Chicago White Sox

Bobby Jenks is terms of coming up as a rookie and filling the closer spot. Not suggesting he’s going to be as good as Bobby Jenks was.

I fully agree.

I love the EST! I’m in Orlando right now and was going to go this route had they won last night.

The best part of the above is that it’s possible we don’t need to go out and add an expensive closer at the deadline. As such, our ammo could be focused on adding a much needed SP. I remain committed to the Sonny Gray idea. Beyond the potential cash cost of acquiring him, Gray also comes with a $19M+ CBT hit for his last two months based on how the tax accounting works. That could be very problematic for a Braves team already above the first luxury tax threshold and might put the Sox in a very favorable position given Sonny’s NTC and geographical desires. In terms of prospect cost, I still believe it could be reasonable if we’re willing to absorb a large chunk of his salary & buyout. I think there is a tier of prospects after what I will refer as the “big seven” that I think could get the job done. For reference, the big 7 includes J. Gonzalez, Bonemer, Carlson, Fauske, H. Smith, McDougel, & Sandlin. The tier in focus is primarily a mix of infielders and RHPs. For the former, the group would include Bergola, Shelton, Lodise, Mogollon, & Boughton. For the latter, the group would include Davis, Adams, LaCombe, & George. I’d also include Boston Smith within this group. Give up two or three of these guys, depending on which ones, and I think it might be able to get a deal done.

McDougal has made three straight relief appearances in the minors. Unlike with Shane Smith, they aren’t trying to stretch him out again. This suggests a role in the Sox’s bullpen is very likely in the near future and @Y2Jimmy0 has suggested he’s heard the same. This kid could be our Bobby Jenks and quickly ascend to the closer role. If he does, you could be looking at this bullpen: CL: McDougal SU: Taylor SU: Hudson MR Newcomb* MR: Hicks MR: Murphy* MR: Dominguez LR: Richards That could be a really good bullpen. Yes, Dominguez has sucked so far but I still believe that we can we right him enough to be our 7th best guy worst case scenario. Richards would be your weakest guy stuff wise, but has been super valuable & productive in his mop up duty role. Hopefully someone eventually pushes for that spot or we add for a SP and the domino effects knock Richards out ahead of the playoffs. Until then, he serves an important role this team.

Update: Murakami began his rehab assignment in AAA yesterday playing 1B and going 1/3 with a single and two K’s. If today goes well, there is a real chance he could be up for the start of the Athletics series on Friday. Pereira remains out with concussion symptoms still flaring up and there is no clear timeline on his return. Hays is making progress with a rehab assignment likely shortly after the All Star break. Thorpe is throwing live BP and hopefully not far off from starting his own rehab assignment. Bush & Berroa are way behind in their recoveries from TJS and both appear to be unlikely contributors for the Sox this year. On the minor league side, McDougal, Gonzalez, & Adams have completed their rehab assignments and are back in AAA. Tanner being used a pure reliever is an interesting development and could quickly allow him to enter the major league mix. Gonzalez & Adams remain two of the important depth pieces in AAA, but are still getting some rust off. Shane threw 51 pitches and 2 1/3 innings for the Dash last night giving up 3 runs with 6 K’s & 2 BB’s. Bergola has now missed nearly three months with a bone bruise, but appears to be close to a return. IL - Rehab Assignment: Murakami, 1B - Hamstring (5/29) 7/10/15 Day IL: Pereira, OF - Concussion (6/17) Gilbert, LHP - Shoulder (6/9) AAA IL: H. Smith, LHP - Shoulder (6/16) S. Smith, RHP - Rotator Cuff (5/3) Bergola, IF - Shin (4/13) 60 Day IL: Hays, OF - Calf (5/1) Bush, LHP - Shoulder (Apr/May) Thorpe, RHP - Appendix (Apr/May) Berroa, RHP - Elbow (Apr/May) Leasure, RHP - Forearm (5/27) Out for Season: Baldwin, UT - Elbow (4/1) Murray, IF - Shoulder (4/26) Vasil, RHP - TJS (Mar)

Update on Hays & Pereira per Sox Machine:

Define early. Not sure they are all that much riskier after the 1st round. Regardless, always let the draft class dictate the strategy. If there aren’t a lot of good college arms for the early rounds, then don’t force the issue.

Against two lefties no less

Can’t let the Red Sox get out of that situation with only one run given up.

So he is pitching out of relief then?

Yup, need to cut the gap to two at minimum

Let’s get some fucking runs!!!

Mock draft for the fun of it. This will likely look stupid when half of these guys aren’t even selected anywhere close to these picks & amounts, but f*** it let’s have some fun and dream a bit! #001 - Roch Cholowsky, SS (Jr) ($9.75M | -$1.6M vs. slot) #041 - Carson Bolemon, LHP (HS) ($2.9M | +$0.4M vs. slot) #077 - Joey Volchko, RHP (Jr) ($1.1M | equal to slot) #105 - Landon Thome, SS (HS) ($2.5M | +$1.8M vs. slot) #137 - Brody Bumila, LHP (HS) ($1.2M | +$0.7M vs. slot) Puts us $400k over slot for these picks + 5% overage, which would require to us to go with Seniors in the 9th & 10th. Requires two big assumptions that may not be realistic but fun to think about about. 1) Thome throws out ridiculous bonus demands to convince teams not to draft him. He ultimately accepts slot value of the 41st overall pick, but gamemanship allows us to get him down to the 4th round. 2) Bumila is now willing to accept low 2nd round money based on news of his UCL injury. I’m assuming this info will tank his value, but also avoid going the college route to take the bird in the hand. Totally get this is probably unrealistic, but ultimately I want Roch at the 1.01 and a lot of high risk, high reward talent with our next four picks and ideally very prep heavy.

Interesting. Did he only make two appearances? If so, they didn’t push past a single inning in either. I said it in another thread, but I think they are fast tracking for a bullpen role with the major league club.

I don’t like this lineup. Would have rather seen something like this: C. Meidroth, 2B M. Vargas, 3B C. Montgomery, SS* R. Grichuk, DH J. Gonzalez, 1B* Perez, RF K. Teel, CA* L. Acuna, CF S. Antonacci, LF*

You have in this very thread underscored all of Roch’s tools and said Emerson has no carrying tools. You are 100% entitled to have differing opinions. Liking Lackey ahead of Roch or Emerson is a completely fair take. Disliking one of the two way more than consensus would be reasonable as would having one or two guys outside of the big three ahead of them. Having four guys beyond Lackey above both of them is just not an objective take IMO. Yes, scouts and talent evaluators will have different assessments on the players on this draft class, but the general consensus is there is a clear top three. I highly doubt there are many scouts who have Roch & Emerson both outside their top 5. Again, had you not already inaccurately discredited the tools of the two players in question and had different reasons for preferring five guys over them then maybe I could take your view on this seriously. And to be clear, I usually value your opinion on things. Different is very good and should be welcomed here. I just feel for some reason you are inherently biased on this particular subject.

This is an absolutely ridiculous take. No scout would have Roch or Emerson ranked 6th or lower. Just a clickbait post looking for attention.

Oh I know the difference. All the time zone nerds like yourself whining about this non stop have made me spend the 8 seconds of google needed to know the difference.

I don’t disagree with the rest of your assessment by the way. But the reason Emerson is in the mix for the 1.01 is because of his hit tool.

Because we keep winning

Now Emerson doesn’t have a high end hit tool?

Let’s fucking go!!!

You’re correct that some of them won’t require a spot until the offseason, but there are other guys who may need a spot at some in Hagen Smith, Adams, Iriarte, & Pallette that were ahead of Peoples. There is still good reason not to add more pain to the problem.

AI article?