NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 12:18 PM) Cool, thanks. I've been under the impression he ends up in LF due to his arm but wasn't sure if that was the right impression. I suppose if he can make accurate throws, hit the cut-off man and throw to the correct base, those things could help compensate for the lack of arm strength. Regardless of where he ends up playing I have high hopes for the little guy. Would love to see him leading off and raising hell on the bases in the near future. The ability to get to the ball quickly and efficiently is of far more value than arm strength differences at the margins. He's very good defensively other than his arm, so he really is best as a CF, in my view. Even with the relatively weak arm.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 10:33 AM) Any word on Micker Adolfo? Nope, but trying to find out. I'm guessing he stays in Extended and goes to Great Falls, but it's possible he's in Kannapolis to open the year.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 09:50 AM) It's been fun following May the last few seasons. He caught my eye by chance when I was following Anderson's progress during the '14 season. Question on May: The scouting I've read on him says his arm is below average so is it at least strong enough to keep him in CF? In my view it is playable, but he'd likely have one of the weakest CF arms in MLB if he becomes a starter.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 08:41 AM) Jacob Turner was traded for Animal Sanchez. Not Cabrera. Just checked, and you are correct. I'll update the article. Though I think I'll call him Anibal, haha.

QUOTE (Dizzy Sox @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 12:27 AM) Yup, that's nuts. Hayes hit .248 with just 7 HRs as a 24 y/o in AA. The season before he was ok in Kanny despite being fairly old for the league--certainly nothing special. I love the walks too but I just don't see the bat. Of course, I hope I am completely wrong. I'm glad someone called me out on that. Gives me a chance to add context. Hayes was taken in the 9th round, as a signability pick. Went to Kanny (skipped rookie ball), and did... OK. Decent average, not much power, got on base, hit doubles, played good defense. Then in 2015, Hayes skips A+ to go straight to AA. It's key to understand that the jump from A+ to AA is considered the biggest jump within the minors anyway, and he did that plus another level. His first 20 games go predictably: .153/.247/.222, 17 K vs 8 BB, 0 HR in 81 PA. Then he adjusts, and from early May to the end of the season he goes .270/.417/.390, 90 BB, 90 K, 7 HR in 453 PA. So aside from the power, that's a pretty good season in AA for a fringe prospect. Now as far as the power goes, he shows significant raw in BP, so there is reason to believe the power will show up in time (similar to Rangel Ravelo). He was also named the best defensive 1B in the Southern League, which isn't a huge thing but it helps his overall cause. I am not saying he's likely to be a starting 1B in the majors. But I am saying, I think he will do pretty well in AAA, could add significant power numbers, and look like a legit option for LHH DH as the season goes on.

Our Brian Bilek did a really nice overview piece looking at depth for major league roster slots - who is available to the big league club from the minors that are at or near major league-ready. It includes some comments he got directly from Rick Hahn and Nick Capra. Here is the article. Some good and bad in terms of depth. Catching seems to be the biggest red flag.

Ultimately this decision doesn't make a giant impact, probably. It's just a OF-DH rotation now, if played right. And Sands gets the least time. I'd have preferred Ishikawa, but I don't see a huge difference in the end. I do worry that Ventura assumes Shuck hits righties well because he's a lefty, which isn't true (or at least hasn't been).

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 1, 2016 -> 04:10 PM) He's listed on the 25 man. As is Alex Katz. And that 25-man roster has 27 players. Also, it's looked like that for days. It's not a finalized roster, yet. Sands has probably as much of a shot as Ishikawa, but certainly nothing is official yet.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Apr 1, 2016 -> 11:26 AM) Northsider, who do you think is the better first base prospect: Hayes or Rangel Ravelo? Right now? Probably still Ravelo. He missed a lot of last year to injury though, and I don't know the exact nature of that injury. Both play the position well, both draw lots of walks, both have power that hasn't materialized enough in games yet. But Ravelo was playing at the same levels at much younger ages, hit for much higher average consistently and struck out less. Ravelo is still just 23 right now, while Hayes is 25.

This is NOT official, and I am not sure it is even likely. That active roster also includes Alex Katz. He may get the job, but there is nothing definite at this point.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Apr 1, 2016 -> 07:43 AM) Blake Smith? Yes.

I'll echo that Coats sees MLB time and is probably at least an MLB 4th OF right now. Adding a few of my own... --Kannapolis has a huge season, especially on offense, led by Johan Cruz, Landon Lassiter and Corey Zangari, all of whom have big years at the plate. --Here's one people will think is nuts: Danny Hayes hits well enough in AAA that he becomes an option as LHH DH/1B option for the big club. Sees Chicago in 2016. --Tim Anderson struggles badly at the plate from mid-April through at least May, probably into June. Slowly adjusts, looks major league ready around end of season, for a September call-up. But ends up being better defensively in 2016 than offensively. --None of the starters in Charlotte (that are currently in the org) look good in AAA, and the team struggles to find someone to bridge to Fulmer. --Some surprisingly good relievers will come from Charlotte, including Aumont and Smith, possibly Wall. --Despite being prospect-laden, the BHAM offense mostly struggles, with only Alvarez and Hawkins looking good there, at least in the first half. --Danish struggles again, begins to slide down lists pretty quickly. --Everyone is looking at Adams and Guerrero in the Dash rotation, but I'll bet Lowry and Thompson put up numbers almost as good. Which is good because the lineup in Winston-Salem looks horrible. --Aaron Bummer pops up as a prospect.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Mar 29, 2016 -> 09:19 AM) First promotion to MLB: Davidson Breakout Hitters: Engel, Michalczewski, Zangari, Davidson Breakout Pitcher: Fulmer, Purke, Stephens, Dopico, Solorzano Org. leader in: AVG.: Engel HR: Zangari RBI: Michalczewski ERA: Adams SO: Guerrero W: Adams - Davidson plays 70+ games in Majors - Fulmer makes MLB Debut before ASG - Coats, Sanchez, Johnson all see time in Majors - Anderson makes MLB Debut in August - Purke reestablishes himself as legitimate organization prospect - Engel's AFL production slightly falls off but he climbs up prospect lists - Adolfo's struggles continue - Sox have at least 4 Top 100 Prospects entering 2017 in a replenishing system Share any other bold predictions I can see cases for most of those. But Engel leading in AVG seems like a loooooooong stretch.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Mar 30, 2016 -> 09:02 AM) Not sure, but his lack of production and health really worry me I wouldn't read into production issues with him at all. His first year he was 17 and skipped DSL all together. 2nd year he improved quite a bit, then missed time to that injury. He should start the year in Great Falls - I think Kanny is too much for him yet, but they may push him. He'd probably see A-ball later in the year. His leg is fully healed and he's been playing in games on the back fields.

QUOTE (newbiesoxfan @ Mar 29, 2016 -> 03:09 PM) Yes sir. Joined last year. Enjoy the site very much. Spencer worked hard and put on 20 lbs during the off season. Named opening day starter. Look forward to following Spence and the entire Sox farm system this season. OD starter at W-S, I assume?

Finally got to see the Big Short. To be fair I should mention that I work in financial derivatives technology for a living and have for 18 years now, so I was already pretty familiar with what happened at a high level (and in some cases, at a very detailed one). Overall I really liked it. I thought I'd be disappointed as someone within the industry, but I wasn't. They did take some liberties (beyond the ones they told you they were taking), like making it seem as if those CDS's they wrote early in the movie were somehow a new thing (they had existed for decades before then). But forgiving a few of those, I thought it was pretty damn good.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 30, 2016 -> 05:35 PM) Teams always carry a 3rd catcher right up until the final cuts. I'm pretty sure everybody, includes Hector, knows that he's not really in the running for the last spot. Robin also said that the OD roster is not going to have 13 pitchers, so Aumont is in the same boat. It's really down to Ishikawa, Sands and May, and I really doubt it's May. Yup. I'd say right now it's Ishikawa 55%, Sands 45%, and the others aren't really contenders unless someone gets hurt. QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 31, 2016 -> 06:50 AM) I like what May did this Spring. Hope he keeps it up in the minors and can be a potential replacement for Jackson in center next season with his speed and defense in the 9 spot. Sidenote: I completely forgot that we still really don't have a long term catcher. The system has a handful of catching prospects now that have starter ceilings... problem is, they were all in Rookie ball last year (Zavala, Alfaro, Perez) and are at least 3 years away if not more. The rest of the guys in the upper levels, like Smith and Narvaez, are complimentary/backup players at best.

Fourth edition of the stock report is up, with a look at some competitors for the last 2-3 slots and some prospect reports. Basically looks like some combo of Sands, Ishikawa, Davidson, Sanchez and/or a reliever like Kahnle for the last two roster spots. And no one has really gone out and grabbed the 5th starter spot either, though it's probably Latos.

QUOTE (newbiesoxfan @ Mar 28, 2016 -> 03:30 PM) From Spencer's brother: Adams against Mariners high-A yesterday: 5ip 4h 1er 0bb 7k Hitting 95-96 95-96 is nice to hear!

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Mar 27, 2016 -> 10:50 AM) RHP Devon Davis, RHP David Trexler, OF Nolan Earley all released QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Mar 27, 2016 -> 04:19 PM) Never understood the hype behind Trexler here. Neither did the Sox. Trexler didn't get any hype at draft time... then all of a sudden he made some changes in camp in AZ after draft year, and his velo went from 88-91 to like 92-96, and he showed a plus breaking pitch according to not one but two different scouting sources from different sites. That's why he jumped onto the radar. Kind of shocked they let him go this quickly. None of the rest are surprises.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Mar 25, 2016 -> 03:32 PM) It still benefited Ted Cruz and said to vote for him on it. I dont really care either way, the mud slinging is beyond ridiculous at this point, but Ted Cruz is no victim. Neither are victims, but both sure do love to play them on TV.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 25, 2016 -> 09:50 AM) Twitter blowing up this AM about Cruz having 5 affairs, ha. Just when you think this primary season can't get more interesting. Oh and one of the ladies is Trumps national spokeswoman. I can't believe I'm defending Cruz, but, I have a really hard time believing this story. Not that I think someone like him wouldn't have an affair, but the story as a whole just doesn't ring true. QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Mar 25, 2016 -> 10:02 AM) I'm not that old but I can't remember primaries getting this ugly in a long time. This is my 7th cycle as a voting-age person. And I was old enough to understand one or two before then, going back to the 80's. No cycle has been anywhere close to this one.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 25, 2016 -> 08:21 AM) Republicans are coming out to vote in astonishingly record numbers this primary season. They aren't doing that because of Hillary or Kasich. I think they are doing it in part because of Hillary Clinton. Though I agree it's certainly not about Kasich. Honestly, regardless of whether or not you support Trump, this primary season on the GOP side has been the biggest party-specific political show in decades. The lunatic front-runner, the guy in 2nd who is more extreme-wing policy-wise than any candidate the party has sent up since the 60's at least, you previously had the brother of a former Prez, a Doctor with zero political experience who was in the lead at one point, and just a whole lot of nastiness between candidates - of which there were 17 at one point! There has never been anything like it. No surprise that people are showing up in droves to vote. But that doesn't necessarily mean you'll see that in the general - maybe or maybe not. Different equation.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Mar 23, 2016 -> 09:51 PM) Here's your Wisconsin poll update http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/20...imary-3763.html Obviously the Feb poll is meaningless as there were three more candidates and it's been over a month. But the new poll is interesting, thanks for posting. Cruz with a lead, though it's miniscule and within the MOE. If Cruz takes WI, that all but guarantees no one will have a majority going to convention.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 23, 2016 -> 07:40 PM) Forbes still uses slideshows? Do those valuations include the cost of the ballpark? Or does it depend who owns it? As the ballpark is owned by ISFA, it wouldn't include that. The super-cheap leasing agreement has literal value, but not accounting-material value because it's just fewer dollars spent on a cost center.