Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 08:53 AM) I just can't get excited about anything Nintendo. I think the system that had the best games on it was the GameCube personally. Have many great memories with friends playing that system. The Switch is f***ing awesome. And if you already own a PS4, it's the perfect gaming complement. Unfortunately, too many people can't get over the "kiddie"' image and give Nintendo a chance.

QUOTE (TRU @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 07:19 PM) Too much complaining about a catcher with a .388 OBP and an .854 OPS FIFY

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 05:59 PM) Who will they replace them with? If it's the highly touted young players, you should hope they won't be a bad team. Otherwise the future is bleak. You keep saying this and continue to not acknowledge there a maturity curve with young players. Just because a young struggles in year one does not mean he will be a bad player and it most definitely doesn't mean the future is bleak.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 03:36 PM) It hasn't been said yet by the organization, but I really would bet money that their willing to pick up a large chunk of money in a deal went down a lot with the signing of Luis Robert. That is a $50 million check that Jerry and the partners have to write now. Are they going to be willing to write another $10 million check to Washington? Eh, I can't see it. The cost is only sunk if the assumption is that they couldn't take less in a trade to get someone to take the contract. Can't the bonus be paid over multiple years? Wasn't that the exact reason why some posters here thought we got money with Moncada?

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 01:19 PM) One troubling thing though: I am worried about the Sox lack of regard for defense. It is possible to have an infield of Burger, Anderson, Moncada, Sheets and Collins in a couple of years. Some of those guys could be average-ish, but overall that's not very good. I think it's way too early to jump to conclusions on Anderson & Moncada. Both have the tools to be above average and Anderson actually looked the part in 2016. And isn't Sheets supposed to be pretty good defensively? Maybe I'm wrong there. Regardless, I do agree with your general premise though and would add infield defense should be an even bigger priority if we plan on continuing to add ground ball pitchers. There's a synergy we'd be potentially forgoing by adding bat first players in the infield.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 05:24 PM) Sox are at that percentage with -1 in RD. That's about the best case scenario. Team is better "on paper" than in the standings, but we need the losses, duh. Not sure that run differential really reflects the quality of the team. We were first place in the MLB for runs allowed for like the first month or so, no one who follows this team should have ever expected that. The team is regressing to the mean and so should our run differential and not in a good way.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 02:55 PM) I agree with a lot of this and had the same experience in ST but that line is bit much. Outside of a 40 game stint in BHAM last year, Delmonico has never slugged like that. Even in a bandbox in Charlotte he hasn't slugged .460. There is a trend of players getting to the big leagues and showing more power though so it's not ridiculous by any means, but just a bit heavy for me. What I like from Delmonico, other than his hack, is that he has slashed his K rate this year significantly. Outside of a low A ball, he's been 20+ K% at the least. He was 21% and 25% in AA and AAA last year. This year he is at 16.7%. What I don't like from Delmonico is he is an absolute butcher at 3B. The Sox like his makeup so maybe they're giving him more time to figure it out but this guy is awful out there defensively and from what I've seen, a lost cause. He should've been tried in LF yesterday. The other thing to consider with Delmonico: Home: .351/.438/.613 & Away: .198/.261/.328. I noticed those home/road splits yesterday and they are insane. The problem I have is they're not just power related. IIRC, almost every KPI is significantly worse on the road than at home. Obviously I'm not a baseball expert, but I can't think why BB & K rates would be radically different home vs. away. Not sure if the difference is simply randomness or if maybe there is a hangover effect from playing home games at BB&T ballpark similar to Coors.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 12:41 PM) Hypothetical: What would you ask from the Nats for Robertson, Kahnle AND Swarzak All three??? Turner probably.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 12:35 PM) I do wish we had more prep bats, but great falls isn't that bad for this year to integrate them. A great many of these 11-40 guys will not make it past that. W-S and Birmingham have few position players that are holding spots, and of the players you mentioned, I don't think sox would be too concerned pushing college draftee fringe players like Booker, Roman, Remillard, etc a little more aggressively to make sure the higher tracked players are getting the pace they need. If they're willing to be aggressive with some of these guys (including the ones in the system already), then I'm far less concerned. In fact, it's exactly what I want to see happen with the group in Kannapolis. It's just that Getz has been incredibly conservative so far. Maybe he's waiting until the all-star break to move guys up, but I hate seeing prospects in their 22-23 age season and up playing in low A, especially the fringey ones. And I definitely don't want to see any top 10 round college picks starting 2018 in Great Falls, which is my concern. 2017 is obviously fine, but you got to get most of these guys to high A pretty quickly if you want them facing age appropriate talent.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 09:34 AM) Out of curiosity why would you calculate strikeout rate by ABs and not PAs? You wouldn't, I think it's simply a common mistake people make.

QUOTE (Butter Parque @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 12:10 PM) I think this is dead on. This wasn't a draft where the club was looking to bolster its 1-5 prospect rankings. This draft looks like one that will be used to provide actual depth in the 10-15, 15-20 area going forward. Hahn has talked about this being priority. Rebuilding means you're going to get your fair share of very high picks in the future which will allow you to restock the top of the farm system. The goal of this draft seems to be to ensure that the club is developing real depth in the lower rungs. Where are all these guys going to play though? Kannapolis is already stocked with these types (Booker, Roman, Remillard, Zavala, etc.) plus you have some legitimate prospects in Fisher & Adolfo. Even if all those guys move up (which they should), there should be an influx of young talent already in the system hitting full season ball next year with guys like Robert, Nunez, Curbelo, Hickman/Perez, Zangari, & perhaps other Latin guys. So long-story short, both high A & low A are going to be stocked with bodies as is. A chunk of these draftees are going to get stuck in short season ball and not get the development they need. Would have been great to add at least a couple high schoolers to spread out our talent throughout the system.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 10:17 AM) Kahnle has pitched 25 great innings so far. It's way too soon to declare him anything like Chapman or Giles. We really don't have any use for Kahnle the next few seasons as we are rebuilding, and I absolutely would dangle him, along with most of our roster, at the deadline. Asking 2 top 100 prospects is absurd at this point though for Kahnle straight up But so is asking for one low end top 100 prospect for Kahnle. If we eat some money, we should be able to get one 80 - 100 type prospect for Robertson plus a lottery ticket. Two guys like that isn't nearly enough for both David & Kahnle. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, we should most definitely dangle Kahnle, but the price should be steep. Not Chapman/Miller steep, but the price should reflect the cost of a quality young reliever with elite upside. If I could get a prospect in the 35 to 50 range or two in the 80 to 100 range, I would take that deal in a heartbeat, but otherwise I'm gambling that Kahnle will remain an elite reliever the rest of the season.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 10:02 AM) Yep. Even with all the Ks, Davidson has shown enough this year to convince me that he's a useful piece for the Sox - maybe not as an everyday 3B, but certainly as a bench bat. He definitely looks like he can be a dangerous platoon bench bat (.936 OPS against lefties) that can fill in at 3B, 1B, & DH. Right now I don't expect much more than that, but he's earned a a full-time look until something better presents itself. It's going to be interesting to see how things shake out after the trade deadline. I'd really like to see Davidson, Delmonico, & Willy Garcia all get regular playing time. A rotation between 3B, LF, & DH should allow for that while ensuring alll these guys get some time in the field.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 08:19 AM) He doesn't have near the power as Davidson, nor the strikeout rate. Raw power no doubt, but prior to this major league stint, in game power wasn't much different for them at Charlotte.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 07:30 AM) - He is Davidson with a worse glove. I could see 15-20 HR but a .250 hitter who maybe could play 1st or DH. Delmonico's hitting profile is completely different than Davidson's. Nicky has a K rate of 17% this year, while Matt's best season in Charlotte was last year at 26.4%. And this is despite similar power (in game) & BB rates. Delmonico is a much better hitter IMO and has a better chance of sticking in the majors assuming he can find a spot defensively (perhaps LF).

Right now I'd say Delmonico by default. I'm somewhat disappointed with Fisher. For a polished college hitter who is 1 1/2 years old than league average, he should really be dominating low A. And when you account for his defense, he really needs to hit pretty well to be of any real value. I still like Call but it's frustrating that he's missed most of the season. Hopefully he can get back soon and still have close to half of a season to develop. Adolfo has definitely grown his prospect status with a significant improvement in power, but plate discipline still has a long ways to go before I get overly excited. And that leaves Bababe, who has had an extremely disappoint season so far. He still has all the tools and put up a great second half last year, so I'm not going to panic just yet, but he's got to show something before I move him up this list.

Kahnle should definitely be on the market this deadline. I have no idea whether a team will bite on what should be a fairly steep price, but it's definitely worth finding out.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jun 13, 2017 -> 08:04 PM) Man, 32 player names in one post. May be a caufield record. Lol...I think you may be right!

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 13, 2017 -> 04:41 PM) I'm going the other way. I can't imagine a water polo player, signed to Long Beach State won't go there. His scholarship is worth more than the slot money. Unless the sox go way overslot, I don't think there's much of a chance. Teams can agree to pay for college costs in addition to any bonus money.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 13, 2017 -> 12:37 PM) Above average defender with great instincts and an arm that can top out at 90mph from the mound, a very discerning eye, above average speed and left handed. If it all comes together we could be looking at a Ender Inciarte type of player. Klaw had him mocked to go at the end of the first round a few mocks ago. Fits the mold of what Hahn and Hostetler want and could move quickly through the system. Will create a nice wave of talent and depth with Burger, Sheets, Call, Fisher and Dickman. Who is Dickman?

Petricka had a nice game last night, would be great if he could go on a little run up until the deadline. I think packaging a secondary arm like him or Swarzak could go a long towards differentiating Robertson on the market. And if someone is willing to pay a steep price, Kahnle should be on the table as well.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 11:28 PM) Hawkins and Barnum have hit a combined .151 in Birmingham and struck out in approx. 42.8% of their plate appearances. Even as minor league filler, I don't see a point in keeping either of them in the organization. Pretty sad pair of first round draft picks, from the same draft to boot.

I'll fully admit I don't like drafting for need, but our system desperately needs positional talent. I check our minor league box scores every day and there's not even one interesting guy in AA and basically only two guys in high A of note. Adding Robert, Burger, & Sheets will definitely help. Those guys should all start in high A next year along with Adolfo and perhaps Fisher or Basabe. We should also start seeing some of our recent Latin America sigings like Nunez hit low A next year. If we can add a few more positional prospects at the trade deadline or during the offseason, our 2018 rosters will look much better than our 2017 ones.

Interesting pair of picks, total deviation from the raw/toolsy picks of years past. Both guys should be relatively quick movers too. I fully expect the Sox to go prep heavy in rounds 3 - 10, at least when compared to our recent drafts.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 09:47 PM) Sox have two bats at the top of their list right now and an agreement for a pitcher if the bats don't make it. Any hints raBBit?