White Sox Minor Keys: Sept. 23, 2021

Jake Burger (Laura Wolff / Charlotte Knights)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper White Sox Minor Keys post, but it’d also been a few days since multiple White Sox affiliates played on one day.

It had also been a while since we were able to check in with Jake Burger, whose charmed season was interrupted by a bone bruise in his hand that threw him off his game. He entered Friday hitting just .213/.259/.407 in the 26 games since coming off the injured list for Charlotte, and with 36 strikeouts over 116 plate appearances.

The slump wasn’t enough to take the shine off his performance — .279/.328/.524 with 17 homers in 75 games for Charlotte, along with some moments during his 15-game cup of coffee with the White Sox. As he approaches the remaining two series of the season, he told Our Man in Charlotte that 2021 has been better than he could’ve predicted.

He’s not done yet. Besides the 10 games remaining for Charlotte, there’s a chance he could be involved in a postseason taxi squad, so he isn’t ready to coast to the finish line, as evidenced by his go-ahead homer in Game 2 against Norfolk.

Norfolk 8, Charlotte 4 (Game 1, 7 innings)

  • Carlos Pérez made his Triple-A debut at DH and went 1-for-3 with a double.
  • Jake Burger was 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
  • Micker Adolfo doubled, singled and struck out.
  • Blake Rutherford singled twice and struck out.

Charlotte 8, Norfolk 7 (Game 2, 7 innings)

  • Carlos Pérez caught and went 0-for-2 with two walks.
  • Jake Burger was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, walk and strikeout.
  • Micker Adolfo, ditto.
  • Blake Rutherford went 2-for-3 with a single and a walk.

DSL D-backs1 2, DSL White Sox 0 (7 innings)

  • Manuel Guariman went 1-for-3.
  • Victor Quezada doubled, singled and struck out.
  • Carlos Jimenez went 0-for-2 with a walk.
  • Carlos Hinestroza: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

(Photo by Laura Wolff / Charlotte Knights)

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Brett R. Bobysud

I wonder if the Sox will try and move Burger this offseason (along with some other prospects) to help fortify the major league roster.

With Moncada entrenched at third base and still a logjam at first, Burger really doesn’t have a spot on the major league roster. Given that he’ll likely be deserving of at-bats in the majors, might be best for everybody if they try and move him.

itaita

While i agree that hes got no spots i would like to hold him back to a midseason trade bait. Just to see how Abreu ages along with the progressions of Vaughn and Sheets (Who might also be a future trade piece) into next season. Its been quite a while since the Sox had a good logjam at a non pitcher position so i dont think it would hurt to make sure they handle it correctly. I think the last time was at Short with the Anderson/Semien/And i think it was Yolmer trio while Alexi was the longtime starter. And while Semien might’ve gone above even his most ardent supporters expectations i think they handled it well and stuck with the right guy.

GrinnellSteve

The Sox should trade Moncada and install Vaughn at 3B.

joewho112

So they can get worse defensively and offensively at 3B?

Brett R. Bobysud

Pretty sure that was sarcasm.

Or he’s making fun of the people who were saying Moncada was bad earlier in the season.

Last edited 2 years ago by Brett R. Bobysud
GrinnellSteve

Not entirely sarcastic. There’s a grain of truth there. I have suggested in the past that the Sox consider trading Moncada. (I love him. I have his players weekend jersey.)

I don’t want to see the Sox open a 2-year window and then grow old when they’ve traded every Johnny Callison, Earl Battey, and Denny McLain for the Roy Sievers of the world as they try to squeeze one more run out of the core. The Rays trade stars at the peak of their value for younger versions of those stars.

Moncada should be traded if

A) he has reclaimed his value following covid;

B) they have a suitable replacement available;

C) they can upgrade some portion of the major league roster;

D) they can restock the farm with high-upside talent;

E) and they can use the payroll savings to help the major league club.

I don’t know if enough of these criteria can be satisfied, particularly B, but it absolutely shouldn’t be rejected simply because, “You can’t trade Yoan Moncada!”

mrridgman

I generally agree with this ph9ilosophy, at least with the Sox, because I absolutely can see them trading useful players for aging ex-stars that fade immediately – as you point out, they have a bit of a history. What would we have to throw in for a Rays/Sox braintrust swap?
I’d have Robert (too good), Eloy, Kopech, Vaughn and Sheets (not yet established value), Lynn (need an ace) as untouchables; everybody else, what’s your offer.

GrinnellSteve

There’s the big question of whether you could trust Sox management to successfully navigate those deals. They definitely hit when the dealt Sale, Eaton, and Quintana. Less so when they traded Erik Johnson.

Jeff

Don’t forget Norm Cash, another young fringe player on the 1959 pennant winning team the Sox traded away for a short Minnie Minoso encore. BTW, Roy Sievers was pretty damn good for the White Sox. So was Minoso in 1960. The White Sox managed to stay relevant through 1967, even trading away Callison, Cash and Battey, but didn’t win another pennant. So your point’s well taken.

GrinnellSteve

Sievers hit for the Sox, but still… If they had just sat on their hands, they might well have won in ’64 and ’67. Who knows?

Willardmarshall

Might a rebuilding team be willing to roster Adolfo?

dansomeone

Fun fact, AJ Graffanino plays for the Norfolk Tides. He’s the son of old friend Tony Graffanino.

WaltWilliamsFan

Why isn’t Jake Burger being considered as a right field option? Right field is an easier position that third base. Unless he is Konerko slow, he could learn the position. An average (at best) third baseman with a plus arm who is blocked at third base sounds like a candidate for right field. If the Sox want to trade him then it is better to keep him as a third baseman since he would offer at least some defensive value. In the Sox system, his path to the majors ends in right field.