[7/21 Games]

2-2 with 2 more doubles and 2 RBIs for Wilkins already, it's getting to the point where you almost want to stick Konerko on the 15-day DL with a phantom injury and call up Wilkins while he's this hot to see what we actually with him.

[7/16 Games]

Pretty blah day so far, Ravelo and Kevan Smith both 1-2 with an RBI, Snodgress doing his unimpressively effective thing as usual. Jason Coats providing the only offense so far with an RBI double in the 3rd. Things getting heated for Kanny today, the manager, hitting coach and Trey all have been tossed from the game.

 

Serious question: Mitchell has almost 100 ABs at Birmingham now and has put up 1.000+ OPS, is he back in the prospect conversation for us? After last season it's been hard not to remain skeptical but he's made the Southern League his b**** over the last month.

[2014 Minor League catch all thread]

There are some parallels between those two. Both were 3B who went to 1B for defensive reasons, both hit for high average but only hints of power through their middle-minors careers, both were said to have power potential but didn't show it for a few years, both hit plenty of doubles.

 

One could do an interesting parallel study there.

 

I knew Thome started as a 3B but I never realized that he was more of a hitter for average in the minors, I always assumed that he was a masher from start. That makes things a lot more interesting, now I'd like to see Ravelo promoted to Charlotte sooner rather than later.

[2014 Minor League catch all thread]

Baseball America prospect hot sheet.

 

Ravelo "In the team photo"

 

I'd really like to see what happens when Jim Thome gets to work with him, maybe he can unlock that untapped power we're all waiting for. Is he still in Charlotte working with Davidson or is he more of a roving instructor?

[7/8 Games]

Barraza with 6 Ks yesterday, what is that called? The titanium sombrero? The adamantium sombrero?

[7/7 Games]

While Blanke has struggled with the transition to pitching Brad Salgado has really taken to the switch to the mound. His peripherals have been great so far and with the way they've been pitching him it looks like they plan on stretching him out to be a starter. He should be a very interesting name to follow next season.

[7/7 Games]

Who do we want to give those Dunn at-bats to?

 

Wilkins? Mitchell (haha)? Semien? Michael Taylor?

 

Honestly I'd like to call up Saladino to allow Robin more flexibility defensively and use the DH for Abreu or to plug in the best offensive matchup on any given day.

[7/3 Games]

Ravelo also stole third, the kid can do it all!

 

Mitchell still keeping it going at AA, it's hard not to be skeptical but his recent performance makes you wonder if a light went off for him.

[7/2 Games]

Mitchell with another homer, that demotion must've really rustled his jimmies.

[7/1 Games]

Tim Anderson--fractured wrist 4-6 weeks.

 

So do they promote Rondon from Kanny or pull Wagner down from Birmingham? Rondon's bat can barely stay afloat in the Sally League I'd hate to see how the Carolina League pitchers tear him up.

[2014 Minor League catch all thread]

Birmingham Barons ‏@BhamBarons 21m

 

TRANSACTIONS: RHP Chris Beck and INF Dan Black have been transferred from @KnightsBaseball to Birmingham. Luis Sierra placed on the DL.

 

That was quick, I guess they don't think Beck is ready for AAA after all.

[6/26 Games]

It's going to be interesting to see what Anderson and Hawkins can do in AA next year.

 

That Birmingham team is going to be stacked next year, especially if they start Rodon there next season.

[6/26 Games]

Barnum and Hawkins with a homer each in the resumed game.

[6/25 Games]

Surkamp will before him. Surkamp has a 40 man spot. Heath does not.

 

Good point, I didn't think about that. Surkamp's definitely earned it with his recent performances, the strikeout numbers are very encouraging.

[6/25 Games]

Anyone else think that Heath might be next in line to be called up for a spot start? His last 5 games as a starter have been pretty impressive.

[6/24 Games]

Hawkins 12th homer on the year.

[6/22 Games]

I believe he means this year. If pitchers pitched a lot already in college/HS, sometimes they'll start them out in the pen after being drafted. I'm sure he'll be a starter long term.

 

I expect him to have workload similar to Thad Lowry's workload last season, a mix of starts and relief appearances averaging 3 innings per appearance.

[6/20 Games]

The AZL team has a lot of interesting names on the roster that should be fun to follow this season, most notably for me Spencer Adams (duh!), Micker Adolfo (double duh!), Victor Done, Luis Martinez, Barraza, Jake Jarvis, Jeffry Santos & Antonio Rodriguez. Lots of raw talent down there, should be some really ugly games with some really great games to check on.

[6/20 Games]

Also, Bradley Salgado has taken to the mound nicely so far. Tonight he went 3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 7 Ks. Salgado now has 9 K in 4 IP this year.

 

He hasn't given up a walk yet either which is really impressive for someone transitioning from a position player to a pitcher to have such an early command of the strike zone.

[2014 Minor League catch all thread]

Great Falls roster is up now, with a lot of 2014 picks on it. No AZL Sox roster yet.

 

We'll have a GF preview soonish.

 

Ethan Wilson, Dane Opel and Matt Lane start on DL. Nick Parent and Nick Blount are both on the restricted list due to their PED suspensions.

 

Thanks for the link, I'm excited to see what Matt Ball and Toby Thomas do this year.

[6/8 Games]

Danish pitched over a pretty inexcusable error by DeMichele that put runners on 1st and 3rd with no out to strand the runners right there with a pretty K and a couple of shallow pop-ups. Showed some good mental toughness to get out of that with no damage.

[Your Current Top 10]

For Saladino I just want a bigger sample size before I can believe it. His last two years were very disappointing, especially in the power department. 200 PA's is not enough to forget his previous 1000. Potential is definitely there for him to move up the rankings.

 

It should be mentioned that Saladino was put into the leadoff spot for the past two seasons which probably had a dramatic effect on his approach at the plate. If you notice in his stats from the past two years that his average and power numbers are down but his OBP and SB numbers exploded to the upside. Now that he has been placed lower in the lineup it appears that he is more aggressive at the plate which has translated into higher power numbers.

 

I think Saladino is the type of really good baseball player that are prevalent in the franchises that have been able to build their organization organically like the Rays and Cards, he's not a flashy athlete but a guy that understands how to play the game from the ground up. I love L. Garcia's tools but right now I'd rather see Saladino in that spot.

[Your Current Top 10]

1) Rodon

2) Anderson

3) Johnson

4) Hawkins

5) Montas

6) Danish

7) Davidson

8) Adams

9) Sanchez

10) Ravelo

 

I think this is probably the most accurate top 10, way too early to rate Adams over Danish when Danish just dominated the Sally League.

[6/4 Games]

Saladino has been on fire recently, .429/.667/1.095 over his last 10 games and adds another triple today. I hope Hahn is working on some way to move some of the middle infield players, between Semien, Micah Johnson, Sanchez & Saladino there's at least 3 major leaguers in that group for only 1 potential open spot next year depending on what they do with Beckham.

[6/3 Games]

Not referring to the HISTORICAL, fielding-only version of Escobar, but the .781 OPS, 15 doubles in 130+ ab's version.

 

THIS year.

 

Career-wise, he's at only .646, or basically what Gordon Beckham has produced the past 3 seasons, more or less. A slightly better version of Andy Gonzalez, maybe.

 

But, if you honestly believe Saladino can come up this season and put up those numbers, then he should be starting somewhere in the White Sox line-up on a nearly everyday basis.

 

I've always seen Saladino's realistic comparison as Tony Graffanino to Sean Rodriguez if everything clicks.