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QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) Though maybe what the Sox need to get him to make it to #3 at this point. That was most thought as well. The way he pitched in his last start I am sure he would be in the mix at 1-1 and 1-2. But if he goes on the shelf after his best pitching performance what good is he?

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 3m ECU right hander Jeff Hoffman will miss at least his next two starts after experiencing arm soreness during a side session yesterday. Concerning

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) I doubt he stays a starter. I think he's the classic White Sox reliever spending time as a starter to get better at pitching, vs throwing. If he keeps pitching well as a starter, he's young enough to run with it. But still, he could be a high leverage reliever. As a throw in piece in a trade, I'll take that.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/thr...ikes-week-10-4/ Talking about possible 2nd rounders, nice write up Conor's younger brother, Casey. Sounds like he's got a nice bat, but he's a 1B and "he'll never be particularly rangy" at that position.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 01:00 PM) Can someone explain the Wendelken love to me? He sounds/looks like a control/command guy (though 2.77 BB/9 last year not exactly great) with marginal stuff. Not sure what's to get excited about there. He has a career 9.0 SO/9 and 2.4 BB/9 rate and has only allowed six home runs over 122.2 innings. He just recently turned 21 and is flourishing in a new role starting this year. He doesn't have ace upside, but he could certainly be a solid rotation member in a system that is sorely lacking quality pitching depth.

Cleuluis Rondon seems to be taking a huge step with his bat so far. If he can be just competent with his offense, he'll shoot up the prospect ranks. But my pick is Trey Michalczewski. Only 19 years old, a sound defender at 3B, and already showing great plate discipline and hit tool. He hasn't hit a ton of home runs so far, but he has pop.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...r-intimidators/ 4/21 Recap posted.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 11:55 AM) Already started in B'Ham, and Jaye already letting me down. http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?c...mp;ymd=20140421 Surkamp, Goldberg and ? in Kanny. Dykstra and Danish are going to have 9-10 days between starts, due to rainouts, if Kanny doesn't move things around. Walks are killing Jaye. Oh well, he's still young for AA. Talking about walks, Trayce Thompson is a walk machine. He now has 11 walks and 12 strikeouts on the year. Would not of believed that stat coming into this year.

Thanks for all the updates Iowa. I am feeling pretty great about the Sox position. Either we get Hoffman (who I think might be #1 on Sox big board) or one of the HS arms, with Rodon as the wildcard.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/04/4182014-recap/ Recap posted. Micah Johnson and Trayce Thompson combine for five hits and two stolen bases; Hawkins homers.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Apr 18, 2014 -> 10:38 AM) While I really like Beede in the first for us at 3 I really like SC-HS RHP Grant Holmes, FSU RHP Luke Weaver, and TX-HS RHP Michael Kopech later on in the 2nd or 3rd. While Beede can be Sale-like in the sense that he can arrive this year or in 2015 the other 3 or likely projects that may take a few years and pay-off in the long run. I'd really like a 2015 rotation of Sale, Beede, Quintana, Danks, and Johnson. Beede definitely is up there in terms of safest to reach the majors, but his ceiling is limited with his erratic control. Most scouts I've read have profiled him as a #3 starter in a major league rotation. I would ecstatic about that if we were picking in the middle of the first round, but with the 3rd overall pick and potential aces available, I want to go for it.

Soltz just raves about Rondon's defense and it appears rightfully so. He looks like a true infield general. If he could just scrap together a .240/315/.350 slashline with some steals I think we would take that defense every day.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 09:24 AM) Webb was a starter in the minors for quite a while. I can't imagine this is something his arm isn't used to. The last time Webb started consistently was 2011.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 09:15 AM) Webb threw almost 60 pitches, didn't he? He's going to have to sit now until Saturday, probably Sunday. And he's our best pitcher in the bullpen right now. Very concerned to see how his arm responds to that. He pitched the night before as well.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 08:31 AM) I really do agree. Not that I would be upset if they took him, but there's a lot going on with him that could cause potential headaches. I'm guessing the Sox top 3 right now is Hoffman, Kolek, and Rodon, though that's mere speculation on my part, so if Hoffman and Kolek go 1-2, they'll really have no choice but to go with Rodon, get him signed, and deal with any other potential headaches later on. I think Aiken has to be in there. I think he's a lock to be drafted in the first two picks. If he falls to three, I hope the Sox jump all over him. Ideally to me, Rodon goes 1-1 like he was suppose to, Miami takes one of the high schoolers, then the Sox have a choice between Hoffman or Aiken/Kolek. I am veryyyy interested to see them make that decision.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...hitting-streak/ 4/16 recap posted.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 16, 2014 -> 11:12 AM) Hawkins 2 for 2 with a double, run scored....no K's. .364 Goldberg getting beaten up. Every time Hawkins gets a hit I imagine CJ Wittman seeing it and saying it was lucky swing, bloop that should of been caught, hit it off a non-prospect, etc etc.

His small sample size slashline of .294/.468/.618 was my dream when we signed him, but not sustainable now. However, I think he'll settle in at .240/.375/.530ish and net a prospect or two at the deadline for a power hungry club. Glad he is shutting up the off-season haters.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 10:37 AM) I'm really starting to like the idea of Tyler Kolek in a Sox uniform... I would be quite surprised if Aiken and Kolek go 1 and 2. It would be the first time ever a HS pitcher went 1-1 correct? Say Aiken/Rondon go 1-2, it will be fascinating seeing Sox decide between Kolek/Hoffman/Beede.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...t-on-rainy-day/ 4/14 recap posted. Not a lot to work with yesterday...

The HS kids are looking better and better as time goes on. But if we are honest with ourselves some of that has to do with the scrutiny the college guys are under. I've read at least 7-8 different updating scouting reports on Hoffman, Rodon, and Beede as the season has gone on and maybe 1 or 2 of Aiken and Kolek. It's true the college guys don't seem to be dominating like they should, but it's a lot projection, not so much stats. I honestly would not be upset with any of those five guys I've mentioned, just excited to hear the reasons why the Sox took them and happy to end the speculation and have them in the organization. It' like Christmas morning, you drive yourself nuts over the anticipation and unveiling more so than the actual gift.

Hawkins K's twice and CJ Wittman is not a believer. Depressing. CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1m #whitesox Hawkins tied up on inner half with 88 then expands zone with SL down for another K. Hasn't made any improvements from last year.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Apr 12, 2014 -> 04:05 PM) I understand that but he isn't anywhere close to what he is without that 80 grade slider. He relies on it too much. His fastball is lagging behind in development because he keeps throwing sliders. In the minors stats don't matter, development does. If he has to learn how to get hitters out with his other pitches it makes his whole arsenal better. In that article he says he has to aim at the dirt with his fastball just to keep it down. College hitters are sitting fastball because his command of it is below average. That would be a major red flag for me if I was considering taking him. The Sox would have to feel comfortable that the fastball, cutter, and change will improve enough to let his world class slider have maximum effectiveness.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 11, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) @laurakeeley: Carlos Rodon is done. 7.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs (1 ER), 3 walks, 1 HBP, 12 Ks and a career-high 134 pitches. #Duke up on State 2-0 Wow http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/vin...ukes-van-orden/ "Duke senior David Perkins, who had 20 at-bats entering the game, led off the second inning by pounding an elevated 95 mph fastball over the fence in dead-center field. In the third, Mike Rosenfeld doubled to right-center on another elevated fastball, and Jordan Betts drove him in on a single through the drawn-in infield on a 96 mph heater. “When I leave the ball up, I just beat myself,” Rodon said. “That ball that, I don’t know who it was that hit that home run, the ball’s up. You throw a slider there, he’s out. You throw a fastball down, he’s out. That’s probably the only ball he’ll ever hit off me. Sounds like Rodon is kind of a douche. Would having a "mean streak" be the scouting term? "Rodon, of course, owns the most explosive slider in college baseball, and it was at its best Friday, devastating the Blue Devils at 86-89 mph. BA’s Clint Longenecker recorded 55 sliders from Rodon, and 67 percent of them were strikes—and a staggering 54 percent of his slider strikes came via swings and misses. Over the first three innings, he also showed his best fastball velocity, sitting at 94-96 and touching 98 once. But it was elevated in those early innings, and Duke took advantage." 55 sliders? No wonder his fastball has been less than impressive this year. I read that a scout would recommend whatever team draft him to force him to not throw sliders or very few during games to make him get outs with his fastball, cutter, and split-change.

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/04/4112014-recap/ Minor League recap posted