This week:
- After leaving Brent Morel in A+ for the entire season in order to facilitate the ultimately futile Dayan Viciedo as 3B experiment, the White Sox promoted Morel from AA to AAA after just over 200 plate appearances. The final offensive numbers at Birmingham for the plus defender are.324/.375/.434.
- The corresponding move was the demotion of C.J. Retherford to Birmingham. He's been utterly disappointing this year, putting up a feeble .201/.249/.321. His supporters can no longer say that he's hit everywhere he's played. He needs to turn things around quickly because his kind can turn into an organizational player just as quickly.
- Jordan Danks:.236/.309/.362.
- Jared Mitchell spoke to the media ahead of his gig representing the White Sox at Monday's MLB Draft. He said that he's been told the surgery won't affect his speed (good bedside manner) and that he's begun doing lower body work at his rehab base in Baton Rouge. He'll be back in time to play some form of fall/winter ball.
- Other injuries have become a bit of a problem. First, Kannapolis catcher Miguel Gonzalez (.229/.263/.344) sustained a contusion on his right thumb that has kept him out of all but two games since May 26. Dayan Viciedo (.295/.330/.523) sat out three games with an undisclosed ailment. Most distressingly, Trayce Thompson (.236/.296/.458) had surgery on his broken right thumb, into which four pins were inserted to stabilize the bone. He'll be out for about two months.
- This week's "Player Who Needs to be Promoted" is Kannapolis OF Kyle Colligan. The 23 year old was drafted in the 12th round in 2009. So far his line this season is .295/.379/.459. He's got a bit of speed, as he's 30 for 38 in career stolen bases. While he's predominantly played CF so far in his career, some have questioned whether he can play it at higher levels. His fate is probably tied to last week's PWNTBP, Justin Greene. Expect both to be promoted later this month after Winston-Salem have clinched their first half title and the draft has infused some new blood into the organization.
- Dan Hudson: 11 GS, 58.1 IP, 56 H, 18 BB, 67 K.
- Tyler Flowers: .209/.315/.418. He suggested that the cause of his troubles was an enforced change in his swing mechanics. If true, it validates my concern that the White Sox would miss the offensive forest for the strikeout tree.