NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Aug 12, 2012 -> 11:52 AM) Veal won't be up until September unless Septimo gets hurt. Also, as has been pointed out before, Veal is not a LOOGY. Look at his splits: he's tougher on righties than lefties.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 12, 2012 -> 09:56 AM) This is from John Sickels: Nice, that's the first I've seen about his 2B defense. Heard good things about 3B, so-so things about SS.

QUOTE (BlackBetsy @ Aug 11, 2012 -> 05:32 PM) I think Remenosky may make the Southern League Hall of Fame. I said in his AAP thread, I don't get why they sent him back down so quick. 9 games? His peripherals are a lot better this time than his stint last year in AAA. He obviously has nothing left to prove in AA. Just seems weird to me. I think you need to keep him in AAA, and see if he can make the adjustments.

The whole risk with Flowers at DH thing is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overblown. First of all, the issue only comes up if Flowers is in the game at DH and AJ gets hurt mid-game or is ejected (neither of which have happened more than a few times his entire career with the Sox). And even if it does happen, Flowers can still catch, but we lose the DH slot for the remainder of the game... and late in the game it would be pinch hitters anyway. It is really not a huge risk, at all, especially for a few days.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Aug 9, 2012 -> 07:41 PM) Leighton Pangilinan may owe someone BIG TIME tonight..... Dude has 14 errors as a first baseman. That's not good. QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 10, 2012 -> 12:23 AM) People have been seemingly on the fence about it, so I'm just going to go ahead and say that Brady Shoemaker's a prospect. Regardless of tools, his numbers don't lie...he walks, he doesn't strike out too much, he hits, he hits for power, and he plays the outfield. I admit I haven't seen him swing a bat, so I'm slightly in the dark in that regard, but his numbers indicate a well school, patient hitter. In fact, his minor league numbers are comparable to two Cardinals, Allen Craig and David Freese. Neither were ever big time prospects, both were generally older for their level (though Craig was a bit younger), and they were both disciplined hitters who hit for power (albeit better home run power), didn't strike out a ton, and drew their fair share of walks. When it comes to hitters, there is sort of a punnett square - guys with talent who get it (you're elite), guys with talent who don't get it (the maddeningly inconsistent), guys without talent who get it (more consistent, easily overlooked), and those without talent who don't (minor leaguers or bench players). There's obviously a lot of gray area here, but Shoemaker really seems like the kind of guy who is, at the very least, going to find his way onto a bench at some point, and if he keeps on hitting, into a lineup. And I'm not at all concerned about his .264 average in Birmingham. You'd like to see it higher, but it's a very small sample, he's walking more, he's still making pretty decent contact, and the power, albeit down some, is still there too. Might actually be a good idea to push him a bit and start him in AAA next year if they can find room. Once he made the jump to AA and has seemingly adjusted pretty well, I have to agree. Not a high end prospect, but a prospect, and one worth watching. I'm not sure AAA that quick is a great idea, it depends on how this last month of AA goes for him. He's only been in AA for about a month. Let him finish the season there, and maybe play AFL - that would be a good idea, he's the ideal guy for it in some ways. If he finishes strong in AA and (hopefully) in an AFL appearance, then maybe AAA next year. At this point, in terms of the "Big Board", the only OF who is truly ahead of him (discounting mercenaries like Wise and Johnson) is Mitchell, and maybe Short if he returns healthy. And you've got kind of a stack of guys behind him that will need room to move up quickly (Walker and Thompson primarily, but also Earley and Haddow). So, it seems like it makes sense, depth chart-wise.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 9, 2012 -> 11:38 PM) Kuhn for cash? Unless it was for Norm, the Sox must really be hard up for money. I honestly wondered why it was Olmedo and not Kuhn who came up, so this is a bit of a surprise to me. Seemed more versatile.

Other than a horribly failed bunt, Danks has done fine as the bench OF, and he has speed and plays good defense at all three positions. I see no reason to upgrade there. Flowers has struggled, but actually looked better the last few times he hit. And changing C's can have an affect on the pitching staff, so, I'd just assume keep him too. But Hudson and Olmedo? Need some help there, if we can find it.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 9, 2012 -> 11:02 AM) Wow. Good for Thompson. The K's suck, but he's up there leading the league in Homers and RBI's. I'm not big on prospect lists, but it will be interesting to see if he cracks some Top 100's this offseason. Three straight games without a K, around 20% rate in his last 10 games, 27% in July/August. Was 29% last year on the season. His AVG is up about 10 points this year, OBP about the same, SLG up by 35 points. Also is 18/20 in SB attempts this year, after going 8/12 last year. Two straight seasons of 20+ HR's, will probably get two straight of 30+ doubles as well (at 28 now). And this is a guy with plus defensive skills in the OF. Next year he'd be 22 at AA. Playing at B-Ham is a big test. The jump to AA is often the hardest for hitters to make successfully, and it will be especially so for a guy like Trayce... his HR power will be tested in that cavernous park, and so will his defensive skills. Next year will tell us a lot about him, I think.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Aug 9, 2012 -> 10:02 AM) You just described Gordon Beckham. What really need is a real second baseman. Well I suppose that is another way to go - find a better 2B and make Beckham the utility guy. He can cover 2B very well, 3B pretty well, probably SS in a pinch, runs pretty good, has a little pop occasionally. Somehow I don't think the Sox are finding that guy in August.

Tiggers and Yank-me's are a day game, at least there is something to keep track of.

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ Aug 9, 2012 -> 07:55 AM) We did recently sign Dwayne Wise-who has played most of year in majors Danks is actually not the guy I'd be most concerned with upgrading anyway. Him and Flowers are fine, IMO, for the bench. It is Olmedo and Hudson that really need replacing. Need a professional utility IF, if one is available. One who can defend at least 2 IF positions well (Hudson can only really field 1 well), has some speed for PR duties, and maybe can hit .250.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 8, 2012 -> 04:24 PM) Rios is out with back stiffness Yeah, and PK got a little banged up and needs the rest. So I fail to see why this is some sort of huge nightmare lineup - he's doing what he can do with what he has. That all said, I'd rather have seen Flowers at DH instead of Hudson. For that matter, I'm surprised Hudson is still on the team.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 09:09 PM) Is Erik Johnson the #1 Sox pitching prospect along with Simon Castro? I think Rienzo should be up there as well.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 8, 2012 -> 02:38 PM) If we lose this game tonight, we need a whole new approach versus KC. Guthrie can't get ANYBODY OUT. KC pitchers excel against us and SUCK vs. literally everybody else. Guthrie threw a quality start his last time out. Of course, that was one of only 2 or 3 he has thrown all year...

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 8, 2012 -> 01:54 PM) No game thread yet??? Has everybody given up after one loss to Cy Chen?? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor??? Pitching for the Sox tonight, the rested, new, and improved Jose Quintana: vs. this f***ing guy for KC: Consecutie? Is that someone that is the opposite of cute? Or someone that Jose Canseco thinks is cute?

QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 06:28 PM) Except Carlos Sanchez has two career professional home runs. Altuve went for double digits in each of the last two years in the minors and will wind up somewhere in the 8-10 range this year in the Majors. I'm just worried about stats translating for a guy with such little power in the minors. I think it depends a lot on position. As a 2B, if he can hit for a high average and defend the position well, he's a possible upgrade for the Sox in a year or two. He also walks a lot (or did at High A anyway), which when added to the high average makes for a nice OBP guy. Also, the power may still come, we'll have to see. But I see him as more valuable than Escobar was at this stage. Would love to get a more recent read on his defense, especially at 2B.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 02:05 PM) Have you looked at a list of free agents at 3B? It's dreadful. Youkilis is really the only option. I'd like to bring AJ back, but someone will probably overpay based on the outlier year that he's having. A cheap stopgap like Olivo sounds like the smartest plan to me. The good news for the Sox is, a lot of teams are going to be turned off by AJ, for both age and supposed attitude. Too much risk. I think they are more likely to overspend on a Youkilis than an AJ.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 02:02 PM) That's just pure luck, though. Can't have it both ways. If it is good luck they were able to find guys like De Aza and Quintana that other teams left for dead... than you have to say its bad luck that other guys didn't produce as planned from the draft. Or, it was skill in both cases and they deserve credit. Or some of both across the board. But to say De Aza, or other good pickups are good luck, but other lack of success is bad organizational work, is just being negative to be negative.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 01:57 PM) Morel would have to make a quantum leap just to be a mediocre hitter. Spending meaningful dollars on a 36 year old catcher would be a pretty horrible investment. You just keep ignoring that there are no other good options. You yourself pointed out, Napoli may be the only good one available, and he will cost a fortune. AJ won't cost a fortune. Youk probably will, and he is also a guy who was fading fast before the Sox got him. That may have been injuries or a blip, or maybe it was the start of a trend for him. At 3B, there is usually more good talent available at any given offseason, than at C. And all else equal, having stability at C is much more important than at 3B. Of course, I'd love to see both of them back in 2013 on short, reasonable deals. I just am not sure Youk will sign for a short, reasonable deal. AJ, I think, would.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 01:44 PM) And how much do you think a 31 year old catcher with a career .860 OPS will demand on the open market? He's not an option. I don't know how much money you can continue shelling out to mercenaries. At some point you have to draft one player that can contribute on offense. Just one. I know you can do it, Kenny! Team draft philosophy really started changing about 3-4 drafts ago, so we are just reaching a point where some of those might happen. The high risk, high ceiling OF trio (Mitchell/Thompson/Walker) may get us something, Sanchez looking good, etc. Also, regardless of draft, what matters is young, cheap starting talent no matter how you get it. De Aza was a scrap heap pickup, and has worked really well. Viciedo is very reasonably priced, and he was a Sox product. Alaxei is no longer young, but is inexpensive and under control. Beckham is there, but isn't doing anything with the bat. You need a catcher and a 3B next year, and most people agree that Morel and Flowers are not great options. Ideally, you start neither. But it is simply harder (or more expensive) to find a replacement for AJ, than one for Youk, in my view. And for catchers, familiarity with a system and its pitchers is more important than with any other position on the field.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 11:36 AM) Man, that can't be. A 36 year old catcher who is having an outlier year will be offensive priority #1? Yikes. It's gotta be Youkilis. AJ is my favorite player on the team, but who cares if he goes elsewhere? This is no spring chicken we're talking about. Major league catchers who can handle a pitching staff well, defend the position, be durable, and put up the numbers AJ does even on average... are very hard to find. Flowers will likely not be that guy, nor Phegley, and anyone else in the system (Smith, Blanke, others) are not anything like ready. Without AJ, you suddenly have a deep hole. At 3B, we already have a guy who gives you plus defense, and has at times been able to hit - so maybe he can again. And there are other infielders out there the Sox could pick up who can reasonably play there, if not hit as well as Youk. Who also, by the way, is not a spring chicken. If I had to choose which to bring back - as long as neither deal was more than 2 years guaranteed, maybe 3d year option - I'd put the money on AJ. Unless of course the Sox feel they can land a good catcher from elsewhere, that I am not aware of being available. Could happen.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Aug 7, 2012 -> 01:25 PM) That's one more offensive tool than Mr. Beckham is consistantly showing so far. Last night not withstanding. But that's not true, and that's the point. Beckham has plus defense. I've heard good things about Sanchez' defense at 3B, but his marks at SS a while back I seem to remember weren't great. No idea at 2B.

Sanchez, at 20 years and about 1 month old... hitting .382 in AA so far, .910 OPS. K rate reasonable. Not walking a ton yet, but did that at prior levels. Got to like it.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Aug 6, 2012 -> 09:46 PM) I'm in delusion hoping he is a late boomer. It happens, not impossible. And he's not so much a late bloomer as a low draft pick, drafted older, who has consistently been "old" for his level. So, he might end up making it against those odds... or he may be David Cook.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Aug 6, 2012 -> 12:42 PM) Y2HH: Shooter was an assbag with a history of repeated assbaggery. Shooter should die a slow painful death. Cops already killed him, I believe. Not before said assbag shot two of them, one of whom is in critical condition.