Reed and Borchard Article

[DBAHO]

TUCSON, Ariz. -- It wasn't long ago when Joe Borchard was the "can't-miss" White Sox prospect.

 

After a couple of so-so minor-league seasons, however, the "can't-miss" label is hard to find.

 

Such is the business of baseball that there is always a new phenom to tout, however, and before Sox fans could witness Borchard patrolling the outfield at U.S. Cellular for about 10 years, they may have to prepare for the Jeremy Reed era.

 

Reed is considered the Sox's top prospect—at least according to Baseball America—and has many believing he'll be on the South Side at some point this season.

 

"I hear that but I try to stay away from it as much as I can," Reed said. "I would love to be there today if I could."

 

A second-round draft pick in June 2002 out of LaVerne, Calif., Reed has hit his way through the Sox system and is knocking on the door of the major leagues. In 188 minor-league games, Reed has hit .356. In 66 games at Double-A Birmingham last season, he hit .409.

 

"[Reed's] a kid who has to play every day and not worry about coming down here and platooning or something," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But if the scenario is right for him, he will be on the team."

 

General manager Ken Williams remembers when he was the club's minor-league director and he was watching a young Magglio Ordonez. Williams said there is a point when you can see when a player is ready to make the jump to the big leagues.

 

It may not be reflected in the statistics, but it's in the way a player handles a pitch that used to give him trouble, or a certain confidence level he exudes.

 

That's what Williams is looking for in Reed, and in some respects, Borchard.

 

Although it's easy to say the two are battling for the same job, Williams doesn't see it that way. When Reed, 22, arrives in Chicago, he is likely to play center field while Borchard's future will be as a corner outfielder.

 

Even though Reed may be the organization's new wonder boy, Borchard, 25, doesn't see this is a make-or-break season.

 

"I'm still young, there's still a long way to go," he said. "Who knows what's going to happen?"

 

If there is a lesson for Reed, it may come from Borchard's experience. In 2001, Borchard also tore up Birmingham. He hit .295 with 27 home runs and 98 RBIs in 133 games. He was tabbed as the Sox's best prospect and the second-best prospect in all the minor leagues.

 

A broken bone in his foot delayed his start to the 2002 season and while his numbers that season at Triple-A Charlotte—.272, 20, 59—weren't horrible, they began a decline that continued last season (.307, 13, 53). This year he's considered the team's fifth-best prospect.

 

Borchard doesn't see Reed as a competitor in the big leagues but as a future teammate.

 

"When you see the young guys developing, you see who you are going to be playing with in the future, that kind of helps, you have other quality guys around you," Borchard said.

 

For years it seemed as if the Sox were trying to acquire Anaheim's Darin Erstad. In Reed, they finally may have obtained him.

 

"I love the way Darin plays the game," said Reed, who works out in the off-season with Erstad and the Angels' Adam Kennedy. "If he is whom they are comparing me to, I like that."

 

There's a strong chance both Reed and Borchard will begin the season at Charlotte. But although the path for one has found a few potholes, the other is still driving in the fast lane.

 

"The day the [major leagues] come, it's going to be great," Reed said. "But until then, I'm going to take it the way I've been taking it and keep plugging away."

[Gene Honda Civic]

A broken bone in his foot delayed his start to the 2002 season and while his numbers that season at Triple-A Charlotte—.272, 20, 59—weren't horrible, they began a decline that continued last season (.307, 13, 53). This year he's considered the team's fifth-best prospect.

i don't know who wrote this but they must be smoking crack.

 

It's one thing to be off by a few percentage points on someones BA. But 56 points is a huge error. (Borchard batted .251 last season)

 

I don't think anyone here would consider Borchard hitting .307 last year a "disappointment". Too bad it only exists in this guy's fantasy world.

[DBAHO]

i don't know who wrote this but they must be smoking crack.

 

It's one thing to be off by a few percentage points on someones BA.  But 56 points is a huge error. (Borchard batted .251 last season)

 

I don't think anyone here would consider Borchard hitting .307 last year a "disappointment".  Too bad it only exists in this guy's fantasy world.

That would be Bob Pulford the main White Sox Tribune Staff Reporter.