35 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

I don't even think prospect fatigue fully covers it. I think some people (within Sox fandom specifically) are trying to talk themselves into it being a tougher choice so that they can reserve the right to be mad later about the team making the "wrong" one.

Roch being an uncontroversial clear consensus 1OA is boring to them, because it simply doesn't provide enough avenues to blame Getz/Shirley/the org for the pick in the future.

CLE sent eight scouts to look at Griffin.

They ended up with Bazzana.

Also traded away Junior Caminero.

But at least they are magicians with young pitching and DeLauter looks really good if he can actually stay healthy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClevelandGuardians/comments/1hv0rq7/guardians_voted_by_baseball_scouts_as_the_least/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjs2Y_X69STAxXBJ0QIHf6ZPCYQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw1Dfct50cGPGZFjlfTsOv21

Edited April 4Apr 4 by caulfield12

1 minute ago, caulfield12 said:

CLE sent eight scouts to look at Griffin.

They ended up with Bazzana.

Also traded away Junior Caminero.

But at least they are magicians with young pitching and DeLauter looks really good if he can actually stay healthy.

Didn't JR also overrule his scouts on at least one recent first rounder?

Better hope Roch doesn't hire Boras Corp.

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

CLE sent eight scouts to look at Griffin.

They ended up with Bazzana.

Also traded away Junior Caminero.

But at least they are magicians with young pitching and DeLauter looks really good if he can actually stay healthy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClevelandGuardians/comments/1hv0rq7/guardians_voted_by_baseball_scouts_as_the_least/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjs2Y_X69STAxXBJ0QIHf6ZPCYQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw1Dfct50cGPGZFjlfTsOv21

What does this have to do at all with what you quoted?

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

What does this have to do at all with what you quoted?

The White a Sox have the least amount of scouts of any team in the AL.

They also don't have KW anymore.

The margin for error is very thin.

But the Guardians maximize their roster even at a $70 million payroll.

Is it Shirley Barfield Carlos Rodriguez or Gene Watson calling the shots at the next level...or JR still?

Edited April 4Apr 4 by caulfield12

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/baseball/no-1-ucla-baseball-pulls-away-from-no-12-usc-in-highly-anticipated-showdown/ar-AA207GkV?ocid=BingNewsSerp

UCLA USC gets standing room only sellout of 2000+. Ends up a late blow out after a close game most of the way....trick play thrown in for good measure.

55 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/baseball/no-1-ucla-baseball-pulls-away-from-no-12-usc-in-highly-anticipated-showdown/ar-AA207GkV?ocid=BingNewsSerp

UCLA USC gets standing room only sellout of 2000+. Ends up a late blow out after a close game most of the way....trick play thrown in for good measure.

blow out? ucla won 9-8

edit: nvm, that link is for yesterday's game, my bad

Edited April 5Apr 5 by joejoesox

30 minutes ago, joejoesox said:

blow out? ucla won 9-8

edit: nvm, that link is for yesterday's game, my bad

UC school? irvine

7 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Didn't JR also overrule his scouts on at least one recent first rounder?

Better hope Roch doesn't hire Boras Corp.

Don’t believe so. Some shenanigans with Haber in 2023. Cholowsky has an agent. It’s not Boras.

7 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Didn't JR also overrule his scouts on at least one recent first rounder?

Better hope Roch doesn't hire Boras Corp.

Didn't hear JR, but supposedly Getz insisted on Hagen Smith over his scouts pick.

17 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Didn't hear JR, but supposedly Getz insisted on Hagen Smith over his scouts pick.

What was explanation? Complete reticence to ever pay top pitching FA prices?

You know you're in trouble when Peralta is the second best FA option.

McGonigle DeLauter Mune KGriffin Anthony Kurtz Chourio Langford Wetherholt all argue on the side of investment in star position players...and then there's ALSO the two year TJS wipe out when you most need those guys in a contention window.

See Kopech Crochet Rodon.

Also Guardians' young rotation supports idea you need talented pitchers...not a bunch of guys throwing 97-100 and blowing out their elbows.

Edited April 5Apr 5 by caulfield12

11 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

What was explanation? Complete reticence to ever pay top pitching FA prices?

You know you're in trouble when Peralta is the second best FA option.

McGonigle DeLauter Mune KGriffin Anthony Kurtz Chourio Langford Wetherholt all argue on the side of investment in star position players...and then there's ALSO the two year TJS wipe out when you most need those guys in a contention window.

See Kopech Crochet Rodon.

Also Guardians' young rotation supports idea you need talented pitchers...not a bunch of guys throwing 97-100 and blowing out their elbows.

Huh? Gavin Williams is a first rounder who throws really hard and has missed time with arm problems. You do have to spend some draft capital on pitching.

12 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Didn't hear JR, but supposedly Getz insisted on Hagen Smith over his scouts pick.

12 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

What was explanation? Complete reticence to ever pay top pitching FA prices?

You know you're in trouble when Peralta is the second best FA option.

McGonigle DeLauter Mune KGriffin Anthony Kurtz Chourio Langford Wetherholt all argue on the side of investment in star position players...and then there's ALSO the two year TJS wipe out when you most need those guys in a contention window.

See Kopech Crochet Rodon.

Also Guardians' young rotation supports idea you need talented pitchers...not a bunch of guys throwing 97-100 and blowing out their elbows.

I don’t know if the scouts wanted Griffin but the kid’s family and other draft media thought he might be coming here. Analytics didn’t like Cags. Griffin had hit tool concerns. Medical concerns on Wetherholt. Fuller didn’t work for Sox yet and Getz likely thought Smith was guy they’d be most likely to maximize at time. Looks to be a mistake right now.

4 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I don’t know if the scouts wanted Griffin but the kid’s family and other draft media thought he might be coming here. Analytics didn’t like Cags. Griffin had hit tool concerns. Medical concerns on Wetherholt. Fuller didn’t work for Sox yet and Getz likely thought Smith was guy they’d be most likely to maximize at time. Looks to be a mistake right now.

I will say Smith’s first two starts lessen the regret for me. If Griffin is Bobby Witt, it’s a huge mistake, but less so if Hagen is Carlos Rodon.

1 hour ago, Timmy U said:

I will say Smith’s first two starts lessen the regret for me. If Griffin is Bobby Witt, it’s a huge mistake, but less so if Hagen is Carlos Rodon.

He doesn’t have that ability to actually gain strength in later innings, at least not yet…throwing 97-99 as pitch counts near 100.

So much of Rodon’s power came from trunk/legs.

Edited Monday at 05:01 PM5 days by DirtySox

I adore Lackey.

18 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

I adore Lackey.

Scouting Report

Lackey is one of the most well-rounded prospects in the 2026 class. A catcher by trade, he's got the flexibility, athleticism and arm strength to play the position as a professional. Lackey is a fairly average with regards to pitch framing; better stealing the north and south strikes than he is pulling the ball back into the zone when a pitcher misses arm-side or glove-side. Certainly a trait he can develop with further reps behind the dish. He's exceptional at blocking the ball in the dirt and is above-average throwing would-be base stealers out at second base. Lackey gets up and out of the crouch with impressive burst and flashes pop times that point toward an above average defender long-term.

It's hard to poke many holes in Lackey's offensive game too. He's well-above average from a bat-to-ball perspective and his peak batted-ball events have resulted in exit velocities north of 112 mph. There are components and traits here that suggest a plus hitter at the next level with the ability to perhaps run into 20 homers per year. He'll need to pull the ball with more frequency, and get the ball in the air more often if he's to realize his impact potential with the stick, but he's shown the raw strength and feel to get there when he chooses. Better still, Lackey has the athletic frame scouts like to see from a catcher who still has some strength gains on the horizon.

As if the defensive ability and hit tool upside weren't enough, Lackey is also a rare-breed catcher who has plus speed on the bases. He'll steal bases in buckets when the legs are fresh.

Lackey has all the same traits that a player like Harry Ford showcased in the 2021 Draft that made him a top 15 selection. However, Lackey is doing it in the ACC against far more superior competition.

Interesting on Hacopian. I don’t think he can stick at short, however, which is a pretty big separator.

3 hours ago, Lukakke Appling said:

Interesting on Hacopian. I don’t think he can stick at short, however, which is a pretty big separator.

Yeah it’s what keeps getting lost. Cholowsky is at minimum an above-average defender at shortstop and stays there. Way more valuable.

Don't confuse stats for the tools to succeed at the next level. It's easy to equate guys at lower levels, but you need the tools to succeed at the top level.

This is a very fun addition for the draftniks out there. Overslot does great work.

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

This is a very fun addition for the draftniks out there. Overslot does great work.

Perfect Game

Bo Lowrance Class of 2026 - Player Profile | Perfect Game...

Bo Lowrance Class of 2026 Perfect Game Player Profile

Great...$3 million bonus baby pick probably ends up at 1B/DH and likes the Orioles.

Edited Tuesday at 04:09 PM4 days by caulfield12