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Axe is back


Dick Allen

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:57 AM)
Being able to have your AAA team include guys who have been in AAA before, have had a stint in the show, maybe even have friends in the show, have heard suggestions from the major league pitching coach, and can help your AAA team actually win games and have a shot to go to the playoffs...all those are good things.

That still doesn't explain why Axelrod would be considered "depth". I have no problem with him in Charlotte, but if he is on the White Sox, it is going to be another long summer.

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QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 09:17 PM)
They rush pitchers quite a bit and I can't recall it ever biting them in the butt - Hector and Nate never saw Charlotte, for instance. All depends on what the braintrust thinks of him in late March. He's 25 in February, I expect him to be "challenged".

Where Bassitt goes depends on what they think his role is going forward. If he is still a starter, he'll likely start the season in B-Ham, then go up to Charlotte if he does well and a slot opens up.

 

If he is a reliever long-term (which he may be, and which he actually prefers doing), I could see him going to Charlotte to start the season and being a mid-season call-up to Chicago if he does well there.

 

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:04 AM)
That still doesn't explain why Axelrod would be considered "depth". I have no problem with him in Charlotte, but if he is on the White Sox, it is going to be another long summer.

Axelrod does have value, in the role he's set for. Basically, would you rather have Axelrod (who dominated AAA and was borderline to bad in the majors), or a guy like Nick McCully or Tony Pena Jr or the like (who dominates AA or maybe does OK in AAA but hasn't seen the majors)? Neither are real starters in the majors, but I'd rather have Axe as my 7/8 guy.

 

As the season goes on, if a real SP prospect comes along and needs the AAA slot, you can send Axe packing.

 

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:25 AM)
Where Bassitt goes depends on what they think his role is going forward. If he is still a starter, he'll likely start the season in B-Ham, then go up to Charlotte if he does well and a slot opens up.

 

If he is a reliever long-term (which he may be, and which he actually prefers doing), I could see him going to Charlotte to start the season and being a mid-season call-up to Chicago if he does well there.

 

 

Axelrod does have value, in the role he's set for. Basically, would you rather have Axelrod (who dominated AAA and was borderline to bad in the majors), or a guy like Nick McCully or Tony Pena Jr or the like (who dominates AA or maybe does OK in AAA but hasn't seen the majors)? Neither are real starters in the majors, but I'd rather have Axe as my 7/8 guy.

 

As the season goes on, if a real SP prospect comes along and needs the AAA slot, you can send Axe packing.

Axe has value as long as he is not taking the mound for the White Sox. Other than that, I really don't see how McCully or Pena would be worse. For the first 2 months last year, Dylan wasn't bad, but then the league caught up to him and surpassed him significantly. He was hit hard and often.

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:39 AM)
I have always wondered why having someone around you hope you never have to use and if he's used he will most likely be terrible is considered "depth".

 

My definition of depth would only include useful players.

 

Reality just called and mentioned that no one is able to store a bunch of extra major league ready pitchers in the minors.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:30 AM)
Reality just called and mentioned that no one is able to store a bunch of extra major league ready pitchers in the minors.

There are plenty of pitchers the White Sox have they think will be major league pitchers. If you want to use reality, reality says if Dylan Axelrod pitches in the major leagues for your team, he is going to get hit hard.

 

If you need an emergency pitcher for a game or 2, I would rather have it be someone with decent stuff and a 5.00 ERA in Charlotte who teams haven't seen before than Dylan Axelrod at this point. Once he went around the league and teams had seen him, he truly was throwing glorified BP.

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Well at least with Axe you know what you are gonna get. You could win the game with a good offensive night, or he might surprise you with a gem. That's better than thinking a guy will respond well to the show and then gives up 15 runs (Arnie Munoz)

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QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:38 AM)
Well at least with Axe you know what you are gonna get. You could win the game with a good offensive night, or he might surprise you with a gem. That's better than thinking a guy will respond well to the show and then gives up 15 runs (Arnie Munoz)

He surprised us with gems in May. Then June and familiarity came. He had a good start vs. Seattle, but that isn't very unique, and then the roof caved in.

 

In his last 58 1/3 innings, he gave up 102 hits 52 ER, 22 BB, 32 K and 17 HR.

 

No one was too upset when the Sox didn't offer him a contract. Now he becomes "depth".

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:50 AM)
He surprised us with gems in May. Then June and familiarity came. He had a good start vs. Seattle, but that isn't very unique, and then the roof caved in.

 

In his last 58 1/3 innings, he gave up 102 hits 52 ER, 22 BB, 32 K and 17 HR.

 

No one was too upset when the Sox didn't offer him a contract. Now he becomes "depth".

 

He's John Ely.

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:56 AM)
Didn't Phil Rogers constantly cry about the Sox letting Ely get away? Then he just stopped.

 

His first few starts with the Dodgers were incredible. Through his first 7 starts, he put up a 2.54 ERA in 46 innings. People were complaining on here that the Sox had let a stud get away for Juan Pierre. Plus the gave up Jon Link or something too.

 

Over his next 11 starts, he threw 54 innings and put up an ERA of 8.00, and he's pitched 15.1 innings in the majors since 2010.

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 03:50 PM)
He surprised us with gems in May. Then June and familiarity came. He had a good start vs. Seattle, but that isn't very unique, and then the roof caved in.

 

In his last 58 1/3 innings, he gave up 102 hits 52 ER, 22 BB, 32 K and 17 HR.

 

No one was too upset when the Sox didn't offer him a contract. Now he becomes "depth".

 

We are talking about an 8th starter.

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QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 10:17 AM)
We are talking about an 8th starter.

 

I think it's closer to 10th best, but the reason you add him is so you can call him up and not worry if you ultimately end up losing him on waivers while not burning options for guys like Beck or Snodgress.

 

Basically, if they need a guy for 1 start, and he just so happens to be fresh for the start, you can call him up. It's about a 1% chance that he is even used this year. I do agree with Dick that it's pretty empty depth.

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:50 AM)
He surprised us with gems in May. Then June and familiarity came. He had a good start vs. Seattle, but that isn't very unique, and then the roof caved in.

 

In his last 58 1/3 innings, he gave up 102 hits 52 ER, 22 BB, 32 K and 17 HR.

 

No one was too upset when the Sox didn't offer him a contract. Now he becomes "depth".

 

He has always been depth. That is the entire point of a minor league system. These are guys that either aren't as good as the guys who you are in the big club, or they aren't ready yet.

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QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 04:19 PM)
I think it's closer to 10th best, but the reason you add him is so you can call him up and not worry if you ultimately end up losing him on waivers while not burning options for guys like Beck or Snodgress.

 

Basically, if they need a guy for 1 start, and he just so happens to be fresh for the start, you can call him up. It's about a 1% chance that he is even used this year. I do agree with Dick that it's pretty empty depth.

And also a guy who you are confident can get you to 5-6 innings so you don't burn your bullpen for the next week. Whether that 5-6 innings gives up 5-6 runs as well is not terrible. You probably give yourself a 30% chance to win while preserving a higher percentage chance to win in future games that week.

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Axe seems like a decent guy and frankly a guy with his ability making it to the major leagues seems to indicate he knows a little bit about pitching. I also defended him last year when he was pitching pretty well and people were up in arms Santiago wasn't getting his starts. The clock, however, has struck midnight on his major league career and he's back to being a pumpkin. Maybe in AAA, like Balta mentioned, he can help guys become better, and maybe he has a career as a pitching coach in his future. Just hope the Sox don't need him to pitch for them ever again unless you have seats in the OF and need a souvenier.

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QUOTE (PorkChopExpress @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 06:27 AM)
Maybe the brass doesn't expect them all to be there to start the season. Surkamp, Rienzo, Leesman, Castro, Bassitt and/or Snodgress would all make nice pieces in a trade.

I as well expect to see Leesman and Castro as pen pieces going forward. Stewart's presence should not be allowed to inhibit ANYone's placement.

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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:39 AM)
I have always wondered why having someone around you hope you never have to use and if he's used he will most likely be terrible is considered "depth".

 

My definition of depth would only include useful players.

From Axelrod's stand point, there are worse jobs than pitching and living in Charlotte. Beats having to work for a living.

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