NorthSideSox72

OK, closing this thread, and we can use the other AFL thread going forward.

Bassitt's outing done: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K Smith so far 1-2 with an RBI 2B and a foul-tip K.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Oct 7, 2014 -> 03:20 PM) I would have been tempted to send Courtney Hawkins there. Just to give a taste of higher competition so both him and the club will have a better idea of what he needs to work on. I really want to like Olacio, the potential is there but he drastically needs to improve his command. I like Bassit and that he should be given a chance to start the year in the rotation. Where does Tim Anderson okay in the major? Is he really that bad defensively as his high total of errors indicates him being? Can Montas join the rotation at some point next year, joining Rodon? I think Hawkins would have been a mistake. He did exactly what you wanted him to do this year - improve significantly across the board. Putting him back in a reach position could have undone that. Let him go to the offseason having accomplished some things, and be fresh for AA next year. Also worth noting, the team is supposed to be AA+ guys, though they got away with an extra in this case. Anderson is a SS for now still, he has the raw tools for it, but needs more time there. Olacio needs reps, Bassitt needs recovery innings. Montas could be a major league reliever right now, IMO. He has a legit plus fastball (mid to upper 90's with late movement), and a now-above-average, tight slider in the upper 80's. But his other stuff needs refining. If you think he's a reliever, he could be in Chicago in 2015. If you think he can get at least one more pitch to playable, then you keep him starting in AA and maybe AAA next year. For the record I think Bassitt is likely a reliever in the future, and could be a good one. Montas is 50/50.

Game 1 is underway shortly, lineups posted. Kevan Smith the only Sox player in the starting lineup. Here is the gameday link.

Play starts today. Here is our preview. There is also a pinned thread in PHT. When the thread in PHT gets migrated back here, we'll close this one.

The White Sox are sending seven prospects to the AFL this year. Opening Day is today. Here's our preview. We go into who the Sox are sending, and why they are there.

We'll publish a preview Tuesday morning as well.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) Much as I dislike them, they are asked to write a sox article before there is any possible sox news. That's more what it is. They need to write, and if there is a down period like this, they have to come up with something.

End of season for Rangel... Another strong year in the books for the now-first-baseman. Ravelo was among the Sox top 10 statistically in AVG, OBP, 2B, lowest K/PA, and even stole 10 bases in AA. His HR total - the number everyone seems to be watching with him - went from 4 in 2013 to 11 in 2014. All in his age 21/22 season. Ravelo was originally assigned to the AFL, but then was replaced by Nick Basto so Rangel could play winter ball instead. The increase in power, and some positive scouting reports around his raw power in BP, lend credence to the idea that his power is emerging. The 39 doubles helps too. But he'll likely need to get that number closer to 20+ in AAA to really get attention as a potential starting MLB 1B. Ravelo should be in AAA next year as the starting first baseman in Charlotte.

End of season update on Brandon... The bad news was, between 2013 and 2014, the already-raw Brennan missed a year of development time. The good news is, considering it was his year back from TJ and he was still in his 22/23 season, he did pretty darn well this year. In 68 innings (14 games, all starts) he compiled a 2.91 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.9 H/9, 3.3 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9. He was among the top 10 among Sox starters in MiLB in ERA, WHIP and H/9 and led all starters in GB:FB (an astounding 5.00 rate). That's not a fantastic K rate, but it's decent and the other numbers look good. I don't have any reports on velo or movement from this year. He pitched across Rk, A and A+. Brandon will be 23/24 next season, likely in the rotation for Winston-Salem to start. He'll need to build up innings, but he's a guy who shouldn't be written off yet. His sinking fastball and slider were both attention-getting pitches when he was drafted, and he only had a year of college pitching plus now 186.2 innings in pro ball.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 11:15 PM) Will Iowa State take two from Kansas this year? It's awfully hard to confidently predict any decent B12 team beating another both times in a given year, let alone ISU and Kansas. I wouldn't bet on it.

The statistical leaders among relief pitchers in the White Sox minors this year. Discuss.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 02:46 PM) As a Baseball America subscriber, I received the copy with the lists of the Top 20 prospects in every minor league. This is the way it shook out for the White Sox. INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE: Micah Johnson 14th. Only Sox player. Nothing for Sanchez. Top 5 -- Polanco, Betts, Lindor, Franco, Souza. SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Micah Johnson 16th. Only Sox player. Top 5 -- Bryant, Russell, Seager, Stephenson, Edwards. CAROLINA LEAGUE: Tim Anderson 8th; Courtney Hawkins 9th; Tyler Danish 12th, Frank Montas 14th. Top 5 -- Gallo, Alfaro, Peraza, Mondesi, Manaea. SALLY LEAGUE: Sox shut out. Top 5 -- Giolito, Crawford, Lopez, Severino, McGuire. PIONEER LEAGUE: Sox shutout. Top 5 -- Aguino, Wall, DeLeon, Blandino, O'Hearn. ARIZONA LEAGUE: Spencer Adams 5th. Top 5 -- Jackson, Holmes, Bradley, Sheffeld and Adams. Carlos Rodon did not make any of the lists because he did not play long enough in any league. He was listed in another story in the front of the magazine of prominent guys who were not on any league lists. Those players included: Mark Appel, Dylan Bundy, Nick Burdi, Byron Buxton, Rusney Castillo, Brandon Finnegan, Kyle Freeland, Marco Gonzales, Nick Howard, Jorge Soler and Kyle Zimmer. Thanks - I don't get the paper stuff, only online, so this is cool to read. I would not have thought Hawkins that high, but that's nice to see 4 Sox in one league. Can't remember the last time that happened.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Oct 4, 2014 -> 12:41 AM) What do you think about Luis Martinez? I think given his age and level, and looking at his peripherals, he's got my attention. I'd like to know more about his current stuff though, and no one I've talked with seems to have good data. I'm not even sure what he throws right now. He's tall, was fairly skinny and had a 90-91-ish fastball as a 16-17 year old the Sox signed him. I just don't have any recent info to go on.

If you google variants of White Sox Message Board, or Forum, or Discussion Forum, you usually get the mlb.com one on top, then SoxTalk, then WSI, then the rest.

So, I was a registered member over at WSI too. Used to visit occasionally, post rarely, had a coouple hundred posts over there. I tried to log back into there today, and was rejected. So that was odd. But then it really got strange. Only four of their forums are still open - the others are all literally empty now. The four main forums... the primary clubhouse forum has only 3 threads with any activity in it today, the others have even less. It's like a ghost town in there. Anyone have any clue what happened? Any current WSI folks here that might know? Just curious if it was their being too stringent, or something else? They were always more strict than us on rules, but that alone shouldn't cause that. Looks like something must have happened over there.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 02:15 PM) There are still intangibles in sports like momentum and magic. That team was a runaway train. It was steamrolling and couldn't be stopped. The starting pitching was amazing and Ozzie/Coop didn't feel the need to take the guys out in the seventh inning when one bad matchup existed. It was magic and the Sabes numbers sometimes didn't apply. Don't stop believin' baby. It was fate and hard work and momentum combined. Take that Billy Beane. Your teams haven't had the mojo yet. Intangibles? Sure, there are plenty of things that can't be measured that have an effect. Magic, though? Really? Also FYI, that 2005 team was really, really good, and "sabes" would happily tell you that. They had insanely good pitching, which was far and away what got them a trophy, they hit for power, and played good defense. All those things can be measured and analyzed for value in "sabes".

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 03:25 PM) Using a vaccination clinic as part of the CIA efforts to gather information on OBL in Pakistan didn't help. That scares the locals I'm sure, but educated people should be able to distiniguish a one-time action like that. And that is still a big leap to thinking the US is intentionally creating and spreading a disease like this - one that, by the way, may end up hurting themselves.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 03:22 PM) an extremely well put together list. I haven't seen this post and I was reading it now. from the article I am liking Bucciferro and Dykstra that goes along with Adams. I am sold on Adams and the more I read about the systems and its young prospects, the more I think this system should be higher than what, 20-21 in the ranking? I see Adams as of right now as a #2 - 3 sp. what about Bucciferro and Dykstra? It's too early, IMO, to start calling Adams a slot that way. He's 18. What he has is a couple really intriguing pitches, excellent control for his age and level, and the right frame and delivery. I'm high on him, but we'll see. Dykstra and Bucciferro are both strike-throwers, and both get a lot of ground balls, particularly Dykstra. Dykstra is more interesting to me at this point, he could be a back end starter. Bucciferro I'm not convinced will be able to fool enough higher level hitters, though his slider plays above average according to some. He might have a reliever future. Neither are high end prospects, I'd put Dykstra somewhere around 25-35 in the system. Bucciferro more 30-40.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 02:48 PM) There is a wonderful combination of people who don't believe Ebola is real, and those who think that this is vast American conspiracy to kill a bunch of Africans. I've seen a couple Sox minor leaguers tweet links to articles talking about the conspiracy idea that this was created by the US for that purpose. They seem to believe it. It's amazing what some people believe, in contradiction to all things factual.

Thanks everyone, this was fun to write. we'll probably add it as an FAQ of sorts to the site later.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) NSS or anyone else, is there anywhere within a few hours drive from Chicago to get into some backpacking? I did some when I was in scouts, and my wife likes the idea of it, but we've never done it together yet. I'd like to be able to try it out with some small-scale hikes over a weekend without having to dedicate a trip to it. Sure there are. For overnight backpacking that allow camping outside the drive-up campgrounds, here are some good ones within 3 hours' drive: --Black River State Forest, WI --Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI (there are three units, the southern one is most crowded, the others less so) --Yellow River State Forest, IA (yes, Iowa - one of the most beautiful spots I've been in the midwest) --Mississippi Palisades SP, IL (check if they allow overnight camping in the interior, not sure on that one, but great trails) --You can do portions of the Ice Age Trail through WI, as it stops in various parks for camping I'm sure there are others too, I don't know the Michigan and Indiana ones as well. I am not sure Dunes really has backcountry camping.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) Related: Layoff Letter [From Doctor] To Cancer Stricken Employee Sparks Outrage If I remember though, it turns out that was done with her involved in the decision, and there were reasons it was better to do so. Not quite the same.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 12:17 PM) I give you guys credit for putting so much efforts in this early but my views on draft are that until you get in March / April, you really don't have a good read. Guys will get hurt, guys will emerge (especially in the high school ranks, but also in college). My feelings as well. But I still like reading this thread and seeing some names and reports.

Nice list. For me, where I haven't been but want to... --Going to do a Middle of Nowhere trip - backpack to the point in the lower 48 that is furthest from a road. Basically, the most remote location in the lower 48. It used to be in Idaho (River of No Return Wilderness), but after that area's boundaries changed, it is now in the SE corner of Yellowstone, where it abuts the Teton Wilderness. --I want to hike from Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney - basically the broadest cross section hike of eco zones one can do in the US --The Bob Marshall Wilderness (MT) --Glacier NP (MT) --Yosemite NP (though I hate crowds, so I may hike in via backcountry instead of drive in) --Havasupai Natural Area (AZ) --Zion NP (UT) --The Bright Angel trail, Grand Canyon (I've been to GC as a kid, but haven't done the trail down and up the canyon) --Wind River Range (WY) --the Superior Trail (Minnesota's north shore) --Haven't done much in the Appalachians, and it was all south, so I want to do Katahdin in Maine --ALASKA - I've been there but on a non-outdoorsy trip for the most part. Want to do Denali, but also something more remote, maybe Yukon-Charley or somewhere in the SW part of the state. --Something in Australia - no idea what yet --Guadalupe Natl Monument (TX/NM) - want to climb on one giant fossil --Rainer/Wonderland (WA) --River of No Return Wilderness (ID) There's more, but those are at the top of my list right now.