Link

 

I still don't understand why he gets lumped into the super utility player category. He is young and thus age-appropriate for his league. And he put up terrific numbers. Not to mention he was a sixth round pick, so it's not like he just he didn't have talent. Seems to be the White Sox curse.

I still don't understand why he gets lumped into the super utility player category. He is young and thus age-appropriate for his league. And he put up terrific numbers. Not to mention he was a sixth round pick, so it's not like he just he didn't have talent. Seems to be the White Sox curse.

 

Until the White Sox actually produce a few more position players, no one is going to take them seriously.

Until the White Sox actually produce a few more position players, no one is going to take them seriously.

I think that is a big part of it, yeah. No one believes he will hit in the majors, in part because the Sox haven't been able to develop starting hitters.

 

I think that is a big part of it, yeah. No one believes he will hit in the majors, in part because the Sox haven't been able to develop starting hitters.

 

I wish the opposite side of that were true, and that our pitchers got some love based on our history of developing them.

I wish the opposite side of that were true, and that our pitchers got some love based on our history of developing them.

 

Who could you make the argument for though? Sale was BA's 20th rated prospect prior to 2011. Quintana probably wouldn't have been ranked, but he was released by the Yankees prior to his success here. Santiago had made 15 starts at AA with rather mediocre peripherals. By the time they'd shown quality stuff and MLB success, you could no longer qualify them.

 

Axelrod has some seriously good minor league numbers. He wasn't ranked, and for good reason too.

 

(I still think Axelrod has some Bronson Arroyo like qualities)

 

 

 

Who could you make the argument for though? Sale was BA's 20th rated prospect prior to 2011. Quintana probably wouldn't have been ranked, but he was released by the Yankees prior to his success here. Santiago had made 15 starts at AA with rather mediocre peripherals. By the time they'd shown quality stuff and MLB success, you could no longer qualify them.

 

Axelrod has some seriously good minor league numbers. He wasn't ranked, and for good reason too.

 

(I still think Axelrod has some Bronson Arroyo like qualities)

 

Johnson and Rienzo to start with.

Johnson and Rienzo to start with.

 

I don't think Rienzo's really ever deserved it. He's been a talented pitcher, but he's also been pretty old for levels, he's never had numbers that wow you, there were questions about his ability to start in the majors (and frankly I think there still are), and he was busted for PEDs. Those all work heavily against him.

 

Johnson was good last year, but I think people were skeptical due to the good, not great K numbers. He will be a top 100 prospect this year and could sneak into the top 50.

I don't think Rienzo's really ever deserved it. He's been a talented pitcher, but he's also been pretty old for levels, he's never had numbers that wow you, there were questions about his ability to start in the majors (and frankly I think there still are), and he was busted for PEDs. Those all work heavily against him.

 

Johnson was good last year, but I think people were skeptical due to the good, not great K numbers. He will be a top 100 prospect this year and could sneak into the top 50.

 

Johnson should be a top 50 pitcher this year, without a doubt in my mind. Higher if he can do something in his last few starts here.