Dick Allen

Johnson looking like a member of the 2013 White Sox.

It is great to think your 2nd-10th round picks will be good players, but the reality is of all the players the White Sox have drafted this century, 3 have career WARs over 6.2. Sale, Gio, and Chris Young. The guy with the 6.2 is Ryan Sweeney.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 2, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) Using a restrictive model isn't accurate. Those horrible draft picks brought Jake Peavy here, who in turn brought Avi Garcia here. Throw out guys like Clayton Richards, that deal doesn't get done, which means Garcia is never a White Sox. A non-first round Sox draft pick brought John Danks here. A Sox non-first round pick brought Conor Gillaspie here. A non-first round Sox pick brought Adam Eaton here.... etc, etc. It is pretty impossible to trade guys you didn't bring into the organization. So no names. As far as I can tell the Sox will still field minor league teams and you don't have to trade for Peavy if you already drafted an ace.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 2, 2014 -> 03:22 PM) Webb shouldn't be on the list. You are correct.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 2, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) If you are going to look at it that way, you have to look at all White Sox draft picks on major league rosters, or non-first round picks of other teams who are on the White Sox roster. Tell me who is on another roster that is star. I liked Addison Reed, but a lot of people where really happy when he was shipped out for a poor man's Josh Fields. The White Sox have drafted like crap for years, yet they still can get other teams draft picks on their roster. So I don't see why that would matter.

The White Sox have 5 of their own draft picks on their roster not including Sale: Jordan Danks Gordon Beckham Marcus Semien Jake Petricka Not exactly hard to replace.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 2, 2014 -> 03:07 PM) It seems to me that many here are forgetting that Boras' ultimate goal is to make the most money for his client -- it is NOT to create ultimate chaos. Boras is not a villain who is trying to trick teams into failure. He's just trying to maximize the dollars. It also seems like many forget that the player has ultimate decision. Boras will attempt to convince the player one way or the other, but there are plenty of guys who won't turn down $6m for the shot at $8m or whatever. The player is the one that assumes the risk. If Rodon goes three and decides not to sign for a penny less than #1 slot value, he took some bad advice. Boras is smart man who gets what he wants most of the time. If he jerked teams around, gave bad advice, and exploited clients, he wouldn't keep getting new business. First off, Boras cannot directly negotiate with the White Sox or whichever team makes the selection or Mr. Rodon doesn't have the option of returning to pitch in college. Playing hardball has worked for some and screwed others. I was reading where Houston offered Appel $6 million the year before, and he said no. The Pirates drafted him and offered him $3.8 which of course was turned down. He ultimately signs with Houston the next year for $6.35 million. So losing a year of pro ball, he did gain $350k, but is probably a year behind in development, if not more. It could cost him an extra year to arbitration which make the risk of return pretty stupid. I think if JR and Hahn talk to this kid and his parents, or any team for that matter, they can show that being picked in the top 3 and not signing really makes little sense. The risk far outweighs the reward.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 2, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) I count three big "if's" there. The entire draft is an if. You draft the best player. You defended the White Sox drafting Walker and his horribleness by pointing out only one of the supplemental picks his year made the majors. Why are you going to go cheap on pick #3 to have more money for a longshot? I also don't think if Rodon goes #3 he will not sign for a reasonable amount. It might be overslot, but I doubt he goes back to NCS if he's offered something reasonable. Maybe he isn't the guy the Sox think is the best. But drafting at #3 and picking based on saving a lot of money for later rounds isn't really too much different from the philosophy which got their system in this mess.

Dunn is one slump, something that is guaranteed to happen at some point, from being the most useless human being in Chicago. He won't be back. Even if he has a great year, I'm sure he's just as sick of Sox fans as Sox fans are sick of him.

If the Sox signed Rodon, and failed to sign everyone else they drafted, and Rodon was David Price like, the only draft they would have had up until this point of this century which would be as good or better is 2010 when Sale fell into their laps. Take the best player available at #3. Don't worry about saving money for your other picks.

Kepp is an every other year guy. He should do OK this year.

Last year, a lot of posters wanted the Sox to tank to get the #1 pick. That pick at the time was Rondon. If somehow an uninjured Rondon is available at #3 and the Sox draft someone else so they have a few extra dollars to sign someone not so highly thought of, to me would be the biggest waste of draft position. Do you pass on Chris Sale so you can get Gavin Floyd and Jared Mitchell?

QUOTE (almagest @ May 1, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) If the Bulls could do this and get the Lakers lottery pick this year I'd do it in a second, and I like Thibodeau a lot. I don't think Carmelo will end up here, just like any other top player ever. Forman and Thibs aren't exactly buddies. It wouldn't shock me if they would do this, but it kind of would shock me if the Lakers did this. They need players.

How much can Boras be involved with Rodon's negotiation and not kill Rodon's eligibility to pitch NCAA baseball ever again? I understand "advisor". Does that mean he can be his agent for "free" and just negotiate out of the kindness of his heart with the "hope" once said contract is signed Rodon makes him his agent? Or is it some sort of contingency where if he doesn't sign Boras doesn't get paid, but if he does Boras collects because at that point eligibility isn't an issue? I know some players have been busted for this. Personally, I don't find anything wrong with hiring an agent and if you don't sign, retaining eligibility, but obviously there are rules, and where the line is drawn on those rules, I have no idea. Edit: Looks like Boras wouldn't have any direct contact with the team that drafted Rodon: It is permissible for you to have an advisor but not an agent) without jeopardizing your eligibility at an NCAA school. Under NCAA regulations, you and your parents are permitted to receive advice form a lawyer or other individuals concerning a proposed professional sports contract, provided that the advisor does not represent you directly in negotiations for the contract. In this regard, it is permissible for an advisor to discuss with you the merits of a proposed contract give you suggestions about the type of offer you should consider. In order to maintain your eligibility at an NCAA school, however, you may not use this advisor as a link between you and the professional sports team. Rather, you must view the advisor as an extension of your own interests and not as a source to contact a professional team. If you use the advisor as a direct contact with a professional team, the advisor shall be considered an agent, and you will have jeopardized your eligibility at an NCAA school. For example, an advisor may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional team or have direct contact (i.e., in person, by telephone, email or mail) with the professional sports team on your behalf. Finally, it is important to note that in order to maintain your eligibility at the NCAA school, if you receive assistance from an advisor, you will be required to pay that advisor at his or her normal rate for such services. I know this is probably abused, but IIRC the White Sox were one team that actually blew the whistle on a player using an "advisor" incorrectly.

There was a full page ad in an LA newspaper on Sunday thanking Sterling for his $3 million donation for kidney research to UCLA and stated a research center was going to be named in his honor. UCLA has returned the approximately $500k already given to them by Sterling. They also said at no time was a building going to be named in his honor, and finally said they had nothing to do with the thank you ad. Sterling actually paid for the ad to thank himself.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2014 -> 12:16 PM) If I told Soxtalk in the pre-season that on May 1, Viciedo and Ramirez would be 1/2 in the batting average leaders, and that FLowers would have been on that list had he had enough PA's, how hard would you have laughed? Or except for Adam Dunn (I am not counting Jor Danks due to ABs) Viciedo would have the highest walk rate on the team, would people have laughed or cried?

This thread is about future payroll obligations. Sale and Q are signed to very team friendly contracts. Future obligations aren't very high. If a couple of these younger guys pan out, there should be plenty to spend on guys better than the Felipe Paulinos of the world. We already know there is plenty now or they wouldn't have risked Tanaka saying yes.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ May 1, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) We did have one of the toughest April schedules and we have a much easier one in May. I expect to finish the month above .500 barring any injuries. You never know how it will turn out, but the April schedule was pretty tough. The Sox did have to use 9 starters, and lost their best starter for a couple of starts. They went through a stretch where their bullpen couldn't have been worse. They weathered a 1-25 from Abreu. There is reason for some optimism.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2014 -> 08:36 AM) Perhaps several reasons. "They're really good at developing their own starting pitching even using other teams castoffs" plays into it, as does the not wanting to give contracts to guys likely to be hurt. They still have several castoffs from other teams with potential this year even if people don't want to admit it. Who are these castoffs with potential? They didn't sign any high priced free agents from other teams from 1997 when they signed Albert Belle until 2010 when they signed Adam Dunn. It was the first time they gave a free agent from another team more than $20 million during that stretch. The Sox spent a lot of money on pitching. They didn't sign expensive guys, they traded for them. Wells, Colon, Garcia, Peavy, Vazquez, Jackson, Contreras....these were high priced guys they brought in.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) Really 2 bad innings last 2 days have done the Sox in. That and a lack of offense. Verlander and Scherzer could be to blame.

Flowers, 0-2, 2ks, 6 pitches. I think he was hoping Nieto was getting the start today.

Tyler has to realize he has a 60% chance of reaching base if he just puts the ball in play.

Tumbleweeds

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) Noesi's just not a good enough pitcher to store on your 40 man when you're already having issues creating room. However, after seeing him get hit hard all over the field in the 4th, it seems Ventura was one batter too late in getting him out while the deficit was still manageable. If you're going to have the bullpen day, you can't keep guys in when they're clearly gassed. Maybe he read Soxtalk and figured he had to prepare himself for a 14 inning game because he was toasted that day for removing ineffective pitchers.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) If I was told before the season that the Sox would use 9 different starting pitchers in their first 29 games, and Sale would only start four of them, I would have guessed 9-20 as a record. So 14-15 ain't too shabby. Still believe in this team if they get healthy and stay healthy in the next two weeks. And if someone told you a couple weeks ago when the Sox were pounding him, that Noesi would be starting for the Sox vs. Scherzer, you would probably have to be insane to think there was any chance to win the game. Maybe Viciedo can keep his dropped fly ball streak alive.