NorthSideSox72

Yeah, the release thing seems like a stupid offhand comment to me. Scouts do exaggerate occasionally, either way. But I honestly couldn't figure out where all the big Mitchell talk was coming from, and was 50/50 if he really had made some sort of offseason changes, or they were just talking him up. Seems it was the latter.

Discuss. Also, apparently a scout told Keith Law (who was at the Charlotte game) that Mitchell was a "release candidate". Seems stupid to me to go THAT far, but, there it is. Maybe all the talking-up of Mitchell was to increase value for a deal?

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Apr 19, 2013 -> 01:51 PM) Ok I will admit I might be a bit harsh on his defense, I saw him as a average defender right now with potential to be above average. But you can't overlook his lack of power, and even BP rated his power at 20/20. Also from BP, while he has good raw speed, he doesn't have the instinct to be an effective base stealer. They see him as a fringe regular at 2B and a very nice utility guy. All these these fit right in with my initial post about Sanchez. Some of you can sit here and wish that he suddenly discovers more power, but it's highly unlikely at this point, as he hasn't even demonstrate any gap power at age 20/21. We've been down this road with young, good contact hitters before, Jon Gilmore, and right now Rangel Ravelo. It's highly unlikely. No gap power? He had 25 doubles and 7 triples last year in 500-ish AB's. That's not huge numbers, but it is not "no gap power" either. Jon Gilmore? He washed out at lower levels and much higher age, and played 3B. Ravelo is more similar in some ways, but is still at a much lower level, and was a 3B who is now a 1B. Not great examples, and Ravelo is still a question mark. Sanchez may or may not find that power. We'll see.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Apr 19, 2013 -> 02:19 AM) And I sometimes also wish you would make more relevant comparisons. Last time you compared Richar Shelby and Harris to Micah Johnson, now you are comparing Santiago and Quintana's situation to Sanchez? Really? Let's have sanity check here, we all know Santiago became a whole new pitcher after he learned the screwball, and pitcher developments are not the same as hitter developments. And why are you even trying to construe a misleading analyze for Quintana's minor league track? First of all he did not spend 6 years in A ball or below. He only pitched 5 innings as a 17 year old and was suspended his entire age 18. So if you want to count it, that's 3 years in Rk - A+, which is totally typical for a pitcher. He's also been consistently good those 3 years, but scouts didn't view him as a big time prospect because he lacked the "stuff", which he still doesn't have, but he pitches with the poise of a veteran, which is giving him the edge so far. Again, totally irrelevant to a batter's development. Also, why are you comparing Viceido and Gordon's position switch to Sanchez's? For the record, Sanchez never officially switched positions, he keeps bouncing around between SS and 2B, while Viceido and Gordon's switch were long term changes. His situation is more like the Tyler Kuhn situation, where he can fill multiple positions, but not spectacular at a specific one. If the organization doesn't even have a defined position for him, I wouldn't trust your "sources" and label as a plus defender just yet. It's very simple, if the organization feels he's a plus defender, he will be playing one position full time. If he's blocked by someone at his current position or another position opens up, then they will have him permanently switch over to the other position. That was how the Viceido/Beckham situations were handled. Really, none of the comparisons you offered really applies to Carlos Sanchez. I agree with a lot of what you said, but... for one thing, Tyler Kuhn? Not really a great comp either. Different hitting tools and styles, and Kuhn was always considered below average (but acceptable) at all those positions. He was specifically known as a bat, and really just a bat. There was even a joke among Sox front office folks, labeling players with a good bat and no position as "he's Tyler Kuhn". Also, the reason they are moving him between 2nd and SS seems pretty clear to me - they want him to be ready for both in the majors. There is a good chance that one of Alexei or Gordon are elsewhere after this season (or maybe Sanchez), so they want Sanchez to be ready for either.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 08:07 PM) 0-3, 3 k for Hawkins. It's getting to the point you have to demote him. I'd rather deactivate him, send him to extended ST and get him in some deeper instruction for a while. Then, back to W-S after a few weeks. Demotion by itself won't do a lot, I don't think. Pitching isn't THAT much worse in A vs A+.

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Mark has a 10 game hitting streak, the longest this year in his league (Carolina). His slash line so far: .359/.422/.590/1.102. K rate 15.5%, pretty reasonable, continues to decline every year as he moves up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 08:48 AM) It would have overridden state and local laws regarding transport of guns as well as removing restrictions on gun sales across state lines, both of which would make enforcing restrictions on gun smuggling much more difficult. It'd make selling guns to people who are smuggling them into Chicago legal. (I'd still have voted for cloture, but just remember that...this bill would have made going into Indiana, buying guns on the street corner, and smuggling them into Chicago...legal). From what I have read, that is a different amendment - about interstate sales. Not the same. But even if it was in that same amendment... I thought I was pretty clear in that I'm asking the pro-gun lobby my question. Not anti-gun.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 17, 2013 -> 07:02 PM) Why? Combine the Senate's anti-democratic heavy weighting in favor of rural states with their dumb procedural rules that Reid refused to revise. Partly. But more so $$$$$$$$$. And also fear.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Apr 17, 2013 -> 07:02 PM) Well isn't that the spirit of bipartisanship! Give me a reason why you'd vote against it. Not a reason why it isn't the end-all solution... But an actual reason why it is bad. Just one will do.

Wasn't sure what thread to use for this, forgive me if it should have been elsewhere. I haven't been in the Buster in months... Today, the US Senate rejected the background check amendment to the larger gun control bill. The amendment would have expanded background checks to gun shows, online purchases, and other currently exempted venues. It left exceptions for family transactions, and one-off private sales. It also specifically stated that no gun registry could be created. Rejected. Why? The NRA cannot give you a reason. Seriously, try to find it - they give literally no reason for opposing it. 80 to 90% of Americans favor it. It does not restrict ownership to anyone, other than those who might fail a background check, like violent felons. It does not create a registry. It does not effect familial transactions. The opponents are the small minority here, and cannot give you a single reason why they oppose it. Still failed. Now, people here who know my past posts on this topic know, I am opposed to registries. I am opposed to most or all new restrictions on types of guns. I am opposed to most new gun regs. But this, to me, is a no-brainer. No harm is done, and some harm will be prevented. How is this even controversial? Will it solve everything? No one is saying that. Except the NRA's straw man. I am disgusted. As if the Senate shouldn't already be embarrassed for a multitude of reasons, this one really stands out. The cowardly losers who voted against this should be ashamed of themselves. That is all.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 17, 2013 -> 02:01 PM) I agree, but I still think you move him down to the 5th spot regardless. Well sure, little tweaks are one thing. Tinkering is part of managing, trying to prompt change that way. Just saying you don't bench the guy or bat him 9th any time soon.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Apr 17, 2013 -> 02:41 PM) My bad, I meant Sally League All-Star and Top 100 2012 MLB Draft prospect, I'm not that foolish, my bad Ah, that I can believe.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 17, 2013 -> 02:05 PM) Semien may be a bit underrated around here. Seems like he can do a little bit of everything offensively. Haven't heard much about his defense though. AA will be the real test for him, as we've seen many positional prospects stumble in Birmingham. So far so good though. I agree on being underrated. He's doing pertty well so far in AA: hitting .333, has shown some pop last year, and he has 7 walks versus just 3 K's in over 50 PA thus far in AA. Defensive reports are positive, in fact he was considered stronger with the glove than the bat. He's at SS and they moved Saladino to 2B, which should tell you something. He's got a little speed but isn't refined on the basepaths yet. I doubt he hits .333 for long in AA, but so far, he looks pretty damn good for all those tools, and he's only 22 in AA so he's a bit on the young side for his league.

He's got a lot more than a dozen or so games of rope. As he should. Let's see how he's doing in May, maybe Memorial Day, maybe even June. If he's still hitting well below .200 (which I doubt he will be), and no longer drawing a lot of walks either, then it becomes time to make adjustments. What do you expect to do in the meantime anyway? Do you think Seth Loman would be likely to do better right away? Possible, but improbable.

My Top 8 breakout guys for this year... Micah Johnson Marcus Semien (he's already been noticed, but I think he runs well up the rankings this year) Euclides Leyer Brandon Webb Mark Haddow Taylor Thompson Kyle Hansen (in extended ST still) Jason Coats Not sure of that order, but those are the names I think you'll see jump as the season goes on. And for fun, the ranked guys I think will fall off this year: Molina (duh), Olacio, Leesman, Santos Rodriguez, Ravelo. And, not a breakout candidate, but I really think Beck is going to make a lot of noise this year. Should be a Top 5 guy by end of season.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 06:35 PM) Breakout prospects tend to form in the lower levels due to age (explains why there are many lower level prospects mentioned) 1. Micah Johnson (great stats, potential All-Star, drafted 9th round but fell due to injury, top 100 prospect) 2. Myles Jaye (repeating Sally League and destroying hitters) 3. Kale Kiser (Had very successful 2012 summer, hot start to 2013, Great contact, speed, and arm) 4. Jason Coats (Top draft prospect back in last June, but fell due to torn ACL) 5. Chris Curley (Old for level, WS, but continues to tear up league) 6. Sammy Ayala (Must wait for June to start but can move fast through the system football background, Top 200 2012 Draft prospects, decent defense, power potential) 7. Kyle Hansen (must get healthy, but can be potential starter) 8. Braulio Ortiz/ Daniel Webb (both have dominated relief roles so far at lower levels) That is a very aggressive view on Micah Johnson. Potential all-star? Top 100 prospect? I hope you are right, and I do think he breaks into the team's Top 25 soon, but I wouldn't go nearly that far. I hope you are right. I'll have to put a list up here myself soon.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 12:16 PM) I really don't care about that arb clock stuff. I just don't. Chris Sale got brought up a month after he signed, and we're all pretty happy with him. As far as Keppinger--he can play 3B, 2B, 1B, DH. And really, he shouldn't play every day anyway. Maybe 3 out of 4 days. I think if the team just tanks the next couple weeks and Sanchez continues to do good things, give him May in the big leagues while Beckham is gone. Why? If the team is tanking, and you think the season is a lost cause, then you might as well develop Sanchez until at least any moves at the trade deadline. But if you think the team can still compete, you clearly need to go with Keppinger, who has proven he can hit pretty well in the majors. Either way, bringing up Sanchez now or in May makes little sense.

Recent reports of his FB velocity are mid-high 80's. That's a far cry from the mid-90's he was hitting last year. Same guy reported he had some very inconsistent delivery aspects as well. Not sure if he is figuring out his now-much-bigger body, or they are slowing him down on purpose, or what.

Related... through yesterday's action, Micah Johnson's 11 stolen bases leads not only his league, but all of minor league baseball.

Some of the bitterness towards the org in here is incredible. I have to assume the big club's crappy play is part of it. First of all folks, it is April 16th. The season started about 1.5 weeks ago. Let's not go thinking guys are going to keep hitting .400, or keep striking out 60% of the time. Second, while everyone panics about Hawkins (and I'll admit there should be some concern there), no one is mentioning that there have been a number of pitching prospects having very nice starts: Jaye, Beck, Webb and others. Third, the system is undoubtedly better than it was a few years ago, and the drafting has been undoubtedly better the past 4-5 years, and the international spending has gone up a ton. That didn't suddenly disappear with a week and a half of baseball on the books. The system is still pretty thin, but it is headed the right direction. About Hawkins though... yeah, even in a small sample size, that is a little scary. I see why they started him in A+, since he marched up to that level last year looking good. Something changed, and now he needs to make more adjustments. I am sure the Sox are just as aware of his K's as we are, and are working on a plan. Give it time.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 01:47 PM) Not sure I see Semien and Saladino as having starter potential at this point. More likely utility guys if they make it. Depends what you mean by potential. It is all a percentages game. Sanchez might have a 50% chance of being a starter, whereas Semien or Saladino might be 20% or less, maybe 10%. I still consider that a high enough number to consider it "potential". DeMichele I'd say has a similar potential to start as those other two, but a much higher percentage chance to make the majors at all - just my view. I also freely admit though, I am higher on Semien than many others. I think his bat will continue to play, others don't.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 02:09 AM) I've read comps to Shelby, Jr., Willie Harris, Danny Richar...we'll see. Where are you "reading" these comps? Those are very different players.

Also should note, FutureSox had a guy on the ground in Lakewood for the Kanny series... said a few things about Micah. For one thing, in addition to being fast, he appeared to be an aggresive but also smart baserunner, seemed already pretty polished on the bases. Defensively, showed some good range on a couple plays... but, sample size.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 11, 2013 -> 10:07 PM) To be honest, I'm ashamed to admit I totally forgot about Sanchez. Makes me feel better that at least there's one potential infield starter in the organization right now (Barnum's still so far away to tell anything). QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 12:41 AM) I've been keeping an eye on Micah Johnson down in Kanny. 22 years old, a bit old for the league, but off to a good start so far. Based on the sample size this year and last year, he looks like he can get a base and also has above average to plus speed. Anyone has a scouting report on his defense? If he gets promoted to Winston Salem later this year, he's definitely worth following. He's worth watching, but at least a couple years away even if everything goes well. Below Sanchez, I'd focus more on Semien, DeMichele and Saladino, in that order. All three have starter potential at this point, so hopefully one of them actually ends up being capable of it when they get to the top of the system. All are at least a year away, probably 2-3 years. But they are definitely closer than Micah Johnson.