Sox Take a Gamble on Danks, Others

[Chisoxfn]

Will the Sox Buck the "Slot" Trend

By Jason Gage

Chisport.com

 

When it comes to the MLB Amatuer Draft, The Chicago White Sox are a franchise known for following Bud Selig’s “slot” requirements. Slot requirements are essentially the recommended bonus for the pick/round a player is selected. This policy is something I’ve long blasted the White Sox for following. The reality is too many large market teams don’t follow the policy (Dodgers, Angels, Cubs (see Jeff Samardzija), Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers. This going above slot money, enables teams to land additional “talent” and the reality is the job of the scout is to fill your system with as many “talented” individuals as possible and than play the odds game (which involves player development and a little luck) to see who develops into legit prospects.

 

Great player development counts for something, but on top of that, the ability to provide your development people with an extra 2-4 “impact” players (top 250 prospects) enables a system over a three year span to have an extra 6-12 potential “impact players”. Considering many teams struggle to have even 5-10 legitimate prospects, those extra 2-4 guys can make a huge difference.

 

Selecting outfielder Jordan Danks out of the University of Texas was an indication of the Sox bucking there “slot” trend. Jordan, the younger brother of starter John Danks, was expecting to go somewhere between the late 1st and 2nd rounds but instead slid to the 8th round. Rumors indicated his slide was due to Danks’ agent, Scott Boras, informing teams that he would not sign for anything but 1st round money.

 

However, the White Sox, who drafted Jordan out of high school, have a very good relationship with the family, and felt confident that they would be able to work out a deal with Jordan. Negotiations still have to take place, but people close to the White Sox and Danks believe a deal will be worked out.

 

Assuming a deal is worked out, by going above slot money (my guess is it will take 2nd round money to sign Danks), the White Sox will be getting a 2nd round talent using an 8th pick. In addition to Danks, the White Sox selected a few more “impact” players late, including Stephen Upchurch (RHP, BA’s #1 HS Prospect in Alabama), and Kyle Long (Howie Long’s son, who is very raw, but has 1st round potential).

 

How agressive the White Sox negotiations end up being with those high ceiling, above-slot, picks is yet to be seen. However, with a system devoid of talent, turning latter round picks into top picks, is a great way to quickly rebuild the minor league system.

[Marky Mark]

How did I miss that we drafted Kyle Long! I do hope we are making a significant attempt to restore the farm system.

[BearSox]

that was a good read while i was putting aloe vera cream on my sun-burnt skin...

[bighurt4life]

We can only hope

[2nd_city_saint787]

that was a great read chisoxfn, what position does howies kid play???

 

P.S. thanks for the account help man.....now i gotta change my horrid signature, what was i thinking?

Edited June 7, 2008 by 2nd_city_saint787

[BearSox]

that was a great read chisoxfn, what position does howies kid play???

 

P.S. thanks for the account help man

Long plays both P and 1B, but I feel his future is at 1B.

[Chisoxfn]

No problemo.

 

To echo what BearSox said, scouts grade him out as a 1st baseman and pitcher. He throws in the 90's and is considered projectable as a pitcher. However, he's so raw that I think it is more beneficial to use him as a hitter. Plus, while he has a good arm, he possesses as good of power potential as anyone in the draft and I think thats why at the end of the day if he did sign you'd put him at 1B.

 

The problem is he is a comitted to Florida State and every indication is that he will be going to FSU unless he gets 1st round money (which mean it would take at least 1-2M to sign him and even if the Sox offered that who knows if he would sign). Still, the Sox have until August 15th to negotiate and if Long signs he'd become the #1 power prospect in the Sox system (I'd actually compare him a bit to Chris Carter, whom the Sox traded to the Dbacks for Carlos Quentin).

[BearSox]

From what I have read, he is very athletic and I think he could even play a little LF if needed be.

[Chisoxfn]

From what I have read, he is very athletic and I think he could even play a little LF if needed be.

For his size he has solid athletism and he probably could end up handling LF (he'd have a strong arm for a LFer). However, who knows how his body will fill as he ages (he's already built like an olineman) and if he slows down any more you'd be talking about a guy with little range in left (that said, El Caballo found a way to handle left, even if he isn't that good). Regardless, if Long is going to make it it will be because he can flat rake (and hit 40 plus HR's).

[BearSox]

For his size he has solid athletism and he probably could end up handling LF (he'd have a strong arm for a LFer). However, who knows how his body will fill as he ages (he's already built like an olineman) and if he slows down any more you'd be talking about a guy with little range in left (that said, El Caballo found a way to handle left, even if he isn't that good). Regardless, if Long is going to make it it will be because he can flat rake (and hit 40 plus HR's).

I'd say he's built more like a DE. He seems like he'd be good off the edge.

[Ozzie Ball]

Long was drafted as a pitcher so if he signs I'd assume he'll be on the mound.

[BearSox]

Long was drafted as a pitcher so if he signs I'd assume he'll be on the mound.

Just because it says pitcher on the draft tracker doesn't mean that the org. is actually going to use him as a pitcher.

[Ozzie Ball]

Just because it says pitcher on the draft tracker doesn't mean that the org. is actually going to use him as a pitcher.

No when they draft him they decide which position they want him as, they'll say something like "Long, Kyle and can we have him listed as a pitcher". You're not going to get him specifically listed as a pitcher and then use him as a hitter.

[TCQ]

No when they draft him they decide which position they want him as, they'll say something like "Long, Kyle and can we have him listed as a pitcher". You're not going to get him specifically listed as a pitcher and then use him as a hitter.

 

O sweet good contribution, you must have been in the warroom with kenny when he asked for a player to be drafted without any possibility of playing another position.

 

Konerko was drafted as a Catcher Btw, so they musta been like "Hey Konerko, Paul and can we have him listed as a catcher and then put a caption underneath that which says (NEVER TO BE MADE INTO A FIRST BASEMEN)"

[GoodAsGould]

O sweet good contribution, you must have been in the warroom with kenny when he asked for a player to be drafted without any possibility of playing another position.

 

Konerko was drafted as a Catcher Btw, so they musta been like "Hey Konerko, Paul and can we have him listed as a catcher and then put a caption underneath that which says (NEVER TO BE MADE INTO A FIRST BASEMEN)"

 

Konerko started off playing catcher though so its not really a good example. But, from everything I've heard about Long is he has much more upside as a hitter and Im guessing they would go that way with him after its all said and done, assuming he signs which he wont.

[29andPoplar]

Just to be a contrarian here, sometimes it's best to let these kids go ahead and enroll in college. While I am excited about them drafting guys with upside, this guy is extremely raw. There's no saying that the Sox can't track him through a few years of college and draft him again ... if he's any good which three years of college will show.

 

Of course I understand about "wasting" a draft pick, i.e. why draft him if you won't sign him. But this Jordan Danks thing is a good example. Draft a kid, establish a good relationship with him and his family, and target him later. Even if someone else drafts him there's no saying the guy wouldn't be available in a trade down the line.

 

Another example is a guy the White Sox took last year in the 10th round, a shortstop, Brian Guinn Jr. They negotiated right to the deadline and the kid's dad and KW (who know one another from way back) decided it would be best for everybody if he took the baseball scholarship to Cal. This years results bear out the decision. Guinn didn't play much his freshman year, had limited at bats, and while he had a decent enough batting average, he didn't show much discipline at the plate and was below average in the field. Clearly he was only borderline ready for college baseball, let alone pro baseball.

 

Anyway, I understand wanting to sign all the picks. Just wanted to point out a different angle.

[GoSox05]

I think we will sign Danks. The others might a longer shot, but one of the two would be nice. I think Long will be the hardest to sign.

[heirdog]

So is there any real advantage to "drafting and tracking" a player other than building a relationship with the player/family? I mean, even with a good relationship, someone else can still draft him later and its simply a wasted pick. I understand the potential for signing the player when he is a free agent but drafting a guy out of high school, then the player going to college, then getting drafted again by another team, then playing in the minors, then cracking the majors, then playing out the league minimum years, then the arbitration years and then hitting free agency...we're talking about 8-10 years minimum. I know you have to take chances with high ceiling players and hope the money will entice him but unless the pick is extremely late in the draft, it seems like a waste.

 

The Jordan Danks example may debunk this theory but I'm not sure why we decided to pull the trigger in the 7th round instead of the 6th (I know we had to get KWJr but still...) or the 8th round? Did we have some inside info that another team might pull the trigger (say a family insider in the know)?

[danman31]

Most of the 'wasted' picks are late. Danks not signing would be the highest questionable sign the Sox have failed on in at least a few years I think.

[Harry Chappas]

So is there any real advantage to "drafting and tracking" a player other than building a relationship with the player/family? I mean, even with a good relationship, someone else can still draft him later and its simply a wasted pick. I understand the potential for signing the player when he is a free agent but drafting a guy out of high school, then the player going to college, then getting drafted again by another team, then playing in the minors, then cracking the majors, then playing out the league minimum years, then the arbitration years and then hitting free agency...we're talking about 8-10 years minimum. I know you have to take chances with high ceiling players and hope the money will entice him but unless the pick is extremely late in the draft, it seems like a waste.

 

The Jordan Danks example may debunk this theory but I'm not sure why we decided to pull the trigger in the 7th round instead of the 6th (I know we had to get KWJr but still...) or the 8th round? Did we have some inside info that another team might pull the trigger (say a family insider in the know)?

 

The 6th round ended one day and the 7th started the next day. It it possiblethe team contactedthe family after day one and talked about the situation.