NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 08:35 PM) I just want to know why Stoltz thinks Ravelo can play 3B. Aside from Davidson who will graduate as a prospect and perhaps Michalczewski who is a ways off, we are bereft of 3B talent in the system. If Ravelo can play there, he needs to play there. The guy put together an .848 OPS in W-S while hitting 4 HRs. That is very impressive. I don't know if he starts in W-S or AA but this is only going to be his age 22 season. If he could play there, that is where he'd be. The Sox obviously think he can't stick there, and if he was even close to being able to, they would not have moved him. He's a 1B. Stoltz sees athleticism, but that is not the same as being a good 3B.

As long as Dunn hits fairly well the first few months of the season, and as long as the Sox are not in 1st place in July... Dunn will get traded near the deadline to a contender, in exchange for a lottery ticket prospect at best (org filler at worst). Someone like Andy Wilkins will play the LHH DH role for a few months if he does well at AAA, if not, they'll just rotate other guys through that slot. Then we'll see someone new at DH for 2015, possibly Viciedo if he progresses, possibly someone outside the org. In any case, he isn't going anywhere right now because right now he gets nothing of value.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) Nathaniel Stoltz very big on Rangel Ravelo. Even though he is playing 1B, Stoltz says he is good enough to stick at 3B. On Davidson, "Not sure he's any better than Ravelo." I like what Stoltz adds to the internet, but he does get a little obsessive on certain guys he sees. Comparing Ravelo and Davidson is pretty silly. They are vastly different hitters in almost every way, for good and bad. Ravelo is also not a 3B. And of course they are at very different ages and levels of development. I like Ravelo, I have him as a 20-25 guy in this system, and I think he's only about a dozen fly balls/doubles going an extra 30 feet in a season away from being a serious 1B prospect. But he is nowhere near the prospect Davidson is at this point.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) I disagree with this, you will see many teams take signable org guys in rounds 3, 4, and 5 and use the savings their to go after a guy that slipped. And conversely people stop drafting the best player available after the first round and take best player available that we can actually sign. There is definitely more strategy than just going down the board of how you ranked players going into the draft. That is an entirely different dynamic that I didn't even get into. What you are saying here doesn't disagree with what I said. It points out another dynamic - signability and use of bonus money. That is seperate from pitcher vs position player, which is what I was posting about.

You cannot force yourself to take a pitcher simply because your system has historically been better at developing them. You also do not draft position players (at least in the first 10 rounds) simply because the system lacks them. These are both horrible pieces of logic to follow, and the Sox won't. First of all, the "system" is not static. The scouts, coaches, etc. have all undergone a lot of changes the past couple years. So the historical track record means little. Second, if you decide to focus your draft on pitchers because you think you are better at developing them, you artificially and unnecessarily cut down your talent pool by MORE THAN HALF, which is idiotic. You are intentionally cutting down the value you get in the draft. That makes no sense. Third, if anyone thinks the Sox aren't aware of their lack of success getting position players to the majors, you are deluding yourself. They know, and they've made changes, and will keep making changes. Fourth, drafting for organizational in baseball is nonsensical for the simple reason that it takes years to develop players for MLB. You don't know what you will need on the MLB team in 2-4 years, so you can't draft to MLB needs. Sure, you fill in org gaps in the later rounds, say 21-40. The Sox will take the best player available in the first, and at least through the 10th or so, because that is the only smart way to go about it.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) in recent memory, has a trade like this occurred so late in the process? I can't seem to recall a Spring Training move that was of significance like this would be. The last couple years the offseason has been getting later and later in terms of moves. Also this year you had Tanaka waiting and other things pending. I think there will be a flurry of moves in the next week or two around baseball, and I'd be surprised if the Sox weren't among them.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 12:05 PM) Is he counting Jose Abreu as part of the system? You don't count him and it looks a lot worse. That's a good question. Some lists didn't include Davidson either because they think he won't see the minors (though I think he may). Without Abreu and Davidson, the org is still better than it was, but isn't nearly as strong.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 12:56 PM) Anyone know how to get a free background check on potential tenants? I don't know of a free one, but if you got your new renter via a service or realtor, they will have access to a cheap one, or free if you are paying them a commission. If you are not, I'd say there are some cheap ones out there, and it is probably worth the investment, since it will cost you a small fraction of the amount of money they will pay you in rent. Insurance policy, basically. Also, I have always looked around LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. for future renters just to get a feel for them if I can.

QUOTE (staxx @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) I don't see the sox letting Nieto going back to the nats. They'll find a way to keep him. With that being said, I think it's whoever performs the best in ST that wins the job at this point Nieto is a long shot to make it, but yeah, not only do I think they will find a way to keep him, I'm guessing they already have a plan in place to do just that. I see no chance they acquired the guy with the idea that he was definitely or even almost definitely going to make it, considering there's been one catcher in modern history that has ever gone A-ball straight to MLB and stuck for a year.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 07:58 AM) When do Castillo and the other 16 year olds that we signed last year have to be moved to the 40 man roster to avoid losing them? Does the clock start running right away, or does it start when they start playing? Not sure if the 4 year rule applies to 16 year olds from outside the US... They get 5 years in affiliated ball. I'm not clear if that includes DSL time, but I think it does.

I have deleted my potentially offensive post and responses. My apologies. Carry on.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 04:24 PM) Honestly, if some team grew infatuated with him, Johnson is a guy I'd move right away. I just don't think he has a particularly high ceiling. I think his upside is a guy like Chone Figgins, and more likely, a utility player and pinch runner. I think the ceiling is there, my doubts are about floor and risk. Injury risk is something to consider here. And I think the floor is, he doesn't hit at the higher levels and can't even take his speed to the majors, especially if he can't improve defensively. That's why I'd trade him if there was value in return - the ceiling is enticing, but I have strong doubts about his ability to reach it. His ceiling is, with his speed and athleticism, if he can get better with the glove (still very possible) and be able to hit higher level pitching pretty well (also possible), he's a starting-caliber 2B.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 04:09 PM) Very possible. The injury starts as an overuse injury and poor throwing mechanics. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) loosens and the inside of the elbow creates too much of an angle when throwing due to the forces. The ulnar nerve is then stretched as he throws causing the numbness or tingling. Now once it is already predisposed to being irritated, if you slam it on the ground and aggravate it (as well as possibly injuring the UCL again) it may cause enough problems that the surgeon just decide to move it to keep it from getting aggravated again. The surgery is really to prevent it from happening again not to help the current pain or numbness. Interesting. This also may make a move to CF a lot less likely for Johnson (some people have suggested that due to his glove work issues at 2B). Being a 2B you don't need to make nearly as much effort on throws as you would from the outfield.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 02:06 PM) Let's get ALL THE CUBANS! How much would it cost to build and guard a bridge from Cuba to Chicago? Ya know, it has has crossed my mind... I wonder if any teams have had LatAm scout types that helped get money to fixers in Cuba to help get certain guys out. Pull a little money from scout operating funds, pay a guy to help with "marketing", then when the guy arrives in the States, the team that helped him get out maybe helps their chances of landing said player on a contract. Not sure if that would technically break any laws, say the foreign corrupt practices act, depending on how it was done. Probably something that, if done, is done without direct knowledge of the club (but an understanding of what went on). Nah, probably too much conspiracy theory here.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) OK. Makes sense now. It is a very common and low risk surgery. He will not have any problems later. The first surgery was probably to release it from an entrapment and the second is called an ulnar nerve transposition where they take the nerve out of it's tunnel under the arm and move it on top and secure it with fascial tissue. He probably has some damage to his ulnar collateral ligament and the joint is a little loose. He did have a minor shoulder injury late in the regular season, that I saw in person. He dove in short RF and fell hard on his throwing shoulder, same arm as the nerve thing. Any chance that could be what triggered the problem coming back and needing a second surgery?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) I love the fact that you post here. Thanks again. Seriously, great having that kind of poster here.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) It was a joke NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 02:31 PM) Micker Zapata: 2015 AL ROY LOL, as an 18 year old with 1 year of pro ball (at that point). That would be something.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) Was it the other arm in college? If so, that wouldn't be too concerning (i.e. not a re-emergence of the exact same injury, just a symmetrical process). Otherwise, possibly yikes. I believe it is the same arm. Again, I get the impression that once it is moved, as long as it stays put, he's 100% fine and normal. It is only a question of, will it or could it move again? Because then he's out for a few months at a shot. It was apparently 5 years or so between instances in this case.

Also, this has happened twice with him, first time was in college. Supposedly it is a low risk thing, and there should be no residual impact after healing up. The question is, will it be recurring?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 01:45 PM) In the review, it said he was shut down to have a nerve removed in his arm. Does anyone have more information on that? It sound very peculiar. It is actually moving a nerve, not REmoving it. He talked a bit about it in his interview with FS here. Then there is the link wite put out too. It sure does sound odd.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 01:04 PM) I suppose. An 80 grade means elite for that particular skill, which I equate to top 5/10 in the mlb at. Either way, it will be years before he becomes relevant to the major league roster. If he ever does. He's the prime example of high ceiling, low floor. Any possibility ranging from MLB All Star down to never-above-A-ball are all reasonable possiblities. He is ranked purely on ceiling in this case.

Not a big deal either way, but... I'd think the time for this would be after, or at earliest during, the 2014 season. After last year's atrocious showing, but balanced against 2012 overachievement, I think 2014 would be the telling factor.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 10:35 AM) 80 power?! Really?! If 50 power equals 15 home runs per year, 60 power equals 20-30 homers per year, 70 power equals 30+ homers per year, 80 would be 40+ hoem run per year power. Does the kid really have THAT much power potential!? 80 power nowadays is seen more as 30+ than 40+.

QUOTE (Butter Parque @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 08:23 AM) Were you surprised at all that Castillo did not play in the DSL last season? it seemed he was their biggest signing in 2012. Sometimes they don't start playing right away, he was barely 16 when signed, which means he turned 17 during the 2013 season. 16 year olds rarely play DSL, they are more typically put in "camp". I'd be surprised if he failed to play in 2014 though, in his 17/18 season.