oldsox

Great report; thanks. Did you do the same thing a year ago for the 2012 draft class? If so, could you bring that up, perhaps with a few comments?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 09:30 PM) First, when you sign 16 year olds, they often aren't playing in the US for a couple years. And they sometimes don't even play DSL ball for a year or two. IT takes patience. Second, you have to take DSL performance numbers with a HUGE PILE of salt. They mean almost nothing. Third, spending money does not magically make the system better by itself... but spending many times over as much money, re-vamping your LatAm operations entirely, bringing in experienced guys like Paddy... those things will tend to pay off, and they are indicative of other, smaller changes we don't even see. It will, however, take a couple more years before you really see noticeable and major improvement. It takes time. Wilder did a lot of damage, and frankly, so did KW (whether or not you agree with his overall methods - focusing on LatAm talent in this case). para 1. Then why sign a 16 year old if he can't play for 2 years? Baseball players should play baseball. para 2. Why are DSL stats meaningless? When our 17 yr old DSL shortstop who got a ton of money a year earlier hits .130 in 2013, should I not be skeptical? para 3. Makes a lot of sense.

I wonder why Ravelo was not added to the list. Seems like a perfect candidate, especially compared to Mitchell.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 03:21 PM) The fact that the Sox spent more than $1 million on an amateur international signing is all the more you need to know that things are changing. I think their farm system is going to be top 10-15 in the next 3 years or so. I hope you're right, but we have no idea if that million ++ bucks was spent wisely. I believe only one of those 16 year old Dominican signings in 2012 actually played this year, and he hit way below .200. I never saw anything on the other two. Correct me if I am wrong. The other signing, Mick Zapata, at least offers a bit of hope, because there are plans for him play somewhere in the US in 2014. I just don't see what you see in the int'l signings that makes you think Sox will have a top 10-15 farm system.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Oct 1, 2013 -> 03:49 PM) What do you think of Arenado from the Rockies? That team annually needs pitching. Rockettes don't figure to part with Arenado. The two guys there who are available for pitching are Rutledge and Fowler. Prob Pacheco, also. None would lead the Sox to the playoffs, but they would all play and make the team better.

I have no problem with Phegley as the Number 2 catcher.

Pence for 90 large validates my theory that General Managers are stupid. And I like Pence. They must have a printing press somewhere.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 08:15 AM) 14? What guys do you think will be non-tendered? I have 8, and I'm not even confident about that- Deuente Heath David Purcey Ramon Troncoso Bryan Anderson Paul Konerko Mike McDade Brent Morel Blake Tekotte There are other guys that CAN, but those would really be moves made out of necessity. I agree with your 8 names above. I would add Molina and Mitchell, possibly Axelrod, Castro, Veal. I'm sure Sox will give Mitchell another year, but to me his departure is inevitable. These other players, all pitchers, might be kept only for the Charlotte roster. That does not justify keeping them all on the 40 man roster.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Sep 27, 2013 -> 04:07 PM) Hoping that a lefty college bat is the best player available. Although, if a college pitcher, who'd likely be ready in '15-'16, is the best choice, that would allow more opportunity to trade for such a player. I have a feeling that the Rockies will be shopping Cargo sometime between now and next mid-season, and I hope we make a run at him. I follow the Rockies very closely, Stan, and I gotta ask if you have seen something about their trading Cargo. Not that I wouldn't like to have him with the Sox, even though I am very familiar with his shortcomings. Any trade talk would start with Sale and include other pitchers as well.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 27, 2013 -> 09:21 PM) In Mariano's defense, I'm not sure that he foresaw the craziness that would follow him around all year. It's pretty much unprecedented. Only in the 21st century, only for a Yankee There are two people I am really tired of..... Mariano Rivera and Betty White.

Next thing ya know is that Robin will tell us that he expects a big year out of Dunn in 2014.

QUOTE (wallyburger @ Sep 27, 2013 -> 04:30 PM) I am sensing he is too classy to do a never ending Mariano Rivera tour of the league farewell. Glad you said that. I think Mariano was way over the top in his bye bye tour, as was the media. It got to be really nauseating, not that he wasn't a great pitcher. I thought Helton handled his retirement perfectly

QUOTE (balfanman @ Sep 23, 2013 -> 01:34 PM) Thank you for the information. I for one really appreciate all of the work you guys do! Ditto.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 09:05 PM) Sox view him a starter but many scouts don't believe he can use at motion and be a starter. How the Sox view him is irrelevant. Why irrelevant?

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 03:33 AM) I don't think AJ was ever that blatant. I think Gomez & McCann both come off as assholes there. Gomez was waaay out of line. I hope they throw the book at him. No excuse for that behavior. He should get into professional wrestling.

I just reviewed the 40 man roster, and I counted 14 spots that could/should be open this off season, not counting those on 60 man DL, like Floyd. Lots of changes will be happening.

Just before Giambi hit it out, I was about to mention that Reed looks a lot heavier than he did at beginning of season. Does anyone else notice that?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 24, 2013 -> 08:34 PM) At which point they file a grievance against the team and a lawsuit and the GM gets fired and no one ever signs with the white sox again for mistreating their players. I appreciate the free legal interpretation. Has there ever been a grievance filed for something like this? I can't recall any such instance. If so, put him on the DL in April, then release him. No grievance, mistreatment, etc. Then we can sign other players. Or just release him. I have no idea why Robin is DHing him tonight.

Who signed Keppinger, Hahn or Kenny?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 24, 2013 -> 08:05 PM) They have money to burn, he can't be on the team next year. Throw your paying customer a bone and end this thing. Agreed. Just put him on the DL and leave him there. Sox should have sent him to the same Doc that is operating on Keppinger.

The Rookie teams in Florida often play in the morning.

I wish I knew if Sox have hit bottom yet. Miami probably has. Houston? Probably not. Cubs? I hope not. SI might have been over the top on the farm system, since Sox had several positive surprises this year (Semian, the Johnson boys. Beck, Goldberg, etc). Who's to say that a couple more might rise from the ashes in 2014. I wish the author would have put more blame on KW, but after re-reading it, he didn't have to. It's obvious. Konerko? I think he should retire. Dunn? That is one of Hahn's dilemmas -- what to do with him, but I hope he is gone, too. I would rather have Andy Wilkins at first base next year.

Why does Robin even put Dunn in the lineup? He looks disinterested, not that I blame him.

Teams take longer between innings. Adds up. Gotta have those commercials.

His BA is sinking fast. Down to .264.. What happened? Now looks like the .300 - hitting Gordo that we saw recently is just a figment of our newton. My question is what value an arbitrator will put on Beckham, because I don't see the Sox volunteering tp pay what they would have had he kept hitting. That said, if his slump continues, they will probably keep playing him. This year end slump has to cost him a lot of money.