NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 11:49 AM) Rachael Maddow says the whole situation here is Bush's fault. Nice to know he still lives rent free in some people's heads. The political discourse in this country would be so much better if people just ignored the screamers like Maddow and Limbaugh. Then they would go away and we could have a reasonable discussion on important topics.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 10:58 AM) Surprised McDade and Omogrosso are goners at this stage. I'm surprised McDade is still in the org. He's behind three 1B's in Chicago and at least one in the minors (Wilkins), possibly two. I'd rather see Wilkins and Black get time. Omogrosso I thought might stick around longer, but he's behind at least Webb and Petricka for maybe one roster spot in the bullpen, possibly also (indirectly) behind Leesman and Rienzo effectively. He's a long shot, though he certainly could be in Chicago during the season.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) Coats isn't in major league camp. He's just been brought in for games. Details, but yes you're right... the fact that he's in major league dugouts and getting into games as time goes on is a sign of who they want to see. What prospects are playing, how often and when (or even just on the lineup card), in those games, is a clue as to their thinking on some of these guys. That's my point.

The early waves to minor league camp are never surprises, though sometimes it may hint at how the org sees certain players. Some guys are kept around longer even though they also have zero chance at the roster. Guys like Jason Coats are still there, even though he has zero chance, but that tells me the org wants to see a little more of him in general. It's a clue as to their direction.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) I would bet that Chicagoland receives far more money from the rest of the state than the rest of the state receives money from Chicagoland. What makes you think that? I'd say AHB is right on this one. If you look at tax revenue to the state from the Chicago metro versus everywhere else, then look at state spending per capita in each area, I'd think you would see the flow going out of Chicago, not into it. Though of course, state spending/taxation isn't the only cash flow factor at play. The very presence of populations in Chicago contributes to revenues for other parts of the state much more so than the other way around.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 03:00 PM) Did you just equate conservatism as being pro-slavery? No, I equated traditional social conservatism with modern social conservatism. Marriage equality isn't really the same as slavery, two very different issues IMO. The parallelism isn't direct, it is more a general, historical tendency of a given state towards conservative leanings (versus liberal). And of course, that is also not the same as party identification either. Come on now, you think I was really making that sort of direct comparison? Look at the history of AZ and NM, and you will see how springing from different roots (part of which stems from Union vs Confederate ties) has carried tendencies with it. The history of both states is of course much more complex than that, I was painting in broad strokes to illustrate themes.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 02:42 PM) Mitchell threw home instead of the cutoff, putting a runner in scoring position. QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 02:43 PM) Mitchell watches 3 straight strikes *sigh* Shameless marketing: FutureSox looks at the Toolsy Four Outfielders

Not sure if the other airlines do this, but AA has a total mileage status thing, where if you reach a million lifetime miles you get permanent Platinum status. I'm about 60% of the way there, thanks to a few years of heavy travel. But at my current rate I may never get there, LOL.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 01:30 PM) Wouldn't the mere fact that we aren't invading them make us look like a better option? Remember their recent history. Under Russia, both during the cold war and in recent years, Russian influence meant stability, albeit with tons of corruption. On the other hand, in the years immediately after the USSR collapsed, that was chaos. Now chaos again with the yanking between sides. These people care little for geopolitical concerns, or niceties like true freedom. They just want to eat, and for many, the answer (at least short term) is Russia. Also remember, Crimea (as I think SS pointed out) was formerly Russian anyway, was basically put upon Ukraine in the Soviet years, and is still heavily ethnically Russian. Who do you think those folks would rather align with?

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) I would like for them to have NOT offered a billion in aid. Military solutions aren't appealing for the west right now, and punitive measures will just result in more of the same from Russia (though the west has more ammo there than Russia does). Going the route of making the west seem like a better deal seems like a smart investment to me. Also worth noting, some of that money is IMF, not just US funds. QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) Keystone would do f***-all as far as Russia in concerned. They supply Europe with a significant percentage of their oil and natural gas, and tar sands oil from Canada won't change that. Obama is still card-hoarding with Keystone, and this isn't what he's going to use it for. That is the more relevant issue at hand, not whether or not it would have an effect (which, you are right, it wouldn't).

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 06:58 PM) Micah, May, Anderson and Engel could all be volume base stealers. Semien and Leury in a PR/utility role would also swipe a few. Don't expect all of this to happen by any means, but the overall speed available should help the defense, and the pitching in front of it. That isn't even including Keenyn Walker, who is probably faster than any of those guys.

Brian Wilson in to pitch. How does the beard look? Flowers with a single to greet Wilson.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 28, 2014 -> 10:57 AM) I thought it was a Could, not Would? I thought it was would, because I remember thinking at the time it was overly aggressive. But maybe I misheard, which is entirely possible.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 28, 2014 -> 09:38 AM) He's 17. Players at Bristrol, Great Falls, and the newest AZL team are going to be 18 or 19 at the youngest. He'll turn 18 during the season. And the only reason I said he'd be in AZL is because Buddy Bell said he would be.

QUOTE (QuickJones81 @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 09:11 PM) Is Micker Adolfo starting in the DSL, for some reason I recall reading he would start in Rookie ball? AZL most likely, so yes, rookie ball. I didn't include on the roster board any of the DSL or LatAm signee guys, who have yet to play... nor obviously any 2014 draft picks. I'm assuming all those would go to a rookie affiliate when they open play or later. I just didn't drill all the way down to that level. The players I did list in the Rk/Ext/DL/Susp list are ones already in the state-side system.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 07:55 AM) I didn't realize Montas was still considered a potential starter. Awesome list, btw. QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 09:09 AM) I am not sure he is, but the Sox typically get their high end arms as many AB's as possible by utilizing them as starters before they ultimately move them to the bullpen in the upper levels. Preticka and Jones took similar paths, Jones had 49 starts in the minors and Petricka had 60. Montas is sitting at 54, and I imagine he will have one more season of starting before they move him over FT. More I think about this, read a few scouting reports, see Montas' performance... the more I am now leaning that he goes to the pen this year. But it is a 50/50 thing, based on how the org sees him. He's still young and raw so it is hard to say. It is just as likely he's in the pen with Recchia in the rotation at W-S.

Hm, guess I need to break it out again from the cold winter... *ahem* GO YOU WHITE SOX!!!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) Guess it depends on what you mean. He's extremely talented and could develop into a really good ball player down the road, but he's 19 years old (today...happy birthday Trey) and struggled in Bristol last year. They may start him to Kanny depending on how he looks this spring, but there's no need to rush guys. That was my thinking, when I say "mid-levels" I am thinking A+ and AA. You have Davidson (and sort of Semien) at AAA, Michalczewski at Rk/A, and really nothing in between. There's Grabe (who isn't a big prospect and struggled through an awful injury last year), Curley (who is a 26 year old org guy), Basto (who is a busted but once highly-drafted guy), and a bunch of minor league filler. That gives a guy like Grabe a golden opportunity.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:15 PM) Texas was brought into the union with the possibility of splitting into four states, but that was more of a response to slavery issues than anything else. Didn't Arizona start a petition to split into two states last year? Funny note on Arizona... it only exists as a state because of slavery. As part of various machinations before and during the civil war, the New Mexico territory was split in two (more or less). Arizona was aligned with the Confederates and allowed slavery, New Mexico was Union and did not. The sarcastic part of me looks at that today, with Arizona being so much more fiercely socially conservative than New Mexico, and you wonder if it is just in-born.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 10:35 AM) Susan SlusserVerified account ‏@susanslusser It sounds as if the #Athletics may be adding INF Jake Elmore, designated by #WhiteSox yesterday. Guessing the Sox will get back either a lottery ticket A-baller, or more likely some sort of org filler.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:47 PM) He apparently started juicing after his White Sox days. And Flowers isn't on PEDs So Flowers was but isn't, and Cervelli was and is? Evidence of this? Also remember, Nieto had a PED suspension. Phegley I suppose you can assume is clean, given that with his medical issues, messing with his blood chemistry could be suicidal.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:38 PM) Rondon at 2B? Isn't his major asset elite defense at SS? Yeah, you could flip around him, Shryock and Stringer in any way needed. He played a lot of 2B last year, but that was likely due to the presence of Anderson. Maybe you're right, better to move Shryock or Stringer or both, since they aren't as highly considered as prospects.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:34 PM) NorthSide, thank you very much. Great list, I'm going to copy and paste on an excel document as we go on. Few comments: You really think Mitchell is going to start the year in AA? At 25, and a strong fall, I would think he would start in AAA. I would not have Leury Garcia on the bench in AAA. Have him get everyday reps in CF ahead of Tekotte, and then give him time in the infield when one of Davidson, Sanchez, and Semein need rest. That Birmingham starting rotation has me all sorts of giddy. Winston Salem is going to be fun to watch with all the development of the offensive players and pitchers like Olacio, Ortiz and Montas. I believe Danish will start in Kanny, but expect him to finish at Winston Salem. Mitchell should start in AA, but its hard to say if he will, as the org continues to trumpet his wares. Garcia may be on the bench, but in reality I see him rotating through all 3 skill infield positions and the OF, so he'll get nearly every day at bats.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:25 PM) Elmore and Keppinger for Murphy? Yankees would laugh that off the table. I mean, if you can do it, by all means do, but I really, really doubt it.

QUOTE (floridafan @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 03:40 PM) Makes me smile... Eric is fortunate in that there are really no 3B prospects to compete with in those mid-levels at all. Voight and Basto, or guys who are native to other positions, are the only other guys. QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) Winston Salem is going to be fun to watch this year. North, what made you think that Basto would lose a spot to Kline or Brown (two guys I have never heard of)? Just curious obviously it's all speculation at this point. Basto is pretty much a bust now. He was drafted as a SS, has hit horribly, and is (per a scout I spoke with) unable to play competent defense anywhere. QUOTE (kevo880 @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 03:59 PM) Am I just not seeing Trayce Thompson? D'OH! I KNEW the B-Ham outfield seemed too thin. Replace Haddow with Thompson, replace Buckner with Haddow on the bench, and Buckner goes with the unknowns.