I have some sort of prospect addiction now. I really do.
Guess what, guess what? I learned some stuff!
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Valentines' Day (February 14th, 2008). I hate pink, fluffy, romantic things, but for once I'll be looking forward to the holiday because this upcoming year it will bring me the return of one of the loves of my life - my baseball team. (Too bad there's no Jacoby Ellsbury tossed in. Darn.)
I was also reading an article on MLB.com, and there were some interesting things about the prospects in it:
When will we see George Kottaras in the Majors? The spin on him has been that he will take over for Jason Varitek when his deal ends. Is a backup spot next year possible?
-- Stephen P., Boston
Well, Varitek only has one year left but he still catches at a high level and remains a threat at the plate. I don't think his days in Boston are coming to an end anytime soon, given how rare it is to find such a valuable catcher. Kottaras is still a work in progress. He hit .241 for Triple-A Pawtucket this year.
I would also like to point out that the Sox have already purchased Dusty Brown's contract and have placed him on the 40-man roster. He is probably the backup catcher for now, although in due time we may see Kottaras up here as well. Additionally, I believe both Brown and Kottaras know how to catch knuckleballers (probably due to working with Charlie Zink). I personally like Kottaras, so I'm hoping to see him soon! However, there's someone I want to see even sooner...
Which young players from Boston's farm system will have an impact on the 2008 Red Sox besides Buchholz and Ellsbury?
-- Dave C., Boston
Shortstop Jed Lowrie is one player to definitely keep an eye on. This kid has rocketed through the system since being drafted in 2005. Left-handed-hitting outfielder Brandon Moss, who Sox fans got a look at this September, will also be heard from. Moss is trying to increase his versatility by playing some first base in winter ball.
Yes, it's Jed Lowrie, the prospect I've become fixated on because he's a middle infielder from the Pac-10 Conference! It also doesn't hurt that he's got a good bat and could potentially replace Lugo someday (and I won't lie - he's not too bad on the eyes, either). I personally fantasize about the idea of having a Pac-10 triangle in the field with Jed at shortstop, Dustin at second and Jacoby in center, and it will be evil and capture fly balls and grounders as if they were airplanes and ships.
I also liked what I saw of Brandon Moss when he was called up in September. Brandon can hit, certainly, and he's not too shabby in the outfield, either, except that he knocked the scoreboard down and Jacoby had to go and fix it for him (the photograph of Jacoby putting the tiles back on the scoreboard is one of the most famous images of the season).
Oh, and just for everyone's amusement, I found a very nice Jacoby picspam some time ago, but I never directed anyone to it. I'm sorry - I shouldn't be selfish and hog him all to myself. Fangirlism still runs rampant, although I was surprised how many people have focused on the farm system! This comment on that post says it all:
Can we officially give the Red Sox an award for the hottest draftees and farm system? Between Jacoby, Papelbon, Brandon Moss, the ah-dorable Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, Kyle Jackson, Jed Lowrie, Will Middlebrooks, George Kottaras, Michael Bowden, Ryan Kalish…I feel like I should bow down.
I really hate rabid fangirlism. I won't lie, it gets on my nerves. If I get attached to a player, it's for different reasons - namely their ability to play well (or if they're a middle infielder, okay, I know!). However, this does not mean that I cannot find them attractive and count that as a bonus, because you have to be blind not to find Jacoby attractive (and I'm sure even blind people find his voice attractive, so there goes that point). What I do love about Jacoby is how he throws himself into playing the outfield - literally, as anyone who saw what he did in Tampa Bay that one time knows - and how he is an offensive threat at the same time, making a fantastic lead-off hitter and always having a great shot at stealing second as soon as he's on. (If he does end up on second or third, he'll usually be pretty much guaranteed to come in, as he'll be followed by Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, or, if he's batting ninth, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.)
That being said, though, I did sit in left field at the one game I went to this season, and I did stare at him almost the entire time (when I wasn't trying to get a picture of Pedroia with a camera with a limited zoom and my shaky hands, which is quite difficult when you're pretty far away from him). I will also admit that I severely enjoyed being able to do this. I just wish I'd been able to see him make that catch at the wall, because he disappeared for a second and I wasn't sure if he'd gotten the ball or not and had to wait for the reactions of the Sox fans who could see. The video footage of the catch was fantastic, though! Make no mistake - he's the center fielder of the future. I can't wait.
Really, I can't wait. There's no baseball until February and it's slowly killing me. Argh.
(Ooh, I wrote about the prospects, so I get to use my Jed icon! Yay! Also note that Jed was included in that list of prospects from that comment, too...and rightfully so. And he's a middle infielder!)
EDIT: Y'know what's awesome? I'm not the only person with Jed Lowrie listed as an interest on Livejournal.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Valentines' Day (February 14th, 2008). I hate pink, fluffy, romantic things, but for once I'll be looking forward to the holiday because this upcoming year it will bring me the return of one of the loves of my life - my baseball team. (Too bad there's no Jacoby Ellsbury tossed in. Darn.)
I was also reading an article on MLB.com, and there were some interesting things about the prospects in it:
When will we see George Kottaras in the Majors? The spin on him has been that he will take over for Jason Varitek when his deal ends. Is a backup spot next year possible?
-- Stephen P., Boston
Well, Varitek only has one year left but he still catches at a high level and remains a threat at the plate. I don't think his days in Boston are coming to an end anytime soon, given how rare it is to find such a valuable catcher. Kottaras is still a work in progress. He hit .241 for Triple-A Pawtucket this year.
I would also like to point out that the Sox have already purchased Dusty Brown's contract and have placed him on the 40-man roster. He is probably the backup catcher for now, although in due time we may see Kottaras up here as well. Additionally, I believe both Brown and Kottaras know how to catch knuckleballers (probably due to working with Charlie Zink). I personally like Kottaras, so I'm hoping to see him soon! However, there's someone I want to see even sooner...
Which young players from Boston's farm system will have an impact on the 2008 Red Sox besides Buchholz and Ellsbury?
-- Dave C., Boston
Shortstop Jed Lowrie is one player to definitely keep an eye on. This kid has rocketed through the system since being drafted in 2005. Left-handed-hitting outfielder Brandon Moss, who Sox fans got a look at this September, will also be heard from. Moss is trying to increase his versatility by playing some first base in winter ball.
Yes, it's Jed Lowrie, the prospect I've become fixated on because he's a middle infielder from the Pac-10 Conference! It also doesn't hurt that he's got a good bat and could potentially replace Lugo someday (and I won't lie - he's not too bad on the eyes, either). I personally fantasize about the idea of having a Pac-10 triangle in the field with Jed at shortstop, Dustin at second and Jacoby in center, and it will be evil and capture fly balls and grounders as if they were airplanes and ships.
I also liked what I saw of Brandon Moss when he was called up in September. Brandon can hit, certainly, and he's not too shabby in the outfield, either, except that he knocked the scoreboard down and Jacoby had to go and fix it for him (the photograph of Jacoby putting the tiles back on the scoreboard is one of the most famous images of the season).
Oh, and just for everyone's amusement, I found a very nice Jacoby picspam some time ago, but I never directed anyone to it. I'm sorry - I shouldn't be selfish and hog him all to myself. Fangirlism still runs rampant, although I was surprised how many people have focused on the farm system! This comment on that post says it all:
Can we officially give the Red Sox an award for the hottest draftees and farm system? Between Jacoby, Papelbon, Brandon Moss, the ah-dorable Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, Kyle Jackson, Jed Lowrie, Will Middlebrooks, George Kottaras, Michael Bowden, Ryan Kalish…I feel like I should bow down.
I really hate rabid fangirlism. I won't lie, it gets on my nerves. If I get attached to a player, it's for different reasons - namely their ability to play well (or if they're a middle infielder, okay, I know!). However, this does not mean that I cannot find them attractive and count that as a bonus, because you have to be blind not to find Jacoby attractive (and I'm sure even blind people find his voice attractive, so there goes that point). What I do love about Jacoby is how he throws himself into playing the outfield - literally, as anyone who saw what he did in Tampa Bay that one time knows - and how he is an offensive threat at the same time, making a fantastic lead-off hitter and always having a great shot at stealing second as soon as he's on. (If he does end up on second or third, he'll usually be pretty much guaranteed to come in, as he'll be followed by Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, or, if he's batting ninth, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.)
That being said, though, I did sit in left field at the one game I went to this season, and I did stare at him almost the entire time (when I wasn't trying to get a picture of Pedroia with a camera with a limited zoom and my shaky hands, which is quite difficult when you're pretty far away from him). I will also admit that I severely enjoyed being able to do this. I just wish I'd been able to see him make that catch at the wall, because he disappeared for a second and I wasn't sure if he'd gotten the ball or not and had to wait for the reactions of the Sox fans who could see. The video footage of the catch was fantastic, though! Make no mistake - he's the center fielder of the future. I can't wait.
Really, I can't wait. There's no baseball until February and it's slowly killing me. Argh.
(Ooh, I wrote about the prospects, so I get to use my Jed icon! Yay! Also note that Jed was included in that list of prospects from that comment, too...and rightfully so. And he's a middle infielder!)
EDIT: Y'know what's awesome? I'm not the only person with Jed Lowrie listed as an interest on Livejournal.