royoung

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jun 9, 2014 -> 01:04 PM) Doesn't Hahn supposedly have a hood relationship with Boras? This post will probably be edited to "good" from "hood" but I immediate picture Hahn and Boras wearing wife beaters and bandanas throwing up gang signs.

Is this where we post signing updates? Not sure how much this means, but Kevin Burrell (White Sox scout) tweeted a picture with Spencer Adams with a Sox cap on, which Adams then retweeted. An encouraging sign I would say. https://twitter.com/KDB_MLB/status/476019697813815296 Would be nice to have him and Rodon signed quickly so we know how much leftover cash we have to throw at Montes de Oca.

Wow, didn't realize Keith Law had Bryce Montes de Oca #32 overall on his big board. If we somehow find a way to sign him that would be a huge, huge win. Also, I don't see Jake Jarvis on BA's top 500? Am I missing something? I thought he was highly regarded?

I think our biggest steal was Spencer Adams. I know of a few experts who were convinced he was going to the Dodgers at #22, and probably would have if not for Holmes falling to them.

From MLB.com "It hasn't been easy to see Peter on the mound, as he didn't pitch as a freshman and worked just 22 1/3 innings the past two seasons as a part-time closer. In those brief looks, he has shown a swing-and-miss fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and tops out at 96. He's not a big guy, but he has a quick arm and a reasonably sound delivery. Peter shows signs of a decent breaking ball and has the competitive edge to develop into a late-inning reliever. Like most two-way performers, he prefers playing everyday to pitching, so the team that drafts him may have to send him out as a second baseman and make him a full-time pitcher down the road. Peter is a prospect as a second baseman, too, though his ceiling is more as a utilityman than as a regular. He handles the bat well, lacks pop and is an average runner, so he'll probably fit toward the bottom of a pro lineup. He has a strong arm and is a surehanded defender who made just two errors as a junior." That's not a good sign when they spent half the write-up talking about his pitching ability then say his ceiling is a ULT guy.

Cubs get Cease. Finally going to start using some of that saved money.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 10:51 AM) You are probably in love with Davidson's potential, and you probably loved the Reed trade when it happened. Fact is, his average was between .240 and .280 throughout his minor league career, going back to 2009. Then he goes downhill this year. Fact is, this is his 6th year of pro ball. Fact is, the star of Montas appears to be rising, and I say this objectively. He has a long way to go, but he fits the description of prospect; Davidson does not. Things might change later for both players, but right now any ML franchise would love to have Montas; Davidson, not so much. Davidson will never be a .300 average guy, that is not his appeal. His value is his power for doubles and homers at a premium position. He is right at or above in all the key percentages this year: 2014: HR% 3.6 XBH% 47.2 BB% 8.6 BABIP .246 Minor League Career HR% 3.2 XBH% 40.5 BB% 9.5 BABIP .306 Notice the big difference in BABIP? Do you think that it would stay around .250 because of 200 plate appearances or return to his career norm over nearly 3,00 plate appearances?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 11:23 PM) 1.) Rodon 2.) Anderson 3.) Adams 4.) Hawkins 5.) Davidson 6.) Johnson 7.) Montas 8.) Sanchez 9.) Beck 10.) Danish 10b.) Trey M. I'm drinking the Montas kool aid. God does our system look so much better already. Seems like every updated top ten has Adams over Danish. I am just curious why everyone vaults an unproven high schooler drafted in the 2nd round over last year's 2nd round high schooler who has dominated low-A ball and has done well in A+. It's true Adams is rated higher at the time of the draft then Danish was, but all Danish has done is get people out so far.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 11:41 PM) So I imagine the FO is ecstatic right now? I know everyone loves Reetz but his swing left-handed isn't pretty. You can definitely tell he's a natural righty. I do like the idea and would be happy with the pick but at some point we have to start scaling back to afford Rodon and Adams. I'd say just about everyone is ecstatic about the first two selections. Rodon is a legit stud who is not far from contributing to our major league team and Spencer Adams was a first round talent with considerable upside. It's a best of both worlds, knock it out of the park, round 1 & 2.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 06:36 PM) Nah, they want a middling colllege bat apparently. Gammons, senile as he is, seems pretty convinced "he's the most advanced college bat". Uh, no, that's Jackson. Jackson is a high schooler

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 06:10 PM) Spoilers allowed in here? Guess so? EDIT: DON'T DO IT

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 06:08 PM) Aiken to Houston per Law and Manuel DAMNIT

Man this is anti-climatic. MLB needs to call whoever runs the NFL draft. Get an audience, get a big clock, whatever

Kiley McDaniel ‏@kileymcd 4m Sounds like none of the top picks are set w/5 minutes until the draft starts. Industry is throwing its hands up. My mock has no prayer. Haha that's awesome!

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mock-...the-final-mock/ Another Kolek selection. Seems to be all Kolek or Nola.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 04:16 PM) John Manuel ‏@johnmanuelba 1m Here's how volatile this #mlbdraft is: team in top 5 may switch gears in a big way, here 2 hours prior to start. Chaotic first round WHAT DO YOU MEAN JOHN MANUEL??? TELL US YOUR SECRETS!!

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 04:06 PM) I just find it so bizarre that 4 hrs before the draft the consensus on Kolek's secondary stuff is below average when all I'm hearing before was that it was rarely used but above average. It's all fun and games to speculate on upside but when the chips are down it's hard to bet on it.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) Yes...you put him in the OF and let him swing away. That's what your drafting him for. Haha the fact we answered simultaneously completely opposite of each other should tell everyone what type of draft this is going to be. Wacky

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 02:53 PM) Is Jackson the overwhelming top bat? No. There is talk of Conforto or the Indiana kid being the first hitter drafted above Jackson.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 02:49 PM) If you can get a potential ace for $5M you take the chance over a "sure" #2-3. Would you want a 10% shot at drafting and developing an ace or a 80% shot at drafting a #3? I'm those types of conversations are occurring in war rooms right now, possibly ours.

In Keith Law's latest and last mock he has some interesting notes. On Houston's plan: "Analysis: I'm still hearing they're down to Aiken, Carlos Rodon, or Alex Jackson, perhaps even just Aiken or Jackson, but the late rumors that they're still on Tyler Kolek aren't true. They're not likely to get a huge discount on any of those guys, nothing like the Carlos Correa situation a few years ago -- a deal that looks like an unbelievable bargain in hindsight -- but might opt for the player who allows them to save an extra half-million or million if they think it strengthens their position in later rounds." On Miami: "Analysis: The Marlins are apparently praying for Rodon to get to them, and would take him over Alex Jackson or Brady Aiken." So sounds like Rodon to the Sox isn't happening if Miami won't let him fall past them. The only scenario where we get Aiken is if Houston goes in a completely different direction and drafts Jackson. Or I suppose Houston drafts Rodon and Miami takes Jackson or Kolek rather than Aiken.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 11:05 AM) No that is not the case. Movement and control ADDED to velocity is always more important. In the Major Leagues you have to pitch off your fastball and then after that usually is the change. That's why Nola is the safer pick. But if you develop the guy that can work in the mid to high 90's with a plus slider or curveball then instead of the opposing offense having to force their opportunities by putting the bat on the ball they're in the dugout praying for rain. Tyler Danish tops out at 90 MPH and is our top pitching prospect currently. EDIT: He actually sits more in the 85-89 range, but has topped out at 92. Nathaniel Stoltz ‏@stoltz_baseball Apr 30 Kannapolis RHP Tyler Danish 89-91 T92 in the first, 85-89 T91 after, plus sink, SL 77-82 flashes plus w/tilt, okay CH 77-82.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:59 AM) I though I read he sits more in the 92-94 range. I agree Kolek has the higher upside but I don't know if I risk it here. The Sox have taken too many "higher upside" players lately and the system has suffered. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/sec...salute-to-nola/ Yes, he maintained 92-94 into the 8th inning according to Baseball America's Aaron Fitt. Also touched 96 early, but was probably just the adrenaline.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:55 AM) Also an interesting though. I'd be much happier with Kolek pick if it saved, say a million dollars. Perhaps that is why he is "sliding?" Sox could leak info saying they prefer Nola and hope that Kolek's camp panics.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:51 AM) This is what I don't understand. Stone is just as anti-saber as Hawk. He mentions wins when judging pitchers seasons. Yet it is totally ignored. I do agree he knows a bit about pitching, and when they had the TJ segment the other day, his part where he showed how the younger HS guys throw breaking balls incorrectly causing eventual problems was top notch. But Stone is just as anti-HS pitcher as Hawk. I'm not implying Stone is a pitching savant, just that his opinion on the top pitchers would be more astute than say, Hawk's. But people still try to find clues in Hawk's ramblings about HS pitchers, when I don't think him or Steve Stone are clued much about the front office's preferences. Generally speaking, it wouldn't be a very wise decision to let two people who have to fill three hours of air space nightly know your intimate draft scouting reports and preferences.