15 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

Elko deserves a shot. It looks like its not going to happen anytime soon.

Too old.

Won't be on our next playoff team lol.

Same excuses for trading Burger...who certainly hasn't caught fire for the Rangers this year, at least not yet.

But Andrew Vaughn is much more expensive and most certainly won't be on the next Sox playoff team and offers much less power...which is Elko's only real plus tool as another relatively one dimensional 1B.

What's the worst thing that could happen at this point?

Vaughn magically morphing into Torkelson with a change of scenery trade?

17 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Too old.

Won't be on our next playoff team lol.

Same excuses for trading Burger...who certainly hasn't caught fire for the Rangers this year, at least not yet.

But Andrew Vaughn is much more expensive and most certainly won't be on the next Sox playoff team and offers much less power...which is Elko's only real plus tool as another relatively one dimensional 1B.

What's the worst thing that could happen at this point?

Vaughn magically morphing into Torkelson with a change of scenery trade?

Elko is a much better defensive 1B, and has a robust hit tool. He's also worked to whittle down his strikeouts, whereas Vaughn is starting to feel like he's ... dare I say it ... uncoachable?

7 hours ago, 46DidIt said:

Ain't no ham like Birmingham

Unless you want an 'effing ham. 

I came here today assuming Elko would be called up. This is, by faaaar, the dumbest organization in sports. And they out do themselves regularly. At this point it's just cruel to Elko not to bring him up. Let him go elsewhere if you're just going to dick the kid over. 

Perhaps Vaughn could play in the outfield. 

I was thinking his only shot at a continued career is a change of scenery. Perhaps a different coaching staff could get him closer to his draft projections.

A trade for *cash considerations" would be beneficial to everyone. 

10 minutes ago, Texsox said:

Perhaps Vaughn could play in the outfield. 

I was thinking his only shot at a continued career is a change of scenery. Perhaps a different coaching staff could get him closer to his draft projections.

A trade for *cash considerations" would be beneficial to everyone. 

Jerry approves of this message.

14 minutes ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

I came here today assuming Elko would be called up. This is, by faaaar, the dumbest organization in sports. And they out do themselves regularly. At this point it's just cruel to Elko not to bring him up. Let him go elsewhere if you're just going to dick the kid over. 

Maybe tomorrow. Without a game for the Sox or Charlotte, they don’t announce moves to the 26-man until they have to.

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Elko is a much better defensive 1B, and has a robust hit tool. He's also worked to whittle down his strikeouts, whereas Vaughn is starting to feel like he's ... dare I say it ... uncoachable?

Elko’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Power 88 (-3 compared to last season)
RBIs 83 (-3)
Durability 75 (+4)
XBH 74 (-6)
Hitting 71 (+3)
Runs 70 (-8)
Speed 33 (-3)
Contact 22 (+1)
Average 64.50 (-4.50)

Even average MLB first base defense would be a significant step up from Vaughn.

Much bigger target for infielders, us the reach advantage on arrant throws.

7 hours ago, 46DidIt said:

 

Dude's hitting .354/.432/.732. That's about as Ruthian as we're going to get out of a minor leaguer

And .732 is his slugging percentage not his OPS which is something like 1.164 give or take.

9 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

And .732 is his slugging percentage not his OPS which is something like 1.164 give or take.

But, he's not a Prospect.

Who cares how old he is?  Palka was basically in the same boat, and he showed up and hit some bombs.   That’s all we want lol 

15 minutes ago, oldsox said:

But, he's not a Prospect.

Of course he is.He's a minor leaguer at the highest level of the minors who has never had a single AB in MLB who is currently tearing the cover off the ball.

Is that not a prospect ?

And as far as Vaughn's supposed "leadership" qualities, Elko's a big time Christian, and team leader going way back. Pure character guy. I'm all for a straight swap. 

I'd cut Palacios and Dalbec. Select Fletcher, Elko. Option Vaughn. I guess that leaves another 26 man slot open. Hello, Greg Jones!

2 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Who cares how old he is?  Palka was basically in the same boat, and he showed up and hit some bombs.   That’s all we want lol 

And '23 was his first full pro season. 

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

And as far as Vaughn's supposed "leadership" qualities, Elko's a big time Christian, and team leader going way back. Pure character guy. I'm all for a straight swap. 

I'd cut Palacios and Dalbec. Select Fletcher, Elko. Option Vaughn. I guess that leaves another 26 man slot open. Hello, Greg Jones!

Nick Madrigal was a big time Christian and his faith helped to tear the team apart...this might work with the Royals, when you have a majority of players sharing the same faith and even drafted for those reasons, but it doesn't work if that "leader" is the one voice in the wilderness and not backing it up with his play, either.  Or nobody will listen if the guy's on the IL, let's put it that way.

10 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Nick Madrigal was a big time Christian and his faith helped to tear the team apart...this might work with the Royals, when you have a majority of players sharing the same faith and even drafted for those reasons, but it doesn't work if that "leader" is the one voice in the wilderness and not backing it up with his play, either.  Or nobody will listen if the guy's on the IL, let's put it that way.

Do you mean that a bunch of jaded vets who wouldn't even support a teammate coming back from chemo were "torn apart" by a rookie bible thumper? That's quite the accusation. 

Your argument that Vaughn's "leadership" has turned this team into a juggernaut seems to fall short. 

7 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Do you mean that a bunch of jaded vets who wouldn't even support a teammate coming back from chemo were "torn apart" by a rookie bible thumper? That's quite the accusation. 

Your argument that Vaughn's "leadership" has turned this team into a juggernaut seems to fall short. 

I've never been an Andrew Vaughn fan, nor "added" his leadership WORP value to his substandard fWAR.

I've only wished that he would have taken the same career team as Torkelson in DET, period, full stop.

 

Why was Madrigal traded SO QUICKLY if he wasn't causing a major distraction/rift in the clubhouse?  The White Sox have never bailed on a high first round pick so quickly under JR.

7 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

I've never been an Andrew Vaughn fan, nor "added" his leadership WORP value to his substandard fWAR.

I've only wished that he would have taken the same career team as Torkelson in DET, period, full stop.

 

Why was Madrigal traded SO QUICKLY if he wasn't causing a major distraction/rift in the clubhouse?  The White Sox have never bailed on a high first round pick so quickly under JR.

I think the Sox realized they completely botched the scouting side of Madrigal and actually sold him high while they still could, moreso than clubhouse issues.

10 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

I've never been an Andrew Vaughn fan, nor "added" his leadership WORP value to his substandard fWAR.

I've only wished that he would have taken the same career team as Torkelson in DET, period, full stop.

 

Why was Madrigal traded SO QUICKLY if he wasn't causing a major distraction/rift in the clubhouse?  The White Sox have never bailed on a high first round pick so quickly under JR.

Because he was injured, and the Cubs took him for Craig Kimbrel. For all everybody complains, Madrigal produced fine when he was in the lineup. He couldn't stay on the field. 

8 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I think the Sox realized they completely botched the scouting side of Madrigal and actually sold him high while they still could, moreso than clubhouse issues.

Well, the Cubs did the exact same thing with Kimbrel...so nobody really benefited, because he was never a good fit as an 8th inning reliever with the Sox, and it led directly to doubling down on AJ Pollock (taking on the QO with Kimbrel but not Rodon) and then the terrible Benintendi extension.

So if you follow the entire chain of events, it's pretty darned disastrous, overall.

8 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Because he was injured, and the Cubs took him for Craig Kimbrel. For all everybody complains, Madrigal produced fine when he was in the lineup. He couldn't stay on the field. 

He always "projecting" (if he stayed healthy, which never really happened) at something like a 2-2.5 fWAR middle infielder.

Fine for a Top 5 draft pick, not really.  That's where you need stars/franchise cornerstones, 5+ fWAR centerpieces.

Fine for anyone outside of the Top 10 or beyond, sure.

Edited April 29, 2025Apr 29 by caulfield12

Madrigal's faith tore the club apart? That seems like kind of ludicrous assertion. He wasn't even on the team anymore when everything went to s%*#

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Well, the Cubs did the exact same thing with Kimbrel...so nobody really benefited, because he was never a good fit as an 8th inning reliever with the Sox, and it led directly to doubling down on AJ Pollock (taking on the QO with Kimbrel but not Rodon) and then the terrible Benintendi extension.

So if you follow the entire chain of events, it's pretty darned disastrous, overall.

The disaster was drafting Madrigal in the first place.

The team has had trouble scoring runs the last 2 seasons and yet they  won't bring up their hottest  minor league hitter.  Seems rather odd. Perhaps ownership just doesn't like Elko.

Probably instead being relegated to BIRMINGHAM to join the so-called project there...improve winning percentage of that particular team.