NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 11:21 AM) Are you guys sure about Viciedo? I thought he signed for $4.2MMish. The contract was worth that if he played in the majors for the year. But because of when they let him go, they only had to pay like 700k.

I just want to say (and may have said it before), if you have kids and want to do long road trips, a rear entertainment/movie setup for your vehicle is worth every penny. Lifesaver. We don't use it locally, just on the long treks, but still worth it.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) I'd be very wary about Marin. Dude has struck out just 11% of the batters he's faced at AAA. He'll have to improve mightily on that to be anything approaching a prospect in my book. Just as going scoreless in 22 innings is a very small sample, so is the K rate. And unlike say Beck, look at his pro career prior - he is usually more 6, 7, 8 K/9. And more important is stuff. What's interesting about Marin is, his stuff wasn't anything worth writing home about in his early years. But he's re-tooled significantly. Added a cutter that a scout I talked with called "major league", his FB velo went from 88-91 to low 90s touching mid-90s, and his core FB shows more sink now. Which leads to another key point - he was not particularly FB or GB heavy before, but he's getting a lot more ground balls now. Which is important to look at vs K rates. He's certainly not a high end prospect, but I'd call him a prospect. I think in a relief role, with the strong command he has on that FB and CT and their quality level, with the ability to throw a change or breaker for a strike, he could do well there.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 09:04 AM) Yeah, Fulmer is going to get shut down now for a couple weeks, but he'll sign quick. I don't they're going to be as aggressive with him as Rodon though. He's at 120+ innings as it is. If he pitches above Winston-Salem this season, I'd kinda be surprised. That's my thinking as well. Rookie league tune-up, one of the A-ball clubs and probably that's it. Maybe, if AA or AAA make their playoffs (Charlotte is in position now for that) and Fulmer is blowing away A-ball, he joins the post-season team late. An MLB call-up for 2015 seems unlikely to me.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 07:59 AM) Does that include signing Viciedo to a $4+ large contract and then releasing him a couple of weeks later? They didn't pay him anywhere near $4M. Also even if they did, that isn't a "large contract".

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 12:24 AM) Seems like a kid who has pretty decent minor league stats but fairly limited MLB potential. Are we missing something (new pitch, change in delivery, healthy) with this recent stretch? You are missing a lot. And you'll be hearing more about it soon on FS. For now... when he was released from W-S a little over a year ago, he went to Indy ball, changed some pitch grips and added a cutter. Came back and had better stuff. Then the Sox tweaked his delivery too, and in the Mexican winter league all of a sudden his FB was hitting mid-90s, touching 96 as a high. The Sox wanted him to get reps but didn't have room in AAA so they loaned him to a Mexican League team for a while this year, now he's back. Current stuff includes a usually-low-90s sinking fastball, effective cutter, a couple breaking pitches I don't know a ton about, and overall strong command. I'd put him in the T30 now.

Guest writer Joshua Strong with a detailed look at international amateurs eligible to sign in the new July 2nd Intl period that have been linked to the White Sox by some sources. Gives a nice intro to the state of the Sox Intl efforts, and mini-profiles of the players the team is supposedly after. Here is the article. With the MLB team stinking it up, it is nice to look at what new talent can be injected into the system.

Recap posted. Sorry for the delay! Got some good stuff in there though, and a roster move from the DSL to the AZL.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 03:32 PM) Over Labor Day, the wife and I are hiking across West Maroon Pass in Colorado between Aspen and Crested Butte. Basically, because of the giant peaks between the two towns, it's about a 3 hour drive between the two towns. But it's just a 12 mile hike between. Supposed to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the state of Colorado as well. I love living out here... I loved living in CO too. I miss mountains.

Just saw, Montas hit 100 on the gun in the SL ASG. Cannon.

Anderson done for the game - 2-3, 3B, 2B, K. Austin also done - 1-2, K. The leadoff hitter for the SAL South is John Johnson. Who does that to their child?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:51 AM) Man I totally disagree. I want the bets players in. Not the best players who are good guys as well. Should they pull every dirtbag out of the HOF? The HOF is about influence on the game. That, to me, means the total package. It does NOT mean I think you only let in perfect people, it means it is a factor just like any other. Jeter is a HOF'er, despite being a mediocre defender. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:56 AM) The best hitter of the last 50 years is not in the HOF because he is disliked as a person. Meanwhile, Mike Piazza is getting voted in soon despite having broken just as many rules as Bonds. It's a joke. Do you mean Bonds or Rose? In both cases, it is not about not liking them as a person. It is about how they treated baseball. And as for Piazza, I don't think his chances are much better than Bonds, but we'll see.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 02:57 PM) I think the whole idea of participation awards making kids ok with losing is BS to begin with. I'm almost 40 and we had those awards back when I played. It's not a "new" thing. The thing is, kids aren't stupid. They know what those trophies are. They know that they aren't nearly as good as the first place trophies the other kids are walking around with. Often times we would get ice cream or some other treat after the game even if we lost but it didn't make us want to win any less. Honestly, I think the bigger problem is the kids that are getting pushed by their parents who are trying to re-live their failed sports aspirations through their kids. I have 3 girls and only the youngest had/has any interest in playing any kind of sport. She's not the worst, but she's not the best either. If she wants to continue to try and get better I'll support her but I'm not going to push her thinking she'll be the next Cat Osterman or Jennie Finch. Well said. Also, I sure as heck don't want my kids to be like Pete Rose.

I have a hard time saying this team needs 3-4 years to win. With the pitching they have in Chicago and in the pipe, they can put together good to great staffs (barring unforseen injuries which are a risk across all teams anyway) continuously for that period. And usually, pitching is the hardest part to build. They need better offense and defense from the entire skill infield set and catcher. That should be the focus. If enough of those 4 positions can improve substantially, you have a contending team. That's not an easy task, but we are also only talking about 4 positions so it isn't impossible. Yes Avisail is a worry, but he's the least of your problems if this teams skill infield and catcher were putting up even league average numbers on both sides of the ball. That's literally all it would take, in my view, to make the Sox contenders in 2016 - league average or better (both sides) players at those 4 roles. (before anyone screams, I am not saying you can't also improve elsewhere, just that the OF and 1B/DH are either good enough or having unusually bad years so they aren't a priority in my eyes)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 01:39 PM) All depends on if they can squeeze some savings out of Fulmer. I think they have about $100k in savings so far if my math is right. See the post in thread I made about Quick Draft Update - all the gory math is in there. Even with Fulmer at slot, they could offer about 250k without tax penalty, or 425k with the penalty, to try to get Hickman.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 01:10 PM) Lol there are 4 qualified catchers in the SL. Nieto has the 2nd best OPS at .650. 3rd and 4th have a .570 and a .550. That's what I'm sayin'. Catching depth is really hard to come by. Which is why I'd love to see the Sox shovel together enough money to sign Mike Hickman from this draft. Won't help them this year or next, but any chance at a potential starting (or better) catcher, you leap at it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 12:58 PM) FWIW, if I'm taking on Danks even with Anderson I'm not giving you a likely starter back. Well first off, I'd send money with him. Second, I think you will. The deal is for Anderson and the P & OF (maybe something else too), and you're essentially paying some part of the remaining $20M owed to Danks to get them (maybe $10M?). Anderson alone is worth well more than $10M. Danish and one of those OFs combined worth another $10M or more. You aren't sending me an All Star by any means, but a likely starter, yes. Maybe you strike a hard bargain, and it becomes Anderson, Danish, Adams and Thompson/Engel/May. Depends on who the return is. Point is, I have major concerns that the alignment of positions we DO have position player talent who could be starters, the middle infield, are defensive issues (maybe), which is exactly what this particular team doesn't need.

I know this may sound odd, but I'd seriously consider trading AWAY some prospects before I traded Sale or Abreu FOR prospects. Example... who are the middle infielders most likely the "future" that are in the system? Tim Anderson and Micah Johnson. Both significant prospects, both with intriguing offensive tools. Also, both with big questions about their DEFENSE. This team is horrible defensively already, and guys that will be around for some time are part of the problem. You need to improve defense with any acquisitions, not degrade it. For other teams that are already strong defensively, maybe an Anderson or Johnson are more tantalizing - they therefore have more value for other teams than the Sox. That is a trade signal. Trade Danks, with Anderson and perhaps one of the pitching prospects (Danish for example), maybe throw in one of the toolsy outfielders (Thompson/Engel/May), in exchange for a SS or 2B with a decent or better bat who fields their position well and is under control for at least a few years. I think that can happen. Its a value proposition, and in the end you have more money to work with, an upgraded defensive MIF player, a rotation slot open for Johnson/Montas/Fulmer (depending on timing), and lose a prospect or two you can't easily use right now.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 11:42 AM) How is Nieto an All Star? He is hitting .210. I wondered the same thing. Then again, how much catching depth is there in the minors across baseball? Very little. What other catchers in the SL, that aren't already also on that roster, would go in instead?

The Southern, Carolina and South Atlantic leagues all have their All Star games today... Southern - BHAM - roster includes Tim Anderson, Joey DeMichele, Adrian Nieto and Frankie Montas. 7:20pm CT, on MiLB.tv Carolina - Winston-Salem - roster includes James Dykstra, Matt Heidenreich and Omar Narvaez. 9:35pm CT, no TV I can find South Atlantic - Kannapolis - roster includes Eddy Alvarez and Brett Austin. 6:35pm CT, no TV I can find. Trey Michalczewski was also a CAR All Star, but his back injury is keeping him out. Here's the rest of the schedule. Haviland for CHAR, Magallones for GTF, AZL is TBA

The AZL White Sox, which are the younger and less experienced team of the two rookie level clubs, is a really intriguing one this year. Much more depth of actual prospects than in recent years (both as AZL and Bristol), highlighted by a number of key recent LatAm signings (Adolfo, Alfaro, Done, etc.) and a slew of 2015 draftees. This is a club to keep an eye on. Here's the preview of their roster from Quinarvy.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:37 AM) The baseball HOF is still a joke that moves the fences to fit its own desires. It's got major problems. Having a character clause isn't one of them, in my view.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:25 AM) The HOF is irrelevant without Barry Bonds The fact that he is kept out is, to me, what makes it relevant. And different from other sports.

Rose was an amazing ballplayer. He is also a scuzzy human who broke what may be the cardinal rule of the game, repeatedly, then lied about it, repeatedly. He doesn't deserve to be on the ground of the HOF let alone be on a ballot or voted in. This wasn't PEDs, where I can see an argument for allowing those guys in, in some cases (though I may disagree). For all the supposed love of the game, Rose crapped on it with his choices.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:12 AM) That Jace Fry TJ surgery is also really hurting the lower minors in terms of pitching depth, too... Eh, one guy who was ranked in the teens doesn't "really hurt" much of anything, though it made a small dent perhaps. He is now being replaced in that rotation by Brennan, coming off surgery, a former high round pick. The real decline in the system is about the top.