Predict the 2017 Opening Day Roster

[Bob Sacamano]

Bourjos is fine as a 4th OF, but I would hate to waste everyday at-bats on him. The more I think about it, the more I'm willing to roll the dice on May in CF for a month. Probably would end up being a failed experiment, but May is such a fringey prospect to begin with that I see nothing to lose by trying at least.

 

Agreed. Although Bourjos is already drawing trade interest from TB. I think they will just sign a right handed hitting OF that gets cut somewhere else though.

Edited March 27, 2017 by soxfan2014

[Al Lopez's Ghost]

I'd like to see them roll the dice on as many unproven youngsters (rather than proven mediocrity) as possible. Meaning May over Burgeous, Delmonico over Davidson, Hayes over Leury Garcia (not exactly a pair, I know, but I'm talking roster spot in this case), etc.

Rebuilding time is the time to find out what you have as much as possible.

[Chicago White Sox]

I'd like to see them roll the dice on as many unproven youngsters (rather than proven mediocrity) as possible. Meaning May over Burgeous, Delmonico over Davidson, Hayes over Leury Garcia (not exactly a pair, I know, but I'm talking roster spot in this case), etc.

Rebuilding time is the time to find out what you have as much as possible.

I think Delmonico is better off getting a couple months in Charlotte, but overall I agree with what you're saying. Just don't want to rush guys either.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Agreed. Although Bourjos is already drawing trade interest from TB. I think they will just sign a right handed hitting OF that gets cut somewhere else though.

 

 

This isn't really true. SportsMockery wrote a hack job article stating it as fact. Marc Topkin of TB Times reported Rays would like to add another OF RH bat. Mentioned Bourjos as one of like 6 names. Didn't say anything about a trade. They'll most likely add a guy that gets released.

[Y2Jimmy0]

I agree Jimmy except on Davidson. I think it might be the end of the road for him. He is lucky that Delmonico has kicked a few balls over at third base in ST games or I think he gawn for sure and the Sox take Delmonico instead, a LH bat who might have more use as a platoon player.

 

 

I don't take anything out of spring training good or bad. If they wanted to give Davidson a shot this year, nothing that happened during spring should affect those plans.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Don't think it'll happen because of options but Danny Hayes has more of a chance at being something at DH than Matt Davidson imo. People sleep on Hayes a bit. .283/.381/.440 in A-ball. .248/.388/.360 in AA. Then the power came. .250/.358/.489 in AAA.

That's also how I see it. Hayes has always drawn his fair share of walks . His lack of defensive versatility hurts him when comparing him to Delmonico who has garnered most of the attention and playing time this spring . Physically they are almost spitting images of each other. Both are big, white , bearded , sweet swinging lefties who throw right. Hayes fits in more with the Sox new OBP philosophy. Delmonico is 2 years younger than Hayes .Hayes also leads the team in RBI this spring .

 

However both are more than likely sent back down.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

I don't take anything out of spring training good or bad. If they wanted to give Davidson a shot this year, nothing that happened during spring should affect those plans.

Then on what are you basing thinking Asche makes the team ? Surely as a non roster invitee if he had sucked there wouldn't be a chance at him making the team. His spring numbers, both power wise and OBP, have been the most impressive of all the Sox .

[Y2Jimmy0]

Then on what are you basing thinking Asche makes the team ? Surely as a non roster invitee if he had sucked there wouldn't be a chance at him making the team. His spring numbers, both power wise and OBP, have been the most impressive of all the Sox .

 

 

Platoon partner for Davidson. My point was that they aren't dumping Matt Davidson. Avisail f***ing Garcia is still running around. DFAing Davidson before he gets plate appearances with the big league club doesn't make any sense. Are Asche's numbers really good? I don't really pay close attention to spring training stats because they don't matter. I just assumed Asche would make it because Merkin and Hayes were talking about it being likely.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Platoon partner for Davidson. My point was that they aren't dumping Matt Davidson. Avisail f***ing Garcia is still running around. DFAing Davidson before he gets plate appearances with the big league club doesn't make any sense. Are Asche's numbers really good? I don't really pay close attention to spring training stats because they don't matter. I just assumed Asche would make it because Merkin and Hayes were talking about it being likely.

They are talking about it being likely because of his very good spring numbers so while you may not take spring numbers seriously they obviously mean something for the last few spots on the 25 .

 

Asche leads the team in HR ,walks and doubles. His slash line is .316 .469 .763 1.233

[tray]

I don't take anything out of spring training good or bad.

If they wanted to give Davidson a shot this year, nothing that happened during spring should affect those plans.

 

In reality, Spring Training is a factor for management in making the final roster selections. Davidson has not done much to hurt his stock. Whether it is right or wrong, the problem some have with Davidson is that he had some very down years in the minors when he was hitting around .200. That made people give up on him or believe that he had a relatively low ceiling. It was disappointing to see after all the hype when he was traded to the Sox. Many of us had him penciled in as our starting third basemen for the next 5-6 years and it just didn't work out.

[Two-Gun Pete]

Whether it is right or wrong, the problem some have with Davidson is that he had some very down years in the minors when he was hitting around .200. That made people give up on him or believe that he had a relatively low ceiling. It was disappointing to see after all the hype when he was traded to the Sox. Many of us had him penciled in as our starting third basemen for the next 5-6 years and it just didn't work out.

Couple things:

 

1. Good players tend to have good numbers throughout their MiLB careeers. Davidson, OTOH, only had good numbers in extremely offense-skewed assignments. (In the California league, & in Reno.)

 

2. There never was a chance that he was ever going to become a starter in The Show. He simply strikes out too much. Whoever thought he was ever going to become a starter allowed this Front office to lie to them. Again.

 

3. His former "Too 100 Prospect" status should be a cautionary tale for those who want to give away Q for "Top 100 Prospects" who are flawed.

 

4. I sincerely hope that Davidson does well, as I do for all SOX players. I simply don't see it happening for him.

[southsider2k5]

OK, I'll bite.

 

Even though I'm not a big supporter of the Prospect Industrial Complex that overvalues "tools" and undervalues actual outcomes, help me understand why I shouldn't hate that suggested trade. Here's what I see out of that trio you suggest:

 

Rutherford: 130 measly PA in Rookie Ball means he's lightyears away from The Show. Piles of "golden gods" DOMINATED Rookie Ball, only to ultimately end up working @ Home Depot. Hell, even Korey (with a "K") Zangari hit more HR than this guy @ Rookie Ball.

 

Kaprelian: 3 measly games @ A+ means he's lightyears away from The Show, & still has a lot to prove before he's an actual prospect.

 

Mateo: An "amazing" 99 wrc+ in A+ ball (2nd exposure to the level) last year. For reference, the much-hated Charlie Tilson had a wrc+ of 121 in his 2nd go-around @ A+, with a lower K rate.

 

On top of all of this, Yankee prospects are generally suspects, in that they're overhyped in a lot of cases. So, again, why should the top SP available in trade be stupidly given away for a pile of A ball bums?

 

For me, no Torres in the trade = no Quintana for the Yankees, full stop. And even at that, Torres still hasn't made the jump past AA with his prospect status intact. In all honesty, the Yankees prospects have yawning flaws, or are too far away from The Show for my liking, or have not shown themselves to be superior to extant members of the SOX system.

 

 

Couple things:

 

1. Good players tend to have good numbers throughout their MiLB careeers. Davidson, OTOH, only had good numbers in extremely offense-skewed assignments. (In the California league, & in Reno.)

 

2. There never was a chance that he was ever going to become a starter in The Show. He simply strikes out too much. Whoever thought he was ever going to become a starter allowed this Front office to lie to them. Again.

 

3. His former "Too 100 Prospect" status should be a cautionary tale for those who want to give away Q for "Top 100 Prospects" who are flawed.

 

4. I sincerely hope that Davidson does well, as I do for all SOX players. I simply don't see it happening for him.

 

I have to laugh at the contrast between your posts here. Davidson was everything that Rutherford, Kaprielian, and Mateo weren't according to the first post. He had proven he could put up numbers at all levels of the minors. If you actually look at his minor league OPS's, his best year was actually in South Bend, which I know personally is a terrible hitters park. His second best number was at Mobile. He put up big homer, double and RBI numbers at every stop in the minors. He also put up big OBP numbers in all of those stops in the minors.

[SCCWS]

I don't take anything out of spring training good or bad. If they wanted to give Davidson a shot this year, nothing that happened during spring should affect those plans.

 

I disagree. I think defense should be taking seriously. If a guy is really struggling in ST at a position, throwing him into a ML situation is wrong.

 

[ChiSox59]

Guys, it is really simple. The dudes with options are going to get optioned. The dudes without options are going to make the team. This is a punt year for the Sox and they may as well give Davidson, Leury, Sanchez and Ynoa a shot rather than giving them away.

 

It really comes down to the last man on the squad and whether they go with Asche or Liriano for the last spot.

 

With Tilson starting on the DL, and most likely Rodon as well, here is my guess:

 

 

1B: Jose Abreu

2B: Tyler Saladino

3B: Todd Frazier

SS: Tim Anderson

C: Omar Narvaez

CF: Peter Bourjos

LF: Melky Cabrera

RF: Avisail Garcia

DH: Matt Davidson

 

Bench: INF/OF Leury Garcia, INF Yolmer Sanchez, C Geovany Soto, INF/OF Cody Asche

 

SP

 

1. Jose Quintana

2. James Shields

3. Miguel Gonzalez

4. Derek Holland

5. Dylan Covey

 

Bullpen: RHP David Robertson, RHP Nate Jones, RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Jacob Petricka, RHP Michael Ynoa, LHP Dan Jennings, LHP Corey Luebke

 

 

Jacob May, Nick Delmonico, Danny Hayes, and Liriano (if he clear waivers) will be the first wave of players to come up when Asche is inevitably DFA'd, 25 man guys hit the DL or are traded. Each of them (sans maybe Liriano) will ML at bats with the Sox this year.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

Guys, it is really simple. The dudes with options are going to get optioned. The dudes without options are going to make the team. This is a punt year for the Sox and they may as well give Davidson, Leury, Sanchez and Ynoa a shot rather than giving them away.

 

It really comes down to the last man on the squad and whether they go with Asche or Liriano for the last spot.

 

With Tilson starting on the DL, and most likely Rodon as well, here is my guess:

 

 

1B: Jose Abreu

2B: Tyler Saladino

3B: Todd Frazier

SS: Tim Anderson

C: Omar Narvaez

CF: Peter Bourjos

LF: Melky Cabrera

RF: Avisail Garcia

DH: Matt Davidson

 

Bench: INF/OF Leury Garcia, INF Yolmer Sanchez, C Geovany Soto, INF/OF Cody Asche

 

SP

 

1. Jose Quintana

2. James Shields

3. Miguel Gonzalez

4. Derek Holland

5. Dylan Covey

 

Bullpen: RHP David Robertson, RHP Nate Jones, RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Jacob Petricka, RHP Michael Ynoa, LHP Dan Jennings, LHP Corey Luebke

 

 

Jacob May, Nick Delmonico, Danny Hayes, and Liriano (if he clear waivers) will be the first wave of players to come up when Asche is inevitably DFA'd, 25 man guys hit the DL or are traded. Each of them (sans maybe Liriano) will ML at bats with the Sox this year.

 

This is exactly how I see it. If and when some of the guys do continue to fail, you will still have the optioned guys to replace them. If you do the opposite, you might not have these other guys around if the guys with options were to fail first.

[witesoxfan]

There are going to be a lot of players who come and go this year. I imagine there will be steady shuffling between Charlotte and Chicago (and maybe even Birmingham) as well as waiver additions.

 

The best example I have is Casey Blake in 2003. Dude was a 30 year old AAAA player who got at bats with Cleveland and turned into an average to above average starter for 8 years. Maybe it's a little concerning that a 30 year old finally found his power stroke during the PED era, but it's worthy nonetheless. That's why I don't mind the idea of hanging onto a guy like Bourjos or Asche (though he'll begin the year in the minors). If Bourjos is healthy and still up to par (or close to) defensively, and can hit at all, he's arguably a 2-3 WAR player.

[flavum]

That would seem to be the roster, but I think there's a chance they'll make a minor trade that ends up with 3 on the bench and 8 in the pen. The starters really aren't that stretched out, and let's face it, not that good (besides Q).

 

Going to be a lot of faux pitching injuries this year with the 10-day DL.

[ChiSox59]

There are going to be a lot of players who come and go this year. I imagine there will be steady shuffling between Charlotte and Chicago (and maybe even Birmingham) as well as waiver additions.

 

The best example I have is Casey Blake in 2003. Dude was a 30 year old AAAA player who got at bats with Cleveland and turned into an average to above average starter for 8 years. Maybe it's a little concerning that a 30 year old finally found his power stroke during the PED era, but it's worthy nonetheless. That's why I don't mind the idea of hanging onto a guy like Bourjos or Asche (though he'll begin the year in the minors). If Bourjos is healthy and still up to par (or close to) defensively, and can hit at all, he's arguably a 2-3 WAR player.

 

 

Who makes it instead of Asche? Only one I could see is Liriano to not risk losing him on waivers.

[ChiSox59]

That would seem to be the roster, but I think there's a chance they'll make a minor trade that ends up with 3 on the bench and 8 in the pen. The starters really aren't that stretched out, and let's face it, not that good (besides Q).

 

Going to be a lot of faux pitching injuries this year with the 10-day DL.

 

I think you've mentioned this minor trade a few times that would result in a shorter bench and deeper pen. What are you thinking exactly?

[flavum]

I think you've mentioned this minor trade a few times that would result in a shorter bench and deeper pen. What are you thinking exactly?

 

Maybe Leury or Sanchez. Or even Davidson. Nothing major.

 

But it could be Covey starts vs Minnesota, and then his arm magically hurts a little.

Edited March 27, 2017 by flavum

[ChiSox59]

Maybe Leury or Sanchez. Or even Davidson. Nothing major.

 

For the sole purpose of having an additional arm in the pen, and not risking losing one of those three off waivers?

[witesoxfan]

Who makes it instead of Asche? Only one I could see is Liriano to not risk losing him on waivers.

 

Asche is on a minor league contract, so the Sox have to make room for him on the 40-man. I know Asche has played well, but they can always get him up before the end of April too. If he makes it, it's not that big of a deal either, just that it's easier to control Asche than others who are out of options.

[Bob Sacamano]

Asche is on a minor league contract, so the Sox have to make room for him on the 40-man. I know Asche has played well, but they can always get him up before the end of April too. If he makes it, it's not that big of a deal either, just that it's easier to control Asche than others who are out of options.

 

Has Tilson officially been placed on the DL yet? If not, that would clear a spot for Asche. Roster is already at 38 with 2 spots likely going to Soto and Bourjos as well. Rodon is also likely for the dl.

Edited March 27, 2017 by soxfan2014

[southsider2k5]

Has Tilson officially been placed on the DL yet? If not, that would clear a spot for Asche. Roster is already at 38 with 2 spots likely going to Soto and Bourjos as well. Rodon is also likely for the dl.

 

Only if he goes on the 60 day DL, which he won't if they plan on him being back before June.

[Dick Allen]

Only if he goes on the 60 day DL, which he won't if they plan on him being back before June.

If he is going to be in a boot for 3 weeks, he isn't back until the middle of May at best anyway, and it's Charlie Tillson. I say do it.