royoung

http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...-rondon-shines/ 4/10 Recap posted. On the day fellow Peavy trade return piece Avisail Garcia is ruled out for the season, Cleuluis Rondon takes it upon himself to step up.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 10, 2014 -> 02:53 PM) I meant worst case as in hardest decision to make, if one was off the board it would be a slam dunk. Oh gotcha. I think it will be a tough decision either way, the HS kids are making a pretty compelling case as well...

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 10, 2014 -> 02:46 PM) With Garcia's injury they may now need to take a potential elite bat like Jackson. Buy the pitching. No rational front office makes draft decisions based on one injury on the major league team. Any bat the Sox draft would take at least three to four years to make an impact and by then Garcia will have been healed long ago.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 10, 2014 -> 02:27 PM) Thats the worst case scenario for the Sox. Picking between Rodon and Hoffman is going to be extremely tough. I think in the end it will come down to contract demands. You think that would be worst case? Sox have usually shown a preference of college arms, it would be ideal in that case. In a perfect world where contract demands aren't a factor (they are, but we don't know behind the scenes who is demanding or agreeing to what), my top five is Aiken, Rodon, Hoffman, Kolek, Beede.

Are you kidding me? Wow that's a huge blow to his development.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 10, 2014 -> 01:03 PM) Keth Law Chat included some White Sox tidbits. Paul (Chicago) If they draft were tomorrow how do you see the first 3 or 4 picks playing out? Klaw (12:15 PM) Aiken, Kolek, Hoffman, Rodon. I've heard the White Sox like Trea Turner more than most teams, but I wouldn't expect them to take him with every college arm still on the board. Eric (Memphis) If you were Rick Hahn, would you take Hoffman over Rodon (assuming Aiken and Kolek were already selected)? Klaw (12:42 PM) It depends on the cost, but if it's equal I'd take Rodon. Hoffman's a tremendous athlete with arm strength, but the secondary stuff isn't at all consistent and he needs a lot of work. Of course, Don Cooper will give him a cutter and he'll end up in the top 5 in Cy Young voting for 2016. Trea Turner at 1-3....nooooo thank you.

Not a great day so far for the Knights...1 hit and 7 strikeouts. The only guy with a hit (Saladino) has a error.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 1h Hearing LHP Brady Aiken, the top prospect for this year's #mlbdraft, is dealing today, hitting 96 at least six times already If true, wow. Hitting 96 repeatedly as a HS lefty with advanced secondary stuff?

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Apr 9, 2014 -> 02:39 PM) I think that there are enough high ceiling arms in the top 5-6 picks that the Sox will be able to find someone that is willing to sign at or below slot that will allow them to have a strong rest of the draft. They all know how important this draft is toward getting the organization back on the right track and they are going to do all they can to make sure they do just that. Of the five arms you are referring too (Rodon, Hoffman, Kolek, Aiken, Beede), two of them are HS players so I can guarantee you they won't sign under slot or quickly. Boras would never let Rodon sign underslot (especially at #3) so that leaves Hoffman and Beede. I think it's most likely that they would sign at slot and quickly. If you are hoping for the scenario where we would spread the cash around and get a top guy, you should be rooting for Hoffman or Beede. If we go outside of those top five guys to draft a college guy far outside the top 5 who would go way underslot...I would be pretty pissed honestly. I don't understand the fixation on saving money when you picking this high in the draft. It's going to be slot money or slightly above to get an elite prospect that's available at #3 overall.

http://deadspin.com/jose-abreu-makes-his-b...dium=socialflow Deadspin loves them some Abreu

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 8, 2014 -> 04:06 PM) If they get a big enough savings out of the player they do sign, which allows them to bring in other players who were highly regarded but slipped due to demands, I am OK with that. Not sure I agree with that. If it's a coin flip then that's one thing, but we (hopefully) won't draft this high again for a long long time. At #3 overall I think you go for your guy.

4/8 Minor League Recap http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/...wkins-goes-off/

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 06:28 PM) I think if Hoffman's there at #3 we take him. If he's not we take Beede. I think this is realistic but the possibility of swinging for the fences with Aiken or Kolek will keep us all speculating.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 03:59 PM) I'm glad Hoffman is righting the ship performance-wise, and given the org's long term interest, I think he'll be the guy, if he's available. And as a college guy, he should be ready for 2016 when we win the WS again. I guess we should root for the HS guys to go 1-2, huh? I'm rooting for Rodon to go #1 or #2 because I don't know what to think of him anymore. I'd love to see the Sox have to decide between Hoffman or Aiken/Kolek.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) I think that is a horrible mindset, and if you're a GM with that mindset you're never going to set your team up for long term success. I would agree with you, but it just so happens that this class is extremely top heavy on pitching. I expect the first five players to be selected to be pitchers. It is a perfect blend of need and talent available.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 11:46 AM) Notes from ESPN Draft Blog: They say Rodon no longer a lock for top 3, but won't last beyond 6. Says destinations are Houston, Marlins, Cubs, or Mariners. Scouts were impressed with Beede battling back after giving up 3R in the first inning. Beede has been linked with Twins, Sox, and Rockies. Brady Aiken K'd 10 in a no-hitter last week. Now has 40K/24IP. Mentions prep Grant Holmes, says he will be a quick mover, no ace potential but a solid #2. Lack of projection will keep him from a top 5 pick. Scout says Turner may just be a utility guy, likely mid-first rounder. Kyle Schwarber is #1 C now, Pentecost's stock has slipped. http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post?id=1499 Notable to me is that they mention all the teams picking around the White Sox as possibilities for Rodon, but not them. Rodon is such an enigma now, I'd be so torn if the Sox did end up taking him.

Laughable he's "eyeing" AA after three games, he was completely overmatched by High A all last season. I would be fine with him staying in Winston-Salem for the majority of the season. If he's tearing it up and they want to give him a taste of Birmingham for the playoffs or something, that's a different story. He doesn't deserve/need a promotion until then.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Apr 4, 2014 -> 10:01 AM) So...plan on the Sox taking Hoffman? I trust in the White Sox scouting process and research for this pick. I honestly would be happy with any of the top five guys (Rodon, Aiken, Hoffman, Kolek, Beede) and whoever they take they obviously believe in. If Hoffman's struggles this year let him drop to the Sox and he is their guy all along, all the better.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 12:49 PM) Sounds a lot like the same kinds of things that were said about Zach Greinke coming into the draft. What major league comps are being made with/about Hoffman? I heard Verlander...not sure if that was from Law or somebody else.

Interesting take from Keith Law. He's very down on Rodon and always been pretty excited about the athleticism and potential of Hoffman. Nick (Chicago) Rick Hahn has stated the White Sox are targeting a college pitcher with their #3 pick in the draft. Who offers more upside Hoffman or Beede? Klaw (1:04 PM) Hoffman. More velocity, great athlete, underdeveloped as a pitcher right now. Beede's the safer pick of the two, but I would bet that if they have both guys staring them in the face (and Rodon too) they'd take Hoffman.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) Now that the rosters of all four minor league affiliates are online I figured it was time to share the big board I created. I will keep it updated throughout the year. Don't put too much thought into the rookie ball rosters. Those are mostly just filler spots for now. The big league and four full season affiliate rosters are official. Hopefully you guys enjoy this resource and feel free to let me know of any errors. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key...amp;usp=sharing Nice! Thanks for this, it is very helpful!

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:49 PM) Straw man argument, man. I never suggested otherwise. IF Rodon at #3 is the proverbial BPA, then you take him. Without a doubt. But that wasn't my hypothetical. IF Rodon at #3 is plus or minus considered the same tier of prospect with two or three other guys, then all sorts of factors enter into what breaks the tie, one certainly being any "baggage" that he comes with. It's nice macho chest-thumping and all to say, screw Boras, I'm not scared of him, but disregard of history and practices is negligence per se. He's baggage and I'm certain that attorney/owner JR considers him just that. Deal with him if he's representing our guy, but consider his involvement a negative when breaking ties. Obviously, just my opinion, but Boras is as much of a known quantity as anything in baseball. I'm sorry Cy, I must of misunderstood your point. At this point, there is no evidence that Rodon would be a tougher sign than a HS player, comparatively. As far as I can tell, Appel is the only college player picked in the top half of the 1st round to not sign with his drafting team. However, I am not sticking my head in the sand about Boras or the entire flawed draft process. I am sure the White Sox will reach out to Boras about the possibility of signing Rodon. If it's not a fit financially, there seems to be other prospects in his tier that would be available at our position. Signability is definitely a variable that the Sox have to consider and I am sure they are doing their due diligence. If there is a chance he wouldn't sign with us, I feel confident we have other great options.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 10:49 AM) I have no idea why anyone would think this. Semien is more patient/sees more pitches. Semien will surely get on base more. Semien uses the whole field. Alexei goes up there, swings and at everything and pulls everything. Let him tap some of the power down low in the order. I agree. Semien also doesn't strike out very often. He's as close to a ideal #2 hitter we've had recently.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) The real risk for the Sox is passing on Rodon and him going to the Cubs a pick later and becoming David Price. This draft will be forever held under a microscope if the Sox get a bust and the Cubs get a star. The Sox are getting a good player, any of the 5-6 pitchers seem to have ML floors as at least bullpen arms. I think Beede probably has the highest floor, but his ceiling is probably a two or three. Rodon, Hoffman, and Kolek probably have floors as bullpen guys but ceilings as #1's. Aiken, I am not sure what is floor would be. He has three good to really good pitches plus a developing cutter, but his floor is probably MiLB starter and a ceiling as high or higher than anyone else in the draft. Based on what we have heard from various sources the draft would go: 1. Houston - Rodon 2. Miami - Kolek 3. White Sox - Hoffman 4. Cubs - Beede This was before Aiken really blew up, but I haven't seen any team firmly attached to him yet. I think we should be more concerned with what the Twins do at #5 than what the Cubs do at #4. I would say that list is fairly accurate with Aiken being a big time wildcard. Also if the Astros select anyone but Rodon the draft just suddenly got veryyyy interesting.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:11 AM) This weeks stat update: Carlos Rodon - 6 IP 4H 1R 1ER 3BB 5K Season - 7 GS 2.09 ERA 47.1 IP 37H 24R 11ER 18BB 55K Tyler Beede - 5 IP 5H 3R 3ER 3BB 4K Season - 7 GS 2.47 ERA 40 IP 25H 20R 11ER 14BB 46K Jeff Hoffman - 7 IP 6H 2R 2ER 1BB 6K Season - 7 GS 3.80 ERA 45IP 35H 22R 19ER 18BB 45K Sean Newcomb - 7 IP 0H 0R 0ER 4BB 8K Season - 6 GS 0.00 ERA 39.2IP 14H 1R 0ER 19BB 46K Brady Aiken struck out 10 in 5IP in his start last week. Thanks for these updates Iowa.