2012-2013 Sox off season Catch-All thread

[elrockinMT]

If Adam Dunn can just bring that batting average up to like .260 or so he will be a monster in 2013

[witesoxfan]

If Adam Dunn can just bring that batting average up to like .260 or so he will be a monster in 2013

 

That's a bit like asking Konerko to hit .340.

[Balta1701]

That's a bit like asking Konerko to hit .340.

If he hadn't had that wrist issue last year, I think he would have.

[IlliniKrush]

All teams BP caps this year...Sox going back to one they had IIRC in the early 2000's (I had one). Black top, gray brim.

 

Still pisses me off they got rid of the sock logo in the diamond. Congrats, you now have no secondary logo which could have been used here.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/po...g-practice-caps

Edited December 27, 2012 by IlliniKrush

[chw42]

All teams BP caps this year...Sox going back to one they had IIRC in the early 2000's (I had one). Black top, gray brim.

 

Still pisses me off they got rid of the sock logo in the diamond. Congrats, you now have no secondary logo which could have been used here.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/po...g-practice-caps

 

The Braves' logo is awful. Why not use a hammer there instead?

[elrockinMT]

If he hadn't had that wrist issue last year, I think he would have.

 

 

Konerko is a special player and I agree he can and has in the past hit well over .300. I do not think it is out of the realm of possibiliy to see Dunn bring that average up. If he can it will help off set the loss of AJP

[oldsox]

There's an article on ESPN.com (isnider about the Sox being a sleeper. Has anyone on this board read this?

[southsider2k5]

Ladies, dry your tears. Gordon Beckham is off of the market.

[cabiness42]

Ladies, dry your tears. Gordon Beckham is off of the market.

 

For professional athletes, "married" does not generally mean "off the market"

[Eminor3rd]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/q...x-top-prospect/

 

Former Texas high school star Courtney Hawkins famously performed a back flip after being drafted this past year. And now, it’s easy to see why: The Chicago White Sox top prospect has a lot to be excited about.

 

The 19-year-old [as of November] outfielder was drafted 13th overall in June and by the season‘s end, he was playing for High-A Winston-Salem. Prior to inking his contract, he was honored as the Texas High School Player of the Year. Hawkins talked about his introduction to professional baseball — and his athleticism — during the last week of this past season.

 

——

 

David Laurila: Has it sunk in that you’re playing pro ball?

 

Courtney Hawkins: I’d say it’s like a dream. I’m still kind of shocked right now, playing in High-A. Everything is moving fast, but I like it. I like the speed of the game and I’m just out there playing ball and having fun.

 

Since I’ve been here — since I moved up — I’ve learned so much. You can tell the difference in the level of competition, so it’s a huge adjustment.

 

DL: When did you begin to realize you were going to be good enough to play professionally?

 

CH: It’s been my dream ever since I was a young kid. In a way, it was in my head then, but it really started sinking in around my freshman year of high school. That, or maybe my sophomore year.

 

When I was a freshman, I made the USA Team. I was a pitcher all the way up until my junior year. That’s when I switched over to being more of a hitter.

 

DL: You’ve been clocked in the low-90s. Were there discussions about your future position?

 

CH: With [Chicago], it was always, hands down, hitting. Other teams, it was pitching and hitting — some pitching — but with the White Sox, they told me it would be hitting.

 

DL: Which teams were interested in you as a pitcher?

 

CH: I couldn’t even tell you right now. A lot of teams were going back and forth. I was going with the flow, but I wanted to hit. I guess most teams wanted me for hitting.

 

DL: When did you know the White Sox were going to draft you?

 

CH: Four minutes before they called my name. I did know they were probably interested. I was in the Double Duty Classic [a tournament held at U.C. Cellular Field] a couple of times and had a good relationship with Keith Staab, the scout that saw me. I met a lot of the representatives when everybody came down.

 

DL: How surprised are you to have been promoted from Bristol to Kannapolis to Winston-Salem?

 

CH: I’m not so much shocked, but more just happy, excited, and glad that I have.

 

DL: You hit better in [Low-A] Kannapolis than you did in [rookie-level] Bristol.

 

CH: Exactly. As you move up, you start seeing guys who are more around the zone. The game is faster, but not too much. There’s a better level of defense and you can tell the level of play is better. But that’s good; I enjoy it. Same way here in Winston-Salem. The pitching is a lot better — they’re in the zone and hit their spots — but that makes you develop into a better hitter. You lay off the bad stuff and hit the mistakes.

 

DL: Baseball America’s draft preview said you fit the profile of a power-hitting right fielder. Do you see yourself that way?

 

CH: I’d like to stay in centerfield as long as I can, but as long as I’m playing ball, it doesn’t bother me. I’ll play left, righ, or anywhere. I love centerfield, but the outfield is the outfield. I’m going to go wherever they tell me to play.

 

DL: When you did the back flip on draft night, it was almost like you were sending a message that you’re not a stereotypical corner outfielder, you’re an athlete.

 

CH: Exactly, exactly.

 

DL: What is your approach at the plate?

 

CH: I’m always thinking up-the-middle, dead-away center. That’s my approach every time: dead-away center or up the gaps. If the pitcher makes a mistake in, then I pull.

 

DL: Is most of your power to the pull side?

 

CH: I think I have power to all fields. I’ve hit home runs to center, left, right. Mainly they’ve been to left-center.

 

DL: Are you concerned with strikeouts?

 

CH: I watch Major League Baseball every day, and I see big leaguers strike out. They’re going to be in the game. Strikeouts happen. I go up there and if the pitcher is better than me in that at bat, I’ll come up in my next at bat and try to get him that time. You’re going to be upset about it, but you shake it off and try to win the next battle.

 

DL: Could you see yourself on the mound in pro ball?

 

CH: I’m not sure, but I know I could go out and pitch. I know I have the ability and stuff. If I did, hopefully I’d learn and get better, like I am with hitting. I’m a better hitter now than I was a month ago. I like to think I’m a better hitter than I was yesterday. I like learning and am taking stuff in, day by day.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/q...x-top-prospect/

 

I think I am more excited about him than I ever have been about any White Sox prospect.

[Springfield Soxfan]

I think I am more excited about him than I ever have been about any White Sox prospect.

I felt that way about Beckham at first and that has cooled, but share the same feeling about Hawkins now.

 

[bigruss]

Ladies, dry your tears. Gordon Beckham is off of the market.

Congrats to him and his fiancee.

 

[southsider2k5]

Ladies, dry your tears. Gordon Beckham is off of the market.

 

Also off of the market, Kenny Williams. On the bright side, they are registered at Lobstergram...

[southsider2k5]

I just read that Gordo is actually engaged to Scott Fletcher's daughter. Damn I feel old now.

[elrockinMT]

I just read that Gordo is actually engaged to Scott Fletcher's daughter. Damn I feel old now.

 

 

Wow! Me too.

[flavum]

I just read that Gordo is actually engaged to Scott Fletcher's daughter. Damn I feel old now.

 

I popped in the final game at Comiskey Park over the weekend, and it was interesting to see the White Sox players--

 

Fisk- future Hall of Famer

Thomas- rookie- future Hall of Famer

Sosa- traded to the Cubs a year later, steroids allowed him to hit over 600 HR

Guillen- future Sox manager. 15 years later, won the World Series

Ventura- rookie, future Sox manager

Calderon- murdered

Fletcher- Sox 2B, daughter would later marry Sox future 2B who was 4 when this game was played

Johnson- One Dog one of a few to play for Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Mets

McDowell- future Cy Young winner

 

The Mariners also had a young Ken Griffey Jr, his dad, and Omar Vizquel who could be the last active player to play in Comiskey Park.

 

The final out was Harold Reynolds who is still around at MLB Network.

[Bubba Philips]

Wow! Me too.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_...photos/12521716 ....Maybe we underestimated Beckham I think he is hitting 300

Edited January 3, 2013 by forrestg

[Princess Dye]

By this metric, Marko Jaric is on permanent NBAJam fire mode

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

despite being out of the league

 

 

[balfanman]

I popped in the final game at Comiskey Park over the weekend, and it was interesting to see the White Sox players--

 

Fisk- future Hall of Famer

Thomas- rookie- future Hall of Famer

Sosa- traded to the Cubs a year later, steroids allowed him to hit over 600 HR

Guillen- future Sox manager. 15 years later, won the World Series

Ventura- rookie, future Sox manager

Calderon- murdered

Fletcher- Sox 2B, daughter would later marry Sox future 2B who was 4 when this game was played

Johnson- One Dog one of a few to play for Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Mets

McDowell- future Cy Young winner

 

The Mariners also had a young Ken Griffey Jr, his dad, and Omar Vizquel who could be the last active player to play in Comiskey Park.

 

The final out was Harold Reynolds who is still around at MLB Network.

 

My first thought was "Wow, that's pretty impressive". Then I realized that only 2 of those names (1 only for a few games) were involved in a White Sox world series winner.

[MiddleCoastBias]

Fun read for The Best 50 Baseball Players Not In the HOF.

 

White Sox notes:

 

Shoeless Joe Jackson is ranked 4th.

Dick Allen is ranked 12th.

Minnie Minoso is ranked 33rd.

 

Harold Baines was ranked 45th last year but dropped out of the top 50 this year.

[ptatc]

I popped in the final game at Comiskey Park over the weekend, and it was interesting to see the White Sox players--

 

Fisk- future Hall of Famer

Thomas- rookie- future Hall of Famer

Sosa- traded to the Cubs a year later, steroids allowed him to hit over 600 HR

Guillen- future Sox manager. 15 years later, won the World Series

Ventura- rookie, future Sox manager

Calderon- murdered

Fletcher- Sox 2B, daughter would later marry Sox future 2B who was 4 when this game was played

Johnson- One Dog one of a few to play for Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Mets

McDowell- future Cy Young winner

 

The Mariners also had a young Ken Griffey Jr, his dad, and Omar Vizquel who could be the last active player to play in Comiskey Park.

 

The final out was Harold Reynolds who is still around at MLB Network.

Didn't you see me sitting in right field with a tear in my eye?

[flavum]

MLB Network's Hot Stove is doing a "Face of the Franchise" segment each day. The White Sox are up on Monday, and Konerko will undoubtedly win that.

 

Hawk Harrelson will be on to talk Sox too for those interested in watching or recording it. 8-10am

[balfanman]

In reality, I'm just trying to kill time on a slow day at work and nothing happening with the Sox. I noticed this quote from our friend PTATC in the NFL thread talking about RGIII injury.

 

Interestingly enough the first real high profile athlete this was done with was Ozzie Guillen after he had that collision with Tim Raines. Up until that point it was common place to do the surgery as soon as possible. It was the case that brought the idea to mainstream sports medicine.

 

Just got me to thinking, could the reason Tim Raines left the orginization be due to Guillen still holding a grudge on this? Anybody know for sure?

[Dick Allen]

In reality, I'm just trying to kill time on a slow day at work and nothing happening with the Sox. I noticed this quote from our friend PTATC in the NFL thread talking about RGIII injury.

 

Interestingly enough the first real high profile athlete this was done with was Ozzie Guillen after he had that collision with Tim Raines. Up until that point it was common place to do the surgery as soon as possible. It was the case that brought the idea to mainstream sports medicine.

 

Just got me to thinking, could the reason Tim Raines left the orginization be due to Guillen still holding a grudge on this? Anybody know for sure?

Ozzie was the one who brought Raines in to coach. That was interesting that he was the model. Ozzie was never the same after his injury.