Gambling is permitted
Having already expended their first-round draft choice on a hotshot quarterback who has to decide whether to follow Peyton Manning's footsteps to the University of Tennessee or play baseball, the Red Sox showed equal daring on some later picks, as well.
They also showed considerable respect for local talent, drafting Portsmouth (R.I.) High School outfielder Ryan Westmoreland on the fifth round, then one round later taking Yale catcher Ryan Lavarnway, a junior at Theo Epstein's alma mater.
Both players are projected as potentially tough to sign by Baseball America. The publication says it will take a seven-figure signing bonus to persuade Westmoreland not to go to Vanderbilt, while Lavarnway, who was projected to be drafted higher before breaking his wrist late in the spring, may elect to return for his senior year. As a sophomore, Lavarnway led the nation in hitting with a .467 average.
"We feel they are both pretty talented kids, thus the reason for using those picks on them," Sox scouting director Jason McLeod said. "Coming from cold weather and playing against what is considered weaker competition, they were probably a little underscouted [especially with Lavarnway going down early with the injury], but we like the upside to both."
Another intriguing pick was fourth-rounder Peter Hissey, an outfielder from Unionville High in West Chester, Pa., who is committed to the University of Virginia. Hissey has been compared with Ryan Kalish, the New Jersey prep star who is a highly regarded outfield prospect who hit .368 for the Lowell Spinners last season.
"They're different types of players, being that Kalish was physically stronger at the same stage," McLeod said. "However, both are athletic lefthanded hitters we feel have a strong chance to play center field."
The Sox also used a 20th-round pick on Alex Meyer, a 6-foot-7-inch high school pitcher from Greenville, Ind., who was ranked No. 25 overall by Baseball America on its top prospects list. Meyer slid because he is committed to Kentucky and is being advised by Scott Boras.
"Purely a good gamble for us that deep in the draft," McLeod said. "We will continue to scout him and there's really nothing to lose for either side here. Both come out winners if we can work something out later in the summer."
A Connecticut Phillie
The highest-drafted New Englander was infielder Anthony Hewitt of the Salisbury (Conn.) School, who was taken 24th overall by the Phillies. Hewitt is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., who attends the Connecticut boarding school. Bruce Bosley, who works in sports communications for the University of Vermont, notes that there has been a New Englander (home-grown, high school, or college) taken in the first round in 32 of the 43 years since the draft started in 1965 (two years have had only a first-round pick in the now-defunct January or secondary phase draft). Since 1984, there has been a New England first-round pick in 19 of the 24 drafts . . . Three Boston College players were drafted: pitcher Daniel Houston (seventh round, Colorado); third baseman Eric Campbell (eighth, Mets), and pitcher Terry Doyle (37th, White Sox). Yale righthander Brian Irving went on the 17th round to the Giants, Maine outfielder Billy Cather, who went to high school at Worcester Academy, went on the 33d round to the Nationals, and Worcester State first baseman Nate Nelson went on the 40th round to Toronto.
Landing Landers
The top high school player from Massachusetts taken was lefthanded pitcher Keith Landers from St. Peter-Marian High in Worcester; Landers went on the 18th round to the Orioles. Also taken on the 18th round by the Tigers was Scott Weismann, a righthanded pitcher from Acton-Boxboro High.
A third high schooler, righthanded pitcher Blaine O'Brien of Scituate, went on the 34th round to the Phillies.
Dartmouth outfielder Damon Wright (25th, Giants) was the highest-drafted player taken from New Hampshire. His teammate, lefthanded pitcher Russell Young, went on the 28th round to Cleveland.
Also drafted on the 28th round was Franklin Pierce infielder Scott Savastano, who went to the Mariners.
Rolling out Dice-K
Daisuke Matsuzaka began throwing for the first time since going on the disabled list May 30, playing catch from 60 feet. Matsuzaka is eligible to come off the DL June 12, but manager Terry Francona said that's probably too soon. He said a decision has not yet been made on whether Matsuzaka will get a rehab start or two . . . Jacoby Ellsbury ran in the ninth inning for Manny Ramírez, but Francona said he is unlikely to draw a start until Tuesday . . . Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 12 on the homestand and batting .149 (10 for 67) over his last 17 games, was given the day off. So was Mike Lowell, until he was inserted in the game as a defensive replacement and wound up doubling home two runs in the eighth . . . Jonathan Papelbon said his left elbow injury is not a figment of his fertile imagination, and pulled off his jersey to show a reporter the puffiness. "It's called ulnar neuritis," said Papelbon, who had joked that it was the "Elton John elbow injury - nagging, like Elton John's music." "It's when the ulnar ligament pops out of its groove. It's not a big deal, but it's something that happened when I dislocated the elbow my senior year in high school playing football." . . . Francona, asked if he thought Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon had done anything to precipitate Thursday's brawl that resulted in a total of eight players being suspended, said, "Publicly, I don't really care to answer that."
