BamaDoc

This is fun/what depth looks like. You can always find someone doing something. I am a little held back by a lot of 23-24 year olds in the A levels. Soon or after draft, a lot of guys need to be challenged. Just as the second half of the season should bring players to Chicago, Charlotte and Birmingham should see an influx of talent as well as jettisoning some non performers.

Some great discussions and thanks for everyones input. A different question I haven't seen specifically is what has happened to Giolitto? In spring training his numbers and reports had me expecting him to turn the corner and be an anchor in our rotation. Not so in season. I haven't seen him on tv etc. Is there anything anyone has spotted mechanically? Physical? Mental?

Nice article. I was never that concerned re HRs because everything else looked fine but I do wonder about making changes at higher competition levels messing someone up. I am fine with a team of guys who don't k but have OBP of .800

A worse Adam Dunn. If you can move him for a decent prospect do it. Right handed bat, mainly dh is the easiest piece to put into the puzzle in a couple years.

Don't disagree with you at all. The Sox have always had a budget. In the past that led to us trying to compete by bargain shopping and trading young talent. Hopefully, with a younger/cheaper core, there will be more money available to get better players and/or the budget will be bigger.

I am cautiously optimistic, but there is every outcome possible. The rebuild may not bring a champion but we could be anywhere from bad to good.

I wonder if he has to have the surgery, if he would be able to dh prior to playing the field? Same concept as now but in reverse.

And Yolmer ks on a ball above the shoulders.

Micker was supposed to be getting a second MRI. No clue of results. If he has to have surgery at the end of season, he could be ready to hit before throw, just like this year. Remember, in the article, we were dealing with major leaguers where you are trying to win now. In Micker's case, we are still talking about developing a guy where immediate time in the field is less important. Could DH him awhile, or even left field for shorter throws until he regains strength.

Has anyone seen/heard of during this better stretch how his swing looks? Are the changes taking hold or did he revert to old swing where hitch may still be an issue later?

But But But he's a bust!?! Seriously, nice to see the improvement after a miserable start. Coming thru that start could help down the road.

Kevan Smith victim of hidden ball trick. Bet kangaroo court has a field day!

The problem is our stash of possible CF candidates in AAA have all gotten off to slow starts. Cordell out, Tilson needs to knock off rust, May was kinda fourth of will get at bats now. I give Engel another week and switch him with Leury. Not sure why Leury wasn't/isn't being given more of a chance. At this point I would be giving the "tryout" to Leury as we wait on Tilson.

Really enjoyed that. Look forward to the others. The increased depth of the system is starting to show.

As a FYI to everyone, it looks like opening day for the minor league affiliates is April 5th.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 29, 2018 -> 03:45 PM) We have also used that money to bring in about half a dozen upper level minor league players, so you can't just look at the total number. No I wasn't arguing against what we did. It was very creative and I would look for it to continue to some degree. Everyone made great comments. I was really pushing point two of establishing a bigger presence by an academy. Teach the kids and get them ready for stateside. This coming year, we have known we are in the penalty phase long enough to plan for it. If we can't find quantity this year, I question what the scouts are doing. I still think we trade off some of the money to acquire some prospects further along. We will need to keep young talent in the pipeline. We will soon begin to get into tighter and tighter 40 man roster decisions so we have to balance acquisitions in that regard as well.

Positives: Basabe regains some prospect shine. Not top 100 but back into the watch category. Cease: Stays relatively healthy and reaches AA and moves to top 25 range. Avi: remains valuable and the winter has extension debate. Jimenez: comes up later than most want and looks the part. Someone not on the opening day roster, not named Kopech or Eloy, surprises positively. Tilson generates some feel good by making it back to the big leagues. After giving up no runs in spring training and not making the team, Volstad will see Chicago. Burdi back in September. So many teams rebuilding will lead to a more entertaining season as we are among the best of the worst. More than one of L Garcia, Yolmer, Delmonico, Engel, Davidson, Fulmer, Cordell, Narvaez, or Skole show promise for the long term. Negatives (hate writing as I am an optimist): Most of the above promise players aren't. Our starting pitching will be our weak spot and lead to more than 15 people making starts this year. More players end up getting released than traded. Trades don't bring much as we are looking at some 40 man issues and may take young fliers. Being the best of the worst hurts draft status. Injuries......already happening and unfortunately more will come.

QUOTE (brett05 @ Mar 29, 2018 -> 03:20 PM) I get it that Duffy is a better pitcher, but I gotta think our lineup is way better. Royals are somehow favored today (-132) The power of Shields! Seriously, I want him in this role of taking on other teams #1 and if necessary taking some lumps rather than our youngster pitching well but not having as good of success(W) due to matchups. Everyone states he is a good teammate and professional. I would love for Shields to pitch well as it makes it easier for him to mentor and may establish trade value if we add most of his money. Without him we are forcing innings on worse pitchers/unready youngsters and likely destroying our bullpen.

I saw someone mention that the cross town team, who was also in the international penalty, signed 36 or so international talents. Obviously, they are under 300k (if done legally cough cough Braves) and show some teams take a quantity approach. I don't know how many we signed beyond a kid from Aruba, but if we can't find at least a dozen then I question our scouting ability. I have long advocated setting up a couple of academies to get the kids in contact with us early, teach baseball, english, and some basics(nutrition) so if they do get over hear there is less culture shock. The Moncada twinkie story was cute but if it had continued could have prevented him from reaching his potential. If a kids potential is a 1-2 war player that matters.

I am wondering if not naming a closer is in part a measure to protect Jones. I wouldn't pitch him back to back days for awhile and you would not put that limitation on your announced closer. Possibly someone else gets some saves and pads their stats for trading.

If he comes up late in 2019, he very well could/would also be hitting new highs in innings pitched in a season. I would expect caution and either low pitch count starts and or a relief role with at least two -three days off between appearances.

So glad to have this and baseball back! For the first two weeks I thought the internet had broken and realized how often I came to the sight and read. Viva Baseball and SoxTalk!

Really nice job. Will be useful to put some background when scanning numbers this year or hopefully some periodic update pieces!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 05:15 PM) There can be a lot of things at that point. Conditioning, repetitions, strength, etc. Guys coming off of surgery and long leaves can take a while to get back into pitching shape. TJS guys usually take a year after returning to get back to normal. It may make sense for Jones to begin on DL or rehab assignment. If he makes the team, you may not want him to close so you could manage his appearances i.e. avoiding back to back appearances.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Feb 9, 2018 -> 08:28 AM) This Kevin Towers quote from 2013 can probably be cut-and-pasted in to Hahn's statement on his role here as well... On November 13, 2013, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced they had hired Duncan to be a special assistant to general manager Kevin Towers as a pitching consultant. "With Dave, he's going to set his own schedule and it will depend on what he wants to do and what he's capable of doing", Towers commented of his role. "During spring training, be available to work with pitchers, catchers and pitching coaches as they're preparing for a game. Breaking down video of pitchers we might be considering for the draft. Plus, targeting guys in our system and getting his input – who he likes, who is close." This sounds about right. Hopefully not only does he help the immediate future but his impact (along with Cooper) by working with pitching coaches may last a long time.