NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Apr 6, 2018 -> 10:29 AM) Maybe my geography isn't up to par, but I looked at the Dash's schedule and I don't see any road games that are local. Am I seeing this right? Forget seeing Charlotte in Indianapolis; I'd much rather see the Dash's loaded roster. Other than Charlotte in Indy, no other Sox affiliate plays any games in the Midwest. SAL, CAR and SL are all a long way away east and south, PIO to the far west, and AZL purely in the PHX valley.

Here's the second team preview for the affiliates - the AA Birmingham Barons, who have a whopping 11 of the organization's top 30 prospects on the roster. The Barons and the Dash look like the two clubs to most focus on for prospect talent to open 2018.

First team preview is up - the Winston-Salem Dash. This team is... loaded. Will also present a challenge for getting all those outfielders some playing time. Might be the most exciting affiliate in the system.

Dunning starts for W-S. Working to find out who it is for Kanny.

QUOTE (MnSoxFan @ Apr 5, 2018 -> 08:51 AM) He is on the roster, this site has them up to date. The Knights website does not, if it still has Danny Hayes on it. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2P...amp;single=true Has anyone actually determined who maintains that spreadsheet, and how? Not sure whether or not to believe it.

Julie Brady is back to do her weekly columns at FutureSox for 2018, on Thursdays. For her opening volley, she paints a picture of the general experience of visiting Spring Training in Arizona, with a focus on Camelback and what it's like hanging around the back fields. Next week she promises to talk more about ballplayers.

Clint Cole continues the new version of the FS podcast, along with Brian Bilek, and special guest Nick Shepkowski of 670 The Score for this episode. You can subscribe via iTunes, or Podomatic (link in the article for that).

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 09:52 AM) I wonder how that would be scored. I figure it would have to be an unearned run since it isn't the pitcher's fault he is on base in the first place. If you read the article, it is explained.

There are a number of significant rule changes being adopted by Minor League Baseball for 2018, all of which could be later considered for the majors. Our Ken Sawilchik details the rules here, and includes quotes from White Sox front office staff and players, on their views around the changes.

Lots of transactions to take in - here is the link. Enjoy.

James wrote up a bunch of high potential relievers a couple weeks ago. But there is so much depth in relief talent in the system, he decided to dive deeper and grab 11 more arms to write up. Includes video for all eleven too. Get to know 11 more relievers who could contribute to the next White Sox contending team.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 22, 2018 -> 02:29 PM) IN the search for a 3 row SUV she's eliminated Acura, Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Ford, Dodge, Mazda. Down to Toyota Highlander and GMC acadia Subaru also has a brand new one coming out, not sure if it's actually available yet though. Might be worth looking at, looking at the rest of your list.

Ken posed an interesting theoretical, and we turned it into a roundtable. Five FS writers weighed in on who, between Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez, will likely end up with the better MLB career. Here it is! Now after reading, what do you all think? Who would be your pick? Added a poll to help with the discussion.

Shapiro is anything but stupid. But he sure does have a lot of hate, so I see no reason to listen to him.

His stock has been rising among prospect followers since early in the 2017 season. It's just taken the mainline reporters a little time to catch up. Tons of talent there, and he finally started translating a bit - and stayed healthy for a full season.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 14, 2018 -> 09:45 AM) But it does indeed have one. Yup, it sure does.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 06:38 PM) I really think Curbelo opens the season with Kannapolis. QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 08:12 PM) Seconded That's a tough call. I like Curbelo a lot as a prospect, certainly more than say Laz Rivera or Tate Blackman. But decisions in a rebuild like this, and the way Getz seems to do things, are about the right developmental spot and not rushing. Curbelo just turned 20 and has a grand total of 48 pro games, almost all of it in the AZL. He's a prep pick. I really think they will slow-move him through Ext ST, Great Falls, then Kanny later in the year maybe. Then accelerate more in 2019 from there if it goes well.

People look at the starting pitching and outfield prospect depth in the White Sox system as the key strengths on the farm, and with good reason. But one area where there seems to also be quite a lot of talent is in relief arms - and it's a strength not often discussed. Given the current trends in game management, it seems an important area to look at. James looks here at eight of the best of those arms in depth. There will be a Part 2 covering another grouping, probably next week.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 02:30 PM) Is Zangari on pace to play for ST do you know? Unsure if the road back for position player TJS is different. As far as I know he'll be 100% ready in ST. He went down in March of last year, so it has been almost exactly a year. QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 02:46 PM) I think Seby will be in AA to do the DH/C thing with Collins like they did last season at WS. Courtney Hawkins doesn't need everyday at bats anymore. I don't think Courtney needs full time play either (in fact I think he should be pitching), but I think both Collins and Zavala need work behind the plate. QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 03:28 PM) Interested to hear why you believe Cordell starts over Delmonico. If anything, I'd have Cordell starting in CF. I think Delmonico will play all over - LF, 3B, 1B, DH. And I don't believe, from what I've read, that Cordell is a full time CF guy. More of a corner man I think, who can cover center in a pinch. But I could be wrong!

Also remember, around mid-March the team will release a bunch of minor leaguers. Usually about 15-20 of them. That will relieve some of the logjams.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 01:30 PM) wow! I couldn't even begin to think about something this big. The one that surprised me was you putting Zangari at 1b in Kanny. I think looking at something like this is why it's probably hard for sox fans to hear we aren't that deep. Compared to 2 years ago, super deep, but probably just have way more 40 FV guys than before and less 45's than others. It's not impossible they decide Zangari isn't quite ready yet and have Anthony Villa start there, at least for now. Villa isn't really a prospect but he will be 24 for this season and destroyed PIO pitching. I don't think Franklin Reyes is ready and he's still a teenager.

I usually wait until the March wave of releases to write a full-on article for FutureSox on this, so for fun for now, let's do it as a thread. Here is what I see as the likely current org Big Board, in terms of who will be assigned where. Some of these - especially the bullpens at the higher levels - are a complete mess and I am not highly confident in being right. But, here we go, and then we can discuss? MLB: C Wellington Castillo 1B Jose Abreu 2B Yoan Moncada SS Tim Anderson 3B Carlos Sanchez OF Ryan Cordell OF Adam Engel OF Avisail Garcia DH Matt Davidson (3B, 1B) B1 Omar Narvaez © B2 Nick Delmonico (1B, 3B, COF) B3 Tyler Saladino (3B, 2B) B4 Leury Garcia (CF, SS) SP Lucas Giolito SP James Shields SP Reynaldo Lopez SP Miguel Gonzalez SP Carson Fulmer RP Nate Jones RP Joakim Soria RP Aaron Bummer* RP Gregory Infante RP Dylan Covey RP Luis Avilan* RP Bruce Rondon DL LHP Carlos Rodon* --------- AAA: C Kevan Smith 1B Casey Gillaspie 2B Eddy Alvarez SS Jose Rondon 3B Trey Michalczewski OF Charlie Tilson OF Jacob May OF Willy Garcia DH Daniel Palka (OF, 1B) B1 Alfredo Gonzalez © B2 Patrick Leonard (INF) B3 Matt Skole (1B) B4 Mason Robbins (OF) SP Michael Kopech SP Spencer Adams SP Jordan Guerrero* SP Jordan Stephens SP Chris Beck RP Connor Walsh RP Brian Clark* RP Brad Goldberg RP Thyago Vieira RP Michael Ynoa RP Jace Fry* RP Tyler Danish DL RHP Zack Burdi ------------ AA: C Zack Collins 1B Matt Rose 2B Bryant Flete SS Danny Mendick 3B Ti'Quan Forbes OF Eloy Jimenez OF Jameson Fisher OF Tito Polo DH Courtney Hawkins (OF) B1 Yermin Mercedes © B2 Toby Thomas (INF) B3 Keon Barnum (1B) B4 Jeff Gelalich (OF) SP Alec Hansen SP Dane Dunning SP AJ Puckett SP Bernadro Flores* SP Ian Clarkin* RP Ian Hamilton RP Zach Thompson RP Jack Charleston RP Thad Lowry RP Louie Lechich* RP Kyle Kubat* RP Jose Ruiz ---------- A+: C Seby Zavala 1B Gavin Sheets 2B Johan Cruz SS Yeyson Yrizarri 3B Jake Burger OF Luis Alex Basabe OF Joel Booker OF Alex Call DH Micker Adolfo (OF) B1 Casey Schroeder © B2 Aaron Schnurbusch (OF) B3 Brady Conlan (3B/1B) B4 Grant Massey (UTIL) SP Dylan Cease SP Andre Davis* SP Jimmy Lambert SP Luis Martinez SP Yosmer Solorzano RP Ryan Burr RP Matt Foster RP Mike Morrison RP Danny Dopico RP Kevin Escorcia* RP Jake Elliott RP Ryan Riga* DL RHP Aron McRee --------- A: C Evan Skoug 1B Corey Zangari 2B Mitch Roman SS Laz Rivera 3B Justin Yurchak OF Luis Gonzalez OF Blake Rutherford OF Luis Robert DH Craig Dedelow (OF) B1 Carlos Perez © B2 Anthony Villa (1B/3B) B3 David Cronin (SS/2B) B4 Logan Taylor (OF) SP Tyler Johnson SP Lincoln Henzman SP Kade McClure SP Blake Hickman SP John Parke* RP Victor Diaz RP Will Kincanon RP JB Olson RP Joe Mockbee* RP Jaider Rocha* RP Ryan Boelter RP Blake Battenfield DL LHP Michael Horejsei ------------------ And here are the players unassigned by position group, but who belong in full season ball (not listing all the rookie leaguers here), with the key guys in bold: RHP Dustin Antolin (AAA) Robin Leyer (AAA) Drew Hasler (AA) Yelmison Peralta (A+) Brandon Brennan (AAA) Chris Volstad (AAA) Rob Scahill (AAA) Jeanmar Gomez (AAA) Danny Farquhar (AAA/MLB) Gonzalez Germen (AAA) Juan Minaya (AAA) Cameron Seitzer (A/A+) Luis Ledo (Rk-A) Mick VanVossen (A+) Lane Hobbs (A+) Brannon Easterling (AA) Ben Wright (A+) Donn Roach (AAA) LHP Tanner Banks (AA/AAA) TJ House (AAA) Xavier Cedeno (AAA) Colton Turner (AA/AAA) Andre Wheeler (AA) Matt Tomshaw (AA) INF Zach Remillard [3B/2B] (A+) Brandon Dulin [1B] (AA) Danny Hayes [1B] (AAA) Juan Perez [sS] (AAA) Jake Elmore [uIF] (AAA) Gerson Montilla [3B] (AA) Max Dutto [MIF] (A) Sam Dexter [uIF] (A) Alex Maloney [3B] (Rk-A) Dean Anna [uIF] (AAA) OF Nick Basto (AA, AAA) Louis Silverio (AA) Jacob Cooper (A) Tracy Hadley (A) JJ Muno (A) C Brett Austin (AA) Chris O'Dowd (AAA) Nate Nolan (A) Daniel Gonzalez (A+) Key rookie leaguers to open in Ext ST: Mike Hickman Franklin Reyes Tate Blackman Luis Curbelo Amado Nunez Tyler Frost Alex Destino Jose Garcia Maiker Feliz Jhoandro Alfaro Sam Abbott Mikey Duarte Lenyn Sosa Ramon Beltre Anthony Coronado Michael Staudinger Adam McGinnis Ricky Mota Felix Mercedes Nolan Brown Jose Colina Chris Comito Kyle Von Ruden Parker Rigler Andres Sanchez Zach Lewis* Hunter Kiel Ryan Erickson* Jhoan Quijada Greg Minier Michael McCormick Kevin George Vince Arobio Edinxon Arias Anthony Herron Bryan Saucedo Josue Gerardo Salvador Villarreal Ted Andrews

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 12:44 PM) Could they rotate Smith and Mercedes in AAA? He's 24 years old, so we might as well test him at AAA vs. letting him sit on the bench while Zavala and Collins play at AA They also have Alfredo Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, and he's ready for AAA. He'd get a slot over Mercedes without much doubt. Then there is the Collins/Zavala problem - they both belong at AA, but wouldn't get enough playing time there together. My Big Board shows the following for catchers, as my best guesses at this point (starter, backup): MLB; Castillo, Narvaez AAA: Smith, Gonzalez (in more of a platoon) AA: Collins, Mercedes (Collins likely to move up quickly if he does well) A+: Zavala, Schroeder (Zavala would move up quick too, he's too much for the level but needs PT) A: Skoug, Perez Unassigned to open year: Hickman (likely Great Falls), Alfaro (Great Falls or AZL), Colina (likely AZL), and a collection of org soldiers as depth (Austin, O'Dowd, Nolan, D-Gonzalez, McGinnis)

Every outlet is putting out Spring Training preview content because they have to. That includes us, but we took a somewhat different tack, looking at some of the major story lines as they pertain to prospects. We wouldn't have wanted to do just do the same thing everyone else was doing!

John hasn't been able to attend any games in years, and his rankings have been pretty bad in parallel. Innacuracies and weird stuff bleed in. He seems like a nice enough guy, but I wouldn't put a lot of weight on his rankings. He's very, very stat-focused and tends to pick out specific numbers without context. Also, I'm fairly sure Yermin Mercedes won't even get a starting gig in the minors this year (barring injury).