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White Sox Minor League Update: August 14, 2021

After nine games (and eight losses) in the system on Friday, it’s a winning day, with some amazing pitching efforts in rookie ball

By Brett Ballantini
Hitting in the 9-hole, Wilber Sánchez was the offensive star for the ACL White Sox on Saturday.
Sean Williams/South Side Sox

Julie Brady is going to murder me.

First, her wifi blows up on Thursday, and her hard work on that night’s game doesn’t get published. Then, on Friday, there’s a whopping nine games to cover — eight of them losses.

Tonight, due to rain, suspensions, and even a peculiar, scheduled day off on a Saturday for Charlotte ... just three games (and two wins!).

Sorry, Julie.

So, the Saturday madness begins with the Charlotte Knights with a scheduled off-day for a weekend date in mid-August.

The Knights are 31-57, in last place in the Triple-A East/Southeast Division, 25 games out of first and five full games behind sixth-place Norfolk. Charlotte is the worst team not only in the Triple-A East League, but in all of Triple-A baseball, and its -93 run differential is also the worst in all of Triple-A.

Birmingham’s game hosting the Chattanooga Lookouts was suspended in the seventh inning, due to rain, deadlocked 4-4.

We’ll get the full recap with Darren Black tomorrow, but here’s a teaser: Yasmani Grandal is having a horrible game at DH, with three Ks in three at-bats. Romy González has attempted to singlehandedly offset that horribleness, with a double and two-run homer in three at-bats. Davis Martin started and Jake Elliott ended tonight’s action with two innings apiece of scoreless ball, but sandwiched in-between was four runs surrendered by Peter Tago.

Winston-Salem didn’t even get to start its game tonight, due to rain:

The Dash are 33-55, two games better than the Knights, but still good for last place in the High-A East/South Division, 29 1⁄2 games out of first and four full games behind sixth-place Asheville. Winston-Salem is the worst team not only in the High-A East League, but in all of High-A baseball, and its -133 run differential is also the worst in all of High-A.

Hey, speaking of last-place teams, here’s your Low-A trailers, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, losing again in fab fashion. (Ironically, there is one Low-A team, the Visalia Rawhide, with a worse record and run differential than Kanny, although after tonight’s loss the CBs may have overtaken the broken crown.)

As for the game, well. Jesus Valles wore it for Kanny, surrendering 13 hits and eight runs (six earned) in four innings, all in an economical 79 tosses. The offense had no one with multiple hits, while still racking up 14 strikeouts against ... no walks. We are 89 games into the season and this is the slop that is still being served in Kannapolis, no growth, no discipline. I know we are told not to hand-wring over team results at any minors level, but holy smokes, Kanny sucks.

Poll

Yep, Kannapolis lost again on Saturday. Who was the MVP?

This poll is closed

  • 41%
    Wilber Sánchez: 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, K, LOB
    (15 votes)
  • 13%
    Garvin Alston Jr.: 2 2⁄3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K
    (5 votes)
  • 0%
    Kohl Simas: 1 1⁄3 IP, H, WP, 15 pitches/11 strikes
    (0 votes)
  • 44%
    The Visalia Rawhide, for somehow being worse than the Cannon Ballers
    (16 votes)
36 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Yep, Kannapolis lost again on Saturday. Who was the Cold Cat?

This poll is closed

  • 62%
    Jesus Valles: 4 IP, 13 H, 8 R/6 ER, 3 K, 3 HR, LOSS
    (23 votes)
  • 0%
    Samil Polanco: 0-for-4, 2 K, E
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    AJ Gill: 0-for-4, 2 K, LOB
    (0 votes)
  • 37%
    The Cannon Ballers coaching staff, for a horrible product for 3 1⁄2 months
    (14 votes)
37 votes total Vote Now

The ACL White Sox offense was pretty atrocious, but man, the pitching! A seven-inning shutout, on four hits, against a 21-win Dodgers club. Wow. Seriously, everyone was terrific, and Tanner McDougal earned the win in his pro debut with an immaculate inning!

Poll

Hey, the ACL White Sox won on Saturday. Who was the MVP?

This poll is closed

  • 84%
    Tanner McDougal: IP, 3 K, immaculate inning in his first pro game, WIN
    (38 votes)
  • 11%
    Gil Luna Jr.: 2 IP, 2 BB, 5 K, HOLD
    (5 votes)
  • 0%
    Wilfred Veras: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 LOB
    (0 votes)
  • 4%
    Johnabiell Laureano: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, LOB, RF assist at 1B
    (2 votes)
45 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Hey, the ACL White Sox won on Saturday. Who was the Cold Cat?

This poll is closed

  • 34%
    Cameron Butler: 0-for-2, BB, 2 K, 3 LOB
    (13 votes)
  • 5%
    Anthony Espinoza: 0-for-3, RBI, 3 LOB
    (2 votes)
  • 60%
    Colson Montgomery: 0-for-3, K, 2 LOB
    (23 votes)
38 votes total Vote Now

And yet the unqualified game of a short day was the DSL’s effort, at home but a heavy underdog vs. 17-5 San Diego. The White Sox held San Diego to two hits and just one walk — against 17 Ks! Norge Vera started the game and recorded three Ks in his first professional inning, and the three relievers chasing him combined for 14 more; special kudos to Jorge Ferrer, who punched out seven in four innings, earning the win.

And there was some offense, too, with the first run coming home on a double steal with runners at first and third — go ahead and thrill ’em, Luis Pineda! In fact, the White Sox ran wild on the Padres this morning, swiping five bags without being caught.

Poll

Hey, the DSL White Sox won on Saturday, too. Who was the MVP?

This poll is closed

  • 43%
    Norge Vera: IP, 3 K in his first professional game
    (19 votes)
  • 56%
    Jorge Ferrer: 4 IP, H, BB, 7 K, WIN
    (25 votes)
  • 0%
    Emerson Talavera: 3 IP, 5 K, SAVE
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Victor Quezada: 1-for-3, R, K, 2 SB
    (0 votes)
44 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Hey, the DSL White Sox won on Saturday, too. Who was the Cold Cat?

This poll is closed

  • 78%
    Alberto Bernal: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K, 2 LOB
    (22 votes)
  • 7%
    Layant Tapia: 0-for-3, R, BB, K, E
    (2 votes)
  • 14%
    Randel Mondesi: 0-for-3, LOB
    (4 votes)
28 votes total Vote Now

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