April 6, 200422 yr Chicago White Sox What the system has produced lately: Righthander Rocky Biddle, dealt to Montreal in the Bartolo Colon trade, was inconsistent but saved 34 games for the Expos last season, fifth in the National League and ninth-best in the majors. Outfielder Aaron Rowand finally seems poised to take hold of the starting center fielder's job, and if he doesn't, Joe Borchard and Jeremy Reed are waiting in the wings. Young pitchers such as Neal Cotts (an original Athletics draftee), Jon Rauch and Josh Stewart have flunked their initial big league auditions, but Rauch was getting another long look in spring training. Catcher Miguel Olivo came over from Oakland for Chad Bradford in 2001 and went right to Double-A. He begins the season as the Opening Day starter. Best-stocked position: Outfield, where the White Sox are already strong in the major leagues as well. They developed corners Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez as well as Rowand. While Borchard hit a speed bump in Triple-A last season, Reed led the minors in batting (.373) and on-base percentage (.453) last season. High-round draftees Ryan Sweeney (second) and Brian Anderson (first) bring plenty of tools to the organization, while 14th-rounder Ricardo Nanita had a 30-game hitting streak at Rookie-level Great Falls. Best teenage prospect: Sweeney drew scouts' attention as both a pitcher and five-tool outfielder, and the White Sox gobbled him up with the 52nd overall pick. Still relatively raw, the Iowa prep product still needs to adjust to wood bats for his raw power potential to be realized. He had a great spring, often being compared to Harold Baines and will be challenged in his first try at full-season ball in the South Atlantic League this year. Prepare for takeoff: Another outfielder, Chris Young, wasn't a high draft pick, but the 2001 16th-rounder has physically matured since signing and gives the White Sox another talented future center fielder. The organization's best athlete and a plus runner, Young also showed improved power and strike-zone judgment last season. He'll join Sweeney in a talented Class A Kannapolis outfield. Time is running out for: Several former top prospects in the organization, such as Borchard, Rauch and Corwin Malone (sidelined for 2004 with Tommy John surgery), have yet to break through in the big leagues. Righthander Jason Stumm, however, has yet to even pitch a full season. The 1999 first-rounder had Tommy John surgery in 2000 and shoulder surgery the next year, resulting in lost development time and a move to the bullpen. Stumm, who has battled his weight, still throws a mid-90s fastball but has little else going for him. His spot on the 40-man roster seems particularly precarious.
April 6, 200422 yr Author http://www.soxtalk.com/index.php?showtopic=16890 No way...!! What I posted was much more detailed and informative.
April 6, 200422 yr No way...!! What I posted was much more detailed and informative. and we love you for that dear....
April 6, 200422 yr Did you type that all yourself steff. Wow I know they wouldn't let me copy/paste Congadulations on 7,000
April 7, 200422 yr I'm assuming when this was written they didn't know that Sweeney was going to be with Anderson and Nanita in Winston Salem (High A Ball). Cause it has Young and Sweeney playing together. Did BA and Insiders merge on a content deal? Also, I don't quite think this is Stumm's make or break year. Heck, he's just got to stay healthy, but he's still got good stuff. I think this will be a key year for him, but not his make or break year. He gets going and stays healthy then he can get back on the major league path, otherwise, it'll be another prospect to not make the show due to injuries (sad, but its just the way it is).
April 7, 200422 yr Did you type that all yourself steff. Wow I know they wouldn't let me copy/paste Congadulations on 7,000 i agree with you on jason, he did rebound nicely, now if he can stay healthy.
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