White Sox Youngsters Have Major League Attitude, Skills
by The Cheat on Feb 27, 2009 9:48 PM CST
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The White Sox are only 3 days into their spring training schedule, but their young prospects are already making noise.
Dayan Viciedo grabbed the biggest headlines on Friday by taking ex-Sox Jon Garland deep in the second inning in Tucson. We've already seen Viciedo smoking batting practice fastballs, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was able to take the Garland deep. It's early in spring, Garland isn't exactly a fireballer -- he was probably throwing in the mid-to-high 80's Friday -- and he was supposedly working on a cutter. But Vicideo took him deep, to opposite field, no less, and he did it with style.
The 19-year-old Viciedo crushed a 2-1 cutter from Jon Garland into the right-center-field stands to lead off the second, adding a combination bat flip and hand movement made popular by Juan Uribe to signify the certainty of connection.
Ozzie Guillen and Paul Konerko were quick to praise Viciedo, but Konerko's praise contained some (perhaps) unintended levity.
"He has that same Alexei mind-set — if it's coming at me, I'm hitting," Konerko said. "But he's good and can hit everything. I'm envious of those guys. They are pretty mindless up there."
I don't know what I find funnier, the thought that Viciedo could be even more undisciplined at the plate than Ramirez or Konerko essentially calling him the the Cuban Scarecrow.
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Gordon Beckham has also flaunted some flair, flipping his bat after taking a walk in Thursday's game with the Rockies, and drawn praise from veterans and coaches alike. Scott Merkin has given him the "ballplayer" tag, which usually is reserved for scrappy white guys with limited upside. Though, I suspect it must be strange for Merkin to see what an actual top prospect looks like.
If a T-Rex busted through my door right now, I'd probably be at such a loss for words, I'd describe him as "big, dinosaur" like John Candy in the The Great Outdoors.
- Aaron Poreda gave up homer and a single to the first two major leaguers he faced (Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson, respectively) in a "B" game back in Glendale, but regained his composure to retire the next 6 (unnamed) batters he faced.
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No way -- Viciedo does the Juan Uribe jazz hands after hitting the ball hard? Fucking sweeeeeet.
by CWSKeith on Feb 27, 2009 10:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I really rather prefer NOT to be reminded of Uribe. I always hated that clown.
my president is white.
by JoeCoolMan24 on Feb 28, 2009 12:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
ooo ooo uribe!
I don't need to look at fancy stats
to see if a guy is good or not. You might have to.
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 30, 2008 4:16 PM CST
by omnipotent grab on Feb 28, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The rest of the good quote from konerko....
“You look at his arm, his hands, his bat speed — it’s going to be tough for that guy not to be a good player,” Konerko said. “You can tell he’s good. Has the same mannerisms like Alexei, but is more of a power hitter, a power guy body. With him, it’s just polishing up and getting ready to go, get used to playing over here.”
So if you have your choice between Viciedo or Fields learning at the big league level, don’t you have to go with Dayan…. unless he is seriously over matched. I know it’s 2 games into spring and it was jon garland but he went the other way with it. This guy has so much potential, the thought of him turning into a damn good ball player would give us another core player for the future.
i just took a hug leap on the jump to conclusions mat.
Tom Smykowski: Well, all right. It was a “Jump to Conclusions” mat. You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor, and it would have different conclusions written on it that you could jump to.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 27, 2009 10:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
you guys are acting as if Jon Garland is Scott Ruffcorn for god sake.
He has been a pretty successful pitcher in his career. It is more impressive hitting a homer vs. Garland than hitting one vs. some guy who never made the league and is just an extra body in spring training for crying out loud.
Kenwo4life=ratings
by KenWo4LiFe on Feb 27, 2009 10:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
not at all.
I tend to think that early in spring training the hitters have the edge. Pitcher are concentrating on new pitches and starting to get their stamina back. The air is “thinner” so breaking balls move less.
I wasn’t trying to take anything away from him. In fact i thought my entire post was speaking of my optimism for his career outlook.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 27, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually I think its the other way around
the hitters haven’t faced game action in a long time… i watched the mlb network and Sean Casey, Harold Reynolds and Joe Magraine all agreed that the pitchers are farther ahead than the hitters this early in the spring.
Kenwo4life=ratings
by KenWo4LiFe on Feb 28, 2009 1:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well Darin Jackson on the first sox broadcast,
Said that the hitters are way ahead of the……….
wait a minute…. i really can’t quote DJ
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 1:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
that was supposed to be first spring training broadcast on the radio.
btw…. I didn’t think that it was possible to dislike dj anymore than i did last year. Wow was i wrong. One game of his spring training radio broadcast prompted me to run a television cable into my garage.
I remember listening to stone and Farmer last year and enjoying the knowledge and friendly banter. That is all gone now. I can only hope that Stone will continue to elevate Hawk to palatable like he did last year when he was filling in for DJ. It won’t happen but Farmer and Stone on television would be gold for me.
Off subject – Does anyone listen to Hamp and Holmes from 10-12 weekdays? This has to be the worst show on the air anywhere. Listening to Hamp fumble through commercials and say um, ugh, and ah 10 times a minute was laughable for a week or 2. Now it’s the only radio show that i refuse to listen to. They pine on and on about the bulls, and listening to hamptons stories from the super bowl that was 24 years ago.
sorry had to vent that out there.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 1:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Not as bad as Murph IMO
Boers and Bernstein is the only major show I listen to on that station, I still like Hockey night in Chicago and The White Sox report. Jessie rogers baseball show on sunday isn’t that bad either.
by 815Sox on Feb 28, 2009 9:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
My rank
Boers and Bernstein – i don’t always agree with them but love the way they push people’s buttons.
Mully and Hanley – informative and they seem to get a lot of good interviews.
Murph – he just refuses to disagree with anyone, takes too many idiot callers.
Hamp and Holmes – just brutal.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i hate b and b
mully and hanley is the only listenable option in my opinion
"KenWO
no point in arguing with people who are blinded from reality..."
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 29, 2008 6:49 PM
by Illini0509 on Feb 28, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's also kind of the point
I’d be more impressed if Viciedo was hitting Jarrod Parker or Max Scherzer, they both have something to prove.
Garland has a spot in the rotation, this is his 9th big league camp. He knows what he has to do to get himself into shape — and he doesn’t give two shits if that means he’s serving up meatballs to 19 year olds in his second innning of work on the spring.
Twitter: @SouthSideCheat
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by The Cheat on Feb 27, 2009 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Where did the Great Outdoors bit come from?
Great movie, btw.
"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
by Shoeless In SC on Feb 28, 2009 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
there's no reason to start him off on the big league club
particularly on the basis of a hot spring. this is his age 20 season.
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 1:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i understand that....
but what if the guy continues to rake?? what if fields strikes out 25 percent of his at bats? I think if that happens you gotta give it to the kid. If they are both equal you give the job to fields until he proves that he stinks (which will be sometime around may 15th)
Kenwo4life=ratings
by KenWo4LiFe on Feb 28, 2009 1:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
what if fields strikes out 25%
There should be no if in that sentence. He’s struck out 30% of his entire career. He’s 26 yrs old. I think that 25% would show a dramatic improvement. I’m not saying he isn’t capable of improving, but the only way he’s not going to strike out 100 times is if he’s on the bench a lot.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 1:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
that's kind of the point though
if he rakes, he comes up. josh isn’t good enough to get in his way.
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No reason...?
If he goes most of the spring mashing the ball to all fields and showing that he’s a capable defender why wouldn’t you consider it? and please don’t tell me josh fields… We’ve paid him big league money and other big leaguers are taking notice. In 2 days he is already getting team mates praises. I haven’t heard anyone comment on josh fields good arm, hands or bat speed…?
People said the same thing about alexei last year… That he should get acquainted in AA or AAA. I know they are completely different players but it’s not like this guy was playing college ball last year…
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 1:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
They're not paying him $10mm to sit in the minors for long
If he can play some defense I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing soon.
Wilder Bilked Money from Sox to Fund Struggling Gay Bar
by ChicagoPete on Feb 28, 2009 6:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
the SEC is probably about equal to Cuba.
if he hits he comes up. it’s not that hard.
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 5:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No reason...
Age is less a factor with someone who has been playing semi pro ball for the past 4 years.
What about the Uptons? Billy Butler? A-Rod? These guys made it to the show early. Just saying, the examples out there are few and far between, but I don’t see why he shouldn’t be on the 40 man.
"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
by Shoeless In SC on Feb 28, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
since when were we talking about the 40 man?
he’s already on that.
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i thought white guys with higher upside (like pedroia, that motherfuck) can be referred to as grinders
by onlysoxfaninboston on Feb 27, 2009 10:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I always felt grinder was a backhanded compliment...
Like man this guy, he tries really hard. He gets the most out of his talent but his talent level is a 7.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 27, 2009 10:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Viciedo is 19, I'm glad to see KW and Ozzie think he's good enough for a ST invite
But he should be at Birmingham at least a year, probably two. Let him play everday and improve his conditioning and defense while building a nice sample at the plate. If he mashes then bring him in when he’s 21, 22.
by madvillian on Feb 27, 2009 11:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
wasnt jr 19 when he started in the big leagues?
by onlysoxfaninboston on Feb 27, 2009 11:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
most of the top 20 players in history started early, I don't think Dayan is one of those guys.
by madvillian on Feb 27, 2009 11:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He reminds me of a young Big Frank
His swing, like a god.
Wilder Bilked Money from Sox to Fund Struggling Gay Bar
by ChicagoPete on Feb 28, 2009 6:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree he should start in the minors, AA or AAA, but I disagree with the length
If he can mash and is ready to come up, bring him up. I think 2 years is too long for a guy who will be expected to produce at both AA and AAA.
my president is white.
by JoeCoolMan24 on Feb 28, 2009 12:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
In my mind
2009 is a roll of the dice: weak division, who knows what will happen.
But so far based on this spring, I think the 2010 sox are going to be a force to be reckoned with: Beckham, Viciedo, Poreda – oh, my.
White Sox: Trying to roll a hard six.
by vince_ on Feb 28, 2009 5:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I agree.
Next year looks pretty rosey IMO.
Danks, Floyd, Poreda (hopefully he develops some more and makes the rotation instead of sticking in the bullpen)
Q!, Alexei, Beckham, Viciedo, Flowers, Allen…
Should be an exciting infusion of youth and talent.
"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
by Shoeless In SC on Feb 28, 2009 9:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't help but wonder
How rosey things would look if we still had Sweeney, Gio and DLS though.
"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
by Shoeless In SC on Feb 28, 2009 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well DLS still aint pitching so hed be a null prospect.
I don't need to look at fancy stats
to see if a guy is good or not. You might have to.
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 30, 2008 4:16 PM CST
by omnipotent grab on Feb 28, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
and Sweeney looks mediocre and Gio sucks
Let it go (meant for SC)
by Crede's Crew on Feb 28, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i've actually come around on Sweeney
since it’s looking like he’s a solid CF. especially since he’s better than anything we’re going to be putting in CF.
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 5:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
*against RHP
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney I think will be a serviceable CF
Especially, as you say, compared to the crap we have thrown out there.
Plus, he is still young
I look at Gio and DLS and still see potential, as they are still both very young.
Carter, yes. Still young. Still raking.
Cunningham… meh. Not so much.
But still, I’d rather have Sweeney, DLS, and Gio here than a year of the Awesome Swisher. It’s easy to say that now, hindsight is 20-20, but I’m pretty sure I said the same thing when the trade went down.
"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
by Shoeless In SC on Feb 28, 2009 11:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Id prefer 4 more years of Swisher over any amount of time with Jeff Marquez and Goggles.
But Obviously Kenny wouldnt.
I don't need to look at fancy stats
to see if a guy is good or not. You might have to.
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 30, 2008 4:16 PM CST
by omnipotent grab on Mar 1, 2009 12:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
damn right
The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.
by The Wizard on Mar 1, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
things would look rosier with cortes and cunningham
But Frank Thomas was always his own guy, he always lived by some sort of code that wasn’t especially clear to anyone but him.
by U-God on Feb 28, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still on the Chris Young bandwagon. He'd look perfect next to Q
and his homer happy swing would play nicely at the Cell.
by madvillian on Feb 28, 2009 1:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Chris Young sucks so far, still young but his obp is awful.
I don't need to look at fancy stats
to see if a guy is good or not. You might have to.
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 30, 2008 4:16 PM CST
by omnipotent grab on Mar 1, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Nunez, Betimet and Marquez... for Sweeney, Gio, and DLS
Would you really be willing to give up all that talent..?
DLS is the one that might hurt a bit.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by ElDiablo on Feb 28, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
gio is still the likeliest of the bunch to hurt.
he maintained his k rate in the majors. needs to cut the walks. i bet he will.
southsidesox.com - now the best place on the interwebs for chicago white sox analysis and discussion.
by larry on Feb 28, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm gonna peg Sweeney as a nice 4th outfielder or starter until his arb clock runs out
Then he’s getting rather expensive for a corner outfielder that doesn’t have much pop. Still, he’s a nice player to have around, certainly better than Owens and Wise. If he finds some power he’ll be a solid starter even as a 5-7 million dollar guy.
DLS, we’ll see if he can stay healthy.
Gio, obviously struggled mightily in his first big league stint, but I agree with Larry, he still looks like a good middle of the rotation starter down the road.
by madvillian on Feb 28, 2009 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
there's evidence enough to suggest that Sweeney's a legit CF
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 5:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
curious - what's this evidence enough?
southsidesox.com - now the best place on the interwebs for chicago white sox analysis and discussion.
by larry on Feb 28, 2009 5:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
"evidence enough to suggest"
he’s a +9 OF overall according to bUZR and his FSR position neutral is a 67. To go from OF to CF in bUZR, I’m pretty sure you subtract 7.5 (per Tango), which is still slightly above average. 67 is a little low for the elite CFs, but it’s pretty much in line with his non-fan scouting reports from what i recall. CHONE projects him at +2. His milb total zone numbers are good (which you’d expect given the previous sentence).
how much to the have to pay the Players -- that's what she said -- of the league like BA?
by colintj on Feb 28, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Was your deal with 7/11 as lucritive as the Sox deal with them?
I don't need to look at fancy stats
to see if a guy is good or not. You might have to.
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 30, 2008 4:16 PM CST
by omnipotent grab on Mar 1, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If only......
we could get Jeremy Reed back……… seriously tho, when was the last time we gave up a prospect that really came back to bite us in the ass? We have definately robbed more than been robbed.
by jfbrens on Feb 28, 2009 5:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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