Lillian

Adam Dunn is certainly not one of my favorite players, but it's pretty scary to contemplate about what that Tiger's starting rotation will do to the Sox, without Dunn's left handed presence. All of those dominate RH pitchers will mow down our pathetic lineup with ease. And, we have the entire season's head to head competition vs Detroit still ahead of us. Ouch!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 8, 2013 -> 02:53 PM) Yanks will probably be after Cano and Choo, Cubs after Ellsbury. I know I've said this far too often, but the Sox have to find a way to get more lefties in the lineup that have a better shot against the likes of Verlander, Scherzer, Masterson, etc. It's also one of the reasons I think Viciedo is expendable (for a big haul). Thank You

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 6, 2013 -> 08:44 AM) You don't draft a player who is 3-5 years away and very likely will amount to nothig to fill a current void in the organization. Who knows, maybe we trade Peavy or Rios for a young left-handed bat at the deadline or even sign a left-handed bat in free agency. I think organizational need gets overplayed way too much when it comes to the draft. This isn't the NFL, take the BPA early on and fill out your needs in the 20s and later if need be. These guys are all essentially lottery tickets, some with better odds than others, and when you don't take the BPA you're not going to be maximizing your chance of hitting on one of them. It's extremely unlikely any of the guys we'll be able to select at 17 will help us next year and by then our needs could be totally different. Yes, of course, you're right. However, it just seems like you have to start filling the pipeline with a few left handed bats, at some point. The only potential left handed impact bat in the whole system is Barnum.

I'm hoping that a good left handed hitter is available in our #17 slot. That is a huge void in the organization. Dominic Smith looks intriguing to me.

Why hasn't Micah Johnson moved up on the prospect list? Why hasn't he been promoted to the next level? He looks like the future lead off hitter and second baseman for the Sox. What will they do with Sanchez, if he gets back on track? Some have suggested that he could handle SS.

At what point in Flowers' Minor League career did he ever have a productive stretch like the one Phegley has had for the first 25% of the season? Flowers had one great Arizona Fall League Season, and that was what convinced K.W. to go after him. Beyond that, he never has demonstrated the kind of offense Josh is showing. Defensively, Phegley has a good arm and can block balls in the dirt. You don't hear much about his pitch calling, but that could be done from the bench. We all know that Phegley had health issues that account for his previous struggles. He was a very highly rated offensive player when drafted.

Given the need for a lefty set up man in the pen, if Axelrod does falter, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sox turned to Erik Johnson to replace him.

This is a very interesting discussion, and some of you have made very good points. If the Sox think that they can compete this year, isn't it really a question of who can best fill the various key roles? Santiago may ultimately become a very solid starter, however left handed starting pitching is not a critical role that needs filling, right now. That is especially true if Danks can build on last night's impressive return. I have my doubts, unless he can get a little more velocity back on his fast ball. But then, he just may become Mark Buerhle, whom he reminded of last night. Isn't one of the biggest voids on this team a good left handed set up man for the pen? Thornton is not the same pitcher he was when he filled that role so well. As I said in an earlier post, Matt would be better suited as a LOOGY. The Sox do not have any other reliable left handers for the pen. Therefore, if Santiago could pitch the 7TH or 8TH, depending on match ups, he could be very valuable to this team. Axelrod seems like he can aptly fill the role of 5TH starter, and is probably not well suited for any other role on this squad. The Sox are not going to be trading any pitching, unless they are giving up on this year.

There is the obvious problem with having 4 lefties in the starting rotation. That might work if they were all really great. So far, it would appear that only Sale and Quintana are of that caliber, and we're not really sure about the latter. Axelrod provides better balance in the rotation, and seems capable of filling the role of fifth starter. Seven of his nine starts this season have been quality starts. I think you take that from your 5TH starter, any time. The bullpen could really use a better left handed set up man. Thornton just isn't the same since he lost a couple of miles an hour off his heater. I'm very nervous when Thornton is facing right handed hitters, aren't you? Why wouldn't it be feasible to see if Santiago could take his place and relegate Thornton to a LOOGY?

The adjustments Dunn has made, and the results that he's getting, are just huge. If he can continue to be productive, this team should be fine. This is very reassuring.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ May 16, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) Right handed athletic OF, projects to RF. Lots of power/lots of empty swings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...tch-for-july-2/ Thank you.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 16, 2013 -> 11:06 AM) Welcome to the world of evaluating 16 year olds. How much can you really tell from a kid that age? A simple scouting report, giving his current position, right or left handed, big and fat, or muscular and athletic, etc.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 16, 2013 -> 08:20 AM) It's in the first post! I read the short article before I posted, but it didn't reveal much.

Would you please provide a link??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 16, 2013 -> 07:43 AM) Why does this matter? You can predict with certainty that when this kid, who is currently 16 years old, is ready in probably 6-7 years, the White Sox lineup will be RH dominant? I didn't know that he was just 16. What position does he play? What is the "scouting report" on him?

Does he bat left handed?

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ May 13, 2013 -> 10:52 AM) I heard Grady Sizemore might be available. Any interest in him? I assume that should have been in teal. Yes, I still think that is something worth considering. Hey, if he looks like he's ready to contribute, and can be had on a short contract, why not?

QUOTE (Disco72 @ May 13, 2013 -> 09:40 AM) With regards to replacing Dunn, I just don't think that big fish is out there. The better approach is to look for a lineup that can produce up and down the order, not one big hitter who solves all the Sox's problems. Yes, ideally, that's true. But finding 3 or 4 guys is going to be even more difficult than one impact left handed bat, at least in the short run. Moreover, not having that impact bat makes it harder for the rest of the lineup to perform. There is no protection for anyone with this lineup.

Sadly, you guys may be right.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 13, 2013 -> 08:25 AM) At this point there are no alternatives. That's the issue. Teams aren't ready to trade players yet. That really doesn't even start at least until the end of June. In the meantime, would you continue to play Dunn, and if not, whom among players already on the roster, would you play in his place?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 13, 2013 -> 08:04 AM) Yeah, it would be great to find one. Dunn was signed to fill that void, and he obviously failed. In the team's current situation though, I just don't see how acquiring another mediocre 30+ player with an awful contract is a good idea. What are the alternatives? This team has too much good pitching to just give up. Yet, without filling that offensive void, the Sox aren't competitive.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ May 13, 2013 -> 07:44 AM) I think acquiring hitters with high OBP is the #1 objective. Having power and being left-handed are certainly desirable qualities, but this team's OBP is so poor across the board that getting anbody who can get their ass on base is the most important thing right now. Dunn isn't the answer to fill that need, but he's here and nobody is going to take him, so time is better spent figuring out other ways to improve the team that don't involve moving Dunn. I think you're right. Dunn's contract only has one year left, after this season, and $15 million isn't going to tie management's hands. Why not just consider it a "sunk" cost, and move on?

Putting aside the solution, does anyone here disagree with the assertion that acquiring a productive, middle of the order, left handed bat is the greatest need? Does anyone think that Dunn is still a realistic candidate to fill that need? I'd just like to clarify the objective here.

Yes, it's a big contract, and that's why I asked if the Dodgers might pay a portion of it. Regarding Ethier's inability to hit LHP, at present there aren't many southpaws in our division, but of course that could change. So, who else fits the description of a left handed, middle of the order hitter, whom a team might want to dump because of his contract?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 13, 2013 -> 06:34 AM) That's not a very safe assumption, especially in today's PED-less baseball. Adam Dunn is falling apart at about the same age. I wouldn't be surprised if Ethier's last few years on his contract are awful. There are still players who seem to be able to perform in their mid 30's, without PEDs. Is it really unreasonable to expect a guy to hit when he's 32, 33, 34 and 35? Baseball players are in much better condition than they used to be. Maybe that's part of Dunn's problem. He seems to be the exception to the rule when it comes to a conditioning program. From everything I read, Dunn does nothing in the off season, and is not an advocate of weight training or aerobics.