White Sox pick 3B Jake Burger at #11

[Chicago White Sox]

Not sure where to post this, but the Sox selected four of the top 20 NCAA leaders in HRs in the first 10 rounds:

 

7. Burger, 22

8. Sheets, 21

10. Skoug, 20

16. Dedelow, 19

 

82 combined HRs for these four. That's a f***ton of power.

[Quin]

Might be posted somewhere else, but Bleacher Report listed the Sox as losers of the draft. They didn't like the Burger pick, and in general thought the Sox were in a position to be bold, but instead played it safe.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2715517...gramming-league

 

It's amusing because Callis loved their draft and he was one of the biggest Kendall backers.

[bmags]

It's amusing because Callis loved their draft and he was one of the biggest Kendall backers.

 

After reading bleacher report article we should reread Grant Bizbee's sbnation article he wrote prior to the draft evaluating each teams draft.

 

But really the Sox weren't really in a position to be bold. Teams in top 3 with a comp pick can be bold.

[Y2Jimmy0]

After reading bleacher report article we should reread Grant Bizbee's sbnation article he wrote prior to the draft evaluating each teams draft.

 

But really the Sox weren't really in a position to be bold. Teams in top 3 with a comp pick can be bold.

 

 

This is a great point. It's tough to save too much at #11. That pick value was $4.2 million. I bet they sign Burger for like $3.4 or $3.5 million. Sheets and Gonzalez likely get full slot. The savings are going to Kincanon and Skoug.

[ron883]

This is a great point. It's tough to save too much at #11. That pick value was $4.2 million. I bet they sign Burger for like $3.4 or $3.5 million. Sheets and Gonzalez likely get full slot. The savings are going to Kincanon and Skoug.

Went to the same high school as Kincanon. I'm friends with his brother in FB. I can confirm that he got signed overslot. Not sure the exact amount though.

[Chisoxfn]

He had a few really good years. 360 career homers. Had some horrid ones as well. Was a leader-type player on a team that had several. When he signed with the Angels, back when $3 million a year was big money, he was awful. He seemed to lose a bit of intensity. He got released eventually, signed with the Royals and was pretty good there a couple of years.

 

Burger plays hard. I'm really not too worried about the body, I think the Sox can fix that. If his bat works, it's a good pick. Another reason is he isn't a strike out machine. The Sox have little luck with those guys. If somehow Kendall overcomes the odds and becomes a star, many will say it was a mistake to pass him up. But, the White Sox seem to recognize a weakness. They haven't been able to develop this type of guy. Kendall may become a star, it doesn't mean he would have done the same had the White Sox drafted him.

Strikeouts are a huge problem in baseball and I'm glad the Sox are going away from it. I don't care what the statties want to say about a strikeout not being worse then a hit by ball...it is far less entertaining and makes the game slower. More strikeouts, mean less contact, means less plays / action as a whole.

[Chisoxfn]

Might be posted somewhere else, but Bleacher Report listed the Sox as losers of the draft. They didn't like the Burger pick, and in general thought the Sox were in a position to be bold, but instead played it safe.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2715517...gramming-league

I have no idea how to really grade a baseball draft right after. Football/Basketball are hard enough...baseball is just a whole nother dynamic.

[southsider2k5]

Might be posted somewhere else, but Bleacher Report listed the Sox as losers of the draft. They didn't like the Burger pick, and in general thought the Sox were in a position to be bold, but instead played it safe.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2715517...gramming-league

 

I am not sure if I am the only one, but after all was said and done, I am pretty disappointed too. There just isn't a whole lot of high ceilings in the bunch. It felt a lot more like a Kenny Williams draft with a lot of high floors. We drafted one HS that we will sign (in all likelihood the late draftees aren't signing), and he is as far away as the 16 year olds in the DR from the sounds of it.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Strikeouts are a huge problem in baseball and I'm glad the Sox are going away from it. I don't care what the statties want to say about a strikeout not being worse then a hit by ball...it is far less entertaining and makes the game slower. More strikeouts, mean less contact, means less plays / action as a whole.

 

 

I completely disagree that they are a huge problem.

[ptatc]

I am not sure if I am the only one, but after all was said and done, I am pretty disappointed too. There just isn't a whole lot of high ceilings in the bunch. It felt a lot more like a Kenny Williams draft with a lot of high floors. We drafted one HS that we will sign (in all likelihood the late draftees aren't signing), and he is as far away as the 16 year olds in the DR from the sounds of it.

I thought Kenny Williams drafted too many athletes who weren't baseball players like Barnum, Hawkins and Mitchell.

[caulfield12]

I am not sure if I am the only one, but after all was said and done, I am pretty disappointed too. There just isn't a whole lot of high ceilings in the bunch. It felt a lot more like a Kenny Williams draft with a lot of high floors. We drafted one HS that we will sign (in all likelihood the late draftees aren't signing), and he is as far away as the 16 year olds in the DR from the sounds of it.

 

You've now become the anti-Balta.

[bmags]

I thought Kenny Williams drafted too many athletes who weren't baseball players like Barnum, Hawkins and Mitchell.

 

Prior to him making that switch, he took high floor, lite-stuff players with a high likelihood of making bigs quick. The years of the Lance Broadway/Kyle McCullough drafts.

[ptatc]

Prior to him making that switch, he took high floor, lite-stuff players with a high likelihood of making bigs quick. The years of the Lance Broadway/Kyle McCullough drafts.

Yes he did. It's amazing how someone's philosophy can change depending different situations and they aren't necessarily stuck with "being only one thing."

[bmags]

I am not sure if I am the only one, but after all was said and done, I am pretty disappointed too. There just isn't a whole lot of high ceilings in the bunch. It felt a lot more like a Kenny Williams draft with a lot of high floors. We drafted one HS that we will sign (in all likelihood the late draftees aren't signing), and he is as far away as the 16 year olds in the DR from the sounds of it.

 

I get the critique but I actually disagree. I think the power potential of picks 1-2 does make them high upside. I really don't see Burger as that safe of a pick (Bukauskus much safer). But if a) his defense actually turns out to be good due to body upgrades or b) that doesn't happen and his power isn't there, then he's a disaster.

 

The arms in rounds 4-6 feature 1 power arm, and 2 relievers that if are actually playable as starters become much more valuable. Kade McLure just reminds me of a Zack Thompson but he was a 6th round pick.

 

The 3rd round picks, I think we are just seeing a trend of us being just too far back to get that run of high schoolers, and then grabbing the best available college bats left.

[Soha]

I am not sure if I am the only one, but after all was said and done, I am pretty disappointed too. There just isn't a whole lot of high ceilings in the bunch. It felt a lot more like a Kenny Williams draft with a lot of high floors. We drafted one HS that we will sign (in all likelihood the late draftees aren't signing), and he is as far away as the 16 year olds in the DR from the sounds of it.

 

While recognizing that drafts need to be judged years later - yeah, I came away feeling a but underwhelmed. And again, I think it's partly because last year's draft would have been hard to match. And also this year's first round seemed to take a big drop down at our exact #11 pick.

[fathom]

While recognizing that drafts need to be judged years later - yeah, I came away feeling a but underwhelmed. And again, I think it's partly because last year's draft would have been hard to match. And also this year's first round seemed to take a big drop down at our exact #11 pick.

 

I feel like last year's draft is a bit overrated

[Y2Jimmy0]

I was hoping that the White Sox would draft more high school players and go with longer-term upside plays. With that being said, it's tough to do where they were picking and I understand why they chose the method that they did. They are insulating the system with good players and it makes sense. They also were pretty successful according to the major publications:

 

MLB Pipeline:

 

#16 Jake Burger

#48 Evan Skoug

#60 Gavin Sheets

#97 Tyler Johnson

#106 Luis Gonzalez

#162 Lincoln Henzman

#189 Will Kincanon

 

Baseball America:

 

#20 Jake Burger

#65 Gavin Sheets

#78 Evan Skoug

#86 Luis Gonzalez

#151 Lincoln Henzman

#155 Tyler Johnson

#244 Kade McClure

#349 Will Kincanon

 

Keith Law:

#21 Jake Burger

#68 Gavin Sheets

#73 Luis Gonzalez

#86 Evan Skoug

#97 Tyler Johnson

 

 

[southsider2k5]

I get the critique but I actually disagree. I think the power potential of picks 1-2 does make them high upside. I really don't see Burger as that safe of a pick (Bukauskus much safer). But if a) his defense actually turns out to be good due to body upgrades or b) that doesn't happen and his power isn't there, then he's a disaster.

 

The arms in rounds 4-6 feature 1 power arm, and 2 relievers that if are actually playable as starters become much more valuable. Kade McLure just reminds me of a Zack Thompson but he was a 6th round pick.

 

The 3rd round picks, I think we are just seeing a trend of us being just too far back to get that run of high schoolers, and then grabbing the best available college bats left.

 

3 relievers in the top 10 is pretty awful. I get they are going to try starting them, but I haven't been very encouraged at our results at doing it.

[BlackSox13]

3 relievers in the top 10 is pretty awful. I get they are going to try starting them, but I haven't been very encouraged at our results at doing it.

Sounds ike the Sox strategy in taking relievers is based on the low mileage on their arms. Makes sense with the Sox rebuilding but I think we would be seeing a different strategy if this were 2016. Amazing how much has changed in one year.

[bmags]

3 relievers in the top 10 is pretty awful. I get they are going to try starting them, but I haven't been very encouraged at our results at doing it.

 

Dunning seems okay so far.