NorthSideSox72

Recap posted, sorry again for the delay. Fun facts in there about Peralta's outing.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ May 12, 2015 -> 09:14 PM) Anyone else slightly concerned that he hasn't hit a HR in his last 188 PA (including last year's promotion to Birmingham)? I mean, I know he's not a masher per say, but he's also not known to be a Luery Garcia/Carlos Sanchez type hitter either. It's a pattern with him at a new level. Happened in A+ and AA too, first few weeks. He hits first, then adds power later. Not sure why, he doesn't seem to know either, just happens. QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 13, 2015 -> 12:02 AM) I really like that site. I can just click a name and get the player bio - easy to discern which are organizational minor leaguer. What's the deal with this Nolan Early? Seems like a good hitter - not great - but capable. What site? Nolan Earley is an org guy, can hit a bit. Don't know much on his defense. His older brother Michael was in the system for a few years too. QUOTE (newbiesoxfan @ May 13, 2015 -> 06:22 AM) Sore back. He'll start later in the week. Didn't know the sore back part - good to know, thanks!

Nick Capra (Player Development Director) and Kirk Champion (Field Coordinator) sat in with 3 blogs to answer some questions about the Sox minor leaguers. Future Sox was among them. Read here what they had to say, with some expected - and perhaps unexpected - statements on some key prospects. Thoughts?

Adams not starting as it turns out - it is Y Peralta. Lowry Thursday, TBA Friday for I's. Seems like a late scratch for Adams, but no reason given.

Scores here CHAR Beck 6:05CT BHAM Doubleheader, Blackmar and bullpen game, 5:35CT W-S Heidenreich 6:05 KAN Adams 6:05 Heidenreich doing very well so far this year.

Sorry for the very delayed recap - Here it is!

QUOTE (southside hitman @ May 12, 2015 -> 08:32 AM) I know the Sox bullpen has been solid, but man what does Cleto have to do to get a promotion? He has a 0.47 ERA now. The really key thing with him is, he's not walking people anymore. And his fastball was still hitting upper 90s last night, topped at 99. If he's really got his control back, he needs to be in the majors.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 12, 2015 -> 06:28 AM) i am glad you mention this, i sometime wondering, the way some of the posters have posted, on lack of offense, if they know what they would like. it is a rarity that a player will come that provides both power and defense. now come the the special something that most overlooks. the avg. before, more of a specific time, the acquiring of Dunn, that time in baseball, it appears to me, the clubs will sacrifice both defense and avg, if the power is there. so will teams, more specifically the sox, what will be ignored to acquire that next prospects, or in this case, to develop. checklist, Davidson, subject 1. power - yes 2. defense for the position - yes ---- 2.5 is it passable - ?? 3. hitting for avg --- no would you consider his still a prospect for the sox??? Yes he is. I'm just not super-confident about his chances to be a starting regular.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 11, 2015 -> 08:45 PM) Add Guerrero to the list of impressive starting prospects in the org if he can carry this success further. I'm way higher on Alvarez than most (I predicted he'd be a Top 100 guy by the end of the year). He needs to be promoted. Eddy Alvarez? I like him too, but... Top 100 guy? THIS YEAR? That's quite a leap. I'm not sure he's even in the org T20 yet, maybe late teens at very best. That could change, but, I don't think he ever reaches T100 status even if everything comes together. Because he's going to be fighting expectations the whole way, and would be 27-ish on reaching the majors (again, best case).

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 11, 2015 -> 06:36 PM) It's interesting what you saw in person but I am not changing my opinion about Thompson because of any of the measures above. It's important to note that the relationship between higher line drive rates producing higher BABIP's is not static. All line drives are not created equal. Not only that, but we can't be sure he is hitting the ball harder when we don't have batted ball statistics for the minor leagues. The relationship between Thompson's BABIP and his batting average have been very strong throughout his career. Meaning any regression from a league average BABIP (where he's roughly been throughout his career) has equaled a similar regression to his .240 career batting average. As of toady, he's been better in many respects as you pointed out, but his batting average will fall and his power/defense will ultimately decide whether he is MLB piece. It's all opinion of course. I think his average may stay pretty close to where it is, and I'd suggest it is his average, walks and contact rate that will, at this point, dictate his future. The power and defense are already there, save for some maturation of the tools. So is the speed.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 11, 2015 -> 04:07 PM) There is no way I move Michalczewski. He's a work in progress. The traditional trajectory other orgs employ seems perfect for him: age 20 at W-S, 21 at Bham and 22 at Charlotte seems perfect for a guy like Michalczewski. He still needs to to make strides at 3B and show game power. SS's are always valuable because they're athletes currently playing a premium positon, I don't think any recent or future trend is going to change that. Regardless, Alvarez isn't going to become some uber-valuable trade piece. His value is best in this organization so I think you do whatever makes sense for his progress and expand his opportunities. We just happen to have a top 50 prospect at SS and a defensive wizard at the two levels ahead of him. Playing 2B wouldn't hurt Alvarez. Personally, I would just bump Alvarez to W-S at the end of May and keep it systemic instead of ending a hot streak. Everyone around here loves Jake Peter for some reason but I'm nowhere near as enamored with him as the ST masses. Peter does have a plus arm though so being removed from the situation, I would say they should consider cutting bait on Basto and throw Peter in LF, with Alvarez taking over at 2B for W-S. I am a big fan of Alvarez. I generally don't put weight into Kanny stats, and his stats are grotesque, but there's still a lot to like. Yes, he's older than Kanny's whole team which helps for leadership but he's a great makeup guy either way. I think most know he's an Olympic speed skater converting to baseball. I don't know what most people feel about ice skaters but the way skaters (and wrestlers for that matter) are brought up as kids just indoctrinates them into a lifestyle of hard work, structure and dedication. Everyone who's a fan of Alvarez should check out Matt's (NorthSideSox72) article from last August: http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...r-eddy-alvarez/. Surely one of the best FutureSox piece's in my time there. Agreed on all the above, and thanks on the Q&A - Eddy was easy to interview in a fun way. And I do think Peter is likely a utility guy in the future, so certainly no harm in moving him to OF for a little while. Engel probably reaches BHAM in the next couple months anyway, so just move Peter there, because none of the Kanny OF's are screaming for that slot.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 11, 2015 -> 03:41 PM) I'd be calling for Thompson's crash ever since the second week of the season. High BABIP, high K% and low BB%. What differences did you see/hear about in his game? Changed his hands, much looser in the stance. Swing when I saw it, in BP but also game, was much smoother and more consistent than what I saw previously on film. I don't have the data, but some folks there claimed he was working longer counts. Also something he talked about, and others did as well, is that he didn't seem to be giving away at bats like he did last year. Also, just seeing him hit in person, the carry off his bat was special. He doesn't look like he has a ton of bat speed, but I think that's the long limbs illusion, because the ball just rocketed off his bat. I would expect a higher BABIP this year because he is hitting the ball hard more often. The K rate is actually down to 23.3% now, lower than in any full season he's had I think (though still not very low). 11 of his 32 hits are XBH. Honestly the only surprising thing to me is the low walk rate, about half what he had last year, so yeah that's a concern. But even with a recent slump, guy is still hitting .283, and his Iso SLG is .169 which is a little higher than last year. And he's doing all this at a new level with better pitching. I think he's made real strides.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 11, 2015 -> 03:27 PM) Trayce Thompson in the midst of his inevitable statistical collapse. I have enjoyed following Johnson this year. Given the comments from Hahn and other members of the FO, it's very clear to me that they have doubts about his mental make up. On that note, despite Charlotte being a hitter friendly stadium (even if overstated a bit around these parts), he has been dominant at home and garbage on the road. Either way, he's pitching better than his ERA indicates and if he gets his walk rate down he certainly has a shot at a MLB future. He does remind me of Gavin Floyd, and I hate comps of convenience, due to his current career trajectory and makeup. On Thompson, he wasn't going to hit like that all year, especially with the K's. But I do think he's made strides. On Johnson, the highlighted part, I think his issues are at least partly mental, so not a huge surprise in his case.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 11, 2015 -> 12:53 PM) you know, the sox fo prob has been thinking this as well. i am agreement of not letting him waste at this level, b/c of his age. i am still wondering if catching is out of the question. Catching? It takes years of play at that position to get any good at it. You're also, I think, wasting his speed and athleticism at that position. I'd imagine that is the last possible option for him.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 11, 2015 -> 12:18 PM) i am for trying him at 3b... plus i think he should have the leg endurance for catching. They're not moving Michalczewski to make room for Alvarez. Probably not Rondon either. Nor likely Jake Peter. He's got nowhere to go in Winston-Salem. Birmingham lacks a real 3B though. Could be Michalczewski or Peter moves up to that spot, which opens something up.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ May 11, 2015 -> 11:31 AM) Yeah, and FIND A WAY to promote Eddy Alvarez, instead of making him the only prospect in Sox history to be promoted too slowly. Dude reached all five times up today. 2-2, 3 BB, also 3 SB.

It's interesting to see, when some guys retired or get released, you don't really hear much about it. Recchia retires and there was a flood of players and front office people on twitter extolling his virtues. Says a lot about the guy. He was a good friend to our site over the years too. And he wrote this article for us. Best of luck to Mike!

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 11, 2015 -> 08:58 AM) How's L Garcia been doing defensively in Charlotte? I assume he's still overmatched at the plate against any good pitcher. Realistically, if the Sox want to improve in areas (like C or 3B) they're going to have to move a good player at least this offseason. And if we aren't in contention in July, by then. Alexei is at the top of that list, so I'm interested in possible replacements. If they have to move Alexei in July, it's Carlos Sanchez. Maybe Saladino I suppose, but not sure he's going to be healthy enough by then. Anderson is (for now) like the 4th or 5th option, and Rondon is about 7th (again, for right now).

QUOTE (bulokis @ May 9, 2015 -> 07:02 PM) I will take a Rondon like player at SS over Alexei anytime now. If Rodon can be close to Iglesias then that will solve one defensive position we need to address. I read this twice, and can't decide if it's serious. You want Rondon over Alexei right now? Alexei is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, and while his bat is inconsistent he's still overall at least average offensively and probably a little better in the long term. And you want to replace that with ab A-ball guy with raw but interesting defense and no history of any ability to hit? I like Rondon, but that's just getting way too aggressive.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ May 9, 2015 -> 03:51 AM) I love following the minor league update threads because of all the over reactions. This kid had a good week. Promote him! Where does he fit in the line up? This kid had a bad week. He's regressing! He's "toolsy." Keep it up guys. It's great entertainment. Or the classic "I'm bored so I'll just stir up some pointless crap to rile up other posters." Love that one too.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ May 10, 2015 -> 12:30 PM) Might be controversial but I wouldn't actually mind skipping Alvarez to AAA. He's completely torn up A-ball in consecutive years, there's no space for him at A+ or AA, and the shortstop at AAA has no major league potential (imo). He doesn't have anything more to do in A-ball and moving him off shortstop isn't good for his value. Worst case scenario he craters at AAA and you can send him back to A-ball and just move him up whenever Anderson/Rondon move up. Best case scenario he does nicely and you know you've got something. AAA? Jeez let's at least consider AA, and even that is a bit much probably.

REcap posted. Tons of good stuff in there.

Affiliate scoreboard Beck, Jaye, Dykstra, Lowry starting. Good group to watch.

This is the final post from the affiliates field trip. Here are the interviews with seven Kannapolis Intimidators, and there's some good stuff in here from ranked prospects and others. By the way, it doesn't come off as well in the written version, but you get an idea of what Louie Lechich was like if you imagine the guy in that picture above his interview talking. That's about right.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 8, 2015 -> 09:12 AM) http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-commen...od-most-popular General lesson across the entire political spectrum... if your "side" on an issue is actively looking to have less or as little information as possible on that topic, that should tell you you're on the wrong side. Seriously, who thinks the best approach to ANY policy is to ignore all data on the topic? How ignorant is that? You want to argue against what it means, that makes sense to me even if I disagree. You want to question the validity of the science, well, I think that often is just an avoidance technique, but at least you're willing to look at the information at all. You want to say maybe we shouldn't be spending tons of money we don't have to chase the problem, I definitely get that. You want to point out reasons why the picture may not be as clear as science is making it, please, fire away. But to just stick your fingers in your ears and say LALALA I DON'T HEAR ANTYHING? Sorry, but you are an ignoramus and should be ashamed of yourself.