NorthSideSox72

For the record, for me, Zavala is T30 in the system, and even with the added depth he is in the 20-25 range mostly likely. I know I'm higher on him that most, have been for a while, but I think he's a major leaguer.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jul 11, 2017 -> 12:30 PM) I saw him catch for Hansen in ST and it was absolutely awful. Passed balls, SBs, errors, etc. One game but it was little league like. I've watched him play a number of times, and thought he was quite solid defensively. Of course, the SB's with Hansen on the mound need to be discarded anyway, that's Hansen. But the other stuff surprises me. He looked like a quiet target, decent backstop but nothing spectacular, good defense on the move, quick release and an average arm. Had a scout echo that he thought he was likely to be an average defensive catcher.

Here's our semi-regular look at who on the farm has been putting up the best numbers, regardless of prospect status. Plenty of strong performances to choose from.

Funny how moving from the city to the burbs changes your mindset on local crime. We live in this quiet liitle corner of Northbrook, nothing ever goes on here. Yesterday about 7pm, I'm coming home with my 5-year old daughter in the car, from a movie. I turn there corner and there are like six Northbrook Police squad cars all parked around my house, a bunch of cops standing around, including a crowd of them on my driveway. I parked nearby and flagged one down, he said there was a domestic situation like half a mile away, the guy ran and jumped into the creek one door down from our house. They caught the guy, so all clear. But I have to say, it's weird how your mind builds a bubble even if you don't intend it too, then it feels very weird when it pops. Having the kid with me just amplifies it.

Thanks all for the Apes info.

Get caught up on all the news, transactions and good articles out there, in the weekly News and Notes. Skoug and Taylor have been assigned.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 7, 2017 -> 09:15 AM) North - has anyone seen Louie Lechich? He's a minor prospect i know, just one I find intriguing. His stats are good, other than he walks way too many. Just wondering how he is progressing. I know 2080 baseball did a scouting report on him last year. Haven't seen any from this year yet. And I don't think we saw him, though southside hitman was in Winston for a few days in May.

In addition to the video and scouting looks at the pitchers in Birmingham, I also interviewed a bunch of them. I feel it helps fill in some blanks. Here are interviews with six of them and their colorful pitching coach. Some good stuff in here, and even a couple surprises.

Get your weekly update on the top 15 prospects in the system plus one bonus name, right here. Enjoy!

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 6, 2017 -> 09:01 PM) Last 11 games for Courtney Hawkins (multiple levels): 12 for 37, 2 HR, 4 BB, 6 K (!) That includes A-ball and a week off for his hammy, and only like three games in AA. Much as I'd like to find optimism, that's a pretty empty selection. Wait until he's been in AA hitting again for a few weeks.

OK SoxTalkers, help me out. The newest Planet of the Apes movie is coming out, and I am seeing lots of positive reviews. I've never seen any of them (other than the very old school original), because I can't get my head around the idea of liking what seems just so silly. Are these actually good movies? Do I need to see earlier ones for the more recent ones to sink in?

Following up on the Kopech piece, here is a post covering the other five pitchers I saw in Birmingham. Spencer Adams gets a deep look with videos and quotes. I also put up a few words and at least one video for each of four relievers, including a surprising look from Jace Fry. The hitters piece is coming soon, along with interview transcripts.

Wow, thanks for all the positive feedback everyone. It was fun to write, and I'm not too worried about Kopech.

Julie takes a look at all the Charlotte Knights who made the AAA All Star teams in the last eight seasons, where they went from there, and where they are today. There's a distinct Mexican flavor in where many ended up.

I was at Kopech's 6/29 start - his shortest and statistically weakest of the season. I took notes, chatted with scouts, took video, talked with Michael and his pitching coach. The result is this article. Turns out this start was a good example of why context is so important, and to not get carried away with single game results. Give it a read!

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 4, 2017 -> 01:11 AM) Yeah if they've got something with him better to get him even more PA, I know hes split time between SS & 2B and some 3B I would love for them to ship him to AA and start him everyday at SS. If he continues his hitting ways at AA he could land at AAA at the start of '18 and be right on curve age wise (24). That'd be a nice get for a round 22 pick and the scout that recommended him. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 4, 2017 -> 04:27 AM) And bench/dump our Olympian speed skater or push him up to Charlotte when he's struggled pretty much the entire season offensively? QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 4, 2017 -> 07:52 AM) No offense to the 27 year old Olympian but Dickman might actually have a major league future as more than just a bench piece and as great as Alvarez's story is it shouldn't come at the cost of deserving prospects and their potential promotions. Alvarez still has a substantially better shot at a major league job than Mendick. Also, they are both utility profiles, neither look like starting options. And the statement that Alvarez has struggled pretty much the entire season is the opposite of reality. He had a 3-week ice cold stretch in April. Since April 29th: .273/.369/.388, 28:39 BB:K in 217 PA. His last dozen games before last night (stats not in yet)? .341/.449/.488. Probably time he goes to Charlotte in any case. Speaking of which... QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jul 4, 2017 -> 08:56 AM) Put him back up to Charlotte, why not. Despite struggles he's hitting for a 111 wRC+ in Birmingham and hit 106 in his brief time in Charlotte last season. Still yet to hit for a below league-average line at any stop. Release Everth Cabrera who is hitting .195/.279/.245 as a 30-year-old in AAA. Definitely need to see Dickman at AA. I tend to agree that I'd rather see Alvarez than Everth Cabrera.

QUOTE (ChiSox1917 @ Jul 3, 2017 -> 10:56 PM) Why isn't Robert on the list? Also, what's going on with some of our top prospects besides Moncada and Kopech? Giolito, Lopez, Fulmer, and Collins all seem to have regressed bigly We generally don't include the DSL in consideration because the stats down there are so meaningless. Plus, as noted in the introduction, we didn't include rookie leagues for June because it was a partial month for those teams.

Here is the FutureSox version of the White Sox Prospects of the Month. Also in there are some names who just missed. The pitcher who won is a familiar name to most. The hitter, probably not so much, but you should start getting to know him now. Who would you have picked, if anyone different?

QUOTE (ecupittfan @ Jul 3, 2017 -> 12:56 PM) How could that be? Michael Moore, Oliver Stone and Sean Penn said Venezuela and Hugo Chavez were a modern day utopia. QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 3, 2017 -> 01:34 PM) And a paragon for Socialism. Let's just stop the political talk here and now. This is a baseball thread.

The signing of Luis Robert limited the Sox to a max of $300k per prospect for the new and following Intl amateur signing periods. But that doesn't mean they won't sign anyone - they still have millions to use. Here's a look at the two players reportedly signed by the White Sox. Likely there will be more reports coming, and the Sox may trade slots too, but for now that's two names to look at.

The Temporary Inactive list became popular this past week, three White Sox prospects were put on the Futures Game rosters, and some good news links related to the minors. All right here!

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Jul 1, 2017 -> 10:21 PM) Mendick should get a shot at AA. It's not like Birmingham has any productive hitters blocking him. Sox still have some belief in Jake Peter, and want to give Alvarez some time. One of them will go to Charlotte this year, probably Alvarez who's been getting gradually better (Peter has really been struggling). Once one of them moves up, Mendick will too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 1, 2017 -> 05:44 PM) Can't hold runners on. He's even said he's focusing on the batters. From his time in Kanny, look at the SB/CS stats for Zavala. With Hansen he gave up something like 25 or 30 SB and caught 2. With all other pitchers he worked with, he was throwing out nearly half. That should tell you what you need to know.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 30, 2017 -> 06:11 PM) What is Courtney Hawkins's injury? He's fallen so far that nobody bothers saying what's wrong anymore. Hamstring this time. Which he's had before.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 1, 2017 -> 06:50 AM) What happened to Curbelo? What is stated in the article is all we know.