turnin' two

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 10, 2017 -> 09:41 AM) I think Beer's season was good enough that he will entering the 2018 season as the best pure hitter in the Draft. However, that does not guarantee him being taken No. 1 overall, let alone being in the top 5 or top 10. As this year has shown, Huira, the best pure hitter for 2017, isn't a projected Top 15 pick, largely due to his arm issue. But Beer also has defensive limitations and questions. Beer has more HRs this year that Hiura does in the last 2 combined. Not sure they are very comparable at all.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 7, 2017 -> 10:39 AM) Its not really his swing mechanics that bother me but his insane k rate and mediocre college production, at least for a top pick. He does certainly come with a low floor. Well, isn't his floor the same as everyone else? He may not make it. The same can be said for even the "safest" of picks. And while he has a floor because of swing and miss in his game, he also has a pretty significant ceiling because of his power, speed, and defense. Would Kendall be the safest pick? Well, probably not. But, if a team drafts based on floor, well, that would in all likelihood be a pretty mediocre team for a pretty long period of time. Mike Trout was a riskier pick than Jered Mitchell at the time. Gordon Beckham was a pretty safe pick. Chris Sale was pretty risky. A player's floor needs to be balanced with his ceiling and the likelihood of achieving either. It also needs to be balanced with a middle of the road projection. If you never take a risk on drafting a player, you will probably never draft a star, unless you are drafting 1 or 2. I think my preference at this point would be Beck, then Kendall, then Adell. But, my preference means absolutely nothing. In reality, which ever player the team decides to take, I will probably be pretty excited and invested in until they show me I shouldn't be anymore.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Jun 4, 2017 -> 10:22 AM) Not going to pretend to have seen him play or know much about his glove work but this is from his college profile.... "Also voted as the top defensive third baseman in all of Division I baseball with his selection to the ABCA's Rawlings Gold Glove Team" Don't think I've read a scouting report on him that has concerns about him not sticking at 3rd either. I know I have, but it has all been related to his, well physique.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 2, 2017 -> 05:10 PM) If he can talk someone in the top 10 of picking him ahead of the Sox at #11, that is a nice monetary difference for him. True, but I guess I don't understand how say the Angels drafting at 10 would say "The ChiSox are taking Kendall at 11! No way! We are gonna take him first even though we were planning on taking Beck instead of him, but since the Sox want Kendall, we will take him to spite them." Or something like that.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ May 31, 2017 -> 03:14 PM) 3 no hitters from them and a 15 k performance from Kopech. Simple enough. Giolito's day is done. 4IP 2 ER 3K 7H. Team scores his 8 runs and he can't stay in through 5 to get the W. He was at 91 pitches, 62 for strikes.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ May 31, 2017 -> 03:38 PM) Great point. In addition to those names, Bregman and Meadows haven't done much either. Yet neither guy is any more available now. Bregman is breaking out currently. I believe he has 5 homers in the last 2 weeks, including one today.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ May 31, 2017 -> 02:23 PM) I could not agree more with this, and it's exactly why I am hoping for Haseley, Smith or Hiura. I understand the sentiment, curious as to why Hiura out ranks Burger in most people's minds. Or at least that is my perception.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ May 31, 2017 -> 12:48 PM) Wow, its almost like you're saying we should look at something other than a batters splits. Wish it weren't the case. I could put up some gaudy numbers in high school right now.

Morrison gave up 2 runs today. Took until the last day of May. Pretty impressive.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 31, 2017 -> 12:05 PM) Because Kendall brings so much more outside of hitting than Rooker? And Rooker is 18 months older than Kendall.

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ May 31, 2017 -> 11:53 AM) Look at other top picks. Their college numbers are cartoon-like. Also, the 25% k-rate somewhat says "not succeeding". Aforementioned Corey Ray .310/.388/.545 Not too different. Nick Senzel .352 .456 .595 Alex Bregman .323 .412 .535 Andrew Benintendi .326 .431 .525 Pavin Smith .346 .429 .571 Evan White .366 .439 .629 All of these guys were drafted higher than Kendall would be if the Sox took him. Smith is projected similarly and White is routinely projected behind Kendall.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 31, 2017 -> 11:37 AM) Jared Mitchell, Courtney Hawkins, Keenyn Walker... Everyone knows those guys and what they did in the Sox system. And if those past failures dictate that the Sox never draft a guy with plus tools again, well, the team may never have a superstar level player. Are you mad they signed Robert? Because if your outlook is what it seems, you must see that as a total waste of money that they could have used to sign someone like, Matt Holliday or some other completely mundane but predicable player.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ May 31, 2017 -> 10:27 AM) Except he hasn't been able to succeed at his current level, if he had improved in college, the step up in competition could push him to be better. Since he hasn't gotten any better at making contact, its more likely he just gets left further behind. In what world is .306/.380/.570 for an OPS of .950 not succeeding?

QUOTE (oldsox @ May 31, 2017 -> 09:28 AM) Geez, he reads like a book end to Luis Robert. Sure would suck to have 2 guys like that! Edit: I guess the Sox system has 2, with Adolfo... can never have enough!

QUOTE (GermanSock @ May 31, 2017 -> 02:08 AM) still I don't like smith due to that reason. if he was a middle infielder that would be no big deal but at 1B he doesn't have the fallback option if the power doesn't develope. I mean some of the no power 1B prospects do develope power at some point (or at age 30 in yonder alonsos case:)) but many also never develope it (like james loney). it is also interesting whether it is an exit velo thing or a swing plane/launch angle thing like in alonsos cases who always hit the ball hard but swung too level and now swings with more of an uppercut to get it in the air more. smith won't be a 1 HR guy but there is a pretty good chance that he will be like a 15 HR guy with a wood bat and that doesn't really play at 1B. he will hit and there is a chance he becomes a star and hits 30 HR but for a 1B only prospects that is too many "Ifs" in my opinion. A guy I think about every time I read about Smith is Brandon Belt. He K's more, but lots of walks medium power, good hitter good defender type.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 31, 2017 -> 12:06 AM) Collins's K rate was 19.3% his last year, and 19.5% for his Miami career. Kendall's K rate is 25% this season and 24% for his career. That's a significant difference. So, I clearly called out K/AB right? Not quoting K rate but purposefully removing BBs from the equation. Those are the K%s that I called out. When BBs are removed (clearly an advantage for Hiura and Collins over Kendall), but when that result is removed, their K numbers aren't that far apart. Another consideration in their K numbers -at least for comparing Hiura and Kendall - should be their competition. For the record, I am not an expert on college baseball, but I do know that the SEC has been the premier baseball league for quite some time. Kendall has been in a conference with guys like AJ Puk, Dane Dunning, Dakota Hudson, Robert Tyler, Nathan Kirby. All of whom have been drafted in the first round the last 2 years. And guys like Alex Faedo, Tanner Houck, and Alex Lange, who are being projected as first rounders this year. If you were to put him in the Big West, like Hiura, I would certainly expect his K rate would drop. Perhaps significantly. If you put Hiura in the SEC, I think it is a pretty fair bet that his K rate would rise.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 30, 2017 -> 10:04 PM) If Hostetler's changes are a legitimate thing, I would think Hiura would be the pick unless Haseley or Smith is there. Hiura fits the Collins/Call/Fisher profile, whereas Kendall fits the Hawkins/Walker/Mitchell profile. Fun fact. Zach Collins struck out in 28% of his ABs his last year for Miami. That is 1% less than Kendall. He struck out in 26% of his ABs for his Miami career. Kendall is at 28%. That doesn't seem like a huge difference to me.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 30, 2017 -> 09:16 PM) I wasn't rating them on talents, I was rating them on how I'd take them. Even with the TJ surgery, Hiura seems much less risky to me than Kendall. I'd rather have a 2B or corner OF who I can easily project to the middle of my order than a CF whose bat I have to hide in the lineup, if he even makes it to MLB. I think Kendall's pitch recognition is bad and the cause of his high K rate. It's also something I don't see the White Sox improving. Based on that, I might even take Burger over Kendall. OK, I thought you were projecting how they would come off the board. Admittedly I haven't seen either guy play but have just been paying attention to mock drafts and reading some scouting reports and such. His record certainly shows that he can hit, but he has never hit double digit home runs. He also K'd in 20% of his ABs this year, so swing and miss is there for him as well. Does he project as a middle of the order run producer, or more of a Melky type that is a real good hitter but more doubles and such? I think I would prefer (again, just based on numbers and reading scouting reports etc) Burger over Hiura. More power, plays a more valuable position better K/BB... But I'm not a scout, I just looked at their numbers...

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 30, 2017 -> 08:06 PM) I'd take Smith but I think he'll be gone. Power hitters who don't strike out are rare, especially if they're left handed. I guess my order for college hitters would be: 1) McKay 2) Haseley 3) Smith 4) Hiura 5) Kendall 6) Burger Gosh, I have to say, I would be pretty surprised if Hiura went before Kendall. Kendall has several ++ scouting ratings, while playing a premium defensive position. Hiura can certainly hit, and has shown a great eye this season. He also may need TJ surgery and doesn't have a defensive position. I think those factors will scare some people off. I would agree with your first 3 (hope I'm wrong and Haseley is there for the Sox) but I would say Kendall, Burger, Hiura. But, who knows. Crazy stuff always happens in the MLB draft, and maybe I am over stressing the importance of Hiura's injury. Obviously it hasn't hampered his hitting ability at all. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/reports/compare.asp Kind of fun. Both with some impressive numbers.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 30, 2017 -> 06:19 PM) Kendall to me is left handed for Jared Mitchell. Star potential, and can do everything except make a lot of contact. I don't know how that gets better facing better pitchers. I wouldnttake him at 11. Isn't challenging yourself and facing tougher competition really the only way to improve? Along with a more singular focus, better coaching and more reps?

QUOTE (beautox @ May 30, 2017 -> 05:14 PM) Still hoping Haseley falls to us at 11, I have a hard time seeing the d-backs pass up on Bukauskus. I'm ok with drafting Kendall at 11 warts and all. If you would have told me the Sox had a chance to draft Kendall in March, I would have been thrilled. Especially if you told me that his production this season was on par with the production that had him slated as a top 2 pick before the season and that he was healthy. I would have been confused by how this happened, but thrilled. Kendall has perhaps a higher ceiling than any other player in the draft, except Greene. Kendall doesn't need to hit .300 to be a game changer. He can hit .260 and have a huge impact because of what he can do on defense and on the basepaths (not to mention his power potential). Draft a player with elite tools that plays a premium defensive position? I wouldn't have to fight to convince myself about it that much. Sure he could flame out and be Jared Mitchell 2.0, he could also make it to the majors on the strength of his physical skills and be an impact MLB player. Or he could make adjustments, put it all together and be a guy that threatens 30/30 seasons. Drafting Kendall may be the Sox best chance to add another star level ceiling player. Maybe with guys like Moncada and Robert in the system, they won't be compelled to draft on ceiling going for a guy with a steadier hitting ability like Hiura, or a more positional need (along with power upside) like Burger. Or go another route entirely and go pitcher or prep hitter.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ May 25, 2017 -> 06:00 PM) I want them strikeouts Just give me outs. I will worry about the manner in which they arrive when Gio is putting more good starts together.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 25, 2017 -> 05:43 PM) Absolutely do not want him. He may be a special athlete with the ability to play CF, but his swing-and-miss tendencies are too extreme for me. Additionally, nothing about the White Sox organization makes me feel optimistic that we could turn him into a solid hitter. Just not the the offensive profile that we would have success with, in my opinion. Great work as always. If Haseley is off the board, I am all for Kendall. Haseley seems to bring the whole enchilada, but everyone else has some concerns. Faedo has had a rough go of it at times, Smith has had a less impact during conference play and plays a position of low defensive impact. HS players are HS players. It seems that many here have the opinion that Haseley is option 1, but for me, if he is off the board, Kendall is a very strong second option. The swing and miss is a concern, but if that wasn't a part of his game, well, there is no way he would be available for the Sox to even consider at 11.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 20, 2017 -> 03:13 PM) Not a big deal but Leury is doing things Tilson could never do Such as stay on the field for multiple innings?

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ May 20, 2017 -> 02:57 PM) Exactly. Completely different situations. The Sale deal, coupled with their other moves and not really adding any even mid dollar veterans may have freed up the capital this move required. It is hard to say for sure, but, really, it doesn't matter. The Sox now have 2 elite hitting prospects. Pair this with the emergence of Adolfo, and the future is looking better than it was a month ago, even with Giolito's struggles.