Lars Anderson: 'Learning how to deal with own expectations'

Drafted in the 18th round in 2006, Lars Anderson burst on the scene after a strong 2007. In 2008, Anderson did nothing to dispel his skyrocketing value, closing the year out with a .316/.436/.526 line in Double-A Portland in 41 games. This year, Anderson has returned to Portland for what many thought would be a temporary situation. Instead, as the 21-year old struggles with adversity, he's been leapfrogged in the SoxProspects.com prospect standings by Josh Reddick as the organization's top bat. While a line of .257/.350/.385 with eight home runs in 394 at-bats doesn't exactly make one drool, Anderson's hitting is too advanced to last. So what's the problem? Anderson said in the Boston Globe on July 10 that he's struggling with a "lack of trust" in his abilities, while Portland manager Arnie Beyeler thinks it's a matter of luck: the balls aren't falling for a player who is already getting respect from opposing pitchers. "I do...