Costello: Down on the farm
The following article was written and sent to me by Matt Costello.
Well, since The Duke himself has left town, and been replaced by every teenage girls favorite GM, Theo Epstein, the Red Sox have had some success replenishing their once depleted farm system. Gone are the days when Dan Duquette or Lou Gorman would fire top prospects for adequate arms at the trade deadline (see Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen), and here, hopefully to stay, is a bountiful amount of talent or atleast talent at a couple of different levels. In this first piece, let’s analyze three of the top pitching prospects in the organization, currently placed at the AAA and AA levels.
Abe Alverez, considered by many to be the most Major League ready of all the prospects, has been off to a steady start in Pawtucket. Some of you may remember him from his brief appearance in the day game of a day/night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, in which he got roughed up and took the loss. The lanky lefty is not overpowering, topping out around 84-85MPH with his fastball. He does however deceive hitters with what Soxprospects.com calls “the best changeup in the system”, as well as pinpoint control. In his last outing, Alverez scattered 6 hits over 7innings worth of work, while striking out 6 and walking none. So far this season, Alverez boasts a 2-1 record through 5 starts, with a 3.90 ERA, an 8.5 K/BB ratio (17 to 2), and a 1 HR/9 IP line. Not bad for a guy in his second year of professional baseball huh?
The next pitcher in line to headline the Boston rotation one day (perhaps sooner than one thinks with the injury bug taking its toll) would be the big righty from Jacksonville, Florida Jon Papelbon. Drafted out of Mississippi State University where he was predominately a closer, Papelbon has made the shift to starter with relative ease. In his first full year of pro ball, Papelbon posted eye-popping numbers. Over 129 innings with Single-A Sarasota, Papelbon posted a miniscule 2.65 ERA, striking out 153 while walking 43 in the process for an impressive 3.54 K/BB rate. Papelbon, who features a lower to mid 90s fastball, as well as a changeup and curveball, all of which he can throw for strikes, has picked up right where he left off this season in AA Portland. Through 4 starts with the Sea Dogs, he has registered a 2-1 record, striking out 24 through 22 innings, while walking just two for a ridiculous 12 to 1 K/BB rate. Peter Gammons has stated more than once in his weekly ESPN.com piece that Papelbon will be ready before anyone else in the organization, and could be called up by July or August to help the Sox.
The final prospect looked at today will be top relief prospect Cla Meredith, currently with the Portland Sea Dogs. Entering tonight’s action, he boasted a scoreless streak of 14 innings, en route to collecting 8 saves in as many tries, only allowing 4 hits, and striking out 11. The right-hander throws from a ¾ angle, and is especially tough on right-handed hitters. His main pitch is a nasty sinker, which he throws anywhere from 87 through 92 MPH, along with a slider and changeup. If the Boston bullpen continues to struggle early on (league worst opponent OPS of .838), do not be surprised to see Cla get a shot at the big leagues come the dog days of summer. -M.C
-Awesome stuff from stello, all these guys are unreal good. I love how Theo's philosophy is dependant on developing talent on the farm even though we have the resources to pay (and sometimes overpay) for select premium free agents.- JT
Well, since The Duke himself has left town, and been replaced by every teenage girls favorite GM, Theo Epstein, the Red Sox have had some success replenishing their once depleted farm system. Gone are the days when Dan Duquette or Lou Gorman would fire top prospects for adequate arms at the trade deadline (see Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen), and here, hopefully to stay, is a bountiful amount of talent or atleast talent at a couple of different levels. In this first piece, let’s analyze three of the top pitching prospects in the organization, currently placed at the AAA and AA levels.
Abe Alverez, considered by many to be the most Major League ready of all the prospects, has been off to a steady start in Pawtucket. Some of you may remember him from his brief appearance in the day game of a day/night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, in which he got roughed up and took the loss. The lanky lefty is not overpowering, topping out around 84-85MPH with his fastball. He does however deceive hitters with what Soxprospects.com calls “the best changeup in the system”, as well as pinpoint control. In his last outing, Alverez scattered 6 hits over 7innings worth of work, while striking out 6 and walking none. So far this season, Alverez boasts a 2-1 record through 5 starts, with a 3.90 ERA, an 8.5 K/BB ratio (17 to 2), and a 1 HR/9 IP line. Not bad for a guy in his second year of professional baseball huh?
The next pitcher in line to headline the Boston rotation one day (perhaps sooner than one thinks with the injury bug taking its toll) would be the big righty from Jacksonville, Florida Jon Papelbon. Drafted out of Mississippi State University where he was predominately a closer, Papelbon has made the shift to starter with relative ease. In his first full year of pro ball, Papelbon posted eye-popping numbers. Over 129 innings with Single-A Sarasota, Papelbon posted a miniscule 2.65 ERA, striking out 153 while walking 43 in the process for an impressive 3.54 K/BB rate. Papelbon, who features a lower to mid 90s fastball, as well as a changeup and curveball, all of which he can throw for strikes, has picked up right where he left off this season in AA Portland. Through 4 starts with the Sea Dogs, he has registered a 2-1 record, striking out 24 through 22 innings, while walking just two for a ridiculous 12 to 1 K/BB rate. Peter Gammons has stated more than once in his weekly ESPN.com piece that Papelbon will be ready before anyone else in the organization, and could be called up by July or August to help the Sox.
The final prospect looked at today will be top relief prospect Cla Meredith, currently with the Portland Sea Dogs. Entering tonight’s action, he boasted a scoreless streak of 14 innings, en route to collecting 8 saves in as many tries, only allowing 4 hits, and striking out 11. The right-hander throws from a ¾ angle, and is especially tough on right-handed hitters. His main pitch is a nasty sinker, which he throws anywhere from 87 through 92 MPH, along with a slider and changeup. If the Boston bullpen continues to struggle early on (league worst opponent OPS of .838), do not be surprised to see Cla get a shot at the big leagues come the dog days of summer. -M.C
-Awesome stuff from stello, all these guys are unreal good. I love how Theo's philosophy is dependant on developing talent on the farm even though we have the resources to pay (and sometimes overpay) for select premium free agents.- JT
posted by Jared at
2:55 AM
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