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Shortstop Candidates


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  On 2/8/2025 at 12:40 AM, Tnetennba said:

What is more demoralizing, starting him at Charlotte to allow him the opportunity to rebound, or handing him the Opening Day SS job unearned and he flops, ending up in Charlotte anyway?

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Good point.  You should also factor in what a terribly cheap franchise should do in this situation if there is any question about Montgomery’s MLB readiness.  It’s an easy decision.

Edited by WhiteSox2023
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  On 2/7/2025 at 9:00 PM, nrockway said:

You're probably right but I'm sure there's precedent in guys stinking it up at AAA and then doing fine in MLB the next year. I think this was discussed on this board before...definitely was because Jackson Merrill is the comp in a lot of ways...only Jackson stunk it up in AA and A+. Also think there's value in him being around the new manager and just, in general, being in Chicago. Again, you can always send him down. 

I might have a different opinion after Spring Training. I guess that's the true test. But he'll have to be pretty bad. He makes the team on vibes alone and I'm sticking to that.

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In general, I hate using spring training to decide on a prospect. But this goes triple for Montgomery.

Montgomery’s problems last year as far as we know were some combination of a lingering back injury, an inability to hit fastballs, and maybe some personal issues.

In spring training, he won’t be playing every day and on days he does play he may get taken out early. So, if he has a back injury that might flare up when playing everyday, spring training does a poor job of testing it.

Furthermore, in the spring, many pitchers aren’t throwing their hardest because they’re building up their arms. Combine that with guys working on specific things and the occasional A ball pitcher who takes over in the 7th inning, and it’s hard to say anything meaningful about a good performance because fastballs will get tougher in April.

Send him to Charlotte, let him play everyday, let him show me he can handle that pitching and stay healthy, and we can see him in May.

If he can’t, if he can’t catch up with fastballs or his back can’t play everyday, then we will be happy we didn’t start his big league clock. One obvious risk is you call him up and he has an ongoing back problem, you wind up with the situation like Kopech where you burn through a bunch of his control.

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Pre 2024 Montgomery had a better case for the majors than this version...only Sox fans accustomed to rushing prospects want to see him after OD in the freezing temperatures.

That's hardly the ideal hitting conditions...or fielding, for that matter.

And the team's record next year should be worse than everyone but maybe Colorado and Miami.

Do we really want to draft third or fourth again?

That would out us on track to parallel the Bulls...minus their attendance numbers.

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  On 2/8/2025 at 2:40 AM, Balta1701 said:

In general, I hate using spring training to decide on a prospect. But this goes triple for Montgomery.

Montgomery’s problems last year as far as we know were some combination of a lingering back injury, an inability to hit fastballs, and maybe some personal issues.

In spring training, he won’t be playing every day and on days he does play he may get taken out early. So, if he has a back injury that might flare up when playing everyday, spring training does a poor job of testing it.

Furthermore, in the spring, many pitchers aren’t throwing their hardest because they’re building up their arms. Combine that with guys working on specific things and the occasional A ball pitcher who takes over in the 7th inning, and it’s hard to say anything meaningful about a good performance because fastballs will get tougher in April.

Send him to Charlotte, let him play everyday, let him show me he can handle that pitching and stay healthy, and we can see him in May.

If he can’t, if he can’t catch up with fastballs or his back can’t play everyday, then we will be happy we didn’t start his big league clock. One obvious risk is you call him up and he has an ongoing back problem, you wind up with the situation like Kopech where you burn through a bunch of his control.

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Why would we be happy that we didn’t start his big league clock if he sucks? The only reason to regret starting his clock is if he’s really good. Oscar Colas’  lock is started and absolutely no one cares.

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  On 2/11/2025 at 1:23 AM, Lip Man 1 said:

With the Sox "luck" they'll lose 108 games and get the #4 pick. 😆

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The Rockies and Marlins are going to push them for worst record, of that there's little doubt.  4 is pretty hard to imagine, though.

 

What's crazy to me is the Rangers are drafting 12th coming off a WS two years ago, and they're definitely a large market team if ever there was one.  

Angels, Cardinals and Blue Jays all drafting before the White Sox as well...all because of that "large market" distinction when the White Sox are currently a lot more like the A's than anyone but TB/Miami/Pitt.

Edited by caulfield12
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  On 2/11/2025 at 5:06 AM, BigHurt3515 said:

All I have to say is let the young guys play

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It's going to be nuts if somehow if 3-4 vets in their late 20's/early 30's are all starting on opening day.

Merkin's most recent article featuring possible roster/line-ups coming into camp suggested Brayan Ramos as the starting DH. 

That's just hard to believe, as poorly as he hit last year at the big league level, but NOBODY I MEAN NOBODY wants to watch any of those veteran guys they're carrying actually hit in 2025.  Definitely want no part of watching Jacob Amaya taking at-bats either.

 

It has to be some combination of Vargas, Sosa, Ramos, Baldwin and Meidroth...at least for the first month of the season.

Also really have a hard time believing we'll see Teel or Quero unless they're absolutely on fire the first 4-6 weeks.

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  On 2/7/2025 at 12:40 PM, tray said:

My pre-season guess for infield starters , at least to start the season:

Lenyn Sosa (SS), Bryan Ramos (3B) Brooks Baldwin (2B)

Ramos is probably too much of a liability on defense but I like his potential for power in the line-up.

 

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It's probably as good of a guess as anyone else but I don't think any of those 3 start at the positions you have them, at least on Opening Day.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Monday is not part of the weekend. 

 

 

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I would think Colson will eventually play 3rd.  Ge was working there in the Fall League

As for Vargas I have no clue why they would keep him only just as an attempt that maybe that trade wasn't horrible. 

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A story on Sox.com revealed that Colson's injury was not the only reason He  got demoted to the minors. Getz and others in Sox management were just not convinced that Montgomery could stick at SS.....that is play mlb quality defense there.

 

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  On 3/13/2025 at 12:21 AM, tray said:

A story on Sox.com revealed that Colton's injury was not the only reason He  got demoted to the minors. Getz and others in Sox management were just not convinced that Montgomery could stick at SS.....that is play mlb quality defense there.

 

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A chronic bad back could screw up both his bat and defense.

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  On 3/13/2025 at 12:21 AM, tray said:

A story on Sox.com revealed that Colton's injury was not the only reason He  got demoted to the minors. Getz and others in Sox management were just not convinced that Montgomery could stick at SS.....that is play mlb quality defense there.

 

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It took them until this spring training to figure that out (SS is not his best spot long-term) when we've been discussing it for months?

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  On 3/13/2025 at 12:21 AM, tray said:

A story on Sox.com revealed that Colton's injury was not the only reason He  got demoted to the minors. Getz and others in Sox management were just not convinced that Montgomery could stick at SS.....that is play mlb quality defense there.

 

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That's not what the article said. He's playing shortstop. 

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