NorthSideSox72

1. The thread title wasn't created by SoxTalk mods, or FutureSox staff. It was poorly written yes, and then fixed by Mods - so they did exactly what they should do. How is that a reason to bash FutureSox? 2. FutureSox rarely "breaks" news outside of little stuff specific to the minors, and only goes beyond that when information is confirmed and very high confidence. The track record is there for all to see. This was not FutureSox, it was someone who (among other things in his life) also is with FutureSox. 3. Mike Rankin has better connections in baseball than about 99% of the people here. So if he's getting information, it may not end up being true (even Rosenthal is wrong sometimes), but if forced to bet, I'm a buyer. He's never been one to just throw stuff out there for funsies. He has a source. Time will tell if it's correct. 4. FutureSox did not report on Wheeler going to the Sox by Thanksgiving. I have no idea where that is coming from. 5. Glass houses, Steve.

For the record, I think this name change idea is stupid and dumb. They've pissed off their biggest contributors to free marketing, and it was a damn cool name anyway.

For those of you who joined FutureSox on Patreon, we have your first bonus content: James goes deep on 2nd round pick possibilities for the Sox, and also a look at a potential shift in their overall draft strategy. Get it here. If you haven't signed up, you should! $2 a month to help keep FutureSox creating great content, plus you get the occasional members-only reward. Upcoming we've got Q&A sessions, exclusive video, and open mic for interview questions. Sign up here.

Seen him pitch a couple times in A-ball, at each level. Didn't look like a major leaguer to me and he was already old for level. He's had some recent success, maybe he added something, I don't know.

I don't think EV's are going to be any heavier - you add battery and take away engine etc. Any difference would be negligible anyway. But I agree, the gas tax concept starts to fail as more EV's hit the road.

I mean, do you really want that? If you want a photo of my pale, hairy chest while wearing a swimsuit I can arrange that.

Thank you!

I left my role as EIC at FutureSox a few months ago, but in the background I've been helping with a couple "special projects". This is one of them. In order to attract and retain our writing talent (which I personally think is the best and deepest in the Sox blogosphere), to allow for more in-person coverage, and to help us move to the Next Phase, I have helped FutureSox set up their first Patreon page. The details and link are here. Please give that a read, and consider our request. I think it is a high-value proposition for a tiny amount of money, and I know the people who are moving forward with FS will very much appreciate your support. Thank you!

I give no passes for their performance overall. What I am saying is, Brennan is a non-issue and the kind of thing that happens to all teams on a regular basis, with the Sox being on the flipside at times as well.

Thyago HAS shown filthy stuff at times. He didn't last year. It happens, like I said. The Sox have done this with pitchers they bring in at least as often as ones they have lost. Anyway, I'll say once more, wait until July. And furthermore this Brennan thing isn't an issue to me. I can name a whole bunch of other things that concern me about this front office, and a bunch of player examples that went badly, but Brennan wouldn't make my list. When he was picked, everyone was puzzled. What you are stuck in here is revisionist history. Now if you want to talk about OVERALL success in player development with the Sox (or lack thereof), I'm right on board. The Sox have done poorly, period.

That is part of it I think, but honestly it is always hard to seperate injury issues from performance issues. Hard to make the case it was a thing for 3 years, but maybe? No idea. He was a TJS survivor upon arriving with the Sox.

Meanwhile, guys who throw triple digits and has some filthy stuff are ones you always take a shot at. And I'd take a Vieira over a Brennan every single time. Out of 100 times, 20 Vieira's will work out, and like 2 Brennans.

lol GMAB 10 other guys just like him. With Minaya or Brennan there was no one who saw either as more than filler anyway. And between those two, knowing what and who they are, Minaya is the easy choice to keep because he's likely to be able to get some outs here and there at the MLB level. If you want to talk 10 guys, there are 10 actual prospects who needed protection this past winter that I would have protected over Brennan. Sometimes a prospect clicks with a change of scenery. That doesn't necessarily mean the previous team screwed up (though sometimes it does). And again, get back to me in a few months. I think the frustration with the team (which I am totally on board with) is making people overreact to some pretty silly things. Not one person on SoxTalk or anywhere else did I see be upset about leaving Brennan unprotected. Hell when he was taken in the R5 there were a crapload of people around the Sox and overall prospect sites who said "WTF?". Baseball America's JJ Cooper did his usual R5 preview with like 75 players and Brennan never was even considered for it, he later said.

He was also a 27-year-old who needed 3 seasons in AA to find success at that level. Who would you have removed from the 40-man to keep him this past winter? I understand it is frustrating to lose talent, but let's keep the full picture in mind.

My AAP thread on him All articles on FutureSox discussing him

Brennan was a guy I had as an "Adopt A Prospect", so I know a little about the guy. I've seen him pitch, I even interviewed him some years ago. The reality is the guy came into the system with interesting stuff (mid-90s sinker, slider that showed promise) but repeatedly struggled with command, and injuries, and re-tooling of his arsenal. His stuff in the upper levels never really indicated future MLB success. So this one, I really don't mind it. In fact I am skeptical that he keeps it up. Let's see how he is doing come July. Is it possible the Mariners saw something the Sox didn't, had him make a change or two and now he's playable? Sure. The Sox have done that with pitchers successfully too. More often than I've seen it the other way around in fact. It just doesn't bother me I guess.

We know because of insider sources. I've never once seen a team rep quoted saying it.

What honestly shocks me is a White Sox rep saying on record (even if unnamed) that the agreement is in place. That's frowned upon and technically against the rules, although all teams do it.

I've done the Vatican - it is the only one on the list I've been to. Lux is the one I am least excited about, as others have said something similar - that it just isn't all that different from other places around it.

The AAA roster is an eclectic mix, including a lot of AAAA guys. But there are also Cease, Collins, Zavala, Stephens and some other significant prospects who all could see MLB in 2019. Read about the Knights here.

The AA squad should be the biggest prospect show in the Sox minors in 2019. Even when some of them graduate, the likes of Robert and Madrigal should arrive soon too. Read all about the Barons in this preview.

He has a minor injury, says he will be assigned to Winston-Salem when he's ready which should be soon.

Both were re-added to the 60-day DL. So neither will pitch in a game until at least June. Davis had a knee injury and surgery, then a new arm problem but I am not sure the nature of it. Diaz I have no idea, the guy is just always hurt. It was a shoulder thing at one point.

If you want my honest opinion, I think those are both pretty terrible. Seems really forced. A good nickname is never searched for, it just kinda happens.

I made exactly that case in this article. Forgetting the moral or legal aspects, I tried to illustrate that it was just plain smart business to invest more in their future players.