Lillian

Were all 3 of Rutherford's doubles, legitimate? Did he hit the ball hard? If so, he is definitely off to a good start.

The current outfield roster is probably a mute point. The future window of contention, opening wide in 2020, will likely feature 3 of the following 4 young outfielders: Eloy, Robert, Adolfo and Rutherford. i'm beginning to think that everyone else is just a place holder. I don't know about you guys, but I find myself more interested in following the Minors. I can't wait until Eloy and Robert are back on the field.

With the exception of his strike outs, he is doing just fine, batting left handed: .256 .370 .487 That puts him near the top of Sox hitters, so far, in every category. No one is really lighting it up on this team, probably because of all of the off days and the terrible weather for hitters. If you want to do something drastic, maybe he could try facing lefties, from the left side. For my part, I'd prefer to let him continue to try to become a productive switch hitter.

Let's not forget about Basabe. The Sale trade could well have netted us 3 starting and significant contributing pieces to the contending years, on the horizon. Not only that, but they could be contributors at key positions; a middle infielder and lead off hitter, a centerfielder and a top of the rotation starter. That would be a very successful deal. I wonder who is really more suitable as a centerfielder, between Robert and Basabe. It appears that they are both true centerfielders, who possess all of the tools to play there. I'm guessing that the 2020 outfield will consist of Robert, Eloy and Basabe, with Adolfo a close 4TH. What intrigues me about Basabe is that he appears to be a 5 tool, switch hitter, who is a legitimate centerfielder. That makes his success potentially more impactful than a player like Adolfo, who profiles more as a slugger. Adolfo's arm in RF and Robert and Basabe patrolling CF and LF, would comprise a very good defensive outfield. Who knows, maybe Eloy will end up at first base.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Apr 15, 2018 -> 07:53 AM) Small sample but Tyler Johnson has a filthy Good shot he winds up in BIR by the end of the year Can someone explain how MLB Pipeline translates the following ratings, for Johnson, into an overall 45 rating?: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 The only way that makes any sense is if the Control Factor is very heavily weighted.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 03:04 PM) That K rate is closer to 10% than 13%. If he keeps hitting, he could be Pavin Smith with raw power potential by the end of the year, and that would certainly push him back up draft boards. Is the strike out rate calculated as a percentage of plate appearances, rather than "at bats"? If so, you are correct. In any case, that's impressive, relative to his home run rate.

I think that the assessed value of Rutherford, as a prospect, at the time, made it a fair trade. Some of us are just not sold on Rutherford being as good as he has been regarded. Remember, when he was acquired, he had performed pretty well, except for the lack of power.

Beer now leads the Clemson Tigers in AVG. and Home Runs. Most impressive is that he also has the fewest strike outs, just 13 in 95 at bats, while drawing 25 walks. He has a HR, every 9.5 at bats, while striking out at a 13% rate. And, all of that, after having been mired in a long slump. If he truly has figured out what he was doing wrong, he could have a terrific season, with a good second half.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 09:21 AM) Rutherford couldn't have looked worse in the games I saw him this spring I agree. He looks very gawky and awkward. He certainly doesn't seem very athletic. He reminds me of a youngster, who hasn't quite "grown" into his body. I'm no scout, but he certainly hasn't impressed me. I thought the same thing, watching videos of his high school days, before the 2016 draft. What do you suppose the scouts see in him?

This is likely irrelevant, as he isn't going to go #4, but Beer has homered in each of his last 4 games. He now has 10 and his average is up to .284. He also has walked 25 times, in 95 at bats, so his OBP and Slugging Percentage are very good. Where do you think he'll be drafted?

Back to the topic of this thread; I'll take Verdugo and Kemp and pay all of his remaining contract. Then, I'd try to find someone to either take him and most of the contract, or see if a team would give up another prospect, for him, if the Sox pay all of it.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 1, 2018 -> 01:01 PM) It would make more sense for us to trade for him along with multiple prospects, take on most of his contract, and release him (you're doing this for the prospect(s) anyway) to give other at bats than to sign him and take at bats away from someone else. That could work, depending on the prospects and how much of his contract they have to assume. Do you have any specific names, in mind?

I hope that they don't acquire Kemp, under any circumstances, unless they can get a valued prospect, or two. He would take at bats away from guys, whom the Sox need to evaluate. Davidson should get any DH at bats vs. lefties. Delmonico also needs at bats against all RHP, at the minimum.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Mar 1, 2018 -> 10:54 AM) Was Tilson or Cordell healthy when Engel was called up? Was Garcia? No, I don't believe that they were. However, my point is directed at the plan, going forward. Simply put; I think that I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to those, whose job it is to evaluate talent, and assess the organization's best course.

One of the interesting implications of these kinds of discussions is the confidence, or lack thereof, which we have in the scouting department. If a guy like Engel is really not as good of a defender as many of us think, and if he has no realistic potential to hit, why does the coaching staff insist upon giving him extended opportunities? If the front office, coaching staff and scouting department is so incompetent, the Sox are in big trouble. I would prefer to trust in their competency and what they are doing. In other words, I give them the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they know more than any of us do.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Feb 28, 2018 -> 08:58 PM) In all fairness to Greg, alot of posters didn't know that at first. Hell, some still don't (other than the obsessive-ness of lefty hitters..). I'm sorry, but I don't get the joke. What is the association between being obsessed with left handed hitters and being a female? I'm not offended, just confused.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Feb 28, 2018 -> 05:32 PM) People are delusional about Engel he was hitting 218 in AAA when he was called up. He's 26 and looks lost at the plate if he ends up being anything more then AAA fodder I'd be surprised. Yes, we understand that he has not yet learned to hit. However, some of us are hopeful that he can. If he can't, he will not be part of this team's future.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 28, 2018 -> 04:04 PM) If you can get Moose for something crazy like 4/$48M or 5/$60M then sure I’d consider it. However, I seriously doubt Boras would agree to such a contract without an opt-out, which is 100% a deal-breaker for me. Therefore, stay the course / keep the draft pick, give Sanchez the 3B ABs in 2018 to see what he can be, pursue the mega 3B free agents the next two offseasons, and find short-term solutions on the cheap if needed. I agree that an opt-out should not be part of the deal. If he isn't going to be part of the equation, when the competitive window opens, I'd rather others have his at bats. My advocacy for him is with 2019, and beyond, in mind.

We've pretty much exhausted this debate on whether, or not, to sign Moustakas. Here is my personal opinion and conclusion: I advocate signing Moustakas to a 4 or 5 year contract, if he can be acquired for $12 Million per year, or less. Here is my argument: 1) 5 years covers his age 29 through 33 seasons, still prime years. 2) 3RD base is the one hole, which needs filling, now and into the foreseeable future. I love Yolmer, but he is not a middle of the order hitter 3) He provides a much needed solid LH, middle of the order, power bat 4) His 38 homers, in 2017, are a KC record and the 24 HR's, in just 74 games, on the road, are very impressive. He should be a force at Guaranteed Rate Field. 5) While he doesn't walk at an ideal rate, his strike outs are very respectable, for a true power hitter. His 2017 94 Strike outs, with 38 HR's and a .531 Slugging % was among the best in baseball. We would all like a better OBP, but if he possessed one, he would be a $20 million per year player. 6) His 2015 stats were very consistently solid, with the exception of his July .188 AVG., immediately following the time that his mother lost her struggle with cancer. He took two family leaves during that time. That .188 was more than 100 points lower than the rest of his season. If you take out that month, of understandable emotional stress, he hit .302. 7) That contract would be very reasonable, relative to today's market, and would not preclude another major commitment 8) He would not block any top prospect, currently in the organization. 9) He has valuable Post Season experience 10) Good club house guy 11) Before his knee injury, his defense was rated better than average, and he is now another year further removed from knee surgery and should be an adequate defender. 2019 Lineup, versus RHP: 2B Moncada RF Avi 1B Abreu 3B Moustakas LF Eloy SS Anderson C Navaerez/Narvaez DH Delmonico/Davidson CF Defense First, take your pick?????? That's my perspective. Anyone care to summarize an opposing view?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 28, 2018 -> 12:53 PM) In addition to the hit tool issue, Engel has less raw power than Cordell and a much worse arm. I think it's fair to say that Cordell has a better overall package of tools. Obviously Engel has super elite speed and insane potential from a defense standpoint. That is not my perception. Here is what Future Sox had to say about Engel's tools: "The reason he's been a Top 30 prospect for a couple years now is almost entirely about his tools. Engel has true plus-plus speed, a strong arm and elite athleticism. He's gotten body comps to Mike Trout, and he's got enough strength that some scouts see latent power potential he's yet to tap into." Here is MLB Pipeline's evaluation of Cordell: His scouting grades according to mlbpipeline (as of 2017) were: Hit 45 Power 55 Run 60 Arm 55 Field 55. Engel's arm is certainly at least 55 Of course, the big question is whether, or not, Adam will ever make consistent contact. Again, I concur that Cordell appears to be much further along with his hitting.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 28, 2018 -> 12:12 PM) I put them in a dead heat mostly because Cordell is viewed as having more tools and he is younger than Engel so those tools put him above Engel and but the Engel defense out there means a lot . Based on ceiling , age, power, arm Cordell has batter tools than Engel Are you sure about that? Except for the critical hit tool, I think that Engel has considerably more speed, as much power and an elite glove. They may both be potentially 5 tool players, but I don't think that Cordell has the potential for the elite speed and defense in CF, that Engel has. On the other hand, Engel is not nearly as far along with his development as a hitter. A guy can figure that out, and learn to hit, but you can't acquire that kind of speed.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 26, 2018 -> 06:13 PM) What would be the point of signing Moustakas to a one year contract and losing a draft pick and that slot position money? That's a move a contender makes, not a rebuilding team such as the Sox. I don't understand how anyone can argue against this point. 'BlackSox' sounds exactly right. The only way it might make sense for the Sox, would be if they thought that they could flip him to a contender, during the season and get back something better than the 2ND round draft pick, that they will lose.

Therefore, do I understand that you guys think that Boras would urge him to take a one year deal, in order to try to re-enter the free agent market, with that stacked free agent group, next year? I'm skeptical.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Feb 26, 2018 -> 04:59 PM) Five years is stupid there is no reason to offer him that kind of length. I'd do 3/33 or possibly 4/42 backloaded with an opt out after two. Who are we bidding against? Do you think that he would accept an offer like that?

I'm going to go "out on a limb" here and predict that the Sox will sign Moustakas, and that it will be 5 years. If they were seriously considering it, before this injury to Burger, it now seems very likely. It just makes too much sense, and shouldn't completely rule out trying to sign Machado, though I don't see the Sox winning that bidding war.