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White Sox Season Over; Time to Talk Draft

Tiny by larry on

we're getting close to the draft now and coverage will be coming out in earnest. figure it's time to have a spot to talk the draft a bit and let people get familiar with some of the names who will be bandied about for the sox at the 8th spot. (if you agree, please 'recommend' this post and it will stick near the top and i'll promise to update it with more coverage over the coming days/weeks. if the diary, er, fanpost gets too many comments in it, I'll create another fanpost to continue discussion).

to start things off, here is john sickels' top college hitters and pitchers lists.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/5/6/481389/top-college-hitters-for-th

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/5/8/482628/top-college-pitchers-in-th

and here's a link to a mock draft currently ongoing at his site, as well.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/5/7/482037/milb-mock-draft-pick-21-de

college ball blog; direct link to draft coverage:

http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/category/mlb-draft/

baseball america's draft site

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/

milb's 2008 draft reports (with videos)

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp

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I'd be very happy with any of his 7-8-9 rankings

though not so much with the mock choice of a RH HS pitcher.
Your opinion requested:
Is the hitting in this draft deeper than usual (or recent memory), or am I just not used to seeing the Sox with this high a pick?

"Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before."

by Chiburb on May 6, 2008 12:57 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

my opinion, for whatever it's worth

is that the draft overall is a little deeper than usual. maybe not so much premium talent (or at least guys viewed that way) as others but the talent is better at 5-12 or whatever than usual. which is good for the sox.

i think there is definitely a deeper group of college hitters. perhaps overall, as well.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 1:10 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and that last sentence was addressing your question

as in “perhaps in hitters overall, as well”

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 1:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hey, who needs hitting?

I want pitchers that don’t necessitate keeping 52% of our ML roster as pitchers. If the guys could carry their weight, already, maybe we wouldn’t need 13 on the parent club.

;)

I took the "under".

by winningugly on May 6, 2008 4:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If Javier Vazquez would just do his job...

and allow negative runs, the Sox wouldn’t be in this mess.

The bum.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on May 6, 2008 4:21 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

so far this year, the blue jays staff, feisty.

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 6, 2008 4:24 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Sudden Sam McDowell.

Never trust a big butt and a smile.
Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on May 6, 2008 5:48 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

that's right

but who was the best at disallowing positive runs?

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 5:50 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Catfish Hunter?

Never trust a big butt and a smile.
Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on May 6, 2008 5:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

you're on a roll, feisty.

want to hear the story about how yaz and i invented the george foreman grill before george foreman?

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 5:53 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You're a liar, Hawk

Yaz never actually let you look at him, much less talk to him.

Never trust a big butt and a smile.
Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on May 6, 2008 5:54 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

but he probably did let hawk cook him up some \sasssssages.

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 6, 2008 5:55 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Posey

Why, if Posey is ranked #2 on his top college hitters does he have him going 13th?

Given the lack of depth in Catcher on the Sox, a + hitting, +fielding Catcher prospect seems like a great, and obvious, choice.

If any of those position players can fall to the Sox, they’d better take them!

I’d scream if they took another pitcher, especially a HS pitcher, no matter how good he was.

"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 May 6, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

oh. well that's a lot of bunk.

"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 May 6, 2008 1:20 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

many would say posey at #2 is a lot of bunk

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 1:22 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

fyi: larry's posted this at 12:49

I didn’t see it at the diaries and posted my ‘John Sickels: Top College Hitters for the 2008 Draft’ fanshot

so I updated the timestamp at larry’s post to put it on top…

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 2:35 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

coward!

where’s the game thread? Working on it?

Calling for rain at 7:00 btw (scroll to hour-by-hour):

http://www.wbbm780.com/topic/weather.php

"Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before."

by Chiburb on May 6, 2008 2:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Rain? oh oh - might hold back the crowd tonight

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 2:44 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

no gamethread tonight

scheduler’s on strike

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 2:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Technoquestion:

Are you on the same servers as DK? With the primaries over around game time, we may see some instability (if so)...

"Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before."

by Chiburb on May 6, 2008 3:01 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

not an authority

but I think not from what I’ ve heard from cheat

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 3:13 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i feel violated

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 2:54 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

was that you?

and I thought it was a blowup doll!

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 2:56 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i got BAed

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 2:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I heard he was nuttin' honey

"Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before."

by Chiburb on May 6, 2008 2:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If anything

We should draft Joshua Fields, rhp, Georgia because of his name…

by PaulieK14 on May 6, 2008 3:23 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Poppy Fields might be more enjoyable

"Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before."

by Chiburb on May 6, 2008 3:32 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I am hoping for a position player in the first round.

My guess is that Tampa Bay will take Alvarez and worry about his position later. The Pirates’ pick will be a test to see if the new front office will differ much from the Littlefield regime. At least one pitcher (Crow) ought to place in the top 5 somewhere, and the White Sox will have a shot at a hitter.
1. Alvarez. Even with the subpar season, it is hard to see him falling far. My best guess is Tampa Bay takes him #1.
2. Tim Beckham.
3. Smoak. Once the Sox started winning late last season, I clung to hope that they wouldn’t reduce their draft position too much to lose out on Smoak. I think there’s still a chance he will fall.
4. Posey.
5. Alonso.
6. Gordon Beckham.

If everyone on the list is off the board by the time the Sox pick, I wouldn’t be mad if the best available pitcher is taken.

by asinwreck on May 6, 2008 3:29 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Governor grants Uribe stay of execution...

Cowley

Juan Uribe is still alive and well. Looks like the rumors flying around the clubhouse after Monday’s loss were only felt by the players.

At least three members of the team had heard it would be “black Tuesday.”

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 6, 2008 5:56 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

this is certainly becoming more than a draft diary

why do they keep playing with our emotions like this?

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 5:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

what else would you expect from the biggest joke in baseball?

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 6, 2008 6:00 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

stop flip-flopping, larry. two posts ago you said you loved all of these uribe fat jokes.

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 6, 2008 6:04 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

evan meek from rotoworld

Pirates designated RHP Evan Meek for assignment.

Meek allowed 12 walks and 10 earned runs in 13 innings for the Pirates. The Rule-5 pick will be returned to the Rays if he clears waivers, as he should.

i think we should put in a claim for this guy.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 6:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

milb's 2008 draft reports

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 6:14 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Thanks for the minor league draft rundowns

You folks do a great job trying to give us the necessary information to beat up Ozzie.

by floridajim on May 6, 2008 7:02 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Talk about your contrary indicator, larry

When larry says something is over, bet the other way…

;)

I took the "under".

by winningugly on May 7, 2008 8:29 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

here's a piece on boras

http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/04/07/borasclientprice/

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 7, 2008 12:54 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

OMG!!!

don’t draft a pitcher at #8

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 7, 2008 7:12 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

#8

does not exactly have a storied history.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?overall_pick=8&draft_type=junreg

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 7, 2008 7:35 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Helton

and….Inky?

Sheesh.

I took the "under".

by winningugly on May 7, 2008 7:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

we'll change that!

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 7, 2008 7:46 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If Smoak falls to us @ 8

and he turns out to be ANYTHING like Todd Helton, I would be ECSTATIC about Konerko’s eventual replacement

by PaulieK14 on May 7, 2008 7:47 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

you'd be ECSTATIC about having a player ANYTHING like todd helton

don’t overdo it there, paulie.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 8, 2008 10:25 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

is this a personal vendetta against me?

what is wrong with the comment i made? does it “overdo it” because of the capital letters?

by PaulieK14 on May 8, 2008 11:21 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

part of it is the caps

but mostly it’s also quite an understatement that you’d be happy with a player like todd helton. kind of goes without saying.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 8, 2008 11:33 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

is this Larry Vanover

and you didn’t like the way Konerko was arguing balls and strikes in a game? Jesus, it’s a comment about 1 player compared to a possible future HOF’er. I’m sorry if i stated the obvious and next time i’ll “go without saying” instead of littering you Fanpost with my “understated comments.”

by PaulieK14 on May 8, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

it's just funny, paulie. lighten up.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 8, 2008 11:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

gonzo white sox draft update

By Mark Gonzales – 9:13 a.m.

General manager Ken Williams plans to accompany the White Sox on their 10-game trip after spending several weekends scouting top amateur players in preparation for next month’s draft.

It’s a very important draft for the Sox, who draft eighth overall but don’t have a second-round selection.

Baseball America recently posted its latest draft tracker and ranks University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham as the eighth best player in the draft.

Given the Sox’s penchant for drafting college pitchers, there are three other intriguing possibilities. Two are Fresno State’s Tanner Scheppers and Tulane’s Shooter Hunt, who are ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, by Baseball America.

Eastern Kentucky left-hander Christian Friedrich, a former Loyola Academy standout, is ranked 14th. Stanford’s left-handed hitting catcher Jason Castro, the nephew of Sox farm director Alan Regier, was ranked 27th.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/05/draft-update.html

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Keith Law's top 60 prospects list for the June draft
NO. PLAYER POS. SCHOOL
1 Tim Beckham SS Griffin (Ga.) H.S.
2 Buster Posey C Florida State
3 Justin Smoak 1B South Carolina
4 Pedro Alvarez 3B Vanderbilt
5 Eric Hosmer 1B American Heritage H.S. (Plantation, Fla.)
6 Aaron Crow RHP Missouri
7 Gordon Beckham SS Georgia
8 Brian Matusz RHP San Diego
9 Tanner Scheppers RHP Fresno State
10 Gerrit Cole RHP Lutheran H.S. (Orange, Calif.)
...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2008/news/story?id=3388073


hat-tip MLBTR

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2008 4:38 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

matusz is a

LHP

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

jordan danks is number 0 on law's list

you know, before 1

:p

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2008 5:02 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

KW may draft him

but at 86, not 8. people need to stop reading draft reports from 2005.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 9, 2008 5:08 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

speaking of jd
Other Interesting College Hitters for the 2008 Draft
...
Jordan Danks, OF, Texas: Hitting .317/.443/.532 with 14 steals, 38 walks, 38 strikeouts in 186 at-bats, OPS about +24 percent compared to context. People keep expecting him to hit for power given his frame and strength, but even if it doesn’t happen, his speed, defense, and on-base ability should get him to the Show. I have him as a second-round target for my Shadow Twins.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/5/9/506686/other-interesting-college

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2008 5:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

better CF

but yeah.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 9, 2008 7:01 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

BA's top 30

1 Pedro Alvarez 3b Vanderbilt 1 1
2 Tim Beckham ss Griffin (Ga.) HS
3 Brian Matusz lhp San Diego
4 Buster Posey c Florida State
5Aaron Crow rhp Missouri
6 Eric Hosmer 1b American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.
7 Justin Smoak 1b South Carolina
8 Gordon Beckham ss Georgia
9 Tanner Scheppers rhp Fresno State
10 Shooter Hunt rhp Tulane

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-dish/2008/266044.html

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 9, 2008 4:41 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

for brothers, those two beckham shortstops sure don't look an awful lot alike.

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 9, 2008 4:49 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

different mothers

which means their power potential could be quite different.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 9, 2008 4:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs <