NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 12, 2015 -> 08:33 AM) I wouldn't except that our top prospect also play shortstop. If I dare to ask – what about third-base? I would assume that both can play second. Alvarez has already played some second, and I'd imagine Anderson could too. But I think you avoid moving either of them at this point. I'm good with Alvarez playing a mix of infield positions though. Anderson is likely in AAA next year, so Alvarez can open in AA, then you take it from there. I suppose it is possible that Alvarez could leapfrog DeMichele into AAA for 2B, but you have that whole Johnson/Sanchez mess there already and who knows how that plays out.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 08:00 PM) Rubio has a quality that is hard to teach: his general manner doesn't reek of a crazy person. This is an important quality, because people are going to forget almost everything that you say, but they'll still have a general impression of you. I'd say most of the 10 who were in the debate don't reek of a crazy person. Trump does, Cruz does. Because they are. But I don't get that vibe from any of the others.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 11:12 PM) Just thinking ahead - can Alvarez play OF? Why would you want him to? He plays decent and improving defense at a premium position, why move him? Also his biggest weakness on D is his arm, which isn't bad but isn't a strength either and would be more exposed in the OF.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 06:43 PM) I still see Rubio as the dark horse in this thing. Not probable, but also not inconceivable that he's the GOP nominee. Oy, forgot Rubio! He was one of the best of them in this debate, though he's a little stiff and rehearsed. That can change over time though. He's also potentially electable in the general. Also forgot Walker, but honestly I think he'll drop like a rock. Comes off like a puppet.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 06:46 PM) How many more games does W-S have? He's the type of guy you can be aggressive with. IMO. Edit- guess I should also ask how many games AA has as well....I'd give Alvarez another 2 weeks in A+. Call Anderson up to make room. Aggressive is good, but remember this... BHAM and W-S are likely playoff teams, where as Charlotte is in the race but behind the leaders. You want Anderson to get playoff experience if possible. Keeping Anderson and Alvarez where they are might be best in some regards, and really, if you move them now, they only get like 3 weeks at the next level. Not missing much by keeping them where they are.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 02:28 PM) I'd really like a podcast soon from yall on our farm system and what to expect moving forward. Funny you should say that, because one is being recorded tonight! Slightly different personnel this time though - Dan, Brian, Daniel and maybe Will.

Watched the first 2/3 of the debate or so. Quick impressions... --Nothing to add on Trump. As is clear to nearly everyone, he isn't a President and can't win a general election. Heck, once the field thins, he can't win the GOP nomination either. Thankfully. --I wanted to like Kasich, because I think he's got some good ideas and my policy views are closest to his. But he failed to answer most questions, and he clearly doesn't have the charisma to win anyway. --Huckabee was an odd duality. His views are so far right, especially on social issues, that he's scary policy-wise. Plus I get the feeling he isn't in it to win anyway. But oddly enough, he came off as the nicest guy on that stage, and had the easiest tone. --Rand Paul is just smarmy. That grin will destroy any chance he has. He's maverick in a few specific policy areas, which is good to have in the debate, but he isn't electable. --Chris Christie did fairly well, though his 9/11 flag raising was chintzy and hollow. I like to think his weight won't matter, as it shouldn't, but I'm fairly sure it will. --Dr Carson is very charismatic, and did a nice job slicing right through a lot of the non-answers from other candidates. Good sense of humor too. It's a shame he's on that same extreme right on social issues that Huckabee is on, or I might like the guy enough to think about him. --Jeb Bush seemed... not very bright. I mean that relatively of course - none on that stage are actually dumb of course. But in that crowd, he wears the dunce hat. That said, sadly, he's the most electable of the group. He may also end up being the most moderate, which is good. But dammit I don't want another Clinton or Bush. --Ted Cruz is frightening. Same lack of any desire to govern, similar to Trump but with slightly more filter. Couldn't possibly win a general election. Basically, the only guys in that field with any chance to win the general (IMO) are Bush, Kasich and, oddly enough, Ben Carson. Just my view. As far as who I like best from the field, none really jump out, but I'd lean towards Kasich, even though he can't win the nomination (that's right - he can't win the primaries, but could win a general potentially). Now I need to dig into the "other 7" and see what I can learn.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 11:53 AM) North, can you post the link to where you explain how the minor league rule v draft works (I think I've read a write up about it on your site). Future Sox has posted about the Rule V after the fact with just basic definitions before getting into the players, not any different than what I posted earlier in here. Here is an article from Fangraphs, though it leaves nebulous the minor league phases. Surprisingly, I cannot find a good, complete Rule V Draft article.

Recap posted Some special notes in there about post-season looks for the teams, plus the usual strong performances reported and the info on Tim Anderson's injury.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 9, 2015 -> 10:44 PM) What's the likelihood of Delmonico getting picked during the Rule 5? Don't think anyone's gonna give him a shot at the big league next year. How does the Triple A and Double A phase work again? Same pool of players as the ML phase, but without the 25 man roster requirement? Delmonico won't go in the major league phase. No way someone does that with him. The major league phase of the Rule V, makes all players eligible that aren't on the 40-man roster and have a certain combo of age/years in the minors. Guys like Ynoa and Delmonico become eligible this coming offseason. The AAA and AA portions go after players not on the 40 AND meet those requirements AND aren't on the minor league reserve lists, which are pretty substantial. So the chances of losing anyone significant in those phases is damn near zero. The best player I saw the Sox lose in those phases was Brady Shoemaker, and he'd missed nearly the entire year prior to injury.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 05:04 PM) Does anyone know what kind of arm he has? We all know about his other tools but I'd be interested to know what scouts say about his arm on 20-80 scale Watched him play, but he only made a couple throws. Seemed plenty strong enough arm-wise for short. Talking to a scout, he said he's got the arm for short, but it's not a strength for him either. I'd say he's average-ish arm-wise at SS.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 11:33 AM) Would love to see Coats there. He could be a good possibility to make the White Sox 40 man roster if he finishes the season strong and has a good AFL. No rush to put Coats on 40, he doesn't have to be until after 2016. You really only put him there if you are adding him to the active roster. Also he's doing well in AAA, not much good reason for him to play AFL.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 01:34 PM) Any thoughts on Cody Winiarski? If I remember right, he was a bit of a prospect, almost died or something, then tried coming back last year and sucked. Anyways his numbers are terrific again. WHIP under 1, and the elite strikeout numbers that have been associated with him at every level. He's bit old for AA at 25 but also understandable given his pprevious injury. Mid 90s FB and a slider, but I don't know much about the quality of the stuff. I seem to recall he may also have a splitter. He had some problem with blood vessels around his lung, had to have part of a rib removed (which he keeps in his locker now). Was good, then had the illness, came back pretty good, was released, then re-signed.

Forgot to say this earlier, but I agree with illinilaw and others here... I really don't want to see another Bush or Clinton. Those kind of things scare me in a real democracy, not to mention it seems that much harder to see changes made when you go back to the same well.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 04:09 PM) Chris Wallace is a cartoon character. Meghan was unfair to Trump. QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 04:12 PM) which, as it turns out, he wasn't actually nominated and made a US attorney until December 2001. I've also heard some complaining that Fox asked good, substantive questions of most of the candidates but that they lobbed softball after softball to Rubio. The claim is that they were trying to help salvage his floundering campaign, versus almost openly attacking Trump. Honestly, when a person is running for President of the United States that is clearly a clown unable to lead, moderators should be forcing that clown to prove they are more than that.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 10:56 AM) Honestly..for those who watched, was that not the most entertaining debate you've ever seen? Have you ever seen tougher questions thrown up, including the follow-up's such as, Mr. Trump, you never did answer the question, so I'll give you another 30 seconds for you to tell us what evidence you have that the mexican government is sending its most dangerous criminals and drug dealers to the US? Trumps follow-up was just an epitome of his buffoonish ways. I recorded it, still need to watch it.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 02:25 PM) It's interesting that he highlights someone like Glines, but doesnt mention someone like Zavala. In particular, he mentions Glines seems to play plus defense in CF. I wonder if there is going to be an increased focused on defense in the organization? I again want to point out, he only mentioned a few, off hand. I wouldn't read much into who he didn't mention. Could be true on D. Looking at 2014 and 2015 drafts, I am seeing a lot more guys who greater skills in both speed and D, or at least it seems that way.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 10:51 AM) http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2015/...-straight-time/ Recap posted. Suck it Kolek lol

Just a reminder that Jason Coats has a near-.900 OPS in July in August in AAA, and this is only his 3rd year in the minors. People focus on his age (he's 25), but the guy reached AAA after just 275 pro games (basically two season's worth). And he's adjusted quite well. Add in above average corner defense, strong arm, some speed and the ability to play center occasionally... and you see why he jumped into the rankings. I honestly think if not for 40-man considerations, it may have been him instead of Thompson coming up to cover for Shuck. The good news is, Coats can still spend all of 2016 in the minors before he requires protection.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 09:02 AM) Interesting no mention of Hawkins. There were hints (contact skills, specifically mentioned Anderson but not Courtney, and the whole thing about social networking which plagued Hawkins in his second season)...one gets the idea he wouldn't have been the pick if Hostetler was running things at that time. what? He only mentioned like two pre-2015 draftees. He didn't mention virtually ANY others. I think you're reading something into it that isn't there.

Matt Spiegel used this piece as the center of an article he wrote for the Daily Herald yesterday.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 08:21 AM) Sox have 3 vet starters at Charlotte: Noesi, Penny, and Drabek. They are eating up innings that could go elsewhere, even though there is little chance of them getting promoted to White Sox. Possible exception is Drabek. With all the young pitchers throughout the minor league system, I see no reason why these three are taking a regular turn, since so many young pitchers could use the innings. Who do you think, specifically, should get three starting slots in Charlotte? Because I see 2, max, from AA that might be ready - Jaye and Montas. I'd agree that Jaye should come up. Montas maybe too. But the other thing is, BHAM is in a playoff race, and the club tends to like keeping key guys around that as the season comes to a close.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 6, 2015 -> 10:48 PM) OK I took a long walk tonight and listened to the recent Anderson Cooper interview of my man, Trump. Cooper did a nice professional job. I like him. Anyway ... Trump was specific on all issues. He reiterated he did not hate all Mexicans. He acknowledged many work for him. In fact some illegally. He said if he could find the illegals he'd fire them. Yes kind of a cop out, but anyway, he did say he loves Mexicans who rent his properties, etc. He also said he'd build an impenetrable wall that Mexico would pay for, not the USA. ps I put this in Republican cause it started with me listening to Trump, whom I still like. And you believe the bolded?

QUOTE (MnSoxFan @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 07:21 AM) The guy struggled for years with Rockies org trying to even get an even BB/K ratio. With the Sox he has 66 Ks and 22 Walks. Someone fixed him. He could be a big, big find. Sox are so good at this. I still like to point at Tanner Mendonca in a similar fashion, as I've never seen a more dramatic turnaround. Check this out... 2013 Rk League (age 21) with MIN: 23.1 IP, 24 H, 22 ER, 37 BB, 23 K 2014 Rk League (age 22) with CHW: 21.1 IP, 16 H, 9 ER, 6 BB, 41 K I mean, look at the K/BB numbers. That's insane. He went back to GTF this June and was doing the same great stuff, but for some reason hasn't pitched since 6/30. Still on active roster. I'll have to send a note over there and see what's up. But regardless, that is a ridiculous turnaround.

We managed to snag a pretty big fish - we interviewed recently promoted Nick Hostetler, the new Director of Amateur Scouting for the White Sox. It is unusual for us to get a one-on-one interview with someone this high up the food chain. Also, while he's been quoted around this week, I am pretty sure this is his first in-depth interview to be published since the promotion. Here is the interview, which was done by Brian (raBBit). You should read it. Talks about what he might do differently, some players to watch, and other really great stuff.