Y2Jimmy0

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 25, 2016 -> 10:46 AM) Even if they decide not to stick him at catcher, he still provides a ton of value if he DHs. Things this franchise desparately needs to infuse: -Offensive prospects....check -Left handed power....check -OBP ability.....check -Potential premium defensive position.....check If Rutherford or another high quality prospect doesnt fall to them, this should be the play. I dont expect him to move as fast as Schwarber, but if you can infuse this kid into the roster soon, that is so valuable. Yep. If Rutherford is on the board or someone else falls, that'd be my pick. I'd go Collins under slot if not though.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 25, 2016 -> 10:14 AM) Rollins back at SS batting 2nd, Avi at DH hitting 8th. Kluber has destroyed righties this year, it's disappointing the Sox don't have any lefty options to DH. This Rollins things is quite ridiculous. He can't hit LH anymore. If they want to hit him 2nd vs LHP, whatever but not only should he not be hitting 2nd, he shouldn't even be playing vs RHP.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ May 25, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) Am I right, he was promoting to scouting director last fall? Should we expect any major changes in philosophy? Did they hire any new scouts? I don't watch the minors like I used to, but at least superficially I don't see a whole lot of talent down there. He ran the draft after the 1st round last year. There are a few future sox profiles on him and his philosophy that you can easily find.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ May 25, 2016 -> 09:14 AM) Their hitting approach is awful right now. No discipline whatsoever. Cleveland worked some deep counts against Sale which rattled him in my opinion. When the Sox were winning frequently to start the year off, they were also working deep counts; let's get back to that. *Steverson it's up to you to get their heads out of their asses -- so do your job! Robin will not be fired-- ever. If he leaves, it will be after the season when his contract expires and it will be 'mutually'. (Assuming they miss the playoffs) I think what we will see from now until the break is a .500 team ( 21-21). Unless, Hahn is aggressive as hell and acquires some impact arms and bats. That puts them at 48-41. I'd gladly take that record.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 25, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) Agreed...and expensive as hell to acquire if you can't develop your own. Look at how much McCann got from the Yankees, Wieters will (after a healthy year) this offseason (and he's been something of a disappointment compared to his advance hype), Russell Martin and Cervelli....the asking price for Lucroy (although they might have to include him and Braun together to not have to pay for 25-50% of the remainder of Braun's deal), etc. One of the biggest failures of our minor league system the past 20-30 years has been consistent failure in developing a catcher/leader. We kind of lucked into AJ at the right time and place...fortunately for the 2005 team. But you can't count on that to happen every decade. I expect Rick Hahn favorite Jason Castro to be a top free agent target of the White Sox. May even try to trade for him if Astros sell.

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 25, 2016 -> 08:32 AM) The Jerry Sands experiment really needs to end. I think they should give Hayes a shot and see what he's got and if that doesnt work, go outside the organization. Delmonico's promotion to Charlotte is interesting. He was a former top prospect that seems to have figured something out and is only 23. Delmonico and Hayes both at Charlotte. Davidson is also playing well along with Coats.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 25, 2016 -> 08:30 AM) Sure, if he's like Schwarber. But there's a HUGE advantage in today's game in getting offense from the catcher's position. How many catchers have an OPS above 800 right now in the majors? 4...Castillo, Perez, Lucroy and McCann (last three are barely over)...then you've got Molina and Posey. Having a catcher in the Top 20% at his position is a huge-difference maker, unless he just doesn't have the confidence of the pitching staff and he needs to DH, but IMO it's a lot better for a young player's development to be intimately involved in both sides of the game, at least in his first 3-4 years in the majors. But if he's just average at best defensively is it worth it? I'd rather let him mash at 1B and just have a good defensive catcher.

It's like trying to sue Pepsi Corp for dying of diabetes.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ May 25, 2016 -> 06:45 AM) Avi is quickly burning through his last few chances to remain on the 25 man roster. That's too bad but realistically, the Sox have known that they would need a Left Hand bat, preferably one that could at least platoon at DH. I am more concerned with Alex Avila's struggles because DH is easier to replace than catcher. . Navarro isn't much better but in a clutch situation, I'd rather have Navarro up instead of Avila. Ventura keeps sending Avila out there thinking he will turn it around. Maybe he is right. In any case, those two spots in the batting order ( catcher and DH) present a similar problem to the one we had last year with Flowers and El Roach . Tonight's game might get rained out. If it does, we lost 2/3, and if it doesn't and we lose 3/4, how many series will that we make that we have lost since we started tanking? It's been painful watching the team struggle like this. I only hope they turn it around, because 4th place is well within sight now. DH is a way bigger issue than Avila. Everyone has bad catchers. DH is much easier to upgrade.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 24, 2016 -> 09:05 PM) But he's not even the best. Kershaw is by far. Then everyone else. haha yep. Kershaw's FIP is 1.38.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 25, 2016 -> 08:09 AM) As we approach the draft, we are going to publish profiles of a number of likely White Sox targets. First up - Zack Collins, catcher from Miami U. This is also the first article from our newest writer, Owen Schoenfeld, who is the_XSport on SoxTalk. So welcome him aboard as well! If Collins can really mash like that, I'd move him from catcher immediately. That bat is much more valuable 160 times a season rather than 130.

If the White Sox don't make the playoffs, Ventura will not be the manager next year. Probably won't happen before that though.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 24, 2016 -> 10:01 PM) You think he can hit enough? Don't care. Hit 9th and play defense. That's what they currently have and he's a better defender than Ajax.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 24, 2016 -> 09:19 PM) And Fathom just listed the 3 hardest positions to ACQUIRE in a line-up. C/CF/SS You could probably add pure leadoff hitter and #2 hitter in today's baseball environment. Left-handed hitting (Lillian shout out). Thankfully, we should have SS covered with Anderson, but good luck with the other 2. I think Jacob May is the CF next year. He can give you what Austin Jackson is.

Adam Engel has been promoted back to Birmingham.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 24, 2016 -> 06:17 PM) Jimmy, it's not that they are the ONLY ones. Honestly, if you were an opposing team's GM, who would you accept back in trade and (theoretically) project as a (potential) major league regular at this point in time? Obviously, Adams is the other big name. May and Trey M. are far from certainties at this point. We have lots of interesting "pieces" like Danish, Guerrero, Jordan Stephens, Thompson...but I'm not sure if you bundled those four pitchers together what that would get you. Clearly, non-elite veteran relievers are obtainable. But it's not going to come close to getting you a Swihart or Gary Sanchez. Hickman has a chance, IMO, as well. Courtney Hawkins has a lot of buzz around him (residual) due to his status as a first-rounder, but has never been able to stay both healthy AND productive and is looking more and more like an Avisail Garcia whose primary value will have to come from hitting homers. Engel's value has dipped as well. Hitters like Coats, Hayes and Delmonico...? It depends on who it's for. Ervin Santana's, Jay Bruce's and Carlos Beltran's don't bring back Fulmer or Anderson. The Sox have made trades for years with a "bad" farm system. Now they actually have some guys in the lower minors. I think Engel and Adams are probably the pieces. We aren't talking about getting Sonny Gray or Aroldis Chapman here. People act like they'd have to include Anderson to acquire anyone. It's nonsense.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 24, 2016 -> 11:52 AM) Delmonico promoted to AAA. Charlotte has a fun team. Davidson, Delmonico, Anderson, and Sanchez on the infield. Hayes at DH. May and Coats in the OF.

I like when people say that Anderson and Fulmer are the only trade pieces worth anything. From radio hosts to message board posters. That's just not true.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ May 24, 2016 -> 08:09 AM) 2 hole sees too many at bats to leave a struggling player there, IMHO. Your 2 hole should be your best or second best hitter. The only player who sees more at-bats is the leadoff man but the leadoff man has one less at bat with men on base. I love Abreu, but if he's going to struggle, he needs to be 6 in the lineup. You can't let him struggle in the 2 hole. I agree but if Abreu isn't that player, this team isn't going anywhere anyways.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ May 24, 2016 -> 01:51 PM) Shuck isn't good, seems like some of the board expects him to be the automatic call up everytime a move is made. Thank god they haven't because besides playing the OF better he's on par with Sands in the useless category. Shuck isn't good at all. They don't need 8 relievers though.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ May 24, 2016 -> 12:59 PM) Are we one of Olney's teams? I dont have insider. No. I think we are on his No Trade List

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ May 24, 2016 -> 12:40 PM) I'm going with Ishikawa being released (although they haven't made a corresponding move for Johnson being optioned yet). I expect Shuck or Garcia or maybe another reliever to be called up. Do they need to? Isn't Kahnle still on the roster?

http://espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post?id=12928 Beltran should be an option for the White Sox.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 24, 2016 -> 12:19 PM) Loney has a .784 OPS for ElPaso Coats, Hayes, Davidson all exceed that at Charlotte. And then there's the guy I suspect will be the call-up.....Jason Bourgeois, who, like Loney, has the requisite "proven veteran" credential, but with a 1.3 OPS in 17 at bats. Do they need a call-up though? Kahnle is technically on the roster still.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 23, 2016 -> 08:04 PM) Any good comps for Rutherford I think Grady Sizemore is a decent one actually. This is interesting if you can get through the mumbo jumbo: https://baseballdraftreport.com/tag/blake-rutherford/