Lillian

What is the point of burning his service time? We've had this discussion many times, the last one being over Eloy. The Sox are not going to be in contention, with this thin pitching staff. Wait until the date, next year, when we will still have 6 full years of control, starting in 2021. Next year is the soonest realistic chance for this team to be competitive. Having both Kopeck and Cease join the rotation, could be enough to vault the Sox into contention. What's wrong with letting him finish the year between Birmingham and Charlotte? He's only 22. Perhaps you were asking when he will be promoted to AAA. That is a good question. It may be more challenging for him to continue hitting at Birmingham. No one else seems to be able to hit much there.

Thank you. Since we only have the option to vote for one player, in each poll, I assume that we are expecting both Rutschman and Witt to be off the board, by the 3RD pick. If not, then I would change my vote to Rutschman. I would personally rank them in this order: Rutschman, Witt, Bleday, Vaughn.

Perhaps the question to ask is; How good is Law at evaluating hitters and how many respected scouts agree with him?

I'm not confident enough, in my technical skills, on this board. However, if someone could put it in the right format, I would suggest listing at least the top 3 candidates, in order, for each of the two categories; 1) Who do you want? 2) Who will the Sox take?

When is someone going to post a thread, in which we can vote for whom we think the Sox will take, and whom we'd like them to take?

For those who haven't seen this MLB.com piece on Brett Baty, yesterday: https://www.mlb.com/news/latest-news-2019-mlb-draft?t=mlb-draft-coverage

Looks fine, against LH pitching. One LH bat, in the first 6, doesn't look so hot, versus RH pitching. Sorry to have to keep bringing it up, but I'll stop, when people stop ignoring this indisputable fact. As inept, as many here believe they are, even Renteria and Hahn recognise it and that's why we can be confident that they will address the issue. It also explains why Alonso continues to bat, in the middle of the order. He's there, because the Sox don't have anyone else. It's pretty hard to find a successful team that fielded a lineup of so many right handed hitters. I keep trying to identify a good free agent candidate, to fill the void, but can't come up with one. It may necessitate a trade.

How much money could the Sox save, by taking Baty and how might they employ those dollars, for other selections, in this Draft?

Baty is just 1 1/2 years younger than Vaughn. After reading that article by Kiley, about the Progressive approach, not yet fully embraced by colleges, I have a greater appreciation for the advantage of taking a prep prospect. Again, here is where scouting is really difficult and critical. If the Sox evaluate Baty as a talent worth picking 3RD, then they have the advantages of getting him into a professional program, and using a wooden bat, yet they don't have to wait as long to get him to the Big Leagues, as they would with a typical high school prospect. It's also interesting to note that Vaughn was not a very good high school baseball player. He really came into his own, when he got to college. In the final analysis, it all comes down to the scouting department. What the Hell do I know. I've never seen either one these kids and if I had, I wouldn't know how to determine whom to select.

I did some research on Baty. This issue of him being 19 1/2 is interesting. If the kid really has legitimate bonafides, I could see his age actually being an advantage. Although, it diminishes his stats, playing against younger guys, it also means that he is more physically mature and could get to the Big Leagues more quickly. He's a big strong left handed hitter, with big time power. He also led his HS basketball team, so he is a very good athlete. I'm intrigued. I imagine that the Sox would save a lot of money, selecting him 3RD. That could be an interesting strategy. This is one where the scouting really would be key, as the stats could be especially misleading, considering his age.

I worry about the same issue, plus all of the other negatives, we've discussed. Whom do you like? You know that I'm still partial to Bleday.

Last night, In the Tournament against #2 Ohio State, Bleday had a couple of doubles and 2 walks. He was 2 for 3 with no strike outs and an RBI.

I just listened to the Podcast, with Jim Callis. He would personally take Vaughn, if Rutschman and Witt are off the board. However, he has no idea whom the Sox will take. He feels that it's very close between Abrams and Vaughn, with Bleday as a close 3RD option. He reiterated that Abrams' comp is Dee Gordon, with more power. His assessment of our last year's pick, Madrigal, is that he doesn't quite know what to think. He has the same question that many of us have; Is he going to hit for a high enough average, to overcome the lack of walks and low Slugging %?

Regarding that FanGraphs piece by Kiley; How is this "Swing Change" innovation relevant to a comparison of Vaughn and Bleday? Bleday is at Vanderbilt, which Kiley mentioned as one of the more "progressive" programs. Could that account for J. J.'s sudden emergence of power? What is the program like at California? Has Vaughn developed his successful approach on his own, or is he also a product of this new thinking?

If you and "bMags" are correct and disagree with "Ray Ray," who echoes Law, then I want Bleday, over Vaughn, for all of the reasons we have discussed. To me this is the critical question. Vaughn has to be considered a tier above Bleday, to justify taking him. Wouldn't you agree that most of the experts consider at least Vaughn's hit tool, as a tier above the others?

Is there still a consensus that Rutschman, Witt and Vaughn are all in a tier above Bleday, Abrams and any other guys, who might be considered in the 2ND tier?

MLB Trade Rumors has a piece on McCann today. Surprisingly, they don't credit him with having been a good defensive catcher: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com

He was not doing much until recently. However, he has been making up for a poor start and I doubt that many are unhappy with how is now playing. Moreover, as someone reminded us, he was recovering from the wrist injury, earlier in the season. The real test will come when he gets promoted to AA. The only one of our prospects who has been able to carry his success, at Winston-Salem, over to Birmingham is Robert.

Yes, you're right about that. Especially since it was getting late in the game, and he had thrown close to the normal limit of pitches. Good point.

You and Law present a very compelling argument. If you guys are right, I'm on the "Vaughn Train". So, here is my dream team for the 2021 Division winning Sox: SS Anderson 2B Madrigal 3B Moncada LF Eloy 1B Vaughn RF (A Left Handed Power Hitter. This lineup cannot be effective with just one LH bat. I have no idea who that would be) DH Abreu C McCann CF Robert

If he is really that good of a hitter, then he has to be in a tier above the other bats, in this Draft. That being the case, I would take him at #3, unless Rutschman is available.

How many guys do you think will hit 30 HR's this season, with this juiced ball?

You are absolutely right. If he is going to hit like Frank Thomas, I'd take him #1, in almost any year's draft. However, I wonder what the probability is that he hits anywhere close to the Big Hurt's HOF career.

Very interesting, indeed. This author validates my rejection of the assertion that being only 6' tall is a negative. However, height may still be a consideration, regarding defence. Being a bigger target, with a longer reach, at first, is advantageous. I wonder how good of a hitter Vaughn has to be in the Major Leagues, to justify his being picked 3RD. For me, unless he exceeds .300, .350, .500, with over 30 HR's. I'd prefer a guy who hits left handed and, or can also play a premium position. However, you can see how a team could be willing to settle for just reaching those bench marks, especially if they think the probability of reaching them is high enough. After all, those numbers aren't exactly "chopped liver". On the other hand, 30 home runs doesn't seem like much of a hurdle, these days, with the maple bats and live ball. Lot's and lot's of guys are going to have 30+ homers, this year. Last night, Abreu hit what should have been his 15TH, if he hadn't passed Tim, rounding first base, and that's in just 1/3 of the season.

I respect and admire your intellectual honesty and open mindedness. Your having changed your position on the question of extending McCann is a rare instance of someone being able to critically rethink an issue, and come to a different conclusion. It would be wonderful if more people were able to keep an open mind. Good for you. In the final analysis, it would obviously come down to how much money would be involved. However, the idea is certainly worth exploring.