danman31

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 25, 2011 -> 05:19 PM) He has just got to go to AAA. Maybe, but he reminds me of Brian Anderson. A lot of bad ABs where he either easily falls behind 0-2 or makes crappy contact early in the AB for an out.

What's everyone's feeling on Beckham? I don't see a Major League caliber hitter.

Cheers!

Kind of similar pick to Mike Blanke and look how he's done in A ball this year.

Yeah I can see that about Smith. Just because he's a catcher and most of the high picks are relievers, he certainly has a bigger positional upside. I like Gardeck, but again, reliever. If Walker and Johnson bust, Smith has a good shot to be next best. Kanny is playing a doubleheader and won game 1 5-1. Miguel Gonzalez quietly having a solid season since coming from extending spring training.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 24, 2011 -> 08:42 PM) Have we had many guys come through that route in the last few years? Rienzo, Miguel Gonzalez, Escobar, Infante. It's certainly not a big list. It's around one a year that turns into a prospect and obviously even less turn into Major League players. I'd say this group is probably likely to turn out a couple top 20 prospects. Of the current group in rookie ball Jean Duque, Jeffer Patino, Darwin Matos and Daurys Mercedes have all flashed some ability, but age is starting to count against them. Maybe one of them will develop into a prospect with some value. Carlos Sanchez and Euclides Leyer are both 18 and off to good starts with Bristol. They seem legit. Throw in 20-year-old Ricardo Andres, who has no DSL numbers or anything on him, and you have a decent list. Probably the deepest I can remember.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 24, 2011 -> 07:05 PM) So is our latin pipeline actually starting to work again? Early to say that, but there are guys worth following in rookie leagues. Rookie leagues are very difficult to project from.

Wilkins has shown good power, a decent walk rate and a relatively low K rate. The average is due to jump up. He is having a strong season otherwise. I'm expecting either a strong second half or a strong 2012 from him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 24, 2011 -> 11:24 AM) So out of the DSL guys who have flowed into Rookie Ball, anyone stand out as being someone worth keeping an eye on? We had some talks about Carlos Sanchez a couple days ago. 18 year old 3B with great discipline numbers in the DSL last year and off to a solid start this year. Euclides Leyer, a SP, is also 18 and had a strong debut for Bristol with no strikeouts or walks. Jean Duque also had a strong DSL background, but is making his US debut at 21 so who knows. Daurys Mercedes had a strong year in the DSL in '09, but might be a bit old now. All four of these guys are in Bristol, which is a pretty decent team to follow prospect wise.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 24, 2011 -> 12:58 PM) Anybody know if the Final will be on TV tommorrow night and what channel? I found that starts at 8 PM, but I can't find a TV listing, if there is one? WGBO will have it. Spanish language, but that is part of the fun for me. It's over the air in Chicago and on basic cable.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 06:33 PM) Maybe the US and Mexico but that's it. The other countries have been horrible outside of CONCACAF. Just look at the past World Cup results involving CONCACAF teams not named the US or Mexico: That's fine, but in comparison to Africa or Asia the results are favorable. Mexico has lost in the round of 16 in the last 5 World Cups, which almost matches Asia and Africa alone. CAF and AFC each have 6 knockout appearances since 1990. That's if you count Australia in 2006 when they were still from Oceania and their only win was over Japan. Another 2 of Asia's are from hosts in 2002. Basically, AFC had been quite horrible before 2010. Africa has never qualified more than one team past the group stage in a World Cup despite having 26 entries since 1990. CONCACAF may not have depth, but neither do these regions. Mexico and US are as consistent as any country from those regions and more consistent than just about everyone other than maybe Ghana and South Korea. Obviously if you take the top two teams away, CONCACAF is awful, but Asia and Africa don't usually go more than 2 deep anyway. Just because they have 5+ inconsistent countries that can be good doesn't mean the regions are ever going 3 deep. CONCACAF isn't that good, but let's not pretend like it's alone in that. UEFA and CONMEBOL are where it's at and that may always be true.

Is E'twaun Moore just too short to play NBA 2? He could be a nice role player.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 09:12 PM) F- for the Bulls. They passed up on better prospects that could help them THIS year for a project. Yeah since pick 28 is loaded with players that can produce immediately on a contending team.

That and Saladino is coming off a wrist injury. Those can be death on hitters. There's a big difference between being healthy enough to play and being healthy enough to hit well with wrist injuries.

Hard to get really excited about this. We know what we have in Viciedo and have seen both players in the Majors before. Would have been nice for Reed to get the nod. Regardless, links... http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...lb&c_id=mlb http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...11/2611986.html

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 09:03 AM) Which of those guys are the ones from the DSL? Patino of the guys he mentioned. Not many DSL vets on that team. Bristol has more.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 08:05 AM) The game with Mexico should be a good one. I'd have to venture they are the favorites due to how they've been playing recently. The US just needs to find a way to contain Chicharito and GDS. Lichaj (he's gonna be a good one) and Cherundelo have been solid but our back line is a major weakness of ours. Lichaj scares me when he goes forward. It really takes a disciplined D mid like Jones to make up for his cavalier runs forward. The talent is there, but I have a feeling he's going to abandon defense in a big game, cost a goal and scar fans forever.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:55 PM) That being said, Adu's skill on the ball is undeniable. When I watch him play, I just cant understand how the US doesnt have room for him. I really dislike Bradley as a coach and wish the US would try something else. Adu's decision making is generally quite poor. Though, it sounds like he finally had a good club season with that Turkish 2nd division club. It's not like he was only struggling with the US. He was a journeyman in Europe. That said, skill like he showed today is a must. Midfield though is one spot the US isn't thin. I'm watching the other semi between Mexico-Honduras. The Mexicans finally scored in OT, but both teams have missed multiple great chances. Honduras probably got robbed of a PK late in the 2nd half too.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:39 PM) Yeah. I want to WIN this in 9....no extra innings. No more ABs for Konerko will be ok, provided we WIN. I'm good with 8 guys coming to the plate in the 8th.

Getting past the AJ/Peavy schism here, is there any way the bullpen doesn't give up at least a run tonight? Crain went 5 outs yesterday, Santos 4. Sale just gave us 5 tonight. Thornton can give us an inning, but can we expect good Santos tonight?

Knights @ Rochester Heath with the start Voyagers @ Billings 8 Greeneville @ Bristol 18-year-old Dominican Euclides Leyer with the start in his US debut

The picks that were still playing college ball after the draft (the 3 Cal guys and the UVA pitcher are still playing now) will probably take a week or 2 off and then join the rookie ball teams. There were quite a few on that list. Others will probably go later into the signing deadline though, yes.

Carlos Sanchez 2-2, 2B, 3 BB tonight for Bristol. Turns 19 in 8 days. 41 BB in 156 AB last year in DSL. Granted, the pitchers are wild in that league so who knows what that means. Could be worth following.

Knights @ Rochester Axelrod Great Falls @ Billings (Voyagers preview on FutureSox) Greeneville @ Bristol 26th rounder Grant Buckner hit a HR in his first AB. US debut for SP Jean Duque. Duque is 21 until July with a K/9 over 9 in 4 years in the DSL. Southern League All-Star Game Kuhn and Marrero in starting lineup Carolina League All-Stars @ California League All-Stars Gac and Martinez starting SAL All-Star Game Shoemaker and Thompson starting

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 12:37 AM) Man, I really wish Reed was still starting. He looks like he has overpowering stuff. Sounds like if he can just learn 1 more pitch, and get it to a respectable level, it seems he SHOULD be able to start. Doesn't he have 2 plus pitches with 1 decent one? He should be able to get by with 2 plus and 2 decent pitches, I would think. His fastball wasn't high 90s as a starter and likely wouldn't be if he went back to starting. At this point the guy is near a lock to be a decent Major League reliever. I've read varying things about his change, but that would be the pitch that makes him a starter. Generally though, guys with plus fastballs and plus sliders are used as relievers.