Chisoxfn

I wish this thing moved quick, like the old conference call. That was a little too quick, but this isn't much better. It sounds like I'm lucky I'm at work as opposed to watching ESPN. If they were smart, they'd have all of the BA guys, plus Kyle Peterson and others who follow the college ranks. Singleton/Phillips aren't going to know much. Gammons adds value because he has his sources and can probably dig out some good dirt.

I'd like to point out that if Babe Ruth were trying to break into the majors today, he'd probably have a hell of a time making it. Scouts would have questioned his physical stature and he'd have never gotten drafted. In fact, you could probably say that about a good number of very very good pitchers from prior generations (pre gun days).

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jun 5, 2008 -> 11:46 AM) From what I have read, he is a serviceable SS, but nothing special. He has the arm and I think he has the ability to stick at SS.

I like Beckham so I have no issues. Would have loved Posey though. Either way, excited to have a guy like Beckham in the Sox system. Even after drafting Beckham, I still want Crawford (SS) from UCLA. I have a strategy of drafting boatloads of SS's because they are the best athletes out there and can always be converted to other positions. I'd also be thrilled if Danks fell, THRILLED.

In fact, I guarantee it will be the best coverage on the net. The only place you may get better coverage is right here on Soxtalk (as you'll be able to get the TCSN coverage, plus all the great discussion of the knowledgable Soxtalk community). I'm really excited for the draft and I'm hoping we can do an outstanding job covering things (I know I'm going to be in a conference part of the day, but I plan on putting up some analysis later on (and we have a few people who will be providing live analysis as the draft goes on).

QUOTE (Gregory Pratt @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 09:55 PM) Mantle never hit one 600 feet, and there's no story out there that he did. He is alleged to have hit one 564, but that is not true. Bill Jenkinson spoke to the person who found the ball, and he says that he found the ball, and walked away with it, but not all that far. When someone came to look for it, they assumed that where they found him was where the ball landed. Mantle's was over 500, but closer to 530 than 564. Nowhere near 600, and no one has ever hit it, although there is some speculation -- notably by Bill Jenkinson, who is the only authority on Distance Homeruns -- that Ruth hit one. So, Mantle was amazing, and so's Ruth and so's Thome. Interestingly, guys like Bonds and Sosa are not genuine tape-measure homerun hitter (Bonds has never hit one 500 feet, and Sosa's only 500 foot homeruns were with the wind blowing way out at Wrigley). I mean, they're both good homerun hitters enhanced by steroids, but they don't belong in the same class as these guys for distance: Ruth Williams Mantle Foxx Dick Allen Reggie Jackson Adam Dunn Kingman Thome Stargell Those are just guys off the top of my head who are very, very powerful hitters in terms of sheer distance, according to Jenkinson who has logged all homeruns and ranked power hitters by pure power. Interestingly, according to him, only Dick Allen has had comparable oppo-power to Ruth. You left off the most powerful HR hitter I've ever seen, Mark McGwire. That guy hit tape measure home run after tape measure home run. He was absolutely ridiculous.

Dan, thats exactly why I love Gibson. He has a tremendous arm, a plus secondary pitch and with a proper pitching coach I think you can turn him into a pretty good pro. He also has a great build. Plus, I don't think he'll end up going in the first round or two, which means there is a chance that he turns into a very good value pick (since guys with his arm/build don't usually grow on trees).

IF Posey is asking for 12 mill than this whole draft is f'd. That is a lot of guys asking for ridiculous bonuses.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 08:48 PM) Posey... eh, what's his potential, .285, 15-20 homers, good to great defense and he should walk a bit so a decent OBP. With the no. 8 pick I want someone with star potential and I don't think that guy is Posey. Give me Smoak. Posey could be the best catcher in baseball. I'd say his potential is pudge. He has all the physical tools to be a premiere defensive catcher all while hitting .300 with 20 HR power and good speed (for the first 10 or so years of his catching career). As far as I'm concerned, that is star potential. I'm not saying he turns into Pudge, but do you remember the impact Pudge had on games during his hay-day.

Harold is at a childs graduation.

Rex, just want to say thats an impressive accomplishment you've made and your definately headed in the right direction for your next goal. Keep up the amazing work!!!

Hell f***ing Ya

That was a good pitch Paulie just dropped the bat on it and hammered it.

They looked really happy. This was a bonding moment!!! Sox picked up Jenks for the blown save...WOOT WOOT.

That felt good...real good.

YES YES YES

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 06:15 PM) Well, if Beckham goes no. 1, then Posey falls to 5, IMO. The Giants won't pass on Posey. So, that leaves KC and Baltimore as the only real big threats to take Smoak, and it looks like Baltimore wants Matusz. Also, it looks like the only player KC would take ahead of Hosmer is Beckham. I really think that if Beckham goes no. 1 overall, there will be a good chance now that both Smoak and Crow will be there at 8. Man, that'd be a tough decision. I'm hoping Smoak goes 3 (Royals could have went with Alvarez at 3, but that doesn't look like it will happen unless Pitt shocks the world and doesn't take him) to the Royals, Hosmer than would go 5 to the Giants (they like Hosmer more than Posey I think) and than we'll see Posey quite possibly slide to 8. Its me hoping, but who knows.

Hosmer will go 3 or 5, book it. And him going 5 is the only shot Smoak falls to the Sox pick.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 12:49 PM) I'm still proud for being the sole person responsible for the Sox World Series victory. Whaa, you? Ummmm, *cough* ME *cough*

Danksy

Good god, if Buster Posey were to fall that would be tremendous. Hell, if we wanted to convert Posey to SS, he'd grade out above Beckham (thats how good of an athlete Posey is). I can't utter how excited I'd be if Posey fell into the Sox laps. Skipworth is the more likely candidate to fall though. Crow is not going to get past the Reds (despite all this talk about Kelly going there) just like Castro is not going to be taken by the White Sox.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 09:35 AM) Wasn't this Hochevar guy the #1 overall pick in like 2002 or so? The guy is very talented. Out of Tennessee if I recall correctly. He hasn't put it all together yet though and has definitely been susceptible to the long ball (based on the couple games I saw of him earlier in the season).

James OnCurry is not really considered a PG. If you consider him a PG, than Ben Gordon is a PG. In fact, Gordon is a much better PG than Curry (just think about that cause Gordon blows balls at everything but scoring). The best thing that will happen to this franchise is Gordon getting out of dodge. He's one of those all or nothing players I hate (similar to my distaste of Jim Thome). Ben Gordon coming off the bench is a valuable asset to a franchise, Ben Gordon the starter who gets a near max contract, is an absolute travesty and the Bulls need to let some other team deal with that mess (and they should be able to get something valuable back in return too).

Beast, so you know Loaiza signed. Its been reported in the Suntimes blog amongst other places.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 11:54 AM) I believe Riske was a class A free agent the one year, and we didnt offer him arb missing out on the picks. Had the Sox offered Riske arb, the Royals wouldn't have signed him to the deal they did and he probably would have accepted arbitration. Its the same reason why we won't offer Juan Uribe arb (as he's still got a chance of qualifying for type B compensation (1 pick).