The Ultimate Champion

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 11:06 AM) Is there any indication that Adams will be an overslot guy? We can probably assume so based on his ranking vs. draft position, but anyone seen a rumored demand? Merkin tweeted that the Sox are not worried about his signability. I'm not sure if that means they think he's going to sign for slot or if they're just confident about getting it done. I think it's fair to assume that anyone who was pegged as being in a range of lower third first round slot money would request a greater amount than the slot at #44. These kids need to look out for themselves, that's why they're paying their agents/advisors whatever you call them. He should definitely ask for more money, I would, you would, we all would.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 11:00 AM) Exactly. Reliever must be the easiest position to acquire/develop and has the lowest potential value. I'd be hard pressed to take a reliever in the top 5 rounds. That's kind of our MO though if you look at our draft history. And with 2 guys who may need overslot $$ it is an absolutely excellent move to take a RP 3rd round IF you think he's a fast mover & helps your pen sooner than later. We're at the point of the draft now where IMO you target 1 of 2 things with each pick: big upside that needs a lot of work OR guys that you think are going to be valuable Major League contributors, sooner rather than later. So it's ceiling + work vs. polish + floor, and you do this because we're well into the hit-or-miss stage where most of these guys we take are never going to see the big leagues unless they buy a ticket. As much as I hated the idea of Nola at 3, this is the point where I love the overachiever type, clean mechanics, contact in hitters, etc.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 10:39 AM) Sounds like Sands if your pick then. If he fails at a starter, he'll probably get closer to that "touches 95" consistently as a reliever. Yeah but a kid like that I don't even think about as a reliever. Sands 3rd round, Diaz 4th if he's still there & he's more of the MLB write up than the BA one.

If you're in the stands drunk as s*** watching those cars scream by in a giant oval it probably looks like one screaming ring of color, like the rings of Saturn or something, and at that point it's probably a pretty spiritual feeling. Until you get blasted on the back of the neck by the vomit of the man behind you.

I think if you want signable upside maybe Sands is the guy here. Another lefty, starter for sure, but he retweeted something yesterday about wanting to get drafted last night. As a high school kid, sounds good. I'd be very happy with that.

A reliever in general is a great pick here if he's a quick mover, especially if he's underslot, but whoever it is I am hoping for a lefty. I really like Putnam, Petricka, Webb, and Belisario who we also control. Guerra has a nice arm too, we would control him should he develop a bit more from where he is now. And of course we're getting Jones back. Right now we have a lot of depth from the right side.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 10:28 AM) BA on Diaz: "He pitches with a below-average fastball that he must command to succeed, sitting in the 86-89 mph range and tickling 90" I don't like the sound of that personally. Hmm, MLB says it sits around 90mph with heavy sink & he's aggressive with it and throws strikes. MLB says 3 pitches with that have a chance to be at least average. That's the thing about these guys, who really knows? There's always conflicting information out there. As long as the Sox know what they're looking at, that's all that matters.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 10:22 AM) I think "starting arbitration this year" is more of a negotiation tactic I'd be fine with Sox using. No, I don't see a reason to rush. But oh man am I excited for Coop to get working on Rodon. The Coop factor is a big thing for us too. Ptatc doesn't care much for the follow through, and maybe there are other things too. I'd much rather have Coop and Hermie right there watching him and providing instruction than in the minors somewhere even though the coaching there seems solid at worst. And of course the LH help in the pen right now would be a huge lift for those who think we can contend (I kind of hope we don't, or at least if we do we don't make backwards moves). As it is when Scott Downs comes in I immediately think he's gonna get pulled, and on the radio they always say "send him to the showers" when that happens and in Downs' case that's perfectly fitting because he stinks. When Robin calls Downs in from the pen he shouldn't point to the pen he should point to the nearest dumpster and Downs should pop his head out & drop his bedroll and run out to the mound.

Okay so I like that Chris Diaz kid a lot, but in case we're not in on him at 3rd or 4th is there anyone else out there like that? I mean, potential quality, realitively quick moving LH reliever with upside to start, especially with fastball command and sink? There are a lot of arms it seems that are more projectable and more Holmbergish and so on, but I'd really like to get someone from the left side in the pen here pretty soon. Scott Downs is completely horrible and it doesn't look like there's much behind him since Leesman and Veal bombed. Then there's that guy we got from the Rays but he was here 1 whole day and didn't pitch, and given how abysmal our pen has been at times, I think that probably says a lot about what our FO thinks of his prospects as an MLB reliever.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 09:59 AM) Hey, TUC. I know you were a big supporter of Kolek ( me too), just curious what your thoughts are about Rodon. Thanks, I'll hang up and listen. Our best first round draft choice since Sale. Seriously there can not be any Sox fan who is upset about this at all. It would be impossible, literally.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 09:35 AM) Do you think Karkovice would take a one-year deal? Maybe, but only if we offered him any job whatsoever. Ginger ambassador, how about that? He is our go-to guy for any of our dealings with gingers.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 09:26 AM) I think that, as Americans, we should all be able to celebrate getting Rodon in our own ways! Culturally, sexually, or both? Cuz I will f*** a pinata. I'm so happy we didn't f*** this thing up. I was bracing for Nola and then I hear "Carlos..." and I swear I almost fainted.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 09:09 AM) How many major league ready catchers are actually out there? Very few, and that's kind of the point. If you have to throw a ton at someone for a Jason Castro (who is doing poorly this year, maybe we can get him now) or if you have to sign a more undesirable type like a Salty, because you can't count on a player the quality of an AJ getting nontendered for no reason by the Giants, then you do that if you have to IMO. I think in general though if you can find yourself an AJ or a Fisk, no matter how expensive they are - and yes I know Fisk the HOF is certainly an impossible thing to ask, but I'm using him as an example since he was ours - then I think you have to do it. With AJ & Fisk we saw here how valuable it is to have a quality MLB catcher anchor a pitching staff and produce in the lineup for many years. I mean if you get a Buster Posey in the draft that's one thing, but IIRC that same draft Wieters was the guy everyone wanted, and he's been quality but nowhere near what he was supposed to be, and I believe Kyle Skipworth was in there too and he must have busted by now because I haven't heard of him. I just think it's too hard to develop these guys yourself and IMO the Sox sohuld really focus on pitching. I do like the sound of a contact-based skill player. At this point, give me contact and speed over power, definitely, assuming the power involves a massive amount of Ks. No more s***ty K machine OFers I think we've proven we can't develop these guys. Although as much as I love KW I bet he still gets a hardon every time he sees some s***ty K machine OF in the minors somewhere, and then he calls up Buddy Bell and they sword fight with their hardons over it. But thankfully Hahn's there to throw some water on the situation, cool those guys down and say "Let's just go get a pitcher instead."

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 08:48 AM) It is two years post draft, and two of them were HS catchers. Not at lot of info is kind of the point of why it is extremely premature to be punting on a draft. Agree but in general I don't like drafting these guys and trying to devleop them. It's such difficult position to learn, and I'd much rather just let another team develop these players for me & then trade for them or sign them. Maybe later in the draft we take one. Hahn should keep focusing on pitching. Sox pitching prospects actually turn out once in a while.

Weisenberg sounds like he might be our best available pitcher but I bet he's an overslot type. If we're looking for an underslot guy I definitely like the fit of Chris Diaz if he's an option. It's rare for a top high school right-hander out of Florida to be described as projectable, but it's a label that fits Weisenberg well. He has already seen his velocity jump in the past year, and scouts think he can make more gains, thanks to his long, lanky frame. Weisenberg's fastball now sits in the low 90s and can touch 95 mph, with good life. He has also made strides with his slider and shows an improving feel for his changeup. He repeats his easy delivery well and throws a lot of strikes as a result. Weisenberg earns praise for his makeup and intelligence.

Chris Oliver sounds like an interesting guy to take a shot on, but sounds very far away even as a JR 6'4" 185lbs DOB: 07/08/93 | Scouting video Projectable power arms from the college ranks aren't all that common, but Arkansas has a good one in Oliver. A member of the Razorbacks' weekend rotation, the tall right-hander has some serious upside. Oliver has a live arm, with a fastball he can dial up past the mid 90s at times. He throws downhill from his 6-foot-4 frame with some run and sink as well. Tall and slender, Oliver calls his breaking ball a curve, but it's really a slider. It's inconsistent from start to start, but it shows flashes of being an out pitch. His changeup is below average and behind the other two. That, along with his command, are the two things that hold him back as a starting pitching prospect. The jury is out about whether Oliver will remain a starter, but he has the power arsenal to succeed in the bullpen if that's the direction that makes the most sense.

There's a bunch of interesting looking names on MLB's draft tracker. This is a good 3rd rounder IMO: Diaz, Chris Miami (FL) LHP L/L JR 6'0" 190lbs DOB: 05/24/93 | Scouting video After going undrafted out of high school, Diaz broke out during his sophomore year at Miami. He became the Hurricanes ace and earned a spot on the U.S. national team last summer. Diaz primarily relies on his sinker, which sits around 90 mph with heavy life. He mixes in a slurvy slider and a changeup. He throws a lot of strikes and comes right after hitters with his fastball. Diaz pitched out of the bullpen with the national team and could move quickly in the Minor Leagues if he returned there. But with his feel for pitching and three offerings that have a chance to be at least average, he could develop into a Major League starter. As a JR further down the list maybe he signs under slot. We could definitely use a LH reliever, and the heavy sinking fastball fits in with what we've been looking for. Also the potential starter upside and feel for pitching make him sound a little safer.

So what are the rules after Round 10? Is it back to the Wild West like under the old CBA, draft whoever you want wherever, throw all kinds of money at them? The slots go away but are there max amounts you can offer?

This Adams kid looks sharp, nice pick. Definitely does look like a first rounder. Sox are killing it so far, this is crazy. This s*** never ever happens lol. We're always mad about something.

Okay so anyone wanna bet that we DONT f*** this up?

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 05:49 PM) I don't totally understand this Competitive Balance section of the draft. If the White Sox flounder this year, what are the chances of getting this pick next year? I think our chances are pretty much limited to whether or not we trade for someone else's pick. I think market size and stuff are the main factors, and Detroit got one because of that. Then there's a draft of the cry poor teams where a certain number of them within the pool get picks.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 05:48 PM) Kolek won't be ready for 3-4 years. We have no idea what our rotation looks like then. Kolek will take only as long as is necessary to develop the breaking ball and change. How long will that be, no one knows, something posted earlier about seemingly having little to no coaching - well, give him the coaching and see what happens.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 05:39 PM) I've posted it a few times, but THIS is the article that makes me want Kolek over Nola: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=23731 He's a giant. And he's all loaded up with awesome. IF he develops, a Sale-Kolek-Quintana top 3 is mighty fierce.

LOL if the Sox pass on both Rodon AND Kolek for Nola. So Rodon shuts everyone down with the Cubs, then Kolek murders us with the Twins. But somehow we're smart because we give $500K more to some kid in the 2nd round.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) Litigator (Chicago): Keith Law said today that the White Sox have moved off of Kolek, and will take Nola instead. He has Kolek dropping to #8. Why? Kolek seemed like a great choice at #3 to me. Draft Day Chat with Nick J. Faleris: Kolek's body and velocity kept him on short lists as someone the teams up top absolutely needed to keep tabs on, but once that short list gets paired down it's easy to see why Kolek might get dropped in favor of a less risky proposition. Kolek is 11th on my board, and that's a result of him being highly underdeveloped, showing secondaries that at present fair often play below average, below average command, almost no track record (didn't play on the scouting circuit and had minimal exposure to the rest of the high-profile HS talent in the class), and highly overmatched spring competition (which could essentially be dominated by erratic fastballs). He's a great prospect, and really interesting from a developmental standpoint. But it's more of a $3 MM investment profile for me than $4.5 or 5.5 M http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=1165 LOL at the money aspect again. Hawk was going on about that again last night too. No matter who you pick at #3 and give $5M+ to, you're still paying Jeff Keppinger more money than that to sit at home and slap his pickle around. Perspective. Don't be a-scared. Buy a dog if you're a-scared.