Keith Law talks about some of the Red Sox prospects

Joining us now in the AT&T hotline is Keith law from ESPN keep every day. Could get a piece earlier this week ranking the organization's farm system one the thirty you have the Red Sox number seventeen I guess my question would be a drive that conclusion. So to do that you like it's it's part of the package were in the top 100 prospect in baseball they do a top ten. For each organization. And. To do it organizational rankings so I'm looking much deeper than. I'm looking at really anybody in their system quite think projections. Is. Having some kind of significant Major -- role even if it's just the backup fourth outfielder quality reliever. And and winning the upside -- what's the best case scenario for all these prospecting each of the systems and then also considering. Proximity how close are these guys to actually contributing in the majors protect not just actually getting here. But to be in the majors in and contribute some positive value to the Major League club and like to protect have a decent farm system I think that the last two drafts. Have helped significantly in a system that was really kind of on the downswing prior to that I don't think -- a lot of impact it's close to the majors. And -- it's kind of high upside pitching I think they have more kind of back and. Pitching a quality relief prospects but not a lot of the potential number one and two starters that other organizations have where. It may not all they're not -- alternative aces or virtues but at least the possibility exists that. As you know keep. With the way the Red Sox are sort of selling this is and I can make any big deals and -- sign guys for a couple of years and bank largely. On this farm system given your results of which you followed the -- reason. Your Red Sox -- to panic when you look at this now you're saying this is not one of the top half in baseball's farm system. I wouldn't panic but I would definitely. If I were asking the Red Sox directly about that I'd say well what you planned to do that next say twelve months. To compete to improve the ranking to improve the gaps in the system and to try to bring in at least a couple of war. High upside guys to match favorable court is the 19 system -- look at I think that's a store that guy is getting extremely high likelihood determine Q. Well above average everyday player in the majors but -- your top ten pick in the draft which they haven't haven't forever. And that's a huge opportunity for them. To try to get another player like that because typically in the draft those guys off the board in the first 1015 picks the Red Sox tend to pick after that. So picking I believe it's -- overall this year. -- have so this year even better they've got that opportunity and to go out again but a guy like that it might be high school player which. I think he's probably not ideal for them but it's not agree especially for position players it's not a great draft for college back. The best player available may be high school player and I don't think they know yet what direction they'd like to go and but the best player available could turn out to be something that's just not traditional for them what their personal -- So one thing that -- interest in you said that you don't see a lot of kind of top of the rotation sealing him in the Red Sox system at least you know in terms of in terms of likelihood of a projection. I think what of your more interest in evaluations was that of of Matt Barnes because. You know I know that you don't consult other ranking systems but he's someone who was viewed. As being a relatively. Easy to project number three by a lot of by by a lot of people both you know publications as well as scouts. Hum with -- you know in some humor is kind of a a likely three potential for number two I assume that you view him a little bit differently. That gap certainly less than that I don't I don't think that's that's reasonable. Evaluation of where Lawrence's. Today and I you know I give him credit for four making I think a lot of progress. Since getting out of school where he his junior year UConn was a little bit disappointing I'll let out the -- -- against him. Where they get the guy could've gone in the top ten or at least top fifteen. Going into spring in just kind of with epidemic messing around with a slider that was just. I've garbage pitched four and that he has -- you know respect his fastball curveball changeup. Which is gonna be more effective for him and that that's -- was just kind of what we exit of everybody's time. -- the big thing with boards is that. I don't strike -- numbers were great he's doing a lot of it is with great fastball command with Boston he'd love to see that. But it's not like he has knockout style. And I think as he continues to move up the latter of -- one of those pitches take the big leap forward like suddenly the curve ball. At the greater to in terms on this -- eighty scale. Yeah he's probably going to be relying on that fastball command to continue to -- that and that's harder and harder to do that can move up the latter can you can certainly help yourself with that. -- You know your boarding colossal mistakes and yours but your walk. -- hopefully allowing him to exit the ballpark is that kind of like on the fastball. It to be that can help. But that's not typically you end up. In the top two spots in rotation most guys you can -- pitch up there have one pitch that either clear swung and -- pitch or something that just generates tons of ground ball. And boards for me doesn't have any and I will -- also I don't -- him a little bit because it's not a great delivery he's got the size -- he repeats the big arm action. Fine but it's not a clean mr. gonna come across and that does give him I think it slightly higher risk for injury that some of the other pitchers have rated higher. So getting back to Kirk's earlier question about as you can kind of in the Red Sox perspective of team building. Do you see as impact prospects the guys with a chance to come up and help at the Major League level in either 2013 or 24 team. I think that the two closest for me art Jackie Bradley junior -- the publicly defense in the majors right now truth. And they are the the bats that far off I don't think he's gonna come up and be a superstar. He can be high on base guy and which is great actually approach has really improved. The last twelve months. We got to have a ton of power he can play everyday and better it'll probably be an above average regular at his peak because he's got a great defense -- skills good range good reads. Just that cover the more instinctive baseball player. Who get on base at a good clip he could probably do that. At some point 2014 maybe start the year on the roster then let Ellsbury walked and just let Bradley -- more into the role over the course of the year. I think Allen Webster could help the big league club at some point this year. If his issue -- -- if you gave him mad sports community have pretty damn good pitcher Brad you've got he can think -- like your ground ball he's got a good breaking ball. He can miss some bats he has always had issues with fastball command and took control he would like controlled the -- practiced -- strikes. And that and can kind of develop a little slowly. -- is a converted shortstop hasn't actually been pitching for that long and. I think I and I may fall into the trap to where I look at -- -- calm water expected to make that move in in command and control. Because eventually if you don't throw enough strikes he can't throw quality strikes with the fastball and you do end up in the bullpen. Did they may choose to use him in the bullpen at some point the end this year anyway they don't have a spot in the rotation but he's going well enough in the minors. Could come up to be -- 36 out guy in the middle innings for them in August and September yeah I I think he'd actually succeed in that role pretty -- He thought ESP enjoyed to -- you get the sense talking to people our guest just observing your own. The -- church and is the right guy we disorganization specific yes in that aspect of it comes to. Farm system given -- get his history. What is that his background right that he oversaw a farm system -- several years since. He's extremely well respected around the game he's seen as a good leader he's he has very thoughtful. It's very intelligent guy who could carry forward a lot of the philosophies that were in place -- the previous regime. So I I you know I haven't really heard any criticism of him directly depends some criticism. Of the vote is a lot of confusion as to why -- Red Sox there. Are suddenly trying to play in the middle tier free agents but to think historically the most dangerous area playing the premium guys. You know -- cigarette tax -- troubled -- but in general if you go after the start he'd do fine and if you go into the kind of bargain and -- can do pretty well but the middle -- and the victory ideal for me was the worst free agent contract in the offseason. And Napoli obviously they -- the deal but there's no way of giving. The only years the guy -- it is basically a part time catcher Baston probably. Just a full time DH. Those are not the players that that really any I would recommend any team be signing but it seems like their strategy is that is that the class of free agents. We wanna go after at least for the next couple of years. And I wanna put that on any one particular person in the front office they just. Don't really understand that as a philosophy because of the history of that class of free agents is not that good. I'm I'm curious about your your view of a couple of guys who have graduated technically from prospect status and there weren't eligible. But -- in terms of potential impact on the 2013 team. How do you -- guys like. How do you how do you view ruby Della -- And coming -- Tommy John surgery but with obviously electric stuff -- and the hard way who had a great track record up until last year when. When that when the offensive numbers went down. And and a guy like -- Salah who was spectacular in the major leagues last year I'm glad to you know is it it's a reliever so you know there's a sustainability question. So what -- us that means he looked like -- potentially before he got hurt I was getting called that sporting. March spring training and and in April 2 pro scout to win and the best I've seen all year. Pitching with a -- fastball. A plus change up it was very easy strikes strikes command wasn't really there and then you know three months later the elbow. After we haven't really seen him all the way back at this point so. Do still think he could be adding that the potential still there it's seems like the both -- stopped just the ability to throw that hard is still in the arm. I don't know how much more time it's gonna take for him just to get back. Command wise field wise secondary to where he was before the surgery so I wouldn't tell you I think illnesses in the rotation all year this year. And he's effective I think eventually get back to that point but don't be -- -- out the first step in the -- he's erratic. Because he's still trying to get back to where you wise opted not what seems like it sound as well I eleven Barrett -- but he could be back and starter originally really struggled in that role. Maybe he could morph back into that but it and looked like you got so much success with in our role that we don't want certain that he'd be more than. Maybe a fourth starter if it even act. I don't think it's kind of grievances to move him out of that spot. Will -- way I mean if he can actually be really good big leaguer but he's at best. A back up back there and did what you got this. Kind of out of regular DH was -- and just doesn't really profile. As he -- average designated hitter in the will give what the standard is the American right now so he's kind of a bench player. Who's gonna struggle to find a lot of playing time because teams carry twelve sometimes thirteen pitchers now. Players like what the Barkley hit veteran bench is 1015 years ago than they -- today. Final question here -- for me is to get real quickly sort of give us an idea where the other teams the American League east rank we have him ranked -- sort of you know among your your top thirty of the Yankees and Orioles. Rays and Blue Jays. So the rays or third overall they are clearly the class of the division in terms of their minor league system and they have to be like -- not be able spent at the -- -- -- to be able to replenish. But within character traits and part of what boosted them to it was. Picking up -- Meyers -- arteries via Mike Montgomery in Beijing -- trade. I think would've been a couple spots flow in the rankings. And get the big east has been acting the Orioles thirteen. If it's minor differences to beat the Yankees -- a better system Red Sox yes absolutely. Are they world better now they're kind of ball in that same general territory. It you don't have a lot of your term impact either but they do have a group of position players. Moving gradually up the system off fairly young. I think they could end up with two maybe been re above average or better regulars from back -- -- Blue Jays basically gave the formal way these -- I think laughter. To their clearly at the bottom of the division except one guy he's been a favorite of mine if you high school senior and Sanchez. Tremendous arm chance for three plus pitches. Need to throw more strikes he's only twenty you'll be high -- there's almost no near term impact. From there aren't systems of the Blue Jays they kind of -- I I actually wrote that. You know in a copilot with GM it's kind of pushed -- justice center of the table stood up they are all in at this point. And don't worry about rebuilding the farm system after the next state two years or so they want to try to win. Keith we appreciate your time you and you should know this you join John Farrell as the only three time guests on the hot stove show us. Oh is that right yeah I think that's -- do I get -- a hand like. It's it's the Triple Crown kids -- can keep three Richard that was the most appropriate -- yet to come to grips with the fact it's the first line -- There's really no doubt I don't like -- -- thanks elected but it's Steve lobbyist in joining us on the hot stove show. Quick -- back.