Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 06:57 PM) Very good range there from Garcia. Of course, for him to be a regular, he would have to be nearly Gold Glove caliber at the major league level. Garcia has some nice physical tools, but if you can turn him into a quality utility guy I think that's a win. I just don't see his defense getting to the level that will offset his lack of a hit tool.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 06:47 PM) So I guess Leesman is our new Axe. Left-handed Axe > Right-handed Axe

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 04:51 PM) There are a couple guys who could be mid-rotation (Beck, Danish), a handful of guys who have a good shot at back end starters, and a number of "intriguing arm" types. But the system completely lacks depth in terms of #1 or #2 guys (not uncommon, but to have none is not great). Beck is a #3 IF it comes together, in my view. Danish is hard to predict, but I see him as a #4 most likely, assuming his delivery can handle starting. And those are the two guys with a likely major league floor (if healthy) that have the highest ceilings, IMO. There are guys like Ortiz or Montas that have some intrigue, but also high bust likelihood. This is the right draft at the right time for the Sox. There is some pitching depth there, but most of it is back-end starters and relievers. This is a realistic view of our pitching depth. I agree with everything you said other than your ceiling for Danish. Regardless, the system's strength has clearly moved towards the position player side. Just look at our top 15 prospects and few of them are pitchers. You should always draft BPA with your first 10 picks in the draft, but leaning towards pitching this year would go a long ways towards adding balance to the system.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 02:32 PM) I think the Sox pitching depth has rapidly become underrated...and I absolutely think they should target a pitcher here. The pitchers by everyone's account are just standing head and shoulders above the position players. And there's no such thing as too much top flight pitching. Pitching depth has become underrated? Please elaborate because I'm not seeing this so called "depth".

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 12:44 AM) I put Trayce, Davidson, Mitchell and Phegley. Davidson because he was ready entering the season and I think a promotion could do him some good. Trayce because if he keeps raking, get him here. Phegley because it would mean he earned the promotion hopefully. Mitchell to see if he has anything left. Mitchell has shown he has nothing left against AA & AAA pitching, there is absolutely no reason to call him up to the majors.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 09:47 PM) Well, I was more talking about his last few years, but if we're talking about the year, he's not been great, but he's not been awful either. Hasn't walked many. Very low sample-size to be reading too much into. Plus he's coming off an injury. Fielding independent pitching. It attempts to show what an ERA should look like over a period of time. Accounts for guys with artificially low/high ERAs because of bad/good luck that they don't control. It's a better predictor of future performance than ERA. Fangraphs uses it over ERA to calculate pitcher WAR. It was actually 3.08 before tonight. Now 3.41. What's the better stat, FIP or xFIP? Also, we couldn't even get a lottery ticket prospect for Lindstrom last year. I'm not saying he's a horrible reliever, but he's not a closer and that's not just based on his performance so far this year.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 09:17 PM) It's cool that we have a new Matt The Bullpen Guy Who Everyone Abuses Constantly Despite His Statistical Decency so soon after Thornton left. What numbers are you looking at that makes him look decent? He's blown 3 saves, his WHIP sucks, and his K rate is terrible.

I'm sorry, but Lindstrom doesn't have closer stuff. Hope he gets the save, but he's beyond terrifying to watch in the 9th.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 09:07 PM) Early on, this looked like a game that was going to get out of hand and not in a good way. It would be a really nice win. Why couldn't you wait two outs before saying this?!

Holy f*** you suck Lindstrom.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 10:39 PM) This. He's just getting his first taste of American ball period. Expect some adjustment time. The key is that the power is as good as advertised. The rest of his game should improve with time.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 09:01 AM) This criterea for spending money is too narrow when you have a farm system as empty as the Sox have. They're going to lose whatever advantage the Abreu and Sale contracts give them if they wait for this system to fill a hole or two before spending money. Why are posters so against spending money? You're right, but we need to spend that money on impact players and not marginal free agents. The guys you wanted to add would have made the team better, but not that much better and would have eaten our financial flexibility going forward.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 19, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) Where's the we have 7 starters crowd? We still have two weeks left in April and we're down to 4. I 100% agree that our starting pitching depth was overrated by some here. However, I think most of those posters used that "depth" as reason behind not signing a mediocre free agent starter, which is still the right call for us. Tanaka made sense for us, guys like Santana did not. Regardless, hitting on this #3 pick will be crucial for the long-term well being for our rotation.

You got to think at least one of Aiken & Kolek goes 1-1/1-2, which would make Hoffman or Rodon available at our pick. I'll be extremely happy with either of those guys. I just don't want Beede at 1-3, he doesn't have the ceiling to warrant such a high pick IMO. Would prefer either of the two HS arms if it came down to it, although I think Hahn is all about the college arms.

Scoreless bullpen! It may have only been 2 1/3 innings, but at least it's progress.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 10:44 PM) End it here Marcus! Thank you!

End it here Marcus!

Big at-bat coming up.

QUOTE (beautox @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 07:55 PM) I'm with you I too would love to have seen what Avi could produce but at the same time its refreshing to know that they will have a definitive answer about Viciedo this season and probably Danks as well, is he a 4th OF a 5th OF or just AAAA fodder. Yeah, losing Avi sucks, no way around it. But I'm glad Viciedo will be getting one last opportunity. I know it's early, but I've really liked what I've seen out of Viciedo so far. His 11.8 BB % is proof he's trying to be more selective. Whether or not he can sustain a rate close to that level remains to be seen, but at least he understands what it will take for him to be a quality major league hitter and he's working towards that goal.

Peavy approaching 50 pitches through 2. Hopefully we can get to their bullpen early today and put them in a bad spot for the rest of the series.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 04:33 PM) Lets hope Johnson bounces back or at least gives us 6+ solid innings Seeing his velocity improve would make me happy. Seems like he's been down 1-2 MPH on his fastball this year, so getting his stuff back would be a huge step in the right direction. If his struggles were to continue at that point, then you start to worry about him a bit. Right now, I'm more concerned with getting velocity on track than actual results.

The question isn't whether or not Beckham can up his trade value, but rather is it probable. It's one thing to give Beckham regular playing time if we didn't have a major league ready option at 2B, but we do have that player available and there's an opportunity cost to sending him to Charlotte. Semien clearly has advanced plate discipline for his age and I would argue like Eminor did that he'd be better off facing major league pitching right now vs. AAA pitching. Keeping him at the major league level will allow him to go through his growing pains now and put him in better position to be an above-average contributor next season. I just don't think Beckham is likely to play well enough to get us a return that offsets delaying Semien's development. In fact, I would argue that the best way to increase his value is by making him our reserve IF and giving him playing time at both SS & 3B. If he could handle those positions, his market would expand because there aren't going to be a lot of players available at the deadline that can fill those positions. You probably won't get a ton for him, but I'd rather gamble on him being able to demonstrate defensive versatility in the coming weeks than him finally putting it together with bat. And perhaps only playing 3 or 4 days a week would help keep him healthy.

IMO, Viciedo & Danks both end the season as regulars. Not sure if that means De Aza is traded or moved to the 4th outfielder role permantly, but I don't see him holding the job all season with us.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 06:14 PM) Is this the thread where I state that Gillaspie is a better fit as the 3rd baseman of the Sox for the next 5 years than Davidson is? Gillaspie isn't great, but he provides some solid offense as a lefty hitter in a lineup stacked with righties in the middle of the order. Conor is starting to look legit against RHP, but he still sucks against lefties. I still think his role is ultimately as a utility player that can fill in at 3B, 1B, 2B & LF. Obviously he'd have to learn a few positions there, but there's no reason we couldn't get his bat into the lineup 4 or 5 times a week if he's backing up Davidson, Abreu, Semien, & Viciedo (or whoever the LF is) next year. With a four man bench like we typically go with, I think having a reserve like that would be ideal.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 05:54 PM) Yes, I believe Marcus is already better than Gordon. Semien should be our starting 2b right now. Agree 100% with this. Marcus is an incredibly smart, selective hitter. He'll have his struggles at times, but offers an offensive dimension that Beckham doesn't possess. He also fits the 2 hole perfectly and makes the entire lineup better. His ability to take pitches not only helps to wear down opposing pitchers but also gives our middle of the order hitters more looks prior to their at-bats. Semien may never be a star, but he's exactly what this team needs more of offensively. QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 05:56 PM) After 14 games you say this? I remember hw Josh Fields was anointed as the next 3Bman of the future based on half a year stats and where did he go? Please don't compare Semien to Fields. They are nothing alike as hitters and it's an incredibly lazy comparison in hopes of making a point that doesn't exist. Like I said before, Semien is an incredibly smart, selective hitter. Prospects with his skills typically translate well to the majors and everything I've seen from him suggests the same.