Lillian

Where would you guess Puckett will be ranked, among our prospects?

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 04:58 PM) I have never said they should call up Rutherford, Robert or Burger next year. No, I understand that you did not say that. However, those guys are part of the core that the front office hopes will make this team competitive. I added Jimenez, because he is only in A Ball. There will also be at least a couple more top prospects, added in the next two drafts. It's hard to understand the urgency to try to put a really competitive team on the field, next season. You are certainly entitled to your philosophy and strategy, regarding the best way forward, however it is likely that management does not agree with you. Right, or wrong, it is clear to most observers that Hahn intends to exercise patience here.

I'm sure that most of us empathize with those who hate watching the team lose so often. However, we can all be consoled by rooting for guys like Cordell, Wille Garcia and Gillaspie to prove that they are Major League ready, as did Avi, Davidson and perhaps even Leury did this year. And more importantly, it could be very rewarding watching all of the prospects take their next steps forward, toward their eventual call ups. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see Charlotte with a dominate team, beating everybody in sight, with a roster full of our favorite top prospects? That is the most realistic, best case scenario. if one wouldn't find such a circumstance rewarding, as a fan of this organization, they are likely in for a very frustrating stretch of baseball.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 03:57 PM) That is a choice they can make this offseason. There is more than enough available in free agency (at reasonable prices) and on the farm, assuming they are aggressive calling up Jimenez and Kopech, to field a team that can be competitive on a game-by-game basis. Probably not playoffs, but forward momentum towards 2019 (a season they absolutely must not spend wallowing in the basement). The point has been made, but should be emphasized, regarding service time. There is no reason to prematurely start the clock on young players, who are not going to be harmed by spending another year in the farm system. Of course, eventually they will need some Major League seasoning, but why rush guys like Jimenez, Robert, Kopech, Burger and Rutherford, none of whom will even be 21, at the start of next season? Wouldn't you rather see them on the parent club, prior to free agency, into their prime years? If you start the clock when they are that young, they will be free agents by the time they are 27, just when they should be in their best prime years. Patience is going to be the key. In the meantime, the idea is to let the guys with some Minor League experience, such as Cordell, Willie Garcia and Gillaspie play, to see what they can provide. Of course, it's always possible that they blossom and the team fields a pretty decent offense. However, the pitching is still not likely to be good enough to produce a winning record. The best arms are just not ready yet to dominate Big League hitters. Why not give them time?

QUOTE (Quin @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 02:50 PM) UNLESS C - Omar Narvaez just keeps doing Omar 1B - Abreu hits like he just learned Ron made a thread about him 2B - Moncada is promised a box of twinkies for every hit SS - Anderson rebounds to last year, tweets out that he loves Fathom. 3B - Davidson, idk, Mark Reynolds LF - Leury continues being super Leury CF - Engel thinks he's actually back in the AFL RF - Avi hits like All-Star Avi DH - Casey Gillaspie thinks he's Conor in the NLCS against the Cubs How fun!! I love it. The only thing you forgot was that awful pitching staff, unless all the young arms are prematurely called up, and somehow win a "joint" Rookie of the Year award.

I would be very surprised if they make any significant free agent acquisitions. It seems more plausible that they will wait, both to see what their needs are going to be, and to save their financial capital for the coming window of contention.

Yes Greg, that suggested roster was not assembled, with the intent of winning. It's about development, both for the players on that roster, as well as the future "stars," down on the farm. It's all in preparation for 2019 and beyond.

Just to add another note on Jake Peter: He has an 18 game hitting streak, including his first 9 games with Charlotte, in which he also has hit 4 homers. Going back to July 7TH, which was the last game in which he went hitless, the 5 games previous to that 0 for 4 night, he was 11 for 20 including three 3 hit games. The guy has been on fire, and his raised his average and OBP to very respectable levels. Pretty impressive for a former pitcher. He'll be an interesting player to follow, the rest of the season. I suspect that he is opening some eyes. Does anyone have any insight into what might account for the sudden improvement?

QUOTE (Quin @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 11:22 AM) Scouting reports go back and forth on whether or not Delmonico is a butcher at third and Yolmer/Leury both have had way more AAA success than Peter has to this point. I've always liked Peter, but if he's a starter he either blew past expectations or something has gone very, very wrong. Asche is a non-factor and is AAAA fodder. Also this. In a perfect scenario, the future will have Moncada, Collins, Rutherford and Sheets/Gillaspie providing balance from the left handed side. But that is well down the road. You are absolutely right and you can imagine how happy that prospect makes me. It's great that they are finally stock piling some very promising left handed hitters.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 11:18 AM) Lineup construction isn't going to be a priority next year. That's a good point. I guess I have to remind myself that winning with these guys is not a priority. They need to concentrate on development, so who cares?

QUOTE (Quin @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 09:22 AM) Leury and Sanchez will both get spots over Delmonico/Asche/Peter. Yes, I love both of those little guys. I was trying to find a decent defensive third baseman, and another LH bat. You know me. I "loves me" those left handed bats, especially in the middle of the order. Without Melky, they are going to be short a decent bat, from the left side. Moncada would be the only one. In addition to being a decent infield defender, Peter is intriguing, because he had also previously be concentrating on pitching, as well as hitting, yet has seemed to figure it out pretty quickly. It would be interesting to see if he could fill the #2 hole, with his good contact skills.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 09:40 AM) That was a well put together post. I agree with most of it. Very realistic too. I think Tilson will get his shot. I also think Gilaspie will get his shot too. Asche had his. I think they like Willy Garcia a decent amount too. I can see them trying to hit on a few washed up former 1st or 2nd round picks. We have the luxury of tryin got hit gold while we suck, so I see Hahn pursuing that route this summer Thanks for the input. I also like Gillaspie, but don't you think that they will want to see him get back on track, at AAA, before they bring him up?

Although the rebuild, aka; "house cleaning," is likely not quite finished, it's not too early to begin to think about the Major League roster for next year. Almost all of the young guys will be vying for their various positions down on the farm, while the parent club bides its time, and looks forward to a few more high draft picks next June and in 2019. Nevertheless, there are benefits to grooming a few players, who may either become part of the equation for 2019, or be decent trade candidates, used to fill other needs. In any case, someone has to play!!!! In that context, it would be fun and interesting to consider whom you all think might comprise the starting lineup, next year, while we all wait for 2019. Here is my suggestion: CF Adam Engel or Cordell. (Both are Right Handed). My rational is that both guys possess good enough tools and are now too old to waste more time in the Minors, where they would be taking up roster spots, needed for the very promising younger prospects. It's time to find out what they can do. Tilson is another name, but you have to wonder if he can stay healthy. 3B Jake Peter. (Left Handed) His recent emergence as an offensive contributor should boost his stock. I'd like to see him at third, as he is supposed to have a pretty good arm, being a former pitcher. He seems like a good candidate for the 2 hole, because of his good plate discipline and contact skills. 2B Yoan Moncada.(Switch Hitter) I realize that hitting him third may be putting some extra pressure on him, but having Abreu and Avi behind him, should provide a little protection for him, and help ensure that he sees more hittable pitches. DH Jose Abreu. (RH) He is clearly the best hitter on this team. It's time to see if he can still be productive, while DH'ing, as that is likely to be his long term role, once the rebuilt team matures. RF Avi Garcia. (RH) If he can finally realize his power potential, and learn to take his walks, he may be worth extending, but if not, he could be traded to fill any hole, in the next wave. LF Nick Delmonico/Cody Asche (Both bat LH) The lineup needs another left handed hitter, and I'd like to see if either of these guys could produce at the next level. They are both having pretty good years, at AAA, especially vs RHP. Maybe one of them could platoon with Willie Garcia, whom I like. 1B Matt Davidson (RH) He has established himself as a legitimate power threat, but probably is better suited to first base, than the hot corner. C Omar Narvaez (LH) I like his plate discipline and ability to draw walks. You may be surprised to know that he leads the team in OBP, even if he has no power. I'm not sure if he's good enough defensively. ???? SS Tim Anderson (RH) Well, he is signed long term, so these next 2 years are his chance to demonstrate that he can be part of this promising Sox future. I am still convinced that he must develop better plate discipline, if he is ever going to realize his potential. If not, SS will be a hole, going into that window of contention, starting in 2019 or 2020. You'll note that this projected lineup does not include the acquisition of any veterans. I don't see the point in taking that route. Let's see who can either be part of the future, or provide a trading chip. Sanchez and Leury top my list for the bench. That leaves the pitching, which is going to be very interesting. Unless they start bringing the prospects, it's hard to imagine who is going to fill out the rotation, as well as the bullpen. That would be another interesting discussion. Any suggestions??

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 28, 2017 -> 02:47 PM) Melky Cabrera can hit the baseball pretty well. He doesn't have a ton of power, he isn't fast, he doesn't play great defense, and he doesn't have much of an arm. He is a 1 WAR player, and there legitimately are not a lot of teams looking for an outfielder. Look at the outfields for contenders and find a spot for him where he is going to get significant playing time while representing a large upgrade. You really are not going to find it. Melky Cabrera WILL have use for a contender as a situational bat off the bench where he gets 2-4 starts a week and can be used as a pinch hitter. He will not get the Sox much of a return. On what do you base your assertion that "Melky does not have much of an arm"?

How good is Mendick's defense, at SS?

This is the quote, from Fan Graphs' Dave Cameron, that stands out to me: "For these deals to work out as well as the White Sox hope, their player development system is going to have to take some raw materials and turn them into polished big leaguers". With this team's future completely invested in their farm system, if management doesn't make a concerted effort to put in place the right coaching staff, failing would be as much their responsibility, as it would be the failure of the prospects, themselves. I have no idea from where the help would come, or how feasible it is to acquire competent coaches and instructors, but that should be the goal. The front office should certainly have sufficient financial resources to dedicate toward that goal, as the team's payroll projects to be as low it has been, in a long time.

How long has his thumb been injured? Could that explain his recent slump?

Thanks for the great write-up, as always. Since Cordell had formerly also pitched, do you know when he started to concentrate on hitting? That is important, as it could partially explain his slower rate of development.

One of the biggest obstacles for Anderson is his inability to draw walks. We all know that. The problem is that, when the League knows that a hitter will swing at bad pitches, that is pretty much all he is going to see. It's very hard for any hitter to produce when he is not pitched to. It is imperative that he learn to take bad pitches. If he could establish a reputation of being a patient hitter, with a decent eye, then pitchers would have to throw more strikes to him. It's only then, that we may ever discover what he could do as a hitter. I'm afraid that if he never acquires the ability to take pitches, and draw walks, he is never going to be a good hitter. I understand that most of us know all of this. The point is that Tim Anderson needs to understand it. It's not just that taking his walks would improve his OBP, but he needs to dispel pitchers of the notion that he will swing at bad pitches. The same circumstance is what is keeping Avi from fully realizing his potential. For the first half of the season, when he was among the leaders, pitchers had every reason not to give him much to hit. Yet, even then, he was still not drawing walks. Like Anderson, he just does not have good plate discipline. I'm glad that Hostetler, and his staff, is so committed to finding hitters who have a good eye, and the ability to draw walks. It's a shame that this has only recently been made a priority for the organization. Hopefully it will pay huge dividends.

I understand that he played in the PCL this year, however his numbers are better than any of our guys at Charlotte, this year. When you also consider his defensive prowess and good speed, he is not a bad prospect. How long has he been concentrating exclusively on hitting, as he was a two way player, earlier in his career? I'd like to see the Sox employ him in LF and Engel in CF, next season, while Rutherford, Jimenez and Robert get some seasoning in the Minors.

There is a lot to like about Guerrero. I love his good control and changeup. There seems to be so much emphasis on velocity, but today's hitters seem quite capable of hitting 95 + MPH fastballs. That's not surprising, as they see so many high velocity pitches, especially in the last 3 innings. Lot's of bullpens have several guys who throw that hard.

Which lefty has the best chance to make the starting rotation, especially if Rodon leaves?

Does any of this discussion change anyone's expectations for the 2020 starting rotation and bullpen? What is your best guess for the pitching staff, based upon the current talent in the organization? My guess would be Rodon (unless he's traded), Kopeck, Lopez, Hansen and Cease. I don't know what to think of Giolito. Do you guys think that he'll make it? Fulmer, Burdi and the rest of the top guys would battle for bullpen spots.

Because he has recently been hitting more homers, yet striking out more, in a previous post, I suggested that he may be swinging for the fences. In checking the game logs, I discovered that he has drawn the "hat trick" 8 times, this season. Interesting that in 4 of those games, he also had a homer, no other hits, just one homer, in each of those 4 games. His last 5 games seem to make the point even more dramatically; 4 hat tricks and 3 homers, with no other hits. I wonder if he has an injury, and if not, it seems likely that he is swinging for the fences. Whatever is causing this troubling development, let's hope it stops.

Thanks for all of your input, gentlemen. It's an interesting discussion. Statistical analysis leaves out a few things, for example; Fox was terrific at executing the hit and run, something else that is not emphasized nearly as much, now.