Boopa1219

I really enjoyed listening to this, it was very insightful and its good to see (hear) some people enthusiastic about talking about the Sox farm system with an outlet to do so.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:01 AM) Well, in my opinion, it's a horrible blow if we forego signing our top pick this year. The overall talent level of our system is definitely on the rise, but true high-ceiling talent is sorely missing. We need it and we need it as soon as possible. There isn't just one top talent available this year. There are perhaps 5-6 pitchers and maybe, MAYBE, 2-3 position players. To waste time by foregoing a true talent this year because we've got protection by the #4 pick next year makes no sense. My point was unless we have a very firm commitment otherwise from Boras/Rodon (accepting #3 money, perhaps in return for the Sale "quick to the bigs" path), we're playing a very dangerous game potentially wasting a valuable #3 pick asset on Rodon. As for hoping we get another top ten pick next year -- I don't. Unless we're in the top 5-6 picks, there is often very little difference in picking 8-10 and picking 18-20. I hope we have enough Big League success in 2014 to avoid a top 5-6 pick. I never said that I hope that the Sox don't sign their pick, what I said was that blow isn't as bad as you're making it out to be.

You don't draft a guy because he can make it to the bigs quickly, you always draft the best player available. I agree with everyone saying that the team needs to draft a stud with this pick, but in the unlikely scenario that the team can not sign its pick the blow is not that bad because the team is guaranteed the fourth overall selection in next years draft (To go along with what I am hoping is another top ten pick). If Rodon is there at 3 I think the team will draft him but all the college pitchers who were supposed to leading this draft class are putting up average numbers. Keith Law (Who is warming up to the Rick Han Regime) has Rodon ranked as the number 3 overall prospect in the draft behind Brady Aiken and Tyler Kolek. I am hoping that the Sox draft Alex Jackson or Tyler Kolek, who I believe are the two best players in the draft class. Jackson is a STUD, he has finally made the move from catcher to the outfield which will allow him the opportunity to advance more quickly through the minors, plus his hit and power tools grade out to be at least a 6 to go along with his elite bat speed. Alex Jackson could be the most elite offensive prospect in the Sox farm system since Frank Thomas and that excites me. On the other hand you could be looking at the next great power pitcher to hit the scene in Tyler Kolek, who can hit triple digits with regularity and longevity thanks to his 6'6 and 250lbs frame but he also has a plus changeup and slider. If I were Rick Hahn I would be watching those guys very closely.

Paul Konerko

I don't why you all love Rasmus, when I see him I see an underperforming ball player.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 10:32 PM) Bit of a newb question, but is the ultimate decision on picks made by the general manager or the scouting director? Obviously they'll consult and whatever but if there's a disagreement, who has the ultimate say, Hahn or Laumann? Hahn? The GM makes the call, the scouting director is their to make suggestions in the war room.

Id be happy with either Kolek, Jackson or Aiken. The college guys are not dominating like they should.

70-92

I am not worried about Kolek's frame, his body is just more mature. He has a similar build to Noah Syndergaard who is listed at 6'6 240, and if you're worried about his athleticism remember that he is being recruited by SEC teams to play DE. Once he starts training with ML physical trainers his body will be in better shape. I think that guys like Hoffman and Beede have reached their ceilings and are who they are going to be, I don't find their numbers to be too spectacular or worth of being a top 5 pick in the draft. Tyler Kolek on the other hand is a 18 year old power-pitcher, who has a fastball that can hit 100mph and hits the high 90s with regularity. He also has a developing slider and curveball that scream plus, along with a change up that sits in the low 80s. He is compared to guys like Syndergaard, Strausburg and Jonathan Gray. The sky is truly the limit for Kolek and his potential. He has to be the pick.

This thread needs to be deleted.

If I trade Viciedo to Seattle, I would want Luiz Gohara back and another low level pitching prospect.

After thinking long and hard about the draft, Tyler Kolek has to be the pick at #3. The Sox really need to pair Sale with another legit stud in the rotation. (If Kolek is not there, I would take Alex Jackson)

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) Yeah, Guasman's stock has been down for whatever reason but the Orioles would be selling low on him for no reason. This guy should be a front end pitcher and the O's have had much better success lately in producing pitching. His change up is one of the best of any prospects. Obviously the velocity and body is there for a top 5 pick who I believe signed well over slot even as top 5 pick. People think he had a poor year but his FIP, xFIP and BABIP all show his baseline statistics don't show the true story. People forget this guy flew threw the ranks. He was drafted in 2012 and the majority of his 36 professional games are in the MLB. My only fear if I were him is the O's making him a closer. I have been reading the Baltimore sees as a late inning reliever. If that's the case then the Sox could probably get him for a reasonable price.

I love to see the Sox acquire Kevin Gausman from Baltimore, and I am praying to the baseball gods that Hahn can pry Gary Sanchez away from the Yankees

Its clearly Hawkins in my opinion and I think some people are forgetting that the dude just turned 20 not too long ago. That assignment was ridiculous for him or any 19 year old with only a half season of professional ball on your belt. I think that he is still the best prospect in the system and has the highest ceiling as well. I think that Hawking is going to have a bounce back year, he is going to cut down the strike out rate, he will improve his OBP and his BA considerably. I still think that once he develops that he could be a guy who can hit 25-30 home runs in the major league level while he swipes 20+ bags a year, while maintaining a respectable average. And I think that he needs to be taken out of CF and put in RF, it could help the progress with his bat.

Looking at the system as a whole I think that the biggest need is another dominant pitcher to pair with Chris Sale and I am hoping that guy is Tyler Kolek (Hoffman would be good too), I know he is a HS pitcher but with stuff that good he might be able to rise through the system quickly (2-3yrs), plus he has a tremendous ceiling and he fits the power pitcher profile that I love. I would still not be mad if they drafted a position player at #3 because the name of the game is drafting the best player available and if the guys in charge feel like the BPA is a position player so be it. *****A HS player that everyone should be following is Daz Cameron. I am hoping that he could be the silver lining of this season for the Sox (Im predicting 70-92 for the season)*****

I am really excited by what is going on internationally with the Sox, with Rick Hahn and Marco Paddy the Sox are in shape to become serious players at the INTL market. With that being said the prospect who intrigues me the most is Luis Castillo, prototypical 3rd baseman with above average power tools.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 05:07 PM) I'd be ecstatic with Paredes and Benavente. I love Paredes' swing, with that open stance.

The guys I liked were: Yirver Gilbert Lara Brandon Benavente Miguel Flames Alexander Paredes I am hoping that the Sox go all out on two guys this signing period, which will be a huge boost to the system.

Some of the first scouting reports this year's crop of July 2nd prospects are just starting to hit the internet, and the White Sox under Rick Hahn and Marco Paddy expect to be major players during this cycle. Allan Quatermain of BreakingBlue.com (A Toronto Blue Jays blog) has posted some write ups on 10 of the top prospects that this class has to offer. The White Sox expect to have a pool around $5 million to spend this year. http://www.breakingblue.ca/2014/01/29/2014...-agents-part-i/

What ever happened to Luis Castillo and the other players that we're signed by Marco Paddy when he first joined the team?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 06:00 PM) Unfortunately the draft is top heavy with pitchers and we don't produce hitters. There is no better time to start than right now. Plus, do you think the White sox should stop drafting position players all together because their pitches have had more success? When you draft a player you're taking a risk, plus you add in the fact that since the White Sox were opposed to taking advantage of the previous CBA and never went over slot to sign a player , so they were forced to draft players (Mostly College Seniors) that while they had higher floors and were rhetorically less risky in terms of their development their ceilings in terms of their poetential were very low. With the new CBA the Sox can finally get those high ceiling players, and maybe since they have more poetential they might develop into better players.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 05:49 PM) Hahn said at Sox fest that the Sox are likely to draft a pitcher. Quote from Trib: He also said “odds are” the Sox will take a pitcher with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, considering four of the top five candidates likely will be pitchers. They need position players desperately.

This is a huge a mistake they need draft a position player, so they can build this new core of White Sox hitters (Courtney Hawkins, Micker Zapata, Tim Anderson, etc)

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 11:02 PM) What would you guys think of taking Jackson Reetz with our second pick if we took Kolek at #3? Just because you draft a pitcher it doesn't mean that you need to draft a catcher, but with all that being said I am favor of them drafting Jakson Reetz. Reets is 6'1 and 190lbs and he will definitely be a catcher at the next level unlike Alex Jackson who will most likely switch a corner outfield spot. Reetz is a athletic backstop and he has a strong arm behind the plate, what separates him from other catching prospects is the fact that he can flat out hit. Some of the prospect blogs/magazines say that he compares favorably to Buster Posey.