Chicago White Sox

I will be there tonight!

I think Giolito can settle in as a solid #3 starter or an elite #4 starter. He’s got some real nice secondary pitches that he can get swing & misses. He’s just got maintain consistency with his mechanics.

Just hit 95 MPH on the gun.

I think AA is all but a certainty, but I don’t expect him to stay there long.

Johnson was a very different hitter as he had both low K & BB rates. I’m really struggling a comp because most guys with his speed would steal a lot more bases.

Timmy walk!!

He started the at-bat 0-2, worked a full count, and then crushed the 9th pitch for a HR. This kid is a fucking stud.

Giolito is at least trending in the right direction. It does seem worst case scenario now he’ll at least be a solid back of the rotation type.

Cause we’re rebuilding and Moncada is out? Seems pretty clear cut to me.

When is this game supposed to start?

Hopefully he’s ok.

Game delayed.

From what I’ve seen, Basabe definitely K’s a lot looking. And I may be in the minority, but I’d rather see that than a lot of swing & miss. Becoming more aggressive is something that can be addressed with time, a lack of plate discipline or a giant hole in your swing is much harder to correct IMO.

With Eloy still in AAA the answer is most definitely yes. Once he's called up it will get interesting. However, the Sox will still have a consensus top 40 prospect in Robert, three guys who have all cracked top 100 lists in Basabe, Adolfo, & Rutherford, a guy who will likely make some lists in the offseason in Gonzalez, & our second round pick from this year's draft in Walker. That doesn't even include any of the more fringe guys like Call who has actually been pretty solid in AA and probably warrants more attention.

There is also a race element here. The first guys to the show will be given an opportunity to take a job and run with it. I think that gives a huge advantage to Basabe. He's been pretty solid in AA and is starting to show signs of adjusting. The same applies to Gonzalez if he starts off hot at AA.

Below are the top 11 hitters in the Carolina League based on wRC+. Five of these guys are on the older side (+23 years old). Two of the remaining guys are Keston Hiura & Carter Kieboom, both top 100 prospects. Three of the others are Sox outfielders: Luis Gonzalez, Micker Adolfo, & Luis Basabe. Out of these hitters, Basabe has the 2nd highest ISO at .237. He has the second highest BB % at 13.9%. He doesn't steal a ton of bases, but he does have plus speed. He's also a legit CF with a plus arm capable of playing all three OF positions. Outside of the K rate (which is a concern), there to like here for a 21 year old. I'm super high on this kid.

He should start cracking top 100 lists after this season and has passed both Adolfo & Rutherford on my list of top OF prospects in the system, right behind Basabe.

The Good: Abreu: 9.1% BB rate, 20.3% K rate, .302 ISO, .315 BABIP, .974 OPS, 161 wRC+ Rodon: 6 GS, 44.2 IP, 7.25 K/9, 2.82 BB/9, 0.20 HR/9, 1.41 ERA, 2.98 FIP Narvaez: 16.5% BB rate, 15.2% K rate, .246 ISO, .327 BABIP, .984 OPS, 170 wRC+ The Bad: Giolito: 6 GS, 34.2 IP, 8.83 K/9, 3.89 BB/9, 10.4 HR/9, 4.93 ERA, 4.17 FIP Moncada: 16.4% BB rate, 35.7% K rate, .148 ISO, .258 BABIP, .631 OPS, 78 wRC+ Anderson: 1.6% BB rate, 22.2% K rate, .171 ISO, .290 BABIP, .669 OPS, 74 wRC+ The Ugly: Lopez: 7 GS, 38.0 IP, 6.63 K/9, 3.32 BB/9, 2.84 HR/9, 7.34 ERA, 7.06 FIP Avi: 6.6% BB rate, 29.2% K rate, .177 ISO, .177 BABIP, .570 OPS, 52 wRC+

Yes, you’re correct, although I think it was always a long-shot he’d stick there.

Gonzalez is definitely starting 2019 in AA. I think Rutherford will also get the call alongside one of Robert or Adolfo. Really depends how Robert looks in the fall league. Then whenever Basabe gets bumped up to AAA, the other guy held back in A+ will get promoted to AA.

I would say Rivera has the best chance and he’s still got to convince us that he’s an actual prospect and not some kid beating up on younger competition.

Borchard & Lee (to a lesser extent) were pretty well regarded, but the answer is probably yes.

I do think calling up Kopech now means the Sox plan to be fairly active in free agency & makes it incredibly unlikely they consider moving Rodon.

Trust me, I would prefer to keep him down there until next season, but he’s probably been the best pitcher in the minors over his last seven or so starts. There isn’t really argument to be made that he isn’t ready.