steveno89

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 07:51 PM) Was listening to the Kanny game today and had nightmares the Sox wouldn't pull the trigger on Robert because of Micker Adolfo being "just a guy" in Low A ball 4 years after he signed. Obviously, comes down to scouting. Jimenez has done extremely well for the Cubs, he was #1 in his class and Adolfo #2 in his. By now, we should be able to start combing through those MLB lists from 4-5 years ago and seeing how many of those INTL Top 20 guys are doing better than expected, on course, or have fallen behind. Robert is a better overall prospect than Adolfo at this point. Sox can't let one bad int'l free agent signing from years ago change their pursuit of another player.

QUOTE (Sleepy Harold @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 01:03 PM) Not sure if I can/should totally list his rankings, so I'll go with a general "range"... Smith Top 10 Haseley Top 15 Warmoth Top 30 Hiura Top 35 I posted a few write ups, but I'm not going to post the whole list. Not sure what the rules on that exactly are

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 12:21 PM) It is nice to see a prospect bounce back after a tough year Dunning is dominating low A competition at Kannaplis right now 26.0 IP, 13 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 33 K, .143 batting average against, 0.58 WHIP He's throwing 70% of his pitches for strikes, hitting his spots, and overwhelming low minors competition. I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself because a polished college arm should handle the low minors well. Too early to say for sure, but he could end up being the best prospect we got in return for Eaton. His solid stuff plays up due to plus control and limiting walks and I could see him being an effective #3 or 4 starter that can eat innings

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 10:47 AM) I look at their team stats and mutter to myself "who the heck is this team???" A lot of positive development from positions we will need next year, and if Davidson and Garcia emerge with solid progress, if Holland and Gonzalez are solid #3s and Rodon can come back healthy and strong we are looking at being a couple position players away from being in real contention. Lot of ifs I know, but something is different about the culture this year. I only wonder if our record ends up being too good this year to get the draft pick we need. The royals are slumping badly and are 2-8 in their last ten games The team is currently playing decently enough, but I think the pitching will come back to earth a bit. The bullpen has been totally lights out and mediocre starters like Gonzalez, Shields and Holland have been pretty fortunate I'll never complain abotu winning games though, the sooner we get back to contention, the better. I'm just seeing too many question marks and holes for this team to be a real contender. A culture change is not a bad thing though. Renteria is a solid manager, but was never given a chance once Maddon became available

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 12:49 PM) Curious. Where does he have Hasely, Pavin Smith, Hiura, and Warmoth? 11. Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia Haseley leads the Cavaliers in all three triple-slash stats (.396/.495/.689) and in walks (32) through April 22, showing surprising power and the potential to stay in centerfield long-term, though I don’t know that he’s going to have more than fringy power with the wood bat. 7. Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia Smith is the safest of safe guys, as he has been among the hardest Division I hitters to strike out (just six times through 43 games and 195 PA through April 22), while making hard contact and showing some power. College first basemen taken in the first round do not have a strong track record, however. 33. Keston Hiura, DH/2B, UC Irvine Hiura is another plus hit tool guy, but he always had a below-average arm that limited his potential positions, and now he isn't throwing at all because of injury. 26. Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina Warmoth leads the Heels in most offensive categories, as the junior shortstop is showing more power and patience this season. The leading thought from scouts is that he’ll move to third or second but show enough pop to profile as a regular at either spot. There you go

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 01:40 AM) I wasn't too high on him. I thought that he was getting some extra love because he plays for Vanderbilt but after reading that some scouts and teams have his hit tool at 30, I definitely do not want him anywhere near the Sox. Kendall is poised to fall in the draft due to the strikeouts and questionable hit tool He still could be a decent prospect, but I'm not touching him #11 overall

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 03:39 PM) Let's get Robert first. Robert would be my #1 priority if I were in the front office right now, as well as extensive draft scouting I'm feeling pretty good about our chances of getting him, as the Sox have not gone nuts in international spending like several other suitors I would be willing to bet Robert was their target all along, we might not get him, but we will make him very expensive to sign for another team $20-25 million likely gets it done

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 02:57 PM) Fixed I can see the Sox spending what it would take to get Robert I absolutely cannot see the Sox being realistic players for Machado or Harper as they will be looking for a megadeal

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 02:49 PM) Heck of a lineup you got there! 2020 C - Collins 1B - ? 2B - Moncada SS - Anderson 3B - ? LF - ? CF - Robert RF - ? DH - ? Starting 5 Possibilities: Rodon, Kopech, Lopez, Giolito, Fulmer, Hansen, Dunning, Stephens, Adams Trades coming, drafts coming, free agents coming, yay. Gotta love penciling in a 19 year old international free agent who is currently unsigned into our projected contention roster

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 02:28 PM) If they meet everything else, I'd actually be content with retaining Q, since it seems uncertain if a team will offer a Sale package. I'm open to keeping Quintana as well, but in an ideal situation we could move him for a Sale/Eaton package of prospects Our system would be completely rebuilt within an eight month time period from being one of the weakest in baseball to one of, if not the strongest in the mlb

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 02:14 PM) If they add Robert they will really be cooking on this rebuild. Soxtalk's ideal rebuilding scenario: Trade Quintana at the deadline for a Sale/Eaton esque haul of prospects Trade Robertson and/or Jones for a nice package Trade veterans for a decent package (Melky/Holland/Gonzalez/Frazier/Jennings/etc.) Sign Luis Robert at nearly any cost, blow past pool Scout and draft well at #11, #49 and #87 overall picks. Draft quality depth afterwards and upside

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 12:25 PM) Nice - that's the kind of creativity the Sox need. Absolutely Teams will be reluctant to part with significant prospects unless they are getting a long term asset like Quintana in return Robertson very well might have solid deadline value if he is one of the best closers on the market and contenders are needy Frazier/Melky and Shields/Gonzalez/Holland won't likely return us much, but we could get creative along your line of thinking

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 01:52 PM) Huh? The money beyond this season nothing to really do with this situation because he won't getting paid millions over the next few years. He would have to go through regular team control like every other player that comes up. My point is that the team cannot "play poor" considering how the mlb payroll is set to get considerable salary relief after this season and next

QUOTE (beautox @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 01:45 PM) link I think that is the case Other clubs will very much be in the mix, but the Sox do have money to spend with a minimum of Melky and Frazier coming off the books at the end of the season Trading Robertson would ideally free up even more payroll moving forward, as would Quintana Shields comes off the books after next season, leaving us with barely any significant contracts remaining I see the Sox being very aggressive in the Robert bidding war

QUOTE (beautox @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 11:52 AM) I would love to see Holland or MiGo moved to a team like the dbacks for pick #68 and an interesting lotto ticket like Marcus Wilson. of the teams that have picks that might consider trading them i would say there are four maybe five, if the Rockies really pull ahead. pick 36 - Marlins - $1,888,800 pick 68 - Dbacks - $880,100 pick 70 - Rockies - $837,300 pick 74 - Orioles - $779,500 pick 75 - Astros - $767,400 I'd certainly be listening Sox might be very active at the deadline with so many pieces that could be moved: Gonzalez, Holland, Robertson, Cabrera, Jones, Swarzak, Shields, Frazier, Jennings, etc

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 11:05 AM) Alvarez is quite literally the opposite of a journeyman. He's been with one team, and moved quickly through the system with that one team (at least until this current assignment). I wouldn't focus on the stats that much. Peter has done well considering the pace of his moving up, again, until last year - and he's got value in great part due to defensive value across the field. Michalczewski certainly has reached a point where he needs to perform, no one is arguing that. Writing any of those guys off as non-prospects is, to me, kind of absurd. Unless your definition of a prospect is only T100 guys, that is. Ok maybe non prospect is a bit harsh, but I'm looking for players that have a chance to become everyday mlb players Peter's ceiling appears to be that of a utility player, still a valuable guy Michaelczewski has yet to show his bat can become anything close to mlb worthy. At age 22 this is a make or break season for him in my opinion. My point with Alvarez, is that despite his return later than most prospects, he is still 27 years old. At what point do you expect a player to either make an mlb impact or not? I see him projecting as a bench player at best at the mlb level. Again, I'm not trying to be overly harsh on our farm guys, but rather point out how little in the form of legitimate position player prospects exist in our farm system when not a single AA position player projects very well

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 07:52 AM) Just to add to this, local report from the radio booth had Adams' fastball sitting around 91-92. So yes, more about movement and location for him that velocity at this point. Adams plus control really helps his fairly average stuff play up. Sox continue to hope that a tick more velocity can come from a still young and projectable 21 year old 6'3", 171 lb frame I don't not see a mid rotation starter, but I'm really hoping he shows improvement as this is a crucial season in his development. A good season puts him right on track for a AAA rotation spot next year.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 24, 2017 -> 04:38 PM) Let's not get ridiculous based on 2.5 weeks. Michalczewski, Peter, Alvarez are all still prospects in my eyes. I even consider Mason Robbins a fringe prospect. I won't write off any of them yet, especially since Peter and Alvarez were successful up through AAA before. Michalczewski is a little more worrying as he's repeating and has yet to succeed at the level, though he's still young. Michalczewski has a career .703 OPS in the low minors to AA. That does not inspire much confidence that he ever hits enough to contribute at the mlb level. Peter with a minors career .719 ops and little to no power = utility player at best Alvarez is 27 years old and is a journeyman non-prospect at this point Not trying to be overly harsh on our guys, but none of them are legitimate prospects compared to what we should have taking the field for us at the AA level

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 07:59 AM) I don't know about you guys, but Swarzak has been awfully impressive to me so far. He might actually be able to net the Sox a prospect at the deadline at this rate. So far, so good, but 8 good innings is not much to go off of

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 24, 2017 -> 01:13 PM) 1.62 WHIP at AAA is pretty terrible. But its a SSS, and I expect him to continue to improve. Bad numbers so far, but it's still very early in the season to be making any judgements

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 24, 2017 -> 01:32 PM) I think it's time to finally write off Michalczewski as a legit prospect I'd say pretty much every position player at AA Birmingham currently is a non-prospect unfortunately

QUOTE (beautox @ Apr 24, 2017 -> 06:16 AM) I'm at the same place I would rather he focus on his defense which he is doing while maintaining his plate discipline than focus only on hitting at this stage. If he can stick behind the dish the sox are better served. 100% agreed Defense is what I am much more concerned about in this stage of his development as he is most valuable to the organization as a catcher His plate discipline makes his offensive floor reasonably high. I think he could put up respectable averages with very solid obp and solid pop. Not sure if he will be a star, but a capable mlb starting catcher is nothing to scoff at

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 24, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) Mainly because Adam Eaton is a criminally underrated player. Most good baseball fans don't even know how good he is, let alone the causal follower. The Nats side of the deal is a safer bet than the Sox Eaton is likely to be a quality player over the next few seasons, while the prospects are unknowns

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 21, 2017 -> 08:58 AM) People keep on repeating that JR doesnt like prospects which is taken totally out of context. He hasn't liked prospects because he was always in win now mode. Most fans loved that about him at the time. He didnt want to wait on prospects and while he had this mindset many of the same people griping now are the ones that backed him then because they wanted to win now during that time too. With us being in rebuild mode the next several years making a very strong push to sign Robert makes a ton of sense All sources seem to indicate that he is a top 25 overall prospect right now, and projects as a starting caliber corner outfielder (remains to be seen if he can stick in center) Goes without saying Soxtalk wants this guy badly, at nearly any reasonable cost. Time to open the checkbook and act like a big boy club.

QUOTE (daggins @ Apr 20, 2017 -> 02:12 PM) Interesting Q in the MLBTR chat: Eric 2:09 Is the possible pending arrival of Otani going to discourage some teams from going after Robert? A team that goes over the limit on Robert will be dq'ed from the next international signing period, correct? Jeffrey Todd 2:09 Good point. That would be the case. Technically they'd be limited to sub-$300K bonuses, and Otani is obviously willing to take less money, but still that'd be a huge sacrifice on his part. 2:10 John Manuel said today though that he sees Robert as a top-25 prospect out of the gates, so that decision would be plenty justifiable for basically any team. There's no guarantee you're going to be the one org that Otani picks. All the more justifiable for, say, Reds/Pads/White Sox. With the Sox newfound wealth of pitching prospects, maybe they will go all-in on Robert. Padres have already spent a ton in the past 12 months on international players and the draft If the bidding ends up costing $30 million or so I'm not sure I see them shelling out even more money to sign Robert