May 27, 200421 yr Switch-hitter tearing up International League By Scott Merkin / MLB.com CHICAGO - Joe Borchard is alive and well, and ripping the baseball for Triple-A Charlotte. The 25-year-old first-round selection, picked 12th overall in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, became a forgotten man when an injury during Spring Training basically spelled out a third consecutive year starting at Charlotte. It didn't help the former Stanford quarterback that his average hovered just above .200 through the first few weeks of the Knights' season, with more strikeouts than hits. But the switch-hitting Borchard has been unstoppable of late, culminating with his International League Hitter of the Week honors. Borchard hit .452 (14 for 31) with seven runs scored, four doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs and a 1.065 slugging percentage from May 17-23. He had three home runs and six RBIs during Charlotte's 12-3 victory Sunday over Pawtucket, and became the 19th player in the league's history to homer twice in the same inning. With that torrid stretch, Borchard currently stands at .275, with eight home runs and 31 RBIs -- although he has fanned 30 times in 145 at-bats. There doesn't seem to be room for Borchard currently in a crowded White Sox outfield, but spots could open up via free agency or trades. Borchard himself could be a valuable piece included in a future player move by the White Sox. "I've always been in Joe's corner. I've been there since we drafted him," said White Sox senior director of player personnel Duane Shaffer. "Joe is a quality person, and a quality athlete. "I'm happy it's coming together for him. As late as some people think it seems for Joe, I don't think it's very late. He could still be playing at 38, 39 or 40 and can give us 10 to 12 productive years at the Major League level."
May 27, 200421 yr All I can say is its about time. He could make one of our outfielders expendible in a trade or could be good trade bait himself with Anderson, Reed and Sweeney developing.
May 27, 200421 yr Happy for Joe quality guy. He'll be a solid dude in the clubhouse. hope he is promoted soon.
May 27, 200421 yr Hate to kill the vibes but the Sox should try selling the high. Borchard isn't going to look any better for a while, if ever. Trade his ass in the hope you can package him for a 5th starter.
May 27, 200421 yr Hate to kill the vibes but the Sox should try selling the high. Borchard isn't going to look any better for a while, if ever. Trade his ass in the hope you can package him for a 5th starter. Agreed, trade him now. If he is a star next year so be it. It will be worth a quality starter now.
May 27, 200421 yr NO. We need to learn to build this team with young players. We'll never be able to stock veteran players with bloated salaries. At least not as long as JR owns the team. Patience people. I hate it too. But, we need to be patient with our stable of young talented minor league outfielders.
May 27, 200421 yr Bleh... if Borchard continues hitting for average and power, I say package up Timo for a cheap minor leaguer and give Borch a call. I'd really love to see him starting in CF to see what he's really made of before we package him up for a pitcher. I like how Rowand is hitting now, but if he hits another huge slump, then trading or sending down him or Timo (If they actually clear waivers if they need to, I'm not sure on their status) and giving Borch a call. His left handed presence would be huge if he could come up here and hit decent. He's still one of our top prospects, and he's one I don't want to see the axe thrown at too soon, especially at this point in time.
May 28, 200421 yr NO. We need to learn to build this team with young players. We'll never be able to stock veteran players with bloated salaries. At least not as long as JR owns the team. Patience people. I hate it too. But, we need to be patient with our stable of young talented minor league outfielders. Patience? They haven't won the series since 1917...
May 28, 200421 yr All I can say is its about time. He could make one of our outfielders expendible in a trade or could be good trade bait himself with Anderson, Reed and Sweeney developing. There is no such thing as "expendable" when it comes to small payroll'd teams like the Sox and/or hitters with as much power potential and as good a work ethic as JoBo LTP Bottomline: Borchard's value is still way too low, and other players you mentioned are far from ML-ready, weither because of raw-ness or less than perfect health. Trade for Randy Johnson or Jason Schmidt? Of course, but for Kris Benson or Matt Clement? Not a chance.
May 28, 200421 yr The sudden re- re-re-emergence of Rowand has made a Borchard call-up a very difficult decision.
May 28, 200421 yr The sudden re- re-re-emergence of Rowand has made a Borchard call-up a very difficult decision. Rowand is excellen against LHP, and his defense is anything if not solid. But he's never shown an ability to hit RHP. Sox as a whole have that problem, so Aaron can't be hidden in the line-up. It looks like Steve Finley is not coming, so while the iron is hot, call Borchard up. Maybe he can line a couple of scary frozen ropes into upper deck like he did in Toronto last year
May 28, 200421 yr I agree it appears there's no room for Joe. But his stats and his age are screaming, 'bring me up to cellular field, now!"
May 28, 200421 yr I look at it as the other way around. While the iron is hot, dont f*** around with anything, lets see what happens. I want to see big Joe up, cause I want him to do great things, but the Sox just killed the Twins and Texas this week, so lets not fix something that aint broken, not yet at least. Aaron cannot hit RHP. Today he only got a double after Sox went up 8-0. You might not think it's a big deal, but consider this: OPS vs. RHP (2004): Perez: 625 Crede: 634 Konerko: 750 Ordonez: 812 Lee: 733 Gload: 627 Olivo: 509 Alomar: 691 Righties comprise 70% of all pitchers, so this is not a trivial matter. If not Finley, it's gotta be Jeremy Reed or Joe Borchard. Reed brings OBP in the 2-hole. Borchard brings power in the 7-hole, in front of Konerko and behind Lee. Reed might nt be healthy and JoBo has the recent momentum his side.
May 28, 200421 yr Aaron cannot hit RHP. Today he only got a double after Sox went up 8-0. You might not think it's a big deal, but consider this: OPS vs. RHP (2004): Perez: 625 Crede: 634 Konerko: 750 Ordonez: 812 Lee: 733 Gload: 627 Olivo: 509 Alomar: 691 Righties comprise 70% of all pitchers, so this is not a trivial matter. If not Finley, it's gotta be Jeremy Reed or Joe Borchard. Reed brings OBP in the 2-hole. Borchard brings power in the 7-hole, in front of Konerko and behind Lee. Reed might nt be healthy and JoBo has the recent momentum his side. If Reed is promoted he won't bat 2nd. Willie and Uribe will stay at the top of the lineup.
May 28, 200421 yr I'd like to see some consistency from Borchard over a pretty good period of time before he takes a crack at major league pitchers again. If i remember right, his April numbers weren't too good at all, i could be wrong though. That being said, I hope he keeps hitting so we do have some options later on in the season if we need them.
May 28, 200421 yr If Reed is promoted he won't bat 2nd. Willie and Uribe will stay at the top of the lineup. Nope, Uribe is a slugger, a wild man, a Berroa/Tejada/Garciappara. He is aggressive and can hit a bad ball, so a line-up protection is not quite as big an issue with him. Reed on the other hand is more of an all-field mistake slap hitter now that his wrists may not allow him to drive the ball as much. His job would be to set the table, to be a high OBP guy who would benefit the most in front of Maggs and Frank. Against RHP 1.Harris 2 Reed Against LHP: 1. Uribe 2. Rowand
May 28, 200421 yr If Reed is promoted he won't bat 2nd. Willie and Uribe will stay at the top of the lineup. I agree, I wouldn't mess with our 1-2 combo of Harris and Uribe. I think they have a chance to be what Pierre and Castillo were to the Marlins last year.
May 28, 200421 yr Exactly... Willie will be in that lead off spot for the sole fact that his speed just makes things happen. Uribe is just doing great in the 2 hole as well. Personally I just don't see room for reed or borchard right now. Maybe in 05' if Maggs leaves but not now.
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