DK's Dugout

The Red Sox have a surplus of talented prospects at the minor league level at the moment, and Red Sox Nation has begun to beckon them to help out the big league squad. Some pitchers, like Portland’s Jon Lester and Anibal Sanchez or Pawtucket’s Abe Alvarez, may still be a year or more away from being able to contribute at the major league level. Others, including the Sea Dogs’ Craig Hansen as well as Manny Delcarmen of the Paw Sox may be needed by season’s end and into the playoffs. The top prospect of all, Jonathan “Super Bon Bon” Papelbon, is already being asked to help the cause in Boston. Called the best Boston pitching prospect since Roger Clemens, Papelbon has done nothing to disappoint his eagerly awaiting fans in Beantown in his first three starts.

And the prospects who are potential stars are not limited to pitchers. Portland shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Pawtucket’s Dustin Pedroia are both impressing in the minors and both were rumored as potential replacements for the struggling Mark Bellhorn B.G. (Before Graffanino).

So with so many superstar prospects making their ways up the minor league ranks in the Red Sox organization it is obvious that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Boston’s Director of Player Development Ben Cherrington both deserve some serious kudos. That much is unarguable. The system is stocked with more legitimate future major leaguers than ever before. But before people get too carried away with all of the potential it is important to drop a quick reminder that sometimes even the “can’t miss” prospects aren’t a hit at the big league level.

I’m not trying to be a downer here, just attempting to bring back some sense of reality to the state of the Sox. The defending World Champions are in the midst of a pennant race. And although these minor leaguers (many of whom none of us have ever actually seen play) have the potential to make significant contributions down the road, it is careful not to get ahead of ourselves. People are talking about Papelbon, after three solid starts, being the new staff ace; talking about Hansen, only months after signing his first professional contract, being the team’s closer down the stretch; talking about how Delcarmen and his electric fastball will boost the bullpen for the pennant drive. Prior to acquiring Graffanino, Pedroia and Ramirez were thought to be the team’s potential answers at second base by many (and Ramirez had never even played the position).

Papelbon, for one, has proven to be as good as advertized thus far. But “thus far” covers only three major league starts. Before we anoint these prospects Hall of Famers, All-Stars, or even bona fide major leaguers, it is important to remember that prospects do not always turn into players. I’m certainly not saying that these minor leaguers will not turn into major leaguers, and good ones, but it’s certainly not a guarantee. These kids (and that’s what they are) have to prove they can play at the major league level before they are counted on to be saviors for the World Champs.

And for anyone who doesn’t believe that “can’t miss” prospects sometimes miss, and sometimes we love these prospects just because we know so little about them, I have put together a team to serve as a little reminder. The following is my “Red Sox All-Time Team of ‘Can’t Miss’ Prospects That Missed”.

Catcher - Eric Wedge. The Indians’ manager was once a Red Sox prospect, and I was very disappointed when the team chose to leave him unprotected in the ‘93 expansion draft. He was taken by Colorado, the off-season after bashing five home runs in only 48 at bats for the Sox. Apparently my scouting report (as well as that of the Rockies and many others) was a bit off. Wedge would play only two more seasons in the bigs, retiring with a .233 lifetime average and never adding to his five career homers. (Backups: Marc Sullivan, John Marzano, Steve Lomasney).

1st Base - Pat Dodson. His 1987 Topps baseball card proclaimed Dodson a “Future Star”. His Donruss card from the same year labeled him a “Rated Rookie”. But the International League MVP was never able to produce at the major league level. In 52 career games Dodson managed only a .202 batting average, four home runs and 10 RBI. The future for Dodson never came. (Backups: Sam Horn, Darnell Stenson, Juan Diaz).

2nd Base - Donnie Sadler. The athleticism he brought to the table equaled unlimited potential for a franchise starved of athleticism for so long. But although Sadler was good enough to often stay on the roster, he was rarely good enough to get into the lineup. He played many positions, but none particularly well. After three disappointing seasons in Boston he was traded in a package for the immortal Chris Stynes. He wrapped up his career with a .202 average, and utilized his speed to steal only 25 of 37 bases over seven major league seasons. (Backup: Anquimedez Pozo).

3rd Base - Wilton Veras. Veras gets the nod over Scott Cooper, the player that prompted the Sox to trade Jeff Bagwell and let Wade Boggs walk, and is the worst two-time All-Star in the history of sport. Veras emerged in 1999 as a 21 year old and batted .288 in 36 games. He returned in 2000, but in 49 games he batted just .244 with no home runs and 13 errors. He never returned to the major league level again. The classic case of “too much too soon”. (Backup: Cooper).

Shortstop - Jackie Gutierrez. Long before the Sox had Colombian shortstops Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria, they had fellow Colombian Gutierrez. After an average rookie year in ‘84 in which he batted .263 (but made 31 errors), it was all downhill. Gutierrez would last only one more year in Boston before a trade to Baltimore for Sammy Stewart. Fours years later he and his .237 career average would be out of the major leagues for good. (Backups: Rey Quinones, Tim Naehring).

Leftfield - Izzy Alcantara. After breaking Dodson’s power records at Pawtucket Alcantara had only minimally more success with the Sox. Looking overmatched physically and mentally in the big leagues, Izzy managed a .270 average and only four home runs over the course of his three major league seasons (two with Boston). The classic “4A” player...too good for AAA, but not good enough for the majors. Will be best remembered for drop-kicking a catcher before charging the mound in a minor league game. (Backups: Kevin Romine, Bob Zupcic).

Centerfield - Michael Coleman. He was nicknamed “Prime Time” but major league audiences could never tell why. Although touted as a “5-tool player”, Coleman showed none of those tools consistently enough to ever earn a full-time big league gig. After two cameo appearances in Boston (totaling 5 hits in 29 at bats, no home runs and one steal) he was dealt as part of the Sadler-for-Stynes deal. He would re-surface in 2001 as a New York Yankee, and batted .211 in 12 games, which actually raised his career average to .194. Perhaps he came up with the nickname himself. (Backup: Dewayne Hosey).

Rightfield - Phil Plantier. It’s tough to live up to the expectations that Plantier created with his Boston debut. In 1991 (after a brief ‘90 call up) Plantier hit .331 with 11 home runs in 53 games. He had an on-base percentage of .420 and a slugging percentage of .615. It was easy to see why he was being markered-in as the Red Sox cleanup hitter for the next decade. It was NOT easy to see how this player turned into the 1992 version of Phil Plantier. Once American League pitchers figured out how to pitch to Plantier it would be a downhill ride that never got straightened out in Boston. His sophomore season saw him play in 108 games, but bat only .246 with 7 homers. His on-base percentage fell to .332 and his slugging percentage was nearly cut in half, dropping to .361. After the season Plantier would be dealt to San Diego for a relief pitcher named Jose Melendez. Plantier would play seven more major league seasons, switching teams four more times, and never again coming close to the promise he showed as a prospect his rookie year. (Backup: Greg Blosser).

Right Handed Starter - Brian Rose. It would have been such a good story: local kid, top prospect, makes it big with the local team...but it was not meant to be for Brian Rose. He and Carl Pavano were once the pride of the Sox pitching prospects, and Boston elected to keep Rose and ship off Pavano when it was time to trade for Pedro Martinez. Rose responded by going 11-15 with an ERA of nearly 6.00 in 3+ seasons with Boston before being dealt to the Rockies. The following year he would be out of baseball after stints with the Mets and D-Rays. Career numbers for this “can’t miss” kid: 15-23, 5,86 ERA, 54 starts, 56 homers allowed, no complete games. (Backups: Jeff Sellers, Eric Heitzel, Robinson Checo, Paxton Crawford, Sunny Kim).

Left Handed Starter - Kevin Morton. The Red Sox had two first round picks in the 1989 draft. With the first they took Mo Vaughn, with the second they selected his college teammate, and Connecticut native, Kevin Morton. After finally making it to Boston in 1991, Morton would perform unbelievably averagely, going 6-5 with a 4.59 ERA. He would never start another game in the big leagues after that year. Bruce Hurst’s potential replacement as the lefty in the Sox rotation would be done after 15 career starts. (Backup: Vaughn Eshelman).

Closer - Ken Ryan. Rounding out the pitching staff of New England natives is Pawtucket’s own Ken Ryan. Although he always had the “stuff” to be a big league closer, Ryan was often unable to throw strikes and was consistently inconsistent. In 1995, Ryan’s final of four Boston seasons, Ryan went 0-4 with a 4.96 ERA and walked 24 batters in 28 appearances. After the season he was dealt to the Phillies as part of a package that landed Boston another closer, Heathcliff Slocumb. Since trading Slocumb ended up netting the Sox their current Captain, Jason Varitek (and D-Lowe), Ryan was able to serve some purpose in Boston...or at least away from it. (Backup: John Trautwein).

I’m not saying that Jonathan Papelbon or Jon Lester wont be the next Red Sox superstars, but I think it’s important, before too much pressure is put on these (and the other) youngsters too soon, to remember there is an entire roster of players who were once “the next great thing” as well.