Over the Monster

Prospecting and second-guessing - Chad Finn's Touching All The Bases

2010-02-08T16:38:37Z

Prospecting and second-guessing - Chad Finn's Touching All The Bases

Chad Finn takes a deep look at Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list from the '90s, dissecting the players who "once called Fenway home." Some really interesting names on the lists.

CP Results: A Little High For Dustin Pedroia

2010-02-08T11:00:25Z

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

4 months ago: Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick steals second as Boston Red Sox's second baseman Dustin Pedroia looks to the umpire in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the American League division baseball series Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Continuing our community projection results (I promise to be done before Spring Training starts), we continue with everyone's favorite second baseman, Dustin Pedroia.

If you noticed, I was going backward around the infield and I skipped shortstop. That's because we predicted for Jed Lowrie, and of course we don't want to revisit that, so we won't. It's not even worth our time.

Instead, let's see how everyone did predicting for the then-reigning AL MVP Scrappy Doo. Results after the jump.

The categories predicted for Pedroia were AB, HR, BA, OBP and SLG. His actual numbers were:

AB: 626
HR: 15
AVG: .296
OBP: .371
SLG: .447

And here's how the predictions looked:

NAME	AB	HR	BA	OBP	SLG
Randy Booth	650	16	.320	.390	.495
drabidea	640	15	.320	.375	.500
0157H7	600	12	.300	.360	.440
bstngy24	600	15	.320	.390	.450
badlydrawnjeff	610	9	.297	.380	.425
walkoff baltimore chop	550	15	.332	.390	.517
RSNexile	620	20	.320	.380	.490
DANNDANN	613	20	.344	.415	.520
MatthewRI	640	13	.305	.382	.466
bs.uf15bosox9bears23	575	25	.325	.435	.570
Schulz	615	16	.320	.370	.480
Greg	616	18	.319	.402	.508
BoSox415	600	21	.330	.400	.500
A2004LoveAffair	630	21	.327	.397	.495
BTLove	615	15	.308	.374	.479
That5foot9inchMVP	645	18	.323	.388	.497
DougieWentDeep	575	12	.297	.360	.445

Stats bolded and italicized were within five units of the actual result. Stats with a red background were exactly correct.

For the most part, predictions were a little high for the then-reigning AL MVP. Still, though, Pedroia had a great season. It wasn't MVP worthy, but I think it's a year we'll take from our second baseman. He also played excellent defense, making him one of the best in the game.

The winner? ~~I'll make it a three-way tie between BTLove, drabidea and bstngy24~~. Oops. I made a mistake. Your new wiiiiinnnnneeeerrr.... Dougie. Went. Deep. Here are your winnings, sir (NSFW):

Red Sox full Spring Training Roster so far

2010-02-07T21:57:07Z

Red Sox full Spring Training Roster so far

SOOOO many pitchers.

SB Nation's First Ever Super Bowl Game Thread-A-Palooza - SB Nation

2010-02-07T20:15:24Z

SB Nation's First Ever Super Bowl Game Thread-A-Palooza - SB Nation

There's this football game on tonight that some people are watching. You gonna' be watching it? Well, if so, and if you want to chat about it, head over to SB Nation's main page.

Me? I might watch it. I might be taking a bath. Not sure yet. We'll see. But if I do, I'll be rooting for the Saints -- for obvious reasons. There's no coincidence that Drew Brees = No. 9 and Ted Williams = No. 9. No coincidence at all...

Over the Monster Top 20 Prospects Voting #15: #1 is #14

2010-02-06T17:17:59Z

Last year, 2008 #1 pick Casey Kelly slotted in at #7 in the voting, and that was before we'd even seen him pitch. Reymond Fuentes put up a rather more impressive performance at a rookie, and here he is twice as far down the list. Something of a testament to the depth of this system, I'd say.

Fuentes should get his shot to pick his way up through the rankings in (likely) Greenville next year, and I would be surprised if he did not do so. The Sox picked him #1 for a reason.

On to #15. Spring training draws near.

Over The Monster T-Shirts: We Need Your Ideas!

2010-02-05T22:27:55Z

More photos » Adam Hunger - AP

Adrian Beltre, in head: "Why can't this be an Over The Monster t-shirt?"

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I know it's been on your mind all winter. You've been sitting in your pajamas and L.L. Bean sweatshirt on the couch in your living room watching the 2004 ALCS on rewind for what seems like forever. And every time you see "the steal," you wonder: "Hey, I need an Over The Monster t-shirt to keep me warm."

OK, so maybe it hasn't gone quite like that.

Nevertheless, here's your opportunity. We at OTM are about to set up a store for everything related to OTM apparel. But there's a snag, and it's a pretty big one...

We ain't too smaht, as my dad used to say. I've had ideas in the past for t-shirts/sweatshirts/whatever, but I've never had any GREAT ideas. This is a huge sticking point, as you can tell, because I don't want to print anything that isn't absolutely great. So this is where you folks come in.

WE NEED IDEAS FOR APPAREL. Not what kind of apparel, but what it should say on those t-shirts and hats and sweatshirts and the like. We want whatever you got for ideas: witty, serious, absolutely foolish. Any and all ideas will be accepted and debated.

I'm looking to make at least one design, perhaps up to three. But this is where it gets sweeter: YOU SUBMIT AN IDEA, WE CHOOSE IT AND YOU GET A FREE T-SHIRT. Yeah, I'll dig into my own pockets and buy you a t-shirt. I'll even ask what size you wear, 'cause nobody likes getting a t-shirt two sizes too small.

Even if you just have an awesome inside joke or slogan, we could use that. Don't worry about pitching us ideas for graphics; we, hopefully, can figure that out down the line. But if you DO have some ideas for that, we'd definitely like to hear them. You can leave ideas in the comments or e-mail me directly at RBOOTH at OVERTHEMONSTER dot COM.

So bring on the ideas. Give us the funny, the witty, the "oh em gee this is amazing we got to do this" ideas. Whatever you got, we want to hear it. And if you're lucky enough, you'll be wearing one of these bad boys for Opening Day.

Kelly, Anderson Highlight Spring Training Invitees

2010-02-05T22:06:50Z

The Red Sox announced today the list of non-rostered players invited to spring training:

Pitchers (10)
Randor Bierd
Fernando Cabrera
Kris Johnson
Casey Kelly
Adam Mills
Edwin Moreno
Joe Nelson
Brian Shouse
Jorge Sosa
Kyle Weiland

Catchers (2)
Luis Exposito
Gustavo Molina

Infielders (4)
Lars Anderson
Yamaico Navarro
Angel Sanchez
Gil Velazquez

Outfelders (4)
Zach Daeges
Ryan Kalish
Che-Hsuan Lin
Darnell McDonald

It's nice to see Lars there. They Sox will be keeping a close eye on him to see how he does in the spring. He could really surprise us, which would be fantastic. Kalish and Lin should be fun to watch if they get a good amount of playing time, which really isn't likely. Exposito will be one of the prospects to watch, too. Personally, I expect really good things out of him.

Oh, and there's also OTM's No. 1 prospect Kelly in the mix. All eyes will be on his arm come March.

Hitting the Links Again

2010-02-05T21:03:47Z

More photos » Elise Amendola - AP

A Hall-of-Famer, and a guy we were sure was gonna be one. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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First off, I'm going to use this venue to remind all you readers to vote for prospect #14.

Now onto the links.

Red Sox announce some front office moves - Extra Bases
Gus Quattlebaum is an awesome name.

Garciaparra not ready to retire - Full Count
Seems Nomar wants to stick around the league another year.

Remembering Nomar Garciaparra in Boston - Fire Brand of the American League
But that news broke too late to stop Troy Patterson from writing his obituary.

Manny Ramirez: Last season of his career? - Los Angeles Times
Some think it may not just be Nomar who's nearing the end...

Sox need to ante up for Beckett - Boston.com

Checking in at the V-Mart: A look at Victor Martinez' value - WEEI
I guess now that the '09-'10 offseason is effectively over for the Red Sox, it's time to start talking about next year! When do we get to play baseball, again?

Red Sox interested in Japanese lefty - Red Sox blog
Having offered every free agent reliever in America a contract (except Kiko Calero), the Sox set their sights overseas.

Some interesting numbers via Bill James - Extra Bases
Some extra notes: Pedroia has finished 4th over the last 2 years in runs saved. 2007 dragged him down to 6th overall. Likewise, Scutaro finished unranked, 6th, and 4th over the last 3 years. The defensive switch from Lowell to Beltre should be worth 40 runs on its own.

Pitches per plate appearance- the forgotten offensive stat

2010-02-04T16:44:44Z

More photos » Nick Wass - AP

6 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis, left, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate David Ortiz, right, against the Baltimore Orioles' during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2009, in Baltimore. The Red Sox won 6-5. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Amid all the discussions of offense, one key stat that is very frequently forgotten is pitches per plate appearance. Why is this so important? Because the more pitches each batter can take, the faster we can get opposing starters out of the game and get to the (usually) weaker bullpens. The faster our lineup can get starters out of the game, the more pitchers we can make opposing teams go through, not only making it so we face the strong starters for less innings, but also helping to wear down the bullpen by the end of a 3 game series.

So obviously, seeing a lot of pitches is important to do, and it's a well known fact that the Red Sox are one of the main preachers of plate discipline out there, so let's see how exactly the 2010 Red Sox are going to stack up in this oft-forgotten stat.

After the jump, we'll look at how the starting 9 performed in this category in 2009 and see if we can pinpoint any particular trends.

Here are the specific PPA numbers for each of the 2010 starting members of the Red Sox:

Jacoby Ellsbury: 3.77 (best)

Dustin Pedroia: 3.95 (best)

Victor Martinez: 4.05 (best)

Kevin Youkilis: 4.41 (improved from 2008, best was 4.42 in 2006)

J.D. Drew: 4.12 (best was 4.16 in 2008)

David Ortiz: 4.19 (best since joining the Red Sox)

Adrian Beltre: 3.56 (injured, career average 3.77)

Marco Scutaro: 4.06 (best)

Mike Cameron: 3.96

Now, first of all, the average number of pitches per one time through the starting lineup is 36.07. That number is phenomenal and means that it should be very rare that any starter can make it through our full ineup 3 times or more in a game.

For my notes on the side, let me explain- the ones who say (best) next to their name (please note that this is 4 out of the 9 players) had more pitches per plate appearance in 2009 than any previous career year. These are players who have been trending upwards- there are no numbers that look like extreme outliers here, just like improved plate discipline. From these players, I expect to see them all either progress in 2010 or stay around where they are.

Of the other players, none of them have been trending downwards- even Ortiz, in his terrible year, saaw more pitches per plate appearance than he has since joining the Sox. Youkilis had his best year since 2006, when he was essentially at the same number as 2009. Cameron had a down year, but has not shown himself to be trending downwards apart from that year- in 2008 he had an outlier very good year, seeing 4.21 pitches per plate appearance. Beltre was terrible, seeing a mere 3.56, however, it's a given that during his injury year, most of his stats are lower than usual. His career average is 3.77, and his numbers outside of 2009 are generally closer to there.

One very positive thing to note, is that while Martinez posted a very respectable 4.04 for the year, he actually saw 4.28 per plate appearance since joining the stronger Red Sox lineup- while we can probably expect that number to fall a bit, we should expect to see great things from him on the Sox in 2010.

Overall, the numbers to me appear to be trending upwards, and I expect to see them improve further in 2010; this Red Sox lineup could well be the most patient lineup in the majors- if not, it's certainly amongst them.

But then, we are replacing players such as Bay, who was known to walk quite a bit, so is this actual improvement over the 2009 team?

The answer is a simple, unequivocal yes.

The players who are being replaced and their numbers for 2009 were:

Jason Bay: 3.99 (replaced by Cameron, 3.96)

Nick Green 3.44 (replaced by Scutaro, 4.06)

Mike Lowell: 3.67 (replaced by Beltre 3.56, career 3.77)

Jason Varitek: 3.80 (replaced by Martinez, 4.04)

Overall for 2009:

League Average PPA: 3.84

2009 Red Sox PPA: 3.94

This lineup in 2009 would have seen: 4.01

as we can see, the Red Sox downgraded a little in two areas, both of which appeared to by low outlier years for the players replacing them (Beltre and Cameron). In reality, looking at career trends, I expect Cameron and Beltre to see almost exactly the same amount of PPA in 2010 as did Bay and Lowell, respectively, in 2009. In addition to this, Martinez and Scutaro are massive improvements over Varitek and Green (who I chose because he saw the most PAs for the Sox at short, I know Alex Gonzalez posted almost the same exact PPA numbers during his time with the Sox).

While some people may argue that the offense is weakened from 2009, I would argue back that there are more subtle stats than OPS and HR that can make a huge difference over the long haul of the season. Facing more tired pitchers, and more weaker pitchers in general, should actually help boost the other offensive stats of the team. This is a subtle difference that should add up to something pretty significant over the course of a season.

Catching up with the Red Sox - Over The Monster

2010-02-04T15:14:52Z

Catching up with the Red Sox - Over The Monster

A little Red Sox Q&A with myself on The Nats Blog.

Over the Monster Top 20 Prospects Voting #14: Derrik Gibson, Come on Down!

2010-02-03T18:23:00Z

I would say that Derrik Gibson is this ranking season's breakout, as it were. Even at the end of the season, Gibson was something of a hidden commodity, and looked ready to go into 2010 as a good sleeper or breakout pick. And yet, come the yearly rankings, and Gibson is breaking top-10s. He didn't quite make it there for us, but he's in at a nice respectable 13.

On to 14. Prospect write-ups can be found here. Vote away.

VIDEO: Dustin Pedroia's Greatness

2010-02-03T17:26:20Z

Just watch:

Everything above is why Dustin Pedroia is my favorite baseball player.

"This shows I'm a man of f***ing biceps."

Awesome.

Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Jacoby Ellsbury Goes No. 20

2010-02-03T17:10:19Z

Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Jacoby Ellsbury Goes No. 20

You know Fantasy Baseball is the root of all evil (and pleasure) when Jacoby Ellsbury goes No. 20 overall and is the first Red Sox to be selected.

Let hell freeze over in 3 ... 2 ... 1...

(In all honesty, he hits for average and steals. THAT'S why he's selected so high. Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, V-Mart, Beckett, Papelbon, Lackey, Buchholz and Beltre follow up, with more Sox after.)

A Plea To Forget About Adrian Gonzalez -- For Now

2010-02-03T17:00:23Z

More photos » Elaine Thompson - AP

7 months ago: San Diego Padres' Adrian Gonzalez singles against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning Wednesday, June 24, 2009, during a baseball game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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The agent of San Diego Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez said recently that the Padres can't afford the first baseman, making his departure from San Diego a potential reality -- at some point. This is where all the Red Sox fans drool and say, "oh! oh! please! pick us!"

But, honestly, let's just think about the team that stands now.

Here's what was said about A-Gonz:

Mark Teixeira, the first baseman who most closely matches Gonzalez, signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees before last season. If that’s the starting point for a new deal, that’s where the Padres can be expected to start implementing an exit strategy.

"I don’t ever want to speak for ownership because I have no knowledge of what they have and what they don’t," Boggs said. "(But) the feeling we’re getting is more than likely (the Padres) are going to have to trade Adrian Gonzalez because (they) can’t afford him."

Does A-Gonz seem like a fit in Boston? Sure, at some point maybe. Will he be in Boston for Spring Training, though? No way in a very cold hell.

Instead, let's not think about Adrian Gonzalez. Let's not think about him coming over in July. Let's not think about acquiring him in December 2010. Let's just allow Adrian Gonzalez play for the Pads and the Red Sox play, well, for the Red Sox. We've got enough things to think about anyway with the current team.

Perhaps this may be hard thing to do. Gonzalez is one of those players that can change a team; there aren't many of him in baseball. He's up there with the likes of a Joe Mauer or an Albert Pujols (although, in reality, there's no one in the world of Pujols). He's a prize that I'm sure we'd all love to see wearing a Red Sox hat one day, but dang it, it's just not worth it.

Look at the Gonzalez situation like your all-too-long To Do list. You have 20 things on that list, but you find yourself worrying about the one that, in all honesty, is the least important and the furthest away. There are other issues at hand that need attention and need it faster.

Not to stress you out, but here's a nice bulletted list to keep us thinking through Spring Training:

Who's going to fill out the bullpen?
Where does Mike Lowell fit with this team, if at all? Will he be any kind of cancer?
Is Adrian Beltre going to be able to regain his swing in Fenway Park?
Will Marco Scutaro be a one-hit wonder, or does he have some juice left in the tank?
Is Tim Wakefield going to be "respected" by being in the starting rotation, or will he find himself in the bullpen.
Speaking of the rotation, will Clay Buchholz be the unfortunate starter-turned-bullpener when April rolls around?
Are the Fenway Franks going to be any more expensive?! (Exclamation point added for emphasis and sarcasm.)

That was an easy list. I didn't even really think too hard. I'm sure there are at least 10 more that may be even more important than this one, but you get the picture.

Now, should we really be thinking about Adrian Gonzalez? Or do you think we should polish off more of that To Do list?...

Red Sox sign Joe Nelson

2010-02-02T02:07:37Z

FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Red Sox have signed Joe Nelson to a minor league deal.

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez spoke with Nelson, who said that three or four teams were interested, but that Boston was the best fit.

Nelson pitched for Tampa Bay in 2009, posting a 4.02 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. The 35-year-old righty will have to earn a shot at the big club out of spring training, and his walk rate will have to improve over 2009 (27 in those 40 1/3 innings) to stick with Boston.

The battle for the pen' begins.

Twins Sign Mauer to a 10-Year Deal?

2010-02-01T21:28:55Z

Twins Sign Mauer to a 10-Year Deal?

If true, this could make Victor Martinez a very expensive commodity going into 2011.

Almost immediately, Buster Olney's sources disagree.

Some Links for the Dog Days of Winter

2010-02-01T21:16:30Z

More photos » Darren Calabrese - AP

Clay Buchholz is expecting a fight for his job in spring training. How will Theo and Tito solve the overflowing rotation this year? (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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Well, we've hit the point of the year when the hot stove has cooled considerably, but before truck day. To say the least, it's pretty dull in the baseball world right now. So, in order to tide you over until the equipment leaves, pitchers and catchers report, and ultimately, baseball is played, here are some links:

Gordon Edes Declares a Pax Bostonia - ESPN Boston
Also included: The most bizarre top-10 prospects list I've seen this year.

Contract Years = Career Years? Let's Hope - The Boston Globe
Not sure I buy the theory, though. Surely performing well THROUGHOUT your contract would get you a bigger contract than just playing well for one year.

Lou Merloni States the Seemingly Obvious: Nobody Hits Good Pitching - WEEI
Given some of the complaints from the fanbase this year, though, I guess it needed to be said.

Alex Speier, However, Notes a Problem With Above Average Pitching - WEEI
Now there could be something to that, maybe?

Pedroia Returns Home to Dump - Daily Democrat Online
His words, not mine. Dustin was in town to help a project to fix a local ballpark.

Buchholz Coming to a Fantasy Team Near You? -- FanHouse
Fantasy Baseball isn't my thing, really, but FanHouse throws Buchholz out there as a good sleeper with the an improved defense and his re-emergence last year.

Clay Buchholz Aims to Earn Rotation Spot - Boston Herald
But that'll only work out if Bucko is actually starting over Wakefield.

Wakefield Swinging a Big Stick? - Florida Today
Who is playing some golf for charity down in sunny Florida.

Over the Monster Top 20 Prospects Voting #13: Che-Hsuan's In

2010-01-30T19:54:11Z

On the back of a strong campaign by Radiohix, Che-Hsuan Lin barely beats out the competition to slide in at #12.

On to 13.

Red Sox sign catcher Gustavo Molina

2010-01-29T14:41:32Z

Red Sox sign catcher Gustavo Molina

The Red Sox have signed catcher Gustavo Molina to a minor league contract. Gustavo is in no way related to the other catching Molinas.

Interviewing Red Sox Pitching Prospect Madison Younginer

2010-01-29T12:47:35Z

Madison Younginer, shown here pitching for Mauldin High School in South Carolina, was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox.

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Madison Younginer, a 19 year-old graduate of Mauldin High School (SC), was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

The 6'4" right-handed pitcher has been described as "raw," as is the case with most high school draftees, but not short on potential. His arsenal of pitches far exceeds the advancement displayed by most pitchers relative to his age; the same can be said regarding his level of maturity and collectively confident demeanor displayed on the mound.

Rated the Red Sox's #24 prospect (according to SoxProspects.com), Younginer has seen plenty of successes during his prep career -- something that he tells us he hopes to carry over to Fenway Park one day.

Madison was kind enough to answer a few questions and discuss a couple topics with OTM's Logan Lietz recently. So, here it is; an interview and overview of Boston Red Sox's prospect, Madison Younginer.

Draft Experience & Signing With Boston

Prior to draft day, Madison Younginer was the second rated player out of South Carolina and was widely considered one of the best "raw arms" available via the draft. Despite being held in such high regard by scouts and analysts, when I asked Madison to describe his draft day experience he was still quick to cite the anxiousness that he felt heading into the draft, starting as early as the night before;

"Draft day was a very memorable experience. I couldn't sleep at night because I was curious and excited about what the next day was going to bring. The first day of the draft we watched the first round on television and talked about what was going on. I actually had a couple of calls in the supplemental first round, but they weren't the offer I was looking for so we declined. The first day passed and I had not been selected. The second day was on the internet, so we left the computer on the draft broadcast and waited to see what would happen. Boston called my dad and then I saw my name come up on the screen and my family went crazy, and then I got the call from my area scout, Quincy Boyd."

Although it may come as a surprise to most initially, deciding to sign on with the Red Sox wasn't exactly an easy decision for Madison. With a chance to play baseball at Clemson University representing option number two, his slight hesitation was seemingly justifiable. Madison addressed that situation briefly in the interview:

"To bypass Clemson was a very tough decision. They are one of the top baseball universities in the country and have a great coaching staff. I also had to bypass getting the opportunity to hit. I came up with an amount that I thought would be life-changing and worth signing. The Red Sox and I came to an agreement and I'm very happy with my decision."

Did it help that the team drafting him was the Boston Red Sox?

"I was not specifically a Red Sox fan [growing up], but I have always been a Fenway Fan. On video games I always played with the Red Sox so that I could have Fenway as my home field."

Madison Younginer As A Pitcher, Competitor

Younginer features four surprisingly advanced pitches for a prospect coming straight out of high school; 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs, 12-6 curveball, and a newly-developed changeup that sits in the low-80's. While it may more often than not be his high-90's fastball that garners the most attention at this point in his career, his best pitch is arguably his curveball which has been described as devastating to hitters within his age group (one scout even going as far as saying that it made his high school competition "weep").

SoxProspects.com compares Younginer's overall game to that of Kerry Wood. I asked Madison whether he felt that was an accurate depiction of him as a pitcher. I also asked him which pitchers he modeled his game after while growing up in South Carolina;

"I think that's an accurate comparison [Wood]. Growing up I was a big fan of Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan. Even with all that has gone on with Roger Clemens, he was still one of the best pitchers to play the game. Nolan Ryan is my favorite player and my pitching coach had me watch him a couple times. I tried to pitch as those two because I've seen some similarities between the two that I really like."

One area of Madison's game that has come to resemble those of Clemens and Ryan -- Ryan in particular -- is his personality on the mound. When I asked Madison to discuss his pitching-persona and where he learned it from, he was quick to offer praise to one specific individual;

"...my pitching coach in high school, Todd Robinson, taught me how to be competitive with a fire in me on the mound while also showing a calm demeanor. It helps me not get affected by things going wrong and allows me to concentrate on the next pitch. Although, when something goes really well I often express a thing or two."

Madison's last comment provided a good segway for my next question as I asked him to briefly speak on the parts of his game that he felt were the strongest at this point in time. Similar to most scouting reports, Younginer addressed his plus arm-strength at the onset of his comments before ultimately referring the majority of his self-praise towards his curveball and in-game demeanor;

"...I throw hard and get a lot of spin on the ball. It allows my curveball to be 12-6 and get a good amount of drop close to the plate. I also stay focused well and like being in tough situations."

Madison's self-assessment skills are refreshingly accurate and without bias, a fact that lingered on through his response to my next request: Describe your weaknesses as a pitcher through your own perspective. His answer was again strikingly-similar to that which you'll find in most scouting reports. One report in particular stated that Younginer's natural talents, while unanimously considered well above average, occasionally fail to manifest as a result of his slight inability to maintain a consistent delivery and release-point.

"I need to learn to command my pitches better. Most of that involves an improvement of repeating my delivery, making my mechanics more effective, and practice. In the Instructional League I improved tremendously from last spring, but I feel I can make further improvements in the coming years. I also need to work on controlling the tempo of the game."

One of the biggest question marks surrounding Younginer as a pitcher, at this point, is just what type of pitcher he projects to be. His velocity and pitches are harmonious to that of a relief pitcher, but many (Madison included) consider Younginer better-apt in the starting rotation. Opportunities to scout Younginer as a starter were sparse in high school -- a fact that Madison attributes to his Mauldin High School head coach's decision to allow him to play centerfield as well as hit every game. The question, specifically, is whether or not Younginer can maintain his velocity as a starter. Madison took the time to answer that question himself;

"Yes, I have heard that many times and I have always been a starter. I think that came from me pitching 3 or 4 innings in high school the first 2 outings. My head coach felt it was best for the team that I play centerfield and hit every game so that limited my pitching during the season. I closed a few games too. He let me go 6 innings my last outing and there were scouts there but none from Boston. My 103rd and 104th pitch were both 96 on 2 stalkers followed by my last pitch of the season which was a curveball. I believe I can be a starter in the system and I'm working hard with my conditioning to last the whole season. Not sure what I will end up being."

Through Madison's own words on the subject, I gleaned that he has no intentions on settling as a reliever. In fact, he seemed rather prideful of his ability to start games and almost offended by the suggestion that he lacks the required stamina that accompanies the role of starting pitcher; a relative chip on his shoulder that he expressed through a sort of contained confidence that came off considerably admirable.

Accomplishments, Accolades, & Pitching At Wrigley

Younginer has accrued an impressive list of accolades for someone yet to turn 20 years of age -- most notably being named Gatorade's Player of the Year for South Carolina in 2009. Other awards include All-region selections for both his sophomore and junior seasons, All-state selection as a junior (selected by High School Sports Report), being named South Carolina's #1 high school prospect (selected by Perfect Game), as well as being chosen to Under Armour's All-American team.

The Under Armour All-American game was a particular topic that I wanted Madison to reflect on as a part of the interview, mainly because of its venue that year -- Wrigley Field. The game itself was significant to him because it was the first time that he felt as though he stood out at a higher level of competition;

"Pitching at Wrigley was amazing. The entire Under Armour All-American Game was an experience like no other for a high school player. I got to meet players from around the country and they gave us a tour of the city while having us stay in a nice hotel. My actual pitching experience at Wrigley was awesome too. It was when I felt I made myself stand out for the first time on that level of play. My inning was three up and three down, including two strikeouts. The umpire gave me a little on the outside corner so I stayed on it."

While pitching at Wrigley Field as a member of the Under Armour All-American team was a truly significant experience in Younginer's baseball career, it was not the subject of his response to my inquiry regarding his proudest baseball-related moment (outside of being drafted). Instead Madison chose winning the 2008 Big League World Series as a representation of his most prideful moment;

"My greatest accomplishment other than being drafted would be winning the 2008 Big League World Series. No one really knows they have a big league like they have little league but we played Puerto Rico in the championship game and came back in the 7th inning from a 4 to 0 deficit to win 5 to 4."

Goals & Aspirations

When asked about his short-term goals heading into 2010, Madison's addressed the subject vaguely -- citing his superstitious nature as the reason why;

"My short term goals are to go into spring training and be on top of my game. And I have other goals but I'd rather not share, kind of superstitious about all that."

Fair enough. However, when asked about his long-term goals as a part of the Red Sox, Younginer grew a bit more bold in his response;

"My long term goal is to make it to the big leagues and become the number one starter for the Boston Red Sox. That is not easy but I definitely believe it is achievable."

Madison: Off The Field

Finally, I asked Madison if there was anything that he wanted to share with our readers on a personal level outside of baseball, or maybe something that fans may not already know about him;

"When I'm not thinking about baseball, I'm usually on the computer looking up something on cars. I'm obsessed with muscle cars and learning about engines. Also my cousin, Brandon Snyder, plays with the Orioles and being in the same division, I would love to face him at Fenway one day."

Madison Younginer has more than enough talent and potential to succeed at the major league level. Couple that with his drive and determination, and his goal of one day pitching at Fenway Park atop the Red Sox's rotation doesn't seem all that farfetched.

*Special thanks to Madison for the generosity that he displayed with his time for this interview. From all of us here at OTM and 'Red Sox Nation,' best of luck in the upcoming season and beyond.