2014 Draft class

[Y2Jimmy0]

ESPN Insider request: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=9471

 

Who does Bowden have us taking? I see he has the Astros taking Rodon.

 

Kolek. It's not based on sources though. Just what he would do.

[hi8is]

Kolek. It's not based on sources though. Just what he would do.

Correctamundo.

[fathom]

On Buster Olney's podcast, Keith Law said Kolek to the Sox is the lock of the top 5 picks

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[Buehrle>Wood]

Ugh.

 

 

Not that I'm really trusting that

[caulfield12]

On Buster Olney's podcast, Keith Law said Kolek to the Sox is the lock of the top 5 picks

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

 

 

Allen Thomas and the minor league strength and conditioning staff has a HUGE (literally and figuratively) project ahead of them.

 

At least it will be interesting.

 

In some ways, I prefer this direction, even if it blows up, because it's much harder to find an ace than to find a Quintana/Floyd/Humber/Jenks/Santos.

 

In my lifetime, Jose Contreras was the only true ace we got on the cheap, and that only lasted 4-5 months. Loiaza in 2003, but that also didn't last. And then Freddie Garcia, which was only possible due to our farm system and the ability to sign an extension due to the closeness with Guillen's family.

 

 

[Soxfest]

On Buster Olney's podcast, Keith Law said Kolek to the Sox is the lock of the top 5 picks

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Hope that is more of Law's BS.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Soxfest

[maggsmaggs]

Although Law is a pompous jackass oftentimes, I do really enjoy his listen. I think he is much more realistic (thus pessimistic) on prospects and gives a much different view than the other pundit like Callis, Mayo, McDaniel, the BA Team. None of those guys ever sat in the room, and while it can be debated how much influence Law had with the Blue Jays, he at least has that inside view.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Allen Thomas and the minor league strength and conditioning staff has a HUGE (literally and figuratively) project ahead of them.

 

At least it will be interesting.

 

In some ways, I prefer this direction, even if it blows up, because it's much harder to find an ace than to find a Quintana/Floyd/Humber/Jenks/Santos.

 

In my lifetime, Jose Contreras was the only true ace we got on the cheap, and that only lasted 4-5 months. Loiaza in 2003, but that also didn't last. And then Freddie Garcia, which was only possible due to our farm system and the ability to sign an extension due to the closeness with Guillen's family.

 

 

Caulfield, we are in agreement here. I would question passing on Rodon/Aiken in favor of Kolek but I agree with your premise completely. I'd much rather swing for the fences and take the chance that Kolek develops into an ace than drafting someone like Nola or Freeland. Nola is going to be solid. At #3, I want a potential ace. Even if some risk is involved.

[Lillian]

If they select Kolek, I hope that they just concentrate on helping him develop a great change up.

He could probably be successful, and stay healthy, just throwing the heater and a change.

[oneofthemikes]

If they select Kolek, I hope that they just concentrate on helping him develop a great change up.

He could probably be successful, and stay healthy, just throwing the heater and a change.

 

He allegedly already has a decent slider that could end up being a plus pitch and a curve that isn't far behind.

[Dick Allen]

Although Law is a pompous jackass oftentimes, I do really enjoy his listen. I think he is much more realistic (thus pessimistic) on prospects and gives a much different view than the other pundit like Callis, Mayo, McDaniel, the BA Team. None of those guys ever sat in the room, and while it can be debated how much influence Law had with the Blue Jays, he at least has that inside view.

I will give him credit for putting his neck on the line... if he's available and the White Sox don't select Kolek, he loses a lot of credibility, although I'm sure a good portion of his sheep would have some excuse.

[Lillian]

He allegedly already has a decent slider that could end up being a plus pitch and a curve that isn't far behind.

 

That's great, but I hope that he doesn't throw too many of those breaking balls. Those are the pitches that lead to elbow problems.

The change up is a better off speed pitch than the curve ball, anyway and it doesn't stress the arm.

[ptatc]

PTATC should come in here and talk more about this. He is our Medical Steverson, or Health Steverson, etc. Arm Steverson.

 

Edit: also I downloaded a penis enlargement program I'm at a solid 8 but was thinking about trying some techniques to get that sucker up to about 11" or so, was wondering if PTATC has any info on proper enlargement practices & so on. Thanks I'll hang up and listen.

Mechanics is only one of the factors related to the injury. I wouldn't rule anyone out based on mechanics alone. Workload and economy of effort are important factors as well.

 

As for the the second part, that isn't one of my areas of research as I don't have that problem.

[ptatc]

The point is that if you have one TJ, you've just moved up your timeline for a second. And almost (if not literally) no one has come back effective form the 2nd TJ.

I don't think this is true, other than the fact that you can't have a second until you've had the first.

[ptatc]

Agreed, Rodon fits very nicely with our timeline and i think the sox can break him in, in a similar fashion to Sale. His velocity is real and his breaking ball is the best in the draft hands down; that slider is nasty.

 

If we land him I'm very confident the sox will be able to develop his change-up well beyond a show me pitch and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see him learn a cutter seeing how that seems to be this organizations pitch de jour.

 

If Rodon isn't there I Like Aiken the Kolek as both of them dove tail nicely with our next crop of arms in Danish and Montas

I'm still not a fan of the way he throws. I don't like the stand up follow through without the trunk flexion. He finishes like Peavy does.

 

It wouldn't prevent me from drafting him but it would make me look at the others more closely.

[ptatc]

That's great, but I hope that he doesn't throw too many of those breaking balls. Those are the pitches that lead to elbow problems.

The change up is a better off speed pitch than the curve ball, anyway and it doesn't stress the arm.

The pitches are fine if you throw them correctly. Throwing breaking balls does not inherently lead to elbow problems. Even with the large number of injuries this year, it's still a fraction of the overall number of pitchers who throw breaking pitches, which is everyone.

 

I still think it's the overall effort of the delivery that makes the biggest difference. How much effort does it take to throw the 94 mph fastball. Many can do it, but how hard do they need to work at it. That's why a guy like Kolek who can throw over 100 could back off and safely throw 95.

[royoung]

The pitches are fine if you throw them correctly. Throwing breaking balls does not inherently lead to elbow problems. Even with the large number of injuries this year, it's still a fraction of the overall number of pitchers who throw breaking pitches, which is everyone.

 

I still think it's the overall effort of the delivery that makes the biggest difference. How much effort does it take to throw the 94 mph fastball. Many can do it, but how hard do they need to work at it. That's why a guy like Kolek who can throw over 100 could back off and safely throw 95.

 

Thank you ptatc for your insight.

 

On the effort on the delivery...

 

nick (weed,CA)

 

When I see Kolek I see a guy destined for TJ. Everything he throws is max effort, does this thought scare teams away?

 

Klaw (2:20 PM)

 

Completely disagree on the max-effort part.

 

Apparently Law doesn't see Kolek as a max effort pitcher, perhaps the Sox agree?

[Eminor3rd]

I get scared on Kolek simply because he is, by definition, an outlier. Our standards of injury risk have never included someone THIS young throwing THIS hard.

 

This, of course, doesn't mean he's absolutely at higher risk, but I've got to feel like it's more likely to make him higher risk than lower risk. It's more stress than ever on a younger ligament than ever.

[ptatc]

I get scared on Kolek simply because he is, by definition, an outlier. Our standards of injury risk have never included someone THIS young throwing THIS hard.

 

This, of course, doesn't mean he's absolutely at higher risk, but I've got to feel like it's more likely to make him higher risk than lower risk. It's more stress than ever on a younger ligament than ever.

It all depends on the effort for how hard he throws. If he is throwing 100 with max effort, have him throw 95 with less than the max effort. He will throw harder than most without the stress.

[oneofthemikes]

I just wish some kind of info would leak about Houston's intentions for their pick. The waiting is killing me.

[royoung]

I just wish some kind of info would leak about Houston's intentions for their pick. The waiting is killing me.

 

I am sure they will be trying to cut deals up until the day. Was it leaked in previous years? I remember the year they took Correa I thought it was surprise.

[royoung]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mock-...t-from-fiction/

 

New Baseball American mock draft has the Sox passing on Carlos Rodon for Tyler Kolek. His reasoning is below...

 

 

WHITE SOX: The talk to this point has been that the White Sox would not pass on Rodon if he were available here. That talk persists, but so do the rumors linking Chicago to outsized Texas high school flamethrower Tyler Kolek. The Cubs are watching closely because while Kolek is not a Cubs target, Rodon is. The White Sox have a bigger bonus pool than the Cubs, but Rodon likely would eat up more of it.

Projected Pick: RHP Tyler Kolek

 

In his scenario, Houston takes Aiken and Jackson goes to Miami.

[Y2Jimmy0]

I am sure they will be trying to cut deals up until the day. Was it leaked in previous years? I remember the year they took Correa I thought it was surprise.

 

 

Most people thought that Houston would take Gray last year and Appel/Gray would go to the Cubs. Houston settled on Appel and the Cubs took Bryant. You won't know anything until draft night.

[Eminor3rd]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mock-...t-from-fiction/

 

New Baseball American mock draft has the Sox passing on Carlos Rodon for Tyler Kolek. His reasoning is below...

 

 

WHITE SOX: The talk to this point has been that the White Sox would not pass on Rodon if he were available here. That talk persists, but so do the rumors linking Chicago to outsized Texas high school flamethrower Tyler Kolek. The Cubs are watching closely because while Kolek is not a Cubs target, Rodon is. The White Sox have a bigger bonus pool than the Cubs, but Rodon likely would eat up more of it.

Projected Pick: RHP Tyler Kolek

 

In his scenario, Houston takes Aiken and Jackson goes to Miami.

 

I think I just want Rodon at this point.

[Eminor3rd]

When was the last time two of the top three teams were over .500 this close to draft day?