by jcookson | Mar 21, 2014 | Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Bryce Brentz, Bryce Harper, Clay Buchholz, David Price, Devin Marrero, Felix Doubront, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Stephen Drew, Stephen Strasburg, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
Here’s a cherry on top of the World Series championship of 2013: Last week, ESPN ranked the Red Sox as number one in their Future Power Rankings, the franchise “best equipped for success over the next half decade”. This ranking looked at five categories for the...
by dpoarch | Mar 17, 2014 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Fire Brand Poll, Henry Owens, Matt Barnes
Last week, we put you to the question to divine the future of the third base position for the Red Sox, asking who would be the team’s starter at that position in 2016. To my surprise, Will Middlebrooks was the overwhelming favorite, pulling half of the vote...
by jcookson | Feb 7, 2014 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Brian Johnson, Buster Posey, Christian Vazquez, Devin Marrero, Dustin Pedroia, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Luis Diaz, Manuel Margot, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Nomar Garciaparra, Trey Ball, Xander Bogaerts
Here’s my ranking of the top 15 prospects in the Red Sox minor league system, ranked on their ability and likelihood to impact the major league club. The top ten players should all start the year at Double A or higher, giving an indication of the amount of talent the...
by jcookson | Jan 24, 2014 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, 2013 MLB Draft, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Clay Buchholz, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Mookie Betts, Trey Ball, Xander Bogaerts
While the major league club rebounded spectacularly in 2013, the Red Sox minor league system also had a banner year. Strong seasons from the top prospects, some breakout performances from off the radar players, and the highest Sox draft pick since 1993 were the...
by bcowett | Jan 20, 2014 | Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Kershaw, Garin Cecchini, Giancarlo Stanton, Henry Owens, Miami Marlins, Xander Bogaerts
About a month until pitchers and catchers report, which means I have a full month of just crying to myself while baseball still isn’t happening. Sigh. Phenom Xander Bogaerts‘ fame isn’t limited to just the States. When he went back home to Aruba,...
by bcarsley | Dec 9, 2013 | 2014 Red Sox offseason, Alex Wilson, Allen Webster, Andrew Miller, Anthony Ranaudo, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Bryce Brentz, Burke Badenhop, Carlos Gonzalez, Chase Headley, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Devin Marrero, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jeremy Hermida, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Junichi Tazawa, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Shane Victorino, Shin-Soo Choo, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried to put on my objective hat and find ways to improve the Red Sox. I argued in favor of signing Brian McCann. I’ve argued against trading for Giancarlo Stanton. I argued that we needed one of Mike Napoli, Carlos Beltran or...
by bcowett | Nov 23, 2013 | 2012 Boston Red Sox, 2013 Boston Red Sox, 2014 Red Sox offseason, Aaron Cook, Ben Cherington, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Cliff Lee, Darin Ruf, Devin Marrero, Freddy Galvis, Garin Cecchini, Giancarlo Stanton, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Kyle Weiland, Matt Barnes, Miami Marlins, Michael Young, Mike Trout, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, Tim Wakefield, Xander Bogaerts
To be honest, the offseason frustrates me more than the regular season does. At least in the regular season, the team can right some wrongs just by winning a game the next day and everyone will be happy and content. Beers all around. Now, however, no one will be fine...
by bcarsley | Nov 11, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Anthony Ranaudo, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, Christian Vazquez, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Nava, David Price, Felix Doubront, Garin Cecchini, Giancarlo Stanton, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Matt Barnes, Max Scherzer, Ryan Lavarnway, Tim Hudson, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
Ah, the offseason. A time for all 30 teams (or at least 26-or-so teams) to regain optimism. A time for rumors, whispers and arguments galore. A time for rampant #rosturbation, for MLB Trade Rumors, for @BadMLB and for Nick Cafardo’s trade ideas. We don’t all admit...
by jcookson | Sep 13, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Bryce Brentz, Clay Buchholz, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Kevin Youkilis, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Ryan Lavarnway, Xander Bogaerts
Close your eyes and imagine the perfect baseball prospect, a player with very few holes in his game. Some of you might have pictured Mike Trout, or Byron Buxton. I’m a Red Sox homer so I immediately thought of Xander Bogaerts. Most prospects, though, have flaws or...
by chipbuck | Sep 12, 2013 | Alex Wilson, Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Christian Vazquez, Devin Marrero, Drake Britton, Felix Doubront, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jose Iglesias, Kolbrin Vitek, Lars Anderson, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Travis Shaw, Xander Bogaerts
With the Governor’s Cup series serving as the only games remaining on the minor league schedule, it seems like a good time to hand out this season’s year-end award. Bear in mind that not all of the awards I’m giving out will be positive–and of...