Q&A with Second Baseman Joey DeMichele

[NorthSideSox72]

Check it out here. Thoughts?

 

[ShandyMan]

"The beauty of the White Sox is, they let you play the way you want to play, and figure it out yourself."

 

 

Hmmmm. That's probably why we don't develop hitters.

[NorthSideSox72]

"The beauty of the White Sox is, they let you play the way you want to play, and figure it out yourself."

 

 

Hmmmm. That's probably why we don't develop hitters.

I had a similar gut reaction... but read the whole quote. It seems like he's saying, they want them to go out and play "their game", develop as they want to... but if they run into trouble, then start tweaking or making changes as needed. I think that makes sense, as opposed to trying to immediately lay down a philosophy of the organization down to a granular level. Better to let the talent show what they can do, then improve it along the way.

 

[ShandyMan]

I had a similar gut reaction... but read the whole quote. It seems like he's saying, they want them to go out and play "their game", develop as they want to... but if they run into trouble, then start tweaking or making changes as needed. I think that makes sense, as opposed to trying to immediately lay down a philosophy of the organization down to a granular level. Better to let the talent show what they can do, then improve it along the way.

 

Your right, when I re-read it I got that from it as well. Personally, I feel like the best way to do it would be a mix of both. A player obviously needs to learn on their own and learn how to make adjustments. However, I also feel that their should be some type of philosophy laid down, because in the end most of the people coaching these players have years and years of experience (whether that's a good thing or not). Being too relaxed can lead to extremely bad habits developing.

[NorthSideSox72]

Your right, when I re-read it I got that from it as well. Personally, I feel like the best way to do it would be a mix of both. A player obviously needs to learn on their own and learn how to make adjustments. However, I also feel that their should be some type of philosophy laid down, because in the end most of the people coaching these players have years and years of experience (whether that's a good thing or not). Being too relaxed can lead to extremely bad habits developing.

I think the balance between those factors is at the heart of player development. And I'm sure the line is fuzzy, as well as different for different players. DeMichele came in pretty experienced with 3 years at an elite baseball program (and good results there), so with him you'd guess they should take a pretty hands-off approach at first. Now that he is struggling, I'd have to think they are starting to work with him on some adjustments. Or I'd hope.

 

[ShandyMan]

I think the balance between those factors is at the heart of player development. And I'm sure the line is fuzzy, as well as different for different players. DeMichele came in pretty experienced with 3 years at an elite baseball program (and good results there), so with him you'd guess they should take a pretty hands-off approach at first. Now that he is struggling, I'd have to think they are starting to work with him on some adjustments. Or I'd hope.

 

Exactly. The problem is though, what do you with a player like Hawkins, some who has enormous pure raw talent. There has to be a difference between players as you said, I highly doubt Hawkins and DeMichele are treated the same, nor should they be.

 

[southsider2k5]

The other extreme is the Walt Hriniak school of hitting, where everyone was taught to do the exact same thing, mechanics and all, no matter what their natural swing was like.

[The Ultimate Champion]

Exactly. The problem is though, what do you with a player like Hawkins, some who has enormous pure raw talent. There has to be a difference between players as you said, I highly doubt Hawkins and DeMichele are treated the same, nor should they be.

If Hawkins is going to be getting the Brian Anderson treatment then we should probably deal him this summer. Trayce too. And Walker. Trade them all for pitchers which we can develop, and then trade those guys for hitters other organizations have developed.

[danman31]

If Hawkins is going to be getting the Brian Anderson treatment then we should probably deal him this summer. Trayce too. And Walker. Trade them all for pitchers which we can develop, and then trade those guys for hitters other organizations have developed.

I can't imagine Trayce and Walker have any value at all right now.

[Chicago White Sox]

I can't imagine Trayce and Walker have any value at all right now.

You being serious? You don't think other organizations would love to get their hands on athletes like Thompson & Walker? We're talking about two 22 year old outfielders with crazy tools. Just because we struggle with developing hitters doesn't mean all other teams do and wouldn't want chance at them.

 

You wouldn't be able to headline a major trade with either of them, but both guys should have strong value as secondary pieces in a deal.

[danman31]

You being serious? You don't think other organizations would love to get their hands on athletes like Thompson & Walker? We're talking about two 22 year old outfielders with crazy tools. Just because we struggle with developing hitters doesn't mean all other teams do and wouldn't want chance at them.

 

You wouldn't be able to headline a major trade with either of them, but both guys should have strong value as secondary pieces in a deal.

At this point, anyone who rates either of those guys with any more value than as throw ins is making a big mistake.

[NorthSideSox72]

At this point, anyone who rates either of those guys with any more value than as throw ins is making a big mistake.

Walker is maybe close to that level, though I'd say a little more than a throw-in. Thompson is still worth a lot more than that, IMO. Neither are MLB-wide elite guys, but I think Thompson is still a B prospect with the tools for more.

 

 

[danman31]

Walker is maybe close to that level, though I'd say a little more than a throw-in. Thompson is still worth a lot more than that, IMO. Neither are MLB-wide elite guys, but I think Thompson is still a B prospect with the tools for more.

Probably true, but I wouldn't try to be buying low on either if I'm the GM of another team.

[Chicago White Sox]

Walker is maybe close to that level, though I'd say a little more than a throw-in. Thompson is still worth a lot more than that, IMO. Neither are MLB-wide elite guys, but I think Thompson is still a B prospect with the tools for more.

Walker almost at throw-in level? I'm absolutely flabbergasted.

 

What exactly are you basing this off of? 117 plate appearances as a 22 year in AA? He shouldn't even be at this level, as he only had 168 plate appearances at high A last year. The Sox give him an aggressive assignment and people don't even allow him a chance to make adjustmentd before writing him off.

[danman31]

Walker almost at throw-in level? I'm absolutely flabbergasted.

 

What exactly are you basing this off of? 117 plate appearances as a 22 year in AA? He shouldn't even be at this level, as he only had 168 plate appearances at high A last year. The Sox give him an aggressive assignment and people don't even allow him a chance to make adjustmentd before writing him off.

It's not like he was all that great in A ball. Sub .800 OPS between Kanny/WS. I wouldn't write him off, but it's hard to say he's a high value guy at the moment.

[Chicago White Sox]

It's not like he was all that great in A ball. Sub .800 OPS between Kanny/WS. I wouldn't write him off, but it's hard to say he's a high value guy at the moment.

He's never going to put up a big OPS, but if he can put up a high OBP (.395 in low A) and steal a ton of bases (56 total last year), then he can still become a dangerous leadoff hitter.

[NorthSideSox72]

He's never going to put up a big OPS, but if he can put up a high OBP (.395 in low A) and steal a ton of bases (56 total last year), then he can still become a dangerous leadoff hitter.

There is a difference between trade value, and org value. I think Walker is worth a lot more to the Sox than he'd get in trade right now. I think there is concern about Walker and making consistent contact, and that's for a guy with no power (yet).

 

I'm not quite as negative on him as danman, and I think he's more intriguing at this point than Mitchell... but I don't think many other teams would want Walker as any sort of main piece for any significant trade - that's all I'm saying.

 

Thompson though, I think could be very appealling to some teams.

 

[danman31]

I will say that I've long thought Walker was overrated by Sox fans based on the fact that he was the first White Sox pick that year despite not being a true first round pick. There is a notable difference between a first rounder and a supplemental pick. The expectations should be lower.