Down on the Farm 2 (6/3/13)

Today is an off day which means its time once again to peek down on the farm to see what's cropping. Last time we took a look at the Pawtucket Red Sox and since then Ryan Lavarnway and Jose De La Torre had cups of coffee while Jose Iglesias and Jackie Bradley Jr are up in the big club right now. Now we look at the Red Sox double A team the Portland Sea Dogs, currently 30-25 in the Eastern League, 2 games behind Binghamton.



We begin with their best player, shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

1. Xander Bogaerts

One of the reasons the Red Sox are reluctant to try Jose Iglesias at shortstop and dump either PU Drew or Pedro Ciriaco is they believe Bogaerts is the chosen one. The 22 year old can hit for power, play his position and run. If Iglesias in the majors to stay, Xander can expect a call-up to Pawtucket pretty soon. In terms of prospects, barring injury Bogaerts could be in the majors in a year or two.


Next on the list is 3rd Basemen Michael Almanzar

2. Michael Almanzar

The 23 year old is posting numbers superior to Bogaerts. He has 10 homers, 39 rbi's and 5 steals. He's hitting a lusty .282 and was an all-star last year with the Salem Red Sox. If Will Middlebrooks falters, in a few years this could be their heir apparent if he continues to develop.

Next on the list is right fielder Peter Hissey

3. Peter Hissey

The 23 year old outfielder is their speedster has 27 hits in just 26 games. He has no homers but 9 steals, 12 walks and 15 rbi's so far on the season before being placed on the DL. Unfortunately the Sox are loaded in the outfield both in the majors and minors. Still, Hissey could be used as trade bait or eventually hook on with another team.


Moving on to center fielder Shannon Wilkerson

4. Shannon Wilkerson

The 25 year old is batting an average .263 with 3 homers, 20 walks and 18 rbi's. He's a riverboat gambler on the basepaths with 12 steals but has been caught 7 times. With the log-jam in the outfield, he may have run out of time in this organization. He could make it with another team someday.



Next is 2nd basemen Kolbrin Vitek

5. Kolbrin Vitek

The 24 year old 2009 first round pick seems headed for "bust" status with 2nd round pick Alex Wilson already having a successful cup of coffee with the Red Sox. He's batting only .197 with no homers, 7 rbi's and just 23 hits. With the Sox drafting Devin Marrero last year, they may be giving up on Vitek. If he's having trouble hitting Double A pitching, this may be as far as he goes in baseball.



Up next is 1st basemen Travis Shaw

6. Travis Shaw

The 23 year old is struggling with Double A pitching. He's hitting only .222 with 3 homers and 18 rbi's with just 41 hits. With Anthony Rizzo traded, Shaw becomes the next 1st basemen prospect. If he doesn't learn how to hit Double A pitching in a hurry, this could be as far as he could reach.



Now its time for catcher Christian Vazquez

7. Christian Vazquez

The 22 year old has a cannon arm but is only hiting .248 with 3 homers and 17 rbi's. He impressed in spring training and in a few years he could be battling Ryan Lavarnway for the starting catching job for Boston....if he ever learns how to hit.



Now up is outfielder Tony Thomas

8. Tony Thomas

The 26 year old Thomas appears headed to a dead end, batting just .246 with 5 homers and 36 rbi's. He has 52 hits in 52 games. Once again, he may have run out of time in this organization but could find work elsewhere.



Last is all purpose infielder Heiker Meneses

9. Heiker Meneses

The 21 year old Venezuelan has 42 hits in 42 games. He is hitting just .258 and is a riverboat gambler as well with 6 steals and 5 caughts. He may be just 21 but he turned pro at 17 and has been in the system since 2008. If he can learn how to hit and steal bases correctly, he has enough time to develop into either a utility infielder or good trade bait.



Switching gears to pitching, we begin with their brighest star, Matt Barnes.

10. Matt Barnes

The 2011 first round pick has struggled recently but is their current project. The Sox want him to be their next Clay Buchholz. The 22 year old is 3-2 with a hideous 5.62 ERA. He does have 56 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings. He has the time to develop, especially with Ryan Dempster and John Lackey being stopgaps in the Red Sox rotation. The Sox could potentially have a rotation of Jon Lester, Buchholz, Allen Webster, Felix Doubront and Matt Barnes. If Barnes can get his ERA down he could finish strong for Portland or be called up to Pawtucket later this year.

The next starter is Anthony Ranaudo.

11. Anthony Ranaudo


The 23 year old has been Portland's best pitcher so far. He's started 10 games and has allowed 9 earned runs. He's 6-1 with a 1.48 ERA, 58 strikeouts in 54 innings. He's been a pleasant surprise this year and if he keeps this up, he'll be brought up to Pawtucket real soon. Like Barnes, he has just as good a chance as anyone to crack the Red Sox rotation if he continues to pitch well.

Next on the list is Drake Britton

12. Drake Britton

The 24 year old lefty has been middle of the pack in Double A, 3-5 with a 4.11 ERA. Lefties are a valuable commodity so they could try him in the bullpen or continue to work with him. If he can't get out of Double A in a year or two, this could be the end of the line for him.

Number 4 starter Brandon Workman, you're next.

13. Brandon Workman

Workman has posted an impressive 5-1 record but benefits from run support as his ERA is 3.43. The 24 year old right hander has 74 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. It seems like the Double A starters are the next wave so to speak so Workman and his 3 peers could jocky for position for a Pawtucket call up this season.

Switching to the bullpen now, its time for Brock Huntzinger.

14. Brock Huntzinger

The 24 year old closer has 11 saves and a 2.96 ERA in 21 games as a reliever. He's doing average as a closer but in order to get a call-up, you need to be better than average. With flamethrower Rubby De La Rosa and our last entrant I'll get to in a moment, bullpen help appears to be filled already. Still, as with most cases maybe a change of scenery is needed in order to make the majors.

Last on the list is the one and only Daniel Bard

15. Daniel Bard

What happened? That's all people can say about him. He went from one of the top set up men in the majors to a walk machine in Double A in just 2 years. How did this happen? Not only is he in Double A, he's struggling big time. If Bard can't get his head on straight, he'll be another one on the long list of what might have been.


That about wraps it up, the big prospects are Bogaerts and Barnes but Almanzar and Ranaudo have been nice surprises. The question is if Daniel Bard can get his head out of his ass or not. In most cases, Double A is the true test of your prospects and so far they have done very well. The next off day is June 17th and we'll go further down the system to check on the Single A Salem Red Sox.