OTM Prospect Rankings: Who's No. 3?
by Randy Booth
on Jan 11, 2009 8:57 PM EST
in Minors
25 comments
No. 2 was as easy as the first: Michael Bowden is your second-best Red Sox prospect by clocking in with 74 percent of the vote.
This is where it will get interesting. Daniel Bard edged Junichi Tazawa to place behind Bowden, but Tazawa was winning for a good portion of time. How's it going to play out for the third spot? Here are your candidates, with a new addition: Yamaico Navarro.
DANIEL BARD (More info)
24 y.o / Relief pitcher / T: R, B: R
SP: 3 / BA: 4 / MLB: 3
LVL IP BB SO HR ERA WHIP A 28 4 43 1 0.64 0.57 AA 49.2 26 64 3 1.99 1.13
Strikeout artist and has lowered walk-rate significantly in his career. Powerful; can hit 100 on the gun.
JOSH REDDICK (More info)
22 y.o / Outfielder / B: R, T: L
SP: 4 / BA: 5: / MLB: 4
LVL AB 2B HR RBI BA/OBP/SLG A 53 4 0 9 .340/.397/.491 A+ 312 11 17 57 .343/.375/.593 AA 117 4 6 25 .214/.290/.436
Athletic outfielder with very good power for small frame. Needs to work on plate discipline.
MICHAEL ALMANZAR (More info)
18 y.o. / Third Base / B: R, T: R
SP: 5 / BA: 8 / MLB: 6
LVL AB 2B HR RBI BA/OBP/SLG
RK 89 6 1 11 .348/.414/.472
A 140 5 2 11 .207/.238/.314
Very raw infielder but has huge potential. Very good power potential.
JUNICHI TAZAWA (More info)
23 y.o. / Starting pitcher / B: R, T: R
SP: 7 / BA: n-a / MLB: n-a
LVL IP BB SO HR ERA WHIP
JAP 113 15 114 - 0.80 -
High-potential pitcher with great secondary pitches. Some say he would have been a first round draft pick if eligible.
NICK HAGADONE (More info)
23 y.o. / Starting pitcher / B: L, T: L
SP: 16 / BA: 3 / MLB: 8
LVL IP BB SO HR ERA WHIP
A 10 6 12 0 0.00 1.10
Underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2008. Expects to be pitching in May 2009. Big lefty that has hit 98 on the gun. First round pick with potential, but no one knows how he'll rebound after TJ.
CASEY KELLY (More info)
19 y.o / Infielder-Pitcher / B: R, T: R
SP: 6 / BA: 6 / MLB: 11
LVL AB 2B HR RBI BA/OBP/SLG
Rk 98 5 1 9 .173/.229/.255
A- 32 5 0 4 .344/.344/.563
Very talented player that could be either a shortstop or a pitcher. Kelly will start 2009 as a pitcher, throw 100 innings, then move to shortstop for the remainder of the year.
RYAN WESTMORELAND (More info)
19 y.o. / Outfielder / B: L, T: R
SP: 11 / BA: 7 / MLB: 5
LVL AB 2B HR RBI BA/OBP/SLG
HS 72 7 4 31 .486/.562/.806
Fast, athletic outfielder with a lot of skills. From Rhode Island. Had shoulder surgery in November, won't play until June 2009.
YAMAICO NAVARRO (More info)
21 y.o. / Shortstop / B: R, T: R
SP: 10 / BA: 9 / MLB: 9
LVL AB 2B HR RBI BA/OBP/SLG A 325 14 7 54 .280/.341/.412 A+ 181 13 4 23 .348/.393/.508 HWB 13 0 0 0 .231/.286/.231
A strong middle infielder with surprising pop at the plate. Another raw talent with a high ceiling.
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Reddick before Bard.
I think Bard’s too one-dimensional to slot in at #1. Also, I am generally cautious about pitchers who are relievers in the minors – it’s much safer to back someone who is ‘good enough’ to be a starter in the minors who subsequently is moved to the bullpen.
I like Reddick a lot. He’s toolsy and young, and I think we’ll see good progression from him in 09.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on
Jan 12, 2009 5:51 AM EST
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I disagree. Bard has good enough ‘stuff’ to be a dominant closer in the MLB. Reddick has tools but we still haven’t seen the complete package yet.
I guess I’m not as high on Reddick as others are. He’s not even my No. 4.
by Randy Booth on
Jan 12, 2009 9:50 AM EST
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I just can't agree about Bard.
I couldn’t put a reliever with such a short track record of success in my top three.
He’s got a lot of heat, but this season he’ll need to show more with his secondary pitches. Maybe his slider will become a plus pitch (which is entirely possible, of course).
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on
Jan 12, 2009 2:51 PM EST
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Umm... wasn't that Paps's story?
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 12, 2009 7:16 PM EST
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Yes... and?
I did point out that Bard could conceivably add a strong secondary pitch. Just because it happened to Papelbon – perhaps the greatest reliever the Red Sox have had in modern times – doesn’t make it more likely that the success can be repeated. There is no correlation there.
And – to make this point yet again! – Papelbon came up as a starter.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on
Jan 13, 2009 4:04 AM EST
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Oh, forgot that.
Sorry. But the adding pitches stuff is almost a sure thing, because our coaches won’t let him NOT develop another one.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 13, 2009 6:28 PM EST
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What?!
So every player who only has basically a good pitch didn’t have a coach?
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on
Jan 13, 2009 10:51 PM EST
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They had a coach, just not one of ours.
by BTLove on
Jan 14, 2009 3:00 AM EST
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Who, it must be said, dealt so brilliantly with Hansen…
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on
Jan 14, 2009 6:08 AM EST
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Too much time with the college coaches.
He still had great pitches, but he screwed with himself.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 14, 2009 7:50 PM EST
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The Red Sox coaches 'screwed' with Hansen
not his coaches at St John’s, if that’s what you’re implying.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on
Jan 15, 2009 5:37 AM EST
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I meant mentally.
You could see it on his face after every homerun.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 15, 2009 7:20 PM EST
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Papelbon
started to truly DOMINATE when he learned how to throw a splitter. Coaches didn’t teach him that, Curt Schilling did.
The rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble
by DirtySouthSox on
Jan 14, 2009 9:11 PM EST
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Sign Curt as a pitching coach.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 15, 2009 7:20 PM EST
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Dude, I'm all for that
I think Greg Maddux said he’s like to be a pitching coach like his brother someday.
The rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble
by DirtySouthSox on
Jan 15, 2009 7:30 PM EST
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Sign'em both.
Farrell could use some help dealing with all of the great pitching options we have.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 16, 2009 8:40 PM EST
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Thank you, sir
Reddick should be higher. A guy that projects to be a starting RF is better than a not-so-young reliever.
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on
Jan 12, 2009 11:59 AM EST
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Not too young because he came out of UNC after playing three years. He’s only played 2 seasons in the Sox organization.
by Randy Booth on
Jan 12, 2009 12:27 PM EST
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He's still kind of old to be ranked this high, being a AA reliever
He’ll be good, but I think we all overrate him.
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on
Jan 12, 2009 2:32 PM EST
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I think he’s almost as good as Hansen was at this point. Hansen, though, was destroyed when he was called up early. I don’t think that will happen with Bard.
by Randy Booth on
Jan 12, 2009 2:48 PM EST
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Hansen had better stuff than Bard
My point is: Bard is good, he’ll be good. But 3rd for a project reliever who’s kind of old for his level seem a little bit too high, imo.
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on
Jan 12, 2009 2:49 PM EST
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Yes, Hansen did/does? have better stuff.
by Randy Booth on
Jan 12, 2009 3:47 PM EST
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At that point in his career, Hansen had better stuff than Bard does now
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on
Jan 12, 2009 3:55 PM EST
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Tazawa-bunga!
Bard has been in the news as of late, but only becuase he had a successful move into the bullpen in 2008. Minor League RPs are not nearly as rare as potential starts like Bowden. Tazawa has to prove he can make the adjustment to America, but I like that the Sox brought him over young… I think he’ll be contributing at the ML level in 2009.
ps. I really like Casey Kelly, but we won’t be seeing him for a few years…
The Bottom Line
http://www.bottomlinesox.com
by bottomlinesox on
Jan 13, 2009 10:46 AM EST
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But, he's freaking awesome at TWO positions.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on
Jan 13, 2009 6:29 PM EST
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