Most of the regular readers here are pretty familiar with Marcus. He's a victim of a system that privileges potential and, more specifically, specific tools over holistic abilities. Marcus probably lacks any plus physical tool, so he's found himself pretty much off the radar. Well, he's now on it with his fantastic play.

 

We're seeing:

 

-at least adequate defense at both middle infield positions, possibly better

-exceptional plate disciplines: a high walk total that outnumbers his strikeouts

-some pop: he hit his 13th homer tonight

-some stolen base ability, though it is sub-ideal for a potential leadoff hitter as some might see him

 

So here's a thread to talk about him. A thread like this seemed to put Andy Wilkins on a hot streak, so why not another? Here's a question to start things off:

 

If we trade Alexei Ramirez this week, should the White Sox call up Marcus Semien to play shortstop?

Most of the regular readers here are pretty familiar with Marcus. He's a victim of a system that privileges potential and, more specifically, specific tools over holistic abilities. Marcus probably lacks any plus physical tool, so he's found himself pretty much off the radar. Well, he's now on it with his fantastic play.

 

We're seeing:

 

-at least adequate defense at both middle infield positions, possibly better

-exceptional plate disciplines: a high walk total that outnumbers his strikeouts

-some pop: he hit his 13th homer tonight

-some stolen base ability, though it is sub-ideal for a potential leadoff hitter as some might see him

 

So here's a thread to talk about him. A thread like this seemed to put Andy Wilkins on a hot streak, so why not another? Here's a question to start things off:

 

If we trade Alexei Ramirez this week, should the White Sox call up Marcus Semien to play shortstop?

Yes, players tend to goto AAA as finishing school for plate discipline or defense, sox are in a lost season, why not?

While he's this hot and in a lost season? Sure why not.

 

Over the last month he's out produced Garin Cecchini in every category but SBs by 1.

He's destroying AA pitching. And the fact that he sees the zone so well should make his transition a bit easier

 

I would like to see how he hits after this hot streak is over before calling him up. Dude might be an absolute monster in the majors.

His last 10 games:

 

.472, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 10 BB, 2 K, 1 SB, .587 OBP, .917 SLG

I just brought him up last week I think in a Matt Thornton thread. He's only 22 and has put together two straight excellent offensive seasons, and as a middle infielder no less. Noting particularly that he's excelling in precisely the things that all of our "prospects" seem to suck at: taking a walk, and not striking out. He's handily besting 2 more highly touted 22 year old teammates in Trayce Thompson and Keenyn Walker in every single offensive category other than steals (Walker) and RBI (Thompson). And while Sanchez is a year younger and in AAA he's been absolutely worthless with the bat and as nothing more than a singles hitter, he needs to hit well over .300 to be worthwhile (see Ramirez, Alexei 2013 edition). So it's nice to see on that MLB top 20 list today, Semien deservedly ahead of Sanchez at #9.

I'll just remind everyone that Carlos Sanchez hit .370 in his time with Birmingham. I wouldn't mind seeing Semien get a month in AAA though.

I'll just remind everyone that Carlos Sanchez hit .370 in his time with Birmingham. I wouldn't mind seeing Semien get a month in AAA though.

Come on, it was 133 PAs and his BABIP was .449 despite his K rate actually increasing at Birmingham. I still like Sanchez as a prospect, but let's be honest, his success at AA last year was all due to luck. He shouldn't be in AAA right now IMO.

 

On the otherhand, Semien's success at AA this year isn't some fluke, it's the result of improving plate discipline. I'm fine with him getting promoted to AAA at some point this season, but I do not want him on the big league roster. In fact, I'd like to see him spend at least half of 2014 in AAA.

 

We really need to stop rushing our prospects and instead let them finish developing in the minors. The one thing I will give Theo credit for is he wants his prospects to get as many AAA ABs as possible before being called up. It's a smart policy and one I hope Hahn enables.

Edited July 27, 201312 yr by Chicago White Sox

With our eyes on the future, Semien should NOT be called up this year.

 

We cannot afford to keep rushing our prospects. He's only 22. Bring him up to AAA at the end of the year and have him play in the AFL.

 

If he is ready, he can compete at ST for a spot next year.

Leave him in the minors. We don't need to rush anyone for this sorry season.

If they have any intentions of giving him big league time this season, which isn't likely, I'd probably send him to AAA for August, and then maybe Chicago in September if he's still killing it.

 

At the very least, I think he's played his way into being a top 5 prospect for the Sox.

If they have any intentions of giving him big league time this season, which isn't likely, I'd probably send him to AAA for August, and then maybe Chicago in September if he's still killing it.

 

At the very least, I think he's played his way into being a top 5 prospect for the Sox.

 

I'd be OK with chicago in ONLY september.

not much insight about him from this story in Birmingham paper, but it does include video of him making a nice play charging the ball and getting the hitter on a swinging bunt last night.

 

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/07...4_for_4_as.html

A much better story on Semien.

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...lb&sid=milb

Most of the regular readers here are pretty familiar with Marcus. He's a victim of a system that privileges potential and, more specifically, specific tools over holistic abilities. Marcus probably lacks any plus physical tool, so he's found himself pretty much off the radar. Well, he's now on it with his fantastic play.

 

We're seeing:

 

-at least adequate defense at both middle infield positions, possibly better

-exceptional plate disciplines: a high walk total that outnumbers his strikeouts

-some pop: he hit his 13th homer tonight

-some stolen base ability, though it is sub-ideal for a potential leadoff hitter as some might see him

 

So here's a thread to talk about him. A thread like this seemed to put Andy Wilkins on a hot streak, so why not another? Here's a question to start things off:

 

If we trade Alexei Ramirez this week, should the White Sox call up Marcus Semien to play shortstop?

Actually, Semien was pretty toolsy when the Sox drafted him. His production in college slid and didn't match the tools and thus the Sox were able to draft a guy later then people anticipated he would have been drafted (preseason he was a better prospect vs. when the Sox took him at the end of his college season).Part of that was between his sophmore and junior year, the metal bat changes were made to the college game.

 

Note: I'm not implying he has Arod's tools, but this guy isn't a Retheford type player who doesn't have a lot of the typical tools you'd see in a prospect. Guy has a good arm, good range, good fielder. He doesn't have the elite arm or range you'd see people gush about, but it is more then solid, especially with his bat. He has a shot to play at either SS or 2B.

If Ramirez is traded, one would imagine that the Sox would receive the SS he's replacing in return. Give Semien the rest of the year in Birmingham (or move him to AAA if he never cools off) and go from there. There is absolutely no rush with him.

Semien HR off Archie Bradley and three walks tonight.

 

rollin.

Yep, my threads are magic

Yep, my threads are magic

 

Well then you need to start some threads in the trade rumor section. Maybe that will get things going.

 

It would be nice if Semien and M. Johnson continue to progress. They would be an ideal 1-2 punch at the top of the Sox lineup.

For some reason I am feeling a Marcus Semien trade forthcoming.

For some reason I am feeling a Marcus Semien trade forthcoming.

 

...why would we do that?

...why would we do that?

Hahn being a sabermetric guy probably values Semien way more than KW did. I highly doubt the Sox would trade an on-base machine like Semien who can play a premium position well defensively.

It would be nice if Semien and M. Johnson continue to progress. They would be an ideal 1-2 punch at the top of the Sox lineup.

I too was saying that earlier this year before Semien heated up. With Micah's promotion to A+ there are a couple of things of note in his SSS at Winston-Salem.

 

1.) his walk rate has plummeted to 1.9% but his strike out rate is down 6.6% its only 12.4%.

 

2.) his BABIP is .384 at A+ down 34 points from A, which for someone with his legs isn't necessarily a bad thing as some people tend to believe a higher BABIP in the minors also represents a stronger hit tool.

 

I really hope one of Johnson or Semien can develop to be a solid major league regular. Both of them at the top of the order would be wonderful.

If Ramirez is traded, one would imagine that the Sox would receive the SS he's replacing in return. Give Semien the rest of the year in Birmingham (or move him to AAA if he never cools off) and go from there. There is absolutely no rush with him.

 

 

And he's been playing 3B for the past month anyway. Not sure if he can stick at SS long term.