DirtySox

It will be really interesting to see what happens with Giolito. Potentially the best prospect in the draft class, even with the elbow injury. He supposedly will release his medicals right around draft day. Many think he's UCLA bound.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 15, 2012 -> 07:18 PM) I'll preface this by saying that I don't follow the draft as closely as many, but I don't understand Deven Marrero as the 14th best prospect available. I get that he's a very good defensive SS by all accounts, but I don't see him being able to hit. Is him being the 14th best prospect in the draft reflective of this being a bad draft? As an aside I hope Max Fried falls to the Sox. I'm not a big Marrero fan either, but he has hit in years past and he is considered a lock to stick at SS. Supposedly the Pirates have been and still are very high on him. I also really like Fried, and would love to get him at 13. Likely the best LHP in this draft class.

Keith Law also has his first mock draft up. No idea what it says though, as I'm not an ESPN Insider.

Baseball America's 2012 Draft Top 100 is up for anyone interested. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft...12/2613410.html

QUOTE (fathom @ May 14, 2012 -> 08:19 PM) Something I always worry about guys like Stroman is that he gets hyped up more than usual cause he played for Team USA. Also, I get so concerned about college guys with nasty sliders. With the difference in stitching on the ball, you run the risk of that pitch going from a plus pitch to an average one. I don't think there is much of any hype from playing on any of the USA teams for baseball. Especially considering the amount of prospects that end up participating in some capacity over their amateur careers. Stroman was actually relatively unhyped until just this season where he's joined the rotation and thrived. I can see reason not to draft Stroman though. There is certainly some risk associated with the upside. At this juncture the White Sox can't really afford to miss on a 1st round draft pick. They desperately need legitimate starting pitchers and position players of all kinds. It might behoove the organization to make a "safer" pick this year. IE a Heaney, Wacha, or Stratton.

My Stroman love aside, my early prediction for the Sox 1st round pick is Andrew Heaney.

QUOTE (danman31 @ May 14, 2012 -> 02:16 PM) Yeah, that would be against type for them. That said he has impressive strikeout numbers. He closed for Team USA though. Is that where he projects? Stroman was projected as a dominant reliever until this year where he's made a stellar transition to a starter. Some don't like his height, but his stuff is electric. He has a good fastball, a wipeout slider, and a decent changeup. Also throws a cutter every now and then. He's pitched himself into the top 10 to 15 of this draft class. I'm a fan and think he can remain a starter. If not, you have a high leverage reliever on your hands who won't need much of any time in the minors. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/4/13/2...-marcus-stroman

QUOTE (flavum @ May 14, 2012 -> 12:38 PM) This site has an update mock draft today. Has the Sox taking a Duke pitcher. Short guy. http://www.mymlbdraft.com/MLB-Mock-Draft-2012 Want.

Has an attendance figure been given for today's game?

Oops.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2012 -> 02:43 PM) Charlotte. Scoreless inning for Crain already. Something odd in BHam. Quintana appears to have started, relieved by Molina in the middle of the first. Molina's given up a number of hits, but again, out of the pen? Kanny up early with Snodgrass on the mound. WS up early with Petricka on the mound. Birmingham was resuming a suspended game.

QUOTE (joeynach @ May 12, 2012 -> 09:33 AM) Hes heated up a little bit Ill concede that, but his K rate is the highest of his career, 22%, his ISO is .121, it was .190 in 2009, his wOBA is .277, even last year it was higher at .284. Even if you look at his regular slash line its .222/.284/.343. Thats terrible, I am not even remotely excited or anywhere near being ready to label him as "back". Winner.

Park is barren.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 11, 2012 -> 09:20 AM) Isn't there a great chance that Stroman ends up as a hard-throwing bullpen guy? The White Sox cannot spend another pick on a guy like that. Courtney Hawkins or Fried would be awesome. Stryker Trahan would be very intriguing though. Regarding Stroman, that's what many thought before this year. He's made the transition to starting and has been dominant this year. Some don't like him due to his height. Downward plane and all. His stuff is electric though and he could end up a 1 or a 2 in a rotation. If starting goes to s*** you likely have a shutdown high leverage reliever/closer. He carries some risk of not starting but he has a pretty high ceiling if everything goes well. It might not matter though as he is just about a lock to go top ten according to most.

DJ Davis is a player worth mentioning. Kid has major helium. Probably the fastest player in the draft. Already a great basestealer, he's started to show some power this spring. He will stick in CF despite not having the greatest arm. If the Sox are sincerely considering prep options, he could be in the mix. He seems very much like some of Kenny's recent draft picks. He might be a bit of a reach at 13, but this year's draft is going to be impossible to predict due to the CBA changes.

Another nice start by Jaye. 5.0 IP 6 H 1 BB 6 SO 1 HR

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,6441843.story

BA's first mock. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft...12/2613371.html I'd be just fine with Hawkins or Smoral. Still hoping Stroman or Fried fall to the Sox.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 10, 2012 -> 03:42 PM) HS'ers aren't going to be able to get nearly as big of money as they used to. I'm aware. It's more so Jerry's aversion to risk. He's stated a few times the greater likelihood of college players to actually contribute at the major league level in some capacity. Look at the last time the Sox have used a 1st round pick on a prep player. Not including the Supplemental round. If things have changed this year within the organization and they take the BPA regardless of age, great. I'll be stoked.

Sickels/Garrioch's latest mock had the Sox taking Trahan at 13. I don't see it him being a high schooler and all. Not unless the CBA changes has caused Kenny and Jerry to reconsider their approach to the draft. The supplemental mock had them taking Austin Madox which is very much a White Sox pick. I'd link it but I'm at work.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 10, 2012 -> 01:02 PM) That seems to be the consensus. Safe college picks with low upside, and higher upside high schoolers. When I looked at some of the players the other day, one of the higher prospects is a Stanford third baseman. That would be too Kenny. I need to find out if he played football. Hooray. My thread is back. I hope they don't pick Piscotty. Not a big fan. I still hope Stroman falls to 13 as far as college pitchers go.

The draft rules have been out for a while. Neither of these pieces are about the draft. These are about international free agency/signing period.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:21 PM) We can put a contending on the field product while building up our system. They can? Then why haven't they?

QUOTE (Baron @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:15 PM) and some of you guys want a total rebuild. You think this year is fun. Just wait until we dont have much to look forward to. What exactly is there to look forward to now? The organization is not in a good spot at all. A rebuild is getting more and more inevitable.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 7, 2012 -> 08:25 PM) Is it too early to question Molina as a top of the rotation prospect? No. It certainly wasn't the consensus amongst scouts. Most thought/think middle of the rotation guy. Nothing wrong with that though.