once really bad ... now really good

when theo epstein became general manager of the boston red sox in late 2002, the team's farm system was a wreck ... the "experts" considered boston's minor league talent to be near the bottom in baseball ... epstein's predecessor dan duquette had traded away the best minor leaguers ... and failed to sign top amateur draft picks ... preferring to spend his minor league budget on cheaper talent from the carribean and far east

boston's new general manager wasted no time making it known restocking the red sox minor league talent pool was a top priority ... theo rebuilt the team's minor league infrastructure ... established system-wide development philosophies and standards ... brought in bright, young talent to manage the system ... and began drafting, signing and developing quality college and high school talent ... beginning with #1 pick david murphy (since traded to texas), #2 abe alverez (released in 05/2008), #3 beau vaughn (now at aa portland) and #4 jonathan papelbon in 2003 ... in each year since, the red sox have drafted a steady stream of young players and done it well ... today, the team's major league roster is loaded with players drafted and developed by theo epstein's structure ... and those same "experts" mentioned earlier now consider the red sox minor league talent near the top in baseball

the 2008 boston red sox have 11 players who are on or have been on the major league roster this season who were drafted and developed by the team's minor league system

jonathan papelbon <> right-handed pitcher (closer) <> 27 years old <> drafted in 4th round of 2003 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of mississippi state university <> 2007 world series champion <> selected to the pitching staff of 2006, 2007 and 2008 american league all-star teams

manny delcarmen <> right-handed pitcher (middle relief) <> 26 years old <> drafted in 2nd round of 2000 amateur draft (by dan duquette) out of west roxbury high school in boston <> 2007 world series champion

craig hanson <> right-handed pitcher (middle relief) <> 24 years old <> drafted in 1st round (26th overall) of 2005 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of st john's university

jon lester <> left-handed pitcher (starter) <> 24 years old <> drafted in 2nd round of 2002 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of bellarmine preparatory school in tacoma, washington <> winning pitcher of game 4 of 2007 world series (championship clinching game) <> 2007 world series champion <> pitched no-hitter against kansas city royals (7-0) on may 19, 2008

justin masterson <> right handed pitcher (starter) <> 23 years old <> drafted in 2nd round of 2005 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of san diego state university <> note: justin masterson was last recalled to boston to replace the then disabled clay buchholz <> masterson will likely be returned to aaa pawtucket just before the all-star break

clay buchholz <> right-handed pitcher (starter) <> 23 years old <> drafted in 1st round (42nd overall with 1st compensatory pick for loss of pedro martinez) of 2005 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of angelino college <> pitched no-hitter against baltimore orioles (10-0) on september 1, 2007 <> note: clay buchholz is currently pitching at aaa pawtucket due to full compliment of starting pitchers on the major league roster <> buchholz will likely be recalled to the red sox just before the all-star break

kevin youkilis <> first baseman <> 29 years old <> drafted in 8th round of 2001 amateur draft (by dan duquette) out of university of cincinatti <> 2004 and 2007 world series champion <> 2007 gold glove award winner <> holds major league record for consecutive errorless games at first base (238) <> selected as starting first baseman for 2008 american league all-star team <> note: in michael lewis' 2003 book moneyball: the art of winning an unfair game ... lewis refers to then red sox farmhand kevin youkilis as "euclis, the greek god of walks"

dustin pedroia <> second baseman <> 24 years old <> drafted in 2nd round of 2004 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of arizona state university <> 2007 world series champion <> 2007 american league rookie of the year <> selected as starting 2nd baseman for 2008 american league all-star team

jacoby ellsbury <> center fielder <> 24 years old <> drafted in 1st round (23rd overall) of 2005 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of oregon state university <> 2007 world series champion

brandon moss <> right fielder <> 24 years old <> drafted in 8th round of 2002 amateur draft (by mike port) out of loganville high school in loganville, georgia

jed lowrie <> shortstop <> 24 years old <> drafted in 1st round (45th overall with 2nd compensatory pick for loss of pedro martinez) of 2005 amateur draft (by theo epstein) out of stanford university <> note: jed lowrie is currently playing at aaa pawtucket due to a full compliment of infielders on the major league roster