Lillian

For more information and opinions on the 2019 Draft, we've been discussing it in a thread, on the "FutureSox" Board

Under what circumstance would you exercise that "last resort"? I understand that Madrigal has not yet forced this issue, because he is still in the lower Minor Leagues. However, Moncada would benefit from playing time at 3RD, if that is ultimately going to be his position. I'd hate to see him struggle in 2020, learning to play third, when the team is ready to compete.

If we are only going to consider Madrigal a potential core piece of this rebuild, if he develops power, then the Sox have made a mistake, picking him #4. Power has not been part of his game and may never be. If that were the case, the Sox used a precious top Draft pick, to select a player, with the hope that he can become something, that he isn't. My guess is that the Sox wanted him because they value what he brings, not what he could bring, to the game, He is a tremendous contact hitter, in an age where everyone strikes out far too often. He is a great defensive player, at an important middle infield position. He has a very high baseball acumen and he is a team leader. He is not a power hitter and I don't think that he will become one. Although power would be a nice bonus, it is probably not something, upon which the Sox are going to insist, before promoting him to the Majors. He profiles as a potential Gold Glove second baseman, who could fill a valuable role, as a leadoff, or 2 hole hitter. If he demonstrates a capacity to perform those functions, at the Big League level, he'll be brought up.

One more note about Vaughn; He seems like another Madrigal, but with power, instead of speed. He's a life long baseball junkie. Has dedicated his whole life to playing the game. He is an over achiever and is remarkably adept at making contact. Add a high baseball acumen, just like Nick. All in all, my kind of player. I'm going to be rooting for this guy to have another big year and then to be there, for the Sox' 3RD pick. Here is another good video:

I for one, am certainly not "writing off Moncada". The point is that he has the ability to play other positions. Madrigal really only profiles as a second baseman. Thank you, "Flash". I couldn't have said it better, myself.

It may sound premature, but Madrigal will likely move quickly through the system and could be on the team by 2020. Playing him anywhere but 2ND isn't plausible. He does not profile anywhere else, as we have discussed. If we wasted last year's #4 pick, on a bust, this rebuild has more problems than even the pessimists think. Moncada has the tools to play other positions. If Madrigal is a success, Yoan is the one to move to another position. Oh, yes and Machado will not be coming to the Sox. You can bet on it!! If it happens, I'll eat some crow, but it just doesn't seem likely, for so many reasons, which have also been discussed here.

That's a great thought. Madrigal leading off and Vaughn hitting second, followed by Moncada and Eloy. If Moncada becomes the hitter we hoped for, that would be terrific OBP, at the top of the order.

This article on Vaughn is worth a read: https://247sports.com/college/california/Article/Profile-What-makes-Cal-freshman-first-baseman-Andrew-Vaughn-tick-106257214/

I didn't know that he was a HS SS. That suggests that he could play 3RD base. He has the arm, as he also has pitched.

He looks so small, in this interview: https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/video/how-golden-spikes-award-winner-andrew-vaughn-developed-his-power It's hard to believe that he is 5' 11" and 208 pounds. He looks much smaller than that. Perhaps he has a very strong lower body.

Doesn't the loss of a Draft pick only affect teams, which aren't picking in the top 10?

Vaughn won the Golden Spikes Player of the Year Award, as a sophomore. If he has a junior year anything close to last year, he'll be my pick, if he makes it to #3. The most intriguing thing to me is that he only struck out 18 times, while hitting 23 homers. I don't care if he hits a few less round trippers, as long as he continues to not strike out. After this season's horrible team strike out total, having Madrigal and Vaughn in a future lineup would be a refreshing change. Here is something to think about: He also pitched and is reputed to be an outstanding defensive first baseman. One has to wonder if he could play third. He has the arm and good hands. Whether, or not, he has the quickness, needed for the hot corner, is uncertain, but it's worth considering. I just searched images of him and I am surprised to see how small he looks. I thought that he would be a stronger looking guy, even if he is only reported to be 5' 11". Frankly, I doubt that he's that tall. He must have very strong hands and wrist. We'll, if Mookie Betts, Bregman and Jose Ramirez can hit all of those home runs, I guess maybe it doesn't matter. None of them are big guys either.

I would go: 1) Rutschman 2) Vaughn 3) Jung

So, you would pick Adley Rutschman one and Langeliers two, correct? Who would be #3?

Ok, so who are your top 3 picks, in order? I know it's way too early, but I'm curious.

I will be shocked if he is non-tendered. It is more likely that he comes back healthy, after knee surgery, and starts the season in RF. No one is ready to replace him there, and he does not have enough trade value, for that scenario.

You may be right about his power not being quite as outstanding as it appears, based on last year's output. However, his .400 average, .531 OBP, with just 18 strike outs, argue for a very complete hitter. How many college guys ever have that kind of run production, while almost never striking out? To me, the best comp might be Joey Votto, from the right side of the plate.

Is there anything about the pitching in the PAC 12 that diminishes Vaughn's numbers? They are astounding. A home run in every 8.6 at bats. 23 homers and 18 strike outs!!!! A 9% strike out rate. 63 RBI's in 54 games. Yikes!! I don't care what position he plays, and oddly enough the Sox don't really have that much depth at that position. If he has another big year, In 2019, and if he's available at #3, it's hard to imagine passing on that kind of bat.

Down 8 to 1, so it looks like the Sox will clinch the 3RD pick, tonight.

Is there a third option? How about neither? I'm not inclined to favor spending that much money on one player, when the front office doesn't yet know what they have. Since most everyone here seems to feel that the loss of Kopech, means that they won't be competitive next year, maybe it makes sense to just play out the season, and see what they have for 2020, when that highly vaunted competitive window opens. The hints have already been dropped, that Moncada is headed for 3B, to make room for Madrigal, whose only real viable position is 2ND. Anderson is pegged as the SS, for the foreseeable future. That crowded outfield poses lots of questions. Eloy and Robert can both reasonably be expected to be there and to be core pieces. That only leaves one corner outfield spot for one of Adolfo, Rutherford, Walker, Basabe, or Gonzalez, assuming of course, that Avi is not retained, which might be a mistake. It looks like they might have found a LH DH in Palka. A second season, and a full one, might reveal what they really have in him. Will he turn out to be a flash in the pan, or a guy who hits 35 to 40 Home runs, with lots of RBI's, including in clutch situations? First Base? My guess is that Eloy ends up there, ultimately. It might be a good spot for Palka, if he becomes part of the future. It's the easiest position to fill. There are always decent hitting first basemen, who can provide adequate defense. Many here have suggested that Abreu wouldn't even net a couple of good prospects. If a hole should emerge there, it shouldn't be that difficult to fill it. Catching now has some depth, with Collins, Narvaez, Zavala and maybe Adley Rutschman, especially if the Sox end up with the 3RD pick. You can even include Smith. I imagine that they will trade Castillo. The way today's pitchers all seem to be made out of fragile glass arms, that break when put under the tremendous strain of pitching 6 innings, every 5TH day, maybe the front office should just spend all of the money on pitchers, in hopes that they can find 5 starters, who can survive a full season. At any rate, I think it's too soon to commit to a 10 year, $350 to $400 million contract for one player, to fill a hole, which may not exist.

Regarding Shields: There really is no basis for expecting that he will revert back to his 2017 performance. He made a significant adjustment in his approach and delivery and it has helped him to "reinvent" himself. Watching him this season, it is obvious that he is a completely different kind of pitcher now. If he stays healthy, there is no reason that he can't continue to do what he did this season. It doesn't make him a top, or middle of the rotation starter, but it certainly qualifies him, as an innings eating, 5TH starter.

If you're anything like me, watching him and the hitters' reactions, is more revealing than the box score. I don't care whom he was facing, his pitches look very nasty.

I'm not trying to be a "smart aleck," and I don't know exactly what to think of Covey, myself. However, I'm just wondering if you have reconsidered your assessment of his future, with the Sox. One has to be impressed with his stuff. If he can learn to be consistent, it seems that he is certainly at least a legitimate 5TH starter, on a good staff. This seems to be an important question to answer, as he could really help fill out next year's rotation, while the Sox wait for Kopech, Cease and Dunning, in 2020.

I really like Dylan's stuff. It's a shame that he isn't more consistent.

I like Matt's improved ability to draw some walks, however Palka provides something that Davidson does not, which is a LF power bat. You know how often I have mentioned that need, so it's an easy choice for me.