Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:42 PM) So OC continues this the rest of the year...you're Kenny...what do you do? Or is OC just auditioning for another team...or a probable return to LA? I still dont' think the Sox have a capable SS on the roster or at least not one of Cabrera's quality. If I can get him to sign a 2 or 3 year deal (with an option year) I'd do it. Ramirez is cheap and can play 2nd (or adjust to SS) and I still think the Sox try to adjust or move one or two of Dye/Konerko/Thome (which clears plenty of cap room) for some more guys they like (as they continue to try and transition a bit, while still trying to win (ie, retool). I really like Cabrera though so I'm a bit biased. I also like Furcal a hell of a lot, but he's going to get a lot more money (he's a better player too, but he has a much more checkered past in terms of "health").

OC is raking.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) There's no chance Crede can be a Type A. I'm 99% sure thats the case, the only way possible would be if they ignored his 07 season (but I'm 99.9% sure they don't do that). He is pretty much a lock for Type B though (which is still pretty solid, assuming of course the Sox are willing to take guys slotted to go in the 2nd round as opposed to trying to get cheap if they end up having a couple early picks).

Alexi with another single, goes right back up the middle and Dye scores, Swisher to 3rd, Ramirez takes 2nd on the throw. AWESOME. I'm loving Alexi.

QUOTE (JFields27 @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 05:35 PM) I think he could get that Type A compensation, but it also depends on who else is in that compensation group does it not. I dont see a deal striked for Crede as he seems to go with Boras, no matter if he likes it here unless he can pull a Kenny Rogers. Fields has looked bad in the minors but no doubt I think he can play in between that .250-.280 range and people will look over it if hes hitting those homeruns, but thats just how people look at it. I don't think it has to do with who is FA, rather just how you rank amongst the players at your position throughout baseball. Elias is the rating agency that is used.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 05:32 PM) He is only 19 years old playing against pitchers like El Duque and Contreras. He played 3 season en Cuba not 4. Watch out for misleading facts in the american media guys! He can be a 3B. Remember, Alexei is 26 years old. This kid is only 19. His agent will sell him as a SS to exploit the fact that Yunel Escobar (utility in Cuba), Yuni Betancourt (2B in Cuba) and Alexei (CF in Cuba) are holding SS or will hold (Alexei) SS positions in MLB in a very short time after defecting. The Braves sign a lot of cuban players. The Yanks and the Mets will probably make a run at him. I hope the Nats, however, sign him. If I knew hot to upload videos to youtube, I will show him to you. Out of curiosity, how come the Nats? Is that the team you follow or do you feel that is the best place for him to make an immediate impact? In terms of Ramirez, I still think the Sox grade him out more as a 2B/CF and will consider resigning OC to a 2 or 3 year deal while Beckham (#8 overall pick in this week's Amateur Draft) develops to take over at SS. To me what makes this guy so appealing his the combination of his skills and age.

QUOTE (JFields27 @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 05:21 PM) alright im fine with that .. and i dont really feel like freaking out about Fields, but for you what would be the signs of Crede staying with the sox. Is KW and JR gonna tell their Boras messageboy to go work out a contact, or do you expect him to be traded by 8/31, or actually keep him for this run and get a draft pick for him where we have to give more money to that 1st round player(buts its not really worth getting into that) The only way the Sox would trade Joe Crede is if they got a tremendous offer (which involved players that in Kenny's eyes made the club better "this year") or if Josh Fields make some huge adjustment to his swing and just started absolutely destroying in the minors (again they would also need to get a good offer for Joe). Otherwise, assuming Joe has a good year, I think they will make a fair offer to Joe (it won't be the best offer on the table and its going to be a take it or leave it type of deal). I truly think Joe likes playing here and the Sox have a very good relationship with him and at the end of the day there is a better than average chance that they work things out. Otherwise, I anticipate the Sox offering him arbitration and getting Type B compensation for him (I find it unlikely that he'll be able to garnish Type A compensation, unless somehow they don't factor in his 07 season since it was due to injury). In terms of Fields, I really feel the Sox have soured on him and I will not be surprised if the club moves him (of course if Crede goes, obviously Fields would have a starting spot and I'd do nothing but root like hell for him to live up to his potential). Josh does have the potential to be a .280, 30-35HR 3rd baseman. However, that is dependent on him cutting down his swing and I don't know if he'll be able to do that. Which is why I project him more in the .250 range.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:19 PM) I was watching the Georgia game today and the announcer said Beckham was going to play in the minors as soon as Georgia is done with there season. He will report to minor league camp as soon as Georgia's season is done and the Sox sign him. The Sox have yet to sign him and while I'm sure they've had initial conversations there could be a bit of a process until he signs. He has until August 15th to sign (otherwise he goes back to Georgia and re-enters the draft next year) and he'll likely report to Kanny or Winston Salem within a couple days of signing.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 05:17 PM) If that happens, I am ready to say this is a playoff-caliber team. Yesterday, I officially decided that this team is a really good team. The offense will have its slumps (a team which is extra relient on power and has few "average" hitters will have them), but the rotation is very good as is the pen and defense and those type of teams tend to stay out of extended slumps (W/L's). Injuries can obviously effect anything but right now I feel as good about the Sox as I do any team in major league baseball and I'm convinced they are here to stay and they have the ability to make some heavy noise if they make it into the post-season and are playing good at that time.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:03 PM) Ratliff's homers last night = bomb Yep, Castro hit a HR too. The guy pitching for Stanford looked very good (seemed to really mix his pitches in and had a nasty breaking ball). Yanks took him in the supplemental and he looks like that prototypical lefty.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:15 PM) Paulie showing some glove last few games too. And he's had some good swings. If he and Swisher are both on the way out of there funks, it will be huge for the offense. Swisher is really looking good too lately.

QUOTE (JFields27 @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 04:11 PM) i always seem to find all the Fields hate posts coming from you .... It is because he is ridiculously over-rated. Yes, he hit for power in his debut with the White Sox last season. However, he has massive holes in his swing and is only a decent defensive 3rd baseman. Crede is much better than him and I'd prefer to trade a guy like Fields while he's still rated as a top prospect. Josh Fields has a lot of things wrong with his game which will prevent him from reaching his upside. I'm not saying Crede doesn't have his faults, but you can probably swing Fields for a top prospect elsewhere (or a good young player whose already established in a package) and I wouldn't be shocked if the Sox do that. I've also been pretty consistent about Fields from the beginning. At the major league level he'll hit .250, with 160+ strikeouts and I'm not a fan of those type of guys (I have seen no adjustments to his swing to make me believe he'll be able to fix the holes that cause all those k's either, which also make it very unlikely that he'll hit for much of an average). So essentially, he's a one tool hitter (power) whose rated as one of the better prospects in all of baseball (and thats the type of guy that I think's trade value exceeds his actual value, therefor, you move him).

Sox are going to find a way to extend Crede and they'll trade Fields. Crede is so much better than Fields.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 03:43 PM) From what I have read, he is very athletic and I think he could even play a little LF if needed be. For his size he has solid athletism and he probably could end up handling LF (he'd have a strong arm for a LFer). However, who knows how his body will fill as he ages (he's already built like an olineman) and if he slows down any more you'd be talking about a guy with little range in left (that said, El Caballo found a way to handle left, even if he isn't that good). Regardless, if Long is going to make it it will be because he can flat rake (and hit 40 plus HR's).

No problemo. To echo what BearSox said, scouts grade him out as a 1st baseman and pitcher. He throws in the 90's and is considered projectable as a pitcher. However, he's so raw that I think it is more beneficial to use him as a hitter. Plus, while he has a good arm, he possesses as good of power potential as anyone in the draft and I think thats why at the end of the day if he did sign you'd put him at 1B. The problem is he is a comitted to Florida State and every indication is that he will be going to FSU unless he gets 1st round money (which mean it would take at least 1-2M to sign him and even if the Sox offered that who knows if he would sign). Still, the Sox have until August 15th to negotiate and if Long signs he'd become the #1 power prospect in the Sox system (I'd actually compare him a bit to Chris Carter, whom the Sox traded to the Dbacks for Carlos Quentin).

My Titans have there backs to the wall. They had a couple spots in yesterdays game that could have gotten them the extra run or two they would have needed to pull out the win. Now they got to win 2 straight against a good Cardinal squad.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 02:59 PM) I am not seeing any ridiculous numbers. I believe those stats were compiled over 3-4 seasons. Reading comprehension is a skill I have not mastered. I was thinking he put those numbers up in one season (hence why I was like holy s***, those are ridiculous numbers). Over 4 seasons those are much more pedestrian and that means if you were going to sign him, you'd be talking much more in line with a 1.5 to 3M bonus (probably close to 2M). Again that assumes he become a FA and it doesn't appear that will happen.

This is a big game, its a 4 game set and while we are all flying high following yesterday's win, Hernandez is on the mound and has pitched very well against the Sox. Hopefully the Sox bats take a good approach and go opposite field on his junk and Buehrle can put together back to back positive games and pick up a win. I'm predicting a big win tonight with Buehrle dealing and the offense doing a real nice job hammering out a boatload of hits.

Baseball America has a piece up about this. They have some quotes from scouts who indicate he has a big body type and that as he's put on the pounds his defensive ability has degressed. The scouts quoted seemed to indicate he would eventually slide to 1st base. It does sound like he has a lot of power potential, but it also sounds like he will be eligible for the 2009 draft, which means he won't be a free agent. Since he was in the US in May, Torres is going to have to convince baseball that he was eligible for the draft. However, since the draft sends an eligibility list to all teams and Torres name wasn't on it, it doesn't seem like Torres was eligible or the 08 draft (which means he'll have to wait a full season till he gets drafted). http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=1141

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 03:15 PM) haha missed that. BA compared him to a Cuban player that SF signed recently for $2.1 million. So if the Sox want this guy be prepared to sign him for over $2 million. Highly doubt the Sox make an attempt. Depending on the confirmation of scouts, I would think he'd command similar money to what the top picks in this years draft commanded (if not a bit more, since he'll have be able to leverage multiple teams into larger offers). The report in the article, which is probably biased to an extent (and that includes Torres quotes), makes him sound like a very talented invidual (with the ability to turn into a super-star). Again, I have no idea whether scouts would agree with the article, but if they did, you sign him and all of a sudden between Danks/Vicideo/Beckham you've added three big time guys to your system (all of which are "toolsy"). If the Sox really wanted to, they could really make a statement, throwing out a 1-2M to Danks, 1-2M to Long, 1M to the guy from Alabama, 2-5M to Beckham (I assume it will take something along those lines), and 2-5M to Viciedo. Of course we are talking about the potential of 14M in one draft (which really is a decent chunk of money to invest). Personally I've long said I'd have no problem budgeting a draft with about 10M every year (because I think it would allow you to have at least a few above slot signings, plus any money that you don't use on the draft, you pool up into the international market and spend it on other guys; if you don't spend the money, than you bank it and apply it to another year in case a really good crop of international guys is on the market).

Holy s***, those are some ridiculous numbers. This guy sounds like a guy that if signed, would immediately be one of the best prospects in all of baseball. Heck, you could make a case if he was eligible for the draft that he would have went #1 overall. I'm guessing you are talking about a double digit signing bonus (ie, a 10M bonus, if not a bit more). I'd personally have no problem giving him a 2-5M bonus and have him enter into the minor leagues, especially if the scouts agree with the assessment, but I don't know if the Sox will spend that sort of money on an international player (Ramirez was there first major international signing (well for that sort of money), but they have had very good success with Cuban players (Jose, El Duque (to a lesser extent), and Ramirez (looks good so far).

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 03:03 PM) Jamie Torres is his agent? Think he is also the agent of Count and Alexei, so if that's the case, looks like the Sox would have a good shot at him if they spend the money. Ya, Cubano indicated in his initial post that Torres is the same agent as Count and Alexi and that hopefully the good relationship with Torres could allow the Sox to have a solid shot at this Cuban kid.

Cool stuff. Has there been any indication of whether MLB will declare him a free agent or is he going to have to get his paperwork through a 3rd country first?

Will the Sox Buck the "Slot" Trend By Jason Gage Chisport.com When it comes to the MLB Amatuer Draft, The Chicago White Sox are a franchise known for following Bud Selig’s “slot” requirements. Slot requirements are essentially the recommended bonus for the pick/round a player is selected. This policy is something I’ve long blasted the White Sox for following. The reality is too many large market teams don’t follow the policy (Dodgers, Angels, Cubs (see Jeff Samardzija), Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers. This going above slot money, enables teams to land additional “talent” and the reality is the job of the scout is to fill your system with as many “talented” individuals as possible and than play the odds game (which involves player development and a little luck) to see who develops into legit prospects. Great player development counts for something, but on top of that, the ability to provide your development people with an extra 2-4 “impact” players (top 250 prospects) enables a system over a three year span to have an extra 6-12 potential “impact players”. Considering many teams struggle to have even 5-10 legitimate prospects, those extra 2-4 guys can make a huge difference. Selecting outfielder Jordan Danks out of the University of Texas was an indication of the Sox bucking there “slot” trend. Jordan, the younger brother of starter John Danks, was expecting to go somewhere between the late 1st and 2nd rounds but instead slid to the 8th round. Rumors indicated his slide was due to Danks’ agent, Scott Boras, informing teams that he would not sign for anything but 1st round money. However, the White Sox, who drafted Jordan out of high school, have a very good relationship with the family, and felt confident that they would be able to work out a deal with Jordan. Negotiations still have to take place, but people close to the White Sox and Danks believe a deal will be worked out. Assuming a deal is worked out, by going above slot money (my guess is it will take 2nd round money to sign Danks), the White Sox will be getting a 2nd round talent using an 8th pick. In addition to Danks, the White Sox selected a few more “impact” players late, including Stephen Upchurch (RHP, BA’s #1 HS Prospect in Alabama), and Kyle Long (Howie Long’s son, who is very raw, but has 1st round potential). How agressive the White Sox negotiations end up being with those high ceiling, above-slot, picks is yet to be seen. However, with a system devoid of talent, turning latter round picks into top picks, is a great way to quickly rebuild the minor league system.

Whoops. Same draft though at least. Either way I could give two s***s if you want to take someone's kid in the 40th round. I have buddies that got drafted late in the game and I was better than them (it was just a matter that we all worked with a scout and the scout knew that these guys would actually sign (and they just wanted bodies). And no, I am not even close to good enough to be capable of playing in the minors (nor were these guys). In fact, they wouldn't dominate a softball league.