caulfield12

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 06:19 PM) Erik Johnson? LOL, what? Also, without reading any comments, I picked Jesse Crain immediately. Glad to see everyone else agrees. Didn't want to argue with anyone if I included Phegley, Santiago, Quintana or Reed, lol.

QUOTE (Noonskadoodle @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 06:17 PM) Yea probably right. Although Sale facing the NL night in & night out...... :o See Francisco Liriano with a 1.70 ERA right now.

And, for those only wanting to trade Peavy/Crain/Thornton/Lindstrom....and compete next year. 1B Adam Lind, Morales, Carlos Pena 2B Utley OF Granderson/Ethier/BJ Upton (no way we touch those 2 contracts with a ten foot pole without 75% subsidy included) C McCann

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 05:43 PM) First three guys hit safely against Zimmer -- and then Hawkins delivers a two-run double. Five hits and five runs. Zimmer leaves after 2/3. Poor Royals. Bubba Starling hasn't been lighting the world on fire, either. Plus, Wil Myers has been on a tear.

Jimenez is still afraid to challenge hitters with his missing fastball. He walked Cabrera (RBI 67) for the third run, Swisher made a big error but Jimenez threw about 40 pitches and added 3 walks. Weird year for Ubaldo....7 quality starts with an ERA in the mid 1's, then 4 really bad starts with a 12+ ERA. Verlander let them back into the game. Righties and lefties are both hitting in the .260's against him this year. 11 earned runs already in about 15 innings pitched against the Tribe. Interestingly, he's only 15-14 career-wise against them.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 05:49 PM) We lose Thornton, Crain and Lindstrom to either trades or FA this offseason. Wouldn't mind any of these relief pitchers to replace them. All are FA. Matt Belisle (mutual option) Joe Smith Pat Neshek Eric O'Flaherty Mike Gonzalez JP Howell If they trade Rios/Ramirez/DeAza, the odds of competing next year go down dramatically. You might sign a couple of those guys on "bargain" contracts, especially a lefty to fill the Thornton/Veal/Santiago roles...with Santiago back starting...but more than two, you're blocking the progress of some younger pitchers like Castro, Rienzo, Petricka, Webb, Santos Rodriguez, etc., who are more likely to be important in the next 2-3-4 seasons.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 05:51 PM) No. I would move Sale for an MVP caliber guy in his early to mid 20s under team control for 5+ years who is healthy and already MLB proven and established. With Harpers knee problem, that means Trout or maybe Machado. That's it. Do you think the A's would trade Cespedes, or the Dodgers Puig (for Sale)? For the A's, having some semblance of an offense has to be more important than MORE pitching.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 05:17 PM) Tim Anderson. Because he was rated 299th by someone somewhere. Erik Johnson is totally random on this list too I guess I could have included Quintana or Santiago, so instead added our hottest minor league prospect, just to be counterintuitive, since someone out there undoubtedly will still be making the argument we're not out of it for 2013 yet...those posters consistently bringing up the 1983 White Sox, 2005 Astros, 2006/2011 Cardinals, last year with the A's, etc. The other option for inclusion was Addison Reed.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 05:17 PM) Tim Anderson. Because he was rated 299th by someone somewhere. Erik Johnson is totally random on this list too I guess I could have included Quintana or Santiago, so instead added our hottest minor league prospect, just to be counterintuitive, since someone out there undoubtedly will still be making the argument we're not out of it for 2013 yet...those posters consistently bringing up the 1983 White Sox, 2005 Astros, 2006/2011 Cardinals, last year with the A's, etc.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 04:06 PM) Very little chance Smoak gets non-tendered. If they'd take Jones for him the Soox should do it. I thought you said it was easy to find LF, 1B/DH types. Why would they want to keep him? They're afraid he'll become the next Chris Davis?

QUOTE (Jim Busby @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 11:52 AM) Chicago White Sox can't hit in the Majors or in the Minors. Their top minor leaguers are Strike-Out-Kings with very poor averages. Bring in somebody (A good Leader) who can show them how a good average with some power to get you to the majors. Did you really figure out why the Pirates fired Jeff Manto and Seattle get rid of Steve Lake. Hire personnel who can communicate with the hitters (Including the Latin Players and show then the right approach HOW TO HIT A BASEBALL. So then you agree with what the Royals did? Because George Brett is one of the top 3-5 hitters of his generation, and the Charlie Lau philosophy is not power-oriented. Keep in mind, they hired a guy who was in the Mariners' system (Pedro Grifol) for the past 13 years. He speaks Spanish, one of your qualifications....but the "development" Seattle has done with the likes of Smoak, Montero, Saunders, Ackley isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. And, we still don't have a slew of Latin American prospects at the upper levels of our minor league system, other than Carlos Sanchez. It's helpful to have a catcher who can communicate with a Hispanic pitcher who can't speak English at all, but most of the prospects now begin learning English at age 14 or at the latest, 16, when most are signed and enter the baseball academies, summer leagues, etc.

Jesse Crain seems like a lock to be the #1 trade target for many teams looking to acquire a set-up guy or quasi-closer. He has been close to perfect. And, thinking more about the Peavy situation...Hahn will be able to "spin" that Jake Peavy being able to rest his arm in the middle of the season for 4-6 weeks (as long as he comes back at the end of July for 2-3 starts and flashes the 91-94 MPH fastball) might actually be a good thing, as it will prevent him from wearing down in August/September, the heat of the stretch drive. OTOH, another Peavy injury raises a red flag for some teams, even if it's not surgery/shoulder/elbow-related. Finding a buyer for Lindstrom and dumping Matt's salary aren't going to hurt the 2014 team, and can do nothing but help in terms of payroll/talent flexibility (adding some more Type B prospects to the low minors). Then you're going to be left with the BIG decisions of keeping or trading Rios/Ramirez/DeAza, and who replaces them (in some cases, waiting for the off-season). And how to honor Paul Konerko's career coming down the stretch. I don't think it makes sense to trade him to a contending team unless he's going to be more than a PHer (like Thome to the Dodgers in 2009). White Sox fans will want to say goodbye and see him finish out the season in Chicago unless he suddenly goes on a huge tear and someone wants to offer more than salary relief. A lot of it's up to Paul, his family and Reinsdorf. Trading him would symbolically end all ties to 2005 and sort of a passing of the torch to a new generation of Sox players. If there's an offer on Axelrod that's enticing, go for it. How likely that actually is, we have no idea. He's been impressive, in many ways, our 2nd best starter all season behind Sale, and the one most likely to extricate himself out of difficult situations with runners on base. You do wonder how long he can keep that up...if his "luck" will turn or if it's going to be a more permanent characteristic of how he pitches. At this point, would still rather see Sale/Danks/Quintana/Axelrod/Santiago and eventually Erik Johnson added into the mix as soon as Birmingham or Charlotte's season ends. If you can get him some playoff starts in AA or AAA, that's fine, too. Otherwise, you send him to Chicago and get him some experience for 2014. You can mix in spot starts for Rienzo and Castro as well, just to see how they perform and react to failure at the big league level.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 03:25 PM) To be honest, I don't care for taking 1st basemen. For all we know Michalczewski could end up at 1st. You would think it would be an easy position to fill, but guys like Black and Wilkins are long shots to ever play in Chicago. Part of the problem is that the Sox have had Konerko there for 15 years, obviously. Keon Barnum's the only guy right now that anyone's halfway excited about, and part of it is being LH'd and knowing that's going to be a huge need at the big league level over the next 3-5 years. But yeah, you can a 3B or SS or catcher or corner outfielder and you can always move him to 1B if he can't stick at one of those were demanding positions (well, many would argue 1B is more demanding than LF).

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 12:38 PM) It's a draft day tradition that the Sox won't get value for their picks (i.e. 200th rated prospect in 3rd round.) That's fine if they have shown to build a top flight farm system by doing that, but unfortunately it's the exact opposite. So if we took the reach the Royals did all the way at #8 and then didn't sign Manaea, or he never was healthy with us...would that have been a better understanding of the draft process? We got a different version of Manaea in Beck last year, who came into the Year as a Top 10 draft pick and disappointed due to bulking up from weighlifting and scouts' bad advice. The first two picks are always going to be the most important. And sometimes you end up with good players between 3rd and 5th, like an Addison Reed or Joe Crede.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 09:45 AM) The are reports he is very willing to change arm slot and accompanying mechanics if so desired by the drafting team. Maybe the Sox plan to clean it up. The question is how much velocity or movement might be affected should they go that route... For example, Jose Contreras, that arm slot/angle always made a huge difference between dominant and ineffective. Then you have the control/command issues and changing "muscle memory." I think Greg has brought this up a few times in reference to Nathan Jones and the way he slings the ball...but it doesn't seem the White Sox have ever really tried to change his mechanics (correct me if I'm wrong, minor league experts).

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 7, 2013 -> 09:40 AM) The way he throws screams shoulder injury. Anterior capsule, subscapularis or labrum most likely. Not a fan of guys who don't have the good trunk flexion and follow through. Maybe they are going to rush him up to the big leagues as a reliever....seems when you take a high school kid these days, you're almost betting on him going through TJ surgery at some point in the minors or first six years in the majors. However, as we all know from the John Danks discussion/s, shoulder injuries aren't easy to come back from at 100%. Still, if the White Sox are really going with TBA philosophy, they have to be considering him as a starter FIRST, because you don't draft relievers generally before the 5th/6th rounds. There have been some exceptions with the White Sox, Royce Ring, Poreda (they wanted him to be a starter), Addison Reed was 3rd round, I think Josh Fogg was picked in the first five rounds (yep, looked it up, 3rd round) as a closer out of the Univ. of Florida and then converted to starter, and Sale started out in the bullpen his first two seasons.

Justin Verlander had been a high school prospect (Goochland High School in Virginia), throwing as high as 94 mph, before illness (strep throat) limited his performance as a senior and scared some scouts off.

from baseballamerica.com (don't have access to the "insider story") So far, comparisons to Brandon Phillips, the good Orlando Hudson and Billy Hamilton, as well as his own self-comparison to Jose Reyes 17. CHICAGO WHITE SOX PICK VALUE: $2,164,000 TIM ANDERSON, SS, EAST MISSISSIPPI CC (@TimAnderson7) Area Scout: Warren Hughes PICK ANALYSIS: There’s a run on shortstops, which isn’t a surprise as there are so few in this year’s draft. Tim Anderson SCOUTING REPORT: It’s a banner year for Mississippi junior colleges, and Anderson has a chance to become the highest-drafted such player in a June draft. A Tuscaloosa, Ala., native, Anderson missed much of his high school baseball career due to basketball, first because of knee injuries as a sophomore, then because of a state title run as a junior that overlapped much of baseball season. He focused on baseball in junior college and hit .328 with five home runs in the Jayhawk League last summer. He has followed up by showing solid power this spring to go with his other prodigious tools. Anderson stands out in a draft class light on middle infielders. Scouts aren’t sold that he’ll stick at shortstop thanks to average arm strength. He has middle-infield actions and needs repetition at the pro level to see where he’ll stick. His athleticism and plus-plus speed would play in center field. Some scouts see power in Anderson’s bat and consider him a potential Brandon Phillips, while others see him as a faster version of Orlando Hudson. Either way, Anderson will be the first or second middle infielder picked and won’t be following through on his commitment to Alabama-Birmingham. WHERE HE FITS: Tim Anderson could crack next year’s Prospect Handbook as Chicago’s top prospect. If he’s not, it will at least be a spirited debate.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,1326565.story

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dodgers-5-bra...36394--mlb.html Puig game story. Can you imagine if he was doing this for the White Sox, how crazy everyone would be going? Haven't had that level of excitement about an individual player for at least four seasons now, since the Beckham rookie year.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 6, 2013 -> 10:27 PM) Most of the less knowledgeable people simply stay away from the draft thread. As for Danish, I can't help but think reliever. Potentially fast rising one, but I always cringe when I hear guys have a plus fastball/slider combo and need to develop the change to remain a starter. Replacement for Reed when we parlay him into Puig/Cespedes, lol.

QUOTE (Noonskadoodle @ Jun 6, 2013 -> 09:55 PM) THIS!!! If Dunn can stay in that approach I have much more faith in him. Tough loss, but until the Tigers shore up that pen they aint running away just yet. JUST GOTTA FLIPPIN HIT!!!! Seriously need to bring up Phegley & let him see if he can stay hot. It's not like Flowers is a defensive specialist haha. Love what I am seeing from Beck & if De Aza can focus on line drives & just getting on base rather than the long ball I think we can turn it around offensively. I'll have whatever you're smoking, lol. Was it over when the Germans tried to turn the Titanic? You realize, we've had the easiest schedule in MLB up until now and we're already 8 games .500 and missing Floyd and Peavy? Konerko is obviously not 100% physically or simply got old in baseball terms, Dunn is Dunn...the bullpen's a mess, there are just way too many holes to make a contender out of this team.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 6, 2013 -> 09:43 PM) My sentiments exactly. Perhaps the Sox are now truly picking who they think is the BPA as opposed to what's relatively safe and will move through the system fast. Certainly seems that way with Hawkins, Anderson, and now Danish. Walker and Mitchell to an extent as well. One also wonders if this is alluding to the dismantling of the major league roster, as these certainly aren't reinforcements that are going to contribute soon. Don't forget Trayce Thompson.

OYALS Royals pull surprise by choosing shortstop Hunter Dozier in first round June 6 BY BOB DUTTON The Kansas City Star To hear the Royals tell it, their decision Thursday to take shortstop Hunter Dozier with the eighth overall pick in baseball’s annual first-year player draft shouldn’t be viewed as a surprise. “He is who we are,” scouting director Lonnie Goldberg said. "He fits who we are. He’s a ballplayer. He loves to play. You will not go to the ballpark and see him not working on something. "It’s what we’re taught in scouting -- go out and find the big bodies with the big tools and plus makeup. Then let them reach their ceiling, whatever that is. "We think he’s on the rise. He might not have been known publicly or nationally as much as some of the other players, but in our draft room he very much was." Dozier, 21, is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound shortstop from Stephen F. Austin State in Nacogdoches, Texas. He offers the promise of power, with 17 homers in 55 games. That power was important. "Big-time power to all fields," Goldberg said. "He’s not just a pull hitter. He’s got power the opposite way. And he’s athletic. He’s played the middle of the diamond. So we know he’s got flexibility to move around." But Dozier was also ranked by Baseball America as the No. 38 prospect in the draft, which fueled immediate speculation the Royals had an agreement in place for a signing bonus below the slotted amount of $3,137,800. If so, the club would have additional money in their bonus pool to overspend on subsequent picks. They will likely spend some of that money on Sean Manaea, a left-handed pitcher from Indiana State who was their 34th overall selection and first pick in the first competitive-balance round. Manaea, 6-5 and 235 pounds, was ranked as high as No. 10 by Baseball America in recent weeks. But he rolled his ankle in March, which has led to subsequent hip problems. According to Baseball America, Manaea hasn't been able to hold his velocity deep into games this spring, mostly pitching between 88-93 mph. His numbers were still good (1.61 ERA, .192 opponent batting average), but nothing compared to what he did last summer in the Cape Cod League. He was its pitcher of the year, striking out 85 in 52 innings and holding opponents to a .119 average. The Royals also had their regular pick in the second round (No. 46 overall) on Thursday and selected left-handed pitcher Cody Reed out of Northwest Mississippi Junior College, who was ranked No. 104 by Baseball America. "Obviously, we have 41 selections," general manager Dayton Moore said, "and we’re going to try to maximize the allotted dollar amount that we received based on our slot...the best we can." While Moore and Dozier said no agreement is yet in place, Moore noted: "We have a pretty good feel for what the dollars are going to be." Dozier’s size makes him a logical candidate to switch positions, most likely to third base, and he expressed a willingness to embrace any change. "Wherever they need me to play," he said, "I will give 100 percent. If they want me to play third, if they want me to play outfield or stay at short...I am down for whatever." Assistant general manager J.J. Picollo, who oversees the scouting and player-development departments, said Dozier is likely to start his pro career in a short-season league -- either Idaho Falls or Burlington (N.C.). "Our goal this first summer," Picollo said, "is to get his feet on the ground and get acclimated with playing every day. And get to know our system. "We all know we’ve got depth at our shortstop position, but we believe in his ability to play (shortstop)...I would anticipate he’ll get time at shortstop." Baseball America characterized Dozier as a "Jeff Kent-style player in a Drew Stubbs body," but he likened himself to Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria. "I’m a big guy who can move a little bit," he said. "I have some power when I hit, and I feel like my fielding is getting better each and every year. Hopefully, I can grow into a complete five-tool player." Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/06/06/42778...l#storylink=cpy no idea where the MLB draft thread went to...

Well, at least he gave it a ride. On the radio, it seemed like the A's announcers thought it was going out. 7 games back again. One game away from starting to think about tearing the team apart and looking more towards 2014.