Randar68

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ May 30, 2005 -> 07:39 PM) Which minor league team should I check out? They're about an equal drive from Greensboro and I believe both are playing at home Personally, I love W-S. Ernie Shore is a great place to watch baseball, it's a great atmosphere, it's a higher level of play than Kanny, so the quality of play will be more enjoyable. They also have Wi-Fi in the stadium if you bring your laptop or anything of that sort. Ernie Shore is right in the heart of the Wake Forest athletic complex. It's a bigger city with more to do, but it will still be slow as school is out. Kanny and Charlotte are pretty close together and you can catch DH's or make game-day decisions if you're staying in Charlotte and they are both in town. W-S and Birmingham are my 2 favorites based on talent and everything else, generally. W-S has Whisler, Liotta, Gonzalez, Valido, Schnurstein, Nanita, Harrell, Russell, etc etc. Personally I would try to get to at least a Kanny game or 2 if I could to see F. Hernandez catch, I luv to watch that kid play the game. However, there isn't a ton of talent at Kanny right now. They are usually a better team to go see in mid or late July when a bunch of the freshly drafted players are there.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:22 AM) No surprise that it takes until the very last minute to get a Boras client signed. This guy is a scum bag, it's the same game with him every year. These two players got big money but probably no more or even less than they would've gotten 8 months ago. (TIC) Players who hold out and don't play for a year have such a great track record... It's the kiss of death.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ May 27, 2005 -> 10:00 AM) I just heard that Josh lost his best Friend in college killed by a drunk driver a couple weeks ago and it is really effecting him. I hope Josh gets a few days off so he can recover I have lost a friend to a drunk driver and the pain is awful I feel for you Josh I'm not sure, but I do think this is what you are referring to. Initial finding was that alcohol did not play a role... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cita...adel&type=story

QUOTE(JimH @ May 26, 2005 -> 11:37 AM) Logan Williamson ... Frank Viola Jr. ... Brandon Cooney ... any of those guys? There was a catcher out of Florida who went the CC route, don't have my list handy, he might be another ... ? Too hard to keep track of all these guys LOL. Robby Grinestaff is who I believe you are thinking of. He was converting to catcher over the last year or so IIRC, I did some research on the DFE guys following the draft last year and Grinestaff was even previously drafted by the Sox, IIRC. He's originally from Jeffersonville H.S. in Jeffersonville, IN.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 26, 2005 -> 11:29 AM) I just looked Walters up, he was a 31st round pick by the White Sox last year, from Desert Hills HS in AZ. Sounds like a future situational lefty ... funky motion, tons of movement. It's unusual to see pitchers like that start and stay helthy for very long. I imagine you're correct, but even with funky arm angles, you have to be able to get the ball past hitters if you're coming out of a bullpen. Lack of velocity would have to be a concern if you're projecting him... If he signs, it's not going to be for much $$$. The Sox have some decent DFE candidates out of Florida we can talk a little more about as we lead up to the draft...

QUOTE(JimH @ May 26, 2005 -> 11:25 AM) My guess for the Sox 1st rounder is the lefthander from Tulane, Bogesevic. Randar ... anything interesting in the recent organizational reports? The newsstand issues are a little behind. Nothing much, just some nice comments about Jerry Owens and Chris Young. Also mentioned the organization's feeling of both Lopez and Valido already being MLB-ready defensively, something we've talked about here and on WSI for the past 12 months, really...

Out of Utah (Dixie State JC): LHP Nick Walters (8), who threw two no-hitters this spring and posted a 1.82 ERA, was looking to sign with the Whie Sox before the draft. His velocity is a little short at 86-88 mph, but he gets exceptional movement on all his pitches from a funky, low arm angle.

Also a note out of New Mexico on a possible DFE candidate from last year still under Sox control... 22nd rounder Brian Flores. For all its firepower, the team’s two best prospects are pitchers: LHP Brian Flores (3) and RHP Cody Harkcom (1). Flores, a 22nd-round pick of the White Sox in 2004, led the nation in strikeouts, but scouts say Harkcom has better stuff. He has two above-average pitches: a 91-95 mph fastball and an 82-83 mph slider. After going undrafted last year, he improved his stock by throwing more strikes and getting more run on his fastball from a lower arm slot. The more slightly built Flores assembled a 10-1, 2.28 record this year with 123 strikeouts in 79 innings. He showed better command of a three-pitch assortment that included a 92 mph fastball and a solid 12-to-6 curveball.

With Wes Hodges looking like a future first-rounder at Georgia Tech (will be eligible next year), another name from the same draft surfaces out of Pima CC in Arizona. He had a 1 million dollar signing bonus demand out of HS and didn't sign. Also was a good student with aspiration of medical school with his mother pushing college hard. Interesting to see him end up at Pima and looking like a first few round pick. Sad to hear about his mother. 4. DONALD VEAL, lhp (National rank: 86) School: Pima (Ariz.) CC. Hometown: Tucson. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Birthdate: Nov. 18, 1984. Previously Drafted: White Sox ’03 (12). Scouting Report: Little righthander Gilbert de la Vara, a 15th-round draft-and-follow of the Royals, was the dominant pitcher on the Pima Community College staff this spring, leading the competitive Arizona junior college ranks with 109 strikeouts and a 1.28 ERA. But scouts showed more interest in Veal, a strapping lefthander whose long arms, imposing body and pitching style evoke a young Vida Blue. Veal’s velocity was inconsistent, but his running fastball sat at 94 mph when he was on top of his game, and touched 97. He also threw his curveball with more speed and command than in the past, though it remains a below-average pitch. Veal was one of Arizona’s top high school prospects in 2003, when he was drafted by the White Sox, but elected to attend college at Arizona. As a freshman, he didn’t pitch because he injured his labrum, didn’t throw strikes consistently and generally got lost in the shuffle on a team that advanced to the College World Series. He rebounded with a strong season at Pima, finishing second in the state to de la Vara in strikeouts, with 105, even as he had to endure the death of his mother because of stomach cancer. Projectable and anxious to get his professional career started, Veal projects as a second- or third-rounder.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ May 25, 2005 -> 09:55 AM) Big League Clubs want their farm teams as close together as they can get, so they can move players easier. the way some leagues are spread out makes it very difficult at times, for example, teams with affiliates in the PCL, Pioneer league, etc... However, the Sox definitely like to have their minor league affiliates as close as they are. W-S, Charlotte, and Kanny are all within short driving distance of eachother, making roster moves easier, and it is much easier on roving instructors, etc... Bristol and Birmangham aren't terribly far either, but it's not nearly as convenient as the 3 aforementioned locations...

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ May 24, 2005 -> 11:35 AM) I haven't seen Rogo before this season, Could it be he has adjusted his swing to work better at the Met I would say 75% of the Homeruns at the Met are line drives Flyball Homeruns are very tough to hit at the Met. Well, I don't think so. The player I described is the same player I've seen in the past, particularly last season in W-S. I just don't think he generates the carry that translates into a big-league home-run-hitter. Chris Young on the other hand...

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ May 20, 2005 -> 06:38 PM) I thought they took him earlier than most would have thought. He was projected later. Reminded them of Haigwood (small school kid). Maybe that is where you get the LH thing from. I do it too on others. Harrell was drafted 4th round, earlier than projected. I was pretty shocked when they signed him right away given his intention to go to JuCo, but I'm glad they did. He goes JuCo, does well, and turns himself into a much more expensive sign... He throws harder and has better stuff than Haigwood.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ May 24, 2005 -> 10:17 AM) Casey is getting the Power Stroke down he has 8 Steals as well, Casey has a chance to become a good major leaguer. As for now Casey needs a couple more months in BHAM. For a guy as big as he is, you'd think he'd be a power hitter, but he just isn't. He hits the ball most often with top spin and most of the times he really hits the ball hard, it's on a line, not at an upward angle. He just doesn't hit the ball with "carry" (backspin) due to his swing plane and mechanics, and I don't think that's likely to ever change much at this point. 20 HR's is about the most I'd expect out of him on average...

QUOTE(poorme @ May 24, 2005 -> 10:02 AM) if we want to keep him beyond 2006, he'd have to be on the major league roster..is that right? 40-man roster, IIRC.

QUOTE(Cerbaho-WG @ May 24, 2005 -> 09:39 AM) Catching in the first round doesn't look too hot this year. The two names that seem to pop up on every mock draft are Clement and Teagarden. Shades of Eric Munson and Mark Johnson do not make me excited. I'm not particularly thrilled with either... I'd rather take a flier on Chris Robinson out of Illinois in the 4th or 5th round if he is still available. IMO he's the best defensive catcher in the draft and he has average tools at the plate, but he makes the most of them...

QUOTE(poorme @ May 24, 2005 -> 09:47 AM) he seems to be having no problem in AA, and he's already old, this being his 5th year in the minors. He missed almost 2 entire seasons due to injury. Last year was his first season of full-season baseball, really. He's only old in years, not in terms of baseball experience. I'm just fine with keeping him in AA at least until the break. There isn't exactly anyone moving up at 1B behind him in the system...

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ May 21, 2005 -> 04:00 PM) The Orioles brought up Fiorentino out of necessity... They lost their entire starting outfield. I can assure you that we would have to lose much more than our entire starting OF to see Collaro in a WS uni. Yep, the Sox have at least 5 guys in AA or higher who could substitute in an emergency. Sweeney, Anderson, Borch, Spidale, Young and Owens. The amazing thing is, every one of those OF'ers could play CF if you needed them to. Owens and Young have done so, Sweeney has done so in the minors, especially the end of last season and looked comfortable, Anderson and Borch obviously, Spidale almost all last season...

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 23, 2005 -> 04:11 PM) Well one thing Lucy has is a s***load more tools than Suzuki ever will. Lucy flat out has a catchers build and is a freakish athlete behind the plate as opposed to most catchers. The problem was he was raw and with that its going to take him some while to pan things out and of course there is a higher bust likelihood. However, Lucy has the ability to be a very good catcher, both behind the plate and at the plate. We'll just have to see. I was also down on the move but the more I read and heard about Lucy the more I understood in a sense. It was one of those high risk, high reward, high bust type of scenarios and I think since the Sox had so many picks they figured they could take that chance rather than play it safe. We'll see how it pans out, but I'm just trying to give the Sox perspective on this. And its easy to 2nd guess after the fact, but I know there were a lot of people who didn't think Suzuki had the tools and sometimes tools get looked at a little too much, just like velocity does. I'm not sure Mike Piazza isn't a better defensive catcher than Suzuki. The A's have drafted a lot of catchers the last few years and few of them have the tools to stick behind the plate at the MLB level. A boatload of LF'rs and borderline 1st basemen... no thanks...

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ May 20, 2005 -> 11:25 AM) Harrell is Righthanded. He was chosen earlier than anticipated out of small Ozark HS in Mizzou. Sox were impressed with how he did in state tourney. Yep, he was slated to go JuCo but the Sox went ahead and signed him right away, didn't want to risk trying to go the DFE route. He's got a very good curve.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 20, 2005 -> 11:13 AM) Harrel is one of those guys to watch. He was a lefty that has quite a bit of upside and was an exceptional pick by this organization. He was the guy who surprised and impressed me the most in Bristol last year. He was much better than I imagined, legit prospect, good find by Sox scouts, they do good work in Missouri.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 18, 2005 -> 01:06 AM) You made the assumption that Valido did not take steroids because of his physical looks. I made no assumption either way. I make no assumption either way, but to define him as being on them sight unseen, for a single offense in this brand new testing policy is beyond stupid and ignorant. Not only that, but he showed the organization what he had been taking and they found a banned substance in one of the products he had been taking from GNC. I give these guys the benefit of the doubt for their first offenses, even without any other info being released, as we've seen is not the case here. Get over it. If we have guys testing positive twice, go nuts, I won't stop anyone. Was Jim Miller on the juice?

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ May 17, 2005 -> 10:28 PM) damn, Owens, Young, Sweeney, and Anderson have me so excited about the future.... At this rate seems like all of them will make it, Now i think some people told me Sweeney can play 1B too is that true and can he play any other positions? Because of his agility, height, and left-handedness, the day he was drafted I made a few posts about thinking his future could be at first base, where, IMO, he'd have gold glove potential. Now, Fields could move there if they want to keep Crede, or they could deal a couple OF'ers making it a less-crowded scenario, but it was just a suggestion, and one I still believe to this day. It's something that is brought up from time to time, nothing concrete. I don't know if he's ever played 1st base in HS or if the organization has ever considered it. Might be a good question for Dave Wilder.

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ May 17, 2005 -> 05:05 PM) Converted 1Bman, do not see many LH SS's. IIRC Fabio Castro was a converted SS?

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 17, 2005 -> 02:12 PM) You do realize that there are "cutter" steroids that get you more lean than bulked-up, right? That would give him more speed. Do you know for sure that Valido did not take steroids? Nope. Sure, you can get anything to do various things. Do you realize that "steroids" are a small subset of the drug testing policy and that testing positive one time in the initial month of the testing phase (these tests were done in spring camp) is very likely to be somewhat of a misunderstanding or mistake on the part of the players in terms of assuming what they were taking was safe? These players knew they were going to be tested. Valido's success matter little on his speed or power. Although, knowing your posts, Jabroni, you always assume the worst and want blood in the water at any cost, so consider the grain of salt taken.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ May 16, 2005 -> 11:02 PM) Dave Wilder in a interview strongly believes in Reynoso and his power arm will be a force for years to come for the Sox's. The kid really didn't know how to pitch even just last year. Nit-picked on the corners, was a human rain delay on the mound. You could see the talent, has a million dollar arm, throws hard, and everything moves. When he stops overthrowing and works quickly, he's a magnificently different pitcher than he was last year. As I said when I saw him in the spring (on tv), it's like he had a brain transplant. Looked like a totally different guy on the mound. Confident, trusting his stuff, working quickly. Guy has a world of talent. Wish I had video of him from last year, you guys in Birmingham wouldn't even recognize him. Hoping Jenks turns it around mentally, kid has a hell of an arm. Sounds like Razor is the perfect manager for the kid. Take no crap, take charge guy...