8, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: 2011 team

Especially in the OF. With the money the Sox have and the relative frequency that great corner OF hit the market I doubt they'll have Kalish and Reddick out there.

by gnick55 on Jan 8, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Baseball America ranks the Red Sox system

Jacoby is a more exciting player at this point, mainly due to his performance in September and the playoffs. But Buchholz is a more valuable commodity, a true ace. Remember Hanley for Beckett, that worked out pretty well.

by gnick55 on Jan 7, 2008 10:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs