This Week In White Sox Minor League Baseball

by larry on Apr 30, 2011 12:30 PM CDT in White Sox Minors

This week we'll take a look at Charlotte:

With the recent injuries to Tony Pena and Alex Rios, the talk inevitably turns to what's in the minors to replace them, should the need arise (though neither injury is currently considered serious). For bullpen help, Jhonny Nunez is the standout performer so far. The righty has thrown 12.1 innings with 5 hits and a superb 17 strikeouts against just 1 intentional walk. Journeyman RHP Josh Kinney has also pitched well: 10.2 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 15 K. Phil Rogers' boy, RHP Anthony Carter, had a horrific outing on Easter that inflated his ERA and hits but, otherwise, he's been good: 11.1 IP, 9 H, 8 K, 2 BB.
The Charlotte outfield is crowded, with four players of varying but sufficient pedigree to be considered for a call-up. Alejandro De Aza is the only one who actually has done about what he's supposed to do in the first month. The lefty is putting up his now standard .280/.345/.453 but doing a great Jordan Danks impression by striking out a third of the time, substantially higher than his usual sub-20%. Jordan Danks is also doing a great Jordan Danks with a .213/.351/.377, while striking out a third of the time. Lastings Milledge has been awful: .200/.263/.220. And Dayan Viciedo is doing the whole Cubans start slowly thing for the third straight season: .238/.270/.393.
C Tyler Flowers is playing respectably. He's been nondescript on defense, with only one passed ball and a 22% kill rate. His offense has been passable: .239/.352/.478. Strikeouts, of course, remain the concern with 18 K in 54 PA. His contact rate simply isn't major league ready.

SS Eduardo Escobar is the White Sox prospect who elicits the greatest divergence in opinion among analysts. John Sickels lumped him into the morass of 'C' prospects in his book, which wouldn't make him a top 15 prospect in the organization. Kevin Goldstein, on the other hand, ranked him the #2 prospect. Baseball America joined me in the middle ground of those two. The 22 year old is struggling offensively, as should be expected after his aggressive promotion. His .227/.331/.333 line is really only remarkable for the lack of contact he's making, as the "power" is in line with expectations and his walk rate is actually a bit higher than usual. He's been prone to bouts of excessive strikeouts in the past but one would expect the strikeouts to decline as he adjusts to the level. He's also living up to his reputation as a flashy defender who makes too many errors on routine plays, with 5 so far on the year.

The Jake Peavy Rehab Experience Tour 2011 came back from hiatus to throw a strong outing for Charlotte last night: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 8 K (83 pitches). As you can see from his line, he was focused on throwing strikes and he did a good job of that. He wasn't in any trouble until the sixth and fatigue as he approached his 85 pitch limit arguably played a role. His velocity was good, at about 90 MPH. The next stop is Jacksonville on Wednesday, where he'll pitch for the Barons.

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Comments

the minor leagues are more depressing than the major leagues are.

good gracious.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Apr 30, 2011 1:01 PM CDT reply actions

Thank you.

Beware the cure isn't worse than the disease

by Chiburb on Apr 30, 2011 1:15 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I appreciated this update.

It allows me to think about White Sox baseball without actually thinking about White Sox baseball.

"I'm the Chicago man. I'm vital in Chicago." -Willy Ohman, Act 1

by mechanical turk on Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

this.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Apr 30, 2011 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

larry & the metaphysical ponderations of the minor leagues.

by craigws on Apr 30, 2011 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Pierre7, Ram6, Q9, PK3, Dunn dh, Rios8, Aj2, Teahen5, Beck4. Humber pitching.

by larry on Apr 30, 2011 4:38 PM CDT reply actions

Dunn is playing 1st

Or at least that is what I have been hearing all day and Rongey just said it on WS Weekly

by 815Sox on Apr 30, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Pierre7, Ram6, Q9, PK dh, Dunn 3, Rios8, Aj2, Teahen5, Beck4. Humber pitching.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/white-sox/post/_/id/4626/white-soxs-lineup-430

by 815Sox on Apr 30, 2011 4:43 PM CDT reply actions

This guy is serious

He posts on every single White Sox story on ESPN

Hillerich N. Bradsby (4/30/2011 at 2:57 PM) Report Violation
It is evident that replacing Guillen with Cora won’t make things any better, but will increase intellectual communication skills. That said, Joey is obviously following the same methodolgies that have proven to be losing strategies. Why isn’t anyone talking about a potentially great replacement with Carlton Fisk? Maybe he isn’t available, but I’ll bet he would be if the price is right. Moreover, Generally, catchers have long been more successful managers than any other position. Why? Think about it: They are involved in EVERY pitch of the game! Who better? and Who Better than Fisk? Come on JR – wake up before this season ends in total disaster like it appears to be heading!

by 815Sox on Apr 30, 2011 4:51 PM CDT reply actions

catchers have not long been more successful managers than any other position.

by larry on Apr 30, 2011 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Fisk hasn't managed a game in his life

This losing streak is making people go nuts, this guy has been doing this for quite some time though. I try to avoid ESPN.com for the most part, but it is funny sometimes.

by 815Sox on Apr 30, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

even if reinsdorf fired ozzie and wanted fisk

there is no way fisk would want to do it anyway.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on May 1, 2011 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Can we trade organizations with the MLB Dodgers?

don't worry you’ve got plenty of time left by the tomb

by winningugly on Apr 30, 2011 5:30 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I'd rather have the mets

or pittsburgh

I hope Kotsay gets hit by a dump truck and slips into a coma where he is stuck forever in Baseball purgatory having to bat against a three-headed, six-armed Lefty Hydra consisting of Billy Wagner, Damaso Marte, and Randy Johnson. - Shoeless In SC
It's like trying to sneak the sun past the rooster. - Hawk Harrelson

by blackoutsox on Apr 30, 2011 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions