We didn't get to it yesterday, but Alex Speier had a great piece on Jose Iglesias, which comes down to this: Don't give up just yet.
“He’s not afraid to work at all. He’s going to be a special kid sometime. We just need to be patient and make sure that when he gets back up there, he’s ready to stay and not be overmatched again where you’d get into a funk and say, ‘Is this guy ever going to hit?’” Beyeler added. “If we’re patient with him and give him an opportunity to develop like we’re supposed to, we’re going to have a pretty special kid when the time comes.”
When might that time come? It’s difficult to say. In a vacuum, the Sox would probably like Iglesias – who has two minor league options remaining – to spend a full, uninterrupted season in Triple-A during which both the player and the organization can see measurable progress in his offensive approach as a prelude to a late-season call-up. Taking such an approach would be easy to achieve if the Sox’ tandem of Aviles and Punto turns out to be a productive one.
The reality is that major league need could tweak that timetable. Perhaps at some point in the middle of 2012, if the left side of the Sox’ infield defense is wanting, they may feel compelled to call upon a player who can transform that facet of the team.
The whole read is great -- you really should check it out. Injuries have certainly hampered Iglesias' ascent, and he is still quite young. He's just such an exciting prospect -- especially for the shortstop-starved Red Sox -- that it's easy to want him up immediately.
What the piece also reinforces: Resist the temptation to start thinking about trading Iglesias. Just because he hasn't hit (at all) in the minors yet, it doesn't mean he can't develop to at least be adequate. I mean, Alex Gonzalez carved out a career, and he couldn't hit anything. If Jose could get to that level of production (not the same power, but to make up for it elsewhere), he'll be a good player.
He's fallen down the ranking boards (although SoxProspects still respects him at no. 4) since last year, but try not to panic and want him moved for another bullpen arm at the deadline. He still has the chance to be the shortstop of the future in Boston. It just sounds like it won't be the immediate near-future.
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