Chisoxfn

If you guys post the questions, I'll do my best to get them answered from the really nice people in Charlotte. That organization, along with every org in the Sox system have really treated me and FutureSox tremendously over the years. Really the Sox minor league system is full of class acts, imo!!!

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 10:50 AM) I just wish we had an offensively competent utility player. Looking at what Lillibridge did in his brief stint in the majors last year is just scary, I don't think he knows what kind of hitter he is. Low contact, high FB%, almost non-existent LD% and his K rate was dreadful at both levels, he has the peripherals of a power hitter but the body and ability of a slap hitter. Agreed, Lillibridge has major offensive flaws. I see some perks to having him though, given his ability to play multiple positions with above average to average defense (depending on where he's playing). Betemeit is a sweet option and I do think Pods could turn into a nice option as well, although I hate saying it because he has been pretty awful for the past couple years (unfortunately the Sox guys have been even worse).

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:41 AM) I'd have no problem giving Betemit the start at 3B today. We're going to need offense with Contreras on the mound today, that's pretty much guaranteed. Josh Fields says hello.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:34 AM) In the newspaper, they said Getz was supposed to be ready to go today...guess not. Ozzie usually has a policy of not playing a guy until a day after he is ready to play. He'll be in the lineup at the trop.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 01:10 PM) MLB ready to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day Ok, so I understand the importance of Robinson. What he did was important for the game... and the county. but do we REALLY need to honor him every single year? DO we really need to force everyone to wear 42? i can understand on "major" anniversaries like 50, 60, 70, 75... you get the idea. But we have to honor him EVERY year? come on. And of course, this is sooooo important, that Bud Selig needs to be there, oh wait, he wont be.... Is this over the top, maybe, but we absolutely need to honor him every year. The guy changed the face of baseball and arguably America.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 06:15 AM) There is always the obvious, they just aren't that good, explanation... Don't tell that to 3/4th's of Soxtalk who was spouting how great there rotation was. Give me a break, they have a mediocre pen (one which will have there closer hurt for at least a 2-3 week stint), a bad rotation (Lee was going to regress, Carmona wasn't as good as he was, Pavano/Reyes, meh), and a mediocre offense (Sizemore is great, Hafner is living in the past, Martinez is solid, Choo was really good last year (not a full season), but as a whole, far from this great lineup every expert and most of Soxtalk were yapping about. Its early in the season so I don't want to say, haha, I was right, but the predictions I wrote down to start the year are looking fairly good.

Welcome aboard!!!! Thanks for the info.

He's talented and a headcase. If Ozzie could straighten him out and Sox scouts see something they like or can fix, I'd be for it, pending the price of course.

Now thats stupid. I assume the weather might not be good enough for them to do a DH tomorrow? Or do they just not want a completely empty stadium.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 10:14 AM) Ozzie was quoted as KW told him he was calling up Owens "for a few days". Maybe they think Pods will be ready in a few days as he hasn't played in couple of weeks. I can't see how anyone thinks Pods, when he's not hurt, isn't better than Owens. Pods in CF is a scary thought, but you can say that about several White Sox when they are out on the field. I do know Ozzie would sub defensively for Pods and he probably wouldn't for Owens, so BA might get on the field late in some games he normally would be riding pine in. Hopefully though, its all moot, and BA starts scorching the ball. Plus, one thing you have to like about Pods is his ability to work the count at the top of the order. He struck out more than I liked as a leadoff hitter but he also has a pretty good eye and will usually make a pitcher work. And while he won't put up ridiculous numbers, in fact, his numbers will be below league average (since he is older), you have to realize that that is a significant upgrade over the other CF options. I still expect Anderson to get the chance to take the reigns (and I hope he does and I expect the Sox to give him that opportunity), but against tough righties I wouldn't be opposed to having Pods slide in. Plus, Pods could be a really nice guy to have pinch hit late in the innings when you might need a run (be nice to be able to bring in a former leadoff hitter to pinch hit to start an inning late in a game). In a reserve role I'd also expect him to be able to hone the craft as a bunter plus he's a very smart baserunner as well so as a whole I see a lot of added value in having a guy like Pods alround. You also know that he'll mesh well in the clubhouse. And if Pods gets hurt or doesn't have it, it cost you nothing. We already know Owens doesn't have it.

Good, with a double header tomorrow, I might actually be able to catch one of the games.

Swisher got the Sox Viciedo. Nuff said. Obviously, Swisher will be much better than last year and far more in line with his career averages. I'd also say that he'd look really good in CF right now. However, I don't fault the Sox from moving them but clearly it was a deal that didn't work out for the Sox (since I'd rather have Sweeney and Viciedo (had we never made the deal, the Sox would have had money for Viciedo). But I loved the move at the time and no one knew how awful Swish would be last year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 09:48 AM) As Pods biggest critic, I applaude this move. He sucks, but................. He is better than Owens. He even is better than Wise. Let him get up to speed in Charlotte and when he's ready if BA hasn't taken over, let him play until he comes up lame. Exactly. Sure there are tons of other guys I'd rather have, but Pods is better than the other guys we had playing. You could make a case for BA having a shot at being better and I expect him to get the job for the next week or so until Pods is back and ready to play. Pods shoudln't need much time in the minors since he had a full spring.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 09:05 AM) How can any White Sox fan complain about Paul Konerko? Allen will be very lucky to have the career Konerko has had. In fact, the odds are he doesn't. I'd say there is a 98% chance that he doesn't have the career Konerko did. Konerko was a highly touted minor leaguer who lived up to his hype. The guy has been an all star, won a world series, and all and all been one of the better first baseman over the past 7 to 8 years. Best, no, but above average, absolutely.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 08:34 PM) I think so. What I want to know---why the hell did the Reds pass on Beckham for another lefty 1B, in Alonso? They have Votto and Bruce for lefty power. I'm not saying Alonso is going to be a bust, but wow I think they blew it. So, thank you, Reds. There were a lot of people that doubted Beckham's ability to become a star. So far it looks like he might turn into one, but you still have to remember he's not a guy that will lead the league in HR's or RBI's or anything like that. The best shot of him being a star is staying at SS, hitting over .300 with 20-25 HR's, a s***ton of doubles, and a .380+ OBP.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 01:30 PM) I disagree, none of the guys other than Poreda can be slotted into a future White Sox rotation. They are all far too unproven at this point. Not too mention none project into the front of the rotation (and that includes Poreda, who I fully believe has a far better upside as a reliever). There are a couple of live arms but they are a ways away and I think the Sox should focus on getting some hard throwing arms in this draft.

Trying to get info on Cassel's injury but no luck so far.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 05:03 PM) I don't think AA has the best talent. That level might have more prospects, but AAA has talented guys that are a bit older. I'm going to take the other side. In terms of talent, great fastballs, great pure stuff, AA has far more of it than AAA. However, AAA has more developed players so if a guy is a good fastball hitter, he might still dominate in AA but than struggle massively in AAA where you are going against more veteran pitchers who typicaly have much more command and willingness to use there off-speed stuff.

I have to think with Fields production, that long term, Viciedo is penciled into a corner outfield spot or 1st base. If he can hit like everyone thinks he can, he'll still be incredibly productive in any of those spots. Obviously there is more value in having him at third, but if you can't, you can't. Plus you still have Beckham who might have to move to another position and than of course there is Brandon Allen as well. The big question is obviously who ends up panning out, because it would be highly unlikely that all of them do.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 11, 2009 -> 05:42 PM) Maybe a poor man's Garland. Marquez is 24 and yet to make his Major League debut. By 24, Garland had 3 full seasons in the Majors under his belt. Oh and Marquez has blah stuff. If he's going to make it, he's got a lot to work on in terms of command cause he doesn't have the stuff to have marginal control.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 11:13 AM) Eh. I'd put Ely, Harrell, Nunez, Omogrosso, Egbert, Poreda, Derek Rodriguez, Link, and Marquez ahead of him for sure. Every one of those guys has a ceiling higher than a 6th starter/garbage man, all are starting in Double A or higher, and all have at least as good of a chance to get to the bigs based on how close they already are. I'd also put Santeliz ahead of him as well because even without much control his arm is going to get him a lot more shots than Broadway is ever going to get, and Santeliz at least has a chance to do something special if he makes a big league club at some point. I'd even consider Cassel and Fernando Hernandez ahead of Broadway simply because they have progressed (with the exception being Hernandez struggling after not being able to do anything with Oakland as a Rule-5) and have not miserably failed like Broadway has. Broadway was taken in the first round in the '05 draft as a fast mover. He signed early, went right to W-S, then the next season (2006) started in Birmingham and made Charlotte at the end of the season. He debuted in the Majors at the end of 2007 after starting out in Charlotte, so he was right on track, but then he failed to stick in the bigs the next season even after a huge bullpen implosion and the lack of a fifth starter. Then Mike MacDougal and DJ Carrasco took his spot this spring, and although we never know what crappy player Ozzie and Kenny will call up next, it would at least appear on the surface that there are several much better options than Lance Broadway and that Broadway has fallen behind at least a couple of them. If you look at that 2005 draft, there were a bunch of HS players who have already begun to make their marks in the bigs or at least are very close to making their debut. This is Broadway's third straight season starting in Charlotte. I agree with this in general but ceiling should trump odds at least to a degree anyway. Broadway's ceiling is the type of player that is available every year in FA for the league minimum. In fact, I'd much rather sign a reclamation project like Colon every year for $1M + incentives and gamble for the chance of picking up a #3/#4 for next to nothing than give $400K and a roster spot to some guy who I already know is going to blow chunks. I think it's different with a guy like Cassel for instance who is like a possible 5th starter/longman or whatever, because that guy hasn't had his chance to show he can or cannot make it yet. Broadway will be out of options next ST if he's still in the organization and he doesn't have the type of stuff that makes you take him and hope for a miracle. He's a guy that is there to fill innings in case your starters go down and your season is basically over so you don't mind losing games and you don't want to rush a real prospect. Sorry if my Broadway hatred is too thick, but I just don't see how he can still be called a prospect. Actually, he could very well be a poor man's Kyle Loshe, not in the sense that they are at all similar pitchers (stuff wise) but that they both might be guys that you can pencil in for a good number of innings who might keep you in games (obviously, we can argue either way). He could very well be a Joe Mays. You rattle off all of those guys and I can already tell you that most of the guys on that list don't project as starting pitchers and in general, that alone puts there value lower as relief pitchers in general have a much lower value in terms of prospect status (unless you are a potential closer prospect). Omogrosso/Link/Nunez are relief prospects, Omogrosso being my favorite, Nunez being a guy that needs to find a 2nd pitch before he ever makes it (plus command). Broadway is better than Egbert, Marquez (puuhhhlease) and no one will tell me that Harrell or Ely have far better stuff or ceilings than Broadway either(who could be a starter on at least a few major league teams today). So while I might have Broadway moved one way or another on the list, your analysis is off when you talk about the other guys on there, imo, given that no one aside from Omogrosso/Link would even be remotedly considered potential impact guys (and they would be in the pen and both are far from sure things). And Poreda is obviously higher ranked.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 10:28 AM) He's on Bristol's roster again. He only pitched in 7 games after signing last year. And he's only 19 years old. A guy that one day, could easily be a top 5 prospect in this system. That day isn't today though.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 07:38 AM) How does Lance Broadway still make these lists? Talk to scouts around the bigs and there is still a good amount of them that will tell you that Broadway will have a career in the majors. It probably won't be the Sox, but he can easily fit into the 4th/5th spot of a rotation or be a very valuable long man in a pen.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 06:50 AM) I think Allen is too high. He's a very good prospect, but he's still very raw and needs to work on that K:BB ratio. Nevin Griffith, even though he hasn't done much, should be on the list simply because he has more potential then a lot of the guys listed. Also, does Gilmore have an AAP Page yet? I'm gonna have to check in a minute. My quick list would be: 1. Gordon Beckham 2. Dayan Viciedo 3. Tyler Flowers 4. Aaron Poreda 5. Brandon Allen 6. John Shelby 7. Jordan Danks 8. Dan Hudson 9. Dexter Carter 10. Ed Escobar 11. Jose Martinez 12. Brent Morel 13. John Ely 14. Justin Cassel 15. Jack Egbert 16. Jeff Marquez 17. Lance Broadway 18. Jon Link 19. Gregory Infante 20. Steve Upchurch 21. Jon Gilmore 22. Lucas Harrell 23. Tyler Kuhn 24. Nevin Griffith 25. C.J. Retherford _ 26. Cole Armstrong/Donny Lucy 27. David Cook 28. Nathan Jones 29. Stefan Gartrell 30. Charlie Shirek Nevin Griffin has had constant injuries and quite frankly I'd have no gripe if he didn't even make the list because there are so many potential questionmarks about his durability. Show me one good reason why a guy like Griffin should be on there. Does he have upside, sure, but there are so many negatives about durability and an overall lack of production (mostly associated with that durability) that in no positive way could you put him higher on the list.

Stoney is awesome. Hawk can get ridiculous at times, but Stoney is the man.