SoxAce

It will be Nix no doubt. I like Retherford a year or two from now, depending how he hits in AAA as he wasn't too good in the fall league. Hopefully we see Nix improve at SS/3B though. I like De Aza if Pierre gets hurt though.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) Really? Smoak was brutal at AAA last year. If a .244/.363/.360/.723 is considered "brutal" then I'll take it. That is usually a slap hitters numbers sure, but the man can still get on base. I liked Beckham more than Smoak then.. still do now. But I'm surprised he's done so well. I didn't think he was as good as Wallace, Alvarez (who many views as a 1B too depending on his progression at 3B.. if he's a 1B then Beckham I would prefer as well) etc.. comming out, though I liked him more than Alonso.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 10:11 AM) Well it seems Im the only dork who is looking forward to the first Final Fantasy release made for this generation of consoles. Well you, and my little brother (though he's 17 if that makes you feel better).

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 11:19 AM) I think Dolsi, Cabrera and possibly Threets have made bad enough showings (early) that they may now be out of the picture. Williams has the LOOGY job unless he looks awful. The last spot in the pen will come down to Santos or Hudson, and I'd bet they want Hudson getting more innings, and they keep Santos. Actually Threets has not pitched bad at all (he only ER was inherited by Santos) We'll see how his control is, as that has always been his bug-a-boo. I like him much more than Williams though. I still think Santos would win it regardless cause of politics unless he had a 8 era or something.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 12:30 PM) Really? Ahead of Posey, Smoak, Alvarez, Matusz, the other Beckham? I think you can make a case for any of them. Probably others too. Don't know about the other Beckham (still young and early, but from what I heard he isn't the player many were expecting) but Smoak for sure would be in the top 10.. possibly top 3. Was surprised he dropped to 13th then. Skipworth and others would even sniff the top 10 if theres a do-over.

Twins might be shopping. Big blow to them, which is good for us and the Tigers. I could see Liriano easing into that role if they want to save his arm some more, though he's been pitching very well.

You would have to hope Linebrink has a love for the Cubs org., Chicago, or the NL in general (that or his friendship with Peavy and others on the sox sucks now). He has a NTC in his contract FYI. So even if the sox did/wanted to, he has the final say. Funny thing is.. when they signed him, most of the posters were mad of the money he was gonna make. I was more upset of giving a reliever a NTC.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:45 AM) Not to be hyperbolic here, but I keep thinking Carl Crawford with a better batting eye when I think of Jared Mitchell. Thats who he was compared to comming out. Though I was of the very few who saw more of Grady Sizemore with less power in the draft thread about him.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:38 AM) My pitcher is just smashing AA right now. Just finished my 3 CG of the season. 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K's. Season stats: 9-2, 2.19 ERA, 103 IP, 102 H, 2 HR, 6 BB, 67 K, 1.05 WHIP, and of my 9 wins, 7 were on the road. I am hoping to get the call to AAA soon..... Future bust.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:26 AM) I think everyone though would agree that Mitchell's tools are much more impressive than Reeds ever were. Now, don't get me wrong, I completely agree with the premise of your post as we shouldn't get too thrilled or too disappointed by the way he does this season at whatever level(s) he's at but the raw talent of Mitchell is quite exciting no matter what. Beat me to the punch, great post. His upside is much higher than Reeds was (and this pains me to say, since I was Reeds biggest fan.. ) I would also say that Reed wasn't a first round talent/pick either (though at times.. that doesn't matter when you find sleepers). I'm glad your thinking about some Jeremy Reed sexiness though Andy. I also find it funny the guy Reed was compared to, is who I'm now cheering for on the sox, though he's old(er) and might be a part time DH on a questionable offense.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:23 AM) I love how Ozzie and Kenny enforce hustling on some guys and not others. I was gonna not say anything regarding that (usually it seems more younger players get called out, than the vets who do it.. I.E. A.J., Dye when he was here, Castro, etc.. etc.. [Konerko is just naturally slow]) but you just had to make a post like this.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:00 AM) I don't think there's much chance of that happening even if he does have a bad season for B-Ham or Charlotte. As it's been said, the Sox control his rights, so I can't see why they'd just release him. Would be bad management on their part. Not to mention he's still only 21 freaking years old and probably gonna start in AAA. Prospects his age are usually still in A ball.

QUOTE (chisoxfan09 @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 01:06 AM) He went 2/3 of an inning with 1 K. Not bad. He did inherit a run to score (charged to Threets) so his line looks better than it really was.

I found this very interesting.... BTW Clark resigned with the Steelers, not to mention they signed Randle-El and Will Allen.. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4976203 If the Steelers cut Limas Sweed, I would hope the Bears look into the 6'4 tall WR former 2nd round pick. Could be a diamond in the rough and the big WR the Bears (and Cutler) have been dying to get.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 11:20 PM) I'm pretty sure you didn't even get anything past the batters box. Whatever helps you sleep at night Slavko.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 05:34 PM) As for my guy, I chose to keep him as realistic as possible to myself, so I started off 4-seam, circle change, and 12-6 curveball. Then I added a splitfinger. The change is definitely my strike out pitch. I have a ton of success with it. The curveball is a tough pitch to develop though, but I'm seeing improvement slowly. Working the count is the key, as is getting ahead in the count though, obviously. The things thats kind of annoying me as I go further though is the inability to avoid the big inning. Sounds about right. If it's anything like you realistically, I'm sure hitters will have a feel day hitting those hanging curves like I did.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 04:21 PM) So, you're saying it's not still early? It's March 8. I'm pretty sure they haven't decided after one spring outing that he has no chance. I know that you say everyone "knows" what his fate was going to be, but to be fair, people always seem to "know" something is going to happen that doesn't. Like people just "knew" that Gavin Floyd had missed his window of opportunity to be a major leaguer and "knew" that his curveball didn't curve anymore. Obviously, neither of those things was true. No it is early.. but it was a longshot he was gonna make the team, unless what I said about him pitching en fuego, and/or the others really sucking which I said before.. BTW.. this is his second or third outing I believe.. has givin up 2+ runs in each outing. And go back to the trade for Floyd. Some liked it.. some didn't. I was the few who liked it since I follow prospects. QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 04:24 PM) I felt pretty confident in writing off Cabrera when he went from the Oriole's future ace to the 12th man in the D-Backs bullpen within three years. He has done nothing to prove that he's anything but a thrower with no control. Optimism is fine, but it's not too early to write off Cabrera. It's been pretty clear that this was the direction he was going towards for a few years. Agreed 100%.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 04:15 PM) I believe Melton just referred to Matt Wieters as "Widger." Yikes. RESPECT THE WIDGE!

Jared Mitchell showing bunt.. ugh already learning one thing too many from Juan Pierre.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 03:58 PM) We're not going to be getting anything out of D-Cab. That's a damn shame. According to Ranger, it's still "early" to ride him out.. though many of us knew.. he was a long shot unless he pitched very well (1-2 era), or Santos, Hudson, Torres, etc.. all had 8 eras which I called a while back.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 03:41 PM) There's a Tuiasosopo and a Thomas Jones in this game? When did we start Jets/chiefs? I guess I have to find where James means Thomas in the English language.. I know what you meant though.

Not a bad throw by Mitchell at all (his arm isn't strong, more-so around average) A.J. just too slow to get the tag across.

Linebrink still looking into form. Too bad James Jones isn't batting. Would love to see him hit.. good looking spect. (was a fan of his comming out of the draft)

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 03:34 PM) ditzy? I wouldnt say that. No red carpet interviews are all that good. Anyone can come off looking stupid. Thanks for clearing that up. Don't know much about the chick, other than those "sweater cows." Definite cougar though.

Nice range Alexei.. gotta make better throws though.. still early.