Randar68

Speaking of Fields, I recorded my Fields interview to .wav and mp3 last night and am going to try to have he, Miller and Rogowski transcribed by the end of the weekend... With Valido, Gonzalez, Young and Ryan Rodriquez to follow...

Yep. Anyone who thinks he'll start in W-S if healthy, I'll gladly take their money if they'd like to wager a friendly bet.

The only way the kid get's rejected is if the MLB just wants to play hardball about the literal interpretation of the rules. According to the intent/motivation for the rule in question, his case should be written in as the exception. I really don't see how his decision challenges what's at the heart of the rule. However, the NCAA and pro sports leagues have made stupid decisions before that really aren't in the best interests of the kids involved for the sake of showing "strength", so nothing will really surprise me...

It depends on the severity, as with most injuries. Severe SLAP-lesion tears have very low recovery rates, but if they aren't jumping right into surgery for him, I doubt that's what he has.

BA is reporting he has a Labrum tear and will be shut-down for the off-season, not going to the AFL, etc. Bad news for the kid.

I asked him several questions in regards to the POY, but he didn't answer those....

I really don't know how much of a chance Stumm will ever have, even if, through some miracle, he stays healthy the rest of his life, he's had one injury after another with little opportunity to face any sort of competition between...

Who'd a thunk it on the K-rate. I remember looking at his K's to BB's when I was down there and being astonished. Last I looked, I had the impression that the chasm between K's and BB's was holding steady, but damn, that's a pretty consistent K-rate, LOL!

ouch. As hawk would say... THEY GONE! Russell had a bit of an up-and down end to his season. Hope he transforms that body a bit and puts things together. Very projectable.

LMFAO! Man, I was waiting for that!

At the same time, over this past month, Fields has cut his K's WAY down and must be hitting .320+ since August 1st. Fields is much more advanced physically and in terms of his power, but I'm not so sure he has more long-term power potential. He's definitely a harder swinger than Sweeney, though.

Casey's younger brother is playing baseball for the University of Illinois. Came across it haphazardly, but thought it might be interesting. Not quite the same build, LOL! update from the Illinois Sports Information Department on his summer league performance in the Northwoods League: Ryan Rogowski, OF - Madison Mallards Rogowski was also a NWL Post-Season All-Star Team selection as a member of the league champion Madison Mallards. He scored 37 runs, third-best on the team, while hitting .291, also third highest on the team. Rogowski led the team with 28 RBI and was second on the Mallards with 65 hits, nine doubles and three triples. He also had a team-best 31 steals and a .339 OBP. Rogowski committed only two errors all summer. Rogowski's highlight game was a 3-for-3 effort against St. Cloud on June 15. He had two runs, two RBI and four stolen bases. Ryan Rogowski Profile

I sign my name and provide my e-mail. Anonymous? I believe Rex would also gladly share his e-mail with anyone. It did take guts, but man, that doesn't entitle anyone to having their fluff get a "pass."

Spidale just caught a REALLY deep drive to CF. Trainer going to check on Spidale as he hit the wall hard.

It would be too easy because you're trumpeting someone esle's opinion? I'm not fighting with you, rather pointing out very glaring weaknesses in your arguments and points. The primary necessity, IMO, for pitch counts are: 1) pitching coaches that don't know what they are doing 2) The drive to win at all costs at some levels of organized baseball 3) The Radar Gun 4) Inadequate throwing programs at the low levels and in amateur baseball. Frankly, because Will Carroll says something, does not make it exclusively so, and he'd tell you that before I'd have to. Additionally, any half-ass pitching coach can recognize both poor mechanics and a tiring pitcher. Not pitching those guys in situations where they are likely to hurt themselves is 100% independant of pitch counts, as every individual is different, which is the very basis of the stupidity in applying a large-numbers statistical analysis to every player uniformly.

He's a terrific athlete and a hard-nosed kid. VERY quick bat that was evident in the pre-draft video was still there. His comfort level didn't seem to really be there at the plate.

Bryan Smith, I'm not one to mince words. Don't let my post count here fool you one iota. Frankly, I could give a rat's ass about "reflecting poorly upon myself" after some of the silly comments you have made so far. - Please enlighten me about where you received your Francisco Hernandez information, then, a stat sheet? He's in rookie level Bristol but that high on your list? I'm sure you'll be more than willing to cite your source. - "But, I guess you're just searching for things to disagree with." I didn't have to search very hard. - Pitch count systems and radar guns should be thrown away - Brownlie hasn't exactly been a model of consistency or health, bizarre example. - The question with Sweeney from the VERY START was how much power he'd develop, as he didn't have a pure power stroke. The long-term potential is all anyone with a clue has recognized as being a possibility, something that is always hard to project. The kid can hit anything and hits bad pitches, many times opposite field, too often with just a slap-stroke, instead of waiting for pitches to drive. Something easily corrected with experience, but quotes an "ISO"??? GMAFB. Need I really go on?

Rex, I'm with you. His first month in W-S he was K'ing at an extremely alarming rate, but you just gotta let the guy adjust. He knew what he had to work on and was jovial about it. He definitely improved and like you said, he'll probably start at AA and if he does that in the second half next year, I'll be worried. My point was more to the comparison that Fields K'd more in a partial High-A season than Sweeney did the whole year, was several years older and the #18(IIRC) pick in the draft. Enthusiasm sometimes runs away with itself and people just are ready to jump off a bridge unless these guys put of Jeremy Reed 2003 numbers.

Then that's your fault for setting unrealistic expectations in your own mind. I think he's done exceptionally well, playing at a higher level than most any HS draftee from his draft class and most college draftees, including many 1st rounders.

You got confirmation on the Wing surgery, I couldn't recall if that had been released or not. Any indication of the severity? Shoulder injuries scare the bejeezus out of me.

Amen, Rex, I couldn't have said it better myself. How many K's did Fields have in W-S? Speaking of Fields, he must have hit about .320 for the last month or so.

Sorry, but Sweeney was a 2nd round draft pick out of IOWA HS and never even played most of his Senior year of HS baseball, yet comes from a partial season in Great Falls and hits .283 with decent peripheral numbers and some very solid defense as a 19 year old in high A ball? Scout rhetoric is scout rhetoric, just like their overheard conversaition about Gonzalez going straight to Kanny. It's not like Sweeney was saying he was the second coming. People hold this crap against him like their false-pretenses of greatness are the only measure of expectations. Jesus F'in Christ. Whoever is that critical of that kid should be taken out back and shot for their ignorance. Pure and simple. Any Cub fan who starts praising Francisco Hernandez has been poaching info off this or other sites unless they or someone they are close with has seen him play. McCarthy should be shut down? I wouldn't send him to the AFL, but you're out of your freaking mind to shut him down before the end of the season and playoffs, punishing both he and his teammates. Your minor leagues are an integral part of player development, and pissing off affilliates over crap like that is a good way to lose the trust and relationships with those clubs, something any numbnuts who has been to a few minor league games would know. Lopez, who is a marginal prospect and doesn't belong in the top 20-25 of the Sox' prospect list at #7? Puhlease. Lopez and Rodriguez getting a combined 3 appearances in AAA as fill-ins at the end of the year after Charlotte spent the last 2 months of the season starting many games with just 2-3 guys available out of the pen and had threatened to leave the Sox' affiliation over their feelings of neglect by the Sox? As for a Top ten? Jason (ChiSoxFn) 's list is a good start and add in Honel and Wing who, although they were injured were a part of the list a year ago, are probably still considered right there around the 8-10 range. Chris Young and Robert Valido and Pedro Lopez and Spidale probably complete about your top 15. Sorry if some of these things seem harsh, but they are. And anyone who is writing assessments of these systems with the info you apparently have or don't have needs to be called on it. Rex isn't your biggest critic, I was just biting my tongue.

Couple comments: Lucas Harrell to me, looked to be a real legit prospect. Very good curve, had command of it when I saw him. Good pop on his fastball. Left a real good impression, although I don't have my notes in front of me. Bristol seems to be the Sox' lower-level rookie team, and that is tough on these guys, as this is an advanced rookie league for most teams. HS draftees and Latino players right out of the DSL seem to always end up in Bristol. Brandon Allen is a legit prospect and a hell of an athlete despite his numbers. The potential is definitely there, and an offseason in Instructional ball should have him poised for a break-out 2005. He seemed tentative at the plate when I saw him... Hernandez. What can I say? I caught him playing just as he hit his stride in early August, and he only got better. He hit both good and bad pitches hard, even when making outs, and took the walk when he was being pitched around. Has a little tail on his throws, but very sound behind the plate. Blocks the ball well and can really soften the blow on balls in the dirt, despite his shorter stature than most catchers. Very quick feet and the ball is from his mitt to the air lightening quick. Cesar Castillo was sort of a personal player/coach for him this year... Javier Castillo looked lost at times at the plate, although he is a very slick-fielding SS, despite his height. Agile, although not speedy, and a strong arm. Squares himself well on the move. de Los Santos looks more like a 2B than a 3B, just doesn't have the size for the position. Learning better patience at the plate and improving defensively, de Los Santos will probably be ready for some full-season action next year.

EvilJester, that Avatar might be illegal in most states, LOL!

Yikes.