The White Sox would like you to lower your draft expectations

by The Cheat on Sep 25, 2007 12:02 AM CDT in Draft

After briefly flashing to the lead as they made the turn for home, the White Sox have removed themselves from the money in the Pedro Alvarez Derby. They won't even show or place. Their hot September -- "hot" is a relative term -- has them staring down a 2008 draft pick somewhere in the 4-10 range, a position the Sox haven't found themselves in since 1990 when they selected Alex Fernandez 4th overall.

In fact, the last 4 times the White Sox have selected in the top 10 they've made some famously fabulous draft picks; Fernandez (4th overall in 1990), Frank Thomas (7th overall in 1989), Robin Ventura (10th overall in 1988), and Jack McDowell (5th overall in 1987).

Faced with the daunting task of being expected to produce a similar talent from the upcoming draft, the White Sox dispatched their online mouthpiece to lower your expectations.

Let's see what he had to say.

Remember Mark Merchant? How about Ty Griffin or Jeff Jackson?

Nope, vaguely, and nope. Congratulations, you achieved your desired intent.

What do those picks have to do with the White Sox or 2008 draft? Merkin explains the connection (to the White Sox at least) after a thousand words about how the draft is a crapshoot, an expensive crapshoot. Of course, I looked it up before I even reached paragraph two...

Merchant was the 2nd overall pick (ahead of McDowell) for the Pirates in '87, Griffin was the 9th overall pick (one ahead of Ventura) for the Cubs in '88, and Jackson was 4th overall pick (ahead of Thomas) for the Phillies in '89, in case you were wondering]

When Merkin finally lets loose the identities of the mystery men, it's almost as if he's saying, "Hey, it's OK. The Sox have been here before. They'll make the right choice."

They better.

Not mentioned in the article is the fact that the White Sox will most likely lose their second round pick when they pick up a 'Type A' free agent this off-season in an attempt to make a run at mediocrity. The Sox will have zero departing 'Type A' free agents -- not that they would have offered them arbitration anyways (they've let the last three walk without compensation) -- likely leaving them with just 2 picks in the top 100 for the second year in a row.

So do you're homework White Sox. By the time the draft rolls around, you'll have known for a year that you were going to have a top 10 pick. You should have the budget to sign anyone you want thanks to the money saved by losing your second round pick. I expect to be wowed by your new devotion to higher-ceilinged players and new dedication to scouting.

I'm expecting nothing but the best. No, I'm accepting nothing but the best, no matter how many cautionary tales I hear.

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Comments

Gonzo got the same memo

Money talks for top picks

This is only the beginning of the campaign for Jordan Danks.

Quit crying poor, and start identifying the top Amateur talent.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 25, 2007 12:55 AM CDT reply actions

From Gonzalez

The Sox would have an interesting situation if they keep Joe Crede and Josh Fields for 2008 and Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez is available. Ditto with Paul Konerko and Jim Thome if power-hitting South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak is on the draft board.

What? Why would there be an "interesting situation"? I know what he's insinuating, and it really makes no sense at all. Yes -- if the Sox were blessed with the opportunity to draft Alvarez, they should think long and hard about it because of Joe Crede and Josh Fields.

by CWSKeith on Sep 25, 2007 1:12 AM CDT reply actions

as we've discussed before

thome is gone by the time smoak is here. konerko is in the last year of his deal and is DHing. crede has absolutely no bearing on alvarez. he will likely be gone by the time the sox sign, let alone draft, their pick. and fields obviously can be moved.

how do these journalists get and keep their jobs?

You play to lose the game. Hello? You don't play it just to play it. When you start tellin' me it doesn't matter, then retire. Get out! 'Cause it matters.

by larry on Sep 25, 2007 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

We are going to submarine our team years from now

The gap between the knows and know nots is shrinking rapidly (Huckaby's declaration standing as notice) and then it's on to biomechanics, pitch-by-pitch, injury prevention and expansive scouting (into the lower college divisions and more especially latin america and asia). The former three will not likely (imo) generate a find along OBP lines, though it will save dollars with the players you do have and scout.

Scouting, as we are already seeing, will be the big difference. And we're choosing specifically to not invest in this high reward relatively low cost arena. All for the sake of staying on Bud's good side? Ugh. Great.

CHOO!! CHOO!!

by colintj on Sep 25, 2007 1:33 AM CDT reply actions

I'm coming around on Smoak...

Though I really don't favor many college hitters... He does play against some really good pitchers in the SEC and I feel a lefty 1B is quite a find.

I would be proud to have a fellow S. Carolina alum on the Sox.

Even if Alvarez would benefit us more.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Sep 25, 2007 7:37 AM CDT reply actions

I thought Borchard was a top 10?

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Sep 25, 2007 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

Nope.

12th overall.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Sep 25, 2007 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks Jerry

time to go back to Halo 3 and let it own my life for today

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Sep 25, 2007 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

We need to keep an open mind about pitchers.

If we wind up drafting in the 5-8 range we may miss the best college bats. If so, we can't be afraid of taking the best player available, pitcher or not. Yes we desperately need position players, but if Brian Matusz (the no. 1 ranked college pitcher) falls to us we need to take him.

He's the kind of guy that could make MLB in a year like Lincecum or Weaver. Then you're really creating a situation where you could trade all 3 of your non-Buerhle pitchers for position prospects. Buerhle, Danks, Matusz, Gio, Floyd/Egbert/DLS starting rotation.

by bhoov on Sep 25, 2007 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

I've said it before...

but it bears repeating.

Best. Available. Talent. Even if it's a pitcher. The Sox don't have the luxury of being able to be choosy. Their system is a mess.

If the guy they have doesn't fit on the major-league roster for whatever reason, the Sox can make a trade.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Sep 25, 2007 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

We need elite talent, stat.

And even if we obviously need more help on the position player side of the ledger, you're still exactly right. We need someone that will more than compensate for holes elsewhere.

CHOO!! CHOO!!

by colintj on Sep 26, 2007 3:35 AM CDT up reply actions