harfman77

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 08:57 AM) Presuming Dunn won't be here going into the 2015 season, what players should be available who are power-hitting lefties? Chase Headley.

This weeks stat update: Carlos Rodon - 6 IP 4H 1R 1ER 3BB 5K Season - 7 GS 2.09 ERA 47.1 IP 37H 24R 11ER 18BB 55K Tyler Beede - 5 IP 5H 3R 3ER 3BB 4K Season - 7 GS 2.47 ERA 40 IP 25H 20R 11ER 14BB 46K Jeff Hoffman - 7 IP 6H 2R 2ER 1BB 6K Season - 7 GS 3.80 ERA 45IP 35H 22R 19ER 18BB 45K Sean Newcomb - 7 IP 0H 0R 0ER 4BB 8K Season - 6 GS 0.00 ERA 39.2IP 14H 1R 0ER 19BB 46K Brady Aiken struck out 10 in 5IP in his start last week.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 08:35 PM) Sox need a collegiate pitcher or hitter who can contribute as early as 2016 for the rebuilding timeline to come into fruition. High school hitters are going to be off the table...especially after what has happened with Hawkins. Hahn's not going to spend Scherzer/Shields/Masterson money for a top of the rotation veteran, so that means draft or trade, and we don't have the pieces right now in our minor league system for that type of move. The Sox need to grab talent in the draft first and foremost. Projecting even a college guy into the lineup in two seasons is a means for disaster. But if you keep acquiring talent, you can go out and deal some of that talent for holes on the ML roster. Lance Broadway was drafted as a collegiate guy that had a high floor and could move through the system quickly, that did not work out. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 11:28 PM) For the same reasons the White Sox drafted Ventura, Thomas, McDowell and Alex Fernandez. If this Jackson kid was/is a legit catching prospect, then I would seriously consider drafting him, because that hit tool would get him to the big leagues faster at that position than any other. HS catchers, legit or not, do not stick at catcher with a bat like Jacksons. Their bat can not move them up as fast because of all the defensive adjustments they have to make in pro ball. Bryce Harper and Wil Myers were hs catchers that had a shot to stick but were moved so that they could advance their bats. I like Jackson as an option as a 3B, but he is probably #7 or 8 on the list. QUOTE (beautox @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 03:15 AM) Seeing how Hahn is running this ship now, I think we'll be fine with regards to Boras. Hahn has dealt with him extensivley and they're not going to "cheap out" If Rodon falls to us at three I'm sure RH will do everything to make sure we land our top 3 pick. A future of Sale Johnson Quintana Danish Rodon looks like a recipe for a 6 year window to compete at the top of the league. I think the Boras issues are between JR and Boras, not between KW and Boras.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 03:30 PM) Yeah, I honestly can't call than a good start for Hoffman when UMBC is 5-11 with a team BA of .245, OBP of .316 and SLG of .318. Facing such subpar competition as that, he has to be better. I wanted Hoffman to start the year, now I want no part of him. I can't trust a guy who puts up mediocre numbers versus mediocre competition regardless of stuff. Really depends on what the source of his issue is. He has been too hittable for someone who is said to have elite stuff, so that does that mean he is tipping pitches, or his stride is off, or he is overthrowing? If scouts think the issue is something that is correctable he is still a worthy selection. I think the Sox like him because he has the most upside of the college guys as Beede and Rodon already seem near their ceilings.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) Yeah I don't understand the logic of not wanting Jimenez at $50M, but wanting to throw $75M or more at Masterson. Maybe a team in contention this summer that needs a pitcher will overpay for Quintana and that will be the way we get another top of the rotation starter. 2015 Sale Shields Danks Johnson Prospect acquired for Q 2016 Sale Shields Prospect acquired for Q Johnson Danks 2017 Sale Prospect acquired for Q Johnson Shields #3 pick 2015 Sale Quintana Johnson Danks Paulino/Beck 2016 Sale Quintana Beck Danks Johnson 2017 Sale Beck Quintana Johnson #3 Pick/Danish

This weeks matchups- Sean Newcomb v Stony Brook 11 am 3/29 - Probably the best competition he will face all year. Carlos Rodon v Miami 5PM ESPN3 Jeff Hoffman v UMBC 1 PM Tyler Beede v #19 Kentucky 5:30pm

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) I think it's #44. Not sure if anything else can happen to change that. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2014/order.jsp Sorry, you're right, I was subtracting the Mariners and Red Sox picks, but it looks like they were already subtracted. So #44 for now until/if Morales and/or Drew sign, which could push it to #46.

What is the rule about draft pick compensation? Does he need to be on the roster at the start of spring training or just by opening day?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) "...can still be a major league regular..." No thanks in the first round, lol. I thought it was interesting that it came from an AL Central scout. He really doesn't seem that different from Courtney Hawkins in terms of tools. The only way the Sox are involved is if he is available at #42.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Mar 27, 2014 -> 07:44 AM) I pray that Gettys is gone by the time the Sox have their second pick. Seems like he could wind up being another Mitchell or Thompson to me. The Sox have plenty of high ceiling athletic outfielders that "just need to put it all together". I'd like to see them take Jakson Reetz in the 2nd. Gettys is likely long gone by the time the Sox pick. Some have compared him to Buxton with an ugly swing. MLB.com has him ranked as the #10 overall prospect. This was interesting though: "It's a bad swing, but I can't just ignore the other talent," an AL Central scout said. "It may only end up a 45 [on the 20-80 scouting scale] hit tool, but when you're above-average to plus everywhere else, I think you can still be a major league regular, in my opinion. It's going to take some time, but his skillset is a special one."

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 27, 2014 -> 04:26 PM) Interesting and exciting they've limited their draft targets at #3 to just five players. Obviously at the point the Sox are picking it goes to down to three players on that list so surprising to me they didn't have a few more. I have to speculate that it's Rodon, Kolek, Hoffman, Beede, and Aiken? It's frustrating they've asked Courtney Hawkins to make all these adjustments while playing in a league way above his head. Hopefully he can get back on track this year. I didn't take it as they limited it to 5, just that they have a top 5.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 03:42 PM) Headley and Sandoval make far less sense than Jimenez in my view. I don't see why you'd want to block Davidson. We need another bat next season as the DH spot will be open. Sandoval could either DH or 1B, Davidson is a considered a marginal defender at 3B and could be a candidate to move to either DH or 1B. I think if you have have Headley, Abreu, and Davidson to fill the three spots in whichever arrangement, the Sox are a better team.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) Lots of changes recently. So here is my updated big board guesses... CHICAGO C Tyler Flowers 1B Jose Abreu 2B Marcus Semien SS Alexei Ramirez 3B Conor Gillaspie OF Dayan Viciedo OF Adam Eaton OF Avisail Garcia DH* Adam Dunn SP Chris Sale SP Jose Quintana SP Erik Johnson SP John Danks SP Felipe Paulino RP Nate Jones RP Matt Lindstrom RP Scott Downs (L) RP Donnie Veal (L) RP Javy Guerra RP Maikel Cleto RP Ronald Belisario Bench Adrian Nieto Bench Leury Garcia Bench Alejandro De Aza Bench Paul Konerko DL Jeff Keppinger DL Gordon Beckham CHARLOTTE C Josh Phegley 1B Andy Wilkins 2B Jaime Pedroza SS Carlos Sanchez 3B Matt Davidson OF Jordan Danks OF Michael Earley OF Blake Tekotte DH* Dan Black SP Andre Rienzo SP Eric Surkamp (L) SP Charlie Leesman (L) SP Stephen McCray SP Dylan Axelrod RP Jake Petricka RP Daniel Webb RP Brian Omogrosso RP David Purcey (L) RP Taylor Thompson RP Frank de los Santos (L) RP Nestor Molina Bench Miguel Gonzalez © Bench Cody Puckett (UTIL) Bench Denis Phipps (OF) Bench Alex Liddi (3B) ***The other AAA guys... Matt Zaleski Scott Carroll Salvador Sanchez Ryan Kussmaul Parker Frazier Tony Pena Jr Evan Crawford (L) Terry Doyle Omar Poveda Mauricio Robles (L) Hector Gimenez © Zach Putnam Deunte Heath BIRMINGHAM C Kevan Smith 1B Rangel Ravelo 2B Micah Johnson SS Tyler Saladino 3B Chris Curley OF Keenyn Walker OF Jared Mitchell OF Trayce Thompson DH* Mark Haddow SP Chris Bassitt SP Myles Jaye SP Scott Snodgress (L) SP Chris Beck SP Jake Cose RP Cody Winiarski RP JB Wendelken RP Sean Bierman (L) RP Jarrett Casey (L) RP Nick McCully RP Bryan Blough RP Kevin Vance Bench Mike Blanke © Bench Eric Patterson (INF) Bench Jeremy Farrell (UTIL) Bench Christian Marrero (OF) ***The other AA guys... Luis Sierra (UTIL) Grant Buckner (OF) Jake Floethe David Cales David Putman WINSTON-SALEM C Mike Marjama 1B Keon Barnum 2B Joey DeMichele SS Tim Anderson 3B Dan Wagner OF Courtney Hawkins OF Jacob May OF Jason Coats DH* Adam Heisler SP Jefferson Olacio (L) SP Tony Bucciferro SP Kyle Hansen SP Braulio Ortiz SP Mike Recchia RP Frank Montas RP Brandon Hardin RP Terance Marin RP Euclides Leyer RP Storm Throne RP Andre Wheeler (L) RP Zach Isler Bench Omar Narvaez © Bench Ben Kline (UTIL) Bench Michael Johnson (INF) Bench Joe DePinto (OF) ***The other A+ guys... Martin Medina © Kale Kiser (OF) Jeremy Dowdy © KANNAPOLIS C Trey Wimmer 1B Danny Hayes 2B Tyler Shryock SS Cleuluis Rondon 3B Christian Stringer OF Adam Engel OF Jacob Morris OF Juan Ramirez DH* Zach Fisher SP Brandon Brennan SP Tyler Danish SP Chris Freudenberg (L) SP Brad Goldberg SP Andrew Mitchell RP Matt Ball RP Jacob Sanchez RP Matt Abramson RP Jose Bautista (L) RP Alex Powers RP Joey Wagman RP Anthony Santiago Bench Dillon Haupt © Bench Josh Richmond (OF) Bench Justin Jirschele (UTIL) Bench Jean Almanzar (INF) ***The other A guys... Yoandy Barroso Zach Voight (3B) Hunter Jones (OF) Grant Monroe Dylan Chavez (L) Drew Bowen Jordan Guerrero (L) Jamie Patterson ROOKIE/EXTENDED/DL/SUSP Sammy Ayala Patrick Palmeiro Toby Thomas Trey Michalczewski Nolan Earley Dane Opel Thurman Hall Corey Thompson Thaddius Lowry Jose Brito Tyler Barnette James Dykstra Sean Hagan (L) Eric Jaffe Charlie Sharrer Devin Moore Jon Bengard Brad Salgado Zach Stoner © Carl Thomore Cody Yount Jose Barraza © Sam Macias Antonio Rodriguez Micker Adolfo Michael Carballo Carlos Diaz (L) Angel Rosario © Audry Santana (INF) Tyler Williams (EXT) Adam Lopez (DL) Jeff McKenzie (EXT) Nick Blount (SUSP) Henry Mabee (DL) Is Montas in the bullpen now?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) There are no comparable players to Abreau, but that doesn't mean he is without risk or even less risky than the pitchers above. Jimenez went for ~30% less. If he busts it's less of a problem than if Abreau does and isn't that what anti-spending guys are preaching. Save Chairman Reinsdorf's money! Jimenez AAV=$12.5M, Abreu AAV=$11.3M. Jimenez is also four years older, does not have a very good track record, and costs a prospect. Yes Abreu gets more money as his deal if for two more years, yes there is risk, but if he performs in the mid range of expectations he will outperform his contract. Mike Napoli just signed a contract for $16M/year as a 32yo with power numbers near where Abreu is projected to hit this year with a .259 average. At no point does Abreu's contract reach that amount of money but is production is expected to be at least on par. I definitely am not anti-spending, just anti-stupid spending. Jimenez, Santana, are not worth what they are getting paid. They are not difference makers. I am all for spending on the right guy, there just aren't many of them out there. Next off-season Chase Headley and Pablo Sandoval will be a targets of interest as guys that can bring balance and stability the the lineup, other than that there isn't much coming up that will make sense.

Low risk/high reward move. Great job.

Nation High School Invitation Tournament starts today, here are some notes: Potential (unlikely) second target Touki Toussaint - Touissant's first 13 pitches all fastballs 93-94. Three up three down. Did break out his bball to the third batter.; out after 6+IP at #NHSI14; 1H, 5BB, 12K, 116 pitches. 92-94 early; 89-92 late; Touki allows first hit in 6th, sitting 90-91 in 6th and working in improved mid 80s CH. Made 2 athletic defensive plays Likely first rounder Dylan Cease out with elbow soreness. Jacob Gatewoods team in action, he has a single so far. Expected first rounders OF Braxton Davidson, OF Michael Gettys, and LHP Foster Griffin are also there. Gettys is interesting. He is a toolbox, though with terrible swing mechanics and has been reported to have one of the strongest arms some scouts have seen. Probably snatched up by the time the Sox pick at 42, but fits the profile of the athletes the Sox have pursued in the past.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 01:07 PM) Why not operate on the idea that this is the core because there are few tradeable assets left to add to it. If the core isn't any good, a mid-tier starter's contract is the least of their worries. Because there is no evidence to support this idea. The window for this team to compete is through 2019, and the window is more likely 2016-2019. There is no reason to clog up the ML roster with re-treads when we don't even really know where the gaps are yet. Mid-tier starters are getting paid more than Adam Dunn, and his contract is the scourge of Soxtalk.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) If he had signed somewhere else for $68.5M you know this board would be more than ok with it. $13M a year for a 27 y.o. 1B goes against a lot of what I've seen written on this board about how to best allocate financial resources. Not exactly. Abreu is making less than Dunn on an AAV as even with his signing bonus he is making just over $11M/season. Hes also a rare sub-27 FA, meaning the Sox have him signed through what will likely be the prime of this career. Abreu is not a band-aid as some have suggested we pursue in FA, he is a building block. Tanaka would have been the same way. Ubaldo Jimenez is not worth more money than a potential all star 1B to a team where he would be the 3-5 best option in addition to the long term damage to the teams core by sacrificing a first round level pick (right now #42 overall). Many free agents now are post-prime band-aids, and while they can be useful in the right situation, they are not useful in building a team that will contend over the long term.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 26, 2014 -> 11:07 AM) Isn't the best time to spend money when the team has a young core. Yes it is, but this team does not have that yet. There are a bunch of prospects that may or may not pan out, if they don't spending money now is a waste and potentially ties your hands when you actually have that core developed. The team needs to see if this group of players can develop into the core of a winning team, if not you put off the spending until that core is built.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 06:29 PM) It's like the college basketball Top 25. The in-season oscillations don't matter. In the end, it's how you pitch in events like the College World Series, just like Kentucky is playing now. In the end, the best talent usually shows up when it counts, the cream rises to the crop. Regular season games are ONE indicator, but far from the most accurate indicator or barometer. As far as Rodon's signability, Hahn is familiar enough with how Boras operates to properly gauge if pursuing him is worthwhile. With the timeframe in place, the last thing the White Sox can afford is to be pushed back one year from having the best arm available to them as soon as possible to plug into that rotation and make it playoff caliber. The CWS begins a week after the draft. The draft will be held between regionals and super regionals.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 05:41 PM) People are putting WAY to much stock into early season statistics. It is almost mid-season now. We are six weeks in with 10 to go until the draft. Rodon's stock has definitely taken a hit, mostly due to control issues. He is striking out a lot of guys but throwing a tremendous amount of pitches to get it done. In his last start he threw 116 pitches in 4.2IP. From an NL scout on ESPN "This is now four or five starts in a row where he's had a 55 [on the 20-80 scout scale] fastball, plus-plus slider and reliever command. I know it's only March, but if you're going to be the No. 1 pick, don't you want to see some semblance of consistency?" Rodon is no longer the far and away number one, he has come back the pack. He still may be #1 overall, but it is a conversation now and not a foregone conclusion as it was going into the season.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 09:02 PM) You act like the Sox are a small market team. We've been over this, but there are no laws limiting revenue. The Sox are not a small market team, but they do not have the revenue of a big market team like the LA teams, the Yankees, Red Sox, or even the Cubs. As a non-Chicagoan, I can not comment as to what the draw the team on the north side of the city has compared to the Sox but to deny there is a difference in the revenue created through licensing, TV deals, and tickets is ignoring reality. Really the best way for the club to increase revenue is to move from the south side of Chicago to a market that they could own, short of that I feel they are doing everything possible to create revenue. If the Sox are making more than they are shelling out, that is a good thing. They have future obligations, like deferred payments to PK, that can be funded now and not have an effect on payroll in the future when the Sox are in their next window of contention. Spending money just cause its there without a real plan is what the Cubs did for the last 30 years, that is not a model for success.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 04:53 PM) Sure - Nieto has 100 more games under his belt, and more time beyond that in camps even when he wasn't on a roster. He's had more development time and made less ground. I agree by the way, neither are likely to be major league starters. Comparing games is an apples and oranges comparison though since Smith was drafted out of college and Nieto out of high school. Smith played 142 games in college in the same period of time, so he really has more game experience under his belt. You can say that his development was curbed by playing football, but he hasn't had the track record of interruptions that Nieto has. In six years of pro ball, Nieto has one full season played, Smith already has two in his first two years.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 04:14 PM) I want to point this out too - Smith has only 3, or really 2.5, years in the minors to get to what he did last year. Nieto took 6, or really more like 4.5 or 5 with missed time, to get to that level and put up slightly lesser numbers offensively and defensively. Challenging a player level-wise, like they are doing with Nieto in a big way, requires the ability to adapt quickly. Smith has shown better performance at doing that than Nieto has - so far. But thats part of the difference as well. Smith is a year older and has had a consistent development timeline. Nieto's development was interrupted by a variety of hiccups that slowed his development. Nieto played his first full season last season after being drafted in 2008, Smith was a college player and has two full seasons since being drafted. Odds are neither are going to make it given their profiles.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) Agreed. This team could go all 2012 Oakland A's or they could crash and lose 95-100 games again. I have no idea what to expect. The closer we get to the season, the less confident I am in the team. I started the spring thinking 81-81, but as reality sets in, there are just too many question marks breaking in 3 new full time starters and probably seeing a mid season sell off that gets three more rookies in the lineup. I see a lot of growing pains this season, the future is bright, but it is not the future yet.