LMFAO.

I like how #19 was a minor league free agent. Is he the first one to ever make one of these lists?

I look forward to Molina and Reed getting dealt for an Alomar to be named later at midseason.

I would really like to see Jared Mitchell make it. I was really high on him in the draft, and he got off to a great start, but his injury really derailed him. I can see him exploding back. Other than that, yech. Soptic played comm. college near me and from what I gather he has a big arm but can't find the strike zone. Axelrod was released not long ago. Jordan Danks wasn't protected from the Rule 5 - and did not get selected. Yuck.

This has got to be the worst system in MLB by far. Even Houston had mostly B's in the top-10.

Kenny Williams says that he is sure he has no more dead players on his list. Since he discovered Lockwood, the dead Vancouver man on the list, he has been over it very carefully.

I won't argue that the Sox system isn't horrible. However, to be fair to the Sox organization, they've got some solid young talent on the MLB roster that technically won't make many prospect lists because of their service time. Chris Sale had a very good season in relief this year and he'll be moving to the starting rotation next season- he'll be 23 in March. Dayan Viciedo will start in right field next year- he hit well in AAA last year (.296/.364/.496) and he'll be 23 in March. Brent Morel, Gordon Beckham, & Tyler Flowers are all younger than 26 as well.

But yeah, it is a sad looking farm system. While overall, Kenny's drafts haven't been horrible, he does tend to pick underwhelming first rounders. I don't have high hopes for Jared Mitchell, and guys like Kyle McCulloch & Lance Broadway have turned out to be busts.

My only quibble with Sickels is that I'd bump Saladino up to a B- (most folks say he can stick at SS, so I think that's a huge plus for him).

LOL!! (And I am not a man who LOLs lightly!)

I assumed "the horror ... the horror" was just Repoz.

That's an actual quote from Sickels.

Mark,

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

The Sox had a policy of never paying over-slot, which has hurt them. I belive this is a JR edict. The Wilder scandal in Latin America hurt them quite badly as well. They are just now setting up their Latin America system again and it will take years for it to produce any sort of fruit.

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I'm high on Viciedo, his contact skills and bat speed are off the charts, and while he'll never take many walks, I think a 300/340/500 line will be standard for him over the next decade, assuming he doesn't get hurt. His arm in RF is a plus, and his range and glove seem about average. I think he'll settle in as a consistent 4-5 WAR player and they got him on a nice team friendly contract.

Sale is another 4-5 WAR type and his development of his slider has been nothing sort of amazing. Don Cooper is a certified pitching coach genius.

As for Beckham, guy has serious holes in his swing and a mental block as well. Defensively he's great, but he was one of MLB's worst hitting regulars in 2011. Maybe he rediscovers his rookie line, but I am skeptical.

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All in all, it's not a great time to be a Sox fan. The team gambled and lost big time on Rios and Dunn and Peavy and we just Mark Buehrle because of it. It sucks.

Any idea if the anemic budget spent on the draft and IFA is a product of Reinsdorf setting it, or is it a case of Williams having an overall budget and feeling it's best to put nearly all of it towards the major league roster?

I get the feeling that Reinsdorf puts a lot of faith in Kenny, and since Williams seemingly always wants his teams to be (marginal) contenders, the money will go towards the major league roster. Even the top international free agents the Sox signed have been ready to contribute to the big league club quickly (Ramirez, Viciedo).

On the other hand, if Kenny walked into Jerry's office tomorrow and said "I want to re-build," I wouldn't see Reinsdorf saying no to that and putting some big bucks into scouting/drafting.

Also, for what it's worth, the Sox appear to be one of the teams very interested in signing Yoennis Cespedes. I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

Also, for what it's worth, the Sox appear to be one of the teams very interested in signing Yoennis Cespedes. I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

The Sox are a Cuban friendly team, with Alexei and Dayan. Alexei's agent has always praised the club.

I don't really think they need another toolsly outfielder however, unless they trade Quentin, which they sure as hell should be doing. Just blow the thing up. Committing to Danks was smart, but Quentin's numbers are inflated from playing in the Cell and the guy has spent his physical prime, from 23-28, being constantly injured, what's going to happen as he ages? Hopefully he'll be gone by the deadline.

The team gambled and lost big time on Rios and Dunn and Peavy and we just Mark Buehrle because of it. It sucks.

Thanks, again.

There are some good names on that list. I don't know about the players' skills, but they have good names.

If they can combine "Addison Reed" and "Dylan Axelrod" into one pitcher named "Addison Axelrod", then they'll really have something.

Quentin's numbers are inflated from playing in the Cell and the guy has spent his physical prime, from 23-28, being constantly injured, what's going to happen as he ages?

You had me at hello!

I'm not sure they can give him the top dollar amount, they might be banking on the fact that Dayan & Cespedes played on the same team in Cuba (if I recall correctly).

They probably know each other, but Viciedo played for Villa Clara (central Cuba) while Cespedes played for Granma (far east, near Gitmo).