In response to hill55's comment:

Hill, you are a valued and sustaining resource of top quality posts! No Prob!

I have no problem with JBJ in LF if they chose to keep Ellsbury. That would be one heck of a solid defensive OF and it does maybe enable the team to slide Ellsbury to the #3 slot and JBJ to lead off which is probably his best slot long term. JBJ may be the guy who advances the quickest next year. He is much more advanced defensively than guys like Bogaerts and Brentz. And is a potential game changer in terms of his impact on the team if he pans out as well as projected. A top lead off guy who can play defense also is a valueable commodity. It could be that he just got tired late last year. It must have been an adjustment for him to play so many games in one year for the first time in his life. This guy put up great numbers in defense and offense and I love the idea of being able to slot Ellsbury in the 3 slot if he can replicate his 2011 numbers.

Since Beltre is no longer here, maybe it's safe to move Ells back to LF...

 

:)

although Seattle tallied the most "Prospect Points

Hill, propaganda would be putting it mildly for your chosen "ratings". The Mariners stink, from top to bottom. How long has it been since they have been relevant to anyone but you and a few other delusional spinster.

In response to softlaw2's comment:

I know! I know this one!

About as long as it's been since you had a relevent post?

In response to moonslav59's comment:

+1

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

Since Beltre is no longer here, maybe it's safe to move Ells back to LF...

 

:)

 

Actually, if somehow Ells resigns I would put him in LF too and tell him to swing for the fences, and slot him in the 3rd spot...JBJ can leadoff.

 

These two aren't in the top 100 but here are two more sox prospects who could start getting some attention this year.

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2013/02/2013-prospect-previews-jamie-callahan.html

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

I really think our lower minor league prospects are very promising. I'm counting on a few to rise up high this summer and put us near the top in team prospect ratings next spring.

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

That's because Team Netherlands has Jurrickson Profar and Andrelton Simmons in addition to the X-Man.

In response to carnie's comment:

That makes sense.  I knew it was up in the air if profar would play.  I know the Sox don't want him to play the outfield but are ok with him at third.  It just goes to show that while confidence is building in his defense at ss the sox are ok with him handling third.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Me too.  Another blue chip prospect coming into the fold is at the top of my wish list.  There is a higher probability of that happening with the depth of talent that is across all levels.  

In response to softlaw2's comment:

May our favorite teams bring us great joy in 2013. ;-)

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/32910/mariners-will-be-this-years-surprise-team

http://www.billjamesonline.com/which_team_will_surprise_in_2013_/

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

We may even have 2-3 more players rise into the top 100 list by next spring. We may not lose any of our current ones, since none rate to "graduate" from prospect status, except maybe Iggy if there is an injury.

8-9 in the top 100 next year would be sweet!

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

Kids like callahan, Buttrey, and Owens will hopefully be in daily discussions come 2015.

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

I think Kris Bryant should be our #7 pick if hes still available. Our 1b problems would be solved. Hes a great ballplayer and has a BIG bat!!!

In response to southpaw777's comment:

There are more besides these guys who also have a chance to get into the discussion. I think we are deeper than many believe, but we are so conditioned to being dissappointed that we are hesitant to get too excited about our farm.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Frank Montas and Manuel Margot might be a couple of guys to keep your eye on. I haven't given up on Williams Jerez yet either.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

In response to southpaw777's comment:

 

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

 

These two aren't in the top 100 but here are two more sox prospects who could start getting some attention this year.

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2013/02/2013-prospect-previews-jamie-callahan.html

 

Kids like callahan, Buttrey, and Owens will hopefully be in daily discussions come 2015.

 

 

There are more besides these guys who also have a chance to get into the discussion. I think we are deeper than many believe, but we are so conditioned to being dissappointed that we are hesitant to get too excited about our farm.

 

 

Oh yeah, I know we have a lot more than that. I just listed a few.

 

Like always with me though, I never get too excited about any prospect until he can prove he can be successful at AA...But I like what Im seeing so far from our young lower level kids.

There are more besides these guys who also have a chance to get into the discussion. I think we are deeper than many believe, but we are so conditioned to being dissappointed that we are hesitant to get too excited about our farm.

 

 

Oh yeah, I know we have a lot more than that. I just listed a few.

 

Like always with me though, I never get too excited about any prospect until he can prove he can be successful at AA...But I like what Im seeing so far from our young lower level kids.

 

I understand, but it is nice to have so much "volume" below the AA level. It improves the odds that a few will rise into your graces.

"volume" is the key word.  Reality is some of these guys will amount to nothing, and some of them will become role players.  It's very hard for a prospect to become an impact MLB player.  But by the shear volume of talent, whether it be high ceiling guys or toolsy guys there should be much excitement about the prospect of building a team around our farm system. 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

There are more besides these guys who also have a chance to get into the discussion. I think we are deeper than many believe, but we are so conditioned to being dissappointed that we are hesitant to get too excited about our farm.

 

 

Oh yeah, I know we have a lot more than that. I just listed a few.

 

Like always with me though, I never get too excited about any prospect until he can prove he can be successful at AA...But I like what Im seeing so far from our young lower level kids.

 

I understand, but it is nice to have so much "volume" below the AA level. It improves the odds that a few will rise into your graces.

 

Thats exactly what Im saying Moon. I like what I see in our lower levels and like the fact that there are so many "kids" that are showing improvement. I expect a couple of them to shine as well, but will resist a certain level of excitement until they can succeed at the higher levels.

 

Alex Speier has an excellent article up about Jackie Bradley Jr and the art of defense. While I was reading it I was almost salivating over how good a defense would be that had David Ross, Iglesias, Pedey and JBJ up the middle. :-)

In response to carnie's comment:

That would be a pretty solid middle carnie.

In response to ctredsoxfanhugh's comment:

Don't give up on Kalish yet - we haven't seen him healthy since 2010.  With a little luck, we'll see him have 2-3 months at 100% this year.  I wouldn't be surprised if he looks ready to fill the void in 2014.  If not, we can address the OF in the off-season.  I don't see Ellsbury as the answer - he just hasn't proven he can stay healthy and effective, and a terrific 2013 wouldn't do anything to change that fact.