Attack of the Sox Vol. 1 Issue 2

The future of the Boston Red Sox

AAA Pawtucket won the wild card from the international league's northern division with an 88-58 record. They were eliminated by the scranton Yankees in the first round of playoffs.

AA Portland clinched a playoff spot with a 74-66 record,but were knocked out by Trenton - another Yankee farm team.

A (advanced) Lancaster won their division in the California League in both the first and second halves with an overall record of 76-64, but lost the championship to the Stockton Ports an affiliate of the Oakland A's. Next year the Lancaster Jet's will be representing the Houston Astros while the Red Sox will move their affiliate to Salem in southwest Virginia.

A Greenville won their division with a record of 47 and 22.

A (short-season) Lowell won their division in the New York - Penn League with a 40-33 record, but were eliminated from playoffs by Batavia an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardnials.

Rookie League GCL Red Sox finished third in their division with a 28-27 record. 

My Top Five Favorite Prospects '08:

5) Yamaico Navarro - SS in 2008 for Class A Lancaster and Greenville, 20 years R/R

83 games for Greenville: .280 with 54 RBI and 46 runs. 

42 games for Lancaster: .348 with 23 RBI and 33 runs. 

Signed as an international free agent in 2005 he has shown great improvement in '08 with improved patience at the plate and is getting better at defense in the ss, 2B and 3B roles.

4) Josh Reddick - OF in 2008 for Class A Lancaster and Greenville as well as AA Portland, 21 years bats left and throws righty.

14 games for Greenville: 0 homers, 7 runs, 9 RBI and a .340 avg.

76 games for Lancaster: 17 homers, 60 runs, 57 RBI and a .343 avg.

34 games for Portland: 6 homers, 22 runs, 25 RBI and a .214 avg, but had a .290 OBP

17th round draft pick in 2006 is an excellent outfielder with a great arm. While his averaged dipped in AA he did take the time to work on his plate discipline. 

3) Lars Anderson - 1B in 2008 for Class A Lancaster and AA Portland, 21 years L/L

77 games for Lancaster: 13 homers, 58 runs, 50 RBI, .317 avg and a .408 OBP

41 games for Portland: 5 homers, 27 runs, 30 RBI, .316 avg and a .436 OBP

18th round pick in 2006 is probably the best 1B prospect in the minors right now. Has great patience and could have amazing power. Decent defense might be his only weak link. Red Sox named him offensive player of the year.

2) Daniel Bard - RP in 2008 for Class A Greenville and AA Portland, 23 years R/R

16 games for Greenville: 43 K in 28 innings with a 0.64 ERA

31 games for Portland: 64 K in 49.2 innings with a 1.99 ERA and 7 saves

1st round pick in 2006 he struggled at first in AA, but quickly calmed down . Has a 97-98 fastball, a cut fastball, a slider and a circle change with movement. Should be in the bullpen at some point in 2009. Red Sox named him their pitcher of the year.

1) Michael Bowden - SP in 2008 for Class AA Portland, AAA Pawtucket and at the MLB level, 22 years R/R

19 games for Portland: 9-4 with a 2.33 ERA, 101 K's in 104.1 innings with a 4.21 K/BB

7 games for Pawtucket: 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA, 29 K's in 40 innings with a 5.80 K/BB

1 game for Boston: 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA struck out 3, walked one in 5 innings

1st round pick in 2005 with a 90-94 four-seam fastball, 12-6 curve a great circle change-up. Has excellent control and I would rather see him in the rotation that Bucholz.

Best pick in the 2008 draft: Casey Kelly SS/Pitcher in 2008 for Sarasota High School, Rookie League GCL Red Sox and class A Lowell, 18 years R/R

Has great power potential and could be a great defensive SS. Wants to play SS, but the organization may move him back to pitching where he has a low 90's fastball, hard curve and a changeup all with good command. He was their first round draft pick this year.

Trade 'im or play 'im: Charlie Zink SP in 2008 for AAA Pawtucket and the MLB team, 28 R/R. Ok forget about his horrible debut start against Texas. He is a very good knuckleball pitcher who deserves to play somewhere wether in the rotation or in someone's bullpen. This year he was 14-6 with a 2.84 ERA. 

Other Red Sox award winners were: Che-Hsuan Lin (20 year old OF for class A Greenville) for Defensive player of the year, Wilfred Pichardo (18 year old for GCL Red Sox and A Lowell) for Base Runner of the year (42 of those in 55 games), Manny Rivera (18 year old LHP for rookie league DSL Red Sox) for Latin Program pitcher of the year and Eddie Lora (19 year old 1B for rookie leagues DSL & GCL Red Sox) for Latin Program player of the year.

The future of the Red Sox looks very bright.