This Week In White Sox Minor League Baseball

This week

• Jake Peavy began his White Sox organization career with a very good 43 pitch outing: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. His next start will be August 18, likely for the Knights again. Sox Machine has video from his start. Word is that September 3 against the Cubs is the target for his first White Sox start.
• Sox Machine has been touring the White Sox minor league affiliates. For a report on Kannapolis and Jared Mitchell, go here; for a report on Birmingham and Dayan Viciedo, go here; for a report on Charlotte and Tyler Flowers, go here.
• Freddy Garcia looks like he's the next Starter Candidate 5 (election set for August 18) after a good outing in Charlotte: 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K.
• Daniel Hudson didn't have a good AAA debut: 4 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP. His second start was much, much better and what we've come to expect from Hudson: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K. Sox Machine once again provides video and analysis of this start (teaser: he thinks Hudson is not ready for the big leagues and I agree).
• Jordan Danks: .249/.342/.367 for the Barons. Most of the wind has come out of the "Danks will be ready next year" sails. Whether it was the wrist injury or just coming back to earth, Danks is looking far more mortal. The Rios acquisition may have lessened the urgency on his progress. Expect him to return to both the Arizona Fall League this year and Birmingham next season.
• The August 17 deadline for signing draft picks is quickly approaching. There hasn't been much information regarding whether the Sox will be signing anyone else. One could posit that KW's recent shopping may have consumed any cash the club could have put towards signings. The latest news I heard was that Tennessee's coach was "cautiously optimistic" about Bryan Morgado returning to school. Baseball America leaves open the possibility that an over-slot bonus would get him; however, they suggest Justin Jones will indeed be attending California. No new information on Dane Williams and Brian Goodwin, though both are very likely to attend UNC. Gonzales observes that the Sox would get a pick in 2010 if they don't sign Morgado.
• Tyler Flowers: .292/.354/.444 in AAA. He was voted by the Southern League managers as having the best strike zone judgment and as the best defensive catcher(!). C.J. Retherford garnered the best defensive 2B accolade. Why the White Sox acquired Andy Cannizaro (along with the other filler already there) to play for the Knights instead of just promoting Retherford is beyond me.
• Jared Mitchell: .288/.435/.425. He's basically been as advertised, lots of walks and lots of strikeouts.
• You wouldn't have found Christian Marrero on many prospects lists going into the season. He had a solid but unspectacular season at Kannapolis and the lefty was old for the league. He began the year at Winston-Salem and put up some good numbers (.314/.357/.482) and earned a promotion to Birmingham. He had a slow start for the Barons but has heated up and now has a line of .303/.343/.517 in AA. While he's a RF, he was playing some 1B for the Dash and began in that position for the Barons, as well, reportedly because the organization wanted to see more positional flexibility. He's recently returned to the outfield. Obviously, he has more value if he can hold down a corner outfield spot - where his plus arm can be more useful - and his bat is starting to look like it might actually be good enough, though more walks would be helpful.
• Dayan Viciedo: .278/.313/.388.
• Brent Morel has continued to have a solid season for the Dash: .276/.333/.463. I'm beginning to think the White Sox may use their "under AA" slot in the Arizona Fall League on Morel.

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