NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (fanNaz @ May 18, 2015 -> 10:44 AM) Ouch...saw him as an invitee during spring training, he retired the side in 3 defensive plays, made contact but didn't hit that day. His body type was all over the major field, lighter than a couple of the other 1B I saw. Great team guy, every WS affiliate he laces up for wins and same thing happened in the Dominican. He caught and played third in college. He is solid and has paid his dues...IMHO Don't misunderstand - this isn't personal thing. I've spoken with Dan before, he seems like a great guy. And like I said, dude can hit - not even a question there. This is just about this chances at making the majors, which are very slim. Not zero, mind you - just very slim. My honest opinion is, he's the perfect profile to play in Japan. His bat would play huge there especially in the smaller parks, his patience will help him against all the junkballers, he's got some personality, and he's proven he can rake against equivalent pitching. He could probably make good money over there and carve out a career.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 18, 2015 -> 10:23 AM) I think it's explained regression toward the mean. They could not sustain that badness. Now, if Ventura was fired when they were 8-14 and they went on a 9-3 run, it would have been explained it was Robin all along, when it was not. Managers don't make as much difference as we would like to think, at least not in Robin's case. The White Sox problem was never a lack of motivation or effort. I would add onto this and go a step further. I think with some guys, it was trying to do too much that was part of the issue.

I'll echo most of what is above, but add one thing... his fast start in AA is interesting because it is the opposite of his previous pattern, where he got to a new level and struggled a month or two then turned it on. The fact that he could jump right in this time is encouraging.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ May 17, 2015 -> 02:57 PM) When does Dan Black become interesting? QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 17, 2015 -> 03:49 PM) Isn't he similar to Andy Wilkins? If LaRoche or Abreu go on the DL I assume Black will be up QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ May 17, 2015 -> 05:14 PM) Not really: - He's having a way better season than Wilkins did last year: wRC+ of 188 (and that was before today, 3/3, 3B, BB) compared to Wilkins's 142 - His skills are more of an indicator of major league success: walking more than striking out rather than a power outburst QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 17, 2015 -> 07:23 PM) Probably never. He's old. It is true that Black is probably the guy to come up if Abreu or LaRoche get hurt. And he's kind of ideal for that, since the team doesn't have a true 1B prospect anywhere near ready. Being old isn't even Black's main problem anyway. He's in terrible physical shape, and that's what scouts will immediately see. His defense at 1B is mediocre from reports I've seen - glove is fine, minimal range. He's 100% all-bat. That said, I actually do think he could hit MLB pitching a bit. Too bad he couldn't play some other position, any other position. I'd say, barring an injury in Chicago, he doesn't see the majors this year, and probably not ever. More like a Mike Hessman type guy who destroys AAA pitching for a bunch of years acting as that "emergency" 1B and not getting a real shot.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 15, 2015 -> 08:11 PM) Remind me who Almonte is.... QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ May 15, 2015 -> 08:23 PM) PTBNL for Beckham. Acquisition story Detailed scouting report Need anything else?

QUOTE (RegionSox @ May 15, 2015 -> 04:30 PM) I was just curious, what makes you see Thad Lowry as a reliever? Elite fastball, minimal development of anything else yet. He's still young so I am by no means sure about that... just would have thought one of his secondaries would start to pop out by now. Maybe it is and I haven't seen or heard about it yet.

Just to inform all the draftniks in here... the draft is by far the biggest thing we do at FutureSox each year (in terms of the amount of content, time invested, and traffic to the blog). And we're getting geared up right now! First pre-draft pieces will start showing up next week, and we'll probably have somewhere around 7-8 different articles from at least three different writers. So stay tuned!

Carlos Rodon - Starter Frankie Montas - Reliever Tyler Danish - Starter Spencer Adams - Reliever Chris Beck - Reliever Jordan Guerrero - Starter Jace Fry - Starter Myles Jaye - Reliever Luis Martinez - Reliever Nolan Sanburn - Reliever David Trexler - Starter Andre Wheeler - Reliever James Dykstra - Starter Andrew Mitchell - Reliever Thad Lowry - Reliever Brian Clark - Reliever Yency Almonte - Reliever Aaron Bummer - Starter

OK, here's the exercise. Take this list of the current pitching prospects in the system (these are our T30 plus a few names just outside it), and make your best guess on if they are a starter or reliever long-term. Obviously this ASSUMES they make it to the higher levels or majors at all, for the purpose of this exercise.... Here's the list of names. I'll put my predictions in the next post... Carlos Rodon Frankie Montas Tyler Danish Spencer Adams Chris Beck Jordan Guerrero Jace Fry Myles Jaye Luis Martinez Nolan Sanburn David Trexler Andre Wheeler James Dykstra Andrew Mitchell Thad Lowry Brian Clark Yency Almonte Aaron Bummer I'm leaving off guys that the org has just plain said they are a reliever (i.e. Wendelken, Hansen, etc.). GO...

QUOTE (Butter Parque @ May 15, 2015 -> 02:45 PM) Can someone explain why Ynoa is in W-S? Wouldn't Birmingham be a more suitable place for him? I wondered that early on as well. He seems to be pitching pretty well, so he'll probably be in AA soon.

Best of luck to Carlos. He seems like a great kid, got chance to interview him after that insane 2-game stretch a couple weeks ago - his first unassisted interview in English (he's been working to learn it). I hope he kicks some butt.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 15, 2015 -> 11:30 AM) i really have to disagree and here is why. the manager, by all practical purpose runs the team that you see on the field. which is including making the daily roster and if a player is not cutting it. the general manager take any additional input for across all levels and then address what is needed for the org, this is thru FA, trades, or waiver pickups. lets think of it this way, do you think a mike scioscia, if he was applying for the coaches position, will take that crap from the FO??? He'd better, or he won't have a job.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 15, 2015 -> 10:44 AM) So you just admitted Robin is a puppet. Only if you think all people who work for someone else are puppets. Do you run your own business? If not, your logic makes you a puppet, since you must have a boss at your job. Robin works for Rick. It's that simple. Rick, if he's an effective manager, listens to Robin's views and takes them into account. But when they disagree, Rick rules. That's the way it works in any company.

QUOTE (Condor13 @ May 14, 2015 -> 03:03 PM) he has 2 errors. I'd say he is one of our best defensive playears and did far less to hurt the team then conor, eaton, abreu, or even Alexei has. He also has been a better hitter then, conor, alexei, and Eaton Please don't cite number of errors in defensive arguments. I'm a Micah defender in some ways, but even I can see plainly he is struggling defensively.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ May 14, 2015 -> 02:18 PM) I suggest you check his stats. He's Micah level bad in (granted SSS) in CF. -47 drs prorated for a season in his career. In fact, according to DRS (and you can quibble with it if you want) he's awful at every OF spot. Every. Single. Spot. The eye test says the same thing. He failed to get to a couple balls going back that Eaton usually handles with no problem. There's no role for him on this team, Boni is better in CF. If they are waiting to see how Trayce does that's fine but right now Thompson would at least give them a very good backup defensive CF. Since you like DRS: r-DRS/yr, career, across slots: 0 (so exactly average) Dude has played a total of 90 innings in CF in his major league career - that's 10 full games. Taking any stat from that alone is absurd. Thus, I looked across the slots, where the numbers are big enough to maybe mean something. So yeah, like I said, around average, statistically. I don't pretend to have watch every inning he's played in CF this year, and he's only played 4 games there.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ May 14, 2015 -> 02:06 PM) Having JB Shuck on the roster is like having 24 players on the roster. A guy who cant hit and cant defend has no place, were better off carrying a 3rd catcher because at least the temptation to let Shuck continue to hurt the team is gone. He's hitting about .240, OBP .296, in 28 PA. No power. That's not starting grade, but you'll find it's pretty much in line with your typical 4th OF in the current modern game. Defensively he's more or less average or just below across his career across all three slots. He's not great by any means, but he's barely playing and he's about what you'll usually get from a 4th OF. He's not even among the top 10 problems with this team.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ May 14, 2015 -> 01:54 PM) Shuck is garbage, were better off with no 4OF than Shuck. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 14, 2015 -> 01:56 PM) Yes, a team is better going without a bench player, then to go with Shuck... Come on. Uh, yeah. QUOTE (Dunt @ May 14, 2015 -> 01:57 PM) I honestly wouldnt mind Trayce getting a crack at 4th OF And he may get that shot. In fact I'd be surprised if he doesn't see Chicago sometime this year.

Not personally a fan of doing it this early, but I certainly see the other side. Right now the team is struggling defensively and Micah just isn't there yet on that side of the ball. I would have played it out longer, but I'm not upset either. Sanchez was red hot in Charlotte, though he's fallen off the last few games. Defensively he's a big upgrade right away of course. I hope he gets full time play though, and that is my concern - they may play Beckham and/or Bonifacio so much that Sanchez doesn't get regular time, which is the wrong move IMO.

Recap posted!

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ May 13, 2015 -> 06:57 PM) Here is a name.... Chris Cullen. He is a prep catcher from the state of Georgia. He is 6'5 200lbs and he bats and throws from the right side. His swing kid of reminds me of Jeff Bagwell. Here is an report by Matt Garroich from MinorLeagueBall.com : "Chris Cullen is a tall, 6'5", 200 LB catcher, so that tall of a guy isn't overly likely to stick but he has the tools to. He has a strong arm and is agile behind the plate but he's 6'5". Offensively, he has long levers and really gets into the ball when he hits it. He has a lot of offensive potential if it works out. Oddly enough, he's committed to South Carolina who just ran through a similar guy in Grayson Greiner. I'm usually not in favor of players going to school but he seems like a guy who could really do well in college. He may be a corner OF or a 1B down the line but the swing looks like he'll generate enough power to make that work if he needs to." I'm not overly concerned about 6'5" at catcher. Flowers is 6'4", Kevan Smith is also 6'4". If he has the athleticism then I don't see that extra inch as a major factor.

QUOTE (ron883 @ May 13, 2015 -> 10:28 PM) Kevan Smith and Dan Blake. Are they major league contributors? Smith, in my view, has a decent chance to be a good major league backup. His pitcher handling has been extolled by the org, and they love that in their backups and catchers generally. He makes contact and has some power, draws some walks. The arm is strong. His defense is iffy, but supposedly the blocking has improved - that is the weak point really. Two years ago, Black seemed to have a small window to maybe get a shot. But he struggled in AAA his first shot at it, and with Wilkins catching fire last year, that was all it took for him to lose that window. At this point, the only way he's a major leaguer is if one of Abreu or LaRoche goes down to injury this year. He might, maybe, be a guy they'd call up in that instance - or then again maybe they'd just give Davidson some DH time in the majors. Black can absolutely hit, and I think he could hit in the majors. But he's weak defensively, has Konerko-like speed, and quite honestly his lack of conditioning probably scares people. I'd say his chances at ever seeing the majors are very, very slim, and his chances of carving out a real multi-year career are near zero.

Keenyn Walker already has five errors. As an outfielder. In a little over a month of play. Errors aren't a great way to evaluate defense of course, and I'm sure his speed helps him get to balls others can't, but... he's on track for like 25+ errors in the outfield. No way that's a good thing.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 13, 2015 -> 12:28 PM) Anderson at a 30/2 K:BB ratio The 21% K/PA rate is actually OK for where he is in his development, but the nearly complete lack of walks is a red flag for me.

For those who have bitly or twitter links blocked at work, here is the direct link to the Outfielders piece. Good stuff in there! I personally am a little higher than Jeff on Thompson and Coats, and a little lower on May, but everyone on that list has some intrigue.

I think SSS is far, far too early in calling for this. Johnson's ceiling is much higher. Obviously the glove needs work, but I think he needs to the time to make it work now that he's in Chicago. Just my opinion. I think he's done very well at the plate so far.