Tuesday, June 10, 2008
THE 2008 RED SOX DRAFT
The Olde Towne Team has continued to select “tough signs” in the later rounds of the draft and pitchers with less mileage on their arm. Supplemental first-rounder, Bryan Price, a reliever from Rice, and third-rounder Stephen Fife, who became a full-time starter this season are examples that the Sox want fresh amateur arms. All things being equal, it seems like they select the pitcher who has thrown fewer innings since they probably have carry less risk for injury.
On the second trend, “signability” is less of an issue for the Sox, as they selected fourteen out of Baseball America’s top 200. The Sox first-round selection, Casey Kelly is a two-way player and has a scholarship to play QB at Tenn. He slipped some, most publications had him as a mid-round selection, due to “signability”, but Kelly will be running around the Fort Myers ghetto. The Sox are not in the business of wasting first-round picks. And it seems likely that Ryan Westmoreland will be joining Kelly.
The Portsmouth, RI kid was up front with his demand for first-round money to sign. Ryan’s father, Ron Westmoreland said "What we put out there was, in order to be considered to sign out of high school, it would have to be high first-round money.” The Sox know what they will be getting out of Westmoreland. Ben Cherrington has seen him and Sox scout Ray Fagnant has made adjustments to Westmoreland’s swing. He will sign and try to live out every New England kid’s dream.
I’m not so optimist about Alex Meyer inking a deal with the Sox. The late first-round talent dropped to the 20th round due to “signability” concerns that were fueled by being advised by Scott Boras. If the Sox don’t make a big splash in Latin America or the Far East, which is unlikely, they could be willing to move more on Meyer. We’ll know better over the next month or two.
The Olde Towne Team has continued to select “tough signs” in the later rounds of the draft and pitchers with less mileage on their arm. Supplemental first-rounder, Bryan Price, a reliever from Rice, and third-rounder Stephen Fife, who became a full-time starter this season are examples that the Sox want fresh amateur arms. All things being equal, it seems like they select the pitcher who has thrown fewer innings since they probably have carry less risk for injury.
On the second trend, “signability” is less of an issue for the Sox, as they selected fourteen out of Baseball America’s top 200. The Sox first-round selection, Casey Kelly is a two-way player and has a scholarship to play QB at Tenn. He slipped some, most publications had him as a mid-round selection, due to “signability”, but Kelly will be running around the Fort Myers ghetto. The Sox are not in the business of wasting first-round picks. And it seems likely that Ryan Westmoreland will be joining Kelly.
The Portsmouth, RI kid was up front with his demand for first-round money to sign. Ryan’s father, Ron Westmoreland said "What we put out there was, in order to be considered to sign out of high school, it would have to be high first-round money.” The Sox know what they will be getting out of Westmoreland. Ben Cherrington has seen him and Sox scout Ray Fagnant has made adjustments to Westmoreland’s swing. He will sign and try to live out every New England kid’s dream.
I’m not so optimist about Alex Meyer inking a deal with the Sox. The late first-round talent dropped to the 20th round due to “signability” concerns that were fueled by being advised by Scott Boras. If the Sox don’t make a big splash in Latin America or the Far East, which is unlikely, they could be willing to move more on Meyer. We’ll know better over the next month or two.
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