NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 12:38 PM) Detroit has been trying to recondense the city for the past decade. The issue is they have no money to make an incentive. It's literally them just saying "please move here, or else soon your bus line is going to cut out" except the people are poor and can't. It's a horrible situation. Also, Jake, I really find it silly that you would reconsider grad school in Chicago over this. The plan only works if you do more than "incentivize". It has to be eminent domain, for the good of public safety. Has to not be a choice, though you can say you are going to force it eventually, but if you line up first you get better choices of where you go. This would of course result in all manner of court battles, over just how far eminent domain can go. Judging by a few past cases I am aware of, it probably can work, but they will have to battle to get through the first wave. It isn't likely to happen. Just what I'd like to see happen.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 03:36 PM) I've watched quite a few of his games now at milbtv.com, he's not a burner. He's very quick...but he doesn't fly down the line. He doesn't have Pods' speed, or Durham's. He definitely doesn't have that pure sprinter's speed to get you from 2nd to 3rd on a triple, where those guys actually seem like they're accelerating right around second base. And yet, he is (or recently was) leading MiLB in triples. Was leading his league in the SAL for sure. Dude has 12 triples in about 360 PA. These speed measures are subjective anyway. Yes, home-first and other base-base times can be documented, but in small sample sizes, and when dealing in hundredths or even tenths of seconds, dudes with stopwatches are only so accurate. No doubt he has above average speed, certainly plus. Maybe plus-plus. Not as fast as Hamilton. But arguing 60 vs 70 speed is, I think, not so black and white. I am encouraged by the fact that he is not Hamilton-speed but still steals a ton of bases, at a somewhat decent rate, and clearly understands the dynamics involved in doing so.

I've seen the 65-70 bit before, seen 60 as well, hadn't seen the 70 straight. If he is indeed that plus-plus fast, I feel awfully good about him taking his steals to the majors. I've interviewed a bunch of prospects, and Micah Johnson came off to me as very sharp, so I'd think he can make adjustments and learn pretty quickly.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 02:57 PM) The FanGraphs article about Johnson was just about the opposite of what you said you read though Yes. Johnson is pretty fast, but I've seen more like 55-60 grade, not lightning fast or anything. He's got an unusual technique, and he's a pretty smart kid (having interviewed him myself, and talked to some people), so I'm guessing he can adapt pretty well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 02:02 PM) HA! I think I was at the same game as this guy! You were. After we published your article and tweeted it, he replied that he was there. His name is Nathaniel Stoltz, I've used his videos in a couple articles and he provides some good info on Kanny and WS guys from games. He recently joined Fangraphs, also writes for Beyond the Box Score.

I don't think going Apple will work for me. I use a couple mapping programs for outdoor travel that don't run on Apple's OS, plus I'd have a whole crap-load of other files I'd have to hope translated over OK. Not going to risk all that. Do like our iPad though. Sounds like it is either a simple server ssetup (with maybe a RAID controller), and then media server software, and software to rip the BD's and DVD's to disk. Then I have to figure out if there is a way to turn my current desktop rig (laptop) into a thin client over the server. Also, if I have a normal, non-Apple TV, how can it "read" from the media server? Doesn't the TV need software to do that? Or can the media server be controlled somehow with a remote, and just have it run via HDMI to the TV?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 12:44 PM) My imac plays that role and streams all my media via apple TV, all of my files are stored in an external storage farm I built which is probably now about 4 TB. I use Apple TV because I am all mac because of work and because we also have ipads. You can also do this with things like Roku and others. I just found it easier and cheaper deploying a few apple tv's around the house. And this works with all your Blu Ray discs? No copy protection issues? I'm just paranoid I will be some expensive hardware, only to find some of the discs won't work.

I love the idea of having a single digital media hard drive type device, for my entertainment center, where I can put all my existing DVD's and BD's to it, to be simply called up via the TV to watch. That is my short term goal. Next level, I will probably want to do a NetFlix or Hulu type subscription to stream stuff I don't already have. My BD player as this capability, I think, if I have the right firmware installed. Long term, I'd love to have basically a single server for the whole house, that contains those movies, but also all my computer files of all kinds. And then simply be able to view things on the TV, or on our iPad, or from the office desk (which currently has a laptop plus external monitor, but would be fine having just the keyboard, mouse and monitors). First, are all the above even possible? I can do the wiring myself, and I know enough about computers to do anything basic and some things complex. But I am not an expert in digital entertainment media per se. Second, are there copy-protection issues with modern movie disks (BD or DVD) that will make this impossible to do for some movies? Thanks for your help!

That Frasor trade, which already provided value in getting money off the books, is looking pretty darn good right now. Jaye is doing pretty well too.

I also want to add on Micah, that you shouldn't read TOO much into the errors. First, according to both him and at least one regular observer I've read, a good portion of his errors were trying to get too fancy or force things. That is a playing maturity issue likely to abate over time. Second, even the skill errors, he's still in A ball and you have to give some leeway for him improving. I wouldn't write him off of 2B just yet. And I agree with the earlier post stating that a move to CF isn't necessarily going to work. Different skill set in some ways, and he may actually be worse there. I'd much rather he focus on improving at 2B.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 10:11 AM) He put those numbers up against low level competition with much of the league 2-3 years younger than him, and he doesn't have a position defensively - 20 errors in 78 games - OUCH. If he continues to hit at AA next season and can figure things out in the field he will shoot up the rankings. Let's not overblow the too-old thing. It is not true that "much of the league is 2-3 years younger than him", that is an exaggeration. At 22 in A ball, he was right in the middle. And at 22 in High A now, he's younger than average, but where he should be age-wise amongst actual prospects (some of the minor league filler tend to skew the ages high).

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 09:33 AM) The hardest thing to do when you're struggling in the field is to stay positive at the plate too. Johnson's emergence has put DiMichele into a bit of a bind. I like DeMichele but if he can't play SS, he's going to have to either learn how to play 3B and the OF, or he's going to have a difficult time breaking into the majors. Yeah and his hitting has dropped off too. If Micah tears up the Carolina League, and if one of Semien or Saladino head for AAA, you may see Micah go to AA this year and Joey can go back to 2B. That also allows for Tim Anderson to play SS at W-S if he earns it.

By the way, related to shortstop/second baseman and 7/10's games... now seen reports from a blogger and a scout that have said Joey DeMichele is having a hard time at SS. Not doing well there.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 08:29 AM) If he could play SS with those numbers, he would have 5X the value. Unfortunately, he MIGHT end up getting stuck behind Beckham....and then Micah Johnson and Anderson are charging from behind, with Carlos Sanchez in front of him (maybe not minor league position-wise, but logical big league destination). He can play SS, and has this year (and in previous years) - he and Saladino have both played SS for B-Ham. But it isn't clear if they think he can stick there. The fact that both have played there is interesting. If one goes to Charlotte at some point, look to see what position they play, and what position the person left in B-Ham plays. That could tell you something.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 07:03 AM) http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fringe-...e-prospects-11/ What's funny is, he's appeared like 3-4 times in that same recurring series - five fringe guys. When you are there 4 or 5 times, I don't think you qualify as fringe anymore. I think he's a real prospect. But that word has many meanings for many different people.

This thread took a turn.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 12:23 PM) SIGH. The day before, he had a homer and triple off the wall. Then he goes 0 for 4 with 4 K's and he's benched...? One game, to clear his head, but this is ridiculous. The longer he sits, the more it WILL BE IN HIS HEAD. BTW, wish they would do that with Adam Dunn sometimes, as well. But for one game or two days (when there's an off-day, for a mental break). I HATE BUDDY BELL. Sort of funny, you saying how you hate that the Sox are apparently reacting to one game's performance (which I doubt they are, but let's run with that)... and saying you hate Buddy Bell based on having Hawkins sit for... one or two games. He may also have a slight injury, or he's getting in extra side work (which I think would be great), or there was a disciplinary issue, or he's got personal matters to attend to, or who knows what else.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 12:31 PM) But I do think Zewski is ranked a bit too high at this point. I am not sure if his hot first 5 games bumped up his ranking a little bit. Not at all, just as his more recent slump doesn't bring it down. No effect so far from his play, at least for me, other than maybe just to confirm he isn't completely out of his league.

On Zapata... we had a discussion about this, among the FS writers and people who helped with the list. And just as here, there were a wide variety of views, ranging from him being Top 10, to considered-but-doesn't-make-list, to shouldn't-be considered. I think it is a great discussion to have, with valid reasons for all the above, which is why I opened a seperate thread for just that. What it comes down to is... 1. There is in fact a difference between a high school kid who has played in the states and been seen by a lot of scouts, versus a 16 year old who has only had a few people see him at a combine and has no competition to play against. 2. The data on Zapata is entirely based on combine-viewed physical tools and some BP work. That is very little to go on. 3. There is a WORLD of difference between a 16 year old and an 18 year old in terms of physical and mental development, and going down to 16 then projecting upwards to adulthood is very, very sketchy. Guesswork is present in all of this, but in the case of someone this young, it is borderline drawing straws. So, we decided as a group to not include him. If we had included him, he'd have probably been in the teens or twenties on the list, but with ratings all over the board.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 10:22 AM) Looking good so far. There are a couple of the low to no ceiling guys I feel might be too high, but that's a solid list. Which ones?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 09:35 AM) I think Ravelo should be higher and Micah Johnson should probably be in the top 10, but otherwise I think the list is pretty solid Ravelo's move from 3B to 1B wiped out some of his prospect value. The fact that he's still T25 is because he is hitting so well, and starting to show hints of power. He's also still somewhat young. But as a 1B, he'll need to actually show that power for some extended period for him to get a lot higher on the list. Johnson looks awfully good, but it is hard to justify him being a lot higher than #12 just yet. Let's see how he does in A+.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 07:58 AM) Terrible. Plus the interviewer, while knowledgeable, sounded like he came from the set of Deliverance or The Cabin in the Woods. It is Jordan Childress, new radio guy for Bristol Sox.

Here is the 11-25 portion of the list. On Friday we'll publish the Top 10, full list and a list of players who just missed. The five contributing voters were Balta1701, danman31, Jake, NorthsideSideSox72 and witesoxfan. Discuss... EDIT TO ADD LINK TO FULL LIST: HERE IT IS

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 02:26 PM) Kepp has a career 6.6% walk rate. Sanchez has been just over 7%. Similar walk rates, though they aren't similar players Hm, hadn't realized Kepp was that high before. I guess I got tunnel vision on this year with him.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 02:14 PM) Sanchez is a pretty damn good fielder at 2B though, which makes him a step above a Keppinger type. Sanchez also draws walks, Keppinger does not. Not a very good comp.