Lars Anderson & Argenis Diaz Promoted to Portland

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Arquimedez Bozo

#61

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07/15/08 11:51 AM

Chris Hatfield
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asf, that wouldn't surprise me.

"they should go to soxprospect so that BOZO THE CLOWN and the rest of THE WANTS TO BE will give you some information" - A SP.com Legend

"A doubleheader is better than tipping the other team off the side of a cliff." - Cin1010

BriantheTaoist

#62

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07/15/08 11:55 AM

I don't remember weighing in, but if I had, I would've said Lars was going to wait a bit for a promotion, just because that would fit the pattern for the Sox. But, in the end, I see why he didn't have to. I'm fairly skeptical about low-level minors players, basically not getting too excited about anyone until they hit AA, but I'm completely on the Lars bandwagon. He was doing everything he should in A+, and by all accounts he's a mature, level-headed kid. He needs challenges to keep expanding his game, and I'm as excited by him as any position prospect the Sox have had.

To me, Diaz is the more interesting promotion. His defense must be something extremely special for the Sox to push him like this. His offense, as AB mentioned, is skewed by a horrible April, but it certainly doesn't merit a promotion. But something about the Sox measurements must make him a really, really special defensive player. I'm looking forward to seeing him in Portland. After all, Alex Gonzalez mostly was just as bad as Argenis in the minors (lower avg and OBP and a higher SLG, and he shot through the minors really quickly).

Now let's get Reddick up there, and it might be as good as watching the Hanley/Pedroia/Moss/Murphy/Papelbon/Lester team of three/four years ago. If they could only hang on to Bowden for another start or two, that'd be prospect heaven to see him pitch, Lars, Reddick, Diaz, etc in the field, then have Lentz and/or Bard relieve. Yummy. I'd make the trip to Portland just for that.

DCRi

#63

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07/15/08 12:33 PM

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I think the Sox may have made SS their number one priority. Moving Diaz up fits a strategy of trying to conclude as quickly as possible whether that SS is already in the system. Lowrie is getting his chance now. He could earn the job, or not. If not, then Diaz is next in line, if he meets expectations in Portland. Those two really are the only near-term internal prospects to replace Lugo. If the Sox conclude that neither can, then they very well might go into the trade or FA market.

I don't see Lugo being the regular SS next year. Lugo was acquired because he could hit. He has not hit. The way this team is constructed, it really cannot afford to have more than one black hole in the lineup, if that many, to say nothing of the three to four it has had at times so far this season.

Cin1010

#64

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07/15/08 1:57 PM

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I think you will all be a little surprised by them both when you see them. Lars has added some extra muscle,which would account for the increase in power, but it has also caused him to seem a little stiff and not quite as quick as he was on defense, last year and earlier this season. He is still really good, he just seems like he hasn't gotten used to moving with his extra weight, I think that will take the off season. His glove is very good, but the injury does sometimes still seem to interfere with digging really hard balls in the dirt out. His power is increasing steadily and it really does seem effortless. You will enjoy watching him swing and getting mad at himself when he takes a strike that he thinks should have been a ball.

As for Diaz, I think you are underestimating how he has actually been playing since the second week in May. He has really become a very good all around player. He may not have huge HR power, but he has enough to hit for extra bases. He has good speed and base running knowledge. He has also overcome his early season defensive boredom (missing easy plays), so with his amazing natural talent at SS he should do really well in Portland. It will really depend on how much he wants it.

I expect reports.

soxaholic

#65

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07/15/08 2:38 PM

Agreed Cin.

Diaz is a potential gold glove SS in the bigs. I like Jed. I think he will be a solid major league 3B, but when I saw these guys playing next to each other in ST it wasn't even close. Diaz was the talk of camp. Thats not to say he is ready to go, but it seems as though the Sox are ready to find out. His offense is suspect but he was not overmatched in his ST ABs. I would much rather be dealing with a great defensive ss trying to teach him to hit than a great hitter trying to teach him to play ss. You can't teach what he does which is why he is so valuable. I think he is a better prospect than we are representing. This will become evident in the months to come.

Just a thought because I don't know:
A good point was made about Lars' trade value. Maybe there is some value in a very young defensive phenom like Diaz as well. Any team that saw him in ST had to be impressed

LongGone24

#66

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07/15/08 2:53 PM

soxaholic- I think that you have a valid point re: Diaz. You might not have been around in the Fall when Diaz was added to the 40 Man after the Fall Leagues to many of our surprise. Our thinking was that his D might have some team take a rule 5 flyer on him, even as raw as he was.

redsocks

#67

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07/15/08 3:07 PM

for past post's there is almost no chance that Teixera will be i boston youk is better 1b and better ops so the sox are not tryin to boost lars value for a trade b/c i dont even think they would trade youk foe teixera straight up

congrats to all the promotions

nationinthesouth

#68

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07/15/08 3:15 PM

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DCRi wrote:

I don't see Lugo being the regular SS next year. Lugo was acquired because he could hit. He has not hit. The way this team is constructed, it really cannot afford to have more than one black hole in the lineup, if that many, to say nothing of the three to four it has had at times so far this season.

The ups and downs a lineup will typically endure during the course of a season aside I think if Papi can return that lengthens the lineup to the point that there will be only two black holes. If Manny can play left field moving Ellsbury to CF the lineup is deep to the 7th hole, probably occupied by Youkilis. This leaves Tek in the 8th spot and whoever the SS will be in the 9 hole. To me this makes the lineup strong enough to withstand a weak bat at the defensive positions of catcher and shortstop. Therefore this makes Diaz an intriguing possibility next year if his glove is as advertised. Possibly even a expanded roster call-up in September. Somewhat pushing the envelop for a guy who was in high A just yesterday I understand but an intriguing possibility none the less.

templeUsox

#69

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07/15/08 3:36 PM

Ian
Northeast & Amateur Scout
SoxProspects.com

20 Year Olds in the EL with over 100 AB's since 1992 (sorted by OPS):

Name	Age	Tm	Aff	AB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	RC/G	Year
Nick Johnson	20	NRW	NYY	420	123	88	0.345	0.494	0.548	1.042	10.3	1999
Vladimir Guerrero	20	HRB	MON	417	51	42	0.36	0.429	0.612	1.041	9.94	1996
Cliff Floyd	20	HRB	MON	380	54	71	0.329	0.412	0.6	1.012	9.14	1993
Derek Jeter	20	ALC	NYY	122	15	16	0.377	0.445	0.516	0.961	9.81	1994
Ryan Zimmerman	20	HRB	WSN	233	15	34	0.326	0.371	0.528	0.899	6.82	2005
Lastings Milledge	20	BNG	NYM	193	14	47	0.337	0.392	0.487	0.879	7.35	2005
Hanley Ramirez	20	PRT	BOS	129	10	26	0.31	0.36	0.512	0.872	6.93	2004
Joe Mauer	20	NBR	MIN	276	25	25	0.341	0.395	0.453	0.848	6.87	2003
Edgard Clemente	20	NHV	COL	486	53	114	0.29	0.36	0.484	0.844	6.25	1996
Grady Sizemore	20	AKR	CLE	496	46	73	0.304	0.363	0.48	0.843	6.05	2003
Edgardo Alfonzo	20	BNG	NYM	498	64	55	0.293	0.374	0.46	0.834	5.9	1994
Dernell Stenson	20	TRE	BOS	505	84	135	0.257	0.363	0.446	0.809	5.53	1998
Luis Castillo	20	PRT	FLA	420	66	68	0.317	0.409	0.393	0.802	5.5	1996
Jhonny Peralta	20	AKR	CLE	470	45	97	0.281	0.344	0.457	0.801	5.55	2002
Travis Snider	20	NHM	TOR	296	31	99	0.267	0.34	0.459	0.799	5.44	2008
Drew Henson	20	NRW	NYY	223	20	75	0.287	0.346	0.439	0.785	4.98	2000
Wilton Veras	20	TRE	BOS	470	15	66	0.291	0.313	0.468	0.781	5.15	1998
Brandon Phillips	20	HRB	MON	265	12	42	0.298	0.329	0.449	0.778	5.18	2001
Adrian Gonzalez	20	PRT	FLA	508	54	112	0.266	0.336	0.437	0.773	5.09	2002
Carlos Gomez	20	BNG	NYM	430	27	97	0.281	0.35	0.423	0.773	5.49	2006
Justin Huber	20	BNG	NYM	193	19	54	0.264	0.33	0.425	0.755	4.6	2003
David Bell	20	CAK	CLE	483	43	54	0.292	0.35	0.398	0.748	4.86	1993
'Angelo Jimenez	20	NRW	NYY	152	25	26	0.27	0.373	0.375	0.748	4.62	1998
Jimmy Rollins	20	REA	PHI	532	51	47	0.273	0.336	0.404	0.74	4.59	1999
Eric Duncan	20	TRE	NYY	451	59	136	0.235	0.326	0.408	0.734	4.6	2005
Melky Cabrera	20	TRE	NYY	426	28	72	0.275	0.322	0.411	0.733	4.52	2005
Alex Gonzalez	20	PRT	FLA	449	27	83	0.254	0.296	0.434	0.73	4.18	1997
Dioner Navarro	20	TRE	NYY	255	33	44	0.271	0.354	0.369	0.723	4.52	2004
Torii Hunter	20	HWC	MIN	342	28	60	0.263	0.319	0.401	0.72	4.14	1996
Jayson Werth	20	BOW	BAL	121	17	26	0.273	0.362	0.355	0.717	4.87	1999
Damian Jackson	20	CAK	CLE	531	60	121	0.269	0.343	0.371	0.714	4.36	1994
Andrew McCutchen	20	ALT	PIT	446	44	83	0.258	0.327	0.383	0.71	4.52	2007
Luis Rivas	20	NBR	MIN	328	36	41	0.25	0.324	0.384	0.708	4.18	2000
Jose Vidro	20	HRB	MON	246	20	37	0.26	0.316	0.39	0.706	3.78	1995
Angel Santos	20	TRE	BOS	275	32	60	0.258	0.336	0.367	0.703	4.09	2000
Cole Liniak	20	TRE	BOS	200	17	29	0.28	0.336	0.365	0.701	4.22	1997
Peter Bergeron	20	HRB	MON	134	17	26	0.246	0.331	0.366	0.697	4.17	1998
Jackson Melian	20	NRW	NYY	290	18	69	0.252	0.295	0.4	0.695	4.33	2000
Victor Rodriguez	20	PRT	FLA	401	30	43	0.277	0.327	0.364	0.691	4.12	1997
Mike Lieberthal	20	REA	PHI	309	19	26	0.285	0.326	0.362	0.688	4.25	1992
Robinson Cano	20	TRE	NYY	164	9	16	0.28	0.318	0.366	0.684	4.11	2003
Cristian Guzman	20	NBR	MIN	566	21	111	0.277	0.303	0.352	0.655	3.56	1998
Luis Matos	20	BOW	BAL	283	15	39	0.237	0.275	0.378	0.653	3.46	1999
Nathan Haynes	20	ERI	ANA	457	33	107	0.254	0.304	0.346	0.65	3.32	2000
Javier Valentin	20	HWC	MIN	165	16	35	0.236	0.304	0.339	0.643	3.16	1996
Matt Moses	20	NBR	MIN	186	14	51	0.21	0.275	0.366	0.641	3.29	2005
Alex Ramirez	20	CAK	CLE	133	5	24	0.248	0.275	0.353	0.628	2.91	1995
Reegie Corona	20	TRE	NYY	140	18	30	0.221	0.315	0.264	0.579	2.94	2007
Jeff Jackson	20	REA	PHI	108	12	34	0.185	0.267	0.231	0.498	1.94	1992
Tarrik Brock	20	TRE	DET	115	13	43	0.139	0.227	0.27	0.497	1.75	1994
Ian Desmond	20	HRB	WSN	121	5	35	0.182	0.214	0.231	0.445	1.73	2006
Anderson Machado	20	REA	PHI	101	12	25	0.149	0.239	0.198	0.437	1.45	2001

BRING REESE HOME

nationinthesouth

#70

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07/15/08 3:45 PM

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A Cole Liniak sighting. I must say overall this is a much more impressive list than the 17 year old in the GCL listing.

DookFish

#71

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07/15/08 3:51 PM

Very impressive list!

RS Ian

#72

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07/15/08 3:57 PM

Congrats to both Lars and Argenis - Though I'm a little surprised at both, I think nothing but good things can come out of both promotions. Hopefully Lars can get rid of the "Cal-enhanced, Lancaster-enhanced" label and Argenis can flash the leather with decent offense.

Arquimedez Bozo

#73

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07/15/08 3:58 PM

Chris Hatfield
Senior Columnist & Editor

SoxProspects.com

That's a damn good list right there.

By the way, I sincerely doubt these promotions are for a trade. As has been mentioned in another thread, with no games today above the GCL, it was the perfect day to promote players without causing havoc in lineups. Think of all the players that would have been out of lineups because of travel. Also, it doesn't do the Sox any good if Lars goes to AA and sucks for two weeks (not saying that'll happen) in terms of his trade value.

"they should go to soxprospect so that BOZO THE CLOWN and the rest of THE WANTS TO BE will give you some information" - A SP.com Legend

"A doubleheader is better than tipping the other team off the side of a cliff." - Cin1010

soxcentral

#74

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07/15/08 3:58 PM

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That list is a cruel reminder that the Trenton Thunder era was very disappointing, to say the least. At least we got Nomar through there.

soxaholic

#75

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07/15/08 4:04 PM

Wow!

That is a pretty decorated list. A lot of us use statistics to make some assumptions that are way off base, but this has some serious firepower. There are a lot of great names in there.

Great Job!

duveen.alternatehistor...

#76

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07/15/08 4:22 PM

That's a remarkable list.

Youkilis + Lars would be a ridiculous trade even if they could lock Tex up on the cheap.

Beany24

#77

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07/15/08 8:10 PM

I agree with you Rob. I watched Diaz take infield with Lugo three separate times in Ft Myers this spring and IMO he is physically superior in all areas to Lugo, especially his hands. The better the level, I feel, the better he'll concentrate and eliminate many of his errors. I also watched him numerous times when he was in the GCL and he is a gifted kid. If he continues to improve his offense he could be a Cabrera type ss (circa 2004).

BoydHurstLoveChild

#78

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07/16/08 1:48 AM

I agree with whoever said that the Sox may be looking at ArGZA to join the show in September. People were pretty surprised when he was added to the 40 and are surprised now, but I think his performance in the winter league sold the brass on his prospect status. He is clearly an amazing defender, but when he hit well over the winter I believe the brass put a green light on the kid.

LondonSox

#79

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07/16/08 3:56 AM

That list of 20 year olds in the EL has a seriously impressive number of kids who went on, even if the number were merely ok.

Which would suggest that you don't put a guy this young in AA without a good reason normally, I'd expect to see more rushed blow out types. I find that very interesting. Given recent player development (everywhere but the pen?) you probably should have confidence in their judgement, and Sox judgement appears to be that Diaz is potentially special.

I only saw him briefly at ST and was impressed if not wowed, this kind of move (based on my opinion of the people who run the Sox farm more than anything!) means I have to take Diaz more seriously.

Congrats to both.

TokenWilliams

#80

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07/16/08 7:38 AM

LondonSox wrote:
That list of 20 year olds in the EL has a seriously impressive number of kids who went on, even if the number were merely ok.

Which would suggest that you don't put a guy this young in AA without a good reason normally, I'd expect to see more rushed blow out types. I find that very interesting. Given recent player development (everywhere but the pen?) you probably should have confidence in their judgement, and Sox judgement appears to be that Diaz is potentially special.

I only saw him briefly at ST and was impressed if not wowed, this kind of move (based on my opinion of the people who run the Sox farm more than anything!) means I have to take Diaz more seriously.

Congrats to both.

Don't we have to give them credit for Papelbon and MDC? Sure Hansen hasn't worked out, but MDC has been pretty good overall. He hasn't taken the reigns as the 8th inning bridge yet so he hasn't been a home run but he's been good this year. Plus, I would argue he was great last year 2nd half through the play offs.

Masterson will be out there too. Typically, teams don't "develope" bullpen guys. The aquire arms and let them shake out into their rolls. A lot of failed starters are the best relievers. Pap and MDC are former starters even if Pap didn't really fail and did come from a closing background in college.

I agree we are in a situation where they have earned the right for us to trust them.

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Lars Anderson & Argenis Diaz Promoted to Portland