NorthSideSox72

Semien could use some time in AAA, and he needs to play every day, so he's the logical choice.

Here are our Prospects of the Month for April, and some honorable mentions. Discuss.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 6, 2014 -> 11:54 PM) Hopefully time off clears his head. That, but also, it is possible the hand injury could be a reason for some of his recent struggles. He did start off hot like one week in, then fell apart.

The solution that can have the biggest impact, to me, is speeding up the games. Pitchers, and batters for that matter, need to be on a clock. Or at least the umpires should start being able to get things moving in some fashion. A 2.5 hour game is much more appealing than 3.5 hours, especially with the modern audience. It keeps the fans much more excited and engaged. This can be done without taking away offense (which increasing strike zone size would do), cost nothing, and still allow the same number of commercials between innings.

QUOTE (Tex @ May 6, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) I noticed that the partiipants paid much closer attention in the Wilderness class than any other First Aid class I attended. It could be that the participants are more self selected, I really hope it was because people recognized the differences you mentioned. We estimated that in our program the most time it would take to get someone to a full trauma center was about 6 hours, and that was with a fluke wind condition on a sailing trip. There were scenarios that could happen on one of our fishing adventures that everyone's cell phones could be useless, that no boats passed by, that it would be much longer, but the chances were very slim that that could happen. Injury or illness at sea was the number one concern. Yeah, it all depends on usage. For me, with the groups I was bringing out, we'd be backpacking or canoeing multiple days into a true wilderness. If someone breaks a leg, it could literally be days before they are extracted. Fortunately nowadays we carry a SPOT transponder, but even then, you are still talking hours minimum, if someone isn't mobile enough to move. And helicopter/seaplane isn't always an option, which means a crew might have to walk and/or ATV in, which could take a long time. For that matter, one of the worst aspects in those scenarios is, you may not know when help will arrive. Where we go, cell phones are often useless, and the transponder only works one-way. We carry 2-way radios with a theoretical range of 15 to 30 miles (though usually less for practical purposes), but not all the agencies doing rescue will use that system, so they are mostly only good for talking amongst ourselves.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 6, 2014 -> 01:36 PM) I think it is safe to assume that he will be a No. 4 or 5-type starter at best. Maybe just a bullpen arm. Doesn't miss bats. Right now, he's basically Charlie Shirek. But it is early to be putting a ceiling on him just yet. He's not been in the minors very long yet. He's a bigger, stronger kid than Shirek was, and he's got time to improve his offspeed stuff as well.

In case no one noticed, Balta is live in right now from the BHAM game. He's also got the wheel for @FutureSox twitter, so watch there for updates.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 6, 2014 -> 12:10 PM) Long HR by Chris Curley to dead CF, 1-0 Barons TW PW in the Mod area for you now. Please tweet away, start by saying you are there.

Scoreboard Beck for Birmingham early, 11:00am CT Hanson for Charlotte 6:05CT Bucciferro for W-S 6:00CT Nathaniel Stoltz (Fangraphs) and Josh Norris (BA) to be in attendance in Winston-Salem, so we should see some Twitter reports.

Part of the reason you have these wilderness/backcountry add-ons to first aid, FR and EMT licenses, is that rendering medical assistance in the backcountry is fundamentally different than in civilization. And primarily not for the reasons you may think - lack of equipment, adverse terrain, rescue situations - though those are factors too. The key difference is, first aid and in-field emergency medical care training is generally predicated on the idea that you are doing something for a short period of time, while in the act of getting the victim to a hospital. Care is measured in minutes. In the wilderness, care is measured in hours or days, which completely changes your methods.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 6, 2014 -> 07:59 AM) It looked like it was freezing Sox get lucky on the weather this week - supposed to be 80 degrees both Wednesday and Thursday last I checked. I'm not sure I remember what 80 degrees feels like. What's it been, 7 months? 8?

QUOTE (balfanman @ May 6, 2014 -> 07:34 AM) Can anyone tell me how Omar Visquel profiled as a minor leaguer? It's been 20 some years ago, but I seem to remember that he was considered all glove, no bat as well. It would be tremendous if we had an Omar Visquel clone in our system! Vizquel's career OPS numbers in A- and A were .623 and .649 respectively, with K/PA rates around 13%, and very little Iso power, walk rates around 12%. He also spent 3 seasons at those levels, at similarly young ages (18-20). So there is definitely some similarity there, though it looks like Vizquel was a little better.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ May 5, 2014 -> 05:10 PM) Same things were said about Sale. TWT. That may be true, but these are very different pitchers. Yes they both have henky deliveries, but otherwise they are dramatically different cases.

QUOTE (gatnom @ May 5, 2014 -> 04:48 PM) Work in progress? Seems to fit what I've heard about the pitch. That's what I was trying for. Can show very well, but not consistently yet.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ May 5, 2014 -> 04:10 PM) As to first bolded, try super-young for league, and when promoted soon to Carolina League will be about the youngest. As to second bolded, no, he has plenty loud tools, just not the ones you're used to looking for. Anyway, time will tell. You, and the other non-believers will learn, even if it requires being dragged kicking and screaming into the light, eventually kneeling before his awesomeness. Yeah, he's young for level. He has a dancing, sinking fastball, but it also isn't one he can throw consistently above upper 80's. His slider flashes loud, but is a WIP. So no, he really doesn't have any one "loud" tool. I hope you're right, I just am not convinced enough yet to make him a top 5 talent in the current system. That could easily change.

Bump for Cubs series. Quintana was in OP. Now adding... Hector Noesi: 2-for-4, both singles, and 2 K. He's hitting .500, FWIW, all PA from 2012 (did not hit in 2013).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 5, 2014 -> 03:59 PM) Ravelo probably shouldn't be higher than Danish unless he's a 3B or LHH. And he's got to prove he can stay healthy for much longer than one month or so. (In that sense, he's on the same watch as Adam Eaton health-wise). Sanchez has to hit at better than a 650 OPS clip to be anything more than a utility player. Most of us would have Semien and Micah ahead of Sanchez, for the moment. Would anyone be REALLY upset if Sanchez was traded? I think more would be upset with Danish being dealt, not unlike the initial response here to the inclusion of Holmberg in the Hudson deal. It's not so much velocity, as his unique style being particularly effective (at least for now). And we don't know if they're deliberately telling him to worry less about velocity and more about movement and command. How upset people would be if someone was traded is not the same as how good they are as prospects in a ranking lists. Other factors come into play there. Sanchez' (likely) floor and ceiling have come closer to one another, which is what happens when guys are in AAA, so he's a known commodity. Chances are, his ceiling is a slightly-above replacement level 2B or SS, and his floor is an effective utility player. Danish's ceiling is, in my view, maybe a mid-rotation starter but more likely slightly behind that, and a very possible floor is he never sees the majors. At that low level he's pitching at, you value for ceiling. But for the value to the org long-term, you take the broader possibilities into view.

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 5, 2014 -> 02:59 PM) I understand the first 4, and while I know you are much more versed in these things than I, there is no way i'd put any of the last 3 ahead of Danish at this time. I know it isn't a popular opinion, even among others who are also well-versed in the system. I don't pretend to know it all on these guys, I'm guessing too. I just have bigger concerns about him than others do, it appears. I would be ecstatic to be wrong on this one.

That was a great piece. Everything you wanted to know about Rondon. He's a special defensive talent.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 5, 2014 -> 01:59 PM) I really don't see an argument for Carlos Sanchez being the superior prospect to Tyler Danish. Many others will likely agree. I see a guy who is still very young for level at AAA, who can play above average defense and mutliple MIF positions, who hit very well for average with good batter's eye up through 2012, and who is now seemingly getting back to that level. In Danish, I see his likely ceiling as a #4 starter, maybe #3 tops, but with a lot of risk about holding up or not, and more likely he's a reliever who gets ground balls. And while one player is at AAA and on the doorstep, the other one is also young but has little experience and has a ways to go. To be clear, obviously, I hope Danish holds up just fine, because a 3/4 starter is worth a lot. I am just highly skeptical, at this point, that such is the likely outcome.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 5, 2014 -> 02:10 PM) The last time the Sox had a legitimate future regular SS on their roster who wasn't the regular SS was 2008. Orlando Cabrera was the Sox SS. He made 160 starts and finished 144 games. Alexei started the other 2 at SS and finished up 16. I would think moving forward, if the Sox really think Semien is a long term option at SS, you will see him there from time to time. And if/when Ramirez takes a day off, you will. Such an opportunity has not even come up. That said, if Keppinger is back soon, then who knows what the heck they plan to do.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ May 5, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) All we ever hear about is Hawkins' offense (for obvious reasons), but how is his defense? Mixed reports. He was moved to a corner this year, which was thought to be his eventual role anyway. Generally, in CF, he was considered raw, but not as bad as some thought he may be. Still wasn't really a comfortable position for him. He's got some speed, and a very good arm, so you'd think he should be able to settle into a corner OF slot just fine.

Right now, without doing a ton of research (with Abreu, Semien, EJ, Webb all graduating), I'd probably go with these guys above Danish... Anderson Davidson M Johnson Hawkins Thompson Sanchez Ravelo Possibly Beck also, but I think I'd have to give the nod to Danish. I guess more so than 8-10, I'd go 7-9 range, now that I look at it. This comes from the fact that I think he's either 4-ish starter, or a setup reliever, depending on how his body holds up. And I see a significant chance it doesn't hold up. Weird how much the system has changed in a short period - that is 7 position players before I'd feel comfortable putting in a pitcher. Caveat - this can change a lot between now and the next list (July/August), and in fact their first draft pick will almost assuredly be #1, and their 2nd round guy may even break into the top 10.

I love the numbers, and he's still among the best prospects in the system. I'm just saying, whereas some people would likely have him in the current top 5, I'm more around 8-10 with him at this point.

I'd be good with Danish moving up relatively soon, but I think you need to be very careful with innings load. And you certainly don't need to be in a rush with him. The more I see video, and hear about some softer velocity numbers, the more concerned I am about Danish's ability to remain a starter. It is possible they are telling him to keep it dialed back, given this will be his first full season or pro ball, but it still concerns me when that means throwing 86-90 most of the time on his fastball. And his motion is so arm-heavy. Can he be a RH Buehrle? He doesn't have nearly the broad pitch set for that yet, nor does he have an easy, low-effort motion. I dunno, I think people may just be getting a little too exicted about him right now. Wendelken is struggling with being a starter, his velocity drops during games in a significant way, per a report from yesterday. Goldberg has already been moved back to the pen, likely making room for Montas. Wendelken may need to do the same if his arm can't handle starting innings.