“I think the clear strength of our farm system is in a group of very high-ceiling players that we feel great about, most of whom are 18-20 years old,’’ said general manager Theo Epstein. “How we as an organization can impact those players and help them with their development and reach their ceilings will be a hugely important factor in our success starting in probably about 2012 and beyond.’’
But not in 2010, and potentially not in 2011.
“That’s where the biggest gap is right now, at Triple A,’’ said director of player development Mike Hazen. “Hopefully over the course of next year that’s going to change, but right now there aren’t enough ready players, and that’s obviously our big challenge and our problem right now, that there’s not enough major league-ready-now players sitting [there] to take positions at the major league level.’’
Part of that void has to do with players not performing up to expectations, most notably Anderson. The first baseman was touted as the next big thing in the organization, being named the best prospect in the Sox system and the 17th best in the game in 2009 by Baseball America. But Anderson didn’t perform up to his reputation this season, with a .233 batting average, 114 strikeouts in 119 games, and just 9 home runs.
“Not singling any one person out, but Lars had a bit of a disappointing year this year, and I think that’s changed the face of it a little bit at the upper levels,’’ Hazen said, before adding later, “No matter what anybody said, I do think what happened last offseason was a pretty big jump for him, as much as it was downplayed to an extent, some of those expectations I think did feed into the season some.
