February 2, 2011

Iglesias and Ranaudo Top BP's and BA's Red Sox Prospects List

Baseball Prospectus has posted its list of the top Red Sox prospects.
1. Jose Iglesias, SS
2. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
3. Josh Reddick, OF
4. Drake Britton, LHP
5. Kolbin Vitek, 3B
6. Brandon Workman, RHP
7. Yamaico Navarro, INF
8. Felix Doubront, LHP
9. Oscar Tejeda, 2B
10. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
11. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
12. Garin Cecchini, 3B
13. Lars Anderson, 1B
14. Bryce Brentz, OF
15. Ryan Lavarnway, C
16. Sean Coyle, INF
17. Kendrick Perkins, OF
18. Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF
19. Luis Exposito, C
20. Che-Hsuan Lin, CF
All but one of the write-ups are behind a pay-wall, but here are some of Kevin Goldstein's comments about Iglesias:
[A]s good as expected defensively, but Iglesias surprised with the bat as a 20-year-old at Double-A (.285/.315/.357 (57 G)). ... [H]e's the best defensive shortstop in the minors ... uncanny instincts, a great first step, range to both sides, liquid-smooth actions and a strong, accurate arm ... [H]is offensive ceiling ends at the bottom of a big-league lineup. ... Iglesias is ready for AAA and could get a September look in preparation for the full-time gig in 2012.
Baseball America also has Iglesias and Ranaudo 1-2 on its list (now that Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo are in San Diego), with Britton, Reddick, Doubront, Pimentel, Cecchini, Anderson, Vitek, and Tejada rounding out the Top 10.

Sox Prospects has Kalish as Boston's top prospect, followed by Iglesias and Ranaudo. (Ranaudo was taken in the supplemental round of the 2010 draft and will begin his professional career in Lowell (A-short) this year.)

Kevin Youkilis has not changed his stance since last July: Jacoby Ellsbury should have stayed with the Red Sox last summer while his cracked ribs healed. Yesterday morning, Yook was on WEEI:
I wasn't calling out his injury. I was just saying that rehabbing [in Arizona] was probably not the best thing for him to do for his teammates.
Youkilis did note that "everyone [including management] was telling him to go to Arizona", and that as players, "we don't know what goes on behind closed doors sometimes". Right. So why talk about something you admit you are ignorant about? Anyway, major league players should not need cheerleaders in order to do their jobs.

Carl Crawford has been in the gym four days a week since the beginning of December. Astros outfielder Michael Bourn played on the same Little League team as Crawford: "He is the most competitive person I know. ... I think last year was just scratching the surface of what he can do in this game." (Joe Maddon also spoke about Crawford's work ethic.)

NESN broadcast a Red Sox Town Hall meeting last night. Some quotes from Theo Epstein, from the Globe's report: "It might take more than 95 games to win the division." "All the injured players are ahead of schedule." Jonathan Papelbon has "got something to prove a little bit". ... NESN has announced its spring training schedule.

Rob Neyer has left ESPN and is now the National Baseball Editor for SB Nation. ... John Wasdin was named pitching coach of the Vermont Lake Monsters (Oakland's New York Penn League (A) affiliate). SoSHers make the expected comments, but they are still funny.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"everyone [including management] was telling him to go to Arizona", and that as players, "we don't know what goes on behind closed doors sometimes".

Sooooooo, everyone was telling him to go to Arizona, and he went to Arizona, but he shouldn't have gone to Arizona?

It's a good thing he's good at baseball...cuz that don't make a whole pile o' sense.

Patrick said...

I have always liked Crawford a lot (except when he pulled Coco's hair), and it's partially because I've always seen coverage of him working out in the off-season. One story that came out a couple off-seasons ago mentioned that he went to a nutritionist, and subsequently gave up dairy and gluten. I love the dedication.

Much love for the new guy.

FenFan said...

Seems to me that if the best option for rehabbing his injury was to go to Arizona, then who is to question it? Youk isn't the one paying Ellsbury's salary.

Two thoughts: First, did any of Ellsbury's other teammates make similar public comments last season?

Second, I'd be interested to read the entire transcript to understand if this was taken out of context or if the hosts (if it was morning, then it was Dennis & Callahan) were baiting him.

Pokerwolf said...

What the heck is up with Yook right now? There's no reason to bring this BS up again, even if he was asked a pointed question about Tacoby.

laura k said...

I'd be interested to read the entire transcript to understand if this was taken out of context or if the hosts (if it was morning, then it was Dennis & Callahan) were baiting him.

Good point. Perhaps a transcript would help me not think Yook is an idiot. If he was asked repeatedly, really pushed on it, and finally said "OK, here's what I thought..." it would make a difference.

laura k said...

I am so excited about having Carl Crawford on the team! He's always been one of my favourite players (you know I like those speedy guys). Last year I kept saying the Sox had to get him. Everyone said it would never happen.

Damn I can't wait for the season to start!!

Patrick said...

I've still got my heart set on Ryan Westmoreland making a comeback and turning into a all star center fielder.

allan said...

Two thoughts: First, did any of Ellsbury's other teammates make similar public comments last season?

Not publicly, I don't think.

Both Peter Abraham and Amalie Benjamin noted that other players on the team were annoyed.

PA, answering a question at SoSH ("was what he said the general consensus among the players or was it just Youkilis mouthing off?":
"That was the general consensus by far. Terry Francona has all but come out and said the same thing. Jacoby has a lot of making up to do in there."

AB, Globe chat: "Not sure why people continue to think this was media created. I don't make things up, nor do any of my colleagues. This is stuff we're getting from being in the clubhouse, from talking to players. Sometimes we can't report who said what, due to off the record conversations, but we're not creating this."

allan said...

Looks like I forgot the Yook/LBJ link.

Here are the quotes what were posted at WEEI:

Youkilis had said in June that "there's a lot of guys here that are hurt and supporting the team. We wish Jacoby was here supporting us, too."

***

"What I did there was -- and I still have this feeling, and I'll say it about anyone on the team -- I think you should be with your team, because there's a lot of things that happen. I think there's a case right now that we're hearing with the Green Bay Packers players. They had guys that were going home and rehabbing. Now, look, these guys are in the Super Bowl, and now you want to go to the Super Bowl and be a part of it. Well, you should have been a part of it every Sunday. You should have been there to help your teammates. ...

"There are young guys -- we had guys like Ryan Kalish and Lars Anderson -- when I wasn't playing, I tried to help them out. It's not even helping as much as [it is that] you should be there. When your team goes to the playoffs, or does stuff like that -- and I know it's not about money or stuff like that -- but your teammates are making money for you and they're doing stuff for you personally. I feel like you owe it to your teammates to cheer them on, because if it was the other way around, you'd want the same from them.

"That's all I was saying. Jacoby's a good guy, and he had a tough year. As a young guy, he had a tough year with his injury, and I wasn't calling out his injury. I was just saying that rehabbing away [from the team] was probably not the best thing for him to do for his teammates."

Pokerwolf said...

Thanks for the quotes, Allan. The problem with "following the team" is that some injuries can't be rehabbed when you're "on the road". It depends on the rehab schedule and a bunch of other factors. I'd think that most athletes understand that sort of thing, but there might be more to this emotional reaction towards Ellsbury than just this injury. That's what I'd assume based on what Youk's saying, at least. It's not like the team is going to foot the bill to fly injured players back and forth between their rehab location and a game every single time the team plays, you know?

Benjamin said...

Condiment Kay says Pettitte's retiring tomorrow. This off season just keeps on giving.

Rob said...

The part where I call Yook an idiot is this is a new season and all the shit that happened last season is in the past, PUBLICLY. Why throw your teammate under the bus at the beginning of the NEW season?