NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 20, 2016 -> 01:50 PM) He's not striking out, so I feel like his average will start going up soon A few numbers to consider on Alvarez... April: .145/.241/.174, 11.3% BB/PA, 20.0% K/PA May: .261/.311/.319, 6.5% BB/PA, 12.9% K/PA So first, his hitting is trending the right direction, as is the ISO, and the contact rate in May is more in line with his career averages (or even better). Although the walks have dropped. Second, his BABIP so far in 2016 is .248. It was .350 or higher in every other stint he's had. Especially with his speed, that number should go up, especially since he's clearly now making much better contact. Third, his ISO's were .130+ in 2014 and 2015, as opposed to .043 now. That could indicate not as much loud contact, but also he's playing in a pitcher's park and I doubt he's lost any power or bat speed, so that probably goes up too. Basically, there are all manner of reasons to believe he bounces back.

Delmonico played mostly 3B last year mostly 1B or DH this year, but that's more about Michalczewski being at third than anything else I think.

So, they're looking for a new James Bond. Here's a name I'd like to see considered for it: Chiwetel Ejiafor.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 20, 2016 -> 11:24 AM) Age 23 season too...maybe it's because of the sketchy past that we kinda put him off to the side a little, but that's legit prospect numbers. FS ranked him in the T30 last midseason (like 28th or something I think), based on potential. Might have been a little higher except he stayed over in Extended and didn't come out of the gate well in AA. Then he kind of was just blah offensively the rest of last year at AA (although he was young for the level), missed some time to minor injuries, and defensive reports at third were mixed. So he dropped out of our T30 in January, though he was still in that just-missed area. Now that he's shown he can hit in AA, the questions are about position. If he can still handle 3B, he's got some real potential. As a 1B, he'd need to be awfully good with the bat.

Recap posted, sorry for the delay. Killer Z's got it done.

QUOTE (Lillian @ May 19, 2016 -> 12:50 PM) I expressed both concerns in the same thread. You may be attaching too much significance to the order in which I addressed those concerns. There was no intention to place anymore emphasis on his inability to take a walk than there was regarding his defense. His unwillingness to take a walk does indeed seem to be his greatest offensive shortcoming. Look at his OBP. The fact that he is not even close to an elite defender, at a key defensive position, is also a big negative, based upon what I consider important. Do you disagree with any of those assertions? A couple responses to this. First, to say he "is not even close to an elite defender" misses the boat, as nearly no shortstops are such a thing in AAA anyway. The question is whether or not he has the tools to become good defensively, and he does. Can't say how good he will get, but he's certainly got a shot at being above average or better. On the walks, it is key to look at it more through the lens of what it means about his plate approach. As that changes, he'll see more pitches to hit, AND get more walks. He's aggressive to a fault, but he also tends to adjust and get more patient at each level over time.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 19, 2016 -> 10:09 AM) I apologize to Caulfield. He was correct. He didn't beat the Tigers once as a White Sox. He beat them 4 times. Would be great if you didn't bring your irritating little feud into yet more threads. Thanks.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 19, 2016 -> 09:12 AM) Would be much better if Anderson played like Jeter, unlike GordonBeckham, who said he wanted to be Jeter before he'd ever proven a thing in the major leagues. really?

As FutureSox reported via Twitter, he went to the DL after being hit by a line drive in his last start. Hit somewhere in the shoulder or arm, local source said it made a pretty bad sound. He was helped off the field, though under his own power. Good news is, impact injuries with a ball like that aren't usually long-term problems (as long as it doens't hit them in the head).

See the pinned thread in PHT - interview with Buddy Bell, where he talks about Anderson's defense (among other things).

Brian (raBBit) had a one-on-one interview with Buddy Bell yesterday. Bell is never at a loss for words, and Brian got him discussing a wide range of prospects including Anderson, Fulmer, Hayes, Hawkins, May and more. Here's the interview, which has some interesting stuff.

Really need to get Delmonico to AAA. He's been perhaps the best performing hitter in the minors for the year so far, and this is his 2nd AA visit (though last year was like half a season). Problem is, Davidson and Hayes are both hitting very well, and Ishikawa is their AAAA guy at 1B/DH. Might be time to jettison Ishikawa though, as it seems the club has some other options for the MLB club now in an emergency.

MiLB scoreboard MLBFarm scoreboard Charlotte - Turner, 6:05pm CT Birmingham - Walters, 6:05pm CT Winston-Salem G1 - Lowry, 4:05pm CT Winston-Salem G2 - Wheeler, +1 Kannapolis - Banks, 6:05pm CT

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:54 AM) Tim Anderson has walked five times in 35 games. With limited power, does anyone think he can come up here and put up even a .700+ OPS? How's his defense progressed? I know that used to be a weakness, and with all those things combined, it just doesn't seem like he'd be a high WAR player in MLB. There's too many red flags for me personally to be that high on him. He's walked 5 times in 16 games. Walked none before that. Same pattern last year in BHAM, raised his walk rate from zero, slowly, to about 7% in August. His defense progressed a lot last year, but he does still need reps. But the actions say he's capable of being probably better than average at short with time. He's never going to walk a ton, but more importantly, he does adapt and become more selective with time at the level. He's clearly #1 in the system, and I have pretty high confidence he'll be at least an average overall SS in the majors. Not guaranteed of course, but I'd bet the over. QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:54 AM) Is Adolfo any closer to returning? Kanny comes to Charleston beginning of June. I'd like to see him. No word I've seen or heard yet, but I will ask around.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:39 AM) I was referring more to the post before that, where you mentioned you and your wife have successful careers but have always purchased Fords, Saturns, etc. That being said, no big deal...it's just a hot button of mine that a few have pressed the last couple days in this thread. I also said we traveled a lot - which others probably find to be an even bigger waste of money. It was an illustration of differences, not better than or worse than.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:10 AM) Honestly, some people seem to obsess so much over the precise manner in which to spend their money that they detract from their enjoyment of it. I am going to enjoy my life while I live it. That isn't to say that I don't save for retirement. My wife and I are a dual income family and we both invest more than 10% of our salaries on an annual basis in 401k accounts. We currently own 3 homes. So it is a balance between today and in the future. So I agree with what NSS said, but even the manner in which he said it was oozing with judgment, even though I suspect it was unintentional. I happen to like driving, and I happen to love cars. I also love clothes and sneakers, too. I love golf. I love tvs and computers and stereo equipment. Those are the things I spend my discretionary income on. I am 39 now. When I am 70, I hope I can look back on my life, perhaps with a slightly smaller pile of money than some of you more financially-sound investors, and smile, remembering what it was like to drive a sportscar over 130 mph, or to walk into a meeting with a suit that fit like armor, or to smoke a drive 350+ yards down the middle of the fairway, etc. To me, that is much more valuable than an extra 20% to enjoy when I am urinating on myself and drinking Ensure through a straw. QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 18, 2016 -> 09:44 AM) I think it has to be a balance. That's kind of what I was getting at - everyone spends money on things they like that aren't necessarily logical or financially smart. Used to be travel for my wife and I (not so much anymore with young kids). But if you don't also keep track of your finances, as any business does, you can find yourself in trouble. Wanting a cool car isn't wrong. Just don't think of it as an "investment", because it isn't. It's a luxury spend. Which is also fine. I guess I don't see the judgment here. The differentiation between investment and cost center is not subjective, or judgmental - it is a state of being, and a financial reality. I don't now, nor ever have, thought less of people who spend big money on cars. Hell I love me some sports cars when I get a chance to ride or drive in one. It just means, when I see people talk about an investment (which I hear a lot), I cringe because it indicates a dangerous lack of understanding and I fear for the results of that. I guess really, I do judge, but only insofar as people who I see make mistakes that I think stem from a lack of knowledge. Not because they CHOOSE to spend the money, or HOW they do it, or on WHAT. Does that make more sense?

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 09:36 AM) No doubt about that. But my life is not a business. I don't really take that viewpoint when viewing my personal finances. That isn't to say I walk around throwing money at rainbows, but running my life like is business is not something I choose to do. I think it has to be a balance. That's kind of what I was getting at - everyone spends money on things they like that aren't necessarily logical or financially smart. Used to be travel for my wife and I (not so much anymore with young kids). But if you don't also keep track of your finances, as any business does, you can find yourself in trouble. Wanting a cool car isn't wrong. Just don't think of it as an "investment", because it isn't. It's a luxury spend. Which is also fine.

After all the talk about how much money to put into a car, I want to add two things... 1. Everyone has something, or some things, they spend "extra" on. Clothing, travel, cars, whatever. I try not to judge it. For me personally, cars have never been something I felt the need to spend big on. My wife and I have very successful careers, and our cars have been Honda, Subaru, Ford and Saturn. Just my preference, because... 2. Cars are NOT investments. No matter how you feel about how much you want to spend or whats important, you should get yourself out of that mindset. Cars are COST CENTERS. That doesn't mean you can't blow some extra money on them if it makes you happy - but they are all depreciating assets with an increasing cost curve. Cost centers.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 17, 2016 -> 08:59 PM) Maybe. Tall frame, OH gets nice downhill plane, fastball runs to mid-90s with some movement. Offspeeds are all works in progress. Messed with a splitter for a while, not sure he still uses it though. Slider supposedly looked good in spring camp. Probably a reliever profile, but he's worth keeping an eye on. He's repeated Kanny, but not too old yet. To add: He's very similar in profile to Kyle Hansen for me.

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 17, 2016 -> 07:26 PM) Zach Thompson a spec to watch? Maybe. Tall frame, OH gets nice downhill plane, fastball runs to mid-90s with some movement. Offspeeds are all works in progress. Messed with a splitter for a while, not sure he still uses it though. Slider supposedly looked good in spring camp. Probably a reliever profile, but he's worth keeping an eye on. He's repeated Kanny, but not too old yet.

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ May 17, 2016 -> 02:00 PM) I think Smith went on DL April 26 meaning he is eligible to come off/rehab but I have not seen anything. Anyone have any news? With a back condition, I wouldn't rely on him coming back any time soon. Hopefully he does, but back issues are really tough, especially for a catcher.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 17, 2016 -> 02:39 PM) They are almost all independently owned and operated. Which only exist by use of Player Development Contracts, signed with MLB clubs. The MLB clubs could, if they chose, be quite specific in how things need to be run, and could pay for said cost increases. In fact, some teams have already started dumping in 7 figure amounts to improve nutrition alone with their minor leaguers.

Getting a lot of positive feedback to this on Twitter. More than just the usual "good stuff" too, one person said it was the best thing FS ever published. Might have to do it again in the future.

The Peavy deal was one of the best for the White Sox in years. They had no use for Peavy, got not only Garcia, but also a reliever we later used in the Lawrie deal, a pitcher used to help get Frazier, and another prospect still in the system. Not even to mention the money saved, that was used for other talent. Huge win for the Sox.

He's just AAA depth, maybe a September speed guy for the bench. Nothing more. Why is ANYONE concerned about it? I mean, who doesn't want a guy who's name is pronounced Booz-Wa on the farm anyway? Come on!