bmags

Dakota Jordan would at least give us a data point in the "sox can't fix guys like that" because for the most part they haven't drafted guys like that. Maybe Evan Skoug? ANd hey, he does have a lower k rate in charlotte than he did his last year at TCU. I think Jordan (power) or Sirota (BB) would both be good additions.

I think he would have, I think Rhett Lowder is better than Chase Burns who went 2. But regardless "he would have gone 7th last year" isn't really the best counter argument that he was a 1-1 guy. He's super talented, dominated, but has TJS and a funky delivery. That's not usually the 1-1 guy.

I'm not saying he's bad, but like if you aren't going 1-1 this year it's unlikely your draft position improves in other drafts.

One thing I give Shirley credit for that others in this damned org do not is the only time I got to see him speak (2020 soxfest), he described what he wanted as very athletic and big players whose bodies allowed them to make the adjustments to the mlb game. A lot of sox front office types have described what they wanted, and then went out and got different things. Shirley has delivered, when he has gone after outliers they have been guys that were super athletic and tall, not understrengthed and tiny. In the top three rounds, je has not brought in undersized RHP. He has not gone after limited corners. Even Jacob Gonzalez, who stood out, was more so with his swing choice, he is still 6'3, 220 and was a multi sport athlete, it's just he's not that fast to first. In his 5 drafts (2020-2024): - Crochet (6'6"), Kelley (6'3, 220) (2020 was a weird draft just gonna go first two guys - Montgomery (6'4), Kath (6'3), Burke (6'6, 230) - Schultz (6'8), Pallette (6'1 - tjs), Cannon (6'6) - Gonzalez (6'3), Taylor (6'3), Pallette (6'2) - Smith (6'3), Bonemer (6'1), (6'3), So some of the pitchers are borderline small last year, and boiling down that they are physical athletes just by showing their height is over simplified, but anyway I believe it's true and also no surprise that we finally have some guys that have improved through the increase in competition, not just slowly degrading as they move from college to pro ball.

Maybe we find something with some cold weather state prep players having more room to blow up than others, so guessing he's expensive but Dax Whitney would be my favorite. It's not because of his height at all.

I really don't think this is true. I think with a top 5 pick Shirley and the sox would have really loved a strong up the middle talent, but they didn't exist in this draft, so you had to hope that some hitters that were already trending toward first base were not just a product of juiced balls, or were constantly injured, or were from a state that never produces talent, could fit the bill. Not surprised they just went after a guy that had some obvious ability in the mlb.

ok, but this was not a strong draft and he went 5th, so no I do not think he'd be 1-1 consideration in a "typical" draft as this was atypical for how weak it was. Hell...a second baseman went 1st overall.

Gosh these k rates on the remaining top college hitters are insane.

I like Smith, but if he wasn’t 1-1 this year there is no other year he’d be close.

I think there should be a hell of a lot more pressure on Marco Paddy than Shirley. Shirley has shown he can bring in an all stars and top 20 prospects without spending $60 million to acquire them. Meanwhile Paddy has all but retired when we need international to supplement so badly.

With their fifth overall pick, Sox selected Hagen Smith, LHP out of Arkansas over power hitter Jac Caglianone and others. Smith was a board favorite after dominating an OSU team that featured first overall pick Travis Bazzana. They then drafted a prep SS Caleb Bonemer before finishing the night with prep lefty Blake Larsen out of IMG academy. Caleb Bonemer was Baseball Americas 36th rated prospect. He made a name for himself by putting on a show turning on velocity for home runs in the summer showcase last year.

I’ll take it.

How many have we taken like him?

I’m not sure I see the idea that picking smith is more of the same. Getting a corner guy I could see it. I’m not sure why this is in that narrative.

Didn’t baseball America have a whole thing about how the restricted innings in the minors have done nothing productive for preventing injuries?

I don’t think I believe BPA exists in the mlb draft. Sometimes it does, but mostly at like 1-1 only.

I think in this draft finding major leaguers will be impressive, just my opinion. Makes profile risk a secondary consideration.

I didn’t trust this draft to bring in the talent so, sure. He’s got talent, also just feels like I can see “Sox s%*# down smith in spring training with forearm soreness”. I would have preferred the offensive players just with the somewhat more loaded prep pitchers. But just not a good draft for profiles. That said with potentially trading crochet I have no clue why Getz was targeting pitching with his Cease return. Makes no sense (its because he is stupid)

?‍↕️

They should just make him DH then. Can’t risk any time not dedicated to “the bat”.

I’d be apoplectic if they drafted Kurtz though lol

I’m not sure I really care much anymore. I don’t ever want to draft a 1b top ten again, but when the alternative profiles are Mississippi prep talent, soft injury riddled second baseman, or TJS pitcher, it’s not like you are veering into safer territories. when you look at previous “bad” drafts, there is no safety anywhere, it can be an entire first round of only 1-2 major leaguers. At least Cags has 2 plus tools. Griffin is high upside. I still hope Condon falls.

Last year when we drafted Gonzalez people immediately started calling him madrigal lol

sorry that was wRC+.