SoxProspects.com Red Sox Podcast
The most comprehensive Red Sox discussion, from the minor leagues up to Fenway, on the web.

Well, that was a week wasn't it? With the Red Sox trading Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa, Raymel Flores, Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Wilson, Gabe Speier, and Myles Smith in deals for Wade Miley, Rick Porcello, and Zeke Spruill, as well as signing former SoxProspects.com number 1 prospect Justin Masterson (oh, and there was the failed pursuit of Jon Lester), Chris and Matt had plenty to talk about. Plus, your emails asked about who will lead off and about the defensive prowess of Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart.

Direct download: 2014-1215.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29pm EDT

SPPod #68: Chris Mellen returns with BP's #diesel Red Sox top 10

Within a week of the major league club making a pair of huge signings in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, Baseball Prospectus has dropped its Red Sox Top 10 prospects list, which means one thing... the return of Chris Mellen to the podcast! Hatfield, Matt, and Ian welcomed back the Dean of #diesel, now one of the men in charge of the BP prospect team, to discuss BP's list and the state of the farm.

And by the way, please take our one-minute survey at http://bit.ly/SPPodSurvey!

Direct download: 2014-1201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:37pm EDT

Thursday's reserve list deadline came and went without much fanfare, but that doesn't mean there was nothing to talk about. While the roster additions were the four we all expected, Chris and Matt ran through those who were not added to the 40-man roster and may be potential selections in next month's Rule 5 Draft. Of course, that wasn't all that happened this week, so the guys said goodbye with a look back at Alex Hassan's time with the organization, then moved on to shiny new toy Juan Francisco and what he brings to the Red Sox. Finally, a pair of listener emails led to discussions of Cuban free agent Yoan Moncada and whatever happened to Jose Vinicio.

Direct download: 2014-1120.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:01am EDT

A long-time coming, Chris, Ian, and Matt got on the horn to talk about Ian's trip to the Fall Instructional League! Michael Kopech, Rafael Devers, Michael Chavis, Javier Guerra, Jake Cosart, and many more players were in our Director of Scouting's crosshairs. Also on the agenda: a quick run through the offseason leagues, with a chat about what to make of the numbers put up by Sean Coyle, Deven Marrero, and Robby Scott in the Arizona Fall League. PLUS, a listener mailbag spectacular! What should the Sox do with their glut of upper-minors pitching? Who did we like in Lowell this year? What does next year's draft look like? The answers to those and more await! (And please, if you're even a part-time listener of the show, please fill out the survey at http://bit.ly/SPPodSurvey. You'll be doing us a big-time solid.)

Direct download: 2014-1112.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:16am EDT

It is rankings season! Our friend Alex Speier of WEEI.com published his Red Sox Top 10 Prospects for Baseball America recently, so we had him on the pod to talk about his rankings and to pick his brain about the state of the Red Sox system. We're talking top 10, graduates, sleepers, disappointments and more! Even colossal squids! There's only one way to hear it all... hit that download button!

Also, we're asking our listeners from a BIG favor. If you're even a part-time listener of the show, please fill out the survey at http://bit.ly/SPPodSurvey. You will be doing us a major solid. (Note that you can fill the survey out without giving your email.)

Direct download: 2014-1105.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:24pm EDT

Things are bad in Boston and the minor league season is over, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about! Chris and Ian got on the horn to take your emails, talk about the recently released Fall Instructional League roster, and project who the Red Sox might protect in December's Rule 5 draft.

Direct download: 2014-0922.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:32pm EDT

It took a bit, but the good news is that SoxProspects South is fully operational and the podcast is back! Matt relays his observations from Pawtucket, and Chris brings some goodies from catching Salem in Frederick. Then we finally get to a couple of your emails, answering questions about Jackie Bradley, Deven Marrero, Rafael Devers, and Michael Chavis.

Direct download: 2014-0907.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39pm EDT

After the craziest Red Sox trade deadline in recent memory, Chris, Matt, and Ian were ready to break it all down. What is up with all the young, upper-minors pitchers? Who exactly did the Sox get? What on earth does the roster look like now? We have all of your answers here.

Direct download: 2014-0801.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:45pm EDT

Chris got Matt and Ian on the horn to talk about the recent big dates on the player acquisition calendar: the July 2 opening of the international signing period, and the July 18 draft signing deadline. Did the Red Sox screw up by going over their international pool allotment to sign one extra pitcher? Did anything interesting happen among the draftees? Listen and find out!

Direct download: 2014-0721.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm EDT

Fresh off the heels of the first half of the midseason review, Chris, Ian, and Jon got back on the horn for part two, taking a look at how things have gone in Salem, Portland, and Pawtucket so far. We also took some of your emails, answering your questions about Mookie Betts, Garin Cecchini, and the draft! Want to impress your friends at parties? Hit the download button!

Direct download: 2014-0707.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:07am EDT

Finally getting back onto the normal schedule, Chris, Ian, and Jon started our midseason review, taking a look at the season thus far in the DSL, GCL, Lowell, and Greenville. Oh, and the top prospect in the system got promoted to Boston this week, so of course we talked about Mookie Betts's arrival in Boston. Hear the guys talk about who's up, who's down, and get the first of two rants in this two-part episode as Chris vents about players in the GCL not actually playing. 

Direct download: 2014-0703.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:13am EDT

Today's show, "2014 Draft Recap." Act One: Who'd We Pick? Chris talks with Matt and runs down the whole draft. Are these guys good? Where'd all the college seniors go? You'll hear the answers to these questions and more. Act Two: Scouting the Newbies. Chris gets Ian to dish on what he sees from the players selected in the first ten rounds in videos and scouting reports. From Chris's computer in Salem, New Hampshire, it's the SoxProspects.com Podcast. Stay with us.

Direct download: 2014-0609.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:18am EDT

After a bit of a break, Chris, Matt, and Ian had some things to discuss. Ian and Chris have seen Portland recently, and they had plenty to dish after seeing one of the most prospect-laden teams in the country, on players like Mookie Betts, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, Sean Coyle, and the very recently promoted Travis Shaw (so recent that he was still in Portland when we recorded). We also answered your emails and talked about which prospects in the system are due for a promotion. You know Sergio? Join us!

Direct download: 2014-0526b.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:55pm EDT

With the first week-and-a-half of the season in the books, Chris, Ian, and Matt got on the horn after Pawtucket's first homestand to ruminate on the state of the system's Triple-A affiliate. The guys traded notes on Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Rubby De La Rosa, Garin Cecchini, and more. In addition, the guys took a quick spin around the other affiliates, highlighting the top performers so far on the young season, as well as answering a couple of your emails. FEEL THE POWER OF THE PODCAST!!

Direct download: 2014-0414.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56pm EDT

Minor League Opening Day 2014 is here, and we're getting you ready! Chris, Jon, and Ian talked about the season-opening rosters at the four full-season affiliates, touching on Trey Ball and Ty Buttrey's absence from the Greenville roster, the conservative initial assignments of several pitchers, and of course the strongest (Pawtucket) and weakest (Salem, by far) rosters.

Direct download: 2014-0403.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:57pm EDT

On Saturday, the guys roamed the back fields for the A-ball and Rookie-level games, and there was plenty to see, first and foremost our first look at 2013 first-rounder Trey Ball. Chris also shared an interview with Peter Hissey about his offseason teaching English in Ecuador and his thoughts entering his seventh year in the system.

Direct download: ST1403.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:31pm EDT

With three days of camp to catch up on, there was plenty for the guys to talk about. In the second dispatch from the Fort, the guys talk about what they've seen from Anthony Ranaudo, Allen Webster, Myles Smith, Garin Cecchini, Blake Swihart, Rafael Devers, and more!

Direct download: ST1402.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:45am EDT

After the crew's first day(s) out on the back fields, Chris screwed up and deleted the audio from the short podcast we recorded. But don't worry - we'll do it right tomorrow. We still have an interview for all of you with PawSox broadcaster Jeff Levering about his take on the past five days of camp!

Direct download: ST1401.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:59am EDT

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with the final offseason ranking of the Red Sox top prospects? Longtime friend of the site Jim Callis, now part of MLB.com's MLB Pipeline team, came on the podcast to chat about his new gig and his top 20 list. Topics ranged from why Jim thinks Mookie Betts is the best second baseman in the minors, how close Xander Bogaerts is to consensus top prospect Byron Buxton, and more!

Direct download: 2014-0317.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Chris, Jon, Ian, and, eventually, Matt thought it time to get to your emails, so that could mean one thing: mailbag podcast. You asked about first-timers in MLB camp, Steven Wright's place on the 40-man roster, trading with the Cubs, Garin Cecchini's chances of forcing his way into the Majors, and whether the Sox can continue to stay near the top of the farm system rankings, and we talked about all of it. Just how distracted can Chris be while a Sox-O's game is on in the background? Download and find out!

Direct download: 2014-0303.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22pm EDT

We continued our offseason rankings conversations by chatting with ESPN's Keith Law. We asked Keith about how the Sox system compares to other top systems, how Garin Cecchini compares to Bill Mueller, who might be breaking into the top 10 in the future, and more! Who needs a Valentine's day date when you can listen to Chris, Matt, and Ian?

Direct download: 2014-0214.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:47pm EDT

No guest this week, but an action-packed episode nonetheless! Chris and Matt play some audio from interviews with Blake Swihart, Mookie Betts, and Drake Britton from New Stars for Young Stars, and along with Ian, get back to the inbox with more than a month of emails to answer. Questions hit on players changing positions, how the current crop of pitching prospects compares to past groups, the Rookie Development Program, and more. And in this episode's Where Are They Now?, we covered the prospects in the Erik Bedard trade.

(Note: We apologize for the errors contained in a previously uploaded version of this episode. Those issues should now be fixed.)

Direct download: 2014-0117.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:42am EDT

We've hit 50 episodes! To celebrate, Chris and Ian had a chat about Baseball Prospectus's Red Sox Top 10 list with BP's Jason Parks and our very own Chris Mellen. Discussion hit on Jason and the BP prospect team's process for making their lists, a rundown of the Parks vocabulary, and, put simply, every nook and cranny of BP's Red Sox list and beyond.

Direct download: 2014-0106.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT