The problem is the Yankees prospects are usually fools gold

It will be pretty difficult to find a home for Alexei at the deadline this year, there are really only two teams expected to be in contention that have SS needs, the Pirates and the Reds. Neither has the payroll space to add him beyond this season.

Supposedly there is a real possibility no college SS will be drafted in the top 250 this year. So if you are trading Alexei, you better have some sort of alternative in your system or some available option moving forward, or you could be looking at crap at SS for the White Sox for a long time.

Supposedly there is a real possibility no college SS will be drafted in the top 250 this year. So if you are trading Alexei, you better have some sort of alternative in your system or some available option moving forward, or you could be looking at crap at SS for the White Sox for a long time.

The alternative, as it stands now, would be Marcus Semien.

The alternative, as it stands now, would be Marcus Semien.

Defensively, the Sox haven't even bothered. That probably tells you something right there. Although Alexei has been on fire this year, so maybe there is a slight chance they just didn't have the opportunity to put him there yet.

 

I would think if there was any reason to think Semien was the SS of the future, the White Sox would work him in there occassionally, like they do 3B and 2B.

Defensively, the Sox haven't even bothered. That probably tells you something right there. Although Alexei has been on fire this year, so maybe there is a slight chance they just didn't have the opportunity to put him there yet.

 

I would think if there was any reason to think Semien was the SS of the future, the White Sox would work him in there occassionally, like they do 3B and 2B.

 

They worked him in at 3B because their starting 3B is on the DL.

They worked him in at 3B because their starting 3B is on the DL.

He also played 3B before Gillaspie went down.

Cleuluis Rondon for shortstop the instance Alexei is traded.

He also played 3B before Gillaspie went down.

He's also a righty and the 3b is a lefty who has trouble hitting lefties. The current SS is a righty so it is difficult to use a platoon there with another player who also bats righty.

 

The ideal setup this year would have been Semien starting at SS in Charlotte working to see if he could really handle the position. Alas injuries have delayed that, but it is still what should happen in a couple days when DL guys start returning.

 

If he can't handle the position then that makes trading Alexei much tougher. It would however certainly be nice to see how he does if given that position to focus on for several months before it even becomes a reasonable option.

He also played 3B before Gillaspie went down.

 

Ramirez also hasn't played less than 156 games since 2009.

Ramirez also hasn't played less than 156 games since 2009.

I think it would be dumb to trade Alexei without a solid plan to fill the SS position. I don't think Semien is the answer there. And I believe if the Sox were thinking about trading him and putting Semien there, they would at least see what they had there before trading him, instead of trading him and hoping Semien could fill the roll.

 

 

He's also a righty and the 3b is a lefty who has trouble hitting lefties. The current SS is a righty so it is difficult to use a platoon there with another player who also bats righty.

 

The ideal setup this year would have been Semien starting at SS in Charlotte working to see if he could really handle the position. Alas injuries have delayed that, but it is still what should happen in a couple days when DL guys start returning.

 

If he can't handle the position then that makes trading Alexei much tougher. It would however certainly be nice to see how he does if given that position to focus on for several months before it even becomes a reasonable option.

I would agree with this. As I stated and you stated, you have to make sure he can play the position before you trade Alexei. So far, the Sox haven't tried doing that at all which to me means they either aren't going to trade Alexei or if they are, Semien doesn't appear to be their first option replacing him.

I would agree with this. As I stated and you stated, you have to make sure he can play the position before you trade Alexei. So far, the Sox haven't tried doing that at all which to me means they either aren't going to trade Alexei or if they are, Semien doesn't appear to be their first option replacing him.

 

There is no doubt in my mind that Marcus Semien is the White Sox SS if anything happens to Alexei Ramirez. Who else would it be?

There is no doubt in my mind that Marcus Semien is the White Sox SS if anything happens to Alexei Ramirez. Who else would it be?

Leury Garcia. But Semien could be their temporary answer if Ramirez was hurt. But trades aren't temporary.

Edited May 5, 201411 yr by Dick Allen

Leury Garcia. But Semien could be their temporary answer if Ramirez was hurt. But trades aren't temporary.

 

He hasn't played an inning at SS either. NO one else has played any SS besides Alexei.

 

I don't think there is a doubt in my mind that if Alexei wasn't playing, and Conor was healthy, Gordon would play 2B, Marcus SS, and Conor 3B, with Garcia as the primary back up to the IF.

I would agree with this. As I stated and you stated, you have to make sure he can play the position before you trade Alexei. So far, the Sox haven't tried doing that at all which to me means they either aren't going to trade Alexei or if they are, Semien doesn't appear to be their first option replacing him.

Worth adding though that the Sox haven't been in a position where they've had the option to try playing him there. They've been playing Semien everyday at 2 positions already; the SS is the only one who hasn't been hurt. With the 2b and 3b both going down, there's been literally zero chance for them to work him at SS.

He hasn't played an inning at SS either. NO one else has played any SS besides Alexei.

 

I don't think there is a doubt in my mind that if Alexei wasn't playing, and Conor was healthy, Gordon would play 2B, Marcus SS, and Conor 3B, with Garcia as the primary back up to the IF.

You might be right, but that would be temporary. If they traded Ramirez, it wouldn't be temporary. It's kind of like having Frank Thomas play 1B during interleague. It's fine for a short stretch, you just don't want it forever.

 

What I am saying is if the White Sox felt like they had the SS of the future on their current roster, I don't think Alexei would play every inning of every game to this point, although he has been on fire.

What I am saying is if the White Sox felt like they had the SS of the future on their current roster, I don't think Alexei would play every inning of every game to this point, although he has been on fire.

I really disagree with this. It's just how the White Sox have operated with Alexei, they play him non-stop.

 

If Semien goes down to AAA and keeps playing 2b and 3b, when those positions already have Sanchez and Davidson on them, that will tell a lot more IMO.

Worth adding though that the Sox haven't been in a position where they've had the option to try playing him there. They've been playing Semien everyday at 2 positions already; the SS is the only one who hasn't been hurt. With the 2b and 3b both going down, there's been literally zero chance for them to work him at SS.

 

Ding. Winner.

I really disagree with this. It's just how the White Sox have operated with Alexei, they play him non-stop.

 

If Semien goes down to AAA and keeps playing 2b and 3b, when those positions already have Sanchez and Davidson on them, that will tell a lot more IMO.

The last time the Sox had a legitimate future regular SS on their roster who wasn't the regular SS was 2008. Orlando Cabrera was the Sox SS. He made 160 starts and finished 144 games. Alexei started the other 2 at SS and finished up 16. I would think moving forward, if the Sox really think Semien is a long term option at SS, you will see him there from time to time.

The last time the Sox had a legitimate future regular SS on their roster who wasn't the regular SS was 2008. Orlando Cabrera was the Sox SS. He made 160 starts and finished 144 games. Alexei started the other 2 at SS and finished up 16. I would think moving forward, if the Sox really think Semien is a long term option at SS, you will see him there from time to time.

And if/when Ramirez takes a day off, you will. Such an opportunity has not even come up.

 

That said, if Keppinger is back soon, then who knows what the heck they plan to do.

 

 

 

The last time the Sox had a legitimate future regular SS on their roster who wasn't the regular SS was 2008. Orlando Cabrera was the Sox SS. He made 160 starts and finished 144 games. Alexei started the other 2 at SS and finished up 16. I would think moving forward, if the Sox really think Semien is a long term option at SS, you will see him there from time to time.

 

agreed, but its hard to determine that right now with this roster scramble due to injuries. Right now they are just trying to make sure someone is at each position.

 

 

If Semien goes down to AAA and keeps playing 2b and 3b, when those positions already have Sanchez and Davidson on them, that will tell a lot more IMO.

 

 

I agree with this, the Sox plans for Marcus will be apparent when Kepp and Gillaspie are back to see what position they send him out at in AAA everyday. Personally, I think he should be playing SS until he proves he can't with the number of potential 2B in the system. If Semien can man SS, that leaves a spot open for Sanchez or Johnson down the road.

Supposedly there is a real possibility no college SS will be drafted in the top 250 this year. So if you are trading Alexei, you better have some sort of alternative in your system or some available option moving forward, or you could be looking at crap at SS for the White Sox for a long time.

 

Thats just not true, Turner will be a top 45 pick. If he is still there in the second, there is no way he gets past the Sox.

Thats just not true, Turner will be a top 45 pick. If he is still there in the second, there is no way he gets past the Sox.

 

If Turner is there in the second round, I'd find that awesome.

 

Between Anderson, Semien, Johnson, Rondon, Saladino, Sanchez AND Turner, you'd hope one would pan out.