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Boston Red Sox minor league system
analysis Boston’s minor league system has served the big team well lately, enabling the BoSox to trade players such as shortstop Hanley Ramirez, pitcher Jesus Delgado (they have him listed as a power pitcher, but I noticed the coaches had him shagging fly balls with the outfielders this fall in the AFL, so I am suspicious) and another pitcher, Anibel Sanchez, in the deal for Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota. The minors have also contributed some players to the big team when needed. Kevin Youkilis, Kelly Shoppach, Manny DelCarmen, Cla Meredith, Abe Alvarez, Lenny DiNardo and Jon Papelbon joined the big club for bits of last season filling in at various times, joining homegrown talent such as Trot Nixon. The Red Sox system has several very good infield prospects. Players like Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie remain after shortstops Ramirez and Kenny Perez were dealt. In addition, the team acquired former Atlanta blue chipper, Andy Marte, in the Edgar Renteria deal. Marte is considered to be one of the top third base prospects in baseball. They also have some interesting young pitchers, Jon Lester, closer in grooming Cla Meredith, and Craig Hansen, the latter whose fastball tops out in the upper 90s. Moreover, the minors still possess several very good players who could be called upon to fill in at the big league level in case of injury or be traded for additional help as needed. No doubt, Andy Marte should be able to fetch a major league ready player or two as the season progresses. And which team would not like to add a Kelly Shoppach or Dustin Pedroia? Pedroia might even find himself in a position to win a spot on the major league roster this season. The bottom line is, the Red Sox make very efficient use of their minor league system to produce major league players for the team, either by developing players who can be used in trades, or by working players in with the big club as their playing merit dictates. If you look at the Sox 40 man roster, it contains only five homegrown position players. Out of that group, only Trot Nixon can be considered to be a regular, although Kevin Youkilis may break into the lineup this year. The pitching corps has 10 former farmhands (11 if you want to count Curt Shilling), all pitching out of the bullpen. Position Players 1) Dustin Pedroia, 2B/SS – Was it any surprise I would pick Pedroia to be on this list? I have followed his career since his Junior year at ASU. He is one of the players I would buy season tickets to watch if I lived near where his team plays. Drafted as a shortstop out of ASU, Pedroia has been moved to second base by the Sox who project him as a middle infielder with the skills to hit at the top of the order. Although he played primarily at second last year, the Sox have not ruled out a return to short for the diminutive former Sun Devil. He showed very little offensive drop off after his move from Portland to Pawtucket. He won’t hit for power, but he can handle the bat and can get on base. Defensively, he has excellent range and arm. 2) Andy Marte, 3B – So how deep was the Braves system? Deep enough they could trade the heir apparent to Tripper Jones for the shortstop of the present. Andy Marte moved through the Braves system at a steady pace. Last season, he got some big league time due to the injury bug that ate away at the minor league depth at Richmond and below. Although his major league service was less than stellar ( .140 batting average over 57 at bats ), Marte is still a very highly regarded prospect. Still only 22 years old, Marte is thought by many to possess the potential to hit 40 home runs per season once he develops. I watched him last season in Richmond and he is a very good hitter; the ball leaps off his bat when he hits it. He is a very good defender. I will be curious to see what the Red Sox have planned for him. 3) David Murphy, OF – Murphy might be the most advanced outfielder in the Sox system. He finished up the 2005 season with a very nice outing in the AFL where he hit .319 with three home runs in 91 at bats. Significantly, he improved his batting average in the fall as he maintained his ability to get on base and his very slight power numbers. 4) Jed Lowrie, SS - With the trade of Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia's move to second, Lowrie inherits the mantle of best shortstop in the system. Lowrie was a New York/Penn League all-star in 2005. The ex-Stanford Cardinal is a switch hitter who hit for average (.328 at Lowell) and got on base a ton. Lowrie has a very strong arm and good range. He has a limited amount of power. 5) Kelly Shoppach, C – A very good defensive catcher who has shown the ability to hit for some power, Shoppach drove 26 homeruns last season at AAA Pawtucket. With the signing of John Flaherty to back up Jason Varitek, it looks like Shoppach is destined to start the season at AAA or be used to obtain help for the big team. Plenty of teams would like to have a relatively young catcher who can play good defense and hit for some power. In addition, at the age of 25, Shoppach should be coming into his prime as a player. Others of Note: The Red Sox have several other players in the system that are intriguing. Outfielder Brandon Moss is highly regarded but suffered a poor fall season in Arizona. First baseman Ian Bladergeron was obtained from the Mets for Doug Mientikiewicz. Bladergeron is a left handed hitter with power potential but average plate discipline. Bryan Pritz is a speedy center fielder who has shown the ability to get on base. Another player in the low minors who fits the fast center fielder mold is Jacoby Ellsbury whose OBP at Lowell was .418. The Sox also have power prospect Andrew Pickney who hit 21 homeruns at Greenville last year and was voted the team’s offensive player of the year. Pitchers 1) Jonathan Papelbon, RHP – Papelbon is projected as a frontline starter in the majors. In 27.7 AAA innings, Papelbon held opponents to a .208 batting average. Papelbon got a taste of Fenway last year, getting into 17 games for the BoSox, while starting three of them. He struck out 34 big league hitters in 34 innings. Another college pitcher, Papelbon has a fastball he can throw in the low to mid 90s which he compliments with a slurve, slider and changeup. This is the kind of pitcher someone like Curt Shilling can mentor and turn into a top of the order pitcher as he matures. 2) Jon Lester, LHP - Who doesn’t like a left handed starting pitcher who can throw in a two or four seam fastball in the low to mid 90s? Lester is an oddity in the Sox system, a player drafted out of high school. Lester is only 21 years old and at AA Portland last year, he struck out 163 batters in only 148 innings. AA batters hit only .215 against him. 3) Craig Hansen, RHP - Made his major league debut in 2005 at the age of 22. Hansen has a high 90s fastball which he throws for strikes. Starting the year with the GCL Red Sox, the St. Johns alum rocketed through the system. In 15 professional innings pitched last year, he struck out 17 batters, including 3 in the majors. 4) Manny DelCarmen, RHP – Another high school power pitcher, DelCarmen overcame Tommy John surgery to make it to the bigs last season. In 2005 he pitched at three levels, beginning at AA Portland. A relief pitcher, he appeared in 69 total innings and fanned 81 hitters. 5) Lenny DiNardo, LHP – Described as a crafty lefthander. I saw DiNardo work last season when Pawtucket played in Richmond. Guys like this have an uphill climb to get to the majors, but he made it last season mainly because he can get hitters out. At the age of 26, he is what he is and probably will be no more than a left handed set up man in the bullpen. The Sox could do worse. So could a lot of other teams. 6) Cla Meredith, RHP – Ex Virginina Commonwealth University saves leader, Olise Claiborne Meredith is being groomed by Boston to be their closer. Last season he pitched at four levels including a chance in Boston. Although his major league experience was not overwhelmingly successful, Meredith continues to improve in the minors. I watched Cla Meredith close out a Lenny DiNardo win in Richmond last year and enjoyed watching him pitch for the hometown crowd.
Others of Note The system worked for the Sox last season, giving the big team bullpen help as the season wore on. Manny DelCarmen, Abe Alvarez, Cla Meredith and others pitched in at various times to fortify the Beantowners. The RedSox favor college pitchers who throw with power. As usual, the minors provided the Sox with the ability to get a part for the big team. Highly regarded Anibal Sanchez was included in the Josh Beckett deal, as was Jesus Delgado. The Boston farm teams also possess an oddity, knuckleballing Charlie Zink, whose star has faded recently. However, knuckleballers are known for their ups and downs and Boston is hopeful Zink will flourish with the help of Tim Wakefield. --- John
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