[2012 White Sox draft picks]

Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisBA

RT @BAHighSchool: #WhiteSox signed Sammy Ayala for $258,800. Calif HS C went in 17th rd. Physical w/ plus arm, good pop. #mlbdraft

 

 

Pretty nice get for the White Sox here. I didn't think he was signing.

This is great news. Glad to see we're actually using our excess funds.

[Will the Royals ever be good?]

I wouldn't feel like a team needs a multi-year run like the Rays to have "broken through" or become good of however we're going to say it. Pirates are right in the thick of things this year, 11 games above .500, leading the NL Central at the break with a better record than the White Sox.

Good for them. I'm actually cheering for them to win the division. I just don't think it's going to happen. Also, I hope you realize the Sox are much, much better team than the Pirates. I could care less what the records say.

[Will the Royals ever be good?]

What does that matter? Not everyone on your team is going to be long-term, hell we are losing Peavy/Youk next season most likely but that doesn't change what they are doing for us this season. You build from within the organization and take chances on guys like Burnett/Bedard to help get you where you need to be.

Because I'm talking about the long-term outlook of the franchise and that right there is 2/5 of a rotation to fill and we're not talking about stiffs. Balta made a comment as if the Pirates have finally broken through and that's just not true. The only reason the Pirates have been good this year is because of their pitching and they'll have to replace those two guys fairly soon or commit big dollars to them that will prevent them from doing other things. Plus their offense is garbage outside of one player. I just don't think they have a great major league core to build around yet. Not sure what you're even arguing here.

[Will the Royals ever be good?]

Pittsburgh isn't out of anything yet.

 

But it helps to have guys like Longoria and Price, or McCutcheon and McDonald, etc.

Thank you. Pittsburgh may have a good record right now, but it's not going to last, as their offense is incredibly bad. Also, they have two starters in Burnett and Bedard that aren't long-term solutions. Everyone likes how they're building that organization, but let's not give them too much props just yet.

 

One other thing people need to realize is that teams like KC and Pittsburgh have spent big on the draft to quicken their rebuilding efforts, but a good chunk of these over-slot players are Boras clients. So they'll have these guys for six years and then they're likely off to the highest bidders. IMO, the Royals are in big trouble, because by the time they develop a half-way decent pitching staff, a bunch of their position players will be gone.

[White Sox may go after Starting Pitching]

I believe the majority here believes Sale will be shut down at some point at the end of season.

I don't believe that all. I think there will be one, maybe two breaks along the way. Sale is critical to any post-season success.

[Aj A clubhouse cancer?]

You guys are delusional for where the free agent market is going.

In what sense?

 

I don't see any reason to extend him now, but if he keeps it up the rest of the way, my max offer for him would be two years, $15 million. I really don't see a lot of teams going much higher. His age will limit the years and his reputation will limit the dollars. I think he'd be willing to take a $1-2 million less a year to stay in Chicago.

[What bullpen guys should KW go after?]

A better hitting backup catcher would at least be useful if one were available.

Does Flowers have any options remaining? I don't want to lose him for a marginal upgrade at backup catcher, especially when there is no guarantee A.J. will back next year.

[GT: Texas Rangers @ Chicago White Sox]

String of 4 straight left handed pitching begins today, hopefully Dunn doesn't suck where we see him hit below .200 by the All star break.

This is why it would be nice to have Conor Jackson on the bench. He'd be in the lineup today instead of Escobar, which would be a big upgrade IMO.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

I just don't see getting anything of consequence for Walker or Thompson. Given the Sox having the worst system in MLB, any team can beat that offer.

First off, I didn't mean trading them right now. I was thinking more along the lines of 2013 or 2014.

 

Also, toolsy prospects always have value if they're still young. Are either of these guys going to headline a major trade at the moment? No, but they could be part of a package and their value could grow significantly if they improve.

[HEYYY YANKEEEES............ SOX WIN! SOX WIN!]

If Crain goes on the DL yet another rookie will be called up. I hope KW is looking for relief help.

I really don't think we need relief help from outside the organization. We still have several guys in AAA that could provide just as much for nothing.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

Thompson and Walker have done nothing to indicate they will be MLB players. You are jumping the gun here.

I agree completey, which is why I said they should be trade bait. Not sure where I jumped the gun.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

Mitchell would be trade bait if I were the GM. Football players are almost always being in developing anyway and missing a year hurts that. If Hawkins develops like the Sox think, Mitchell is more than expendable. I would definitely consider trading him for something that gets the Sox into the playoffs.

Mitchell is far from a sure thing, so I wouldn't lose sleep trading him in the right deal. However, I'd really like to hold on to him if possible. He's shown some flashes this year of being an elite leadoff hitter.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

I'd agree that he's unlikely to make it in 2013. I think the 2012 Sox outfield, barring a surprise trade or ijnjury, will also be the 2013 Sox outfield, and very possibly 2014 as well. Sometime in 2014, some one or multiple of Mitchell, Thompson, Walker or others (perhaps even Hawkins, but probably not) will be knocking at the door.

I agree about the 2013 outfield, seems pretty set to me and I think we're better off giving Mitchell a full season at AAA next year. However, I think there's a good chance we trade Rios before the 2014 season. Mitchell should be ready by then or else he's probably flopped out. Plus De Aza will be a 2nd year arb player, so getting Rios' salary off the books would free up some money for De Aza and other needs.

 

As for Thompson & Walker, I don't see either of them challenging for major league jobs before 2015 at the earliest. Honestly, if Mitchell pans out, we most likely won't even have an opening in our OF until 2016. By then Hawkins might be a serious prospect and we won't want to commit to any other young OFs until he is ready. I see both Thompson & Walker being trade bait in the not too distant future.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

Humber is going on a rehab start here soon.

And Simon Castro has a monster of a game going right now. He may be a lot closer than most people think.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

No conflict at all. With or without Viciedo there's not a lot to build around after this year, dude.

Earlier this year you kept saying we needed to do everything we could to acquire young pitching or else we'd be screwed for years to come. Now you want to trade one of our most valuable assets for a rental player in an "all-in" move. This is called a flip flop.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

Our bench is in as bad a shape as our rotation. Why not give Johnson a chance?

How is our rotation in that bad of shape? We've got three starters dominating and Floyd looks like he's about to go on a run. If we get Danks back healthy, we're in damn good shape. It may not last, but we only have one guy at the moment who's a significant concern IMO.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

June hasn't been kind to Viciedo (.162/.230/.250). If it weren't for the fact that the Sox are trying to keep his trade value up, he'd be in a platoon by now.

Dude, where do you come up with this stuff. Just because you keep saying something over and over doesn't make it a fact.

 

Also, I find it laughable that you propose trades that are similar to the ones that you want KW fired for. Pick one side of the fence and stick to it. At least when you wanted to trade Viciedo for young pitching, it didn't conflict with the "all in" strategy that you used to rip KW for and have now decided to endorse.

[6/28/12 GT: Sox at Yank$]

piece is among the most overrated establishments in the entire city. Best pizza i had there i'd classify as slightly above average, but people act like its the most unreal place theyve ever eaten. Ive had some truly awful pizzas from there (something with mashed potatoes and broccoli - tasted so bad im shocked anyone would serve it), most are decent, nothing more though. Want to get some recognition for your restaurant? open it up in hipster central wicker park with a clever nickname and a peace sign as your logo and serve your own beer - the food barely matters at that point

 

btw in general both new york and chicago pizza are awesome

 

go sox

Well said, Piece is so incredibly overrated it's not even funny. I despise when people confuse trendy with good.

[Who replaces Ohman?]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Veal get a shot.

Then if he doesn't cut it... they release him.

 

I also wouldn't be surprised if they call up a righty instead.

Omogrosso maybe.

If they go righty, I think it would be Heath. He's been awesome this year, can pitch multiple innings, and I think KW really likes him.

[Ohman Waived]

Listening to Bernstein on the Score right now he said when he heard about Ohman leaving that there will be plenty of guys around the Sox that will not be sad. Said the word around the clubhouse was that Ohman was way too cocky for a guy who sucked as bad as he did. So,this comment from him really does ring true...he thinks he is super,and the Sox have treated him unfairly.......goodbye,Oh-man,and good riddance.

Yeah, I've heard that somewhere as well. f*** that cocky f***.

 

Also, have we finally ridded ourselves of all former Cubs now?

[Ohman Waived]

This is fantastic news. We have at least 6 or 7 guys at AAA that would immedietely give us more than Ohman, three of whom are lefties.

 

Since Humber is likely to take Axelrod's spot eventually, this should be more of a permanent opening. Therefore, options shouldn't make or break the decision. I'd prefer calling up the best available reliever from AAA, but I'm ok with going with a lefty if that's what they ultimately decide. I'd love to see Septimo get the call and placed on the 40, but I could see them wanting another long reliever and going with Leesman.

 

No matter who they call up, the team will be stronger tomorrow.

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

It's difficult to figure the trade market for Greinke given his anxiety disorder and the big clubs probably staying away from him for that reason. If they don't want Viciedo, Quintana and Molina? I think the Sox could put together a combination that would interest Milwaukee.

I hope you aren't suggesting trading all three of those guys.

[2012 Minor League Catch All thread]

This is good news, in a way. I'm going to drink the kool-aid and assume his injury has everything to do with the horrid BAA.

Could it be tied to his innings increase last year?

[Why Is Dan Johnson Still at Charlotte?]

I actually think Jackson makes more sense as a reserve. I really think we need a right-handed bat off the bench and he can play all the corners in a pinch. In fact, he would have been a perfect fill-in for Dunn last night. I don't like Flowers being our only option from the right side.

 

I don't see a need for both Escobar & ODog. I'm not a huge Escobar fan, but he offers more flexibility defensively (SS & OF) and offensively (switch hitter). I think ODog's days here are numbered, especially if Youkilis looks healthy these next few weeks.

[Goodbye Stealth Elf]

Thanks for the one outlier year that caused everyone to overlook your minor league stats and believe that you were much better than you really are.