caulfield12

The makings of another thread....who is most likely to still be around in 2014. Or who you'd most want to keep or not sell "low" on quite yet. Sale, Danks, Quintana or Santiago, Axelrod, Erik Johnson, Phegley, Gillaspie, Beckham, Viciedo, Reed and Jones. Maybe Carlos Sanchez if he can kick up his OPS to the 675-725 region for the 2nd half of his Charlotte season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 03:39 PM) Pujols went through the normal US draft (and fell a lot because people thought he was too big) Maple Woods wasn't exactly a junior college powerhouse. The amazing thing is that Royals missed him in their own backyard, to their cross-state rivals. That, and that someone in the Rays organization overruled one of their regional scouts who was sky-high on him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 06:11 PM) They'll have a very good, very deep pitching staff and at least $30 million to spend just to get back to this years payroll (not counting the extra national tv money). They can readily e competitive if they can figure out how the f*** to catch the ball. What is the solution to that, getting rid of DeAza, Viciedo, Keppinger, Flowers, Gimenez and Alexei? If they're going to clean house, they better find a good defensive 1B so that Dunn doesn't have to play there next year. And I guess we have to be resigned to Rios going, because he's the second most valuable entity (or first, depending on the team), along with Crain and the huge question mark wrapped in an enigma known as Jake Peavy's future.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 05:44 PM) Ravelo having a nice year. He'd rank 7th in OPS in the Carolina League if he qualified, despite only having 1 HR on the season. It's too bad he's at 1B now. As a 21 year old 3B those numbers would look pretty damn good. Ravelo can't be considered a legit 1B prospect unless he can hit a minimum of 15 homers. MINIMUM.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 05:04 PM) I still disagree with this wholeheartedly. The only reason why we'd willingly be out of it in April of next year is if we got great offers for guys like Reed, Rios, and Alexei. If teams surprise me an overpay for a number of our guys, it'll be worth it to punt on next season because we'll come away fat and happy and overloaded with talent. If, instead, we receive fair offers for guys or even low offers for guys, we take the best offers for guys we have to move like Crain, Thornton, and (IMO) Peavy. After that, we wind up in a position where this team has money to spend in the offseason, a loaded starting rotation, a deep bullpen in need of 1 or 2 extra arms. Basically, we have to find a way to turn $30 million or so into an upgraded offense in the offseason in order to be competitive (and get the team's head reattached on defense). IF teams give us fair offers for players, it makes sense to shoot for the division next year once again. If bullpen "depth" means just Reed and Jones, that's pretty scary. Even with 1-2 extra arms.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 02:21 PM) The best part is how far he has to come before the signing is even a break even deal. People forget about the money spent when these guys come up as a prospect. He has to do SO MUCH before he starts to chip away at the huge investment. Think about a guy like Yu Darvish, who has such a long road to earning the money spent on him (much of which he didn't even get) Some people were arguing Chris Sale could/would be worth nearly $30 million JUST in this one year... So I don't think it's going to be difficult for Puig to earn $42 million. Isn't that less the Cubs spent on Fukudome?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 02:30 PM) Since October 3, Dan Johnson leads the majors in OPS with a staggering 3.000 And yet the White Sox, in their staggering wisdom, let him go. Unprecedented.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 02:01 PM) 1.8 WAR in just 90 PA. I'll say it again. My favorite all-time player is Roberto Clemente...and Puig's the closest I've seen in my lifetime, although he's quite a bit bigger and will hit more homers than triples. Same position. Nobody has Clemente's arm, but he's got a gun. In my lifetime, Sammy Sosa, in his first 2-3 years in the big leagues, before the steroids when he was THE PANTHER, and Vladimir Guerrero (never had the Clemente speed/dynamic athleticism) are the two most reminiscent. Eric Davis, a little bit, when he first came up with Reds in 1984-85. Puig is the one that comes closest.

Micker Zapata, of, Dominican Republic: Zapata, a right-handed hitter who trains with Moreno Tejada and also works out at La Academia, might have the most raw power among players in this year’s July 2 class. He’s physically imposing at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and is relatively athletic for his size, with average speed that should slow down and the arm strength for right field. Zapata has a pull-oriented approach and can put on a performance in batting practice, but his power is going to come with a high strikeout rate. The White Sox and Padres, two teams whose top scouts have a history of being aggressive for power bats in Latin America, have been connected to Zapata. I didn't know we had ANY reputation in Latin America, Ben Badler. Sounds like he will fit in perfectly. Our own version of Soler. The pattern's emerging.....Hawkins, Barnum, Zapata, they absolutely know they have to find some middle of the order hitters to replenish the major league roster eventually.

Poke single up the middle. Solid defense. If Rosenberg kept the error on the board on the 3rd run scoring (ball went off the end of the glove/web), he should have been fired on the spot.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 12:51 PM) This is what I think also. His contract will just become harder to move, and you have to think that by now he is what he is offensively. We should try to land a young SS if we can. Marty34 argued this for months and months...

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 12:37 PM) http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06...te-andre-rienzo Nice. Who was the last of our guys to play? Carlos Sanchez, last year.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 12:34 PM) Dan Johnson is the best hitter in the major leagues based on my opinion of him in game 162 from last year Fine, we'll revisit this thread at the end of 2014 and see if I'm right. I think I will be...although I believe Ethier will be dumped, with the final alignment Crawford in LF, Kemp in CF and Puig in RF eventually. So I'll state that he will be the best LF or RF in baseball at the end of the 2014...I already embrace it, but you're welcome to your healthy skepticism.

Recollections of Big Country, Bobby Jenks and Braveheart/William Wallace. lol. Good stuff.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 11:10 AM) Sure, and considering how similar Soptic and Phegley are as prospects it's basically just syllogism right? Phegley - 25 yo, 5th year, college draftee, unique injury history, catcher, late success, MLB ready. Soptic - 22 yo, 3rd year, HS draftee, no injury history, big arm, minimal statistical success, ways off. So why was Soptic mentioned again? Why do they have to have similar values? Nobody thought that Jeff Soptic was going to be able to fetch 2/3rd's of an effective starter at 3B. He was on the fringe of being a Top 10 prospect in the Sox system, similarly to Phegley earlier in his career and now again. Every prospect has X/Y/Z value to other teams. Phegley's is pretty minimal...which is why "hiding/protecting" him doesn't make sense for trade purposes....only if he's having health issues again. The ONLY way he really has any trade value is if he produces at the major league level. Otherwise, he's more of a throw-in. But that doesn't mean he would get nothing at all back in return for the Sox.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 10:10 AM) Ok, you've singlehandedly managed to make me hate this kid. Congrats. I wasn't talking about overall, just defensive tools/skill-set.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 09:30 AM) IMO the trade winds forum only makes sense when the team is in contention/worth watching, because then it separates your general team talk from trade rumors. HOwever during this kind of season there is no reason, because new players (whether potential trade acquisitions, signings, call-ups, etc.) are the only interesting part anyway. Good point. This time last year, we already had Youkilis if I remember correctly...but that was cause by Valentine and Middlebrooks, a unique confluence of circumstances.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 10:15 AM) So he is the best LF in baseball, even though he has only played one game in LF, and the rest of his games were in RF. DEFENSIVELY, yes. Although it's very close with Trout playing there now for the Angels. If Bourjos is playing in LF (he should be in CF), then I would be happy to give it to him, although he lacks Puig's arm strength, he's a superior defender overall.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 08:47 AM) Its either that or they are trying to hide him from being exposed. Can he really legitimately bring back anything of value or return in trade? Well...I guess it worked with Soptic, so who knows.

When Courtney Hawkins is sent back to rookie ball.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 04:27 AM) If Hahn can find a team willing to take on $1 - $2 million this year and $5 - 6 million next year, I hope he doesn't hesitate to dump Dunn's contract. I guess. But if Rios, Dunn and Konerko are all gone....and Viciedo struggling mightily, who will actually hit (and hit with power) for us next year? Gordon Beckham? Gillaspie/Keppinger at 3B? Almost every position could be replaced on the field, including DeAza, Ramirez and especially catcher.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 12:58 AM) Every time I look at box scores these days, it kills me. All off season I was hoping/wanting/calling for the Sox to swing deals for Alvarez and Dominic Brown. If you believe the reports, Brown was in the doghouse and could have been had for very little as Philly had about given up on him. Alvarez also had his issues in Pittsburgh but I'm not all sure he was made available. I'm sure he could have been had though. Both of them are having very nice years and now the cost to acquire them would be prohibitive. Those two are also good examples of why I think, even though they have struggled, it's still way too early to write off Viciedo or even Flowers. Yeah, I was watching the highlights today and forgot to include Brown. There's four, Davis/Alvarez/Brown/Gordon, although those last three guys were all pedigreed, with high first round draft status. Davis came from the 3rd to last pick of the 5th round. And it's why getting Hosmer and Moustakas from a division rival is just never going to happen...it would be the final nail in Dayton Moore's coffin if either one of those guys emerged as studs later on and came back to haunt KC. As far as giving up on Beckham or Viciedo, yeah, they pretty much have no choice but to stick it out with them for another year. Things would appear to be more "fluid" with Tyler's fate.

3/4, mostly off Lincecum, .435 Dodgers are getting hot now with Kemp back. The only reason I said "best left fielder in baseball" was not about his overall ability, but simply the fact that fielding-wise, and arm strength, I can't think of anyone who has a better set of tools. (And it was the first game he played in LF, after starting all those games in RF with Crawford and Kemp out). That's it. And 5 of his 7 homers have been to the opposite field. That's very impressive.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 09:21 PM) I love Stone but that guy has his own quite large ego as well. He just defers to Hawk because Hawk is the mainstay, and he is just (more or less) passing through and making some money. Bochy makes $800K per year. Anyone have any idea how much Harrelson makes? Over a million? Probably, Stone's making somewhere in the vicinity of $650-750,000. He's a smart guy, and sometimes a little too egotistical, but his business ventures have down well, and his other investments, and he's probably got a net worth higher than 95% of the players who came of age in the 80's and 90's and retired, despite the huge disparity in salaries.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 06:49 PM) Au contraire. We did miss a beat in the SP Dept. Hudson went on an immediate hot streak, Jackson did the opposite. And we threw in Holmgren for good measure. I also feel we should no longer lament the trade, but not because of what you said. Same reason there's not much point in lamenting Santos for Molina. We dodged another bullet, not being stuck with more bad exploding contracts.