BearSox

QUOTE (DBAH0 @ May 26, 2008 -> 03:19 PM) There's basically a set top 9 in my mind right now. The 2 Beckham's, Crow, Alvarez, Smoak, Alonso, Posey, Skipworth and Matusz. Hosmer would make it a top 10 on talent, but who is going to pay $7M for a high school first baseman? I certainly don't see the Sox picking him, but maybe a team like the O's would. So I will be annoyed if we end up picking Tim Melville or Brett Wallace, who we have been linked with a bit. I would love to get either Posey or Skipworth, but I think both will be off the board before we pick. So I'm actually going against the trend, and I'll say we'll pick Brian Matusz if he's still on the board. He's got 3 good pitches, and although his fastball is only in the 87-92 range (although it'll get to 94 on occasions), it's his secondary stuff which has scouts excited. Danks I certainly can't see lasting until the 3rd round, he's a 2nd round talent IMHO. From all indications, if Alvarez is gone by 3, the Royals no. 2 option is Hosmer, and I could see them willing to shell out 7 million on him.

Because of this, I have now changed my default search engine to yahoo. I know it won't do anything in the wide spectrum of things, but I cannot use a product that refuses to recognize the great servicemen of our country, but will celebrate St. Patrick's Day and even commercial holidays such as Valentine's Day.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 26, 2008 -> 01:07 PM) I drown my sirloin steaks in A1. Love that stuff. I could drink it straight from the bottle. I know the original purpose of A-1 was to make dry rough steaks taste better, but it is so good I can't resist pouring cups of it on my steaks, good or bad. A-1 makes anything taste good, and makes things that taste good even better.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 26, 2008 -> 12:39 PM) You better be wearing a flag lapel pin today. I don't think any average joe is wearing a flag pin today, but my family sure as hell put up our flag in memory of the great service men in our great country's history. If it wasn't for these people, we wouldn't even be having this discussion right now.

Here's a good link to player scouting reports: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/ev...y2008/index.jsp

Do we get A-1 sauce with this steak? Also, who is this Chris guy I've heard so much about?

If we are out of contention by the all-star break (around 10 games under or something), than you trade Contreras and Crede for whatever you can get for them. However, if we are still in first or around first, you have to hang on to those guys.

Like fathom has said several times before, lets pray we don't sign him to an extension, and also lets pray that his play isn't so bad this season that he doesn't lose type A free agent status. As for possible replacements, I'm looking at Rafael Furcal. It'd cost a pretty penny, but he'd be a good leadoff hitter (I'd expect around .285/.350/.415 out of him with the ability to steal upwards to 30-40 bases, which isn't great, but it's better than what we've had for the past 2-3 years).

There's no question in my mind, if Smoak is there at 8, he should/will be the pick. I am thinking right now that the most of this Beckham/Wallace talk right now is because people are projecting Smoak to be gone by 8, which is a good possibility. Wallace will undoubtedly be there at 8, so perhaps we are sending our scouts to scout players we know we can get, and if one of the better prospects like Smoak or Skipworth fall, they'd be the pick. At least I hope that's the case. I like Wallace, but picking him over someone like Smoak or Skipworth would be horrible, IMO.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ May 25, 2008 -> 05:32 PM) Well, the MSM is in 100% 'if you don't vote for Obama you are a racist' mode lol I think the Dems have found their way to lose an election that was bascially impossible to lose. They are going insane on the Sunday morning shows Obama was compared to Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt. McCain? Well he would be the worst president in History, according to MSM news media atleast. There is no way this stuff going to work. Even with Obama's free media (mainstream news media basically being a free 24/7 political ad for him) I think people will see past this blatantly false propaganda. Eh, or maybe not. I guess the general public can be dumb as hell sometimes. If I've learned one thing over my short life so far, it's that people are stupid.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/vide...200805242765643 If that's being lucky, I don't know what being good is. How can anyone not love that swing is beyond me. He just flat out drove that ball.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 25, 2008 -> 09:52 PM) Seriously, what's so funny about it? Batting average on balls in play is just that...if there is a play made on a ball, it counts towards this. Homers and strikeouts don't count. Line drive percentage is exactly that...the number of balls that are judged to be line drives, rather than ground outs or fly outs. If you are hitting a fair amount of line drives, you're making pretty good contact with the ball and should be getting a few base hits...if you aren't, you are flying out or grounding out, which are, more often than line drives, going to be outs. It's fundamental baseball understanding, and I agree with everything Kevin has stated in this thread. What if you're hitting hard grounders up the middle? Or how about a fly ball of the fence for a double. Who actually decides if a ball hit is a linedrive or not?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 25, 2008 -> 06:10 PM) I won't comment too much on the mock, simply because the reality is it is a total crapshoot so its kind of a best effort. Gerrit Cole to the Yanks is an interesting pick, considering Cole has an absolutely brilliant arm (top 5 type of arm). The problem is his mechanics are questionable and there are a lot of experts already scheduling his first arm operation. One thing I want to comment is a name I really like, Brandon Crawford. This guy entered the season as one of the premiere collegiate players in the country (SS, UCLA) and he along with his Bruins had a down season but he has legitimate tools across the board (he has a lot of offensive tools, atlhough he still has to put everything together offensively) and could be an impact type of SS. If the Sox do pass on Beckham in the 1st round, than getting a SS like Crawford in the 3rd would be a major coup. I do want to point out that I tend to disagree on your assessment of Danks. I think he is a much more pure hitter than you give him credit for (I've watched about 10 or so Texas games on TV this year and he has a very smooth swing, but I think he's the type of player that should garnish a decent amount of power (not 30Hr power, but 15-25 Hr's isn't out of the question). Definately think he has the ability to be a very very solid OFer. I agree with the assessment that Danks is a very good pure, natural hitter. The problem though is that he hasn't quite been able to put it together. And yeah, outside of the first 10-15 picks in the draft, it's pulling names out of a hat and matching them with the team.

Here is my 1st round mock draft as of May 25th. 01. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Tim Beckham, HS-Georgia 02. Pittsburgh Pirates: 3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt 03. Kansas City Royals: 1B Eric Hosmer, HS-Florida 04. Baltimore Orioles: LHSP Brian Matusz, San Diego 05. San Francisco Giants: C Buster Posey, Florida St. 06. Florida Marlins: C Kyle Skipworth, HS-California 07. Cincinnati Reds: RHSP Aaron Crow, Missouri 08. Chicago White Sox: 1B Justin Smoak, South Carolina 09. Washington Nationals: MI Gordon Beckham, Georgia 10. Houston Astros: RHSP Shooter Hunt, Tulane 11. Texas Rangers: 1B/3B Brett Wallace, Arizona St. 12. Oakland Athletics: 1B Yonder Alonso, Miami 13. St. Louis Cardinals: RHSP Tim Melville, HS-Missouri 14. Minnesota Twins: LHSP Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky 15. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP/3B Ethan Martin, HS-Georgia 16. Milwaukee Brewers: RHCL Josh Fields, Georgia 17. Toronto Blue Jays: C/3B Brett Lawre, HS-Canada 18. New York Mets: OF Zach Collier, HS-California 19. Chicago Cubs: SS/RHP Casey Kelly, HS-Florida 20. Seattle Mariners: OF Aaron Hicks, HS-California 21. Detroit Tigers: CL Andrew Cashner, Texas Christian University 22. New York Mets: C Jason Castro, Stanford 23. San Diego Padres: OF/1B Ike Davis, Arizona St. 24. Philadelphia Phillies: SS/OF Anthony Hewitt, HS-Conneticut 25. Colorado Rockies: RHSP Jake Odorizzi, HS-Illinois 26. Arizona Diamondbacks: 2B/OF Jemile Weeks, Miami 27. Minnesota Twins: 3B Conor Gillaspie, Wichita St. 28. New York Yankees: RHSP Gerrit Cole, HS-California 29. Cleveland Indians: RHSP/CL Ryan Perry, Arizona 30. Boston Red Sox: SS/3B Reese Havens, South Carolina

I figure that there will be an official draft thread posted in the SoxTalk forum come draft time (less than two weeks away!), but I figured to make a thread where we can talk about rumors and such, and express our opinions about draft until then. We have the thread/poll, but that seems limited to just our first round pick and perhaps potential picks afterwards. I thought I would expand the horizon and open up the discussion not only for the White Sox, but the whole draft in general as well. Due to the fact we signed Scott Linebrink (type A free agent) and did not lose any significant free agents, we have lost our 2nd round pick to the Brewers. That gives us just two picks in the top 100. If my math is correct, that means our 1st round is at number 8 (well duh), and our 3rd rounder is at pick number 86. After doing some more math, I figured out our 4th round pick is at pick number 121. After that, it gets easy to find out which number we pick at though, since all compensation picks are taken care of. So our first ten picks look something like: 1st round - no. 8 2nd round - n/a 3rd round - no. 86 4th round - no. 121 5th round - no. 151 6th round - no. 181 7th round - no. 211 8th round - no. 241 9th round - no. 271 10th round - no. 301 11th round - no. 331 As far as projecting picks goes, things get realyl hazy past the first round, extremely hazy after the first 100, and almost impossible after the first 200. However, being the crazy SOB I am, I am willing to try and project our first 6 picks. If I was the scouting director, this year I would look at college positional prospects mainly, you are true baseball players. Players that know how to play the game, and play it right. While pitching is still a need within the orginization, I feel we need to address hitting primarily (as evident by our low .200's batting average collectively in all of the minors). ________________________________________________________________________ 1st Round (pick no. 8): I'd forget about Tim Beckham, Alvarez, Posey, Matusz, Hosmer, and Skipworth right from the beginning. Hosmer is off the list as I see no justification in paying some player coming out of high school who's never played in the MLB 7 million dollars. But if either of the other 5 dropped to 8, I'd glady take them. That leaves Crow, Smoak, Gordon Beckham, and Wallace. As of now, it looks like Cincy wants more pitching, so for the sake of it, we'll make Crow the pick at no. 7. Now, that leaves Smoak, Gordon Beckham, and Wallace as the only players I see worth no. 8. You gotta go with the switch-hitting 40 home run threat 1st baseman here. He's got a pretty swing from both sides, and is argueably the best hitter in this draft. PICK: 1B Justin Smoak, South Carolina 3rd Round (pick no. 86): Like I said previously, I'd focus on smart college positional players who have a feel for the game. Now, this area gets hazy for projecting picks, so the players I am mentioning, I am just guessing that they'll be here. Some possible selections I see here are: Jordan Danks, Brandon Crawford, James Darnell, Chris Carpenter, Brad Hand, and Jake Jefferies. Crawford has a lot of potential, but too many question marks. Darnell, probably won't be there. A pitcher is a thought, but Carpenter has injury problems and Hand is more of a thrower right now. While a catcher like Jefferies would be nice, I'll go with the guy the White Sox have had connections with in the past, even before John Danks, Jordan Danks. He can play all three outfield positions with plus D, and he comes from a good baseball backround. He also provides plus speed, and perhaps a possible leadoff hitter in the futre. However, he still needs development with the bat. PICK: OF Jordan Danks, Texas 4th Round (pick no. 121): If things weren't hazy before, they've gotten really hazy now. It's almost impossible to project who will be here due to the fact that every team and scouting director have differing opinions. But since I verged into this territory, I'll project that Danny Espinosa is here. His bat lags behind his glove at short, but he comes from UC Irvine, and knows how the play the game. He's a switch hitter with line drive power as well. I believe he is the type of player that we have been lacking in our system, and he fits perfectly in what I said I am looking for. PICK: SS Danny Espinosa, UC Irvine 5th Round (pick no. 151): I'm getting tired of typing here, and I am pulling names out of a hat it seems like now. A guy that I like who might be here is Ryan Lavarnway out of Yale. He knows how to hit and put up ridiculous numbers at Yale, but then again, he doesn't face elite competition. However, he's worth the risk as he can catch, but is raw defensively. If catching does not work for him, he can play the outfield as well. PICK: C/OF Ryan Lavarnway, Yale 6th Round (pick no. 181): Okay, I'm still looking for bats. Here, I'll take Xavier Scuggs, who has immense power potential, but is a bit of a free swinger. He's worth the risk. PICK: OF/1B Xavier Scruggs, UNLV 7th Round (pick no. 211): Still pulling names out of a hat here. Catcher is still a need within the organization, so I'll go with Ryan Babineau here. He's looks to be your prototypical backup/platoon type catcher, as he won't hit for average, but he can pop out about 10 and provide excellent D while he does it. PICK: C Ryan Babineau, UCLA ________________________________________________________________________ Another later round pick guy I kind of like is Tyler Webber, the catcher from Wichita St. Turns out he is a big White Sox fan, and he is one of the best defensive catchers in college.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 25, 2008 -> 05:51 PM) I will clear things up in a short summation. While we are not 100% on the information posted, we did perform some follow-up confirmations (those follow-ups indicated that the information appeared to be legit). However, we are not in the business of ruining peoples careers and the material posted was such that could ruin someones career. As such, we pulled it from the site. The only two people mentioned were Reiger and Wilder, right? If so, it's looking like they ruined their own careers (Reiger is still uncomfirmed I believe).

There's no doubt Wallace is as good as a pure hitter as anyone in this draft, but if Smoak is there at 8, you take him. A switch hitter with 40 homerun potential doesn't grow on trees. Skipworth ain't dropping below the Marlins though, so I'll just scratch him off the list, and there's a good chance Smoak will be gone by 8 as well. However, if Skipworth, Smoak, and Crow are gone by 8 (T-Beckham, Alvarez, Posey, Matusz are going to be long gone by 8 and we aren't going pay Hosmer who will probably be picked by the Royals anyway, so might as well leave them off the list), I have no problem with Wallace. I'm not high on Beckham like everyone else, but I'd be okay with such a pick. My main gripe about Beckham is the unlikely hood of him staying at SS, and inevitable move to 2B, a position where we already have quite of a few interesting guys (Richar, Getz, and perhaps Ramirez and Shelby). As for the 3rd round, it looks like there is a possibility Jordan Danks will be there, and I'd gladly take him in the 3rd. We'd likely have to pony up 1st round money to sign him though.

QUOTE (knightni @ May 25, 2008 -> 04:00 PM) It was speculation. We never got confirmation, so we deleted it. I still don't see the point of deleting. Most of the stuff we talk about anyway, like trades and such is speculation.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 25, 2008 -> 12:24 PM) According to an A's fan I know, DLS is on the DL and scheduled for TJ surgery. Also these notes from Rotowire about Gio... Sat. May 24, 2008 News: Gio Gonzalez gave up 10 hits and two walks over 3.2 innings on Friday for Triple-A Sacramento. Impact: Gonzalez's walk rate has been around 3.7 per nine innings. This year, it is 4.9, which is just too darn high: it's throwing off all of the rest of his game. The A's may need to Volquez him -- send him all the way down to High-A -- in order to exorcise the walk demons. (RotoWire ) Fri. May 9, 2008 Gonzalez thus continues his disappointing year. This kind of mediocrity is not needed in Oakland at the moment with the A's near the top of their division, so the ways in which Gonzalez sees significant major league innings this year are: 1) he starts to pitch considerably better than he has and regains some semblance of his old self; 2) a couple of key injuries occur in Oakland; 3) the A's drop out of contention. He may need to scrap the year and start working on whatever he needs to work on to get back on track. ------------------------------------------- Feel any better about Swisher now? While Gonzalez and DLS have had their problems this year, there is no doubting the talent and potential they possess. Gio has always been overhyped, but I think he can make for a good 3-4 starter, and DLS has the stuff to be at least a good reliever. It's silly to write them off because of trouble adjusting so far.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 24, 2008 -> 11:06 PM) Torii Hunter would look good on our team right now considering when Swish swings the air goes 'swish' at the plate. I remember I was one of the biggest opponents to the idea of signing Hunter, but I'd gladly take Hunter, Sweeney, DLS, and Gio over just Swish.

QUOTE (29andPoplar @ May 25, 2008 -> 10:29 AM) Shouldn't have anything to do with it, as it's his left shoulder that was surgically repaired and he throws right handed. oh, okay, that makes me feel a bit relieved. Perhaps he just had some tightness in his throwing arm, because those two throws he made yesterday were pitiful.

QUOTE (29andPoplar @ May 25, 2008 -> 10:29 AM) Shouldn't have anything to do with it, as it's his left shoulder that was surgically repaired and he throws right handed. oh, okay, that makes me feel a bit relieved. Perhaps he just had some tightness in his throwing arm, because those two throws he made yesterday were pitiful.

Like I've said a few times already, Retherford might never be anything special, but he could become a valuable bench player.

I'm still not buying this Contreras, and think this is just a mere aberration. But if we are still competing, Contreras ain't going anywhere.

I hope there is nothing wrong with CQ's shoulder, because he made two terrible throws yesterday.