Chisoxfn

Hypothetical question. If the Sox had the shot to draft Strausberg, do you feel the organization would take him? I know a lot of people are giving the Nationals flack for maybe not taking the consensus #1 pick due to Boras demanding a $50M bonus, but would the White Sox take him and would you take him? The guy profiles to be a front of the rotation starter and could immediately jump into your rotation. Most scouts have already said that Strausberg would immediately be the Nationals #1 pitcher. While I don't know if he'll make the jump that easily, his stuff is just awe dropping and he seems to have a very nice delivery, but injuries can easily get in the way of a pitcher and I'll be honest, I'd feel more comfortable giving $50M guaranteed to an offensive prospect coming out of the draft than a pitching prospect because health plays a much larger role in a pitchers success. I also feel, in fact, pretty much guarantee, that the White Sox would not draft Strausburg and I don't think they would be the only organization that would pass on him. And this alone leads me to another point, MLB needs to allow the trading of draft picks or at least the trading of early round selections. The Nationals clearly don't have the financial ability to truly put all that money in Strausburg (they still might) but shouldn't they have the option to utilize there leverage and make a deal with the Yanks, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc and get another teams pick plus prospects? Lets make draft picks chips. Maybe throw in a limit to how many picks you can actually trade or something if baseball is overly concerned, but at least allow some mobility of picks because it will better allow the best players to go early in the draft and will also enable small market teams to have a bit more success because they can get something for moving down and taking the "signability" selection.

Pollack is another college guy that grades out similarly that I prefer, but you'll see a lot of people debating whose the better player, Pollack or Wheeler.

Fullerton back into BA's top 5 after winning 7 in a row prior to a loss on Sunday. That included 2 of 3 @ Cal Poly this weekend. That would have been #12 Cal Poly. UCI still holds the #1 spot for an umteenth consecutive week. f*** yes Big WEST!!!. UCLA has 4 more left, including 3 games against UCLA.

My buddies were at the game and said he was ridiculous.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 9, 2009 -> 12:13 PM) So apparently I was sleep walking last night and put ice cream sandwiches down my pants. Whaaa?

QUOTE (fathom @ May 10, 2009 -> 10:36 AM) Trying to show the fans a return on the Javy trade. Thats Gilmore and Flowers.

QUOTE (moragasoxfan @ May 9, 2009 -> 10:00 PM) Aaron said that his back was stiff the whole game. He was told that he would just have to "sack up" and keep pitching. It probably explains why he was up in the zone so much. He was struggling with command of his FB the whole game, but he kept getting out of trouble. He thought he could do it one more time in the 7th. Glad to see he was able to battle through and that 7th should be a good learning experience for him. Also, thanks for the info!

I've seen some reports that are quite down on Wheeler and say that fundementally he's just a wreck, but he's supposed to have a good bit of ability. Although there are already a couple prospects listed on this forum that I like more than Wheeler. That said, you get him with anything other than your first rounder and I'd be happy.

RIP

Please don't compare Shelby and Cook.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 8, 2009 -> 04:01 PM) Looking at his stats in the minors, I see what Caulfield is saying...his numbers don't stand out at any level until 2007-2008 when he started repeating AAA. He didn't seem particularly young for any level, didn't skip any, etc. So what exactly was it that sold people on him? Give you an example: In 2004 he hit .213 in his first stint at AA and he was still ranked the next year as the Rockies #9 prospect. He had a good year in High A ball in 2003, had an .826 OPS, but it seems like a lot of people can do that and don't get ranked in BA's top 100. What was it that kept him moving upwards? Someone has to have liked something about Nix. The raw tools.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 8, 2009 -> 03:56 PM) .261 .332 .415 747 OPS Those are his CAREER minor league averages over 8 seasons. Throw in 10-15 stolen bases, that's a bottom 3rd major league CFer in terms of numbers. Now if Brian Anderson could hit .260 with a 330 OBP, that would be great, but Nix has no experience in CF, and just because he made a "good" play in RF doesn't mean he has the ability to just start playing CF with the White Sox. If they're really sold on Getz/Beckham/Ramirez up the middle, then fine, but it's just as logical to think that Josh Fields might need a replacement. Of course, Nix at 3B is going to be below average offensively, and he won't give you the stolen base totals that Figgins does, nor will he give you a high OBP. I didn't say thats what I would do, but I would definately be trying to get him at bats. I think they should see if he can play SS and than move Ramirez to CF. However, the Sox think Ramirez can be a special defensive shortstop and if thats the case than its Nix that would have to move. And Nix offensive upside might be a whole lot better than Anderson. I'm also not at all saying that he'd be as good defensively as Anderson, but he might be solid. He'd of course have to hit very well to stay, but right now, with the what teh Sox are currently running out in CF, I would consider it.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 8, 2009 -> 03:30 PM) Ugh, stop finding ways to put Lillibridge in the freaking lineup. Alexei to CF makes too much sense for it to actually happen. You might see Alexei in CF, but I think we'll probably see Nix in CF a bit too (short-term) as the Sox realize how good his bat might be. Defensively he's legit too. He might be a .280-.300 hitter with 20 HR power from an up the middle position (SS/2B/CF). Everyone might ask me, well tahn how did the Sox pick him up so easily, and I'd say that his career was languishing and he happened to make an adjustment just prior to joining the Sox last season and since than his career looks back to when he was one of the better infield prospects in baseball.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 8, 2009 -> 03:05 PM) I'm a big fan of Rex Brothers, but I think he might be a top 10 pick come next month. He's all over the boards but I've seen some places say he'll go supplemental, others saying he's a lock to go top 10. Regardless it seems like he's moving to be a lock to go top 15, but the Sox aren't too far out of that range that maybe they get lucky. He's definately putting it all together at the right time though. A month ago and he's probably still a borderline first rounder, more likely a second rounder.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ May 8, 2009 -> 02:32 PM) Someone should do a profile on LSU's Jared Mitchell, he's a really intriguing outfielder, potential 5 tool-er with speed to burn (also plays WR at LSU). He strikes out a little too much but does walk at a decent rate and could be available when we pick. If you know a bit about him, how about giving it a shot?

BA mentioned him in a piece today:

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 8, 2009 -> 09:23 AM) Your C description sounds like exactly what they did with Dubler, but he struggled mightily at Bristol, before turning it on a bit at the end. I was thinking he'd be in Kanny this year, since there is no real C prospect on that squad, but I guess they think Kevin needs more Rookie ball work after last year's cold start. I assume he goes to GF. Not sure how catching prospects came into the convo, but I really want Bailey if he's there with our 2nd pick. He's out for the year but anytime you can get the top prep catching prospect in what is considered a strong catching prospect draft I consider it a good thing. And this is because I don't necessarily think its a bad idea to have a 2nd top catching prospect in the system, given that we really don't know if Flowers will be able to stick.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 7, 2009 -> 08:09 PM) Lost in the shadow of the Barons' offensive performance is the fact that Omogrosso is having himself a VERY nice outing. I wonder if the Sox are going to actually consider him a starter. I was alway told that they felt he was a reliever and I personally believe that is where his upside was. However, him, like Matt Long, were put into the rotation so they could continue to develop there other pitches as ideally that will make them far better relievers long term. Long hasn't panned out as quick as people had expected (the org loved him when they drafted him), but he's still a guy to keep an eye on cause out of the pen he has a mid 90's fastball.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 7, 2009 -> 05:39 PM) Are the Angels planning on creating a new stadium? (this is a serious question) Because my idea would make it a requirement that all new stadiums have a retractable dome. And you could make an exemption for places that rarely have rain and bad weather. Nope. They rennovated there stadium a few years back and while the actual stadium is one of the older ones in baseball, I haven't heard any talks of them building a new facility.

Oh and he's second in college baseball in strikeouts, behind Strausburg.

Rex Brothers out of Liscomb. Yep, he's coming out of a small school but the guy has been flying up draft boards. He was thought of as a top 5 round draft choice entering the season, but since than he's added velocity. He previously pitched in the 91-93 MPH range but is now pitching in the 93-94MPH range, touching 96. What is more impressive is what the added velocity has done to what was already a plus slider. His slider is in the 86-87MPH range with lots of late break, which is exactly what you want to see out fo a slider as it will get lots of swings and misses. The other big thing that has Brothers shooting up draft boards is his improved command. In fact, a few scouts have been quoted as saying they haven't seen a lefty with a better arm in the draft and he still projects as a guy that might be there when the Sox pick (given the small school reputation). But he also has that laid back attitude that I think the Sox will love. His manager is often quoted as saying how humble of a guy he is and that you'd never know he was about to be a millionaire. In fact, he seems like a power-armed vesrion of Buehrle (attitude wise). Right now, aside from Scheppers and Crow, I would put Brothers as the guy I would love the Sox to pick. Two plus pitches and a developing change-up all coming from the left side of the plate. His frame isn't huge, 6-1, 205, but he has a very strong lower-body with huge thighs (a big plus for a pitcher). Bottom line, this is the type of guy that could develop into an ace and would be the perfect compliment in the rotation to lefties like Danks/Buehrle. From the Tennessean http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090501...367/1002/SPORTS

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ May 8, 2009 -> 03:04 AM) According to ESPN's Jason Churchill, Kentucky left-hander James Paxton has chosen the Scott Boras Co. as an advisor. I guess that's a name to strike off the list, I would have liked him with one of our first two picks. If the Sox take a lefty, a name I really like is Rex Brothers (see profile I just posted). Paxton has a tremendous fastball thoguh. He has been sliding down draft boards a bit and having Boras might hurt him more, but he hits the upper 90's.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 8, 2009 -> 06:49 AM) Scheppers was coming off of Tommy John, and wanted high-first round money. Yep, prior to hurting his arm he was a consensus lock to go top 5 and was a guy I would have loved the Sox to take a reach on had he slid to there 3rd round selection (since the Sox had no 2nd round pick). But the Pirates took a shot on him and it was a great decision by the Pirates org, even if it didn't work out.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 7, 2009 -> 05:41 PM) I'm just saying have that thread for reference. In a couple of weeks, we might have 30 of this threads. So instead of sifting throughout the previous couple of pages to look for a certain player thread, you can just click on the players link in the main prospect thread. Don't worry, scenario already has that thread up.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 8, 2009 -> 06:35 AM) He was traded for "future considerations". Lame. I've followed this guys since the draft, and I really feel like he's got some value, probably as a future utility player, but maybe more. It was flabbergasted that we traded him for basically nothing. My only theory is that the Sox middle infield in the mid-minors was just so damn crowded, that when MIL called looking for one, they said OK, to make room for guys like Beckham and Escobar. Apparently, we should have just moved him to first base. It was a numbers game and the organization made a move that benefited Miranda. He had no chance getting at bats in our system. Not a knock on him, more a compliment to the middle infielders already in our system.