Sox Fan In Husker Land

The Sox official rebuild started on 12/6/16 with the Chris Sale trade. The Astros official rebuild started on 7/29/10 with the Oswalt and Berkman trades. The Astros went 70-92 in 2014, the 4th worst record in MLB after having the worst record the previous 3 seasons. They then had their 1st winning season in 2015 (86-76 and made the playoffs.) since 2008. It took the Astros rebuild 4 1/2 years to pay off. The Sox are 1 year and 5 months into their rebuild. Patience people. Was it uncertain for the Astros during that time. Yes. Mark Appel was a complete bust as a #1 pick and they failed to sign Aiken the following season. Having the worst record 3 years in a row, and then the 4th worst record is hard to stomach for any fan base. Then it paid off for Houston. The Astros hit it big in the draft with Springer, Correa, Bregman, Keuchel, and McCullers. They also hit it big with Altuve and Gurriel in the international market. T he Astros only had 1 player that played on their 1st rebuilding season in 2011 that played during their playoff season in 2015: Jose Altuve. Everyone else from the 2011 team was gone by 2015. The Sox already have some potential pieces in place for 4 years into the rebuild (2021) that played during the 1st season of the rebuild in Moncada, Anderson, Rodon, Lopez, Giolito, Yolmer, Davidson, Narvaez, Delmonico, Nate Jones (still under contract through 2021), Fulmer, and Bummer. The Astros then went on to have the following picks after they started their rebuild: 2011 - 11th (George Springer) 2012 - 1st (Carlos Correa) 2013 - 1st (Mark Appel who was later traded for closer Ken Giles) 2014 - 1st (Brady Aiken didn't sign**lucky bastards**) 2015 - 2nd (Alex Bregman) due to Aiken not signing. 5th (Kyle Tucker). Since the rebuild started the Sox have the following draft picks: 2017 - 11th (Jake Burger) 2018 - 4th (????) 2019 - Most likely Top 5 pick Add Top 5 picks in 2018 and 2019 to Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Carlos Rodon, Yolmer Sanchez, Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech, Luis Robert, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Carson Fulmer, Alec Hansen, Dane Dunning, Dylan Cease, Blake Rutherford, Zack Collins, Jake Burger, Zack Burdi, Seby Zavala, Luis Alexander Basabe, Micker Adolfo and others and the Sox will continue to have a loaded system. Everyone on the Astros 2015 team who had over 320 PA was under 30. The major starters on the Astros 2015 season: C - Jason Castro (Drafted in 1st round by Houston in 2008 before rebuild) 1B - Chris Carter (Acquired via trade in 2013) 2B - Jose Altuve (International Free Agent signing 3/07 by Astros) SS - Carlos Correa (Drafted #1 overall by Houston in 2012) 3B - Luis Valbuena (Acquired via trade in 2015 for Dexter Fowler) LF - Preston Tucker (Drafted in 7th round by Houston in 2012) CF - Jake Marisnick (Acquired via trade in 2014 for Jarred Cosart) RF - George Springer (Drafted in 1st round by Houston in 2011) DH - Evan Gattis (Acquired via trade in 2015 for Mike Foltynewicz (Houston 1st round pick in 2010) & Rio Ruiz (Houston 4th round pick in 2012)) IF - Marwin Gonzalez (Acquired via trade in 2011 for Marco Duarte) OF - Colby Rasmus (Acquired via Free Agency in 2015) OF - Carlos Gomez (Acquired via trade 7/30/15 with Mike Fiers for Josh Hader, Adrian Houser (Houston 2nd round pick in 2011), Domingo Santana, and Brett Phillips (Houston 6th round pick in 2012) SP - Dallas Keuchel (Drafted in 7th round in 2009 before rebuild) SP - Collin McHugh (Selected off waivers in 2013) SP - Lance McCullers (Drafted in Supplemental 1st round by Houston in 2012 (compensation for Clint Barmes)) SP - Scott Feldman (Acquired via Free Agency in 2013) SP - Roberto Hernandez (Acquired via Free Agency in 2015) SP - Scott Kazmir (Acquired via trade in 2015 for Jacob Nottingham (Houston 6th round pick in 2013) & Daniel Mengden (Houston 4th round pick in 2014)) SP - Mike Fiers (Acquired via trade 7/30/15) CP - Luke Gregerson (Acquired via Free Agency in 2014) RP - Will Harris (selected off waivers in 2014) RP - Pat Neshek (Acquired via Free Agency in 2014) RP - Tony Sipp (Acquired via Free Agency in 2014) RP - Chad Qualls (Acquired via Free Agency in 2013) The Astros 2017 World Series Team had C - Brian McCann (Acquired via trade 11/17/16 for Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman) 1B - Yuli Gurriel (Acquired via International Free Agency 7/16/16) 2B - Altuve SS - Correa 3B - Bregman LF - Nori Aoki (Acquired via waivers 11/3/16, then later traded with Teoscar Hernandez (international free agent signing) for Francisco Liriano on 7/31/17) CF - Springer RF - Josh Reddick (Acquired via Free Agency 11/23/16) DH - Carlos Beltran (Acquired via Free Agency 12/5/16) UTIL - M. Gonzalez UTIL - Gattis OF - Marisnick SP - Fiers SP - Keuchel SP - McCullers SP - McHugh SP - Charlie Morton (Acquired via Free Agency 11/16/16) SP - Brad Peacock (Acquired via trade 2/4/13 with Chris Carter & Max Stassi for Fernando Rodriguez and Jed Lowrie) SP - Joe Musgrove (Acquired via trade 7/20/12, then used later to trade for Gerrit Cole) SP - Justin Verlander (Acquired via waiver trade 8/31/17 for Daz Cameron (Houston 37th pick in 2015 draft), Franklin Perez (international signing in 2015), and Jake Rogers (Houston 3rd round pick in 2016). CP - Ken Giles (Acquired via trade 12/12/15 for Mark Appel (Houston 1st round 2013, Harold Arauz (international free agent), Tom Eshelman (Houston 2nd round pick 2015), Brett Oberholtzer, Vince Velasquez (Houston 2nd round 2010) RP - Chris Devenski (Acquired via trade 8/3/12 as player to be named to complete trade for Brett Myers) Damn it. RP - Gregerson

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 06:23 PM) In 1989, the White Sox finished the season with the 4th worst record in all of baseball (sound familiar?), finishing ahead of only Detroit (sound familiar?), Philadelphia (sound familiar?), and Atlanta that season. In July of that season, they traded their most valuable Major League asset (sound familiar?) for an elite pitching and elite position player prospect (sound familiar?). They then entered the 1990 season with the youngest roster in all of baseball. And then they went and won 94 games. So who knows what will happen next season? It’s baseball, anything can happen. Not suggesting the 2018 team will be similarly as successful as the 1990 team, but merely suggesting anything is possible after watching what transpired in 1990 after the dreadful 1989 season. You left off the most important transaction of 1989, the Sox drafted some guy in June with the 7th overall pick.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 09:02 PM) If Nebraska can never be elite again, then they probably aren't a Blue blood. And your whole coaching argument earlier pretty much proves that there really aren't any true blue bloods, because coaching is what matters. Look at Alabama before Saban. Again, a blue blood in college football is a team that has over 800 all time wins, a .700 all time winning %, multiple national titles since the AP era (1936), and Heisman winners. If Nebraska falls below the .700 winning% threshold they will cease to be a blue blood. I also said I am skeptical of them becoming elite again, not that it was a foregone conclusion.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 08:07 PM) Notice the schools you listed and their proximity to recruiting hotbeds. One doesn’t belong. Thank you captain obvious, I fully realize that. I even noted it in my previous post. It is the main reason why I don't see Nebraska being elite ever again, or at the very least struggling mightily to get back there. Within a 250 mile radius from campus here is the population surrounding the 8 blue bloods. Alabama (Tuscaloosa) 22.7 million Michigan (Ann Arbor) 40.7 million Ohio St. (Columbus) 35.9 million Nebraska (Lincoln) 8.6 million Notre Dame (South Bend) 42.9 million Oklahoma (Norman) 15.6 million Texas (Austin) 23.8 million USC (Los Angeles) 28.2 million

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 10:30 AM) Nebraska has great facilities and great fans. But Prop 48 and steroids aren’t coming back. They aren’t a “blue blood” QUOTE (danman31 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 02:52 PM) I had a similar thought when he called Nebraska a blue blood. It's hard to be a blue blood still when the program is averaging 5 losses per year for over a decade. lol. I am fully aware Nebraska has been down for a while, and I am very skeptical that they can ever return to being what they were from 1962-2001, but Nebraska is a blue blood. A blue blood in college football is defined by wins (at least 800), Multiple national titles since AP era began (1936), at least a .700 all time winning %, and multiple Heisman winners over a long history, not what has happened in just a 10 year span. That's why it's a blue blood and not a new blood. After Barry Switzer left OU, they went 68-55-3 over 11 seasons. Bob Stoops turned them around in 2000. Did that cause them to lose blue blood status? After Gene Stallings retired at Bama they went 74-60 from 1997 through 2007 (Saban's 1st season), or 53-60 if you want to take away the wins they had to vacate. Did they lose blue blood status? Michigan is 147-79 since 2000. Are they a blue blood? Michigan is 74-52 the last 10 years. They have 1 national title since 1949. Nebraska is 150-83 since 2000. Nebraska is 86-47 the last 10 years. Notre Dame is 138-86 since 2000. Notre Dame is 81-46 the last 10 years. They haven't won a title since 1988. Are they still a blue blood? Texas is 52-48 the last 8 seasons. Are they a blue blood? USC went 71-58-3 over 11 seasons until Pete Carroll turned them around in 2002. Probably should have lost their blue blood status as well. In my opinion college football is and always will be about having the right head coach in charge. OU struggled with Gibbs, Schnellenberger, and Blake. Hired Stoops and they are great again. Bama struggled with DuBose and Shula. Hired Saban and they are great again. Michigan struggled with Rich Rod, Hoke, and hasn't finished above 3rd in their division under Harbaugh. Nebraska struggled with Solich, Callahan, Pelini, and Riley. As a Husker fan, I hope Scott Frost is the answer. Texas struggled at the end of Mack's run after losing to Bama, under Strong, and in the 1st year under Herman. Hell even Ohio St. somehow went 6-7 in the season between Tressel and Urban. That is the only season in their last 12 years that Ohio St. didn't win double digit games.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Nov 25, 2017 -> 12:55 PM) Lol I think everyone saw this outcome coming for Nebby, just a terrible hire. QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 25, 2017 -> 05:03 PM) Great time for Scott frost to take over. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 25, 2017 -> 08:37 PM) Wouldn’t count on OU beating TCU twice in one month. Their defense has been garbage all season long. Frost will have an interesting choice to make, with those SEC jobs open. Nebraska doesn’t dominate recruiting like they used to, and they always had the athletes to make their running game work, as well as a stout defense. Switching from their tradition Osborne/Solich style to a more wide open offense has backfired. Iowa throttled OSU, beat ISU (who beat two top 5 teams), Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska, which would normally lead to elation for Hawkeye fans. Had PSU down until the final play. Otoh, Wisconsin has once again proved to be the class of the West...and losing at home against Purdue is almost inexplicable. Ferentz has been there 19 years, and we seem to be stuck with same stale style of play with his son as OC. When executed properly, we can take out some top teams, especially at home. When it goes south, you get losses to NW and Purdue. Pretty restless fanbase, due to the huge salaries the coaching staff now earns. Yeah the Riley hire was a real head-scratcher. Riley was on the hot seat in Corvallis. The AD at NU at the time wanted to get as far away from Bo Pelini's personality as he could. He went on a one man search, and chose Riley. Riley was pretty much the exact opposite of Pelini personality wise, as evident by the press conference today where Riley met with the media after being fired, and shook hands with everyone there. The guy is a total class act. When Pelini was fired he held a secret meeting with the players at a Lincoln HS, where he called the AD a p*ssy and c*nt. Riley was a class act who didn't win enough games. Pelini was an embarrassment who didn't beat anyone good, or win anything worth a damn, especially once Bill Callahan's recruits left. Nebraska, after Tom Osborne retired, hired a RB Coach in Frank Solich, who was turned down by Minnesota the prior year. He failed, and ran the best program in college football at the time into the ground. They then hired a fired NFL coach in Bill Callahan. Callahan recruited well, but his DC was garbage. He failed. Nebraska then hired LSU's DC in Bo Pelini. Pelini was not wanted by any other decent schools as a head coach, due to concerns over his demeanor, lack of recruiting, and having never been a head coach. Pelini was lazy when it came to recruiting, and was content with going 9-4 every year. He failed. Nebraska then hires Mike Riley. Riley did well at Oregon St. relative to others that have been there (save for Dennis Erickson), but had plateaued at the end of his time there. He failed at Nebraska as well. Frank Solich is now at Ohio. The AD at the time (Bill Byrne) wanted to hire either Florida's DC (Bob Stoops) or UNC's head coach (Mack Brown). Bill Callahan is now with the Washington Redskins as the OL coach. The AD at the time (Steve Pederson) wanted to hire Houston Nutt. Bo Pelini is now at Youngstown St. The AD at the time (Tom Osborne) interviewed Turner Gill (Liberty/KU/Buffalo head coach), Jim Grobe, and Gary Patterson (TCU) said he just got a token interview from Osborne, but wasn't a real candidate. Mike Riley will most likely retire as he's 64. The AD at the time (Shawn Eichorst) didn't interview anyone else. Not once since Osborne retired, did Nebraska actually go out and hire a top available candidate that was wanted by other schools nationally. Frost is actually wanted nationally by Florida, Tennessee, and others. He took over 0-12 UCF, and has them 11-0 in year 2. From what I have heard from supposed "insiders" Frost is coming back to Lincoln. 7 years $30 something million. Also info coming from some writers with good ties to Nebraska football, specifically one who covered the 90s well in Lars Anderson. He worked for SI, and did the story on Lawrence Phillips after his death. Lars Anderson is getting his info that Frost is going back to Lincoln from Matt Davison. Davison is one of Frost's best friends and a former teammate. Davison is also a Nebraska radio color commentator. Recruiting is harder to Nebraska than it is to any other blue blood. There isn't a large talent pool nearby like Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Texas, and USC have. It is not impossible to get great players to Lincoln though. Tom Osborne proved that it's possible. Bill Callahan proved that it's possible. Mike Riley proved that it's possible. Scott Frost was a good recruiter while at Oregon. If he goes to Nebraska he should be able to bring talent in. Frost has a higher ceiling than Solich, Callahan, Pelini, or Riley. Frost calls his own plays, and actually knows what a championship culture in college looks like. He was 24-2 as a QB at NU, splitting a national title in 97. He was 24-4 as an assistant (DC) at Northern Iowa. He was 79-15 as an assistant at Oregon and coached in 2 national championship games. Oregon finished in the Top 10 in 5 of the 7 seasons Frost was there. He then goes to UCF and takes over an 0-12 team and has them 11-0 in year 2. I'm more concerned with who Frost's assistants will be if he chooses to come back to Nebraska. And kudos to Iowa for kicking Nebraska's ass 4 out of the last 5 seasons.

Luis Gonzalez 0/3 tonight, but 3 BBs and a SB. His August so far: 24 Hits 83 ABs 95 PAs .289 Avg .379 OB .434 Slug .813 OPS 9 R 5 2B 2 3B 1 HR 36 TB 3 RBI 2 HBP 10 BB (10.5%) 17 K (17.9%)

Robert 280/481/480 in 104 PAs. 21.15 BB%, 21.15 K%.

Sox Minors Scoreboard Robert 2/4 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R. Gillaspie HR, 2 RBI

Since July 1st the Sox have "gained" 5.5 games on the Phillies and the Giants for the 1st overall pick. Sox 14-31 (0.311) Phillies 20-26 (0.435) SF 20-26 (0.435) 37 games remaining for the Sox. 24 games against the Twins, Indians, KC, Astros, and Angels. 13 games against the Tigers, Giants, & Rays. 37 games remaining for the Phillies. 14 games against the Cubs, Nationals, and Dodgers. 23 games against the Marlins, Mets, Braves, A's. 33 games remaining for the Giants. 24 games against the Dodgers, Rockies, DBacks, and Cards. 9 games against the Padres & Sox.

Kopech's last 6 starts: 41 IP 54 K (11.85 K/9) 22 H 7 BB (1.54 BB/9) 0.71 WHIP 3 ER 0.66 ERA Those #s are insane. He's at 119 1/3 IP. Previous season high was 65 IP.

Zack Collins August so far (I know small sample size, but still encouraging with the K #s) 7 Games 32 PAs 24 ABs 4 Ks (12.5%) 8 BBs (25.0%) 7 H 3 2Bs 1 HR 4 RBI 9 R .292 Avg .469 On Base .542 Slug 1.010 OPS 3/6 CS (50%) 2 PO 1 E 1 PB

Sox Minors 8/10 Games Giolito going for Charlotte

Collins 2-2, 2B, BB so far.

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 5, 2017 -> 09:43 PM) The Tilson love continues! For a guy who has had 2 AB's in in the past calendar year, I can't believe people are still penciling in a spot for him in 2020. Amazing. I literally just put players that are highly rated prospects and others that the Sox have under control through the 2020 season. There's 36 players listed. I mean I even put Narvaez, Kevan Smith, Nate Jones, Saladino, & Yolmer Sanchez in there. If he can stay healthy I do think Tilson has the potential to be a bench player in the OF in the future. He's a low K, good contact, decent OB skills, speedy, LH hitter, with supposedly good defense in the OF. If I had to bet on Tilson being on the Sox and being a piece (even a back up OF) in 2020 I would say no though.

I have no idea what the lineup will look like in 3+ years, but we have a boatload of talent to potentially pencil in there. We don't know who is going to make it as a prospect, and who is going to flame out, but there are so many talented players we have now it's just awesome to ponder. Look at all this talent, and that doesn't even include a top 3 pick in the 2018 draft and another high pick in the 2019 draft or any potential free agents the Sox could sign. For 2020 the Sox only have $4 million in guaranteed salary to Tim Anderson, so they would have tons of $ available to sign any roster holes they may have. CF - Robert R LF - Rutherford L 2B - Moncada S RF - Jimenez R 3B - Burger R 1B - Sheets L DH - Adolfo R C - Collins L SS - Anderson R Bench C - Narvaez L C - Smith R 1B - Gillaspie S UTI - L. Garcia S UTI - Saladino R UTI - Sanchez S UTI - Davidson R OF - Delmonico L OF - Tilson L OF - Basabe S OF - Cordell R SP - Kopech R SP - Rodon L SP - Lopez R SP - Hansen R SP - Giolito R BP - Jones R BP - Adams R BP - Burdi R BP - Cease R BP - Dunning R BP - Fulmer R BP - Clarkin L BP - Guerrero L BP - Bummer L BP - Stephens BP - Puckett The future looks extremely promising.

Video of Hansen's curve from tonight: Hansen K

That Kopech's some kinda something. Last 5 starts: 34 IP 44 K (11.65 K/9) 19 H 5 BB (1.32 BB/9) 0.71 WHIP 1.06 ERA He's at 112 1/3 IP. Previous season high was 65 IP. Putting up video game #s as he hits his career high in IP. Hansen's line at Winston-Salem so far: 41 2/3 IP 58 K (12.53 K/9) 29 H 17 BB (3.67 BB/9) 1.10 WHIP 2.38 ERA Hansen's season line: 114 1/3 IP 150 K (11.81 K/9) 86 H 40 BB (3.15 BB/9) 1.10 WHIP 2.44 ERA

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Aug 4, 2017 -> 10:38 PM) Eloy is a bad bad man. Dude is already a monster and only keeps improving. I feel confident we'll look back and think we did really well getting him for Q. In Jimenez's 20 games with the Dash: 352/418/690. 5 HRs, 1 3B, 7 2Bs, 18 RBI, 13 R, 8 BB. 10.12 BB%, 20.25 K%.

Michael Kopech's last 4 starts including tonight: 27 IP 33 K (11.00 K/9) 15 H 4 BB (1.33 BB/9) 0.70 WHIP 1.33 ERA That'll do. He's also at 105 1/3 IP. Previous season high was 65 IP.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 10:05 PM) It's really disgusting to have a team this bad. Team has won one game since Q left. The Sox are in a full on rebuild and have sold off nearly all of their valuable MLB assets, what do you seriously expect? If you are not going to be competing for the playoffs, then it is best to be as awful as you can be to stockpile talent via the draft. Look at how the Cubs built a large chunk of their foundation. They sucked for 5 years and are reaping the benefits now. Willson Contreras International FA in 2009 as a 17 year old. Anthony Rizzo traded to Cubs for Andrew Cashner in Jan 2012 after 71-91 season in 2011. Javier Baez drafted with 9th pick in 2011 draft after Cubs went 75-87 the previous year. Addison Russell traded to Cubs for Jeff Samardzija in July 2014. Cubs went 73-89 in 2014. Kris Bryant drafted with 2nd pick in 2013 draft after Cubs went 61-101 the previous year. Kyle Schwarber drafted with 4th pick in 2014 draft after Cubs went 66-96 the previous year. Albert Almora drafted with 6th pick in 2012 draft after Cubs went 71-91 the previous year. Ian Happ drafted with the 9th pick in 2015 draft after Cubs went 73-89 the previous year. From 2010 until 2014 the Cubs went: 2010 - 75-87 2011 - 71-91 2012 - 61-101 Epstein's 1st season as GM. 2013 - 66-96 2014 - 73-89 The Cubs had 5 Top 9 picks, and 2 in the Top 4. Do you think Cubs fans cared about going 61-101 in 2012, after these last 3 seasons? They think Theo Epstein is a genius. The Cubs weren't the only team to completely suck for a bunch of years, stock pile young talent and win a World Series. Look at the Royals. They were built on 3 top 3 picks who turned out to be All Stars (Gordon, Moustakas, & Hosmer), a couple of international signings that turned out great for them (Perez, Ventura, & Herrera), and 2 key pieces from trading off a Cy Young winner in Zack Greinke (Cain & Escobar). C - Perez International FA in 2006 as a 16 year old. 1B - Hosmer 3rd pick in 2008 draft. SS - Escobar traded to Royals for Zack Greinke in Dec. 2010. 3B - Moustakas 2nd pick in 2007 draft. LF - Alex Gordon 2nd pick in 2005 draft. CF - Lorenzo Cain traded to Royals for Zack Greinke in Dec. 2010. P - Ventura International FA in 2008 as a 17 year old. P - Wade Davis traded to Royals in Dec 2012 after going 72-90. P - Herrera International FA in 2006 as a 16 year old. Look at the Astros currently, they have the best record in the AL by 11.5 games. They went 74-88, 76-86, 56-106, 55-107, 51-111, 70-92 from 2009-2014. 1B - Gurriel International FA in 2016 as a 32 year old. 2B - Altuve International FA in 2007 as a 16 year old. SS - Correa 1st pick in 2012 draft after the Astros went 56-106 the previous year. 3B - Bregman 2nd pick in 2015 draft after the Astros failed to sign Brady Aiken in 2014. UT - Marwin Gonzalez traded to Astros in 2011 for Marco Duarte. CF - Springer 11th pick in 2011 draft after the Astros went 76-86 the previous year. P - Marisnick traded to Astros in 2014 for Jarred Cosart P - McCullers 41st pick in 2012 draft. P - Musgrove traded to Astros in 2012 for JA Happ. P - Brad Peacock traded to Astros in 2013 for Jed Lowrie. They also have OF Kyle Tucker in AA tearing it up as a result of the 5th pick in the 2015 draft. The Sox meanwhile have a loaded farm right now. C - Collins, Zavala, Skoug 1B - Gillaspie, Sheets 2B - Moncada SS - ? 3B - Burger OF - Jimenez, Adolfo OF - Robert, Tilson, Basabe OF - Rutherford, Cordell RHP - Kopech, Lopez, Giolito, Cease, Hansen, Adams, Dunning, Burdi, Fulmer, Stephens LHP - Stephens, Clarkin We should get a Top 3 pick in the 2018 draft, and hopefully we get another Top 3 pick in the 2019 draft. I really hope they are elite position players that we get as well(Turang & Witt Jr.). In 2019 we should be ready to start to be competitive again, and should be set for a long time. Look at some of the top picks dating back to 2004: 2004 - Verlander 2nd pick 2005 - Justin Upton 1st pick, Alex Gordon 2nd pick, Ryan Zimmerman 4th pick, Ryan Braun 5th pick, Tulo 7th pick 2006 - Longoria 3rd pick, Kershaw 7th pick 2007 - Price 1st pick, Moustakas 2nd pick, Wieters 5th pick 2008 - Hosmer 3rd pick, Posey 5th pick 2009 - Strasburg 1st pick 2010 - Harper 1st pick, Machado 3rd 2011 - Cole 1st pick, Rendon 6th pick, Lindor 8th pick 2012 - Correa 1st pick 2013 - Bryant 2nd pick 2014 - Rodon 3rd pick 2015 - Bregman 2nd pick, Rogers 3rd pick, Tucker 5th pick, Benintendi 7th pick. The Sox had the 8th pick (Fulmer), and 2 more wins than Boston. If the Sox can hit on a superstar type of player with their upcoming high draft picks, coupled with the talent we have in the minors, and payroll flexibility we should be loaded for a very long, long time. If that means we have to play awful baseball now for 2 years, so be it. We haven't been to the playoffs in 9 seasons.

Does anyone know anything about Anthony Coronado? He's 17 in the DSL with a line of 293/410/500 after today. .207 ISO for a 17 year old LF. 21.4% K rate, 9.29% BB rate. 3 HRs and 15 2Bs in 140 PA, 116 ABs.

7/27 Sox Affiliates Jimenez 1-3, HR 2 RBI Collins 1-2 BB, no K Burger 1-2 Adolfo 1-2 Sheets 1-2, HR

Trade one ex-Nebraska lefty reliever and call up another. Hopefully Bummer can be a solid bullpen piece for the rebuild.

So Reynaldo Lopez's last 6 starts: 36 2/3 IP 49 K (12.02 K/9) 26 H 8 BB (1.96 BB/9) 0.93 WHIP 1.96 ERA Michael Kopech's last 3 starts: 20 IP 25 K (11.25 K/9) 10 H 4 BB (1.8 BB/9) 0.70 WHIP 0.90 ERA Man that's exciting to see.