This Week In White Sox Minor League Baseball

by larry on May 7, 2011 1:00 PM CDT in White Sox Minors

This week:

Ah, 2009. That was a good year for the Birmingham Barons. Gordon Beckham, Tyler Flowers, Dayan Viciedo, Jordan Danks, Brandon Allen, Daniel Hudson and Aaron Poreda gave fans something to dream on. The 2011 Barons, not so much. And maybe that's a good thing, considering how things have developed (or not) for most of that 2009 team.
The position players are particularly weak. OF Brandon Short made himself kind of a prospect with a good 2010 for the Dash. The promotion to AA is traditionally considered the most difficult and Short has fulfilled his part in that stereotype with a .229/.289/.371 performance so far. Importantly, though, his strikeout (21%) and walk (5%) rates are in line with his minor league career averages. The noticeable difference is in BABIP, where he's got a .278, compared to a .372 last season and almost as high rates in prior seasons. Batted ball classifications are notoriously unreliable, particularly in the minors, but the data doesn't reveal a marked difference in those. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's weak contact, probably it's a mixture of both of those and other factors. He's at least an interesting guy to be watching as the season goes on.
Josh Phegley is not a catcher. Our esteemed Managing Editor and noted wordsmith describes him behind the plate "as effective as a piece of propped-up plywood." And that may be charitable. So far, he has 7 passed balls, inflating his career totals to a prodigious 26 in just 102 games. I've never seen a rate like that and, if anyone has, I'd love to know a "catcher" who has. Phegley at least throws out baserunners (59% kill rate this season), which is the least he can do. Phegley is supposed to be one of those offense-first catchers. However, he's never shown that as a pro. His .228/.268/.402 this season is in line with his career line. Yes, he had a blood disorder and maybe his removed spleen is like Adam Dunn's removed appendix. He needs to start showing something soon.

The pitching is marginally more intriguing, though the best case for all of them is probably reliever. LHP Charlie Leesman is currently starting: 25.1 IP, 18 H, 12 BB, 24 K, though he's been prone to wildness with 3 HBP and 6 WP (though keep in mind who is catching him). He's going to need to tame that, and with that hopefully reduce the walks a bit, because he's not going to keep up such a low H/9.

RHP Dan Remenowsky is making a mockery of the whole AA is tough axiom, as he continues to be utterly filthy as a pro. Despite only 39.1 IP at Winston-Salem in 2010 before injuring his knee, the 2008 non-drafted free agent just piles up the stats: 13 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 17 K. No, I didn't make any mistakes. That's a 0.385 WHIP. His stuff isn't overwhelming, with a fastball around 90 MPH, but deception and excellent movement as well as a four pitch arsenal continue to get outs, despite oft-repeated concerns that more advanced hitters will find him out.

RHP Gregory Infante has better stuff, meaning he's more like to have a future as a late-inning reliever. His line this year, 12.1 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 8 K, is lacking in the strikeouts he's been known for. I suspect that may be the result of a focus on developing his secondary offerings to complement his upper 90s fastball.

Others of note: 27 year old RHP Brian Omogrosso continues to tease: 9.1 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 12 K. Maybe this is the year he stays healthy. But don't hold your breath. RHP Nate Jones has just about stopped teasing: 13.1 IP, 15 H, 11 BB, 11 K. RHP Nevin Griffith: 23.1 IP, 17 H, 18 BB, 21 K.

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Comments

Do you think Remenowsky ends up in a Sox uniform sometime this year?

How has Jared Mitchell looked so far this year? I haven’t heard much about him, so I assume that’s a bad thing.

by Fergie3108 on May 7, 2011 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

yes.

and striking out way, way too much.

by larry on May 7, 2011 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Damn.

Thanks for the info, though.

by Fergie3108 on May 7, 2011 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions

an inspiring read

"I wonder if converting Peavy to a closer role would be best? Help keep him healthy and help solidify the pen a bit." - Bent Over Beckham

by BoeJouma on May 7, 2011 1:41 PM CDT reply actions

27 is old for the minors

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 May 7, 2011 1:49 PM CDT reply actions

Fewest Games Caught for every Passed Ball in a MLB season (min 25 PB's)

                Catcher                 PBs     G Caught   G Per PB Rate
1	Geno Petralli (1987 Tex-AL)	35	63         1.85
2	John Henry (1911 Was-AL)	25	51         2.04
3	Bob Uecker (1967 Atl-NL)	25	59         2.36
4	J.C. Martin (1965 Chi-AL)	33	112        3.39
#       Josh Phegley (Minors Career)    26      102        3.92
5	Earl Williams (1972 Atl-NL)	28	116        4.14
6	Bob Didier (1969 Atl-NL)	27	114        4.22
7	Mike MacFarlane (1995 Bos-AL)	26	111        4.27
8	Gus Triandos (1959 Bal-AL)	28	125        4.46
9	Nig Clarke (1907 Cle-AL)	25	115        4.60
10	Ted Simmons (1975 Stl-NL)	28	154        5.50
11	Dick Dietz (1970 SF-NL)	        25	139        5.56
12      Jason Varitek (1999 Bos-AL)	25	140        5.60

Phegley’s rate would put him in top 5 all time at 25 PB’s minimum.

Earl Williams won rookie of the year honors in 1971 and had a decent career.
Mike MacFarlane played 13 seasons and had an okay career.
Gus Triandos was a three time AS and finished with 138 PB’s in 992 G’s at C.
Ted Simmons was an 8-time AS and one can make a case for him in the HoF.
Dick Dietz was an AS once over 8 seasons.
We all know about Varitek. He also hasn’t allowed more than 10 PBs in a season since 2002.

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 1:50 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

uecker.

i should have known.

considering macfarlane was actually a decent catcher, i’m going to chalk that year up to wakefield. varitek probably the same thing.

by larry on May 7, 2011 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

triandos had to deal with a knuckler as well

"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 May 7, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

petralli, too, i should have mentioned.

hough.

by larry on May 7, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

well, if phegley doesn't learn to hit like some of those guys he won't have a career behind the dish.

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

So he better get quippin'.

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 May 7, 2011 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

...

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I know the blood disorder probably really hurt him.

But he’s really shown nothing apart from his short stint at the end of last season. I think they rushed him a little to try to make up for lost time.

by polodude017 on May 7, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions

or he had no chance in the first place

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions

how's Petricky (sp?) (??) doing

brain cramp. maybe even a stroke. am i even close to spelling the name of a Sox pitching prospect?

by son_of_sophist on May 7, 2011 2:49 PM CDT reply actions

he's doing fine, for a 23 year old in low A.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=petric001jac

by larry on May 7, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Larry, when is it time to bring up Viciedo for good?

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 7, 2011 2:52 PM CDT reply actions

Obviously for good because he has no more options left.

and won’t pass through waivers.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 7, 2011 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

the beginning of next year

so he can start in left

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

viciedo may be eligible for a fourth option

because he won’t have five pro seasons at the end of this season. but we can cross that bridge if we need to.

by larry on May 7, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

option is good for the whole year

if they bring him up tomorrow, he can be sent back down two days later with no waiver danger. And then bring him back up etc.

by coffeepac on May 8, 2011 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

you aren't correct.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 8, 2011 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

He is.

When a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the 25-man Major League roster, he is on “optional assignment.” One common misconception about the rules is that a player may only be “optioned out” three times. Actually, each player has three option years, and he can be sent up and down as many times as the club chooses within those three seasons.

http://assets.espn.go.com/mlb/s/transanctionsprimer.html

by Jim Margalus on May 9, 2011 1:15 AM CDT up reply actions

now is fine.

the question is whether ozzie can/will give him the appropriate playing time. that’s probably the main reason he was ticketed for the minors even before he hurt his thumb.

by larry on May 7, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

can't disrespect the veteran

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions

in whose stead will he play?

Original visitors' friend in the Lancaster County area!

by colintj on May 7, 2011 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

if we're being honest

he’s probably about as good as juan pierre would be projected to be. and with upside.

by larry on May 7, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

the problem is i don't think ozzie will let him play out there. (whole respect issue)

he should. but he wont.

It also really isn’t fair to switch dayan back to third (which i think they would do quicker than benching pierre).

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 7, 2011 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

it would be unfair to the baseball viewing public to play viciedo at third.

by larry on May 7, 2011 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

so you think he's got a league average bat right now, basically?

Original visitors' friend in the Lancaster County area!

by colintj on May 7, 2011 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions

and/or he thinks his defense is passable enough to create value

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions

of course.

by larry on May 7, 2011 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions

When they have a full-time spot to hand to him.

Which won’t be this season unless they decide to blow the team up.

by polodude017 on May 7, 2011 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions

why do you think it is being discussed now?

by craigws on May 7, 2011 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions

So all the real talent

is in Charlotte?

My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.

LET’S GO HAWKS!!!!!

by ballyb on May 7, 2011 3:10 PM CDT reply actions

the real talent is non-existent

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Our real talent

is still breast feeding.

by TasteeFreeze on May 7, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

...

I’ve read this a half dozen times, with different inflections, pauses.. I even threw in some random punctuations. It didn’t help. I still have no idea what the Hell you’re talking about.

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

our good prospects are so young they are still at the teat

whosh

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions

i'll take a 18-year old backwards monster-hitting idiot savant freak mama's boy.

by craigws on May 7, 2011 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions

and who are these good, young prospects?

Our real talent?

Take your whosh like a man, dammit. - RWShow

White Sox Baseball:
We’re so expensive, we force Christians to steal. - blackoutsox

by Shoeless In SC on May 7, 2011 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions

We can't post those kind of pictures anymore.

by TasteeFreeze on May 8, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Thank you.

Beware the cure isn't worse than the disease

by Chiburb on May 7, 2011 4:00 PM CDT reply actions

Hasn't Lilli earned his place

At least while he is still producing and Beckham isn’t

by JPSoprano80 on May 7, 2011 4:09 PM CDT reply actions

Lillibridge has more wins than John Danks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YK2-rNQfGg

by Carbiner on May 7, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

And more saves than Thornton.

by Jim Margalus on May 7, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Jim

When does your book go on Amazon? Might buy it but I like my free 2 day shipping so that’s pretty much the only place I buy anything online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YK2-rNQfGg

by Carbiner on May 7, 2011 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm butting up against the back end of the waiting period soon.

So it should be within a week or two.

by Jim Margalus on May 7, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Pierre - LF Ramirez - SS Dunn - DH Konerko - 1B Quentin RF Pierzynski - C Rios - CF Beckham - 2B Morel - 3B Floyd - P

by larry on May 7, 2011 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

lets motherfucking WIN!

by blackoutsox on May 7, 2011 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions

this

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 7, 2011 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

it's pronounced "wee-un",

go bulls

2011 WhiteSox Baseball: we're all in

by OznCoop on May 7, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

little one?

by craigws on May 7, 2011 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions

D.Rose

2011 WhiteSox Baseball: we're all in

by OznCoop on May 7, 2011 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions

should be our every day lineup

no matter if the team is in a slump or not

"I wonder if converting Peavy to a closer role would be best? Help keep him healthy and help solidify the pen a bit." - Bent Over Beckham

by BoeJouma on May 7, 2011 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

humber was just on white sox weekly with rongey. he's on my list...

of guys i like. really answered questions well. he said the addition of a slider has really helped.
other than that nothing earth shattering, he just said he’s ready to do whatever they ask him to. when asked if the sox have talked to him about the plan for when peavy returns he said they had but wasn’t sure if it was his place to disclose that information.

trying to think of a word more disheartening than disheartening. wait, i got it....... banjaxed.

by BuehrleMan on May 7, 2011 6:44 PM CDT reply actions

i just started working with an englishman

dudes likes baseball, and has taken a liking to the sox. dude has a huge knowledge of history which i love listening to and i can describe the intricacies of baseball to which he loves listening to. let the bromance begin

"I wonder if converting Peavy to a closer role would be best? Help keep him healthy and help solidify the pen a bit." - Bent Over Beckham

by BoeJouma on May 7, 2011 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

tell him to buy 'the glory of their times'.

he’ll probably love that.

by craigws on May 7, 2011 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

dj is on with rongey now.

he is all over the white sox, saying how bad the hitting, defense and baserunning have been. you tell ’em dj!

trying to think of a word more disheartening than disheartening. wait, i got it....... banjaxed.

by BuehrleMan on May 7, 2011 7:13 PM CDT reply actions

also, he just said "hell".

he is fuming. i like this dj.

trying to think of a word more disheartening than disheartening. wait, i got it....... banjaxed.

by BuehrleMan on May 7, 2011 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions

weed man must not have answered his call.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on May 7, 2011 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions

DJ is OK when isolated

When paired with grouches like Farmer and Hawk, I think he feels he needs to lighten it up. So he engages cutesy mode.

by Jim Margalus on May 7, 2011 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

we got some WORK tahdoooooooo

"I wonder if converting Peavy to a closer role would be best? Help keep him healthy and help solidify the pen a bit." - Bent Over Beckham

by BoeJouma on May 7, 2011 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

be really, i agree

there have been times this season where he just vents and sounds like a true broadcaster, namely when the sox decide to bunt

"I wonder if converting Peavy to a closer role would be best? Help keep him healthy and help solidify the pen a bit." - Bent Over Beckham

by BoeJouma on May 7, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Guys I'm watching...

Addison Reed – I’m disappointed they are wasting him as a reliever. He’s got three solid pitches and should be tried as a starter until he falls on his face.

Jacob Petricka – Hit a little rough patch lately, but has been good overall. Should be in High-A soon.

Trayce Thompson – He’s hit better than I expected. Still young and should given the full year at Low-A. Needs to continue to hone his command of the strikezone.

Jared Mitchell – He’s really struggling with K’s, but I think we all saw that coming. I’m more disappointed in his BB rate. He took a decent amount of walks in his short stint in Low-A, so I was expecting more. Hopefully the more reps he gets, the more he improves. He’s shown good pop.

Michael Blanke – Has hit pretty well so far at Low-A. Will probably get a call to High-A at some point to make room for Miguel Gonzalez at Low-A.

Andy Wilkins – Has hit pretty well at High-A, especially considering they skipped him a level.

by polodude017 on May 7, 2011 7:22 PM CDT reply actions