Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Cali @ May 19, 2009 -> 05:02 PM) I'm smelling a big game for Beckham tonight.... It smells a bit like teen spirit.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 19, 2009 -> 04:59 PM) Neanderthals are actually not going to be a strong link between Homo-Sapiens and apes. Neanderthals were an offshoot, they were a line that broke off from the developing line and settled in Europe something like 100,000 years ago. They stayed confined to Europe until modern humans emerged from Africa about 30,000 years ago and then they rapidly disappeared. They may have been killed, there may have been some limited inter-breeding, but there's not going to be a "missing link" between those groups. In human evolution, there are lots of false starts...groups that diverged from whatever the main population was doing, evolved to some level on their own, and then died off. Neanderthals are one of them. There is also a long list of other species between modern humans and apes, much of which we can trace the lineage of through fossils. A sampling (not complete) is found in this graph. There are others beyond this. You said it so much better than I did.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 19, 2009 -> 04:47 PM) I thought "the missing link" we were looking for was between aps and neanderthals. or neanderthals and homosapian. Neanderthals and Homosapians are two different species that lived at the same time. Or at least that is the most popular theory.

QUOTE (Molto @ May 19, 2009 -> 01:41 PM) There was definitely more expectations for Wells. I don't like Poreda for his mechanics, others don't like him because he has only one pitch. In Wells case, he was right physically and had good stuff. Mentally was his issue, which a lot of the times you never know until they hit the majors. Cooper would have been a great fit for Wells.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 19, 2009 -> 01:37 PM) Nope, comparing Poreda to Wells, although I think the expectations for Kip were even higher, especially at that time period where even the likes of Snyder and Parque looked really good compared to 1998. I guess your thinking is that he is a sure-fire bust...well, only KW knows if that's the consensus viewpoint of the rest of the organization, but we certainly have to find another GM that believes the opposite of you with just as much conviction. With everything being so modernized, I'm sure they have diagnostic computerized simulation programs that can determine exactly the torque on the elbow and shoulder that any given motion produces. One would think they could smooth or straighten out his mechanics and maintain his velocity, unless that velocity resulted from performance-enhancing drugs, which we have no reason to believe. Oh and its not that easy to change someones delivery, not at all. Just a minor tweak is very difficult which is why the best thing most pitching coaches can do is play the mental game. Very few make very serious adjustments and if there were computer programs out there, I think we'd see arm injuries come to a shrieking halt.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 19, 2009 -> 01:37 PM) Nope, comparing Poreda to Wells, although I think the expectations for Kip were even higher, especially at that time period where even the likes of Snyder and Parque looked really good compared to 1998. I guess your thinking is that he is a sure-fire bust...well, only KW knows if that's the consensus viewpoint of the rest of the organization, but we certainly have to find another GM that believes the opposite of you with just as much conviction. With everything being so modernized, I'm sure they have diagnostic computerized simulation programs that can determine exactly the torque on the elbow and shoulder that any given motion produces. One would think they could smooth or straighten out his mechanics and maintain his velocity, unless that velocity resulted from performance-enhancing drugs, which we have no reason to believe. Kip was a much much better prospect than Poreda. He had a nice fastball and a big time curve ball. Poreda has a very poor delivery but it works and the biggest thing is the sinking action he gets on his fastball. Without the secondary stuff people are setting themselves up for dissapointment expecting much anything out of him as a starter.

Here's the top end guys that Boras is currently set to represent: Stephen Strasburg - RHP - SDSU Dustin Ackley - OF - UNC (starting to play CF) Nick Green - SS - USC Donovan Tate - OF - Georgia (High School) James Paxton - LHP - Kentucky Andy Oliver - LHP - Oklahoma State Jacob Turner - RHP - High School (one of the top 5 prep pitchers in the draft)

You have to wonder if people don't like his stuff as much because of the fact that he doesn't feature the good fastball and is already so developed or if its really because his other pitches aren't that good. I've seen him pitch and he made guys look ridiculous in college. Not in the Strausburg sense but he still had a great handle of things and his velocity is good enough. I'd say he's a more complete version of Broadway as opposed to McCulloch and I expect him to be off the draft board when the Sox pick. Not a power pitcher but a shot to be a #2 or #3 and that ain't bad. I probably pass on him though if he was around at 23, but it depends on what else is out there.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 19, 2009 -> 01:41 PM) I think I'm officially in the boat for A.J. Pollock at pick no. 23. I love going college pitching, but I also love Pollock a lot. If the projectable lefties are gone, I take Pollack and than go heavy on the high upside, more raw pitchers that will be available in rounds 2-6.

More Stuff from BA, relating to a guys the Sox have been linked to (more through speculation than anything else, but mocks have had these guys as potential Sox targets): And below is why I'm excited to have the supplemental and additional 2nd round pick's:

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 19, 2009 -> 01:07 PM) Anyone know who the MVP of the Cape Cod League was last year? Pretty sure it was USC SS, Grant Green. He's not lived up to expectations this year and I've heard talk of him falling on draft boards but there's still a few teams considering him in the top 5 and Pads at #3 have been linked to his name a lot as they apparently are planning on going cheap in the draft.

An interesting couple bullet points from BA:

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 19, 2009 -> 12:58 PM) Would love to hear your ideas about where we're going to get two front-line starters between now and the start of the 2010 season? Contreras and Colon will be gone...Danks is looking (for now) like his late 2007 version before they shut him down and Floyd is abysmal. Let's say Floyd becomes a serviceable 5 starter and Danks a 3 starter and Buehrle doesn't ever show signs of wear and tear or go down with injury for the first time in his career...we still have to find a 1-2 starter and a 4. Richard or Poreda might be the 4. Might. The 4 can be found, but the 1-2 guy that Danks was the second half and Floyd for much of the first half...well, they just don't grow on trees. Why the heck do they need two front of the rotation starters? Danks and Floyd are the guys, like it or not, the Sox have to hope they pan out cause if not, than the whole rotation is a mess. Buehrle fits as well, so your talking about 2 spots and no, moving Jenks or Thornton isn't an option. Jenks makes way too much and all your doing is risking him losing his value or getting hurt and Thornton doesn't have the skill-set to start. Find one starter via FA, hope you can acquire another starter and than slowly get Hudson added to the mix, but the reality is you don't sit around and wait casue the Sox don't have any starting pitching prospect that you can just pencil into the rotation for the next 5 years.

If the Sox want to spend the money on him in the 2nd round he'd be a great pick and I'd also have no problem with him with our compensatory pick but my guess is there is a decent shot he's there with our pick in the 2nd round. Sox will have to be willing to spend though and maybe give him late 1st round money. Pre-injury he was regarded as potentially the top prep catcher in what is considered a strong catching class.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 19, 2009 -> 12:43 PM) I really wish they'd keep Getz leading off. He's likely to go back up, where as Pods is likely to head back down, in terms of performance. This should take a lot of pressure of Getz though and allow him to actually develop. In fact, I love this move and I think the Sox should hold him down there two or three weeks, no matter how bad Pods is doing.

Lets snap the losing streak, start a winning streak, and make my blow this s*** up thread something we can all laugh about a few months from now.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 19, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) I don't see any team in the Central being so awesome the next few years that the White Sox need to go into full rebuilding. I wouldn't trade guys you wouldn't mind having around in 2010. There's no need to trade Thornton. I would probaby trade Linebrink or Jenks but not both. Dotel should be shopped because he won't be here next year. Konerko is limited because of his contract and his no trade. If you were to deal him, you wouldn't get much back. Same with Thome and Dye. You can't trade AJ until Flowers can show he can catch 130 games defensively and not kill you. Fields will get you nothing. What about trading Ramirez? He's signed cheaply, has shown a big bat in the past and you have Beckham waiting in the wings. As far as all the guys on the Barons. It would be great if they all panned out, but chances are one or two or maybe 3 actually will. I wouldn't want to base the entire future of the franchise on them just yet. Awesome post Dick and I completely agree with you that there is no reason you can't trade some vets and still compete next year just because of the state of the AL Central.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ May 19, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) Betemit's history is comparable to Weeks before this yr I guess without saying it I was meaning for a strong team in need of 2b EDIT: actually no Betemit minus one year has always been totally allergic to walks as opposed to partially allergic. Rickie Weeks was a top draft pick and widely regarded as a top prospect. Betemeit was also widely regarded as a top prospect, however, Weeks still is seen as much more of an everyday player and he finally looked like he was going to play towards his ceiling but than he got hurt. Oh and if the Brewers traded Weeks they would have wanted a lot for him. So no, they don't have the same trade value. Nix you'll get an A baller or something, Betemeit you might not get anything (he's got a decent size contract), and Getz has some value but he's much more valuable to the Sox.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ May 19, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) you don't think they're underachieving? i'm not saying they're going to turn it around and end up above .500 at the end of the year, i'm merely pointing out what would happen if they completely blew it all up and went with all league-minimum players it would be unbearable even compared to what we're currently watching I'll just say that in two of the last three years I've seen a lifeless team. Last year we didn't see that because there were some more vocal guys and those guys were shipped out. Of course they are better than they've been the last 10 days and I've said in my big blow-up post that June 1st was the date to make the decision because you can't ignore injuries and the fact that this is a very winnable division but what makes me concerned is the way they are losing. I still buy Getz/Ramirez/Quentin as good to above average major leaguers.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ May 19, 2009 -> 09:44 AM) Despite their struggles this season, Danks/Floyd both can be front of the rotation guys. Plus Poreda/Harrel/Hudson/Carter/Infante/Upchurch are all legit prospects, that being said I dont care what position he plays, I draft best player available. Oh I agree about the rotation, I still think the Sox have three solid guys, two of which are young already in there rotation. The problem is of that group you listed, Infante/Upchurch are very raw, Hudson looks good and is the most advanced in terms of a starter, Harrel probably doesn't have big league starters stuff, and Carter is a bit behind Hudson, but again looks promising. Poreda has a big arm, but probably a reliever. I don't know if any project as potential front of the rotation guys and you need to really make sure you always have an influx since pitching prospects flame out at a pretty high rate.

This is awesome.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2009 -> 01:43 PM) The dominance that Nolan had on the game for a significant period of time is lost in all of the walk/strike out/IP/hits arguments. Watching the guy pitch, and the task that a hitter had trying to get to the guy, is what I look at. I'd put the guy above Pedro and Johnson, but below Maddux personally. Pedro could rate higher, but his durability sets him back from the other three. Pedro is the greatest pitcher of the past twenty years and he did most of his best work on some horrible teams. Maddux is second. If Ryan had the command of either of them, he hands down would have been the greatest to every pitch the game and he had some of the best pure stuff and obviously one of the rubberest arms ever.

QUOTE (Cali @ May 18, 2009 -> 09:25 PM) But unlike Josh, Danks is hitting .315 and getting on base at a .394 clip... And hasn't even played one full professional season.

QUOTE (OilCan @ May 18, 2009 -> 09:36 PM) Guys and gals...is it just me, or do the Sox REALLY need on getting an OF with their first round selection??? Let's just say that in the next three to five years, our lineup could be something like... C Flowers 1b Allen 2b Beckham SS Ramirez 3B Viciendo LF Quentin CF Danks RF ?????? Gartrell? Retherford?!?!?!? Shelby? DH Fields(???) Unless I'm missing someone or something, the Sox do need to add some more quality bats, otherwise they will have to trade just to fill an OF hole and potentially the DH/3B and/or even 1B depending on if the Sox DH' either Tank or Bo II. Thoughts or am I drinking too much Shiner Bock again??? You are seriously ignoring the rotation, where the Sox still lack potential front of the rotation starters.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ May 18, 2009 -> 09:25 PM) Let's turn this already unwatchable team into something even more unwatchable. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't unload some guys, but some of these threads are hilarious. Let's dump every guy with a salary above league-minimum, and create something even more hideous. You want the Chicago Nationals? Well, at least they have Adam Dunn. Dumping Konerko, Thome, Dye, Thornton, Dotel, Jenks, Linebrink, AJ, leaves us with holes to fill (with most likely unready players) at: 1B DH RF C We're already sitting at question marks at 3B, SS, 2B, CF That leaves us with a question mark at every starting position. It also completely annihilates our bullpen, which stands behind an already horses*** starting rotation (I'm looking at you Clayton "1:1 strikes-to-balls" Richard and Gavin "I left my balls in Maryland" Floyd) At least we have a corner outfielder who, hopefully, might be good and would ..maybe, resign with the blown-up firesale Chicago Whitesox, who won't be competitive for what could be a decade, easily I wouldn't spend a dime on tickets to watch a terrible prospect-laden baseball team fight it out for 4th place for the next 5-6 years, and that's a generous time estimate Just to point out, the current lineup has lost quite a few games in a row.