WEEI's Alex Speier Ranks Sox's Top Three Prospects

by Randy Booth on Dec 3, 2009 12:28 PM EST in News

WEEI's Alex Speier, who is hosting a chat with Rob Bradford on their website as I type this, ranked his top three Red Sox prospects (because I asked him too and he's just a darn nice guy) for everyone:

1) Kelly (as a pitcher - even though I'm not yet sold that he's a No. 1 or No. 2 until his velo picks up -- but he has that ceiling)
2) Westmoreland (limitless ceiling -- and all reports on his recovery from broken collarbone are positive)
3) Rizzo -- I give him a tiny advantage over Lars because of the defense, and I consider his ceiling higher than that of Kalish/Reddick

I said he had to say pitcher or shortstop for Kelly, because we all know he'd list him No. 1 anyway. Very interesting to see Anthony Rizzo go before Josh Reddick or Ryan Kalish. I personally voted for Josh Reddick in our top prospects poll because I like that he's MLB-ready and he has a lot of power potential. Rizzo, though, will be fantastic to watch.

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Honestly my biggest surprise from this polling period was how little attention Rizzo got.

There are a definite group of 4 guys “in contention”, and he’s not one of them.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions

I feel like Iglesias is going to end up way too high on this list.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Dec 4, 2009 3:22 AM EST up reply actions

Define way too high.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 4, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Love it

This ranking was made based on the ceiling of those guys and they’re without a doubt the top 3 prospects:
- Kelly: If his fastball can sits regularly in mid-90 range, he could be a Hallyday-type of pitcher: Pounding the strike zone (very few BBs), solid but not spectacular k rate and a lot of groundballs. Ace material.
- Westmoreland: perennial All-star. ’Nuff said.
- Rizzo: GG 1st baseman who could hit for high avg with 20-25 Hrs.

To zobrist; verb – to overlook the superiority of a person or object based on misleading sensory or conversational factors. e.g. "My teacher totally zobristed me on that paper – I’d included all the points he asked for but I didn’t drone on about Grover Cleveland enough. He’s totally biased towards Cleveland. What’s worse is that Danny Dukowski got an A, and his prose style is terrible. He’s a total Victorino." deadspy3 - Amazin' Avenue

by bloodysock04 on Dec 3, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions

Oh you are so wrong if you believe Lars has a lower ceiling than Rizzo.

I LOVE Rizzo, but the pure power potential for Lars is almost Prince Fielder-esque……hopefully they both become talented young major leaguers.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Dec 3, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Lars is SO overrated

Remember that he’s a 54.3% GB hitter in his minor league career (for a slow player like he is, that’s a killer for his avg) and a 29.5% FB hitter (that’s VERY weak for a slugger). Add to that his abyssal defense (Total zone ranks his defense as: -24 runs/150 in 07, -3 in 08 and -5 this year) and you have bust written all over him.
Here,s this link to kill all your expectations toward him.

by bloodysock04 on Dec 3, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions