gammons on the sox' young players

Young players who impressed the most this spring

Friday, April 3, 2009

This year's spring training wore on for close to two months, with lineups that were second cousins of the '95 replacement players. But it gave general managers, managers, coaches, scouts and some of us hangers-on a chance to see a lot more young players than most springs.

So that begged four questions that were asked of close to five dozen baseball people who saw all these young players:

Question 1: Which young players have made major impressions on you?

9. Daniel Bard, Red Sox right-handed pitcher. Two years ago, Bard went through a nightmare by issuing 78 walks in 76 innings pitched. This spring the refrain through the southwest portion of Florida was "the easiest 100 [mph] I've ever seen." His presence changed, he got up on top, his breaking ball tightened and that 97-102 comes out of his hand so easily that it looks as if he's playing catch with his mother. Just a matter of time before he'll be pitching in Boston.

15. Junichi Tazawa, Red Sox right-handed pitcher. This was the biggest surprise of the spring. Signed out of an industrial league in Japan, the 22-year-old shocked people with his stuff, command (he threw one ball per inning in his last two minor league starts). "He'd have been in the top six to 10 in this June's draft," says one scout, "and his feel might have moved him him into the top five."

Question 3: Which players coming off injuries convinced you they are back?

8. Brad Penny, RHP, Red Sox

Question 4: Who had the best arm you saw this spring?

This wasn't close. Boston's Daniel Bard got three times as many votes as anyone else. Actually, tied for second were a catcher (Carlos Santana) and an outfielder (Rick Ankiel), although the latter doesn't qualify as a kid.

1. Daniel Bard, RHP, Red Sox