Flash

I know its Spring training but the way Leury, Yoan and Abreu looked, as well as improvements by Timmy and big plus having Eloy start the season in LF...there might be reason to be optimistic. Pitching is clearly suspect but I can see this team getting out of the gate rather nicely.

Vaughn seems to have fallen back into the realm of mere mortals. No doubt he is a great hitter but, at least for now, I'm very open minded about the third pick.

I'm a big fan of Vaughn but something tells me we'll regret not taking Witt if available. I'm super stoked about this draft and by the time it rolls around, someone like Riley Green might leap to the front of the line. Lots of great options to select from.

Gotta learn if he can play first, ideally sooner than later. Lots of value in a LH hitter with power who can play 1B catch and DH. Great roster flexibility not to mention lots of talk about Rutschman (Catcher) and Vaughn (1B) as draft prospects. If Collins is a viable 1B option, it might influence who we select.

Friday night scores in...OSU won 2-1 over Minn. w/Adley accounting for both runs with 2 run HR (2-3 w/2BBs). Vaughn 0-3 w/2BBs, 1K as Cal got walked off by LSU.

Good test for Vaughn this weekend as the Cal Bears travel to LSU for a 3 game series. LSU among best teams in nation with strong and deep pitching.

Good point. I read somewhere that Baltimore brought in a scouting director(?) with direct ties to Witt. Also, KC losing their cathcher to TJ for all of 2019 (as well as drafting a plethora of pitchers last year) might indicate Rutschman won't make it to #3, assuming Baltimore takes Witt (big assumption). As we sit here today, its hard to envision how we can F@#* it up.

Vaughn was the best hitter (college or HS) last year and he is even more dialed-in this year. He is on a rediculous pace that would mark the most productive season in NCAA history. His track record as being in a league of his own goes back to HS. Sure pitchers will be extra careful and start pitching around him. That said, I can see teams buying into the narrative that 1B is less important and therefor pick a MI/CF. I understand in some instances 1B is a 'default-to' position but, all you have to do is watch Rizzo, Freeman, Votto and, to a lesser extent Hosmer and count how many throwing errors they save (vs. say Abreu) to appreciate the value of a 1B who can play defense, especially with the way shifts are employed today. I can get behind Rutschman, a HS MI w/upside or a lights out pitcher with the 3rd pick but I just don't buy passing up Vaughn because he is a 1B.

Rutschman hit HR #5 yesterday (1-3 w/BB).

Hoping 2019 is year where are young OFrs establish real value and we get a bit of seperation in order to forecast who to keep and who to package in trade.

My current order of preference: Guessing Adley and Witt go 1...2 . 1) Adley C 1)a Vaughn 1B 2) Witt SS 3) Abrams SS 4) Espino P

if only he was taller he might be able to hit

Vauhn is inhuman. No one doubts his bat and every report suggests he will be among the fastest to MLB where he will be a fixture in the heart of a lineup. He won Golden Spikes last year (best college player) and, along with Rauchman is in two-horse race this year. 1B is one of 8 positions that needs to be manned. Reports are that he is a strong fielder. Not everyone can play middle IF. From my perspective, given Sox needs and track record of player development, he is a complete no-brainer and anyone who passes on him because he doesn't fit their idea of a protypical 1B will regret it.

WS need talent and depth everywhere. We can talk ourselves in or out on any number of players/positions. No one has a crystal ball but past and current performance is a good indicator of future. As we sit here today, it appears we have reasonable OF depth. IF is another story and there is room to improve at every position and no real rising phenoms to look forward to. That said, my biggest concern is pitching, especially if Dunning is out. The more I read about Espino, the better I like him.

Only reason they might be interested is to clear some payroll and OF spot for Harper.

Myers isn't expensive until 2020 and then, only if he doesn't perform. Guessing he would have led WS in WAR last season. I would definitely take him and his contract on if it meant nabbing a couple of high upside prospects. Who we give up in return would obviously depend on the prospects.

I was thinking along same lines but with Padres. If we can't sign Harper, lets help the Padres by taking Wil Myers off their hands. Padres have 5-6 guys rated between 15-25 who I really like, including Nayler, Xavier Edwards and Potts.

If you commit to trading Rodon, could we do better? I don't know the answer but I'm guessing several teams might want in.

Thats actually an interesting trade.

Rox 3B prospect Colton Welker might be available. He's bench material for next 8 yrs.

From Baseball Farm predicting WS buck their historical MO and pick a HS pitcher at 3: Daniel Espino is strong, athletic and absurdly flexible (he can do the splits) with an advanced 6-2 frame. Espino uses that strength and flexibility to get into positions most guys simply can’t. As a result of this, he’s able to hold 95-98 without extreme effort and has touched triple digits at times, including breaking Hunter Greene’s velo record for Perfect Game events. In addition to the insane velocity, Espino throws one of the better sliders in the class, a solid curveball and a decent changeup that will play up due to his fastball velocity. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pitcher with this high of a ceiling have this kind of arsenal at his age. Espino pitched 26 AB against players on the combined MLB Pipeline draft top 50 and Perfect Game draft top 300…in those 26 AB against names including Bobby Witt jr, batters were a combined 1 for 25 with 1 BB and 17 K! That’s dominance against the best!

well said

Through six games, Vaughn is 11-for-19 (.579) with three home runs, nine RBI, eight runs and 11 walks vs. 2Ks. Dude is a machine.

If Sox aren't players for Harper, let's help Padres clear space. How about we send them Alonso and ??? for Wil Meyers and Hudson Potts/Xavier Edwards? Padres are loaded at SS and 3rd base and Meyers is an upgrade (2+ WAR) in OF, even at his $20MM contract.

Vaughn reminds me of the first base version of Mike Trout