posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 11:13 PM by Jim

Top 10 White Sox prospects

...according to Baseball America, i.e. according to Phil Rogers:
  1. Gordon Beckham
  2. Aaron Poreda
  3. Clayton Richard
  4. Brandon Allen
  5. Jordan Danks
  6. Chris Getz
  7. John Shelby
  8. John Ely
  9. Cole Armstrong
  10. Eduardo Escobar
I'd probably reverse Danks and Allen because Danks' overall skill set seems to give him numerous chances to stick, but I don't have any real qualms.  I don't know anything about Escobar, but by that point, they're interchangeable, anyway.  Here's his list from last year, and Kyle McCulloch and Juan Silverio are the only real misses at this point.

Going through the chat, which is behind the BA wall, here are some more opinions:
  • Silverio is now in the low 20s.
  • Brent Morel is a plus defender who Buddy Bell likes a lot.
  • Clevelan Santeliz or Lucas Harrell could be this year's Richard.  He notes Harrell's flashes of excellence in the fall league, which, if you look at his game log, are hard to see.
  • Jon Link may be in the front of the line for back-of-the-bullpen fodder.
  • BRIAN OMOGROSSO'S GOT BLISTERS ON HIS FINGERS!
  • Dexter Carter and Daniel Hudson might start in Winston-Salem.
  • Jorge Castillo tried his hand at catching in the instructional league.
  • Nevin Griffith had Tommy John surgery and is out for all of '09.
**************************

One of the open spots on the 40-man roster has been awarded to...

Kelvim Jimenez!

Heard of him?  Neither have I, but the Sox claimed him off waivers for some reason.  He's 28, gets a lot of grounders, gives up a lot of hits, and doesn't strike out so many guys.

Hey, if he enjoys a fraction of the success of the last minor-league reliever the Sox took off Toronto's hands, the Sox will still have something.

**************************

Arizona Fall League roundup:
  • Peoria 4, Phoenix 3
    • Jordan Danks went 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
    • Carlos Torres pitched around a hit and two walks for a scoreless inning.

Comments

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Monday, November 17, 2008 11:21 PM by The Cheat
When you say Silverio is in the low 20s, are you referring to his age?

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Monday, November 17, 2008 11:23 PM by Jim Margalus
That, or his BAL.

[/gratuitous attempt to start a completely unfounded rumor.]

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Monday, November 17, 2008 11:44 PM by Conor
"BRIAN OMOGROSSO'S GOT BLISTERS ON HIS FINGERS!"

ZOMG!!

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:12 AM by Dr. Lingerie
"Jorge Castillo tried his hand at catching in the instructional league."

AND?!??!?!!!1111101010

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:17 PM by knoxfire30
Gotta love the projected 2012 starting rotation with 4 lefties in it.

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:52 PM by bigsether
I rented this baseball game for Wii and started playing a season with the Sox last night.

Jim Thome during the 3 game set with Cleveland to open things up 0-14 with 10K's. Seriously, I wish I could have had this ammo when Jim and I argued about him stinking earlier in the year, it definitely would have given me the check mark. I mean, the guy even sucks in video games. Does anyone know if he's coming back next year?

The Scrubs signed Dempster for 4 years $52 million. Is that not insane? Or do you think he's worth $13 million a year?

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:53 PM by Orestes
Lefties I love..... PK still around in 2012, that's another story

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:00 PM by Jim Margalus
"AND?!??!?!!!1111101010"

And they had some comical misunderstandings and crazy mishaps, but it all worked out in the end.

I also like a 35-year-old Pierzynski catching and a 39-year-old Dye in right. But I think that's just because they don't project anybody in the minors to crack the starting roster, and they can't really predict trades or free agents.

Thome's coming back -- his 2009 option automatically vested because he reached a benchmark in combined plate appearances over '07 and '08.

Dempster really timed his year well. He had a $13+ million season last year, but he's also 32 and that's the only great season he's had. Cubs were between a rock and a hard place.

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:06 PM by Jim Margalus
MVP final voting:

1. Dustin Pedroia
2. Justin Morneau
3. Kevin Youkilis
4. Joe Mauer
5. Carlos Quentin
6. Francisco Rodriguez
7. Josh Hamilton
8. Alex Rodriguez
9. Carlos Pena
10. Grady Sizemore

Only Pedroia prevented Morneau from being the worst two-time MVP in league history.

Roy Halladay didn't get one vote. Jason Bartlett got one vote for fifth place(!) while Mike Mussina and Ichiro each got a 10th-place vote.

I'd love to hear the rationale for Ichiro. He had his worst season, the Mariners were a laughingstock and he was reportedly at the center of the clubhouse acrimony.

# re: Top 10 White Sox prospects

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:19 PM by knoxfire30
The Jason Bartlett 5th place vote for a guy who missed about 6 weeks of the season is so laughable I cant even decribe it.

The baseball writers vote needs to be given to someone who understands and actually watches the games.

I suggested on chisox.com that I believe we aren't far off from a day where an industry source like baseball perspectus and people like Bill James get assigned to do the voting. Atleast then we could have some consistency with voting, defensive value would matter and things like win share would be considered.