[2012 MLB draft talk]

Our last couple of drafts had yield guys like Thompson, Mitchell, and Walker. Guys who are fairly young, and are tremendous athletes. Picks like Hawkins and Barnum are along the same line, albeit a bit younger. My pet peeve about the draft so far is both players could have serious contact issues, they could have more power and be just as good an athlete as Thompson, but if they are striking out once every three ABs, they will be more risk than reward.

 

I am not going to pretend I know too much about other prospects, but I was hoping the Sox would nab a guy who can hit for great contact, and could just be average across other areas, something our organization is missing from top to bottom.

The guys you listed are all unfinished products, so we shouldn't jump to conclusions about them yet. However, they all have a chance to be impact players, which is exactly what you should be targeting with your 1st & 2nd round picks. Obviously I wish the guys we drafted yesterday had better contact skills right now, but if they did they wouldn't be available when we picked them. Therefore, you're left with guys with some flaws or can take lower ceiling players. IMO, you always take the potential impact player if available.

[6/4 Games]

I wasn't saying only Wilkins.

 

it'd be like a package of Wilkins, Mitchell, and more... and even still that's not really as good a package as other teams can offer....

This post is just ridiculous. No team is offering a prospect like Mitchell for half a season of Kevin f***ing Yoikilis. I know your always negative about Sox, but try to be somewhat realistic with your complaints and theories.

[2012 MLB draft talk]

I'm always for best player available, but I would love to see the Sox go the position playing route in close situations this draft. We only have a handful of position playing prospects with major league ceilings and will have several holes to fill at the major league level over the next three years.

 

Also, I'd really like to see more high school players drafted in the top 10 rounds. I seriously hate looking at our low A roster and seeing 23 & 24 years old on there. Having said that, I'd most likely avoid a high school pitcher in the first round.

Looks like both my wishes came true. While the comp pick might have been a slight reach, with the new draft rules I think it makes sense to be a little cautious this year.

[Youkilis, $5.6 million traded to White Sox]

If you think Gavin is the definition of a damn good quality starting pitcher you have a very inflated value for give away Gavin. Let someone else whether it be Boston or another sucker deal with the headcase. He would not be missed at all.

Take a look around baseball and tell me how many rotations include three starters better than Gavin.

[Jorge Soler]

I have not seen the Sox mentioned as being in on Soler.

Plus given our current position, I see KW using any money towards upgrading the major league roster.

[Youkilis, $5.6 million traded to White Sox]

When the Sox got Floyd from Phillies.............Philly brass felt about Floyd what most of Sox fans feel he is never going to be more than what he is now. Trading Floyd for Youk would not be overpaying to me........Floyd's value decreases every start.

It would be a huge overpay. Why do people think quality starting pitchers are so easy to find? I know how frustrating Floyd can be at times, but he also has stretches of dominance. When you look at his performance in aggregate, he's at least a damn good #4 starter, which is all we need him to be. Plus he's under control for another season at a reasonable price. He's significantly more valuable than Youkilis.

[Youkilis, $5.6 million traded to White Sox]

Sox are in on Youkilis and if it happens they want it done soon.

What are the Red Sox looking for? How would the financials work?

[6.1 Games]

I said this the other day... Jordan Danks has a 26% K/PA rate in his third year in AAA. He has no value to speak of in trade, and he's not a future major league starter. At best he's a 4th OF and defensive replacement.

He's a great defensive outfielder that can play all three positions. He's a left-handed bat who has a .400+ OBP and is actually hitting for some power. I know the strikeouts are a huge red flag and will ultimately hinder most of his value. However, the rest of his stats look great and let's not forget he has many physical tools that scouts love.

 

I honestly believe that there are some teams out there that would think he was rushed to AAA and that maybe he's finally putting it together. He'd be a great fit for the Padres, as he'd be perfect for Petco defensively and they actually could roll the dice on him and not worry if he flops. Again, due his strikeouts and age his value will be minimal. Having said that, maybe you can convince a team to take him as a secondary piece over another prospect you like better. That right there is more valuable IMO than anything you'd add by replacing Fukudome with him.

[6.1 Games]

I was thinking about that too. I'd like some examples of current very good major league players that couldn't hit for average in High-A at age 21.

 

I'm sure some exist, but I'd like to know.

While he's been incredibly dissappointing so far, I don't think it's the end of the world if he starts his age 22 season in A+ next year.

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!]

Peavy is up after this year, why drop a guy pitching like an ace when you're the hottest team in baseball?

 

You are a f***ing joke. You are a f***ing moniker. I do not believe you are actually a White Sox fan, you just take an unpopular stance, add "World Series 2005" and fake it. F*ck, cut it out. The last thing the White Sox should do is trade Jake when he's outdueling Felix f***ing Hernandez and we're in 1st place and EVERYTHING is going right.

POTY!

[6.1 Games]

After 3 seasons in AAA, he doesn't have any value now unless/until he proves he can hit a little at the major league level.

I said a little value, along the lines where he could be an interesting secondary piece in a deal. Him rotting on the bench isn't going to help us very much this year. I'd rather him get the at-bats in AAA, so we can better evaluate him for next year.

[6.1 Games]

I hope we can get Jordan to the major league roster. Drop Fukodome, Danks can be a defensive replacement for Dayan almost every game.

I just don't get this logic. Jordan is putting together a nice season and might be building a little bit of value. He's not going to do much more than Fukudome rotting on the bench. Keep him at AAA until September unless there is an injury.

[2012 MLB draft talk]

With the CBA changes, high school kids are going to be less likely to sign late.

True, but I'll still think you see plenty of high schoolers get drafted and signed in the first ten rounds. You'll definitely see less high schoolers get drafted in the 10's and 20's.

[White Sox vs Mariners 7:10 CST]

Gotta love the double YES!

[White Sox vs Mariners 7:10 CST]

Jake is gonna struggle again tonight.

Not to be a dick, but this post has epic fail written all over it at this point.

[White Sox vs Mariners 7:10 CST]

Wow, Beckham now has a 3.333 OPS in June!

 

Seriously though, if he can keep hitting the ball like he has the last few weeks, does KW consider an extension at some point? I'm loving what I'm seeing from him right now.

[2012 MLB draft talk]

I'm always for best player available, but I would love to see the Sox go the position playing route in close situations this draft. We only have a handful of position playing prospects with major league ceilings and will have several holes to fill at the major league level over the next three years.

 

Also, I'd really like to see more high school players drafted in the top 10 rounds. I seriously hate looking at our low A roster and seeing 23 & 24 years old on there. Having said that, I'd most likely avoid a high school pitcher in the first round.

[White Sox vs Mariners 7:10 CST]

Well, there are two teams in Chicago.

 

But I think Sox fans are just fickle b****es.

I think a lot of Sox fans are still getting over the dissapointment of last year. If we continue playing well and as the weather improves, attendance will surely improve. I'm neither surprised or worried at this time.

[White Sox have flipped from sellers to buyers]

I guess the question becomes the cost.

I wouldn't overpay in terms of talent (no top prospects) and wouldn't give up anything off the major league roster (except Stewart or Escobar). What I'm proposing is a couple of middle tier prospects for him but giving the Red Sox most of the salary relief. Something very similar to the Quentin deal. With their luxury tax concerns, getting a couple young arms and salary relief could be of great value to them. Such a move could allow them enough wiggle room to swing another deal to fix a different area Eof need.

 

The real question is do the Sox have enough money to pull off such a move. I personally believe the Sox always budget some money for the deadline and could find ways to ways to gain a little more flexibility (ex: give Ohman away). However, this would definitely have to be a near deadline deal to work for us and the Red Sox would probably have to cover the buyout. I don't know if the Red Sox would go for that, but I definitely think it's worth exploring.

[5/30 Games]

I still like Saladino quite a bit due to the walk rate. I have to say it's much harder to rank the pitching prospects than the hitters right now.

 

To pull a caulfield like tangent: the new pitchers aren't really doing much, but the guys given up (Quentin and Santos) aren't being missed at the moment. Both have been hurt for much of the year while the replacements the Sox have put in place have done fine.

Yeah, the pitching prospects are a total crapshoot at this point. Here's how I'd rank the top 10:

 

1) Molina

2) Castro

3) Quintana

4) Axelrod

5) Olacio

6) Jaye

7) Petricka

8) Rienzo

9) Johnson

10) Walters

[White Sox have flipped from sellers to buyers]

I still think Youkilis makes a ton of sense for us. He's been playing extremely well lately and shouldn't cost a ton of talent due to his contract situation and the presence of Middlebrooks. I know there are some health concerns with him, but I'd be willing to take that risk for a player of his caliber. Plus you'd be able to give Morel a half season at AAA and better determine if he should be the starter next year.

[Viciedo Not Worth The Wait]

I agree. I don't see him being a .290 hitter. I think more like .260 with his lack of plate discipline. Plus around 30 hrs. But I think he will be very streaky.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I think Dayan ends up a .300+ hitter. His discipline will continue to improve over time and people seem to overlook that he made significant strides in this department last year in AAA. He's a 23rd year old Cuban, so he's very far from a finished product.

 

I agree he'll be streaky this year, but I think he's such a naturally gifted hitter that he won't be down the road.

[Sox sign Orlando Hudson]

Hudson is definitely not the answer at 3B for this year. He's been decent as the fill-in and leagues better than an injured Brent Morel, but if we continue to play well then we should look into legitimate upgrades near the deadline.

 

If you look at this roster, we don't have a ton of holes at the moment. I don't see the logic in adding a starter, as he'd have to be better than Danks or Floyd and to get a pitcher of that caliber is going to cost a small fortune. The bullpen can always be improved, but usually relievers are overpriced at the deadline and we actually have some arms in AAA/AA that could help this year if necessary.

 

That leaves the offense and bench. Right now, the only major hole in the lineup is 3B. I'm not ready to write off Morel yet, but this would be a spot where you could find a one-year upgrade and then give Morel another chance as the starter in 2013 if healthy. Doing so would allow us to move Hudson to the bench and send Escobar to AAA. IMO, this would be the cheapest and easiest way to improve the team.

[5/30 Games]

Sanchez needs more power before you can call him a top 10 prospect, even in this system.

What position prospects would you rate higher?

 

Mitchell, Thompson, and Saladino for sure. Probably Walker.

 

I'd put him in the next tier with Semien, Ravelo, & Phegley (as I think his numbers go back up).

 

We probably have enough pitching prospects to ensure he's not in the top 10 this year, but I do think he's one of our more interesting prospects.

[5/30 Games]

Regardless if the Sox need him in the majors this year or not, there's no way to spin his season so far as anything but a massive disappointment. To me, Castro is much more intriguing as a big league pitcher than he is. However, it wouldn't shock me if Molina has a great season next year in AAA.

We don't know if they're having him work on something specific which is skewing the results. That's why it's very hard to judge pitching prospects, especially ones new to the organization. Obviously the stats aren't exciting right now, but I'd at least wait until the end of this year before jumping to any conclusions.