Lillian

I'm here. So, is he a potential middle of the order bat and how long will it take him to get to Big Leagues? LOL. Seriously, I'm afraid that the Sox will have to sign a veteran LH bat, for this rebuild. Maybe the kid can be part of the next one.

If a player refuses to take the offer, how long must he wait, before he can try to sign with a team, outside of the Draft, in the same manner that an undrafted college football player can "walk on"? Not that there would be any advantage to him doing that, but I'm trying to gain a better understanding of the process.

So that's how it works. Interesting. It's quite a complicated process, isn't it?

So, is this where they save a little extra money? Offer the kid some nominal amount and if he doesn't take it, use all of that money to sign the tough signees. Is that permissible?

Why is there such a discrepancy in Beard's height and weight? One place it say 5' 10" and 170 pounds, and in another it says 6' and 190. Is the latter, a projection, or was the former an older description? In any case, he looks very skinny in that video.

He was a middle infielder in high school and still insists that he can play third. Scouts seem to be less optimistic. He has the arm for third, as he also pitched in high school, but the rest of the defence at the hot corner is another question.

Vaughn's size is a little bit of an issue, at first base. Although he's a pretty good fielder, he doesn't have the reach. A tall first baseman can stretch out and grab a throw, a few inches closer to the infielder and can reach up and bring down a high throw. We shouldn't have any concerns about his size, at the plate. His power is just fine. He is graded as having plus power. He'll hit his homers. They don't need to be of the tape measure variety. There are no bonus points awarded for hitting the ball an extra 50 feet, beyond the wall. Moreover, remember that a guy 5' 11" has shorter "levers" than the long armed, 6' 3" hitter. That shorter swing path allows him to get his bat into the hitting zone, more quickly.

I often do, but don't see many options. So far, Dickerson might be the best free agent candidate, next year and that isn't much of a solution.

Let him dominate at AA and AAA, before even thinking about bringing him up. Where would he even play? He's 21, there is plenty of time.

I'm thrilled to add a potential impact bat, however this signing does raise the issue of Abreu's place, going forward. The Sox are going to need to spend on a LH hitting, middle of the order bat, in free agency, or make a trade. That player will either have to be a corner outfielder, or a DH, which leaves Jose with no place to play. Therefore, once Vaughn arrives, Abreu would likely need to be gone. We also better really hope that Collins can stick, behind the plate and that his bat will be good enough. There is not going to be room for him at first, and he probably is not going to be a good enough hitter to DH. Then too, there is still the question of Burger, yet another right handed hitter, who profiles best as a DH, or maybe a first baseman. It still baffles me how this front office has managed to stock up on so many right handed hitting, first basemen, DH's. Not very good planning. We have one legitimate Left handed hitting, middle of the order, impact bat; Moncada. Even there, it would have been nice to have the luxury of batting him 1ST or 2ND, to take advantage of his speed. Anderson, Robert, Eloy, Burger and now Vaughn, all right handed hitting. Perhaps they thought that trading for Rutherford was going to help address the problem. However, he is really struggling.

Agree, if he's there.

I usually agree with your observations, especially on Abrams, and I too like Bishop. I'm just wondering if there are other sources which agree with you and Law, regarding how elite and special Vaughn's bat is? Is he clearly in a tier above Bleday and Bishop?

Allow me to clarify the point, which I'm trying to make about Abrams. Yes, I agree, SS is a very valued, premium position. If his profile were: An elite defender at SS, who will be able to stick at that position, I might be on board. However, that is not his profile. According to MLB Pipeline, it's rather; "The biggest question with Abrams is where he'll eventually make his defensive home. The Alabama recruit has solid arm strength and a chance to stick at shortstop, but he doesn't have the most fluid actions. He might fit better at second base or center field, and he played the latter position in deference to Bobby Witt Jr. on Team USA at the 18-and-under Pan American Championships in Panama last fall." So, what are we looking at here? A guy who is not an elite defender at either SS, or CF. It's fine that he has tools, which "might" enable him to become a good SS, or center fielder, but at #3, unless he has an elite bat, shouldn't we be expecting more?

This idea that Abrams "might" a good SS, or Center fielder is what troubles me. If he doesn't have an elite bat, then I want more than a guy who might develop into a good SS, or center fielder. This profile suggests to me that he only has one elite tool, which is his speed. Remember, this is the 3RD pick. Too risky for me.

Has Abrams ever even played CF? Again, at #3, shouldn't he be a proven elite defender in CF, rather than some fast kid, who might profile as a "potential" center fielder?

However, aren't there questions about his being able to stick at SS? At #3, doesn't he have to be an elite defender, unless he has an exceptional bat?

The game has shifted even more toward the long ball. Hard to imagine the Sox use top 4 picks, two years in a row, for guys who don't fit that profile. Moreover, those kinds of players are the least expensive to obtain through free agency. I think a middle of the order bat, or a top of the rotation starter, are the profiles, which should be targeted with a #3 pick.

No one seems to have Abrams slotted as high as #3. Since that's where the Sox get to make their first selection, it would be "getting cute," by definition, if they take him. Therefore, unless you think that they can pull off some coup, saving money, for future rounds, it's not going to be a good choice.

And if he gains "lots of pounds," he may not retain his elite speed, which seems to be his only exceptional tool.

Well guys, I think we just have to trust the "Pros". This is their job and they have much more information than all of us, put together. Whomever they select, it should be an interesting and exciting evening. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks for a stimulating discussion and all of the information.

I couldn't find it. Would you please post the link? Thanks.

That's too easy. Of course none of us would complain if the player, whom we preferred turned out to be a bust, while the player we actually chose turned out to be a super star. A better question would be, if they both turned out to be productive Major Leaguers, which one would you prefer?

6:00 Central Time. Coverage starts at 5:00 Central time

Is that just hyperbole, or do some actually call Vaughn "the best college hitter ever"? I've read several opinions that he is the best hitter in this class, but not the best "ever".

Bishop is 9 months younger than Bleday, just in case it matters to any of you. I wouldn't be disappointed, it the Sox took Bishop. I like the added tool of speed. Either one of those two, would be fine with me, especially if they could save a little money with Bishop.