Costello: On the farm
Down on the Farm
Great draft by the Red Sox, some real steals as Wolf has already mentioned, however I will recap a couple of the picks. Craig Hansen, a power reliever from St. John's University fell into our laps at the number 26 pick. He is rated by Baseball America as being the most Major League ready of all the draft picks, but some teams were scared away by agent Scott Boras demanding a big bonus. He features a 95-97mph fastball, as well as power slider (think Brad Lidge/K-Rod). He should be helping the pen by next spring. Another intriguing pick was the number 42 pick overall, Clay Bucholz. This kid is an athlete and a half. Not only did he play stellar outfield for Angelina College in Texas (where he hit .400 his junior year), he was drafted as a pitcher by the Sox. Clay features a mid 90s fastball with a slider, curve, circle change, and a 2-seam fastball. He is a little unheralded right now, and his secondary pitches do need work, however he is a kid that could sneak up through the system, however do not expect anything from him until around 2007 at the earliest. On a local note, Massasoit Community College was represented in the Red Sox 2005 Draft Class. Kyle Fernandes, a lefty, was drafted by the Red Sox with their 12th round selection. His repertoire includes a mid to upper 80s fastball, a major league ready 12 to 6 curve, and a plus change. Kyle absolutely dominated the competition this year in Division 3, averaging about 1.8 strikeouts per innings (he led the country in that category), and sported an impressive .724 era (also tops in the nation). Kyle has a legitimate chance to make to the big leagues, and if he does, he would be the first player out of Massasoit to do so.
As far as the players already in the system go, some players have been making huge strides from the month of May on. As we all know, the problems that the big league club has been having in the bullpen are well documented (worst opponents OPS, BAA, as well as the lowest K:BB ration and K/9 rate), and the solution may not be far. Along with draft pick Craig Hansen, the Portland Sea Dogs are in the middle of sending along yet another stud relief pitcher. Manny Delcarmen, a 23 year old out of West Roxbury has a real chance to make some noise before this season is over. The 23 year old possesses a consistent 95-98 mph fastball, with late explosion on it, as well as a power curve, termed by soxprospects.com to be his out pitch, to go along with an improving change up. A starter his entire career, Manny switched out to the Portland bullpen this year, and struggled early on. He posted a high 4 era with a 3/6 K:BB ratio through his first 7 innings. However, since April 27th, Delcarmen has settled in nicely to his role. He has posted eye popping numbers, including a 1.50 ERA with a .95 WHIP, allowing 18 hits and 4 walks in 24 innings. He has struck out 35 in this time, about 1 and a half per inning pitched. He has a major league ready arm and two plus pitches, could be time to send him to Pawtucket to see how he responds.
Remember Cla Meredith? The talk of the stat-heads when he was called up under a full year after he was drafted in 2004, Cla had a rough 2.2 innings with the big club. Cla was not himself, he had lost about 2-3mph off his sinker, did not throw his slider, and could not keep the ball down. Since returning to Pawtucket, the 21 year old has posted a 1.68 ERA with 2 saves and 12 strikeouts to only 4 walks in 9 innings. He is probably not in line for another shot this season, but do not give up on the side-winding right hander.
Random Notes:
-Anibal Sanchez continues to light it up in the Single-A Carolina League…he was named starting pitcher in the All-Star game and should make his AA debut shortly after (June 28th)
-Jon Papelbon was named the Red Sox minor league pitcher of the month..he is sporting a 3-2 record, with a nifty 2.28 ERA and 65 strikeouts to only 18 walks…could also be in line for a promotion to free up space for Anibal…
-Hanley Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain…nothing to worry about really, could have been the cause of his recent slump…
-Brandon Moss has absolutely been on a tear…since May he is hitting in the high 300s sporting a .950 OPS…his line on the season 280/352/475 are nothing to laugh at for a 21 year old in AA…
-This Portland Team could very well all be in the big leagues as early as 2006 with Pedrioa, Delcarmen, Hanley and Papelbon…with Youks at Third base, we could be looking at a sub 1million dollar infield…hello AJ Burnett?
Great draft by the Red Sox, some real steals as Wolf has already mentioned, however I will recap a couple of the picks. Craig Hansen, a power reliever from St. John's University fell into our laps at the number 26 pick. He is rated by Baseball America as being the most Major League ready of all the draft picks, but some teams were scared away by agent Scott Boras demanding a big bonus. He features a 95-97mph fastball, as well as power slider (think Brad Lidge/K-Rod). He should be helping the pen by next spring. Another intriguing pick was the number 42 pick overall, Clay Bucholz. This kid is an athlete and a half. Not only did he play stellar outfield for Angelina College in Texas (where he hit .400 his junior year), he was drafted as a pitcher by the Sox. Clay features a mid 90s fastball with a slider, curve, circle change, and a 2-seam fastball. He is a little unheralded right now, and his secondary pitches do need work, however he is a kid that could sneak up through the system, however do not expect anything from him until around 2007 at the earliest. On a local note, Massasoit Community College was represented in the Red Sox 2005 Draft Class. Kyle Fernandes, a lefty, was drafted by the Red Sox with their 12th round selection. His repertoire includes a mid to upper 80s fastball, a major league ready 12 to 6 curve, and a plus change. Kyle absolutely dominated the competition this year in Division 3, averaging about 1.8 strikeouts per innings (he led the country in that category), and sported an impressive .724 era (also tops in the nation). Kyle has a legitimate chance to make to the big leagues, and if he does, he would be the first player out of Massasoit to do so.
As far as the players already in the system go, some players have been making huge strides from the month of May on. As we all know, the problems that the big league club has been having in the bullpen are well documented (worst opponents OPS, BAA, as well as the lowest K:BB ration and K/9 rate), and the solution may not be far. Along with draft pick Craig Hansen, the Portland Sea Dogs are in the middle of sending along yet another stud relief pitcher. Manny Delcarmen, a 23 year old out of West Roxbury has a real chance to make some noise before this season is over. The 23 year old possesses a consistent 95-98 mph fastball, with late explosion on it, as well as a power curve, termed by soxprospects.com to be his out pitch, to go along with an improving change up. A starter his entire career, Manny switched out to the Portland bullpen this year, and struggled early on. He posted a high 4 era with a 3/6 K:BB ratio through his first 7 innings. However, since April 27th, Delcarmen has settled in nicely to his role. He has posted eye popping numbers, including a 1.50 ERA with a .95 WHIP, allowing 18 hits and 4 walks in 24 innings. He has struck out 35 in this time, about 1 and a half per inning pitched. He has a major league ready arm and two plus pitches, could be time to send him to Pawtucket to see how he responds.
Remember Cla Meredith? The talk of the stat-heads when he was called up under a full year after he was drafted in 2004, Cla had a rough 2.2 innings with the big club. Cla was not himself, he had lost about 2-3mph off his sinker, did not throw his slider, and could not keep the ball down. Since returning to Pawtucket, the 21 year old has posted a 1.68 ERA with 2 saves and 12 strikeouts to only 4 walks in 9 innings. He is probably not in line for another shot this season, but do not give up on the side-winding right hander.
Random Notes:
-Anibal Sanchez continues to light it up in the Single-A Carolina League…he was named starting pitcher in the All-Star game and should make his AA debut shortly after (June 28th)
-Jon Papelbon was named the Red Sox minor league pitcher of the month..he is sporting a 3-2 record, with a nifty 2.28 ERA and 65 strikeouts to only 18 walks…could also be in line for a promotion to free up space for Anibal…
-Hanley Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain…nothing to worry about really, could have been the cause of his recent slump…
-Brandon Moss has absolutely been on a tear…since May he is hitting in the high 300s sporting a .950 OPS…his line on the season 280/352/475 are nothing to laugh at for a 21 year old in AA…
-This Portland Team could very well all be in the big leagues as early as 2006 with Pedrioa, Delcarmen, Hanley and Papelbon…with Youks at Third base, we could be looking at a sub 1million dollar infield…hello AJ Burnett?
posted by Jared at
12:37 AM
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