Escobar, Ozuna, Tony Alvarez

[beck72]

Just some background on some guys coming into camp that have an outside shot of making the 25 man roster.

 

From BA's 2002 Prospect Handbook:

 

Alex Escobar [cle's #2 prospect] 9-6-78; 6-1, 180 lbs. "Has exciting tools across the board. When he's rigth offensively, he generates line drives and above-average power while utilizing the entire field. He also has speed, and if he puts everything together he could be a 30-30 player. A standout CFer, he offers the best OF defense and arm in the system"

 

Pablo Ozuna [FLa's #12 prospect] 8-25-78; 6-0, 160 lbs. "Ozuna was the key player int he deal that sent Edgar Renteria to the Cardinals. Some thought by now Ozuna would have taken over at 2B for Luis Castillo but it hasn't happened....A classic mistake bad ball hitter, Ozuna has the hand-eye coordination and aggressiveness to put all manner of pitches into play. Though he projects as a top of the order hitter, he shows little inclination to work counts. He's a legitimate basestealing threat and a decent bunter but could get better. His average and erratic arm caused the marlins to switch Ozuna from SS to 2B, where his defense remains shaky. A move to CF remains possible".

 

Tony Alvarez [Pitt's #6 prospect] 5-10-79; 6-1, 202 lbs. "He has settled in as an OFer after also playing 3B and 2B earlier in his career. Alvarez has the potential to be a power/speed player. He has good pop in his bat and it should improve as his body fills out. Alvarez also runs well and is aggressive on the bases. He has the speed to play CF but seems more comfortable in left, where he's adept at turning doubles into singles by moving quickly to the foul line. Alvarez is known to have mental lapses. He tends to run in situations where he should play it safe and swings at too many bad pitches".

 

From BA's 2004 Handbook: ALvarez: [Pitt's #21 prospect:] "He was suspended for a week because of an undisclosed disciplinary problem and didn't get promoted in Sept. Alvarez is a high-average hitter who hits lines drives and has gap power. His speed allows him to steal bases and play any of the 3 OF positions. Alvarez is an aggressive player who's willing to dive for balls and take an extra base. His style also gets him in trouble, however, as he runs into too many outs on the bases and plays singles into triple when he gets reckless on defense. He also doesn't show enough patience at the plate. his hotdog antics rankle opponents and at times the Pirates."

[Guest JimH]

Interesting stuff.

 

Alvarez sounds like he might need to mature a bit, perhaps that's already happened.

 

All three of these guys have an opportunity. With a monster spring, one of them could very realistically make the roster.

 

Interesting also to note that all these guys have played several positions.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Didn't know about Ozuna's erratic arm. That probably rules him out for SS.

I guess we're going with Iggy as #2 in SS depth this year.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

I saw Escobar when he played in Binghamton. No doubt this kid has skills...he just has to stay healthy and fulfill his potential. Long shot? Definitely. But you never know. Can't hurt having inviting him to ST and playing him in Charlotte.

[WHITESOXRANDY]

I'm really rooting for Ozuna to have a good spring because I am thoroughly unimpressed with Wilson Valdez.

[Kalapse]

I'm really rooting for Ozuna to have a good spring because I am thoroughly unimpressed with Wilson Valdez.

After 43 major league ABs?

[beck72]

Didn't know about Ozuna's erratic arm.  That probably rules him out for SS.

I guess we're going with Iggy as #2 in SS depth this year.

You should take all this with a grain of salt. And it was a few years ago this report on him. If Ozuna is being given a shot, he should have a decent glove and would have to play SS

[Gene Honda Civic]

You should take all this with a grain of salt. And it was a few years ago this report on him. If Ozuna is being given a shot, he should have a decent glove and would have to play SS

Don't forget Ozuna has aged about 6 years since that 2002 report. His arm has probably gotten better over that stretch.

[beck72]

Interesting stuff.

 

Alvarez sounds like he might need to mature a bit, perhaps that's already happened.

 

All three of these guys have an opportunity.  With a monster spring, one of them could very realistically make the roster.

 

Interesting also to note that all these guys have played several positions.

 

I like how the sox are going about trying to get some bench guys, ala Gload. Young guys who have tools and haven't caught on with their 1st or 2nd teams. At best they become 25 man roster guys. At worst, they play in AAA and help the pitchers win some games.

[Guest JimH]

Didn't know about Ozuna's erratic arm.  That probably rules him out for SS.

I guess we're going with Iggy as #2 in SS depth this year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

These are some big assumptions, just going off a 2-3 year old scouting report.

 

It certainly does not rule this guy out at SS, nor does it remotely mean Iguchi is #2 on the depth chart at SS. Ozuna played 56 games at SS last year in AAA, 58 at 2B. He can play SS.

 

A more likely scenario is they see what they've got in Ozuna and Valdez next month, and make a move if neither impresses. Iguchi will have enough acclimation issues without being bounced around the infield.

[beck72]

I'm really rooting for Ozuna to have a good spring because I am thoroughly unimpressed with Wilson Valdez.

 

I think Valdez is solid enough at SS. But the sox could use a UTL guy with more skills [stealing bases, play more than one position, have some pop to his bat, etc]

[WHITESOXRANDY]

Valdez is nothing. He was all the Sox could get for the useless Billy Koch.

 

We are talking about a guy that didn't even sniff the big leagues until last September at age 26. He was never a highly rated prospect. He has no high ceiling or potential -this is as good as it gets with him - a fringe major leaguer. He has no power, no great speed, low OBP, average glove at best.

 

Valdez doesn't add anything to the Sox. He is basically a warm body in case Uribe breaks his leg. If the Sox had to use him regularly in any key stretch , they are in trouble.

 

I agree, I would have been much happier with a veteran utility player, like a Ramon Martinez, on our roster. This is our only questionable area right now. I hope KW has something still up his sleeve here.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I think you are underselling the value of Iggy at SS. We're not asking him to bounce around the IF. We're just asking him to play SS when Uribe needs a spell. That would allow Harris to remain on the team & cover the UIF need.

 

Depth:

3B - Crede, Uribe

SS - Uribe, Iggy

2B - Iggy, Harris

1B - Koney, Gload

 

That's pretty solid depth to give guys days off or just sit them a spell if they struggle.

[Guest JimH]

I think you are underselling the value of Iggy at SS.  We're not asking him to bounce around the IF.  We're just asking him to play SS when Uribe needs a spell.  That would allow Harris to remain on the team & cover the UIF need.

 

Depth:

3B - Crede, Uribe

SS - Uribe, Iggy

2B - Iggy, Harris

1B - Koney, Gload

 

That's pretty solid depth to give guys days off or just sit them a spell if they struggle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You're assuming Harris is on the team ... I'm not, I guess that's the difference.

 

They need a guy, preferably proven, who can very capably play SS at the major league level. To me it is very counterproductive to bounce Iguchi around - let him settle in.

 

They will see what they've got in Ozuna and Valdez next month. Yet, I am still having a hard time envisioning a team that is "going for it" being so inexperienced at middle infield, with even greener bench players.