Editors Note: As the AL East playoff race heats up, Turnstyl3 is playing it cool. We have brought in ace MLB blogger Andrew Rotondi to break down the impact that current and future Yankees and Red Sox studs will have on the AL Pennant Race. Yesterday, in the first of two articles, Andrew previewed the Yankees farmhands. Today’s installment will take a look at the Red Sox call-ups and the impact they will have on Beantown.
Jose Iglesias' glove is MLB ready, but his bat is far behind.
Boston has had four different starting shortstops since Orlando Cabrera left after the 2004 season, but they feel they have found their future shortstop in top prospect Jose Iglesias, SS who they signed out of Cuba at age 19. Iglesias already made his major-league debut earlier this season, but was sent down after just 6 games. If Iglesias were starting for the Red Sox today, he would be one of the two or three best defensive shortstops in Baseball; he would also be one of the two or three worst offensive shortstops. In 91 Triple-A games this season Iglesias is batting just .229 with only 7 extra base hits. No matter how impressive a glove Iglesias possesses, it is difficult to hide a guy slugging .251 in your starting lineup. Still, expect a September call-up this season because Iglesias can provide rest for the Red Sox middle infielders as they go into October. Also, expect the Red Sox to give Iglesias every opportunity to win the starting shortstop job next spring training.
Much like the Yankees—and every other big league team—the Red Sox are desperately searching for a consistent left-handed reliever. Out of spring training this year they felt they had a potential candidate in Felix Doubront, LHP, who they hoped could build on his impressive debut season in 2010 when he made 12 appearances as a starter and reliever. Doubront has never managed to get going this year however. He felt arm soreness in spring training, and then had reoccurring injuries all season. His numbers in the minors this season are impressive though; he has struck out 72 batters in just 73 innings—a positive sign for Boston because a left-handed pitcher with those strike-out numbers is a perfect candidate for a bullpen spot. The Red Sox seem to be treating Doubront (just 23 years old) with kid gloves; however, Alex Speier of WEEI.com has reported that Felix will have another opportunity to help the Red Sox out of the ‘pen in September, and possibly October.
Lars Anderson, 1B has been a prospect for a few years now, but the Red Sox know his value is dropping the longer they hold onto him. Lars is an odd position. He is a first baseman with absolutely no shot at starting for the Red Sox for the next 7 years (an MVP-candidate named Adrian Gonzalez stands in his way). He was rumored to be included in the Gonzalez deal last winter but San Diego decided in favor of Casey Kelly, a starting pitcher, as the blue-chip prospect in their deal. The Red Sox tried to trade him again at the 2011 deadline for Rich Harden, but that deal also fell through. Anderson’s numbers are unimpressive in Triple-A Pawtucket this year—he is batting .263/.364/.422, a major decline from his impressive 2008 season when he batted .317/.417/.517 in Single-A and Double-A combined. When a player has a major decline like Anderson has from age 20 to 23, there is usually an underlying reason. In Lars’ case it may be motivation. He has been stuck riding Greyhound’s in the minors for the past four seasons. A potential September call-up might give him the motivation he needs, and the chance the Red Sox need to showcase Anderson for an inevitable trade.
Follow baseball writer Andrew Rotondi on Twitter (@Yankees_talk) and NYYUniverse.com as he breaks down all things Yankees.
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