NorthSideSox72

Posted in FutureSox a few days ago

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 30, 2012 -> 07:30 AM) To me this is a pretty important game. If they win this one, then there is no way they can leave the Detroit series not in first place even if they get swept. I think it could do great damage to the psyche of the team if we went to Detroit and they swept us out of first place. What about the psychological effect on Detroit? If the Sox go in there with a 3 game lead, the pressure is entirely on Detroit. They aren't likely to sweep again, but they will feel like they have to.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 09:53 PM) Hawkins ended up 1/6 with a K. DeAza 2/3 for Charlotte. Probably will come back Friday against Tigers? Hudson also rehabbing down there. What do you do with Wise? Platoon him with Viciedo, one would guess...we'll see what Robin decides to do. Are you channeling Marty34 now?

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 30, 2012 -> 07:19 AM) Nothing to see here. Brady Shoemaker was promoted to Triple A Charlotte at the end of the season after playing the whole season in Bristol a few years back. It's only a temporary move to get those guys some playing time. On top of that, Thompson has struggled mightily in Double A the past 5 games or so. It's almost a guarantee that Thompson will start next season in Double A and Hawkins will be in Kanny for a few months as well. QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 30, 2012 -> 08:04 AM) That is the last 5 games out of the 14 games he played in AA where he struggled. But the point I am trying to make is that he is not ready for AAA, and it's apparent. He would basically jump from A to AAA if the promotion is long term. We're comparing Thompson's promotion to Shoemaker's cup of coffee? Not really comparable players in terms of development, at all. And 5 games to make a determination? That makes it "apparent" that he's not ready?

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 11:23 AM) It's the second part of your comment. They will likely be sent back down, and I hope that doesn't hurt their confidence, even if it's planned. If they are that fragile, they won't do well in their careers. Thompson went from A+ to AA to AAA in a season and is being talked about all over the place - you really think he's going to be hurt by being in AA in 2013? Hawkins was just drafted and has gone Rk to A- to A+. He may actually stay at A+ in 2013, or be in A-, but do you really think he's going to be upset? Playing A ball as a 19 year old and the organization's (probably) top prospect?

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 11:13 AM) That's nuts. I hope this aggression doesn't hurt them. They will only be with the elevated teams for a few weeks at most, even with the playoffs. Then it is back to level if they don't do as well. I fail to see how it would hurt them.

Well that was fast. After just 4 games with the Dash (where he went hitless in 10 AB), Mark has been promoted again, to AA Birmingham. This was part of an outfield promotion parade. Trayce Thompson is going to AAA and Courtney Hawkins is going to A+. I assume this is mostly to get both of them some post-season experience and more AB's. But it left an OF hole in B-Ham, and Mark got the call. They probably wanted to leave a raw but talented Walker in W-S for their playoff run. I doubt this means he's in AA in 2013, as that would be a pretty big surprise for a guy who started the year in A-. Then again, he did do pretty well this year, and he'll be 25 next season. AA is closer to age-appropriate for him.

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 10:08 AM) Wow. http://web.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...sp&sid=t487 QUOTE (Big Daddy Kool @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 10:16 AM) The organization isn't messing around. Also, Trayce Thompson to AAA. Wow x2. Looks like they want Thompson and Hawkins to get some post-season action. And Haddow to AA. Lots of multi-level jumps lately.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) What does he he need to do to be a better announcer? QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) He could start by getting rid of the tons of dead air he leaves. And getting rid of some of the irritating, drawl-laden catch phrases. A few of those are OK, but he does it to a cartoonish level. He also gets way the heck off game topic far too often. And frankly, he is almost incapable of doing PBP, which is a problem when he's in the booth with another analyst type like Stone (except Stone actually analyzes the game at hand, not games that happened decades ago). Part of the problem with the current team isn't either of their faults - they are both analysts, not PBP guys, and you really need one of each to make it work well. QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:45 PM) But that's where it ends...it is your opinion, not fact...so quit stating it as such. What are you talking about? A poster asked what he could do to be better, and I answered. Where did I state anything in your quoted post as "fact"? I was stating my opinions.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:42 PM) My view is if a prospect can play short he should stay there especially when he's only 20. Some people see it that way, and I wouldn't argue heavily against it. But from what I have seen of various reports on his defense, his SS grading seems to be OK, but he's better at 2B and 3B. Bell didn't say that though. And of course, everyone here knows the real reason you want him to be playing SS.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:36 PM) Play by play in baseball is overrated. If youre watching the game you don't need play by play, baseballs a simple game. Then I think you are missing the point of play-by-play. But that's obviously subjective, it is just my view that PBP is an essential part of making it work. Not because you can't tell what is going on, but because when done well, it adds color and emphasis - almost like the soundtrack to a movie, but more direct. That said, I'd be happy if Hawk was just good at one or the other - PBP or analysis. I don't find him to be good at either. Stone is at least good at one of them.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:31 PM) I like Stone, but he's put on a God level just because he's even-keeled and speaks in absolutes. He kills me by frequently calling pitches incorrectly. The best thing he does is hit you with some dry humor when you're not ready for it and the next best thing he does is narrate some of the things that Hawk would be too pissed to say. Gimme some Darrin Jackson, he ended up being a great match for Hawk by the end of his run. Now DJ is stinking up our radio broadcast, the only redeeming quality of which is the frequent awkward back and forth between Farmer and DJ Anyone I've ever talked to about Stone, the reason they like him is because he is very knowledgeable, and shows it with his in-game analysis. No one likes him because he is "even-keeled", they like him because he is a good analyst.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) I guess just short term roster filler for the last 6 games, especially since he's a local kid. Probably. But still, it does show they think something of him, or else they would have chosen someone else. I doubt he's in AA to start next year, of course. More likely A-, or maybe A+.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:25 PM) Not a fan of this philosophy. Bell says Sanchez plays short and second equally as well. Seems if that were the case, he would have started out as a SS. He did. Then they have played him at 2B and 3B more recently, which are positions of need for the team. Also that gives an added bonus of flexibility. Makes sense to me.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) What does he he need to do to be a better announcer? He could start by getting rid of the tons of dead air he leaves. And getting rid of some of the irritating, drawl-laden catch phrases. A few of those are OK, but he does it to a cartoonish level. He also gets way the heck off game topic far too often. And frankly, he is almost incapable of doing PBP, which is a problem when he's in the booth with another analyst type like Stone (except Stone actually analyzes the game at hand, not games that happened decades ago). Part of the problem with the current team isn't either of their faults - they are both analysts, not PBP guys, and you really need one of each to make it work well.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 12:38 PM) I agree, and if you watch MLB Network or Baseball Tonight, they are always using his lines. They even do picks to click. Mercy! Its hard for me to believe a White Sox fan would despise Hawk. If you ever listen to other broadcasters, you get at most about 1/10th the baseball knowledge that you get when Hawk and Stone are doing the game. There are a lot of things about baseball even the haters mention daily that they would have no clue about if Len Kasper where the White Sox PBP voicee. To be clear, I didn't say I despise him. I just don't think he's very good, and he is definitely irritating. I am not doubting his baseball knowledge, or that he might be a good guy.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 12:40 PM) Brandon Kloess was also moved up to Charlotte. Ryan Buch and Michael Gunter were promoted to B'ham and Bryan Blough was promoted to W-S. Gunter is a side-armer who was with Bristol. He played college ball locally at Samford and was signed out of a tryout camp at Regions Park. Just like Ehren Wassermann. Hadn't even noticed Gunter before. Just turned 22. Only pitched 6.2 innings at Bristol, but struck out 12 guys, good for a 16.2 K/9 rate. Against just 1 walk. But he did get hit, 9 hits in those 6.2 IP. Straight to AA though? Interesting.

Dan back to Charlotte again. He's done a lot of driving this year. Obviously he didn't have much more to prove in AA. He only appeared in 7 games with B-Ham this time around, and he struck out 16 in 11 innings. His (probably) final AA stats on the year: 2.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, .138 BAA, 4.2 BB/9, 10.6 K/9. Walks were a little higher than his usual, mostly due to one bad outing on 8/14, but his other peripherals were very good.

Dan Remenowsky promoted back to Charlotte again. He will likely take Axelrod's roster spot, and I think they are just assuming Axelrod stays with the Sox into September for the expanded rosters. Probably also means Heath stays a starter for the balance of Charlotte's season.

He isn't even one of the all time "goods", IMO. He's pretty awful.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 10:29 AM) Axelrod was scratched. Rumor is that he will be the Wednesday starter in place of Floyd, barring a last minute waiver wire acquisition.

Mostly expected. Thompson, Sanchez and Sanchez were definitely expected, and Rienzo with his lost time and strong performance this year is no surprise. Santos Rodriguez falls into the category of relievers they want to see if they are real or not. Same with Taylor Thompson. Could have been any one of 4 or 5 others in that category too. Wilkins is interesting. I suppose they want to see if his improvement late in the season is the real deal, because Dan Black is knocking on the door. I kind of thought Shoemaker might get a look, especially with his promotion to AA and his marginal status combined with strong statistical results. But I guess not.

QUOTE (IowanSoxFan @ Aug 27, 2012 -> 04:54 PM) Straight cash homey. How does a guy that tall and that skinny find clothes that fit him? Let alone clothes like THAT that fit him.

Thompson didn't play - probably just a day off. Sammy Ayala, the big overslot C pick from the draft, seems to be figuring out Appy league pitching: .324/.378/.471/.849 in his last 10 games. Hit his first pro HR yesterday. Seems like it took him a while, but really, he's only played in 24 games, because Bristol has been rained out so many times.

No doubt in my mind, the winner here is Ghostbusters.