MnSoxFan

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 12, 2005 -> 11:28 PM) I wouldnt trade Owens either, he is the lead off guy of the future. Young is very talents, but he looks like Corey patterson and I sense a flop coming for whatever reason. I want to stick with Anderson because he will help us down the stretch and next year. But if the move puts us over the top to get to the WS, I will pack all of their bags for them. They do not all turn out like Korey Patterson, I want Young to get a shot, he could be a hitter like Alphonso Soriano with great wheels, and more desire and sounds like better ability to adapt. No way we should trade this kid before Sweeney or Anderson. I want to keep Owens too, I agree, could be our leadoff man in a few years.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 12, 2005 -> 02:57 PM) Great info, thanks for posting it. One thing the article didn't mention on Young ... his arm. As I understand it that's always been a drawback. However, watching him closely in Tucson, I didn't get the impression his arm was way below average. He doesn't have the cannon Sweeney has but it looked at least average to me. Well, one thing for sure ... when these other team's scouts are looking at White Sox prospects, you can bet they're looking at Chris Young. I would love to hang onto all these kids but I don't think it's possible. It was very interesting to note how his strikeout rate has slowed down. That's critical, it shows he's making adjustments. His arm cannot be worse than Lance Johnson's was, and he was a good CF

QUOTE(daa84 @ Jul 12, 2005 -> 02:43 PM) it is online...ill copy it http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/050708pulse.html Thanks, did not realize that, I thought I looked last night and it was not there yet.

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ Jul 12, 2005 -> 02:36 PM) A new Chris Young story, from the latest BA, fresh off the press (hardcopy, not online yet). I will just type it in, that is how good it is. They list a top breakout for World team and a top breakout for US team. Young won top breakout for US team. Chris Young, CF, White Sox. Athletic CFs in the Sox org will get compared to Mike Cameron. It jut happens because the Sox developed Cameron and continue to search for a replacement as dynamic as Cameron, though Aaron Rowand has certainly proved capable at the major league level. Still the Sox want another Cameron. Last year at low A Kannapolis, mgr Chris Cron threw the comparison at Young, particularly noting his Power/speed combination. Now managing Young at AA in Birmingham, Razor Shines is throwing the same words around. "I say he's Mike Cameron in waiting but with more power potential" said Shines, who knows Cameron has hit 167 Major League homers. "He has the same package and he is getting stronger every year. His legs were little skinny things when I first saw him, and now he's getting big and strong all over his body and his legs." "I think he's not just going to be a good player, I think he is going to be a dominant player at the Major League level." A recent hot streak in June was what convinced Shines. Young, 21, jumped over high A ball and was struggling with adjustments during the seasons first 2 months, striking out 63 times entering June in just 197 ABs. As he kept striking out, tho, he realized he needed to be more patient and lay off breaking balls out of the strike zone. As his pitch selection improved, his power exploded. He homered seven times in June (thru the 28th) and ranked 2nd in the Southern League behing Delmon Young in homers. Moreover, he had a 15-18 walk/strikeout ratio in Jone in 90 ABs, nearly halving his strikeout rate. He was batting .254-16-42, with a league leading 29 doubles as well as 14 SBs in 18 attempts (keep in mind their park is massive). Like Cameron, Young has premium defensive tools as well, Shines said. "I don't like to hype kids," Shines said, "but this kid is legitimate. He's getting better as he's facing quality arms in this league with quality breaking balls, and he's learning what he has to do against them. Once I saw how he stayed mentally when he was struggling, that told me he is going to be tremendous. He did not let the game beat him." There is also one on the quality Sox LHs, Liotta and Gio. Too long to type that one in. Anyone who does not agree Chris Young is the best prospect in our org right now is nuts.

A new Chris Young story, from the latest BA, fresh off the press (hardcopy, not online yet). I will just type it in, that is how good it is. They list a top breakout for World team and a top breakout for US team. Young won top breakout for US team. Chris Young, CF, White Sox. Athletic CFs in the Sox org will get compared to Mike Cameron. It jut happens because the Sox developed Cameron and continue to search for a replacement as dynamic as Cameron, though Aaron Rowand has certainly proved capable at the major league level. Still the Sox want another Cameron. Last year at low A Kannapolis, mgr Chris Cron threw the comparison at Young, particularly noting his Power/speed combination. Now managing Young at AA in Birmingham, Razor Shines is throwing the same words around. "I say he's Mike Cameron in waiting but with more power potential" said Shines, who knows Cameron has hit 167 Major League homers. "He has the same package and he is getting stronger every year. His legs were little skinny things when I first saw him, and now he's getting big and strong all over his body and his legs." "I think he's not just going to be a good player, I think he is going to be a dominant player at the Major League level." A recent hot streak in June was what convinced Shines. Young, 21, jumped over high A ball and was struggling with adjustments during the seasons first 2 months, striking out 63 times entering June in just 197 ABs. As he kept striking out, tho, he realized he needed to be more patient and lay off breaking balls out of the strike zone. As his pitch selection improved, his power exploded. He homered seven times in June (thru the 28th) and ranked 2nd in the Southern League behing Delmon Young in homers. Moreover, he had a 15-18 walk/strikeout ratio in Jone in 90 ABs, nearly halving his strikeout rate. He was batting .254-16-42, with a league leading 29 doubles as well as 14 SBs in 18 attempts (keep in mind their park is massive). Like Cameron, Young has premium defensive tools as well, Shines said. "I don't like to hype kids," Shines said, "but this kid is legitimate. He's getting better as he's facing quality arms in this league with quality breaking balls, and he's learning what he has to do against them. Once I saw how he stayed mentally when he was struggling, that told me he is going to be tremendous. He did not let the game beat him."

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 09:19 PM) I think Sweeney is a little high. I also think Young should be higher and guys like Egbert should be there. Haeger, Malone, Jenks, Egbert, Wasserman, Cook, J Hanson, Harrell, Getz, Schnurstein all could be candidates.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jul 5, 2005 -> 04:16 AM) I'll say this. You're missing out if you're not relying on stats. Similarly, you're missing out if you're relying on them solely. You need to have a good mix of both personal observation that doesn't rely on results. (example: Tonight's game was actually the best I've seen of BMac since he's been up. The stats won't tell you that. 2 HR, 5 ER in 3IP is not a good line. But, he was keeping his fastball down, and spotting it pretty well (except for the one to Huff) He had a very nice breaking ball that he was dropping right on the outside corner low, but wasn't getting the call. In turn he elevated the breaking ball a little bit to get it called for strikes, and he hung a couple of those. He didn't throw enough change ups for my liking, and was two predictable with his pitch selection. i.e first pitch fastball. If he's throwing the change down in the zone first pitch he's going to have a lot of hitters off balance for the rest of the AB.) Well hell, he had 51 strikes in 68 pitches, and we are saying he was robbed of more???

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jul 5, 2005 -> 03:43 AM) I'll say this and only this, because I don't want to get into a "stats" argument. But what stats like BAPIP and others forget to evaluate is the human element of the game. In college, I became a better pitcher when I stopped trying to strike everybody out. Sure I gave up a few more hits, but I could go longer in games, got more double plays and my defense played better behind me when I worked fast and got ahead of hitters, and I walked less. I found that I could often get a guy to ground out to SS on the first pitch rather than have to go to 3-2 on him trying to strike him out. Numbers are useful in evaluating players, but you can never eliminate the human element. Some guys are just better under pressure. Some guys crumble when their defense makes errors behind them. Other guys get tougher so they can pick up the teammate that just made an error. Case in point.... Game tied 1-1 in the 5th inning.... Pitcher A gets the first two outs of an inning and then the SS makes an error allowing the next hitter to reach first. The pitcher is upset and shaken because he knows he should be out of the inning. The next guy bloops a pitch to RF for a lucky single and now we have men on 1B and 3B. Pitcher A is seething inside at this point, knowing he is now in trouble and has to face the other team's #3 hitter and he has done nothing wrong. Said # 3 hitter promptly hits a 3-run blast and the game is now 4-1. Pitcher A's ERA still shows only one earned run, even though he will eventually get the loss. Pitcher B also gets the first two outs and the SS makes an error. Pitcher B looks his SS in the eye and tells him to make the next one, he'll pick him up. Pitcher B buckles down and makes a great pitch to get the next hitter and avoids any potential harm caused by the error. Pitcher B's ERA is affected the same as Pitcher A's, yet which pitcher would you rather have? What stats are going to tell me that Pitcher B did his job better than Pitcher A, other than HR's allowed?? My only point is not to forget the human side of the game and use stats to support that. Stats cannot tell the whole story, I don't care what Billy Beane says. Nice description. Also, less Ks normally the less pitches. Get the Ks when you need em. We do not want a bunch of guys like Cubs throwing 120 pitches so they can K 10 guys.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 05:18 PM) I thought Tracey had better 'stuff' than he's showing. I realize the walk total is always gonna be high (almost a half a walk per inning), but only 68K's in 97 IP? That's not very encouraging... Pitching is not about strike outs.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 2, 2005 -> 04:37 AM) Ok, I will take this task on tonite, seeing as I'm sitting here suffering through a 9 walk performance by the White Sox. Charlotte puts up a 4 spot in the 8th and wins 7-5. Gload 3-5 with a HR, Brian Anderson was 2-3 with two walks, and some guy named Guerrero played 2B and went 3-4. Adkins survives a rocky first inning and throws 6 1/3. Bajenaru with the save, one inning of work, he gives up 2 hits but K's 2. Box score: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...pawaaa_chraaa_1 Birmingham wins 8-7 with two hits each for Owens, Rogowski, Josh Fields, and Sweeney with a triple. Not so hot pitching, Corwin Malone gives up 10 hits in 4 1/3, looks like a nice outing for Jenks though ... 1.1 innings, 2 K's. Rogowski is hittting .332 Box: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...monaax_biraax_1 Down to Winston-Salem - they lose 4-3 by giving up 4 in the 8th, ouch. Valido 1-3 plus two walks. Frazer Dizard gave up 3 hits and 3 earned runs in 1/3 inning: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...salafx_wswafx_1 Kannapolis was rained out. Great Falls wins 4-0, they have taken two in a row. Brandon Allen 1-4, Fransisco Hernandez (catcher) 1-3 with a double and a walk, 3B Brandon Johnson goes 2-3. Great Falls pitching was outstanding, they gave up 1 hit. Lefthander Clayton Richard from the 2005 draft goes 5 innings with 6 K's to get the win, and very nice outings by relievers Israel Chirino and Ryan Rote, also both from this draft. Box: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...misrok_grfrok_1 And lastly, Bristol wins 12-6. BriSox pitching struck out 17, wow. Ricky Brooks had 6 in three innings worked, Tim Sabo had 5 in two IP. On the offensive side, OF Aaron Cunningham continues his hot start, he goes 3-6, Salvador Sanchez goes 3-4 with 2 rbi's. 3B Chris Carter was 3-5 with a double. Box: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...brlrok_brirok_1 Whew. How about Daniel Cortes last night, much better, 3 Ks in his one inning.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jun 30, 2005 -> 03:50 AM) Good article. I don't think the all of big 4 are untouchable. BMac and Sweeney are likely not going anywhere. Fields probably doesn't carry too much value with his recent struggles, but I don't doubt KW would be willing to deal him. I personally think Anderson is up for trade. The outfield seems solid through at least 2006 barring a trade this offseason and he's going to be ready next year. An Anderson and Tracey package seems possible and should be attractive to other teams. I think if we have one untouchable in our org right now it is Chris Young. The kid skipped high A, and is looking at 30+ homers in AA in a big yard. He can play D, he runs, he can bunt, he Ks a lot but he also walks for a decent OBP. Most important, he has improved every year as he climbs up. That is the key to me. I think he is KW kind of player. I do not mind Ks as long as there are walks and other things to make up for it.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 1, 2005 -> 12:29 PM) I was thinking more in terms of the line of Rogo or Gload filling in at 1B for a year or two. Hell with that. If Kong is gone, lets go after Lyle Overbay, Fielder is taking over 1B for Brewers. Overbay would increase his power numbers at the Cell.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jun 30, 2005 -> 08:44 PM) ATO: Charlotte Moves, All-Star News, a Familiar Face, and More Ryan Wing claimed off waivers from Texas ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago reported that the White Sox claimed LHP Ryan Wing off waivers from Texas. Wing was a 2nd round draft pick of the Sox in 2001 and lived up to his high draft pick early in his pro career. He was 12-7 with a 3.78 ERA in 2002 for Kannapolis and the following year he was 9-7 with a 2.98 ERA for Winston-Salem. After 2003 he was one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. Unfortunately he missed all of 2004 because of shoulder surgery. Wing was left off the 40-man roster of the Sox and Texas claimed him. However, he struggled mightily for high A Bakersfield of the California League. In 12 appearances (11 starts) the 23 year-old went 25 with an ugly 6.93 ERA. In 50.2 IP Wing struck out only 33 and walked 36. While the California League is a hitters’ league, those numbers aren’t pretty anywhere. It would appear that he will have to come out of the pen for Winston-Salem as the Warthogs already have a full rotation and then some. more... I am unable to get to rest of story, is link bad? OK, much better now, thanks

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jun 30, 2005 -> 05:07 AM) I just looked up his signing date, that's all. lol August 19, 2001 for those keeping score at home. Cause he had a broken leg, he signed late.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 29, 2005 -> 03:52 PM) I agree, I think there are two different guys. I can't keep up with all the Rodriguez's in the Sox organization either. There are at least 4. and the Acosta's, 3 of them too. All in rookie league.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 29, 2005 -> 03:39 PM) Where have you been, have not seen you around lately. Anything interesting in BA? I have been looking on the newsstand and haven't seen anything exciting. Work has been super busy, and just got back from a week down south, Springfield Missouri and Louisville. People up here in Minny think it is humid, need to send them down there for a week, heh. Just enjoying the season, has not been too much to post, I used to like to link the boxes for minor league teams, but these guys normally get them up in decent fashion, and cover it well enough I do not have much to add. Trying to get Rex up for a ballgame, I might try to make one in early August. Saw them for 2 games early this season, might even have been opening week.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jun 29, 2005 -> 03:28 AM) Some teams and front offices just suck........ no other way to put it. Wasn't that Cortes's first shelling and first game action. The other Cortez (see the z on the end) has been shelled previously.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jun 29, 2005 -> 12:56 AM) He very well may........ in fact, I'd love it if he is a great Major Leaguer... the potential is certainly there. But when comparing the two, let's not forget that Young is two baseball seasons ahead of Sweeney. What would Sweeney be doing if he was still in rookie ball or low A? Young missed his 1st season due to broken leg, he has 1 more year in than Sweeney actually. correct? I like em both, Sweeney needs to hit with men on base. I do not mind 150 Ks if Young takes walks and hits for power. Not at all.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jun 28, 2005 -> 02:31 AM) How did you come to bash Sweeney from a post about Young? But if you want to compare them, I would tend to disagree with you. I could care less abou OPS at this point. Until Young proves he can keep from striking out 150 times a year, MLB pitchers will expose his holes early and often. Sweeney is just 20, the second youngest player in his league. I fully expect Sweeney to repeat AA next year, but Sweeney will come. After watching them both, I'd rate them this way... Young - higher ceiling and also higher likelihood to flop at higher levels Sweeney - more of a sure thing, but doesn't have as high of a ceiling. He will have less power but hit for a higher average and have a solid OBP. If he develops power and many players develop it later, then he will be a good player for a long time. Both could end up being very good MLB players and I really like Young's potential, but I am not going to ignore his weaknesses either. Come on Rex, you know Young is going to be the better major leaguer.

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Jun 20, 2005 -> 08:28 PM) Did the same thing last year with Adam Larson...(might have been from W-S?) Yes, we have players like this that are moving where needed, Larson was one, Nicholson was one. Probably for guys who will not play long and might get into coaching or something. Little not at AAA cause he earned it, but it is likely temporary and they do not want to move the real prospects around too much.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jun 20, 2005 -> 05:38 PM) Ayala? But regardless Majewski has been awesome. Tex!!!

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jun 20, 2005 -> 05:07 AM) My thought is that BJ is marginal at best..... Along with a guy like Matt Smith, Matt Guerrier, Gary Majewski and even Baj, performing well at the right time and luck is what will be the difference between a Major and Minor League career. Tom, I looked for you today but didn't see you in Section E. I was sitting behind home plate talking with Matt Guerrier's parents for the first 5-6 innings. I bailed after that. It took 2 1/2 hours to get to the 6th inning. I was bored to tears at that point. LOL Come on you wuss, this is baseball, never get bored at a baseball game

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 04:00 PM) Does this lessen the chance we throw a bunch of money at Danks? We were not going to anyway, too bad, he would have been a nice get, I guess we took him in case something happened family wise or who knows.

QUOTE(mannyfast @ Jun 15, 2005 -> 05:30 PM) Anyone know why Rogo was sitting last night against a RHP? I thought he might be hurt until I saw him dancing with Myron Noodleman... He played in todays game

QUOTE(Cerbaho-WG @ Jun 15, 2005 -> 03:15 AM) Randar is shooing away Daigle far too early. How many times have we seen a Scott Seabol or Joe Dillon toil away in the minors for years only to break out in their mid to late 20s or even early 30s? Daigle might have turned a corner, and then again it took Rogowski three years to move on past High-A. Randar seemingly pisses on everyone without really thinking about the other side of the coin, when the likelihood of Daigle perhaps becoming somewhat productive in the high levels of minor league baseball isn't too shabby. Well he hopefully will be better than Brian Becker after he goes up.