This Month in White Sox Minor League Baseball

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 9:00 AM CDT in White Sox Minors

This month:

RHP Terry Doyle will be the lone White Sox representative at the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game (live tonight on MLB Network at 7:10pm central). This game is essentially a showcase for the top talents in the AFL, as well the league's standout performers. Doyle, who just turned 26, is certainly more of the latter. Until his most recent start, he'd been pretty much unhitttable over 19.2 IP. He got beat up on Wednesday but his overall numbers remain impressive: 21.1 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 16 K. In the very hitter friendly AFL, a 0.66 WHIP is pretty extraordinary even in that small sample size. Baseball America sums Doyle up about as well as I could: "Righthander has dominated AFL with average stuff and good pitchability."
There are only two AFL stadiums equipped with Pitch F/X and, fortunately, one of Doyle's recent starts was at one of them. (Link to data). There wasn't much in the data that I hadn't been able to guess at from watching him a few times but it's always nice to get corroboration. His fastball was 90-93 MPH. Since he knows he will be throwing fewer pitches in his starts in the AFL as opposed to the regular season, he may be getting a tick or two more than usual on it. In any event, it's not a particularly good pitch, obviously lacking velocity and it doesn't have much movement. He does, however, appear to utilize a two-seamer on occasion that did show some nice movement. In an email exchange, Colin pointed out that he wasn't throwing it to righties, even though it looks like it would be effective against them. Both the data and Colin also confirmed what I had heard and observed about Doyle: he does have a good curveball when he's on and he can effectively throw it against righties and lefties. His changeup and slider were not impressive. I thought I'd previously seen him throw a cutter that was mid to upper 80s but I'm not seeing it in this start. Colin suggested that he may also be throwing a splitter or circle change and it shows promise. The repertoire doesn't suggest more than a back-end starter or swingman, though his solid command is a plus in his favor. He will hopefully get an inning of work tonight, which will let us refine the analysis.
I'll quickly go over the other White Sox players in the AFL after the jump.

RHP Jake Petricka may be the best prospect the club sent. As Doyle is the White Sox' designated starting pitcher, Petricka is pitching in relief. His numbers are solid for a guy with no experience above A ball: 13 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 12 K.

I think SS Tyler Saladino is certainly the best position player prospect sent and he may well be the best prospect, too. In deference to the prospects of other clubs, Saladino has been playing all over the infield. His defense at shortstop has elicited favorable reviews so far. For another guy without upper minors experience, his offense, while below average, shows one big positive: he's making contact, which suggests he won't be over-matched when he does reach AA/AAA. .306/.343./.387 in 67 PA.

OF Brandon Short is also a player of note. His major drawback is a complete lack of patience, as he managed just a 6% walk rate at Birmingham in 2011. He's done better so far this fall: .281/.366/.494 in 101 PA.

C Mike Blanke is the final position player. Just prior to the start of the season, he replaced Josh Phegley who got hurt yet again and had to withdraw. He's on the taxi squad, which means he can only play on Wednesdays and Saturdays. .206/.270/.471 in 37 PA.

RHP Nevin Griffith is now just a fringe prospect, if that. He lacks control and that hasn't changed in the AFL: 11.1 IP, 12 H, 7 BB, 5 K.

RHP Brandon Kloess is nearly 27 years old. Maybe he's a late bloomer: 9.1 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 14 K.

In the Venezuelan Winter League, SS Eduardo Escobar is doing his usual slap hitting thing for La Guaira: .306/.346/.327 in 55 PA. RHP Gregory Infante is getting beat up: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 7 BB, 2 K. OF Jose Martinez is not playing much: .350/.409/.400 in 22 PA.

Over in the Dominican: RHP Jhonny Nunez, who was the last remnant of the disastrous Swisher trade, is now a minor league free agent: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K. The hardest working man in the DR, Alejandro De Aza: .360/.484/.560 in 30 PA.

Later this month, we may see quite a few guys in Puerto Rico. RHPs Nathan Jones and Dan Remenowsky, as well as LHP Charlie Leesman, are listed on the roster of Indios de Mayaguez but have not played. Similarly, LHP Hector Santiago and INF Osvaldo Martinez are on the roster of Gigantes de Carolina.

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Highly underrated, Mark Kotsay became the best defensive designated hitter in American League history in 2010.

by onlysoxfaninbasel on Nov 5, 2011 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

A most happy birthday to KenWo.

You OPOS.

"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"

by U-God on Nov 5, 2011 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

How does Doyle compare to...

Axelrod and our former AAA killer Carlos Torres? I know Axelrod throws a slider instead of a curve, just wondering how those three kind of compare to eachother in terms of ceiling, floor, stuff, etc.

by polodude017 on Nov 5, 2011 1:25 PM CDT reply actions

yes. an AAAA projection is appropriate.

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions

What does BA mean by "pitchability"?

"On-base percentage is one of the most dangerous concepts of the last seven, eight years." -TLR

by Uribe Down on Nov 5, 2011 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

essentially

it’s a high pitcher IQ. knowing how best to pitch batters in whatever situations.

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

madduxian?

by craigws on Nov 5, 2011 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

well, pretty much all the great pitchers have very good pitchability. i wouldn't name it after any pitcher.

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

livan hernandez?

wasn’t hawk drooling over him and how he’s a “pitcher?” of course, he did pretty much shut down the sox in that game.

by ruffster on Nov 5, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks.

Am I wrong to assume that one would need to have good pitchability to make it as a starter in the majors? Or do a good percentage survive on stuff alone?

"On-base percentage is one of the most dangerous concepts of the last seven, eight years." -TLR

by Uribe Down on Nov 5, 2011 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

superior stuff can take you very far.

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions

nolan ryan?

by craigws on Nov 5, 2011 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Sing it!

`cause he’s got pitchability
Walk, pitchability
Talk, Pitchability
Smile, Pitchability
Charm, pitchability
Love, pitchability

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three-run homers."

by ThreeRunHomer on Nov 6, 2011 5:42 AM CDT up reply actions

this is a lack of pitchability.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole was his own worst enemy in failing to get out of the first inning Saturday night. The critical sequence was against Atlanta Braves first baseman Joey Terdoslavich, who was completely fooled by back-to-back changeups from Cole (unsurprising, as it’s his best pitch). So with two strikes, Cole had several options — tripling up on the changeup, throwing a fastball up above the zone, etc. — but instead chose perhaps the worst option of all, a 97 mph four-seamer right down the middle of the zone. Terdoslavich can hit a fastball, and in Surprise, where the ball carries really well, he hit it out. Cole’s tendency to try to blow the fastball by guys in the zone was the source of much of his trouble in college, but at that point, his coach was calling the pitches. This is pro ball now, and Cole is going to have to come up with his own pitching plan; you can’t have a plus fastball (96-98 on Saturday), plus changeup and above-average slider (up to 92), and give up five runs in the first inning on two home runs, hitters’ park or not.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog//name/lawkeith/id/7199414/seattle-mariners-left-hander-danny-hultzen-shined-afl-rising-stars-game-mlb

by larry on Nov 6, 2011 4:53 PM CST up reply actions

is this the game thread?

no badges available?!? BS.
did anyone see that mattison double? one hop smash by the first baseman to straight-away right field and he made it to second. he can really pick ’em up and put ’em down. mercy.

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Nov 5, 2011 7:26 PM CDT reply actions

The East should've started White Sox superstar pitching prospect

Terry Doyle.

by 3E8 on Nov 5, 2011 7:29 PM CDT reply actions

He pitched alright.

Two singles to lead off the inning (one hit hard), then a strikeout and double play to escape unscathed. Threw all the pitches from the pitch f/x link above except the two-seamer. Fastball ranged from 92-96. The secondary pitches were true to larry’s report. The curve was effective, he got the K with it. The change and slider were mediocre.

by 3E8 on Nov 5, 2011 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions

all the donnyacs need to read the fanshot i posted. right now.

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 7:35 PM CDT reply actions

Thank you.

"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage."

John Kenneth Galbraith

by Chiburb on Nov 5, 2011 7:41 PM CDT reply actions

O'DOYLE RULES

Kinda like Doyle

by JPSoprano80 on Nov 5, 2011 8:58 PM CDT reply actions

that AFL military appreciation game being advertised on tonight's game

is mesa at salt river, so we’ll be able to see more of white sox prospects next friday night on MLB network. definitely hope to get a look at saladino

by larry on Nov 5, 2011 9:58 PM CDT reply actions

what hawkeroo told aris before the 2011 season started

I said, ‘I’ll tell you what I think they’re going to do. This club has got a chance to be the most talented ballclub that you and I have ever been associated with.’ And I said, ‘I don’t think it’s going to get it done.’

She said, ‘What? Why?’ And I said, ‘I’ll tell you why. Last year (2010) we had a lot of talent on this club and we had a bad spring. We were flat coming out of spring training and we stayed flat all year long.’

I said, ‘This year it’s the same thing. We are flatter coming out of spring than we were last year, and I don’t see us coming out of it.’ And dad-gum it, I was right. We were flat and as the season went on, we got flatter.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111105/sports/711059839/

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Nov 6, 2011 12:26 AM CDT reply actions

Compare and contrast:

SSS gives us more info on the Sox coaches and minor leaguers in 2 weeks, than the “pros” have given us in 10 years. But I have to admit, they’re better at quoting Hawk’s 20-20 hindsight vision!

"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage."

John Kenneth Galbraith

by Chiburb on Nov 6, 2011 6:19 AM CDT up reply actions

i don't think hawk is going to make it through his four year contract. i'm worried about his brain.

also, i got to the linked story from google so was able to read it easily. i forgot that the daily herald has a pay wall for their “premium content”. the thing is, even though they are trying to block me from reading the article i can still read the whole thing. though i clearly should look into a subscription. $120.00 a year seems like a pretty sweet deal.

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Nov 6, 2011 6:48 AM CDT up reply actions

do you really think he's any different lately?

it seems like this sort of thing has been going on as long as i can remember.

by obnoxious american on Nov 8, 2011 8:17 PM CST up reply actions

THIS

I would gladly pay for this quality content (SSS). At this point I can’t even read the mundane vanilla ‘reporting’ that is Chicago daily papers. They should be questioning their existence.

And in regards to their ‘access’ what good is that access if it’s simply used to say, “Go Sox”?

by ParisSox on Nov 6, 2011 8:58 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Don't forget Donny Lucy's literary turn.

Whales! Squids! Sharks! They're everywhere! Hello, I am Poseidon! Now, when people told me I was crazy that thinly sliced roast beef would be a delicious fast-food option, I knew it was the greatest idea, and you can thank me later for Arby's.

by Jim Margalus on Nov 6, 2011 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

The season was like if all my friends came over to my house and we drank flat soda and lay flat on the floor and put The Unbearable Flatness of Being on the DVD player and had ourselves a flat party, dadgummit.

a VERY AVERAGE Sox Machine refugee

by big_fun on Nov 6, 2011 11:40 AM CST up reply actions