ILMOU

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 08:05 AM) What was the deal that Masterson was willing to sign? I certainly wouldn't have given him Homer Bailey's deal. Big year for him. 3 yrs, $51M, I believe.

I think we likely will, but it may well depend upon how close to contending we think we are after this season. Apologies if this thread exists already, but things are happening that will affect the available choices. Mostly in our favor, so far: http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/3/20/5529...kendrys-morales Morales could be our lefty DH after he likely signs for only this season, joining Cruz, Rasmus and others as possible target bats, depending on Tank's progress/lack thereof and other factors. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/masters...s-fizzle-032014 While Bailey, and likely Lester, won't be around, Justin is a guy who should set the market, along with Shields and Scherzer. Tribe should have taken his offer, imo, and will regret it. I predict he'll be a Cub (Theo wants to gather everyone he ever drafted) as Ricketts comes out of spending hibernation. Should be a relatively robust crop, overall. Hoping we show enough progress this season to have the confidence to make multiple moves and truly contend next year.

The college pitchers are screwing this up. I have to believe the braintrust would like to take a college arm, other things being relatively equal.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 07:08 PM) The real question with Semien, Sanchez and Johnson is whether any of them are going to be legit everyday players. They all project to be better than Leury Garcia, but you don't have a surefire major league All-Star unless you could combine the attributes of all four of those guys. Johnson had a breakout start to 2013 by stealing bases at a mind-blowing rate. His unusual basestealing technique, which involves a walking leadoff, helped him steal 61 bases in 80 attempts in 77 games with Kannapolis in the first half of 2013. Lost in the hysteria around those numbers was the fact that he also hit .342 with a .419 on-base percentage and 34 extra base hits. It's impossible to nitpick the actual production, but he was 22 in Low-A. His July promotion to High-A Winston-Salem set him on a better track in terms of playing at an age appropriate level. Johnson's stolen bases are more a product of his ability to read pitchers and get good jumps than having top line speed. Johnson has good speed, but not the staggering plus-plus speed that typically goes with gaudy stolen base numbers. The key to his future will be his defense. He had 21 errors with the Intimidators, which isn't necessarily a red flag but something to watch as he progresses through the minors. http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/micah-johnson/ To the bolded, yep that's the $64K question. Micah's speed gives him the highest ceiling, unless Semien shows the OBP skills he had at B'Ham. Micah's defensive ?'s likely give him the lowest floor, but he's acquitted himself rather well in this area during ST. If Johnson hits well enough, he'll be an impact player with his speed. His technique will likely evolve in the higher levels, and in MLB. Won't hazard a guess on how many SB he'll get annually, but lack of speed is not an issue. BTW, have you seen him run this spring? He flies. Whoever thinks Avi is as fast to 1st needs to get their stopwatch checked, and yeah I read something along those lines too. I think it's bunk.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) Rick Hahn in the booth talking about the draft. Calls Rodon "certainly the best college arm", talks about the possibility of going for a lower-bonus guy at 3 and spreading money throughout the later picks. I'm wondering which of the names we've discussed might fall into this category. I'm guessing NOT Rodon.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 01:05 PM) Organizational arm. Hopefully he does well with Arizona. Speaking of, Hahn must really, really like dealing with Towers. I would too though I think. He's a market inefficiency that needs exploiting.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 12:37 PM) https://twitter.com/MattEddyBA/status/447079410252791808 MiLB rotation unclogging move.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 12:27 PM) To me, 2-3 years is flying through the minors for a HS prospect. I could see him handle both levels of A ball this season and start in AA next season, at which point he could be a September call up in 2016, but that is only if every goes right, which it seldom does. We will see. This guy is a different breed of cat, imo. Callis has his ETA at 2016. I'll say August '15, as a reliever, having nearly reached an innings limit. Then starting in '16.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 07:53 AM) He's like 2-3 years away at the very, very earliest. Or significantly less according to some. The last line in Callis' updated description: "Others compare him to Jake Peavy and think he could rush through the Minors." I'm in this camp, obviously. We will know soon enough how aggressive they're going to be with Tyler - I think he finishes the season with more than a cup-o-coffee in B'Ham, after being unchallenged in A and A+ ball. Debuts in '15 as a 20 y.o.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) I think there is some fluff in touting of Theo and the cub system but I think there are a couple of really good options down there. The steal will be Olt who seems to have gotten everything right again. The issue in Chicago that I have is that these guys are being spoken of as sure fire can't miss guys. With hitters there is always a risk that any small flaw can catch up to them. Baez made 44 errors last year. Olt's done his ST hitting against nothing but scrubs, and isn't really tearing it up otherwise. Far from sold on his recovery. Some of the Cubs prospects will be very, very good, if not great. But they won't ALL be, by a long shot. And Theo's enormous ego will likely have him trading the non-studs a bit too late. Theo and Jed are picking up every prospect (slight hyperbole) who they drafted in Boston or San Diego, but failed - it will be fun watching their enormous egos ratcheted down a peg or three.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 08:19 AM) Pitching is always worth more than middle infielders...unless those MI's are 1) Gold Glovers, 2) capable of putting up 20+ homers or 3) going to steal 70-100 bases. Let's just put it this way. Billy Hamilton is ranked what, 64th, as a top prospect? Micah Johnson doesn't have nearly that type of burst, and it's likely his SB numbers will fall quite a bit from here on out. Nobody has ever characterized him as a burner. In fact, Avisail Garcia supposedly is just as fast to 1B. And the jury's far from back in about how well he profiles defensively at 2B or LF/CF. If an 80 speed rating doesn't describe a burner, I'm not sure what does. That's Callis' take. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y20...=mm_mlb_players Hamilton's one of the fastest ever. Micah may well be the better hitter.

Hoffman at #6. Guess I'm not the only nut who thinks performance matters, even if just a little. Here's hoping he kills it for the rest of the season. I have a hard time believing HS pitchers will go 1 and 2, but you never know.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 10:08 AM) Good list. Very much agree. Reflects the rise of Semien, Johnson, May and others, and drops Hawkins a realistic, not-too-severe, amount.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 09:52 AM) FYI, Jim Callis of MLB.com will be chatting about the White Sox system on twitter @mlbpipeline at noon. http://jimcallis.mlblogs.com/ He posted on his blog five additional prospects, a sleeper, and an interview with Tim Anderson. Trey Michalczewski is a high-ceiling guy that we may learn a lot about this season in terms of prospect status, even though he's years away. Love me some switch-hitters with power - hope he sticks at 3B defensively.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 08:54 AM) Get the depressing ones out of the way first, I see. If the season goes according to plan, they'll need to update this one in a good way at midseason.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 10:01 AM) Hoepfully it is a mix of Elton John, George Michael, Adam Lambert, and Clay Aiken. Somebody should rent a PA and blast Samwell non-stop.

Iowa was just awful in crunch time for most of their close games all year. Not sure what that says about the players and coaches. Shoulda had a better run.

Marcus with 5BB/5K in ST. More like the ratio he had in minors last year vs. his callup showing. Terrific spring for our MI prospects.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) Yeah, I think that's the best idea. But if the Nats aren't willing to play nice, demanding more than the Sox are willing to deliver, I can see the Sox keeping him on the roster as long as possible. Rizzo's been a d*** before, so who knows?

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Mar 19, 2014 -> 11:16 AM) Thanks for posting this. Just watched video of him, thats a hell of a curve ball he's got. I can see why Law said what he did. A full 8 months younger than Kolek even, a true pup.

Batting order: AEaton LF/CF Semien 2B JAbreu 1B VMart DH - aging like a Franco Lafitte in age 37 season, 2nd of two year deal, but we have an option for 2017. AGarcia RF JCastro C - in trade with Hou involving Q or EJohnson, mid 2014. Signs extension. MDavidson 3B MJohnson CF/LF - OR lefty, power hitting OF via trade or FA acquisition, OR JMay TAnderson SS - rookie Bench AEngel, backing up all OF, PR rookie (2017 maybe more likely), OR Micah, if other OF above CSanchez, backing up 2B,3B,SS, PR ANieto C, rookie DVogelbach DH, PH, 1B, rookie - in trade with Cubs for JMay and A, A+ MiLB pitchers - or other young power hitting lefty or Switch DH/1B, groomed to replace VMart, LH thunder off bench SP'S Sale TDanish Q or EJohnson - the one not used for Castro, OR FA signed after 2014 or 2015 season, OR CBeck, or 2014 second Round draft pick, if college, or possibly BOrtiz, FMontas, ALopez, other JDanks - sticks around because of outperforming deal in '14 and '15, and/or disappointing trade offers, and now in last year. Q and EJohnson were more coveted by trade partners JHoffman - The favorite of the staff since before his Jr season at ECU, taken after Rodon, Kolek, finishes college career strong and quickly moves through system Pen DWebb CL Rex Brothers - acquired for Nate Jones plus Snodgress from Rockies BGoldberg CBassitt CWiniarski DVeal - yep, he's still hanging around. BOrtiz

QUOTE (mataipaepae @ Mar 15, 2014 -> 10:08 PM) I'm ready to move on from beckham and the excuses. This is the year where we no longer have to deal with it, it can just go away.

Tyler exuding huge confidence in his abilities by expressing surprise in being named starter. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/tyler-...tarting-catcher "Don't they know I suck?"

Have done a little reading about the international players and the Yankees big splurge this year potentially ruining things for other teams with big plans, like ours. But an understanding of their strategy has me not-so-worried, and I think we'll come out of it looking good. The Yankees have already bought up many of the top players, and apparently have all of their $11M budget committed. The thing of it is, we're talking about 15-16 y.o. 's just growing into their bodies, and many new studs will emerge before July 2. Would be ridiculous to call someone that young a "late bloomer".

QUOTE (Nunnigan @ Mar 17, 2014 -> 08:50 AM) Other teams have better pieces to suit the needs for the Sox. The Tigers brought this upon themselves. Sanchez has a big upside, doesn't he? Huge overpay, but like I'm sayin', desperate. Anything's possible.