The Sox now have likely the best farm in all of baseball. But the previous iterations of development of minor leaguers provides a note of caution. Regardless, the system is so much better now than any time in the recent past. A look at the juxtaposition.

 

 

The Sox now have likely the best farm in all of baseball. But the previous iterations of development of minor leaguers provides a note of caution. Regardless, the system is so much better now than any time in the recent past. A look at the juxtaposition.

 

Great article.

 

There is a lot to like around what's happening.

 

But, looking at our first round picks since 2013

Anderson

Rodon

Fulmer

Collins / Burdi

Burger

 

The last 2 -- that's Hostetler. And I think in terms of actual performance you'd say it's actually very good to have 2 1st round picks in the majors. But it's nagging at me a bit that this is the best draft position over 5 years we've ever had and they are still only hypothetical foundation pieces.

 

The other thing, pretty negative nancy I know, but we now have the 2 bats we rated highest (maybe, we'll never know) from 2016. Maybe we have no idea about Senzel or whatever, but of the players we supposedly targeted. I just wish those bats were destroying the A levels before being tested. That their natural hitting ability was challenged so early is just a little nervewrecking to me.

 

I'm not saying BUST or FAILURE yet, more that I just wish we could have some dudes that we draft that just rip through it all to ease anxiety around player dev. Like a Sale

I think that's a big reason why we're not just tanking, we're stockpiling assets. Also, we all remember the Josh Fields era, but I'm willing to give Hostetler the benefit of the doubt for a while.

Edited July 20, 20178 yr by Sox-35th

I'm not close to calling out Hostetler, but am just dying for some drafted position prospect that breezes through. Maybe that's Burger.

I think that's a big reason why we're not just tanking, we're stockpiling assets. Also, we all remember the Josh Fields era, but I'm willing to give Hostetler the benefit of the doubt for a while.

Tanking is stupid. Baseball draft picks are generally busts. Stockpiling assets is smart though (given where we were). Development will be critical and I hope the Sox have figured things out and we don't see our development team fail miserably with the talent that has been infused into the system.

that article fails to realize that for years we didn't focus on the farm system at all and never really kept our higher round picks. Also, the guys at the top of our list who have all failed were only at the top of the list because our farm system was dead last.

that article fails to realize that for years we didn't focus on the farm system at all and never really kept our higher round picks. Also, the guys at the top of our list who have all failed were only at the top of the list because our farm system was dead last.

 

As one of the voters for the prospect lists, we are all very painfully aware of this.

 

Still no excuse for Simon Castros, Nestor Molinas and Keon Barnums of the world to be the higher end talents in the system.

great write-up! thanks for posting. I can't speak for most Sox fans...but I'm surprised how long Kenny skated without taking much responsibility for how ridiculously bad the farm system has been. That picture in the article (Mitchell) is the Poster Child for poor decisions over the past decade. I recall many fans clamoring for a total rebuild and now that it's here...it couldn't have worked out any better IMO. Exciting times ahead...