John Sickel's White Sox Top 20 prospects list

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 2:27 PM CST in Minors Comment 36 comments

I was about to post this when word of the Oakland trade came through. As you can see, this trade guts the top levels of the White Sox system.

Gio Gonzalez, LHP, Grade B+ (ranks second on Oakland list)
Fautino De Los Santos, RHP, Grade B+ (ranks third on Oakland list)
Aaron Poreda, LHP, Grade B+
Jack Egbert, RHP, Grade B- (A major sleeper)
Ryan Sweeney, OF, Grade C+ (I don't think his power is going to develop. Ranks 12th on Oakland list)
Lance Broadway, RHP, Grade C+
Nevin Griffith, RHP, Grade C+ (great ceiling, needs polish)
John Ely, RHP, Grade C+
Kyle McCulloch, RHP, Grade C+
Charlie Haeger, RHP, Grade C+
John Shelby, 2B, Grade C+
Jimmy Gallagher, OF, Grade C+
Jose Martinez, OF, Grade C+
Fernando Hernandez, RHP, Grade C+
Oneli Perez, RHP, Grade C+
Brian Omogrosso, RHP, Grade C+
Ehren Wasserman, RHP, Grade C (solid role pitcher)
Christian Marrero, 1B, Grade C
Clayton Richard, LHP, Grade C
Leroy Hunt, RHP, Grade C

Other Grade C guys include Dewon Day, Lydon Estill, Maurice Gartrell, Archie Gilbert, Francisco Hernandez, Nathan Jones, Johnnie Lowe, Donny Lucy, Sergio Miranda, Heath Phillips, Adam Russell, Salvador Sanchez, Micah Schnurstein, and Kaneoka Texeira.

Basically the Sox took a mediocre farm system and lopped the three of the top five players off the list with one trade. There isn't much depth, and position players are especially weak.

"guts" is putting it too kindly; and don't forget chris carter...

***** In other news,

Cheat compiles Nick Swisher's pitch type data.
Jim on the Swisher trade and the 2008 Sox ZiPS projections.
Hot Stove: The Cardinals signed Matt Clement to a 1-year deal. -- Gammons says the A's think Coco Crisp is the best CF in the game right now. -- Will the Royals sign Bartolo Colon?
Life in the Cell moved to it's own site.
Tango: How bad a hitter can you be to justify a great glove? And a couple college baseball sites; links from Tango.

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Comments

So that's it.

Egbert, Poreda, and a bunch of guys who, if everything pans out well, will be mediocre.

This team is going to cost $120 million and finish below .500 every year for the next ten.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 2:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

10 years is a long ledge

though if you scaled it back to 3-5 you might have a deal.

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God this list sums it up

We officially have the worst farm system in the history of baseball

AIM : Option27

by Option27 on Jan 3, 2008 2:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That's it fire... Duane Schaefer

He's the reason there is no-one in the minors of any talent... oh, that's right...

by Brush Back on Jan 3, 2008 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Swish

Well I might have just read my last comments on Athletics Nation and I have to say I was extremely impressed with the site and the input from their fans. I look forward to reading this site and if a hard nosed, cocky, grinder is what your looking for then I think Nick will fit in just fine.

by grapefruits5beebies on Jan 3, 2008 2:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Shelby

I don't get Shelby at 11th. I'd be interested in seeing everyone else's top five at this point (God bless you if you can make it to ten), but I'd probably go with Egbert, Shelby, Martinez and Poreda as my top four. After that...

by CWSKeith on Jan 3, 2008 2:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You do like to torture yourself,

don't you? As they are being used as cannon fodder right now it really doesn't matter who's #1 or #100.

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 3:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

post updated!

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 3:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

woah woah woah, call me Johnny Come Lately..

.but I just saw the Swisher news....wow, I mean, I like Swisher a lot...but...all 3? Sweeney, Gio & DLS?...I just sponsored Sweeney's BR page too.

MrROFL.com

by shaftr on Jan 3, 2008 3:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The poll...

... is in need of a "wait and see" option.

I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

by Hazymania on Jan 3, 2008 4:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

we've got a lot of a priori window ledge jumping here. Can we sprinkle a little pragmatism around?

by HulkSmash on Jan 3, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i'll be interested to see

how this poll jibes with the exact same one that is at the tribune's page.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought SSS had a copyright on the

"Yay" vs. "Nay" throw-down.

Who knows a good attorney?

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 5:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

Just look at that mountain of steaming crap.

Congrats, we're the Baltimore Orioles - old guys, $100,000,000 payroll, 4th place.

by ginandtacos on Jan 3, 2008 5:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I understand the sentiment

but don't agree overall. I don't think we've dropped to the level of the Orioles (or Giants for that matter), but I may just be in denial.

On the brighter side of things, the Mariners have been able to retool moderately well recently...maybe??

I'm trying to be optimistic. I don't think it is working.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Jan 3, 2008 5:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You consider this lineup -

SS Cabrera
CF Swisher
DH Thome
1B Konerko
RF Dye
C Pierzynski
3B Fields
LF Quentin
2B Richar

"a mountain of steaming crap."

Try the

Illinois Eye Institute
3241 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616-3878

Phone: 877.949.EYES
http://iei.ico.edu/home.html

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

egbert, danks, and the bullpen

better come up big time

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

bally, you gotta admit

7-9 is iffy at best. And 3-6 was good in the Paleolithic era but at their ages health is a concern, and speed is an illusion. Can you say "Tinker to Evers to Chance"?

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 7:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Zips -

Josh Fields .259/.334/.451
Carlos Quentin .249/.342/.428
Danny Richar .249/.304/.381

I'll bet on the over on Quentin and Richar and that's a pretty respectable lineup.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahahaa

by Jbasic89 on Jan 4, 2008 3:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kenny

On the conference call, KW said if Owens does well and shows he's ready he will play CF and Swisher LF. Didn't the Sox go get Quentin, not a player like him, but him, to play???

"First off everyone knows me as 'the champ' so sing the champ is hear when you see me."

by Toonderstrook on Jan 3, 2008 5:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Quentin...

could always play right field.

Ideally, this means that Konerko gets dealt and Swisher or Dye plays first base. We'll see.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 5:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And

when the Sox assess players, "attitude" is just as important as talent.

"First off everyone knows me as 'the champ' so sing the champ is hear when you see me."

by Toonderstrook on Jan 3, 2008 5:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

jaryd's words of wisdom...

[Jaryd Wilson]:

Gonzalez was considered to be one of the top starting pitchers in the White Sox' farm system, averaging more than a strikeout an inning in AA-Birmingham last season, but Lance Broadway is better and will now have a better opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 6:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't even know...

where to begin with the things wrong in that blog.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 6:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

how did that guy get hired?

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 3, 2008 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

John Sickels talks to Blez (he runs the A's blog)

[athletics nation]:

Blez: First of all, what do you think of the players the A's got for Nick Swisher?

John Sickels: I had Gonzalez as my number one White Sox prospect, and De Los Santos as number two, both Grade B+, both among the best pitching prospects in baseball.

Blez: Can you tell me about them without giving away too much of what's in your prospect book?

Sickels: Oh, sure. Gonzalez is a left-handed power pitcher with two Double-A seasons under his belt at age 22. He projects as a number two starter at the major league level, and showed much improved command this year. He could use some Triple-A time, but should be ready for a spot by 2009. De Los Santos is further away, but he's got a terrific arm and had a breakout season in the Sally League. He'd be more of a 2010 guy depending on how fast they want to rush him, but his upside is terrific.

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 6:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

wouldn't want those guys

might as well embrace it. new man crush: nick swisher for life!

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nick's reaction:

Swisher said he's looking forward to playing an aggressive style under colorful White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

"I hope the walls are padded over there in Chicago," Swisher said.

Only in the front office, Nickster.

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 8:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good line

Wish I'd thought of it.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Jan 3, 2008 10:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope the walls are padded over there in Chicago

The Grinder Version 2.0?

by SSH2005 on Jan 4, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you, Jim

An old Southern saying (after 20 years below the Mason-Dixon line you start assimilating): Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and again.

I also find it interesting that since the trade the YouTube 2005 video diaried next to this post has significantly more hits. Coincindence? I think not.

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 4, 2008 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WAH WAH WAAAAH!

I swear to god you guys are the biggest freaking cry babies ever! This all started last summer when many of you clamored for a fire sale ("The Kids Can Play") movement. Sometimes I don't think you guys look at the big picture. The big picture is the sox drew 14,000 fans against KC in August, 2005 during a pennant race. What business sense does it make to trade away or let leave via free agency the guys who helped you draw fans back into the seats? I know for a fact I would not waste my time watching a young team get embarrassed on the field when I have one of the best managers in the game locked up long term who prefers a mature, veteran squad and the Cubs playing across town looking to gain back credibility. If we traded the core last summer sure we would have gotten some good young players maybe even great, but how many prospects tear up the minor leagues then struggle in the big show? There are no guarantees that the stud minor leaguer will ever make it to the majors. We have a really bad farm system and I think we all know why. It is not easy to win a championship let alone construct a team like Williams did in the winter of 04/05. In the process we were able to trade our best prospects because of the depth of our system at the time. Winning either takes money or prospects and probably both. Our line up and bull pen look very solid on paper and Detroit has run out of steam IMO... they were counting on Zumaya returning but he injured himself again. Todd Jones is old and garbage, Verlander is due for a drop in his velocity or arm problems due to his vicious delivery not to mention the rest of their rotation would scare the shit out of me if I was a detroit fan, and Leyland is a great manager but I don't think even he will be able to find a way to keep leads in games. Cleveland is counting on a bounce back year from Hafner but I'm sure now that there is more stringent steroid testing his numbers will match or be close to what he did last season. My point is the sox are not and were not in a position to trade their whole team away like the marlins on the bay (A's), they need to continue to strengthen this core as much as possible by any means necessary.

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Jan 3, 2008 11:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I know it was a lot to give up.

Yet, I agree that fielding a competitive team is probably more beneficial to the Sox right now than saving two pitchers who may or may not pan out. Swisher is going to be a baller next year, people will buy tickets to see him, the Sox will have more money, (and hopefully) the organization will benefit as a whole. At the very least, I will be excited about going to games.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Jan 4, 2008 12:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good for you guys

that you will see an entertaining team next year compared to 2007. Some people (owners, GM's, agents) have business plans for longer than one year. The "live for today" has it's limits - like, tomorrow if the sun comes up you're screwed if you spent all your money.

So, yeah, have fun in 2008 with the 3rd-4th place team , and choose your new venue for 2009, 'cause it won't be pretty. (You are starting to sound like a Cub fan - "I just want to be entertained". I'd like to win again sometime in my lifetime.)

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 4, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i tell ya, dj

we may not have won a lot of games in 08, but we sure were an entertaining team.

dj: no doubt about it.

hawk: nick swisher's flaming knives juggling act in center was sure a hit with the youngsters and danny - boy, oh boy - danny richar surprised me - surprised us all - with his hilarious stand-up comedy.

dj: i was high the whole season, hawk, and that sure made dye's fielding in right that much more entertaining.

by larry on Jan 4, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs