NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 2, 2013 -> 11:57 PM) Yeah, he's quite old for his level. I wouldn't say that... but he's not young for it either. 22 in A ball is about right, development-wise. In any case I agree he shouldn't be as far up as some are discussing him. Much more 10-20 range in the system than top 10, at this point.

We are reaching the time of year for FS and other sites/blogs to publish new top prospect lists, so this is a good discussion. I think slotting the OF's into specific positions is probably silly though - those guys move around a lot.

I just re-did my T25 list (FS is in the process of getting new rankings going), and I've got him at #17. EDITED (mistyped)

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 2, 2013 -> 10:35 AM) Mike Trout's signing bonus at the bottom of first round in 2009, $1.125 million. Crazy. And some are arguing this guy might not even be a Top 25 prospect in our system, automatically. Different market - the money is an indicator, but it isn't an absolute match-up. These are 16 year-olds, they are even more lottery tickets than the amateur draft guys. That said, I think a case can be made for Zapata to crack the Sox T25.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 2, 2013 -> 10:24 AM) So is his name Micker Adolfo or Micker Zapata? Micker Adolfo Zapata. Adolfo is his middle name.

Multiple Sources say Zapata has signed, $1.6M. FS Article Here.

Kanny twitter says just a day off for Micah.

Also saw a recent article, can't remember where now, talking about how very thin the 1B position is in the the minors generally right now. Not to dismiss Barnum, as he does have special power and some decent patience for a kid his age... but 1B is a very weak position in the minors at this time.

Sox signed an NDFA, Dane Opel, outfielder (CF) from Mizzou. 22 years old last month, so on the younger side for a 4-year college guy. Put up good numbers at MU.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 28, 2013 -> 07:30 PM) Does anyone know what kind of stuff Braulio Ortiz has? I know he just moved into the rotation, but 58 Ks in 44.1 innings is absolutely fantastic. Mid-90's fastball that I saw described as "heavy". Slider is inconsistent but flashes plus. Working to develop other pitches. Saw two different people note he has a nice relatively low-effort, consistent delivery. He's tall and, based on a couple videos I've seen, pretty well filled-out. But at 21 he could see more weight. He's a guy worth keeping an eye on for sure. Getting at least one more decent pitch would be the difference in starting and relieving for him, most likely. But even as a reliever, he looks like he may be legit.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 28, 2013 -> 12:45 PM) Yeah, I've been around here for all the David Cooks and CJ Retherfords. If it's not Wilkins, it's Dan Black, or Earley, or some random guy who puts up pretty good stats. Using statistical analysis is ONE tool, but not the be all, end all, when discussing minor league prospects and their projectability at the major league level. If nobody in the organization believes he'll develop that power, it doesn't matter what statistic you throw out there. Why do you think they gave up so quickly on Ryan Sweeney, for example? And yes, I think .270 is a pretty good number to use as a barometer for Trayce Thompson's batting average. Obviously, .268 vs. .270 doesn't matter, or 14 vs. 15, but if you really believe Ravelo's going to hit more than 5 homers this year, more power to you. Do you want to make a bet? It's one out of about 10 other indicators you could look at, however. You are comparing Ravelo to Retherford, Cook, Black and Earley? Seriously? Wilkins could kind of maybe make sense, but those others are not in the same throught process. Where are you getting that? And what's with the tangent about statistical analtsis vs scouting? Do you have any scouting info at all on Ravelo? He was drafted in the 6th round by the Sox, despite being very raw, and scouts noted at the time he had potential for plus power. Sox clearly believe in him - he missed half of last season, but still got promoted to A+ at age 21 (and barely that) quickly into this season. I've also watched some video of him hitting. Do you have any scouting/tools information to provide? Because by all indications, they think he can do something. Why is it so hard to believe for you that he isn't going to hit more than 5 home runs? And why does that matter much THIS YEAR anyway? Make a bet? Are you 12?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 28, 2013 -> 12:17 PM) International cap, not draft cap. They are separate numbers for different pools of players. Ohhh, thought he meant with the Engel signing. My bad.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 28, 2013 -> 10:51 AM) That gives the Sox ~$500K left to play with. $22,800 to play with - under the cap. Not sure where you get the 500k number. They could go over, and pay penalties, but I doubt they do that. Most they can give one pick under the cap is $122,800.

I have a lot of hope for 2014 and the future with this pitching staff. We could even trade a starter and still be in good shape. There are a couple interesting arms in the minors to fill bullpen spots that will likely open up. The offense needs a pretty big re-tool, and only a couple or three positions have a reasonable option from our minors who would be ready in 2014. And that is pushing it for some.

Saw a video of Anderson running to first, stealing second. He appears to have very good speed, though I didn't stop-watch it or anything. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 07:33 PM) Ravelo can't be considered a legit 1B prospect unless he can hit a minimum of 15 homers. MINIMUM. *sigh* What is with you and magic lines? 15 he is, 14 he isn't? .270 he is, .268 he isn't? It really isn't that absolute. This is especially ridiculous when you look at home run numbers in the minors, which need to take into account ballparks and other factors. And 15 home runs in A+ or A ball is actually an unusually high number, outside of the California League. Ravelo is a legitimate prospect, by my definition at least - just not as highly ranked, or with as good a chance, as he had if he could have stuck at 3B defensively. He, he obviously needs to add power at SOME point to make a case to be a major league 1B. But he's slugging .461 despite having only one home run - because he has 14 doubles in about 160 PA, which puts him around a rate of near 60 doubles on a full season. That is a very high rate, and when you are talking about a 21 year old in Advanced A ball with strong plate discipline (K rate around 13% and nearly as many walks as K's), there are good indications there that the power could come. He's still a guy in the Top 25 in the system, to me - at the low end of it now, but still there.

OF Carl Thomore so far on the season: 0-for-18, 10 K.

QUOTE (IowanSoxFan @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 04:44 PM) Let's imagine he was eligible for this year's MLB Draft, where do you think a player like this would have went? I know we don't really know a lot about this guy, but just guess. Well, $1.6M would put him in the mid-late first round, money-wise, if that helps.

QUOTE (MnSoxFan @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 03:22 PM) Tracy was on the DL, so I do not think it opens up a spot yet. Correct. It is not one of those imminent, someone is moving up today, type moves. More like, another clue, along with DeMichele playing SS.

Seeing reports now that the Sox have "locked up" Micker Zapata for $1.6M, but won't announce until 7/2.

WS Dash has released INF Mark Tracy. Open roster spot at W-S in the infield. Hmmmm....

The article was written by a guy who has posted a ton of videos on various Sox prospects at Kanny and W-S. He recently joined FanGraphs. Also for fun and a re-plug, here is the FS interview with Micah that came out around the same time. I think at least some of his defensive troubles - per both himself and in-person reports I have read - is that he's been rushing and trying to get fancy. As for the field at Kanny, that I just don't know.

Also, Courtney Hawkins is in the final vote-in among 5 people for each team.

I think they are resting Phegley, partly due to what ptatc mentions, but also to make sure he has the gas to do well later in the season when he MIGHT be in Chicago. As for Anderson, I saw a nice video on YouTube of him by a Bullpen Banter guy. I watched it from my phone but can't access YouTube here, so I apologize for not providing a link. Anderson's swing looks smooth and efficient, thought not a ton of bat speed from what I can tell on a couple viewings. The guy who tweeted the link also talked about him rushing things on defense, one-hopping throws. Probably trying to be too fancy, happens a lot with new guys.

QUOTE (daggins @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 05:50 PM) Trayce Thompson def on the up. Phegley on the down but still with a 700+ OPS in limited June ABs. Yeah, if that is Phegley's down month, he's doing quite well still. His season OPS last year was in the 600's.

QUOTE (QuickJones81 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 12:05 PM) Here is a list of players on the move right now, both in a good way and a bad way. This is not the hottest or the coldest, but people making the biggest jump or fall over the previous 5 appearances. Up Jeremy Dowdy Andy Wilkins Marcus Semien Kyle Hansen Brandon Brennan Down Courtney Hawkins Keenyn Walker Miguel Gonzalez Jake Cose Storm Throne I'd put Throne on the opposite list. He was unheard of (except for the cool name) until the last month or two, when we started getting a read on his arm. He's got a special one, so he's worth keeping an eye on. Certainly not on the way down. And Brennan has been getting better, but he's not really ascending all that fast just yet. And he's raw. Jeremy Dowdy?