JJ Stankevitz ‏@JJStankevitz 1m

 

Looks like Dayan Viciedo is heading out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte today, per Ventura. 4-5 games.

Thank goodness. This team has missed his inability to get on base.

Oh Steve...

My column today for Yahoo! Sports is about what we need from Dayan looking forward: Dayan Viciedo's Return Key for Chicago White Sox

 

Basically, Viciedo probably doesn't realize it but he is so essential to our success. We don't necessarily need him in 2013 to succeed (even though it sure would be helpful), but the way our franchise looks going forward basically hinges on him. He is the one young player we have that is capable of being a franchise cornerstone. If he doesn't pan out the way we hoped, our team won't have any big run producers on the right side of 30 moving forward and we don't seem especially close to having a prospect come up with that sort of potential either. Flowers could turn things around, but he doesn't really have the ability to be a 3-slot type of hitter -- he makes Dayan look like a contact hitter. Gordon could magically turn things around, but his absolute ceiling would be about 25 bombs and he almost definitely will never see that happen. An excellent 2 hitter still seems like Gordon's most optimistic fate. Trayce Thompson? I just don't see it happening, though he could come up and be a 5-slot type of hitter.

 

If Dayan doesn't break out, we may not see players with elite run producing abilities until Hawkins and Barnum mature. And that's a big "if" and a long wait. The Sox are great at acquiring players, but the problem with that is you have to spend money or players to get them. We need Dayan to bring us some home cooking in the middle of the order for the next 5-10 years.

Edited May 7, 201312 yr by Jake

How do we know Viciedo doesn't realize it?

How do we know Viciedo doesn't realize it?

 

I mean I suppose he does, not that it really matters. My experience is that players don't tend to think in such big picture terms because they are so wrapped up in the day to day.

Trevor Bauer hit Viciedo in his first AB. Dick.

Upside down K for Viciedo.

Trevor Bauer hit Viciedo in his first AB. Dick.

 

Just be glad he didn't swing.

0/6, 2 K's in the DH today.

0/6, 2 K's in the DH today.

 

So he's ready to come back then?

Activated.

 

Jordan Danks optioned to Charlotte.

Thanks for the game winning homerun Danks2!

Edited May 10, 201312 yr by pettie4sox