The 2017 White Sox

[bmags]

I've been thinking a lot recently about this now that we have basically bought 2 years of competitiveness without sending out much in terms of our key prospects.

 

For 2007-2011, the sox "retooled" instead of rebuild and bought years like this, and we hoped it would bide time for a wave of talent to come in.

 

Unfortunately at that time they had only begun the steps of building a real scout system and emphasis on the draft.

 

But Hahn spent the 2013 offseason sending out our established talent for MLB ready young talent.

 

It's here where I'm worried that we still have a high margin of error and that we are not making up in volume. Below I'm identifying the prospects who in 2015 we can ill afford to fail, and which would provide the biggest benefit if they can turn it around.

 

Here is our 2017 ceteris paribus make-up. Note, I'm pretty much exclusively talking about position players for reasons I get to later. Left blank if no

 

C-

1B -

2B - Micah Johnson

SS - Tim Anderson

3B - Matt Davidson

RF - Avasail Garcia

CF - Adam Eaton

LF - Courtney Hawkins

 

Of the acquired talent, we have 1 player in Eaton who we are fairly certain is at least a future starter. We have one other, in Tim Anderson, who is seen as a can't miss prospect with All-Star potential.

 

Then we have the rest. Avisail, to this point, is young and talented. However, he's shown to be a bad defensive outfielder, which puts tremendous pressure on him to be an offensive force. I'm nervous. We have a full season's worth of ABs from him, and they are ... pretty average. He is essentially the next closest thing we have to a close to sure thing for a starter.

 

The next level - Micah Johnson had an unspectacular 2014 but has huge support in our system. A disasterous 2015 from him really hurts the sox ability to provide cost-controlled talent in position players to afford latter year Sale contracts.

 

Courtney Hawkins has bee terrible and then improved but still not good after a great 2013. He will have an age caveat for a few more seasons, however, I can think of no other positional prospect who would provide greater relief if they succeed than him. For me, I'm assuming he continues to flail but am continuing to hold out hope.

 

Matt Davidson - Davidson at this point is pretty much written off. His resurgence would again provide Sox with huge slack for the years after our vets are gone. 3rd baseman are just too hard to find. I remain scared though, that even if his bat arrives, we learn he can't hang at 3b.

 

We have a next level of prospects in May/Rondon/Thompson/Saladino that could explode this year, but have their flaws and are less likely to hit. Behind them are your Adolfo's, Trey's, Fish, etc that are far enough off that we would expect them closer to 2018/2019 and may be such sure thing's at that point these worries will be put to bed.

 

But to me this seems like the crucial year. We thought our young talent would hit in 2016. That's a year away. This is crunch time here, this is where the talent either asserts itself or fizzles away. This year is going to be a ton of fun as sox fans to follow the majors and minors to see where this franchise can go.

[NorthSideSox72]

Well let's start with this. Here is the latest Top 25 in the system, which was mid-season before recent trades (so no Ynoa or Garcia, but also you'll have to ignore Bassitt, Ravelo.

 

1. Carlos Rodon

2. Tim Anderson

3. Micah Johnson

4. Courtney Hawkins

5. Spencer Adams

6. Francellis Montas

7. Matt Davidson

8. Tyler Danish

9. Carlos Sanchez

10. Rangel Ravelo

11. Trey Michalczewski

12. Micker Adolfo

13. Chris Beck

14. Cleuluis Rondon

15. Jacob May

16. Jace Fry

17. Trayce Thompson

18. Kevan Smith

19. Andy Wilkins

20. Scott Snodgress

21. Keon Barnum

22. Adam Engel

23. Tyler Saladino

24. Jordan Guerrero

25. James Dykstra

 

Others who got votes: Chris Bassitt, Mike Recchia, Brett Austin, Jefferson Olacio, Jason Coats, Antonio Rodriguez, Jake Jarvis, Luis Martinez, Taylor Thompson, Andrew Mitchell, Kyle Hansen, Omar Narvaez, JB Wendelken, Andre Wheeler

 

Also bear in mind this list doesn't include guys outside Prospect status technically but that are younger guys who are likely to be a part of the future, i.e. Erik Johnson.

 

[bmags]

Well let's start with this. Here is the latest Top 25 in the system, which was mid-season before recent trades (so no Ynoa or Garcia, but also you'll have to ignore Bassitt, Ravelo.

 

1. Carlos Rodon

2. Tim Anderson

3. Micah Johnson

4. Courtney Hawkins

5. Spencer Adams

6. Francellis Montas

7. Matt Davidson

8. Tyler Danish

9. Carlos Sanchez

10. Rangel Ravelo

11. Trey Michalczewski

12. Micker Adolfo

13. Chris Beck

14. Cleuluis Rondon

15. Jacob May

16. Jace Fry

17. Trayce Thompson

18. Kevan Smith

19. Andy Wilkins

20. Scott Snodgress

21. Keon Barnum

22. Adam Engel

23. Tyler Saladino

24. Jordan Guerrero

25. James Dykstra

 

Others who got votes: Chris Bassitt, Mike Recchia, Brett Austin, Jefferson Olacio, Jason Coats, Antonio Rodriguez, Jake Jarvis, Luis Martinez, Taylor Thompson, Andrew Mitchell, Kyle Hansen, Omar Narvaez, JB Wendelken, Andre Wheeler

 

Also bear in mind this list doesn't include guys outside Prospect status technically but that are younger guys who are likely to be a part of the future, i.e. Erik Johnson.

 

I focused exclusively on positional prospects, as I see us being forced to trade away pitching talent if this near MLB crop flames out.

 

I guess what I'm seeing is 2015 is a make or break year in that respect, as this is the talent we accrued when we identified a rebuild. This is wave 1, and wave 2 has a gap behind it.

[witesoxfan]

I don't think there's anyone I can say that can't fail for any reason whatsoever (as in, there's no failproof prospect but there's also no one the Sox couldn't do something to make up for a busted prospect), but there is also no way I can say that the Sox could afford to have fail.

 

Frankly, all the Sox can do is to keep adding young talent, promoting those that are successful and giving struggling prospects enough time, and then repeating that process. It's not an easy thing, but I feel much better about this team now than I did 1 year ago or 4 months ago.

[bmags]

That's true, but that talent eventually needs to hit. We are seeing our first wave of young position prospects come up this year, or hit AAA this year. Eventually we need these guys to hit, because we know where buying all of your talent can get you.

 

Obviously this is relative, Sox could survive Anderson busting, but for the team to be in the beginning of prolonged success, a cost-controlled short stop would be gigantic to help with that.

[witesoxfan]

That's true, but that talent eventually needs to hit. We are seeing our first wave of young position prospects come up this year, or hit AAA this year. Eventually we need these guys to hit, because we know where buying all of your talent can get you.

 

Obviously this is relative, Sox could survive Anderson busting, but for the team to be in the beginning of prolonged success, a cost-controlled short stop would be gigantic to help with that.

 

Right, and I didn't want to imply that the Sox can get away with having a bad farm system or living on trading prospects away, because you simply can't do that long-term. The system looks better than it has previously and for the first time in like 10 or 15 years, we are going to see actual White Sox prospects come up and be plugged in as starters...to some extent.

[BaconOnAStick]

I am personally not ruling out Anderson showing up in the big league team on Opening Day 2016. The Sox are notoriously aggressive.

 

 

It obviously depends on how this season goes for him at Birmingham and Charlotte.

[ILMOU]

We'll be going for the three peat, while mixing in a little bit of new blood.

 

It'll be sweet.

 

I think Davidson is Mike Olt. Hopefully, this will be Trey's rookie year at 3b, though 2018 may be more likely.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Stan Bahnsen

[Boopa1219]

Wouldn't be surprised if Micker is knocking on the ML Team's door in 2017.

[southsider2k5]

Wouldn't be surprised if Micker is knocking on the ML Team's door in 2017.

 

I would be. The kid is a long way away.

[witesoxfan]

Wouldn't be surprised if Micker is knocking on the ML Team's door in 2017.

 

That would be Micker Adolfo in the majors in his age 20 season. I'd be incredibly surprised if he's up before 2019.

[southsider2k5]

That would be Micker Adolfo in the majors in his age 20 season. I'd be incredibly surprised if he's up before 2019.

 

For a kid who struggled at rookie ball in 2014.

[bmags]

I would definitely put Micker in the group who could struggle this year without raising red flags.

 

I kind of wanted to identify how we were in a crucial year in the minors for the first wave of talent the sox collected, and also figure out which prospects we can afford to have fail and which would hurt our future plans.

[Boopa1219]

For a kid who struggled at rookie ball in 2014.

 

Yes, Micker did struggle but his season was promising and a success when you consider the circumstances. Micker was a 17 year old kid last year playing pro ball, while the AZL is rookie ball that's still a challenge for any 17 year old as he had to face completion with more experience and polish than what he has ever faced. Micker did tail off at the end of the year but that can be contributed to exhaustion, he came from the showcase circuit of Latin America to playing a 30 game season with no off days. And before his end of the year exhaustion, Micker was on a tear. And if I remember correctly, he lead the league in HR with 5.

 

I assume that you haven't been following the Sox in the instructional league, if you had then you would have heard all the glowing reports back from Arizona regarding Micker and the progress that he has made. He has shorten his swing and made it more compact, while showing power to all fields and an ability to make more contact.

 

Micker is a legit superstar prospect in the making, he has a very high ceiling, maybe he highest in the system. Even if he struggles next year, it wouldn't hurt his development, as 2015 is his age 18 season.

 

I believe that Micker will be knocking on the Sox door sooner than most people think in 2017.

[southsider2k5]

Yes, Micker did struggle but his season was promising and a success when you consider the circumstances. Micker was a 17 year old kid last year playing pro ball, while the AZL is rookie ball that's still a challenge for any 17 year old as he had to face completion with more experience and polish than what he has ever faced. Micker did tail off at the end of the year but that can be contributed to exhaustion, he came from the showcase circuit of Latin America to playing a 30 game season with no off days. And before his end of the year exhaustion, Micker was on a tear. And if I remember correctly, he lead the league in HR with 5.

 

I assume that you haven't been following the Sox in the instructional league, if you had then you would have heard all the glowing reports back from Arizona regarding Micker and the progress that he has made. He has shorten his swing and made it more compact, while showing power to all fields and an ability to make more contact.

 

Micker is a legit superstar prospect in the making, he has a very high ceiling, maybe he highest in the system. Even if he struggles next year, it wouldn't hurt his development, as 2015 is his age 18 season.

 

I believe that Micker will be knocking on the Sox door sooner than most people think in 2017.

 

All of what you said is exactly why he isn't going to be in Chicago in 2017. If he isn't conditioned for 30 in a row, he sure isn't ready for 140 or 162.

[Chicago White Sox]

Wouldn't be surprised if Micker is knocking on the ML Team's door in 2017.

Is he he even going to play full season ball this year?

[NorthSideSox72]

Is he he even going to play full season ball this year?

Probably not. More likely he's in Great Falls, and if he does well there, maybe he sees a late season Kannapolis visit.

 

[oldsox]

Yes, Micker did struggle but his season was promising and a success when you consider the circumstances. Micker was a 17 year old kid last year playing pro ball, while the AZL is rookie ball that's still a challenge for any 17 year old as he had to face completion with more experience and polish than what he has ever faced. Micker did tail off at the end of the year but that can be contributed to exhaustion, he came from the showcase circuit of Latin America to playing a 30 game season with no off days. And before his end of the year exhaustion, Micker was on a tear. And if I remember correctly, he lead the league in HR with 5.

 

I assume that you haven't been following the Sox in the instructional league, if you had then you would have heard all the glowing reports back from Arizona regarding Micker and the progress that he has made. He has shorten his swing and made it more compact, while showing power to all fields and an ability to make more contact.

 

Micker is a legit superstar prospect in the making, he has a very high ceiling, maybe he highest in the system. Even if he struggles next year, it wouldn't hurt his development, as 2015 is his age 18 season.

 

I believe that Micker will be knocking on the Sox door sooner than most people think in 2017.

Josh, fill us in on Instructional League stats/comments.

[Boopa1219]

Josh, fill us in on Instructional League stats/comments.

 

Go through Fangraphs, Kiley McDaniel's twitter, Bill Mitchell, even the Sox did a couple write up on him on the website.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Josh, fill us in on Instructional League stats/comments.

 

 

I believe all of that info is posted in the Micker Adolfo thread.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Well let's start with this. Here is the latest Top 25 in the system, which was mid-season before recent trades (so no Ynoa or Garcia, but also you'll have to ignore Bassitt, Ravelo.

 

1. Carlos Rodon

2. Tim Anderson

3. Micah Johnson

4. Courtney Hawkins

5. Spencer Adams

6. Francellis Montas

7. Matt Davidson

8. Tyler Danish

9. Carlos Sanchez

10. Rangel Ravelo

11. Trey Michalczewski

12. Micker Adolfo

13. Chris Beck

14. Cleuluis Rondon

15. Jacob May

16. Jace Fry

17. Trayce Thompson

18. Kevan Smith

19. Andy Wilkins

20. Scott Snodgress

21. Keon Barnum

22. Adam Engel

23. Tyler Saladino

24. Jordan Guerrero

25. James Dykstra

 

Others who got votes: Chris Bassitt, Mike Recchia, Brett Austin, Jefferson Olacio, Jason Coats, Antonio Rodriguez, Jake Jarvis, Luis Martinez, Taylor Thompson, Andrew Mitchell, Kyle Hansen, Omar Narvaez, JB Wendelken, Andre Wheeler

 

Also bear in mind this list doesn't include guys outside Prospect status technically but that are younger guys who are likely to be a part of the future, i.e. Erik Johnson.

 

I think INF Jake Peter, and RHP Luis Martinez and Nolan Sanburn will be firmly in the top 20.

[Vance Law]

I've been thinking a lot recently about this now that we have basically bought 2 years of competitiveness without sending out much in terms of our key prospects.

 

For 2007-2011, the sox "retooled" instead of rebuild and bought years like this, and we hoped it would bide time for a wave of talent to come in.

 

Unfortunately at that time they had only begun the steps of building a real scout system and emphasis on the draft.

 

But Hahn spent the 2013 offseason sending out our established talent for MLB ready young talent.

 

It's here where I'm worried that we still have a high margin of error and that we are not making up in volume. Below I'm identifying the prospects who in 2015 we can ill afford to fail, and which would provide the biggest benefit if they can turn it around.

 

Here is our 2017 ceteris paribus make-up. Note, I'm pretty much exclusively talking about position players for reasons I get to later. Left blank if no

 

C-

1B -

2B - Micah Johnson

SS - Tim Anderson

3B - Matt Davidson

RF - Avasail Garcia

CF - Adam Eaton

LF - Courtney Hawkins

 

Of the acquired talent, we have 1 player in Eaton who we are fairly certain is at least a future starter. We have one other, in Tim Anderson, who is seen as a can't miss prospect with All-Star potential.

 

Then we have the rest. Avisail, to this point, is young and talented. However, he's shown to be a bad defensive outfielder, which puts tremendous pressure on him to be an offensive force. I'm nervous. We have a full season's worth of ABs from him, and they are ... pretty average. He is essentially the next closest thing we have to a close to sure thing for a starter.

 

The next level - Micah Johnson had an unspectacular 2014 but has huge support in our system. A disasterous 2015 from him really hurts the sox ability to provide cost-controlled talent in position players to afford latter year Sale contracts.

 

Courtney Hawkins has bee terrible and then improved but still not good after a great 2013. He will have an age caveat for a few more seasons, however, I can think of no other positional prospect who would provide greater relief if they succeed than him. For me, I'm assuming he continues to flail but am continuing to hold out hope.

 

Matt Davidson - Davidson at this point is pretty much written off. His resurgence would again provide Sox with huge slack for the years after our vets are gone. 3rd baseman are just too hard to find. I remain scared though, that even if his bat arrives, we learn he can't hang at 3b.

 

We have a next level of prospects in May/Rondon/Thompson/Saladino that could explode this year, but have their flaws and are less likely to hit. Behind them are your Adolfo's, Trey's, Fish, etc that are far enough off that we would expect them closer to 2018/2019 and may be such sure thing's at that point these worries will be put to bed.

 

But to me this seems like the crucial year. We thought our young talent would hit in 2016. That's a year away. This is crunch time here, this is where the talent either asserts itself or fizzles away. This year is going to be a ton of fun as sox fans to follow the majors and minors to see where this franchise can go.

 

Jose Abreu doesn't make the cut?

[bmags]

I wouldn't really consider him a prospect, and though his contract is a big bargain, he was another position we had to pay for.

[Boopa1219]

I believe all of that info is posted in the Micker Adolfo thread.

 

I should update that.

[Bob Sacamano]

I've been thinking a lot recently about this now that we have basically bought 2 years of competitiveness without sending out much in terms of our key prospects.

 

For 2007-2011, the sox "retooled" instead of rebuild and bought years like this, and we hoped it would bide time for a wave of talent to come in.

 

Unfortunately at that time they had only begun the steps of building a real scout system and emphasis on the draft.

 

But Hahn spent the 2013 offseason sending out our established talent for MLB ready young talent.

 

It's here where I'm worried that we still have a high margin of error and that we are not making up in volume. Below I'm identifying the prospects who in 2015 we can ill afford to fail, and which would provide the biggest benefit if they can turn it around.

 

Here is our 2017 ceteris paribus make-up. Note, I'm pretty much exclusively talking about position players for reasons I get to later. Left blank if no

 

C-

1B -

2B - Micah Johnson

SS - Tim Anderson

3B - Matt Davidson

RF - Avasail Garcia

CF - Adam Eaton

LF - Courtney Hawkins

 

Of the acquired talent, we have 1 player in Eaton who we are fairly certain is at least a future starter. We have one other, in Tim Anderson, who is seen as a can't miss prospect with All-Star potential.

 

Then we have the rest. Avisail, to this point, is young and talented. However, he's shown to be a bad defensive outfielder, which puts tremendous pressure on him to be an offensive force. I'm nervous. We have a full season's worth of ABs from him, and they are ... pretty average. He is essentially the next closest thing we have to a close to sure thing for a starter.

 

The next level - Micah Johnson had an unspectacular 2014 but has huge support in our system. A disasterous 2015 from him really hurts the sox ability to provide cost-controlled talent in position players to afford latter year Sale contracts.

 

Courtney Hawkins has bee terrible and then improved but still not good after a great 2013. He will have an age caveat for a few more seasons, however, I can think of no other positional prospect who would provide greater relief if they succeed than him. For me, I'm assuming he continues to flail but am continuing to hold out hope.

 

Matt Davidson - Davidson at this point is pretty much written off. His resurgence would again provide Sox with huge slack for the years after our vets are gone. 3rd baseman are just too hard to find. I remain scared though, that even if his bat arrives, we learn he can't hang at 3b.

 

We have a next level of prospects in May/Rondon/Thompson/Saladino that could explode this year, but have their flaws and are less likely to hit. Behind them are your Adolfo's, Trey's, Fish, etc that are far enough off that we would expect them closer to 2018/2019 and may be such sure thing's at that point these worries will be put to bed.

 

But to me this seems like the crucial year. We thought our young talent would hit in 2016. That's a year away. This is crunch time here, this is where the talent either asserts itself or fizzles away. This year is going to be a ton of fun as sox fans to follow the majors and minors to see where this franchise can go.

 

It will look nothing like that. Impossible to predict how an MLB roster will look in 2-3 years

Edited December 19, 2014 by soxfan2014