royoung

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/05/52114-recap/ Recap posted. Got to it later than usual last night.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ May 20, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) Yes, and he had two plus secondary pitches coming into the draft, Kolek has one average level secondary pitch. Kolek may be able to develop good secondary stuff, but your scouts have to have determined his feel for pitching and whether he has the potential for developing that stuff, something he has never needed before. Aiken on the other hand has four secondary offerings, three of which are considered plus. People fall in love with a big fastball because it can set up the secondary offerings, but I'll take a good mix over it in most starting prospects.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 20, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) Thompson had a pretty good April. It's just that this May is bad, real bad. Same story with him. He'll be a stud for a few weeks then disappear for a month. He's 23 and repeating the level he should doing better against AA pitching.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 20, 2014 -> 02:11 PM) keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 2m NC State, with the best pitcher in this draft class and one of the best position players, was bounced from the ACC tournament on day one. Rodon pitched poorly in his last start, but overall was stronger in the 2nd half. It's good he's done, it means he can rest his arm longer this summer.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 20, 2014 -> 02:11 AM) You'd be hard-pressed with Micah Johnson gone to name one of the Barons' current starters that has a good chance at being a major league regular in the future. Perhaps Ravelo, but he's got to prove himself over a full-season, show a bit more pop and also stay 100% healthy. Yeah that lineup is mostly organizational depth now. I'm a fan of Ravelo, he just turned 22 and has an advanced hit tool, but we'll see if he has a place defensively in Chicago. Trayce Thompson looks to be nothing more than a 4th outfielder at this point. EDIT: I forgot Kevan Smith, he's old for the level, but he's a good athlete and has hit well at every level. He's got a shot at making it.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 16, 2014 -> 08:39 PM) 4 errors for Anderson tonight...up to 17 Might be time for him to get some practice in the OF.

Sale has 5 strikeouts after two innings. Is that good?

Sale starts off in the most predictable way possible, a strikeout.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 16, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) I think the Twins are locked onto SS Nick Gordon. I don't think the Cubs would pass on Kolek with Aiken/Rodon off the board. Man the best case scenario would be Rodon going #1 it sounds like. Miami would take Jackson or Kolek, leaving the White Sox with the no brainer selection of Brady Aiken. I read somewhere that Nick Gordon has a pre-draft deal with the Twins.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...rticle_75655476 Mocks are coming in hot and heavy. MLB's has us getting Aiken too. Now I am convinced we won't.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2014-...mock-draft-2-0/ Baseball America release their second mock and it is full of surprises. Alex Jackson goes to Miami, White Sox get Aiken, and Kolek falls all the way to #7.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?c...mp;ymd=20140516 Three doubleheaders and Chris Sale pitching in Charlotte! What a day! Starters of note: Chris Sale and Tommy Hanson for Charlotte Chris Beck for Birmingham Frank Montas for Winston-Salem

QUOTE (DirtySox @ May 16, 2014 -> 09:45 AM) Kiley's first mock: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1403161.html Yes please. If Aiken falls to three we should be doing cartwheels. It's funny he mentions the rumor that the Sox are shopping below-slot second-tier collegiate options when yesterday Keith Law said we are focused on the top three and hasn't heard anything concerning that scenario.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 15, 2014 -> 01:42 PM) Heard good things about this Sale kid. Bad arm slot, unconventional delivery, poor secondary offerings. destined for the bullpen.

In Keith Law's chat today he reports he has heard nothing about the Sox passing on a top three arm to go under slot with a second tier collegiate. By the sounds of it, if you don't want the Sox selecting Kolek, better hope he goes before they pick. Alex (St. Louis) Keith, there has been some talk that the White Sox might pass on Rodon, Aiken, or Kolek for an underslot arm. When you say in your mock draft that the White Sox would like one of the big three arms, does that mean you are hearing they would not in fact pass on one of the top 3 pitchers to go underslot? Klaw (1:30 PM) I haven't heard that at all with them. I've heard they'd love to get Kolek, though.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/mock/...-Law-Mock-Draft Keith Law's first mock draft has a shocker, he has the Marlins selecting Alex Jackson at #2 and the Sox passing on Rodon for Tyler Kolek. I'll post his thoughts on the top three picks... For Brady Aiken to Houston: Analysis: I keep hearing the Astros are down to three names: Aiken, Carlos Rodon, and Alex Jackson, with local product Tyler Kolek likely on the outside of that final set. The decision may come down to money -- they'd like to repeat their successful 2012 strategy, where they save $2 million or so on the top pick and reallocate the money to later picks (they have No. 37 and No. 42 this year) to acquire more first-round talents who slid into the sandwich/second because of their bonus demands. For Alex Jackson to Miami: Analysis: The Marlins are on the same three names as Houston, plus Tyler Kolek, but the word around town is that Miami is focusing heavily on bats throughout the draft. The Fish have the most money in their draft pool of any team this year, with extra picks at 36 and 39 as well as their regular pick at 43, and could do just what Houston wants to do, cleaning up with as many as four first-round talents if they play their money right. I've also heard them with Bradley Zimmer, but I think he's a tweener for them -- probably not as good as their best options at No. 2, and clearly long gone before they pick again. For Tyler Kolek to Chicago: Analysis: The White Sox want one of the big three arms, so even though early favorite Jeff Hoffman is on the shelf after Tommy John surgery, they'll still get someone they really like. The bet here is that they'd do better financially with Kolek than with Carlos Rodon, but I wouldn't rule out the latter. Everything I'm projecting here is about probabilities, or possibilities, not certainties.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 14, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) Oh man, I didn't even realize he wasn't in our system anymore. We signed him when he was like 16 or something. I guess in 2013 with the Reds High-A and AA, he hit .287 with 19 HR and 31 2B. Yeah we traded him for the legendary Cody Puckett in 2013. He was signed in 2007(!) out of the DR during the Wilder scandal years I believe.

Barons lose in a rain shortened game. They were beaten by an RBI double by Juan Silverio (yes that Juan Silverio).

Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 1m Second-round 2013 draft pick Tyler Danish (3-0, 0.71) getting promoted to Class A Winston-Salem. He's dominated but still worries me they might be rushing him.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ May 14, 2014 -> 11:13 AM) BA's updated draft top 100. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/201...prospects-list/ Interesting Kolek over Rodon.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 13, 2014 -> 02:51 PM) Not only do I agree with this, but it brings me to one of the positives with Aiken is how well taken care of he has been by his coaching staff. Aiken has taken huge strides his junior to senior year. Not to say Kolek has been abused because he hasn't, but it's something to consider. Not to seem ignorant, but Kolek is blessed with a big, strong body and serious arm action where Aiken seems to be close to a polished, well-rounded product. Anyone who understands pitching mechanics has to love what they see in Aiken's easily-repeated, smooth delivery. It's hard not to love a left-hander who works mid 90's but still goes about his pitching by utilitzing his change up. Certainly everyone is going to make the parallels to Clayton Kershaw being a the last big time prep lefty but the comparison I really like is Cliff Lee. Sure, his control would have to be next to impeccable to be a Cliff Lee type but there are a lot of striking similarities with the easy motion and the pitchability. He is the type of pitcher that you can tell to throw 90% and he still has the stuff to dominate. Being a lefty with a change up like his, any velocity over 92 could be called excess. I would be shocked if he slides to 3 but overjoyed if Aiken joins our organization. Rodon is a close second, and I share some of Dick's concerns with Kolek. However, is what is out there enticing enough to pass on his upside?

If you makes you guys feel any better about the possibility of us going outside of the top three, MLB's Jonathon Mayo and Jim Callis discussed the Cubs choices and Aiken, Rodon, or Kolek never came up. Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB 38m Seems that way. @SteveJB54: Are the top 3 really that clear/that much of a lock that the discussion at 4 shouldn't include them? @MLBDraft

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) It seems, from everything you read, that the Astros will take Kolek 2nd. The only question is whether the Marlins take Aiken or Rodon 1st... I think you have the two teams mixed up. Astros pick #1 and I think it would be quite a shock if they pass on Rodon and Aiken for Kolek.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 8, 2014 -> 12:32 PM) Scott (Lincolnshire) Any chance the big 3 arms don't get selected 3rd overall and slide to 4th for the cubs? I know that you just released a prospect ranking, which isn't necessarily a mock draft on what you think teams will do. Klaw (1:03 PM) Correct, that's just my "board" but not a projection. I think there's a decent chance Rodon reaches the Cubs, but not the two prep arms. Depends a lot on what the White Sox do if Aiken-Kolek go 1-2. I think there is a chance that we don't want anything to do with Boras and go way underslot with our favorite of the remaining college arms. It would make me sick, but I bet it's being considered.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 8, 2014 -> 09:10 AM) Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 5m Bet on the Astros drafting Carlos Rodon with the first overall pick, says @johnmanuelba. His full mock draft: http://bit.ly/1qibOgz Hoping for this scenario. Good point by Manuel, the Cuban-American Rodon in Miami makes a lot of sense. Kind of screws us if Aiken goes #1 though. My preference, in wake of the Hoffman injury, 1. Aiken 2. Rodon 3. Kolek 4. NO...la for 1 million.