chitownsportsfan

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 14, 2015 -> 04:04 PM) Atta boy, Trayce....took out a runner with a great throw home from CF. It would be nice if he had a good year and at least is a useful, cheap 4th OF for a few years. With his brother's success hopefully it rubs off in some increased confidence.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dugout-W...121028057923867

He's been throwing long toss and even pitched some off the mound yesterday: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0314-story.html Sounds like he's on track to make the April 12th start. Good news all around.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 07:03 PM) it is a said commentary when fans are just desperately looking for any small thing to say, you see, he can still contribute. fyi i was a beckham fan in the beginning of his career. too bad i feel for him. you feel for Gordo? If anything, he's lucky he was wrongly IDed as a 1st round talent, otherwise he'd probably have been given far fewer chances. Don't feel bad for the guy he's already made quite a bit of money and he has a lifetime gig in the White Sox' org if he wants it.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 05:35 PM) Beckham is batting a cool .053 in spring training. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we cut him before the season started that's what I'm thinking as well one year deals are only partially guaranteed. opening day position players could be the following and he's the odd man out. I mean, if you want a defensive replacement for Conor and Micah, it's Sanchez, not Gordon. Gordon is mediocre at best at 3B. Jose Eaton Alexei Laroche Conor Micah Sanchez Avi Melky Bonifacio Shuck Flowers Soto

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 04:13 PM) Lead off triple for Abreu...out at home on fielder's choice. Eaton's gotta learn to be smarter on the bases and know when to use his speed. Oh wait that's Jose!

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 03:40 PM) Gordon Beckham turns 30 in 18 months. Bold prediction- he's out of baseball by 30. how much the sox owe him if he's cut this spring? 250k?

what a luxury having a guy like Bonafacio is. Can play almost every position and hits well enough to where if you had to plug him in for a month it wouldn't be a complete black hole in the lineup. Seriously the difference between him and the guys they trotted out last year (Leury mostly) is probably 2 WAR. Can't say enough what an amazing job Hahn did fixing pretty much every weakness, including bench utility guy.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 12, 2015 -> 05:00 PM) They have 61 in camp now, not including Crain, Jones, and Sale. As the starting pitchers get stretched out, the need for 30 arms in big league camp goes away. So they'll send the minor leaguers that have no chance of making the team to their minor league camp facilities. They'll probably have a good chunk to send down soon, and then a few at a time over the next few weeks until it's 25. Thanks, I take it training at Cambelback with the MLB staff is a big perk for many of these fringe guys do they have a separate area for the minor league guys in AZ?

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 12, 2015 -> 04:47 PM) Sox will be on a plane to Charlotte three weeks from today. This is going fast. I would think roster cuts are coming tomorrow morning. How exactly does it work? They just cut most of the guys they gave MiLB deals to? There isn't a mandated "you can only have ___ guys in camp" thing right? Just 25 on opening day.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 12, 2015 -> 04:38 PM) As long as Hawkins doesn't haven't have to repeat AA in 2016, it's a very good year for him. right, I'd take 270/310/500. Just show that power and stay healthy out in the outfield.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Mar 12, 2015 -> 03:52 PM) A good year from him would be big for the system Actually, for once, the Sox have enough other promising youngsters that if he flops it won't kill them. It's testament to the great work they've done that in 2012 he was #1 and now he's hardly top 10 according to some lists. I do agree it would be nice if he lived up to his 1st round billing and made a strong push for Chicago in '16.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 11, 2015 -> 05:13 PM) He had better not be getting ultrasound over a healing bone. The sound waves will irritate the periosteum and really hurt. That is pretty much the worst thing for healing bone. Ligaments and tendon you can do it butI'm not really in favor of it, personally. He really can't do any lower extremity lifting due to the avulsion healing. You can speed up healing in the frame of giving the area the best environment to heal. You can't speed it up physiologically, however you can make sure that the nutrients are getting there as efficiently as possible. The best way is to make sure the blood is flowing to the area, hence the cardio work. Not really a fan of the HIIT workouts for him either. The high intensity would not be good for the healing bone and ligament for the lower extremity and this early in the Spring is more for building up as opposed to driving up the intensity. Shoulder, elbow and hip stability type exercises are the key right now as this is really where most of the stress from pitching goes. Do you have any links to that bit about bone and ultrasound? My own experience from my injuries and research is that at worst it does nothing and it might hasten the healing process by speeding blood flow. Is this particular to avulsion fractures? HIIT I'm simply referring to doing a high rep light weigh upper body circuit. He should obviously be off his foot into the healing is complete.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 11, 2015 -> 05:30 PM) For anyone reading this later, Rodon got hit around today. I don't feel like the thread really reflects that info, haha Oh well, he was supposed to working on more changups, was that the case?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 11, 2015 -> 04:55 PM) That is reasonable. Hopefully, he is on the bike and in the water to keep his lower extremities in shape so he doesn't lose the endurance there. That is the key to rehab at this point. As I'm sure you know there's only so much you can do to speed the healing process of ligament and bone. I'm sure he's getting ultrasound 2 or even three times a day but as you said hopefully he is taking his pool work and lifting seriously. If he does HIIT style circuits he can maintain and even improve his conditioning while waiting to get back throwing.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 11, 2015 -> 03:48 PM) #WhiteSox: Chris Sale ruled out for Opening Day (via @CSNHayes) - http://t.co/G3V3WCiBYx #WhiteSoxTalk http://t.co/VC2JCJGUlh https://twitter.com/CSNChicago/status/575743767564652544 Key from that news is that he's scheduled to resume baseball activities on March 21st. That would give him 23 days to get ready for the April 12th start. I think he can do it but the key will be to actually meet that timetable for starting to throw again. I don't think he's going to meet it and he'll probably make his first start the 17th. That's just my opinion we'll see how it goes.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 11, 2015 -> 12:12 AM) I think he did that because he knew he had plenty of time to get the runner. I honestly didn't watch the play until after reading your comment. Yea, that...was awful. He is almost falling into LF and that is a looped throw for a MLB 2B. It's 90 feet you should easily be able to gun it over at this level and if you're falling backwards that's not "taking your time" that's a bad habit. Plus, he is going to face more aggressive slides in the real games. That said, I think we've been spoiled by Beckham and Sanchez. If the kid hits as much as the Sox seem to believe he will, well, ok. Hopefully his range is better than advertised as well that can make up for arm weakness.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 10:42 PM) I don't care if it is Spring training.. 6 hits in a row is impressive. It is and I suddenly have realized that the Sox' plan might be to use Beckham almost exclusively as a defensive replacement for Micah. I might be OK with that plan as it maximizes both players' utility.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 10:49 PM) Contract isnt that bad, they owe him $33M. The sox would have to eat half of his salary this year to get a fair return IMO he's untradeable at this point not because of the money but because of performance. He's not a "bounceback candidate" like say oh, I dunno, Vernon Wells or some s***, he's just a guy that had a major shoulder surgery and now isn't very good because of it. He's like a .5 WAR pitcher, that's not worth trading for, 33 million owed or not.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 08:14 PM) Why does Micah Johnson need to be a 2 to 3 WAR player to warrant the 2B job when you think Sanchez is a 1 WAR player? If their performances are going to be even remotely similar, then you're better off giving the everyday at-bats to the guy who has a chance of being a long-term solution at the position. I think the vast majority of front office types & scouts would agree that guy is Micah. This is all I will say on this topic I'm done with it as I'm sick of being misrepresented and called a hater. I will put my money where my mouth is and bet a Micah B-Ref scholarship for anyone that will take me up on this bet. You can pick. Either you take the over on a 730 OPS (min 400 PA) or 1.5 fWAR. I lose I will gladly buy the sponsorship, link to your page with whatever message you want. I win, you do the same.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 07:41 PM) I don't know, I am definitely not a part of the political correctness police, but I wouldn't disseminate my views that could be be perceived as ignorant/offensive to sects of people including and not limited to women, homosexuals and Native Americans. If LoMo was making all of these comments on a forum and was a regular Joe like one of us I wouldn't raise an eyebrow but he's representing an organization and himself as a professional. His reputation is tainted by his immaturity and silly comments and now we are supposed to use his words as the basis of whether Johnson should start in AAA or in the MLB? Maybe if Morrison shut up for once he wouldn't have had so many growing pains. I don't know how much you know about Morrison but here's some insight on him: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...urn=mlb-wp15874 Regardless, in most cases, using one piece of testimonial evidence for the justification of a broader point just isn't sound rhetoric in my opinion. FFS it was simply to further add to the discussion about maturity and playing in MLB when you are young. Judging from what a few posters here mentioned with Micah it seems he might have a maturity issue (raise your hand if you didn't in your early 20s) and the best place to get on the job training might not be Chicago, but experiencing 200-300 PA down in Charlotte. Morrison came across quite self aware in his interview and also was speaking frankly about how maturity isn't something you just wake up with one day it comes slowly with time and experience. I feel like a lot of people on this board are simply ignoring Micah's flaws or papering them away. If you take a step back and ignore meaningless platitudes like "his speed changes games" -- what are you left with on Micah? A guy that hasn't even spent half a season above high A ball. A guy that from all reports doesn't know how to use his speed both in the field and on the bases to his full advantage. Sanchez is no great shakes. At best, he's likely to be adaquate. A 1 WAR starter with a s*** bat and a solid glove. That said, Micah is no great shakes either. Yes he has a higher upside, he also has a lower floor. As I've said time and time again -- this isn't the year to be rolling the dice unless you forced to gamble. If the Sox are 10 back in July and Sanchez is a negative WAR player then by all means, f***ing roll the dice on Micah. But there's not a single compelling reason to rush him up to MLB and ask him to be a 2-3 WAR player right away. Fans always get excited over guys that can run. I get it, I do, but come on, even Billy Hamilton compiled almost all of his value from defense last year, not something Micah is likely to duplicate, not by a long shot -- and Hamilton has a pedigree far exceeding Micah's offensively. He put up huge numbers in tougher leagues than Micah. In conclusion, this is a very tough decision for the club to make and treating it as "Micah's job to lose" doesn't do anyone any favors. It's way more nuanced than that.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 06:20 PM) We all know where you stand on Micah Johnson The you can stop replying to my posts telling me as such. I get your position on my position.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 05:05 PM) I can't think of the last time someone was annointed next big thing since like Ryan Sweeney was referred to as a baseball god. For a lot of people, there was wonder on just why the org tended to view micah with so much preference. This is the first time people can see that. Honestly, I think you can chill, you read 4 posts in a game thread and then go off the deepend. Heads up, every small action is a career indictment in game threads. Eh I'm bored out of my mind at work and what the hell else is there to talk about on March 10th? Other than Rodon, Sale's injury and Micah's play pretty much zero storylines out of camp so far gotta talk about something. As I've said, Micah could very well be the ORGs hand picked choice to "win" the second base job. Great. I hope he hits 280/330/430 with 40 sb in 55 tries and plays run neutral defense at 2B. With that 3 WAR from 2B it offsets regression elsewhere. I just don't see that happening and would prefer to have him get much more meaningful experience in AAA before coming to Chicago based on a hot spring and 80 speed.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 05:00 PM) When does the sand run out on Jared Mitchell? Eh, with JR in charge? Probably never. Dude will be a career AAA guy making 80k a year and retire into an instructional role after that. It's one of the many nice things about JR that goes under-reported IMO.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 10, 2015 -> 04:54 PM) i will have to say this, i never thought that Micah will be doing so well this yr. it is really making it hard to even think of him being sent to the minors. i mean, if the player plays and hits very well in spring training, then all would imagine that he earned the job. wouldn't you think?? If the Sox think he's earned it fine, but all this talk is just confirmation bias after 20 PA. I mean seriously, PUMP THE f***ING BREAKS. Every single year it seems someone is anointed the next big thing in camp this year Rodon and Micah get to split the honors. I can only hope the Sox are a little more savvy then some of the fans and media.