JPN366

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 11, 2008 -> 09:00 AM) Link is interesting. His first couple years in the minors, 2005-2006, his numbers (core and peripheral) were less than stellar at A- and A+. Then in 2007, his numbers started improving. His H/9 went from 10-ish to 7-ish, his K/9 jumped from mid-6's in 2005 to near 10 in 2007. His BB/9 dropped from near 3.5 in 2006 to the mid-2's in 2007. Now this year, those numbers are just as good or better, as he continues to apparently improve. His walks are up a bit this year, but otherwise, he seems to be "figuring it out". At 24 he's not exactly ancient for AA, but he's not young either. If he can do this stuff in more of a hitters' park like Charlotte, I'd say he might have a future bullpen role somewhere. First off, Jon Link is a good guy, real friendly. Anyway, he seems like the tradition closer type, bulldog mentality. Likes the tough situations, struggles a bit when it's not a pinch. I know he's supposed to have a good heater and a good cut fastball. I think he throws a power curve as well. I haven't seen an overly impressive number on the scoreboard radar gun yet for him. Although, according to his intro video on the scoreboard, he throws hot fire. He doesn't seem intimidated at all, he attacks hitters and makes them beat him. The numbers this year don't lie. Yes, his homes games are at a pitcher's park, but he's getting saves on the road as well. He's the best closer in the Southern League by the numbers at this point and would probably be a candidate for the Southern League All Star game. All in all, I'd say he could have a future as a closer or a setup man at a higher level, but he's not going to generate a lot of buzz. Maybe a Joe Borowski type with much better stuff.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 02:24 PM) I assume this means the end of Tomo Ohka in the Charlotte rotation, then? You've got Broadway, Egbert, Haeger and Whisler already in the rotation, with Bell having been sent to the pen. So, other than sending Ohka packing (or to the pen as well), the only alternative would be a 6 man rotation, which I doubt they will do. I don't know because Charlotte doesn't update it's roster much. There has got to be two players on the DL that are listed as active. Jeff Liefer hasn't played since May 27th, I don't know who else may be inactive. Somebody will probably be released. Probably Bell or Ohka.

"I walked out there and (Ward) started cussing at me and I told him there's no need for that," Subero said. "If I get thrown out for telling an umpire to show more class, then I'll be okay with that every time." That's a quote from the paper by Carlos Subero.

Clayton Richard is also being promoted to Charlotte, so that means Poreda will be taking his place in the Barons rotation. The moves should become official today or tomorrow. I imagine Poreda was waiting to meet up with the Barons when they came up to North Carolina.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 03:56 AM) jpn do you know when harrell is going to be back? All I know about Lucas Harrell is that he hasn't pitched since April, he's not with the team and is rehabbing in Arizona. He had shoulder surgery last year and missed the whole season.

WOW! What a game! The home plate umpire was absolutely horrible tonight. The Southern League should definitely review him. Now, to start out with Carlos Subero, the Barons manager was yelling at one of the umpires at the end of yesterday's game. So, that must have carried over to tonight. The game was going along fine, but the umpire wasn't calling strikes that should have been called. I'm not being biased here. First, the umpire turned and threw out J.R. Perdew, the pitching coach. Then Subero came out of the dugout and had a mini meltdown and got in the umpire's face. He gets tossed after pointing at and yelling at the other umpire. At this point, the crowd is worked up into a frenzy and is giving the umpire hell after every pitch. My voice is hoarse from all the yelling. Every little comment he hears from the dugout, he turns and starts yelling at the Barons players. He continues to not call strikes and Montgomery capitalizes and shrinks our lead. Derek Rodriguez is pulled and as he walks off starts yelling at the umpire. He charges at him and has to be restrained by batting coach/acting manager Wes Clements. Rodriguez is ejected even though he's already out of the game. In the 8th, David Cook steals second, but is called out because he came off the base. Of course, he wasn't tagged. So, the Barons dugout goes nuts. In the 9th, Javier Castillo starts yelling at the 2nd base umpire after another bad call at homeplate and is ejected. This was while the Barons were playing defense. So, on to the bottom of the 10th...Robbie Hudson leads off with a nice double over the left fielder's head. The ball just kept carrying. Ricardo Nanita comes up trying to bunt. On the third pitch, he gets hit on the elbow, although he sold it to the umpire and he gets 1st base. Victor "Captain Clutch" Mercedes, who loves hitting with two strikes or two outs or both, comes up trying to bunt. He runs the count full and hits a fly ball deep to right, the outfielder looks as if he's going to catch it so the runners hold up. The ball pops out of his glove so the runners only get one base. Bases loaded with David Cook up, there is a wild pitch, but Hudson doesn't take off. Cook hits a deep fly to right, Hudson tags up and scores the winning run. The team all piles on Hudson and celebrates, David Cook and Carlos Subero are doused with Gatorade. My friends and I chant "MVP" for Cook. He tosses his batting gloves to my friend Adam. Sorry this is so long, but a lot of this isn't in the box score. The end result was great, but it was a rough road to get there. THANKS FOR ALL THE MOJO, GUYS! P.S. To top it all off, it started raining a little bit in the 9th and the grounds crew was on standby by the tarp. Thankfully it let up.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 05:13 PM) Montgommery @ Birmingham, 7:05pm CT, Torres (6-3, 3.95) tries to clinch the first half title for the Barons Big night tonight. They need all the good mojo they can get.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 07:58 AM) I assume the offset here is Ryan O'Malley falls to the pen or is demoted, yes? Possibly, but I know for a fact that Brian Omogrosso has been dealing with lingering blister issues, so he will more than likely go on the DL to clear the roster spot. He took himself out of his last appearance because he just didn't have any control. So, Poreda could start working out of the bullpen. We'll see.

According to Ed Collari, the radio announcer of the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Aaron Poreda is being promoted to B'ham. You heard it here first...

You guys really should see David Cook hit a homerun. It is something to behold. I've seen homeruns, but his are absolutely majestic. Majestic lasers.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) KWjr. is strikingly similar to Jerry Owens in his stance and approach (at least from the left side). I would not be surprised if KW had KWjr work with Jerry Owens in the offseason and such. KW has the fascination that fast guys with weak sticks should have goofy stances that provide them with no power. You mean you DON'T like Jerry Owens' John Holmes impression???

QUOTE (scenario @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 04:22 PM) Montgomery @ Birmingham McCulloch pitching Game Notes (pdf) The Barons magic number is 3, and they're playing the 2nd place team tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. Listen on MILB.com (free) And Monday night...

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 5, 2008 -> 10:57 PM) Nah, Wise was with the team before. You now don't have a DH in Charlotte. Your OF is Bourgeois, Owens and Wise. The only crowd issue left is 2B, with Getz and Richar both there. I know, but when he was reassigned to Charlotte, the roster was full. So, Collaro was the least versatile.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 12:23 AM) Yeah, no promotions at all. Not as much as there should be.

I agree he deserves a promotion, but I'm not convinced he'll get one. Collaro was let go to make room for Dewayne Wise.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 5, 2008 -> 04:08 PM) I'd bet this means Cook is headed to Charlotte in the next week or two (when B-Ham finishes their first half). Collaro was the odd man out in Charlotte because he could only DH. They would have to cut someone else loose to make room for Cook. But, I'm not convinced he's going up. This is the White Sox after all. They don't reward success with promotions.

For any of you who care, he was released by the White Sox. He signed with the Reds organization and was assigned to Chattanooga of the Southern League.

So long, Thomas. He's now with the Reds organization. Check out the Chattanooga Lookouts roster.

QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Jun 5, 2008 -> 01:08 PM) Keep him away from Walker; Hitting Ability: Beckham is a line-drive hitter who consistently squares up on the ball and works the count to his advantage. There are plenty of guys like that in the system. Power hitters are severly lacking in the White Sox system. Thus why Smoak would be a better choice than Beckham.

I'm not saying I hate Beckham or won't cheer for him if he plays for the Barons, I just thought that Smoak would have brought more to the system than Beckham.

Smoak>Beckham. The White Sox needed to draft a buzzworthy offensive prospect that could breeze through the minors like a Jay Bruce or a Ryan Braun. Not some douchey infielder named Gordon.

Yay! We got a right handed hitting version of Chris Getz! Awesome! Who needs a switch hitting power hitter who could be in the bigs by 2010?

F F F F F F F F S S S S S S GD GD GD GD GD MF MF MF MF!!!!!

Justin Smoak! Justin Smoak! Justin Smoak! "Now batting for the Barons...number 12...Justin Smoak!" I want to hear that, otherwise I'll campaign for the Barons to change affiliations ASAP! In 2009 of course.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jun 5, 2008 -> 11:09 AM) Hopefully they can resist the family oriented overdraft. I would be upset with this pick. Well, Regier was fired, so I think we don't have to worry about that.