royoung

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.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:41 AM) I like what I've read, but what scares me is Nola's scouting reports sounds a bit like Broadway. You know, good command with good off speed pitches. But Nola is not Broadway so if the Sox draft him all we can do is hope Nola doesn't turn out to be Broadway 2.0. Aaron Fitt of BA saw his start in the SEC Tournament against Arkansas and said he was at 95-96 in a first inning or so, then sat 92-94 until the 8th. That would do just fine.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:36 AM) Hawk is far more dialed in than you think. They still seek his opinions on players, and he talks to scouts all the time. I believe they ask his opinions as he has been around the game of baseball for 50 years, but I don't think he's a big influence. If anything, Steve Stone's brain would be the one to pick, as we are considering several different pitchers.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:30 AM) I believe Keith Law has a new mock up this morning with the Sox taking Nola. Not an insider though, so can't verify. Correct. He has Kolek falling to #8 which seems to be the buzz. His analysis on Nola to the Sox is below: "Analysis: I've heard they'd now take Nola over Tyler Kolek, although Kolek would still be in play here. I have conflicting notes on whether they'd take Carlos Rodon if he gets here."

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 10:13 AM) Aiken Rodon Nola With that said, I completely understand why they would choose Nola over Kolek. Kolek would go against everything that Hawk (mouthpiece of the organization?) has preached against. I view Hawk more as the senile grandfather of the organization. Is a dignified figure in theory, but in reality is kind of a embarrassment.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 09:47 AM) It's a VERY realistic scenario. If Rodon goes 1.1, the consensus seems to be Jackson goes 1.2, leaving Aiken to fall in our laps. I think saying Jackson is the "consensus" to go to Miami is a big stretch. There was some rumor from a Cubs blogger that they had a deal with him. That's not really news, most teams at the top have handshake deals with many players, it's just good sense to know what kind of dollars you can expect when you select someone. I would love Jackson to the Marlins as much as anyone because how much it helps the Sox, but I give it a 20% chance, with Rodon/Aiken the more realistic possibility.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 09:42 AM) I don't think it is anything against Kolek as much as just an organizational philosophy. Well if you are referring to their aversion to high school pitchers by all accounts Aiken seems to be #1 on their board. I am hoping like hell he falls to them some how.

Seth Lakso ‏@SethLakso 3m MLB draft updates per a source: looking like hou - aiken, mia - rodon.. And #whitesox now split on Kolek/Nola Previously he said the Sox were split "50/50" on Kolek or Rodon. So apparently they really like Nola? Or are not sold on Kolek?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospect...php?reportid=78 Nice scouting report on Tim Anderson

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) From what I've read/heard on podcasts, the knock on Rodon has been the inconsistency of his stuff. The velocity has fluctuated a lot and there have been starts where he only "flashes" his 80 slider. As always, you fear that kind of inconsistency because pitchers' raw "stuff" tends to decline steadily from the day they are drafted; guys never throw harder than in their early 20's, typically. I thought the biggest knock on him this season was his fastball command, I didn't hear many complaints about his slider, aside from overusing it. But the "inconsistency of his stuff" could be a byproduct of the increased attention, if you see every single pitch he throws all year, you aren't going to get eye-popping stuff every outing. My point on Rodon, and again remember I prefer Aiken and would be fine with Kolek, is that he's had 49 starts in college under intense scrutiny and pitched extremely well. Even when is stuff wasn't on, he rarely gets rocked or leaves a game early. Brady Aiken made 11 starts this year against local high school batters, that's a very small sample size to justify a 5.71 million decision. I will be fascinated on Thursday if the Sox have to choose between Rodon and Kolek/Aiken or even Nola and Kolek/Aiken.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 08:33 AM) Lol me too. But I think they'd sign him. He's seen his stock plummet over the course of a year, he won't risk it to be put in a position with even less leverage next year. I understand it's all about stuff and projectability, but I think it's funny people are considering Rodon's season such a disappointment. His numbers improved nearly across the board from last season, lower ERA, walk rate, and homer rate. The only things that spiked were his H/9, but when you decrease walks that will happen, his WHIP only increased slightly. His strikeout rate per nine innings for 2014 was actually above his mythical 2012 freshmen season number (10.67 to 10.60). Honestly I think the biggest reason Rodon's stock fell this year is the incredibly scrutiny that was placed on him and the rise of the other prospects. I personally prefer Aiken, but if we ended up with Rodon we are getting a very, very good pitcher who has been a workhorse under the microscope for a long time.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 03:04 PM) If those are Law's words, well, I have backed Law a lot, but holy s***, way to go out on a limb. Well, it is kind of shocking to hear them "maybe" on Rodon and Nola, the top two college arms, and instead on two high school pitchers. Definitely not your usual White Sox draft board the past ten years.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 02:56 PM) That is if the Sox take Kolek IMO. Everything I hear out of Cubs camp is they are not in on Kolek so even if Kolek fell out of top three they'd still be looking at Gordon/Pentecost/Conforto/Nola. Who knows if the media's right but it's been said across the board that the Cubs aren't interested in Kolek. I don't buy it, especially from the Cubs. They were "all over" Appel and Gray last year and shocked everyone by selecting Bryant. IF the Jackson Marlins connection has any validity, we would get to choose between whoever Houston passes on plus Kolek. In that scenario, Kolek would be the dark horse rather than the favorite, IMO.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 02:49 PM) So is Houston down to Aiken or Rodon only? Supposedly Rodon, Aiken, or Jackson. If Jackson is *rumored* to be willing to cut a deal for Miami then I bet he would for Houston. I bet offers and negotiations are just flying around right about now.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 02:25 PM) Some rumors on twitter about a predraft agreement between Marlins and Alex Jackson. That would make both baseball teams in Chicago very, very happy.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...mers-walks-off/ Recap posted. Nice night for the top offensive prospects

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jun 2, 2014 -> 01:29 PM) Yeah that's kind of scary. To be fair, he hasn't exactly done anything since he has gotten to pro ball. Keenyn Walker ‏@Keenyn_Walker This is by far the worst feeling I think I've ever had! Feels like I'm the only one that has my back! Is he high? He's .155/.231/.236 this year, the Sox have his back by doing him a favor and demoting him. Which is what they should of done with Hawkins last year, IMO.