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Is there anything such as a low ceiling high floor guy? If so, let's target that guy.

I do think Anderson is too high, but it could also be result of we don't have a clear cut number 2. I wouldn't put Hawkins any higher than Thompson and Anderson until he show signs of figuring things out. Thompson looked like he would be a favorite for number 2 until he recently 0-31 embarrassment. Anderson isn't ideal either as his defense is very iffy so far.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 04:27 PM) What's funny is that if you look at the first 6-7 years in the league for Duncan (4 years of college) and Deng (one year), Duncan actually has more of a workload, and one year averaged 40.6 mpg, 1.4 minutes more than Deng's career high. It's like people forget Duncan is 37 and that's why the last few seasons his minutes have trailed off. Deng: Duncan: You can tell it was philosophy change. Starting from the 04-05 season, Duncan and Parker's top MPG was around 34 minutes per game, and Manu tops at around 30-31 a game, but usually under 30 per game. There are also notorious about sitting out their stars and throwing the game away. At that point Duncan was only 28, Parker 22, and Manu was 27. Granted, Pops never played Parker and Manu high minutes to begin with. So yes, over the past decade or so, the Spurs have been very careful in preserving their player's health. Thibs has been burned for playing his players too much, even in garbage time situation, while Pops has been fined for sitting his players, total opposite styles.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 03:39 PM) I will just say that, for all the non-excitement that they create, the Spurs seem to be the team the Bulls are modeling themselves after. What they need to do is, rather than extending late 20s picks that you've developed who will come off the bench for 2-3 years before finally getting a chance to start, trade it for an asset that you need and value highly and plug it into your lineup. Imagining the Spurs right now with Kawhi Leonard is silly, and they got it because they traded a former 26th pick for him. The Bulls need to find creativity like that. Perhaps that player is Butler in a year or two. Perhaps it's Teague, maybe they can get something out of Gibson still. Maybe they don't. Except Thibs run his players out in the court till they bleed out. And Pops has become the most conservation coach in the game in managing player mileage. Most people wouldn't have a problem with resigning Deng to a fair contract if he's healthy and he can play for another 3-4 years at an all star level. But the fact that his wrist is still irritating him to the point he's shooting a career worst the past two years, and all the minutes he's played in the past three years will eventually add up. Deng wasn't even known as an iron man to begin with. Deng can still be valuable defensively, but he will slow down a lot sooner than later with all the workload, and he will not be a reliable offensive option with the way he's shooting the ball.

I still think Jimmy Butler is more of a natural 3. By not extending Deng, we will be able to shift Jimmy to the 3 and look for a natural scoring 2 that we really need to compliment this team. If we do not extend Deng and amnesty Boozer, then we would have a lot of rooms to play with, and we can really target some big name free agents or the plethora of great young RFA's in next year's class. By extending Deng, we are really saying a 30 year old Deng with all the mileage and nagging injuries is the best option in 2014, when it really isn't. And it will effectively close our windows to be free agent players in 2014, and the three years beyond that.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 11:22 PM) You nailed it though. He's refreshing. I wonder if people are overrating his performance based on the fact that no one else in the system resembles that. He's what we hope our top prospects to be doing right now. If Hawkins, Thompson, or Mitchell are performing like Semien is right now, everyone will be screaming for joy. It's a shame Semien doesn't have the tools of those other guys, because he certainly looks like he has the smarts and skills to be an impact player. We may have too much expectation for this guy, given he doesn't have one single great tool. But in a thin system like ours, where our top hitter prospects aren't hitting, those expectations are understandable.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 10:16 PM) That's it though. He's been fine. I'm not going to get excited about that. He's a refreshing prospect compared to the all or nothing, raw, athletic outfield prospects we currently have. Outside of his amazing walk rate, his strikeout rate has also improved a lot this year, to a point he's striking out once every 7 PA. He plays at a premium position, albeit not spectacular defense, but he is on pace to hit 15 HR and steal 20 bases while boasting an almost .400 OBP, as a 22 year old in Double A. If you add that together, that is pretty impressive. The gap between him and Sanchez is a lot closer in my books.

Personally, I wouldn't have Zewski over Rienzo and Castro right now. I like Trey, and I feel like got a steal in the 7th round for only $500,000, he was a third round talent who projects to be a good contact hitter. But it's not a sure bet that he reaches the majors, and we haven't seen enough of him to put him over prospects who will be in the majors this year. Castro looks like he can be a very good reliever in the majors, and Rienzo who is likely to make his major league debut this year, either as a reliever or as a back of rotation starter.

Bulls are reportedly looking to extend the contract of Deng between the value of the Smith and Iggy's deal. I don't want to bash them for the lack of creativity once again, I am just perplexed on their man crush on Deng. This franchise needs to learn to move on.

So when I posed this suggestion to the board two weeks ago, specifically if you are willing to trade Sale for the right offer, 70% of the board voted no. I like how people are more open to the idea right now, just proves I am not crazy with my idea. I would trade Sale for the right offer in a heart beat, and I love rooting for the guy. As Rosenthal point out, none of our current players can net us a premium, top prospect, with the exception of Alexei + Rios in a deal. We have plenty of average to good prospects in the farm, but we badly need some premium prospects who can hit and are close to major league ready. Also the risk of Sale getting injured or losing effectiveness over the duration of his deal is pretty high, I wouldn't want to take that risk.

I have no problem with Zapata not being ranked for uncertainty. Like I said before, he can be the top prospect for us after his first season, or sitting outside of Top 20. If you look at the Top 25 list, Zapata would have been the most raw prospect on that list, even more so than Danish and Zewski. At least the latter are more than capable of playing for Bristol, while Zapata is at least a year or two away from reaching that level. But I do think Zewski is ranked a bit too high at this point. I am not sure if his hot first 5 games bumped up his ranking a little bit.

After getting swept by the Cubs for the first time in the history of mankind, beating up on Verlander and the Tigers just feels.. unreal.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 01:58 PM) Because it's a lot more likely that the White Sox try to find guys like the names mentioned (for 1B/3B) than giving Andy Wilkins a shot...players that are in the doghouse with their teams, which might make them more available than would otherwise be the case. Pretty random name to say the least given there were no rumors about Sox and Lawrie so far. Even in the slightest chance we do acquire Lawrie, his defense is gold glove caliber at third, and his bat profiles more of a 3B than 1B.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 8, 2013 -> 10:49 PM) Why aren't we talking about this guy more?? Oh wait his age. Damn that age. Who cares about age, if he is 30 and gets to the big leagues and produces, that is all that matters. Age sure does matter. If he's 20 years old and put up these types of numbers, he has a much higher chance of making it to the majors. He's almost 27, way to old for the level, it is expected that he will dominate 21-22 year old pitchers in their 2nd or 3 year in baseball. Take a look at our good friend Seth Loman. He was a year younger than Curley when he put up the same type of raw numbers in 2010. Yet he's approaching 28 now and struggling to hit in Triple A. There is a 0.1% chance a player makes it to the majors by 30 years and actually have a productive career.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 8, 2013 -> 09:46 PM) Why does is it matter what age he is when the rankings come out though? Why should he be punished for being born in December rather than March? He'll play the entire 2013 season as a 22 year old...that's what should matter when discussing if he's age appropriate. Not saying I agree with it, but that' usually how the rankings work. There are so many great prospects in the minors, a "23 year" old just finished A+ usually give ways to the younger or more hyped prospects when it comes to the rankings. And let's be real, those rankings don't usually get it right. To be honest, I don't even care much about the Top 100 rankings. The Sox has placed more minor leaguers into the big leagues in the past few years than some of the "better farms" out there, yet we often get looked down upon because we didn't have more than one Top 100 'spect in a given year. Micah Johnson has a chance be a very solid regular by age 24/25, regardless he makes some arbitrary ranking.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Jul 8, 2013 -> 08:55 PM) he's only 22 which makes him totally age appropriate for the level he's at right now. Wont be 23 til december, considering how he's raking he'll almost definitely be a top 100 next year unless he falls off in the second half. Between the high BA, good XBH numbers and silly SB #'s, you absolutely have a top prospect in the making. He also plays a premium middle infield position He will be 23 when the rankings comes out. Those Top 100 rankings usually look heavily age and the league they played in. The only 23 year old in the BA Top 100 list last year that played entire year below AA was Alex Meyer of the Twins, and he was a first round pick in 2011. I think he's on the bubble right now, but if he makes it to BHam by year end, then he's in.

Only way Micah would crack the Top 100 prospect is if he continues to hit like this and gets promoted to AA by the end of the year, or if he flat out dominates AFL. Very rarely would you see a 23 year old player finishing A+ considered a Top 100 player. On a side note, it's tough to be Courtney Hawkins on some days. EDIT: Uh oh... Rangel Ravelo 2nd homerun in as many days.

Who cares about where he ranks in our system? He could be #1 or outside of the 25, after he plays his first full season. The real question is can we develop him? He is extremely raw right now, and is another prospect who has issue with pitch recognition and is susceptible to off speed stuff. As some pointed out, his bat is rated as a 3/8 right now, and projects as a 4/8. Given our track record with these type of raw, athletic bats, or just bats in general, this concerns me a little.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 2, 2013 -> 12:54 AM) 6 titles? Me likey. Did Oz/KW hate each other from the start? Make it 7. Seems like we already forgot the VDN Pax scuffle didn't end so well.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jul 1, 2013 -> 09:58 PM) Maybe its the 117 degree heat in Las Vegas making me crazy, but what if we decided to be buyers instead of sellers? We are only 10.5 games out of first place and no one seems prepared to run away with this division. Lets go out and trade for a 1B, 3B, C, OF, DH, and a couple of pitchers. If we have the opportunity, lets upgrade at other positions as well. We can turn this thing around with the pickup of 8 or 10 new players who contribute strongly. Wouldn't it be a hoot if we won the division after this start?? You just simplified the complexity of baseball and solved every issue of the team with one statement. Bravo.

Bulls are apparently in pursuit of Mo Williams and Will Bynum. I am in disgust... This FO baffles me sometimes. We still have Hinrich and Teague to back up Rose, unless he's not ready to go to start the season. They are also not likely to retain Belinelli at this point. Our biggest needs are a shooting wing, and a backup center, not another PG who can't shoot. We can't go into the season with our two best shooters being rookies who aren't likely to get enough burn.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 30, 2013 -> 07:18 PM) Kevan Smith has recovered from a slow start to the season and now sporting over an 800 OPS. Overall, perhaps the best catching prospect in the system, although Phegley's more major league ready, obviously. Doubt it. They are both the same age. Phegley is dominating Triple A this year, Smith is having decent success at a league he's too old for. Phegley even has better defensive potential from what I've read.

With DeMichele seemingly getting enough burn at SS in WS, I wonder what the hold up is to promote Micah. I think it's beneficial for him to get a more challenging assignment at this point, he has gotta passed all the checklist in Low A if there is one.

I am not saying you couldn't keep ranting and micro analyzing about Hawkins every single day. If it adds any value to you, by all means. I don't see how one poster can't give honest opinion/feedback on another poster who practices a habit regularly when no personal attack is involved. Maybe learn to respond in a more constructive way? It's early, but Michalczewski is looking to be one of the best contact hitting prospects we had in a while, and he's ONLY 18 years old. Hard not to get excited about him.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 28, 2013 -> 07:58 PM) FINE, oh wise one, it also doesn't do any good to say his day to day results or if he walks or homers either....we should REALLY just ignore him for the rest of the season and then look at the final results at the end of the year, like you would with a mutual fund. I won't mention his FREAKING batting average for the rest of the season, because I'll be specifically waiting for your oh so insightful night-by-night analysis of what we actually SHOULD be looking for based on your extensive experience of assessing minor league prospects. I think you are forgetting that you are bringing up these stat lines/observations for discussion. Other posters can certainly go on the box score and look at the stat line themselves. A great game, bad game, new trend, new observation, consistent trend, things beyond the box score, etc are usually discussion worthy. 0/1, 0/2, 1/3, 1/4 games aren't usually going to garner much discussion. Like I said, if you get pleasure from doing it, and want to continue to be your one man TMZ, and use the forum as a ranting and spamming ground, keep up the good work. Take it for what it's worth, this is the last time I am commenting on your posting type.