NorthSideSox72

Matt Cooper's prospect star was on the rise in 2016 and 2017, making the FS Top 30 at one point. Then he left the team in June of last year, but remained on the team's official roster. Matt tells us where what happened, and the decision he's made as a result.

Now that the T30 list is out there, here is a small view into why some of the writers saw certain players better or worse than the rest. They make their cases here. The arguing that goes on is at times a little more profane than what you see in the article.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 24, 2018 -> 09:54 AM) Great top 10. Love Cease, so props to you guys for valuing his upside as much as I do. Only gripe is Clarkin is too low (definitely a top 20 prospect in my book). Basabe as well. QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 24, 2018 -> 10:25 AM) I agree with this on Clarkin. I had him at #16 in my top 30. he hasn't been able to stay healthy but he has the stuff to start for sure. If you read the intro, it wasn't an exaggeration, that whole group from 10 to the mid-20's are almost entirely fungible. All with talent and flaws, and you could put them in almost any order.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 24, 2018 -> 09:14 AM) I just don't think I would put Collins above Dunning. Every year is interesting, but given the age of some of so many of our prospects, seems like we'll be able to separate the wheat from the chaff this year. The Cease/Dunning/Collins grouping was very tight, you could argue any order with them. For me, Collins is higher than either because of the value of a high OBP, high power major league starting catcher, which is Collins' ceiling. But a lot depends on how you feel about him sticking behind he plate.

Here it is, the new top thirty White Sox Prospects list! What are your thoughts on the list? What would you have done differently? (let's see who reads the intro, lol)

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 23, 2018 -> 12:33 PM) What about Andre Davis? Looks like a starter still, at least for now, that's why I didn't mention him. But he's another guy to watch, even if he's not among the top 30 or even 40 names.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2018 -> 10:04 AM) Wait for it. I wouldn't in this case. Burr isn't in our T30. He's an arm worth tracking, don't get me wrong. But the system is deep enough there were a bunch of guys not even on the Just MIssed that could be real prospects. For relievers alone there are Ryan Burr, Brian Clark, Connor Walsh, Matt Foster, Danny Dopico, Kevin Escorcia, Victor Diaz, Will Kincanon, and JB Olson. All of them have MLB potential. But relievers generally have a much harder case to make to be ranked.

Yesterday we posted the Just Missed players. Today it's prospects ranked 16th to 30th in the White Sox system. These aren't the elite names, but there is plenty of talent in the group. Would you have ranked any of these differently? Tomorrow the full list goes up.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 22, 2018 -> 10:40 AM) Was hoping to see Stephens or Guerrero grab the 5th spot until Rodon is healthy, but with the Gonzalez signing, I don't think we'll see that. Unless they want to send Fulmer back to AAA. Neither have been in AAA, and neither have exactly filthy stuff. Better for their development to not rush them like that. They should both start 2018 in the Charlotte rotation and make their way through some teams' lineups two or more games before they come up.

Good catch on McClure, thanks for pointing that out folks. And thanks Rob for fixing it. I enjoy these Just Missed lists more than I probably should, but I've always had a soft spot for guys who don't get immediate and automatic attention based on pedigree. Trying to find who might pop up from the background noise is a fun challenge.

It's Rankings Week for FutureSox, as we look to publish our shiny new 2018 Top 30 (FS30). The articles will go like this: Today: The "Just Missed" players Tuesday: Prospects 16-30 with capsules Wednesday: FULL LIST Thursday: Writer roundtable Here is the "Just a Bit Outside" list with 15 players who didn't make it, but who our writers suggested and discussed for inclusion. All are worth keeping an eye on. Who is your favorite fringe guy? Who will make a big jump this year more firmly onto the radar?

Should know very soon, as the players are being informed. Dane Dunning tweeted he is in.

If you are on Twitter, we just RT'd from the FS account a whole slew of videos from Kim (@Cu_As) from the camp, including some guys I haven't seen others put out there yet. QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 12:53 PM) I also loved this Seby Zevala tidbit, laughed out loud: "“Z, last year when we had him in camp, it's kinda funny,” Renteria said. “We were going to pinch run him, and I said 'Can you run?' and he said 'I'm the best baserunner in the organization' and I said 'That's pretty good, so I think we'll use you as a pinch runner.'”" haha, that's awesome. Love the confidence and sense of humor combo.

QUOTE (yesterday333 @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 08:48 AM) When will FS release their list? I prefer the FS list over all the other ones. Can you give us any details? Like who was most argued over? or who made a big jump? We are trying to hustle it out for next week, but can't promise that yet. If not next week, then it would be after SoxFest.

I know it's piliing on, but I just can't stop laughing at this quote from Trump: "[the Wall] was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water." Who tells him that he just described 95% of the border? And that much of the remaining 5% in and near urban areas already has walls? And thus, he just told everyone he never intended to fulfill his promise of a wall. Trump voters were duped. It happens, but it's amazing how many "build the wall!!!!" people are so hopelessly hooked to their previous stand that they won't even admit they made a mistake when Trump himself tells them he won't do it.

I always have a hard time on these topics because I don't know who the 30 is, in this case, to be outside of. Some of the names being thrown around are pretty solidly in the 30 anyway. I will say, it was awfully tough leaving some guys off my list for the FS polling/arguing we just finished. There will be a number of legit prospects left off.

Most roles stay the same, but there are a few small shifts worth noting. Here is a rundown of the full list of changes in system-wide and affiliate-specific changes, with a few highlights.

First set of short videos of the camp are up on the FutureSox YT channel, which is free. You can subscribe to the channel, by the way, and get an email whenever we post new videos. Kim Contreras is our correspondant who took these videos. She and James Fegan are the only Sox-specific media there at the camp.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 09:54 AM) I forgot Basabe played in winter league. Any chance you guys have heard anything after a BA writer said he had knee surgery? That's all I know on it, is what Josh Norris reported. He is at the mini camp this week FWIW. I'll ask Kim if she saw him actually hitting.

More than a dozen White Sox minor and major leaguers played in the various Caribbean Winter Leagues. Here's a quick recap of some of the key players, mostly prospects and minor leaguers, and how they performed.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 01:32 PM) Great article. I think you nailed it, though I'd probably lean toward putting Robert on the EST/Rookie Ball track QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 01:40 PM) Didn't Hahn say he was likely to open in Kanny or Winston? QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 01:52 PM) Hahn has said to expect to expect him in A ball. He'll either be in Kannapolis or Winston-Salem. Hahn said probably A-ball. But that could change. He was the toughest call, I guessed Kanny, but W-S is also possible as is Ext ST. He'll be in full season ball at some point without much doubt.

There are roughly a dozen actual prospect outfielders that should be in A-ball, but not nearly that many slots for them to fit into. What will the Sox do with this strength of the system? We played it out here. What would you do differently?

I'll just throw my ballot out here, as this seems the best place, for fun... Chipper Jones Vladimir Guerrero Jim Thome Edgar Martinez Mike Mussina Larry Walker Scott Rolen Curt Schilling I'm on the fence and could be talked into Omar Vizquel, maybe. Andruw Jones is tough for me because of the domestic abuse stuff, and I do believe the character clause is meaningful. Numbers-wise he belongs, but it's not like he just said some stupid stuff a la Schilling - Jones was violent. Hard to know how to balance those things quite right. Still can't believe Lou Whitaker (who lasted just one ballot!) and Dale Murphy fell short when they did. Just want to throw those out there to further stir the pot, lol.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 9, 2018 -> 12:39 PM) GMAFB. Maybe a player or coach caught on camera not knowing the national anthem isn't a big deal but he's the President of the United States. He knows the camera is on him. How could he not know the words? Especially after ranting and raving about respect for the anthem for months on end. um... what are you talking about? I was talking about booing versus cheering. What are you referring to? Did he sing the National Anthem?!

QUOTE (KagakuOtoko @ Jan 9, 2018 -> 12:24 PM) Did you guys hear boos, cheering or a mixture of both. It sounded pretty mixed with the cheering maybe a bit a louder? I haven't heard the recording, but I'm willing to bet it was the same as every other situation for every modern President - a mix of cheering and boos. Anyone taking a "side" on this is just showing how partisan and shallow they are.