NorthSideSox72

If you haven't read this, it is great. SSS reviews 23 potential free agents... as items in the SkyMall catalog.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 21, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) What is in the board book? Is it very many pages? Not many pages. Here it is on Amazon. Both my kids have one, I recommend it.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 21, 2014 -> 08:51 AM) any info on his defense?? Two errors so far. But no specific scouting reports on it out of AFL yet, at least that I've seen. Everything I have read indicates he has he right instincts, athleticism and individual actions to make it work, but hasn't put it together yet. Which tells me he should stay there for now at least. The book is still out.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 17, 2014 -> 08:23 PM) Some parents may know of the Larry Gets Lost book series, a family visits a big city, the dog gets lost and sees all the landmarks in town trying to find the family. Anyway, we just got our daughter the Chicago book, and all the sports stadiums are mentioned, but for the Cell it says, "Formerly know as Comiskey Park, this is the home of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox". Just thought it was hilarious they specifically mention the World Series championship in a kid's book. I assume you already have the White Sox 101 board book? Or is she beyond that age now? Both our kids have them, and have been using them to collect autographs (there's a blank lines page at the end for that purpose).

I like Bassitt, have for years, was even ranking him before many others. That said, I don't see him as a T10 guy. Without giving it much thought or research, my top prospects list right now would be something like this: 1. Rodon 2. Anderson 3. Johnson 4. Hawkins 5. Montas 6. Adams 7. Danish 8. Sanchez* (if still eligible, haven't checked if he is) 9. Davidson 10. Ravelo 11. Michalczewski 12. Beck 13. Adolfo 14. Bassitt 15. Sanburn 16. Smith 17. Thompson 18. Rondon 19. Snodgress 20. Recchia 21. Engel 22. May 23. Barnum 24. Fry 25. Saladino Just out: Guerrero, Coats, Martinez, Olacio, Wheeler, Dysktra, Peter

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 19, 2014 -> 05:44 PM) That's the million dollar question. Johnson lost his control and velocity so couple that with a straight fastball and erratic breaking pitches to begin with and you have the recipe for disaster. I don't have an explanation outside of what been proposed already. IMO, I would try him out in the pen for a bit in ST and see what happens. Maybe his arm just doesn't have the endurance necessary to be a starter. Given we are talking about one season, I really don't think you should move him to the pen just yet. Later maybe, but I'd have him do as much strength and conditioning work as possible this offseason, stay away from pitching, then come to camp in February on the starter plan. As 2015 goes on, if he's healthy but still can get it worked out, THEN you move him to the pen.

Sox have 9 players and prospects on DR rosters for the winter, including 3 guys who played in Chicago this year. See who is playing in the DR, and why, here. VZ and DR are underway, Puerto Rico and Australia coming up soon.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Oct 17, 2014 -> 11:30 AM) When I get bored I typically look at Redfin for houses in my area or near work, just to see what's out there and to explore new areas. I was looking at some northern suburbs near where I work and happened to notice prices start to drop incredibly in an area, turns out it's North Chicago. Anyone have any idea why that suburb is so damn cheap? There are tons of houses under $75k, granted they aren't top of the line and most need work, but to even see property that cheap in the Chicago area seems surprising. Yeah so, I'd avoid North Chicago. That suburb, and parts of next door Waukegan as well, are pretty darn sketchy.

Looking at error numbers in the minors has very little meaning. Anderson may or may not stick, but his 30-some errors won't be the reason. QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 10:45 PM) Haven't watched for a while, but Olacio is pitching and just struck out Buxton. Finished 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. So far in AFL: 3 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. Not great so far.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 08:33 PM) Is there any stats on these guys out there? Have they played yet? VZ is underway, you can see stats by going here, and selecting the team of your choice from the drop-down. Mexico is also underway but I see no White Sox playing there (correct me if I am missing something). DR starts tomorrow, FS will have a preview up once the rosters are fully in. PR starts 11/1, ABL 11/7.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:07 PM) I think the Glendale game is free video tonight. Of course that means no White Sox prospects will play, probably. http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7617858/v3680...dogs-at-rafters Well, everyone but Smith and Olacio was in the game yesterday. So you'll probably get those two tonight, FWIW, at least. Also seems likely at least one of Anderson/Basto should play again.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 01:31 PM) Whomever breaks the bank for Shields is one, dumb GM. He's not dominant and he's getting old. Like I said before, Royals fans didn't even want him as No. 1 starter entering the playoffs. The fans at one point wanted Butler benched for good this season. They also wanted Hosmer sent to the minors. I am NOT kidding. Talk shows for a week were all about sending down Hosmer. Sox need a righthanded version of Buehrle. Can they find one? No such animal. There isn't a LH version of him either. His particular set of skills is truly unique, and likely not repeatable. Avert your gaze and try something realistic.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 11:51 AM) Make him a reliever. There's a good chance that it where this goes, but I don't think it makes sense to do so right now. With his stuff as it was last year, he wouldn't be effective there either. So I think you have him starting again in AAA first, and then see what happens. If he's floundering, you have him try to up the velocity early in the game, and see if that is even possible for him. If so, you can slide him to relief.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 08:28 AM) If he has a desire to be in the bullpen, why are the Sox starting him? 1. What he wants doesn't and can't dictate what he does. And he'd tell you that. 2. The White Sox often put likely relievers into starting rotations for a season or two, for a few reasons. One, getting in more innings allows them to develop faster and go from thrower to pitcher. Two, on occasion, guys like that end up succeeding at it (as is the case with Bassitt), and boom, you have another starting prospect.

After last night's game, Bassitt tweeted: "Oh bullpen how I have missed you"

Don't write off Erik Johnson just yet. Looking at the scenarios, there is a good chance he can still be a contributor in the future. Click that link for the article. Agree? Disagree?

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 12:08 PM) correct me if I am wrong on this. wasn't Phegley always a good hitter, but his defense was / is lacking. You are correct, he was drafted as a bat-first catcher. His backstory is complicated and long, but he skipped up levels with minimal time in the middle of the system before landing at Charlotte (and struggling) in 2012. In 2013 the bat caught up. He does have a strong arm, but the glove work and working with pitchers have been noted as weak points all along.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 11:32 AM) Not sure that is true. Below quote in September could be Hahn blowing smoke but September 4, 2014, 8:47 PM White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said this week Josh Phegley "forced himself back into the conversation" about Sox catchers with the work he did with Triple-A Charlotte this season. What Hahn says the media is different. He isn't ever going to badmouth a current prospect or player. And Phegley's bat, at least, did make his case for him. It's possible Phegley re-focused and made an impression, in fact I hope he did. But he was booted from ST to minors camp early, criticized openly by coaching staff and front office staff, and had at least a pair of issues come up in AAA that Skinner (Charlotte manager) called out publicly.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 11:23 AM) I think he can be a decent hitter too, but where do you play him on the field? OF? 1B? 3B? Not sure he can handle any of those or if it's justified to do so. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him traded. I think they'll trade him in a minor-for-minor deal, but what they get back isn't going to be much. Nieto needs to be back down to AA, and Smith should be in AAA. If Phegley stays (possibly but unlikely) OR Sox acquire a cheap major league LHH backup C (which may not be possible), then Smith is in AAA and Nieto in AA. If Phegley is gone and they don't acquire someone, then I'd guess Smith and Nieto compete for the backup job with the loser going to AAA. And if I had to bet, I'd bet on Smith, if only because Nieto needs development time in a big way.

Among catcher talk, I just want to throw this in... there have been numerous signs in the past year that the Sox are not enamored with Phegley's approach and attitude. It is possible he's changed that, but he was benched midway through a game and through a second game in Charlotte during the season. And his defense is still a struggle. My point is, if I had to guess, I don't think he's in the org next year, let alone in the majors. I'd bet the org is happier with Nieto and even Smith as possible 2015 backup options than they are with Phegley.

Trying to get a read on the Iowa State team for this year, and the predictions are all over the board. People seem to not have an idea what to do with them. One preseason poll had them in the Top 10. But the coaches predicted them 5th in the B12. That's a huge gap. Will be exciting to see how the transfers do, and how Niang develops.

January 23-25: Sox Fest (not sure if it is worth mentioning here or not)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 03:28 PM) Apparently we are still 50,000 posts away from their total... Hey Balta, wanna talk about the next election for a while? QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 03:34 PM) *cracks knuckles* QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 03:37 PM) *gets popcorn* QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) *takes pants off* QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 04:01 PM) *points and laughs* QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) 49,995 to go. And this is why SoxTalk won the war.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) Not at all, I understand ceilings. I get " if everything goes right". The reality is that not everything is going right. When a young player does well, their projected ceiling goes up based on performance does it not? Then why does Trayce still project such a high ceiling when he continues to struggle two levels below the majors? A player that, for now, has stalled out at AA does not project much ceiling to due the stalled developed... for now. Don't take this as my being a smart ass but... How can you give a higher ceiling to player (Trayce) that has struggled at AA than a player (Danks) that has actually made it to the MLB while admitting you doubt Trayce will ever make it to the major league level? In all honesty it makes no sense. I understand Trayce has good tools, but any tool is useless if a person cannot utilize them. It looks to me like your definition of ceiling is not the same as everyone else here, and for that matter, what the scouting pundits out there call it either. Ceiling is how far a player's actual game skills can reasonably go, if they can make all their tools translate to skills at the highest percentage. For a guy like Trayce, he's got well above average speed, a strong arm, and lots of raw power. His ceiling is a guy who can steal 20-30 bags or more a year, play excellent OF defense, show a serious hose from the OF, and (if playing full time) knock 20+ dingers a year. Even if he can only hit .250, that is a very valuable baseball player. And that is his ceiling. The fact that he's struggled with contact the last couple years at AA (and before then as well) doesn't much change his ceiling - what it does is lower his floor, and also decrease the % chance he reaches his ceiling. His ceiling won't really go down unless/until he's still struggling like this in a couple years (when he reaches 27 years old or so, and is reaching his theoretical physical peak gaming age), or if he has an injury that effects him long-term, or if those raw tools (speed, arm strength, raw power) start to diminish over an extended period. Then, his ceiling has changed. Thompson has similar or slightly better raw power than D2, more speed, and a stronger arm. Both have hit tool and contact issues. D2 has played in the majors where we can evaluate true game skills, and he's shown over time where his game is at. Thompson has a higher ceiling without a doubt, IMO. His floor is slightly lower, though I'd suggest barely so.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Oct 13, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) Doesn't he need to add 100 lbs for these bartolo comparisons to make sense I got the impression it was more about frame and body type, than current BMI or muscle bulk.