Lars Anderson looking like a younger Casey Kotchman

I think Casey Kotchman should be a warning to any long term success we might expect from Lars Anderson. This is also just a discussion of their offense as Kotchman has a much better glove. Kotchman was a much higher draftpick going in the first round of the 2001 draft while Anderson was an 18th round pick. So what is it that makes these two have anything in common?

First is that they have excellent plate discipline. Even at the minor league level they both have between a half a walk to a full walk for every strikeout. Anderson strikes out quite a bit more, but he walks a lot more too. All things being equal Kotchman would probably have a better average, but their OBP would be close.

An interesting comparison is how Baseball America viewed them. In 2005 BA ranked Kotchman #6 and had this quote from a scout. “He’s such a good hitter and he’s still developing. I think he’ll easily hit 30-plus homers in the majors. As we have seen that power never came and now Kotchman is more of a 10-15 homer guy at a power position.

Charlie Saponara: The Red Sox offense, present and future

Charlie Saponara blogs fantasy baseball at Fantasy Baseball 365. Today, he takes a look at how the Red Sox offense is constructed…

It is an exciting time in the baseball offseason. The first weekend of free agent signing is upon us and the winter meetings are right around the corner. There is plenty of time for the Red Sox to make moves that will improve their club for 2010 and beyond, but what does the future hold given the pieces already in place?

The Science of Selling Felix, A-Gon Short

In our versions of an offseason blueprint the Red Sox could follow (1, 2, 3) one topic that came up fairly often was how realistic or unrealistic our proposed trade packages were for certain players. Let’s recap:

Mike Lowell, Casey Kotchman, Clay Buchholz and key minor league pieces (defined as anyone sans Kelly, numbering two) for Felix Hernandez.

Money comment: Getting King Felix would be nice, but you are crazy thinking Seattle would have any interest in picking up Lowell or Kotchman. Why would they pick up $16+ in salaries? Lowell is going nowhere unless we pay his salary, which is crazy. – MEe

Clay Buchholz, Lars Anderson, Manny Delcarmen, Michael Bowden, two “second-tier” prospects to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez.

Money comment: Delcarmen is a stiff. Bowden is a stiff. Anderson has done NOTHING in the minor leagues. Clay Buccholz has major league stuff but has yet to prove himself for an entire season. For this you’ll get one of the best young power hitters in the game? I think not!! - Nick

If our proposed deals are not up to snuff, that’s not good. Let’s try to figure out what a proposed deal could, should be.

Lars Anderson: Struggles ‘part of development’

[Ed. note: Lars Anderson was recently interviewed at Fire Brand by Evan. Click here to see said interview. Today, we bring you another interview of Lars that touches on other [...]

Lars Anderson: ‘Learning how to deal with own expectations’

Drafted in the 18th round in 2006, Lars Anderson burst on the scene after a strong 2007. In 2008, Anderson did nothing to dispel his skyrocketing value, closing the year out with a .316/.436/.526 line in Double-A Portland in 41 games.

This year, Anderson has returned to Portland for what many thought would be a temporary situation. Instead, as the 21-year old struggles with adversity, he’s been leapfrogged in the SoxProspects.com prospect standings by Josh Reddick as the organization’s top bat.

While a line of .257/.350/.385 with eight home runs in 394 at-bats doesn’t exactly make one drool, Anderson’s hitting is too advanced to last. So what’s the problem?

Roy Halladay: Realistic?

“The Red Sox playoff rotation has been finalized. Starting Game 1 at home against Detroit will be Josh Beckett with Roy Halladay to follow in Game 2. Jon Lester gets the nod in Game 3 in the Motor City.”

It’s entirely possible we could be hearing roughly those three sentences when the leaves change, the temperature drops, and the thoughts of another World Series title is floating around the collective heads of Red Sox fans across the globe.

Keeping up with the corners

With Mike Lowell’s recent injury concerns creeping back into the active conscious of Red Sox Nation, depth at the corners and in the middle of the lineup has suddenly been thrust to the forefront of the early pre-trade deadline chatter.

Much of the Red Sox trade innuendo to this point has surrounded the potential acquisition of a shortstop or catcher, positions without organizational depth or strength. But with Jason Varitek and George Kottaras holding down the fort behind the plate with acceptable production and Nick Green earning the job at short with Jed Lowrie waiting in the wings (and Julio Lugo being Julio Lugo), those positions may not be the most critical to address as July rolls in.

Standing pat: When not making a move might pay off.

Let me begin by saying that the Red Sox personnel–constructed as is–will compete all season long. Theo and the rest of the organization have put the club in a position each and every season of late, to well, win.

So if they decide to play out the season and simply hope for the best–with the exception of a few minor moves–then it should be okay with us.

Think 2010.

In 2010 I am almost giddy thinking about the rotation. One that could consist of the following: Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Bowden, and Buchholz. And possibly Wakefield again. Or even Smoltz if he shows us that he can still be effective. And of course Smoltz will have to an express a desire to remain with the team at a reasonable cost. Because they aren’t going to extend him if the money isn’t right.

Anderson, Bates power Sea Dogs to win

In retrospect, Portland’s 6-4 victory over the Connecticut Defenders was a microcosm of the season for Aaron Bates and to an extent for Lars Anderson.

Bates cracked three singles in five at-bats and drove in two runs while Anderson was 2-for-5 (single, double) with an RBI.

And manager Arnie Beyeler continued his “mix-and-match” routine Sunday with T.J. Large and Bryce Cox who combined to make a winner out of starter Jarod Plummer (4-1).

Chat Transcript: Ortiz, Yankees, Buchholz and more

David Ortiz – Samara Pearlstein

Sit down with a big cup of coffee, because have I a treat for you. I participated in a chat on Tuesday night and they have made the transcript available for Fire Brand to peruse.

I talk about which minor leaguers to keep an eye on… what the Sox need to do to win this year… how important David Ortiz is to us.

Oh, I also throw out predictions such as who will finish at first… scoff at the Yankees… and talk about who the heck can be our future catcher.