Alex Speier debates John and Gerry on how prospects ascend through the minor league system

Dennis and Callahan broadcasting live their bottled at Red -- -- training at Fort Myers, Florida joining us in the broadcast that -- has done most of our time down here. Our friend from WEB -- dot com Alex good morning Alex -- great except that I'm you know absence makes the heart reporter ornaments yeah I know what you're only human -- him -- -- -- one of the interesting things about spring training is is not to revisit. With the players you know everything about the Ortiz as the Pedroia of the Jon Lester but two. Look at the future and based on the fact that the Boston Red Sox didn't trade their future away for any kind of deals in the offseason and we're looking at the Jackie Bradley's in the people like that your -- -- -- I find very very interesting you think it's a good idea the Bogart's actually place from third base for the Boston Red Sox we've projected as a shortstop. I like the idea of introducing guys to new positions of various parts of makes the more valuable roster standpoint. You -- -- college at -- when he came up for instance he started exploring exploring positions other than shortstop which is where -- played coming up. And it allowed him to make his Major League debut bastard allowed him to make. An impact subbing in for Michael when he was injured so if -- -- Brooks goes down for instance. Then you know come the middle of the season I'm probably going to one -- bogus cards to be. To be the guy at third base hit to fill in form even if you project him as a shortstop going forward what do we know what -- we think about and Bogart's. We know that he's someone who's outperformed his level and -- -- by that time he's actually been remarkable the Red Sox have pushed him very aggressively. From a player development standpoint. They had him which is unlike them by the way I know actually that's actually very much within their MO I find that that line of thinking that you guys offered on a number of occasions. To be interesting but in Berkeley wrong. But nonetheless they pushed him very aggressively. In he's outperformed his level by a lot he's. He was the youngest guy in double -- he was the second youngest guy in his side his -- in -- he was the youngest guy in single -- if he's been a dominant player which -- -- remarkable. And in so that that is as good indicator of future successes you can have what is a circle. And. Evidence oh early evidence a worm apparently wrong bright bright so when -- widely expected to lose in the -- at the age 26. That's. Rushing that's. Aggressively. Pushing again for the miners in the -- -- you know you know better than anyone that you can come up examples of both cases jurors come up. All right aggressively or this aggressive guys going to be and -- It in a bar with -- -- going to open your protected so I understand that I understand there they're concerned there right but. Most of the move further for the most part they're kind of cherry picking examples of guys who have been brought up. More slowly so if you look at the data more broadly right if you look at the number of guys who have been 2322 while making their Major League debut for the Red Sox. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- The 25 pick. I love this when I'm accused of cherry pick and -- -- Gonzales says he's a once in a generation player he's a 25 pick in the draft in 24 teams based on by a question of -- so basic so they missed only once in A generation player nights at about Strasburg the Red Sox the 24 teams did miss on a once in a generation -- yes it was an incredibly rare opportunity. To have a guy who's a transcendent talent at that stage in the draft you almost never see that other we should point out that Roger Clemens went number eighteen overall in 1982 right do you think. Boca would be ruined if they were silenced even through -- -- I don't think that he will be ruined but I do think that you be short circuit in his development as you would be hindering him I think in week. Weak minded I do not think the Soviet lined up -- -- -- it -- it's well another. Craig Hansen used -- success. Greg Hansen was not as bright as as an undervote -- really who's who's got a great head on his orders but. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It a lot of guys. Do you think are great and who in fact end up being great and being thrown. Badly if they feel most prominently for the first time in their lives in under that most glaring spotlight. And then you just -- for the examples of guys come up and -- there's something to be said for coming up to the big leagues and and you know playing. With better players and you know better fields and better lighting and better food in better health you know better and training and all that and and it brings up the best and some guys -- we saw that with. Which -- you've seen with -- ago. With -- actually he failed badly in the major leagues in August of 2011 which is why the angels sent him back down. Not just at the end of that season but also for the start of 2012 eligible for Red -- what formula Red Sox used to decide whether guys advances it's just hard core data just numbers or is there eyeball test in -- sort of psychological evaluation as well there's -- all of the factors go into it so for instance a guy like a -- Britain last year we've been struggling badly in high -- He and he had a bad first few starts in -- in Heidi. Ended up being really good for a few starts and they just wanted to pushes player development forward so they moved him up to double -- -- to kind of increase the challenge. Because he had been there for you know for basically a year's time or name one -- that you think they kept -- I think that -- I don't think that apparently was kept down too long I think it I mean I -- think that you can make a case that. He was mentally ready by the middle of last year but I think it was important. You -- with a guy -- Major League ready but they had guys in front of him. Honestly you know if you look I'm shocked Alex be your typical one mistake parents and I think that I don't think that they've made a mistake with the hardware I think that buckled maybe win Hebert when he bounced back. In 2009. From his horrific 2008 season I think that he could have made an impact on the Major League rotation. And you have to admit that the kept my men Jeremy baker doesn't happen 45 years old he's put shell and BP every day you watched together the guy can break. He's got a good opening in the minus time for in the -- actually so -- -- left and hit a lefty I've been watching him the baker for years in the end of BP's settings and I agree with you I love his swing in batting practice. And I love the fact that he's the best combination of power and speed that the Red Sox have. In their system however he's shown no ability to commit to be able to adjust to written to breaking balls really high strikeout rate in double A he was exposed to the rule five draft this past this past -- none of the other thirty teams took a Major League Baseball. So he's a guy who still needs to develop is still needs to have adjustments from at bats at bat of the plate and he's just not ready for the major -- even though. Those -- those two tools beaten and raw power against fastballs. In batting practice are off the charts something before the September call -- what would it take what set of circumstances would it take -- for Jackie Bradley junior would be pulling them apart earlier in the season I think there's a great chance she's up playing in Fenway Park earlier in the season after he's had made a couple months in the minors if you look at the development progression of a guy like Jacoby Ellsbury. Whom he tracks very closely with. -- -- up by the end of what June I think he made -- his Major League debut and I think they'll be very much in keeping with Bradley that would make him. Pretty aggressive in terms of the development -- if you look at first round picks over the last five years or so actually I'll -- over the last three years or so. Almost none have reached the majors to this point so Bradley would be way out in front of the wave of a typical player development. In the minor league system and I think the Red Sox view him as a guy who's capable of keeping up with that and -- finds himself a similar situation I think -- is going to be a little later because they have more depth that -- you you have three out -- right so they're going to be injuries that necessitate moving guys up. With Bogart's I do think that he only had one month in double -- last year he walked once during that one month even though he showed. Incredibly precocious power during that time so there's still adjustment for him to be made but I do you think maybe by the end of the year you could team up what's on the docket today for you. Well getting ready for for actual games in fact I am trying to get. A little bit more into some of the history of -- -- in the organization because like you guys I love being down here for the sake of seeing prospects. Learning about them finding out about their history and where they aren't that development at at at at -- -- to accessing that tell us that the cuts to speak five languages that -- -- -- -- he's being -- at -- he's he's he's -- you know Craig -- of -- -- well -- shouldn't -- the -- credit but. Yeah there there's some very bright people in the clubhouse is expired WEEI dot com read and check them out good stuff every single day.