Chad Spann

[riverside sluggers]

Chad Spann is a 3rd baseman prospect in Double A Portland. He has rebounded nicely from what was a dismal 2005 season.

http://soxprospects.com/players/images/spann.chad.jpg
Age: 22
Born: October 25, 1983
Buena Vista, GA
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 5th Round, 2002
How Acquired: Draft
High School: Southland Academy
ETA: 2008


Scouting Report: Blew away expectations in 2003. Spann is very athletic, has great bat speed, patience, and pitch recognition, with the potential for more power which has yet to show. He has a decent glove as well as good speed. Keeps a very consistent routine and makes adjustments well. Should move through the organization quickly if he continues to retain his 2003 form.

2006: .284 avg, .360 obp, 17 Doubles, Triple, 6 HRs, 32 RBIs, 31 Runs, 21 Walks, 1 SB

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

Is this guy better then Hee-Seop Choi? If he is, then Youk could stay at first and Chad could go to third if he makes it to the majors.

[Beckett95]

Is this guy better then Hee-Seop Choi? If he is, then Youk could stay at first and Chad could go to third if he makes it to the majors.

well he should end up being better than Choi. Id think Spann gets called up to AAA in July.

[riverside sluggers]

Is this guy better then Hee-Seop Choi? If he is, then Youk could stay at first and Chad could go to third if he makes it to the majors.

Mike Lowell is signed through next season, very good bet he stays with the Sox through then. No need to rush this kid. A call up to Pawtucket could be coming for him sometime late this season.

[riverside sluggers]

updated stats

.302 avg, .364 obp, 24 Doubles, Triple, 9 HRs, 42 RBIs, 39 Runs, 24 Walks, 2 SBs

[Cityofchampions33]

Id the MLB Comparison thing new? because Ive never seen the comparison of him to Joe Randa. Anyway, kid is having solid season, but whats his projection, I havent heard a lot about him, is he in line to replace Lowell down the line?

[riverside sluggers]

Im not exactly sure what their plan is for the 2008 season about the 1st/3rd base situations. Most likely Youk will be manning one of those positions

Spann is right now having a breakout season so it could be a wait and see type deal. He's probably in line to get a late season call-up to Pawtucket

[riverside sluggers]

updated stats

.313 avg, .376 obp, 28 Doubles, 3 Triples, 10 HRs, 49 RBIs, 51 Runs, 27 Walks, 2 SBs

[riverside sluggers]

updated stats

.300 avg, .366 obp, 28 Doubles, 3 Triples, 10 HRs, 50 RBIs, 53 Runs, 29 Walks, 3 SBs

A flaw Spann has to work on his high count of Ks which currently stands at 83

[riverside sluggers]

Chad Spann yesterday was placed on the DL, I'll try & check for what reason

EDIT: updated stats up until he was placed on DL

.294 avg, .371 obp, 28 Doubles, 3 Triples, 10 HRs, 50 RBIs, 53 Runs, 29 Walks, 3 SBs

[jsinger121]

According to mainetoday.com, Spann may be shut down for the rest of the year with his severely sprained left ankle.

[riverside sluggers]

thanks for the info jsing

Its tough to see this is how his season is ending. Get better Spann and just keep your head in the game

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

spann will be participating in the Arizona Fall League.

[jsinger121]

spann will be participating in the Arizona Fall League.

It depends on if he is healthy at the time.

[riverside sluggers]

3B Chad Spann -- Spann went 1-for-4 in his Peoria debut on Wednesday against Grand Canyon. The 22-year-old put up solid numbers for Portland this season, hitting .294 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs.

[riverside sluggers]

rotoworld

Chad Spann went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a walk Friday for the Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.

Spann had a nice bounce-back season after two down years, hitting .294/.361/.472 in 360 at-bats for Double-A Portland. He's just 22 (23 later this month), so he does have a chance to become a major leaguer. However, that he's a below average defender at third base won't help his case.

[riverside sluggers]

redsox.com

Spann red hot in Arizona Fall League
Red Sox prospect hitting a mighty .474 in winter ball

Chad Spann is one of the hottest hitters in the Arizona Fall League. The third baseman opened the season hitting safely in each of his first four games and is batting .474.
He is 9-for-19 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBIs and three runs scored for the Peoria Javelinas. The former fifth-round pick has amassed at least two RBIs and two hits in each of his last three games.

Spann's best performance of the young season came in a 9-8 victory over the Peoria Saguaros, when he went 4-for-5 with two RBIs on Oct. 13.

[scaffolds]

[QUOTE=riverside sluggers;176127;]Im not exactly sure what their plan is for the 2008 season about the 1st/3rd base situations. Most likely Youk will be manning one of those position.

If Youkilis is playing one of those corners position not only in 2008, but in 2007 the Sox will be in trouble.

[riverside sluggers]

I thought it was evident that Youk is in line to be the starting 1st baseman or 3rd come opening day. Any tidbits that it would be otherwise?

[ksushi]

What are you talking about? Youk did a solid job this year. Great glove and good enough with the bat. Excellent first half with the bat, hit a wall but it was his first season playing for that long. A drop off was to be expected.

[scaffolds]

You call good enogh bat for a first baseman who hit 13 HR's and 70 RBI's, I don't, and not only that but they Sox's can't challange the rest of AL with results like that out of a production position like first base.

[riverside sluggers]

Youk was moved from 3rd to 1st out of necessity due to the fact of the Sox taking on Lowell in the Beckett deal.

[scaffolds]

Riverside; I understand that, Lowell its a better third baseman and hitter, but Youkilis doesn't porvide enough punch from a corner position, that is a production position. Like i said beforen the Sox can't compete offensively with the rest of the AL teams with Youkilis at a corner position.

[example1]

Riverside; I understand that, Lowell its a better third baseman and hitter, but Youkilis doesn't porvide enough punch from a corner position, that is a production position. Like i said beforen the Sox can't compete offensively with the rest of the AL teams with Youkilis at a corner position.

I don't buy that. First I think that Youkilis is extremely versitile. He can play 3 positions, 2 of them very well. He gets on base and has decent power. I think he will show better numbers when he's not going from first, to fourth, to fifth, to second in the lineup on consecutive nights. Give the guy a role and I think he'll produce. I see him as a 2 hitter. He's a difficult out, which is so important in the 2 hole with Ortiz and someone else coming up next. I see no reason why he can't give the kind of production and value to his team(overall, not just power #'s) of a guy like Inge, Crede or Casey.

[ORS]

Kevin Youkilis should do two a days in the gym this offseason until he can develop the power to drive the ball out of the park more often. The average VORP for the top 30 1B (approximating the 30 starters) was ~30. Youk's was 18, putting him in 20th place. To my eyes, his game (speed, range, glove, eye) are what you expect from a masher, except he doesn't mash.

[example1]

Kevin Youkilis should do two a days in the gym this offseason until he can develop the power to drive the ball out of the park more often. The average VORP for the top 30 1B (approximating the 30 starters) was ~30. Youk's was 18, putting him in 20th place. To my eyes, his game (speed, range, glove, eye) are what you expect from a masher, except he doesn't mash.


Yes! I totally agree. He's even built like a masher but there's not much mash there. I don't quite get why he's not hitting the bombs that he should, but he's still young and just had his first full season at the plate. Overall I was happy with his production and I think with a full lineup his numbers should be better.

[TPetey]

I don't buy that. First I think that Youkilis is extremely versitile. He can play 3 positions, 2 of them very well. He gets on base and has decent power. I think he will show better numbers when he's not going from first, to fourth, to fifth, to second in the lineup on consecutive nights. Give the guy a role and I think he'll produce. I see him as a 2 hitter. He's a difficult out, which is so important in the 2 hole with Ortiz and someone else coming up next. I see no reason why he can't give the kind of production and value to his team(overall, not just power #'s) of a guy like Inge, Crede or Casey.

IMHO, Youkilis is a much better fit as a leadoff (or #9) hitter than as a 2 hitter. A 2 hitter that strikes out 120 times (like Youk) would sound the death knell for the hit-and-run.

[example1]

IMHO, Youkilis is a much better fit as a leadoff (or #9) hitter than as a 2 hitter. A 2 hitter that strikes out 120 times (like Youk) would sound the death knell for the hit-and-run.

Not if you do the hit and run with less than two strikes. He gets deep into counts. It's a natural consequence of a high OBP. I think he'll learn when to rip on a good pitch instead of watching it go past.

[TPetey]

Not if you do the hit and run with less than two strikes. He gets deep into counts. It's a natural consequence of a high OBP. I think he'll learn when to rip on a good pitch instead of watching it go past.

True enough, but since Youk usually takes two strikes before his first swing, batting him second radically reduces hit-and-run opportunities. An effective 2 hole hitter should be a guy who makes contact and is able and willing to go the other way. Youk is anything but that hitter. Mark Loretta, even though he turned out to be very ineffective at moving runners over, comes much closer to the ideal of a #2.

Youk's high K rate is related to the fact that he goes deep into counts, but it's also a result of his high swing-and-miss rate. A #2 hitter shouldn't be so easy to fool.

[scaffolds]

Example; That is the point his versatility should send him to the bench to be an utility player. Youkilis is strong enough, he doesn't have the bat speed that is needed to be a power hitter.

[a700hitter]

This kid looked horrible at 3B on Wednesday night. He's got a lot of work to do in order to hold down a defensive position in the majors. Scott White, on the other hand, looked nifty around 3B and he hit a bomb of a HR off the Northeastern kid today. Does anyone have any info on him?

[NateGrey]

This kid looked horrible at 3B on Wednesday night. He's got a lot of work to do in order to hold down a defensive position in the majors. Scott White, on the other hand, looked nifty around 3B and he hit a bomb of a HR off the Northeastern kid today. Does anyone have any info on him?


.. Here you go kind sir ..

> http://www.soxprospects.com/players/white-scott.htm

.....

[riverside sluggers]

Spann hasnt been doing so hot to start off the year in Pawtucket

14 games
.213 avg, .275 obp, 3 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 Runs, 4 Walks, 17 Ks

[riverside sluggers]

A demotion back to Double A might be needed sometime this season if he doesnt turn things around

18 games- .206 avg, .265 obp, 3 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 4 Runs, 4 Walks, 23 Ks

[riverside sluggers]

Still very very early I know but starting to wonder what their game plan is for 3rd base in the offseason.

25 games- .191 avg, .250 obp, 3 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 5 Runs, 6 Walks, 30 Ks

[riverside sluggers]

updated stats

50 games- .239 avg, .309 obp, 6 Doubles, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, 17 Runs, 16 Walks, 55 Ks[/QUOTE]