posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 2:28 AM
by
Jim
A first look at Danny Richar
Since
joining the Charlotte Knights on June 16, I'm not sure anybody could ask more of Danny Richar. Entering today, the infielder was 13-for-37 with six extra-base hits and a couple of stolen bases, amplifying talk that he could be the starting second baseman for the White Sox next year.
First things first, I got my first look at him today, and he looks like he could be a ballplayer.
I'll get the minor gripe out of the way, first: His throws to first weren't all that crisp. He converted all three of the routine chances he faced today, but Casey Rogowski had to contort strangely for a couple of throws. Small sample size and all, and we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Possible nitpicking aside, Richar showed some of his skills today. He struck out in his first at-bat, when his effort to get out of the way of a high and tight pitch overwhelmed his effort to check his swing.
Fortunately, I recorded his next PA, because it was a sight to behold:
He turned an 0-2 count into a 3-2 count, then fouled off eight straight pitches before taking a fastball on the hand to put runners on the corners. He couldn't help but smile after the fifth foul, and he had three more in him.
Richar showcased his speed when he scored all the way from first on Earl Snyder's routine double to left. I was low on battery, and thus could only get the last 90 feet:
In his final at-bat, Craig Hansen thwarted Richar of a single up the middle by snagging a hot shot and turning it into a 1-6-3 double play.
Right now his walk-to-strikeout ratio isn't in his favor (zero walks, 10 strikeouts), but if today was any indication, it appears that he can make pitchers work.