NorthSideSox72

The back end of my trip, this was the game at Kannapolis. Give it a read to get some detailed background on three pitchers and a couple position players, including exclusive videos. Best part - watch the Eddy Alvarez LHB video. Check out his setup and stance. Never seen anything like it. Especially on the last pitch he sees. Something unique.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 5, 2015 -> 09:26 AM) Lots of White Sox information on the MLB prospect pipeline website in regards to July 2nd free agency. Here is the link to the top 30: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=int White Sox expected to sign #30 prospect Franklin Reyes who we have dissected on the board already. White Sox also the favorites to land Fernando Tatis Jr. He's a 16 year old SS that is 6'1 175 pounds and the son of former ML Fernando Tatis. Here is the report: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 The son of former Major League infielder Fernando Tatis Sr., the teenage infielder grew up around the game, and it shows. Scouts like Tatis Jr.'s swing, his strong arm and his fluid actions on defense. He's shown decent arm strength and raw power to his pull side. Tatis Jr.'s knack for barreling up balls and his repeatable swing have also impressed evaluators. Some believe Tatis Jr. can play multiple positions and could end up at second or third base or even in the outfield. His big frame will allow him to build strength. Scouts also like his makeup and how he handles himself on and off the field. He has a game-oriented mindset, and his makeup is off the charts. The White Sox are considered the favorite to land Tatis Jr. The White Sox and Cubs are battling for RHP Anderson Amarista, the #17 prospect. Here is that description: Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 One of the top pitchers from Venezuela, Amarista is known for his fastball-curveball-changeup combination. Amarista has a decent fastball, but he has impressed scouts with his feel for his changeup. Other scouts think his curveball is his best pitch. What most scouts agree on is that Amarista's pitchability and his arm actions on the mound also make him attractive to teams. Evaluators also praise his high baseball IQ. It's unclear if Amarista will ever wow scouts with fastball velocity, but he can throw strikes and make hitters chase his pitches out of the strike zone. Amarista will benefit from working with pitching coaches and instructors once he signs and enters a team's academy. His development and growth could result in increased velocity to his fastball and overall pitching ability in the future. The Cubs and the White Sox are considered the favorites to sign him. The White Sox are also linked to C Rafael Marchan out of Spain: Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 30 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 From Tachira, Venezuela, Marchan has been described as a "catcher's catcher." Here's why: The hard-working Marchan has shown a high baseball IQ and can be counted on to make the right play. He's savvy, and although he might not have the most tools in the class, he makes the most of his abilities and can make plays in games. Marchan can hit. He's been praised for his ability to make contact and not give away at-bats. Scouts also like that he has a track record of international experience and is not afraid of the big stage. Marchan has impressed scouts with his defense. He also has decent arm, and there's hope his power will increase as he matures. Marchan might not be the flashiest player in the class, but he's the type of player many clubs would like in their system. The Braves, White Sox and Padres have all scouted Marchan heavily. Good stuff, thanks!

Guerrero was due for some regression. I'd have to think he's headed to W-S during the season. You'd also think Dykstra would be the guy to go to BHAM to take Recchia's slot (he went to DL), but I was told unofficially it would be Bucciferro.

QUOTE (Bruce_Blixton @ May 4, 2015 -> 08:12 PM) Great stats and analysis on Danish! I'm really excited about him going forward, not only do I think his stuff and delivery can hold up as a starter but his bulldog mentality will keep him in the rotation. He reminds me a lot of Peavy with the unorthodox delivery, above-average stuff and great mental toughness. Alvarez 3-3 with a 2B & 3B and 2 RBIs, looks like he doesn't have much left to prove at Kanny. If/when he gets promoted to W-S, they'll have some major speed in that line-up with Engel, Walker and Alvarez. It would be fun to catch a game or two to see all the havoc on the basepaths. Look for some Alvarez analysis and video tomorrow. One problem - he's got Rondon and Peter ahead of him in W-S, and neither of them look like they're going anywhere right now.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 4, 2015 -> 04:00 PM) Tim Anderson's strikeout rate is 17.6% with over 100 PAs hitting a true .300. Sure we'd like some more power/OBP but a nice start for the top prospect to be. Jacob May has BABIP well into the .400's. Hit the breaks on the bandwagon although I do like him overall. Danish keeps doing it. Young for high A but more than holding his own. 2.66 BB/9 and 9.22 K/9. 3-0 with 2.63 ERA. Very small sample, but no surprise with his arm angle - he's getting hit by the lefties. I feel pretty good about May's start in this case though for a couple reasons. One, the jump to AA is a big one, compared to A/A+ jump. Two, his pattern HAD been to really struggle on promotion at first then come roaring back as the season went on. For him to OPEN hitting the ball well (and not all that can be luck, as a .400 BABIP is high but not ridiculous) is an encouraging sign.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 4, 2015 -> 03:45 PM) 0-5, 3K for Hawkins. Now has 33 in 88 at bats, to go with only 5 walks. Another thing that doesn't bode well for him in his journey to become a major leaguer is that he is horrible against LHP. Ha! His last K was a wild pitch, he made it to first, and just scored the walk-off winning run in the 13th.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 4, 2015 -> 03:45 PM) 0-5, 3K for Hawkins. Now has 33 in 88 at bats, to go with only 5 walks. Another thing that doesn't bode well for him in his journey to become a major leaguer is that he is horrible against LHP. At this point, I think you keep him in AA all this year. And even if he improves over the year (which hopefully he will), he repeats it. They pushed him to far too fast to prove a point. Now it is possible he would have failed like this anyway, I don't know, but this situation set him up for failure BY DESIGN. Seems like playing chicken to me.

Barons still playing in the 13th. Hansen has walked three guys in the inning (he's the 6th pitcher so far), just gave up a run, Tennessee up 3-2, 2 on, 2 outs in T13.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 4, 2015 -> 02:16 PM) Delivery's worse than Sale; 1/2 foot shorter than Sale; much harder used than Sale; Sale wasn't picked in the 8th pick. And perhaps Sale and LIncecum are the exception And - a ML ready starter (and certainly not a bullpen pitcher) shouldn't be the priority anyway. BPA.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 4, 2015 -> 03:11 PM) Good stuff Jeff. Finally something positive. Yeah, lots to like in that area of the farm.

Here's the link!

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ May 4, 2015 -> 02:50 PM) Middle Infield: http://t.co/Xnw0Ffl29f Thankfully a much deeper list this time. Bad link Jeff. I'll try to get a good one.

QUOTE (scs787 @ May 4, 2015 -> 02:02 PM) Cherry picking time....Eliminate the 3 career games where Danish gave up more than 3 runs and he has a 1.32 era over 170.1 innings. The bolded alone is pretty amazing.

Danish keeps Danishing. Even in AA at his young age. I've always been a little less high on him than others - partly the injury risks, but more the lack of fastball velocity scares me a little. He keeps proving me wrong and I like that.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 4, 2015 -> 01:06 AM) i need someone opinion other than myself. it like he just came out of no where, putting up good stats across the board. is he for real or is he on a hot streak. He's kind of the opposite of coming out of nowhere. He had really good seasons at A, A+ and AA, better each level, one level per year. Then he hit a wall in his first shot at AAA, but now seems to have adjusted. I personally think he could hit MLB pitching pretty well. But he's 27 in AAA, isn't very good defensively at 1B, and is... not in good shape. Like, he'd be in the worst athletic condition of any current major league position player, without a doubt.

Recap posted. Still working on the deeper KAN piece.

QUOTE (ptatc @ May 3, 2015 -> 09:59 PM) What goes around comes around. For years this board complained that KW only drafted high floor low ceiling players such as Lance Broadway. Posters begged him to draft more high ceiling athletes who could become stars but also could have the high bust rate. Now its starting to swing the other way. Yes. I actually much prefer the high ceiling high bust rate shots the are taking in recent drafts. I do however have concerns about player development in the hitting side in recent years.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 3, 2015 -> 09:51 PM) i am just wanting him to hurry up and be ready kinda of mood. it would be great to get him back to nibbling on the heals to be moved up. getting him and EJ would be fantastic. My confidence in Beck being a successful major leaguer starter is substantially lower than I have in Erik Johnson. And neither should be truly relied upon, not just yet anyway. Johnson has "it" back from what I can see, and his "it" is a mid-rotation major league starter. Beck has never even reached that point, as he needs significant improvement in his breaking pitche(s) still. His potential is maybe almost as high as EJ's, but he's further from it.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 3, 2015 -> 09:31 PM) yeah and i reread it to make sure what i was asking. you mention his improvements and how everything is working now. but i am beside the stats, his confidence, his control of the pitches. these subtle little things that tells everyone, he is ready to go up a level. maybe i am misreading it. either way many thanks for your hard work. I didn't get much into stats, by design. I talked about his pitches, the quality and command of them. I didn't get as much into the confidence thing as I didn't get to speak to him directly after the game (which is sort of a story itself).

QUOTE (LDF @ May 3, 2015 -> 09:39 PM) let me see if i got this right, if he didn't want to listen to the, lets say the hitting coach on how to improve and he didn't care to listen to him. that is not an attitude problem? Of course it is. That was kind of my point.

Bail amounts are not purely about seriousness of charge. Prior history and flight risk are also major components, as well as financial standing and other factors.

QUOTE (LDF @ May 3, 2015 -> 12:53 PM) i have a question, maybe i may not be asking it the right way, i guess. re: Beck, how was his pitching performance outside his stats, did he look as he was in total control, not getting overwhelm? i am hoping that he will be so dominate at that level, that the sox need to find a way to move him up. Did you... read the article? Because that was discussed at length.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 3, 2015 -> 06:31 PM) QS for Almonte. May be a bullpen guy in the future, but I hope that kid makes it. Has to stay healthy though. I got lots of video and scouting info on him today. To go up soon.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2015 -> 01:06 PM) Will always wonder what his career would have been like without that leg injury. I don't know, I fail to see how it makes sense his attitude was still a problem that many years later due to that injury. He wasn't coachable, never developed a feel for the game - he was an athlete trying to play baseball, but never really learned baseball.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 3, 2015 -> 07:54 AM) I realize the Sox as an organization have an enduring love for veteran utility players, to let Bonifacio block Sanchez would be beyond belief. Should Gillespie and Micah be doing some occasional outfield work anyway? Johnson is not a good OF candidate. He's not got great hands, his arm isn't that good and the elbow has already had issues before.