NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:49 AM) I agree with absolutely everything above...some more include giving up Hudson, Richard, Holmberg, Reed, and letting Buerhle walk for Keon Barnum ultimately , definitely a lot more regrets what?

Blanke was moved to Pitcher during the offseason, was working on it in extended ST. QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 21, 2014 -> 09:43 PM) Hawkins with 3 really good games since the ASB Even before that he had started heating up. As I said a month ago, after his hot start, he was GOING to hit a slump. The key questions were, could he keep the K's under control, and could he bounce back. He's done both. This is exactly the year I wanted to see from him. QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jun 21, 2014 -> 11:26 PM) I attended a Frontier League game tonight and Blair Walters started for the Joliet Slammers. Pitched into the 9th too, lost it on a walk off. So who is the next Jacob Sanchez, Mike Recchia or Dan Remenowsky out of the Frontier League? QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 22, 2014 -> 02:45 PM) Heh, this part was my favorite "Restrooms are usually open. If not, ask someone, usually someone on the grounds crew will have a key to unlock." I had thought you could in fact go to those games. Are they free? Why on earth wouldn't they sell tickets?

It's Wheeler for Kanny. Bassitt last told me a few weeks ago that the target was ASB for his return. He apparently missed that. It's been long enough he may rehab with a rookie team first. Lopez was "May or June", when we talked in the spring. Dan Black says he may be back this homestand if all goes well, for anyone who cares.

Jason Coats was sort of interesting last year, even more so now. He was drafted in the 29th, but remember, this is a guy who had much higher stock then that until he blew out a knee right at the end of his last college season. He's got a solid hit tool (hits in the .260-.270 range), and makes decent contact (14.4% K/PA). He's got some power - on a 20 HR pace now with a .199 Iso SLG. He's got some wheels (went 12 of 15 SB/CS last year, 5/5 this year so far). I've seen his defense in person and video, and he looks to me like he takes good routes, gloved everything cleanly, has some speed and can at least handle the corners as an above average defender (has played a little CF too). Arm looked strong in the couple looks I got. The only pieces of bad news are, he doesn't walk a ton (5.5% BB/PA this year and last), and he turned 24 just before the season started and is in A+. So he's about a year behind "the curve", give or take. But that is in part because he missed 2012 due to that injury, and he did skip rookie ball. He's a guy I think will fall into my T25 next month, probably, on the back end. Or at least be close. QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 20, 2014 -> 09:50 PM) Blanke struck out 2 of the 3 hitters he faced. I'd love to know his velocity. I've seen people over the years describe his arm from the catching position as a cannon. No idea what he's doing on the mound though, velocity-wise, or if he has any kind of offspeed stuff.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 21, 2014 -> 08:35 AM) Just an observation, boys, don't get so upset. I never made a direct comparison between the two. Boggs spent six years in the minors and faced criticism because he played third and had no power. I have heard Boggs talk about it in interviews, stating that he had to overcome that negative evaluation., that stigma. So now we have a third baseman in minors who hits for high average but without power, and another poster said he is thus not a prospect. All I did was point out that a HOFer once had the same dilemma. Just to be clear... Jirschele isn't even a starter in our minor league system. He wasn't drafted either. He does have a real hit tool, but his defense is marginal (though he can play a number of positions at that level). I like what he's doing, but it isn't sustainable, and he's a very long shot to ever see the bigs even as a utility man.

15th rounder Ben Brewster has signed. Sox have now signed 32 or 33 overall (signs aren't clear on Sprague, 37th), and 29 of their top 31. Only Rodon and De Oca remain among the Top 31 picks. Draft Tracker on FutureSox is up to date, including assignments for the majority of players.

Fun Fact; AZL hitting coach is former Sox MiLB catcher Cole Armstrong.

AZL roster has the pitchers filled in so far. A couple new names on there so far: --RHP Lucas Shearrow as NDFA, from Rockford, has a pretty funny LinkedIn page if you want to see it. Pitched for SEMO, some JuCo ball, had TJS. --RHP Tanner Mendonca, 17th rd pick by MIN last year. Pitched in rookie ball for them, had massive control issues. Also at least some DSL guys on there already: Victor Done, Luis Martinez, Yelmison Peralta.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jun 20, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) What's the responsibility of adopting a prospect out of curiosity? The forum has pinned/closed threads that explain it. But basically, you "adopt" some prospect in the system, create a thread in the APP forum for said player, but in some useful info (see some examples linked in a closed thread to see what I mean, as a template, but do it however you want to), and update the thread every so often with interesting updates about that prospect. No big deal.

FYI, the Adopt-A-Prospect forum has been cleaned up and updated. All 2014 Draft Picks other than Jake Peter remain available, along with some other intriguing prospects. Go in there and take one or two! If you have one or a few, update 'em!

No longer rookie eligible, now a major leaguer, closing. Will archive.

No longer rookie eligible, closing, will archive.

No longer rookie eligible, now a major leaguer. Closing, will archive.

Traded away, closing thread, will move to AAP archives.

Released. Closing, will move to AAP archives.

Back surgery a couple months ago, out for season, career in jeopardy.

Converted to pitcher, now with Great Falls.

Converted to pitcher, now with Great Falls.

I've been pretty bad about updating AAP's, so here is a quick update on Ravelo... Rangel started the season strong, went into a bit of a slump, and is now hitting again. As of today (June 20th), his season so far in BHAM looks like this: .299/.396/.450, 5 HR (already a career high), 18 2B, 34 BB vs 37 K, as a 21/22 year old in AA. Ravelo continues to show good plate discipline and contact, and the power is developing (.152 Iso SLG is the best of his career so far, and already surpassed last full season's HR total). The future is still a question mark, as he needs to further develop the power to be considered seriously for a future MLB 1B role. The other factors offensively - hit tool, OBP ability - look great as usual, and he's semi-young for his level.

Brennan is finally back, and starts tonight for Great Falls. I'd have to think he won't be long for rookie ball, as long as he looks decent.

Sox re-signed RHP Terance Marin, and he is starting tonight for Winston-Salem.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 20, 2014 -> 09:05 AM) I agree with most of your analysis, but why is it "very unlikely" that Rodon would be the #1 or #2 pick next year? Well, consider the scenario that gets him there. In addition to having to beat out all but maybe 1 of the entire field of other players who will be available (which is already a long-odds event anyway), he also has to stay healthy, improve his performance and skills, and there is no telling what the field will look like next June. Also, how many players have a college year strong enough to be the #3 pick and then have an even stronger year the next? Seems obvious to me the chances of that are slim. But again, even if he does make the slim chance occurs, his leverage is now gone as a college senior. He'd end up probably taking below slot, thus not making much more money (if any) anyway, even in that ideal scenario. What I think is more likely here is some combination of: Sox offering below slot at first, and the Rodon/Boras camp asking for above slot hoping to get the number to move up before the deadline. It means we lose a month or so of Rodon's professional development, but honestly with him having pitched a full college season already, that isn't a huge loss.

Went to see Edge of Tomorrow the other day, and was actually liking it... until the theater experienced technical difficulties 2/3 of the way through the movie (and all the other screens went out too). Waiting 15 minutes, didn't know when it would be fixed, decided to leave. At least I got free passes to go see it again. That was really frustrating.

Appel and Rodon are not the same. One factor people aren't mentioning here is, Rodon was taken #3 overall. That means, to have it make sense to not sign and go next year, you have to take everything into account risk-wise, with the only possible reward to occur if he goes #2 or #1 next year. Think about how much risk there is, for a reward that is very unlikely to occur (being the #1 or #2 pick)... and as a senior that year he'd have nearly zero leverage and probably have to sign below slot anyway, thus reducing or eliminating that reward if it were to even occur. Rodon turning down slot would be an epic failure on his part.

I managed to watch parts of the game, recorded the rest for later viewing. A few observations... --Brett Austin was AWFUL behind the plate. WP/PB problems, was trying to backhand or clean-catch everything instead of getting down in front of the ball (admittedly Andrew Mitchell will give any catcher fits, but Austin wasn't making an effort). Didn't control the field well. Made a bad throw to 1st. Had trouble framing anything. Just really looked bad back there. The caveat is huge of course - 1 game, his 1st pro game, skipping rookie ball AND playing on national TV. Still though, wasn't an encouraging look. --Andrew Mitchell's control issues seem rooted in a combination of an overhead-hook sort of delivery, and breaking pitches that fly all over the place. He doesn't know where they are going. There is a lot of talent there though - tons of movement, good velocity, great extension. --Matt Abramson's fastball is strong, 92-94 sometimes 95 (from reports), but it probably looks even faster because his arm seems to unfurl out of nowhere like he's flicking the ball up there. OF course the downside is, he's not a huge guy and has a very arm-reliant motion, which could be risky. But I think there is an interesting reliever profile there. --Tyler Williams looks awful at the plate, not surprisingly. Slow bat, slow reactions, and when he did make contact it was this weird half-swing thing. --One of my deep sleepers, Christian Stringer, I got to see hit twice. I had been psyched about him a little bit, because he showed great contact and plate discipline numbers and was drafted as a defensive MIF. But his plate approach was... odd. He does have good bat speed, so he can wait a bit longer to decide on pitches. But he's got a lot of noise waiting for the pitch, hands all over the place, and his lower body isn't getting set so he won't be able to drive the ball hard. Good news is, those are very fixable things. Bad news is, he's only a slap hitter, at least for now. Did show some nice speed. I will have to go watch the recording for more, but, what observations did the rest of you have? I missed the early parts of the game, didn't get to see Barnette pitch or Trey M hit, both of which I want to do.