Questions for Daver, Randar and other scouts

[Frater Perdurabo]

What's the latest on Valido and Sweeney?

[maurice]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

What's the latest on Valido and Sweeney?

Valido struggled with the bat at Kanny but should be fine in the long run. Currently, he's at .248 AVE / .304 OBP / .332 SLG with 21 SB, 23 BB, 43 SO, and 15 errors.

Sweeney struggled early after being assigned to W-S out of spring training. That's a high level for a fellow who is just one year removed from HS. He's done better lately and is now at .266 / .321 / .364 with 22 BB and 48 SO for the season.

[rdivaldi]

Originally Posted by California Sox

Reed dominated in half a season as did Brian Anderson.

However, please note that neither of these players played in W-S in their first year (short season) of pro ball. After being drafted Anderson played 13 games in Bristol and then sat out the rest of the season with an injury and Reed played the entire season in Kannapolis.

Fields is ahead of the game...

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by rdivaldi

However, please note that neither of these players played in W-S in their first year (short season) of pro ball. After being drafted Anderson played 13 games in Bristol and then sat out the rest of the season with an injury and Reed played the entire season in Kannapolis.

Fields is ahead of the game...

Actually, Anderson, Sweeney and Nanita all played last year in Great Falls of the Pioneer League, which is a more advanced league than the Appy League.

[rdivaldi]

Originally Posted by rdivaldi

After being drafted Anderson played 13 games in Bristol and then sat out the rest of the season with an injury

Ah crap, my bad. I meant Great Falls.

[The Tom]

I was under the impression that Bristol was tougher than Great Falls, that's why Gio Gonzalez went their instead of Great Falls. Am i wrong.

[Chisoxfn]

Bristol is typically for the high schoolers, while Great Falls gets the more advanced players. This year everything is a bit different because the draft was later then ever.

They ended up pushing the rules back for Rookie League and older players are allowed to play. Thats why their are more minor league vets down in rookie then ever before.

Gio is being eased in slowly. He'll go to Great Falls soon and then Kanny by the end of the year.

[The Tom]

I know his average is terrible and he's had a few SO's and NO extra-base hits. But it seems like he's having good at-bats and not just swinging and missing anymore. It appears as if he might be able to contribute this seasone. any thoughts?

[Rex Hudler]

Originally Posted by Chisoxfn

Bristol is typically for the high schoolers, while Great Falls gets the more advanced players. This year everything is a bit different because the draft was later then ever.

They ended up pushing the rules back for Rookie League and older players are allowed to play. Thats why their are more minor league vets down in rookie then ever before.

Gio is being eased in slowly. He'll go to Great Falls soon and then Kanny by the end of the year.

Bristol was the Sox Advanced Rookie team until last year when they left Arizona and signed an agreement with Great Falls. The Sox then chose Great Falls to be their higher level rookie team and sent the young guys to Bristol. That change is just two seasons old. I situations like the Sox with two rookie teams outside of Florida and Arizona, the team basically chooses which team to treat as the advanced level. There isn't that much difference in the Appy and Pioneer Leagues themselves.

I believe if Gio is ready to move, he will go straight to Kanny. That is not set in stone, but has been discussed. The Sox know he is too good for the level he is at now, but after missing some time in HS, and with his slight frame, the Sox are taking it slow with him. I would be surprised to see him go to Great Falls.

[Wealz]

He has a great arm no doubt, but a high school pitcher with as devestating a breaking pitch as Gonzalez is a pretty huge risk. I'll be (pleasantly) surprised if he makes to 21 without an injury to his arm.

With the money they spent on Lumsden, Gonzalez, Whisler, Lucy, and Liotta, they could have had Ferris, Sazuki, and Syzmanski in addition to Fields. That would have been a terrific draft.

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by Wealz

He has a great arm no doubt, but a high school pitcher with as devestating a breaking pitch as Gonzalez is a pretty huge risk. I'll be (pleasantly) surprised if he makes to 21 without an injury to his arm.

With the money they spent on Lumsden, Gonzalez, Whisler, Lucy, and Liotta, they could have had Ferris, Sazuki, and Syzmanski in addition to Fields. That would have been a terrific draft.

"you're a moron" doesn't begin to describe things.

[The Tom]

Not a great night for the minor league system. Munoz got roughed up again yesterday. After a hot start, Anderson's average dipped below 300 tonight. Josh "Golden Sombraro" Fields SO 4 times. Gio Gonzalez got roughed up in the first tonight (Although he came back and threw 4 shutout innings and his era is still in the mid-2's). Nanita had a good night, and Sweeney continues to swing a hot back (above 270, pretty impressive for a guy his age if you ask me). Also, i think some people were a bit critical of Wes Whisler. He's gotten his average to about 230 while dropping his era into the 3's. Not bad for a guy pulling double duty AND going directly to A ball.

[Wealz]

Originally Posted by Randar68

"you're a moron" doesn't begin to describe things.

Wes Whisler has Prior-like mechanics. It doesn't actually mean anything though.

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by Wealz

Wes Whisler has Prior-like mechanics. It doesn't actually mean anything though.

Let me know next tiime you see some of these guys play.

what's you problem? Have you ever seen any of these guys play, or do you just prefer to bitch up a storm? Describing his mechanics as prior-like only gives the reader a visualization of his pitchinng mechanics. His leg driive, physical size, arm angle and release are all VERY similar toto Mark Prior. That means just that, nothing more.

The Mental Midget Police need to write this tool a ticket.

[Wealz]

Originally Posted by Randar68

Let me know next tiime you see some of these guys play.

what's you problem? Have you ever seen any of these guys play, or do you just prefer to bitch up a storm? Describing his mechanics as prior-like only gives the reader a visualization of his pitchinng mechanics. His leg driive, physical size, arm angle and release are all VERY similar toto Mark Prior. That means just that, nothing more.

The Mental Midget Police need to write this tool a ticket.

You don't take constructive criticism well.

Because you saw these guys play means nothing. What if you're as bad a talent evaluator as Shaffer?