NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 5, 2013 -> 09:10 PM) Didn't BP suggest he could be a valuable reliever? One of the analysts did, can't remember if it was BP. And others had as well, hinted there was a possibility there. But he's added refinement of offspeed pitches and control now, so he may be a starter candidate going forward.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 5, 2013 -> 08:56 PM) Bassitt allowing one earned over 6 innings with 8 K's. Is this kid a possible pro prospect? IMO yes, he has reached prospect status.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 5, 2013 -> 01:30 PM) http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox-talk/v...severity-injury I'm all for players having the desire to get out there even when hurting... but if he's in "extreme pain" for an extended period, that goes past toughness and into stupidity, and it can hurt the team.

Got a little more info, from Merkin... The team will be in AZ, and play in the "Fire League". Rookie level. Mike Gellinger likely managing. He said he'd pass on more info when it is available.

Exciting game to watch, EJ and Semien. QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 4, 2013 -> 03:29 PM) I wonder when's the last time in MLB history that two players debuted on the same night from the same college? Great trivia question, I'd be curious too.

This is the last of the articles from the FS tour of the affiliates. Balta handled this one as well. Some really good stuff in here, not just the video of Thomas, but some great background from Gellinger. Give it a read.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Sep 4, 2013 -> 08:17 AM) How does the AZL generally work? Is it considered on the same level as the other two rookie leagues? In between them and the DSL/VSL? Draft picks or will this maybe get more experienced kids out of the DSL? I don't know a ton, but talking to a Cubs guy a while back, they use their AZL team as a lower level rookie team, about how the Sox use Bristol. Someone else can maybe see what info there is out there on the league as a whole, but my guess from off hand conversation is that it is slightly below the Appy/Pioneer level.

Wow, no thread! Great Falls won 8-0, Jacob Sanchez was pretty sharp. They look pretty strong going into their playoffs.

I thought this should have its own thread. I contacted Scott Merkin to see if we can find out more on this - details aren't known, that I've seen. But apparently, the Sox are going to have an AZL team in 2014. The article talked about both Bristol and Great Falls in 2015 for Zapata, so it appears this isn't closing or moving a team, but adding a new one. Given the Sox' increased LatAm operations, and the fact that they were keeping guys in AZ well into the season anyway for various reasons, this makes a lot of sense. If anyone else finds any details on this, post it here if you get a chance.

I find it a little odd that this went on for a year. But I suppose they didn't have a Plan B behind him. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 04:14 PM) The Sox definitely think they have a better player in Phegley. And I tend to agree, but we'll see how he can develop defensively.

As the seasons are ending for the affiliates, we'll have season in review articles. First up is Bristol Sox.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 12:13 PM) The bolded isn't true but message heard. You really want to accuse other people of being dishonest, when the evidence is right freakin here... QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Aug 31, 2013 -> 01:34 PM) Being from Orland Park and having watched Recchia play in high school he is definitely a guy I am rooting for. Hawkins, like I got ripped for saying earlier this year, seems to have an attitude issue. Only now a lot of posters seem to agree now. I did like the fact that he is saying he's going to take it one step at a time because I feel like he got caught up in getting to the bigs at an accelerated pace. Not only was he an early pick in the draft, but he flew through rookie ball and Kanny. Regardless of his head the physical tools are there and I hope he has a great offseason aiming towards a big '14. That is YOUR post, unless someone hacked your account. YOU brought it up. Again. No one made mention of it before you did. You are just making yourself look juvenile here. Drop it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 10:35 AM) And we all know he has made many adjustments. Yeah, which is why there is still hope. It is a fine line to be sure - you want him to understand he can't just reach the majors on pure talent. On the other hand, you don't want him SO broken down that he just can't get his head right.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 09:41 AM) I don't buy the oversized thing. Maybe for an ordinary 16 inch softball player, but for a guy who is trying to make it to the biggest stage in the world, they should be pretty egotistical about themselves. They really should believe they are the best there is, because that is the only way they will be the best. Except that they then don't make adjustments, which all pros have to do. All the guys in the minors were the best wherever they came from, at least in High School, some in college. And nearly all of them will, at some point, not be the best in the minors. They have to adjust and improve, and take to coaching, all of which they hadn't done before.

Article here. Balta handled this one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 09:35 AM) Now that scares me more than anything. I love a healthy ego in an athlete. I think it makes them tougher and more resilient. If he has lost that confidence, the kid could be in trouble. That's a real fear I have as well. On the other hand, perhaps his ego was a bit oversized. Problem is, if he doesn't pick himself back up after this... then he's going to top out at AA and that will be it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 08:54 AM) From talking to guys in Bristol I got the opposite impression, one thing several guys cited to me (will be noted in next article) was that a major goal for everyone there was just getting into the routine of pro baseball every day...getting on the bus, getting your work in, dealing with the everyday fatigue, etc. I heard a couple times that they really liked the fact there were several guys with familial connections to the big leagues/higher levels (Palmeiro, Earley, this guy) because those guys had seen how their family members deal with the grind and could give some advice to the other guys. That's very interesting - I wouldn't have thought that was the case. I had heard rumblings about KW Jr before, but maybe that was because he was taken in the 6th round (LOL) and given starting play (LOL LOL).

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 2, 2013 -> 09:22 PM) I'm interested in whether the Sox want to have him try his hand at starting or keep riding him where he's been hot Goldberg is relatively refined, so I don't think they go the Petricka/Jones route with him. More likely to me is he's a fast mover next year, moves multiple levels if he is getting guys out.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 30, 2013 -> 11:38 PM) A 36th round pick can never be a mistake. As long as guys in the 36th or later (or NDFA's) make the majors - and occasionally they do - then it can be a mistake for that reason alone. Beyond that though, I think it has a negative impact on player development. The other players see someone's kid getting playing time, that is going to cause bitterness for some of them. I just don't like it. I don't think it is a BIG DEAL, mind you. But I'd prefer not to see it.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Aug 30, 2013 -> 06:59 PM) I love what Recchia had to say about being a pitcher. Hawkins sounded like he was being a bit petulant, like a kid sulking because he didn't get his way. We may have a mental midget on our hands Its hard to put down in words, but, I actually didn't get "petulant" out of it. Honestly, the way he said it, it sounded more like... resigned. Perhaps even a little wistful, thinking about his previous outlook. And I had been warned before the interview, that he may not even be willing to talk, and if he did that he may not be very talkative. He's been broken down by his situation and his performance. I think he's approaching rock bottom, and watching him hit, his mechanical and approach issues (which are both still prevalent, though both looked improved to me) are made worse by seeming to be just beaten. It will be very interesting to see how he comes out of the gate next season. QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Sep 1, 2013 -> 11:55 PM) Refer to my post 3 or 4 above this. I didn't even want to go there. This is at least the third time that YOU brought the topic back up, then had the audacity to act like you didn't want to bring it up. You've been told clearly why people go on your case, you refuse to believe it, and you keep bringing it back to life. I for one am tired if seeing it pollute the threads. Drop the subject, drop the victim routine, and don't bring it up again.

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Aug 30, 2013 -> 12:39 PM) Hahahahahahaha, you think the Map Room is a yuppie hangout. That's cute. Danny's now reminds me of Logan Square. Basically it hasn't changed. Map Room is a serious yuppie hangout. Or at least it was until I moved out of Bucktown a couple or three years ago. Not that there's anything wrong with that. By the way, there is a semi-fun Sox bar in Bucktown called Lemming's.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 30, 2013 -> 12:17 PM) The only qualified guy that deserves top 100 right now is Johnson. I don't think that is even a question in my mind. Looking at the guys near the bottom of some previous T100 lists, I think Semien could get consideration.

If money were no object, I would be in favor of tactical strikes against Syrian military targets, and then the imposition of a no-fly zone. That gives the rebels a fighting chance, and therefore in the long run is likely to substantially reduce human casualties. However, sad as it is, money is a very important object. That is not to say I am equating human life with money - it is that the US has far too many of its own financial problems to spend money and energy on this. If the US had no deficits, higher employment, and a generally healthy fiscal position, that would be different. This argument applies SOLELY to wars of choice. This is a war of choice.

Read them here. Thought a few of them said some interesting things. Interviews include: Micah Johnson, Courtney Hawkins, Kevan Smith, Joey DeMichele, Myles Jaye, Jake Cose, Chris Curley, Mike Recchia, Mark Haddow and manager Ryan Newman. Courtney Hawkins wasn't very talkative though.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 29, 2013 -> 08:26 PM) My first guess is that he took jack3d - this seems to be the thing all the recent college guys pop for. It'll be off shelves somewhat soon Metabolite of Stanolozol is what the MiLB press release said. That's a true steroid, I find it hard to believe it can from anything on a shelf. QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 29, 2013 -> 09:54 PM) Where does EJ end up at on top 100 lists to start next yr? What a great season. One prospect guy (can't remember who right now but its a name you might recognize) had him in the 30's just recently. I want to say maybe it was Kiley McDaniel.