Stat o' the Day

[Cerbaho-WG]

18 hits/134 AB=.148 OBA

 

Damn.

[Chisoxfn]

He's been filthy so far. I'd start to say a promotion is ready, but I also look at it as part of this years experience for him will be to see how he holds up to an extended stay in the rotation.

 

Plus, the Knights rotation has been exceptional and is full. I still have to believe the move of Rauch to the pen is temporary and maybe even cancelled now that Pacheco just went down.

 

I mean one of the starters is going to be promoted soon, probably Diaz, which would mean the 6 man rotation that was figured to be used goes back to 5. Plus, I think Wright moving to the pen would make more sense, but I guess the Sox just don't think that highly of Rauch or at least thats what this would lead you to believe.

 

And you have the unhittable one, Baj, just lighting it up down in Bham. He's got to get up to Charlotte by midseason and I'd hope by then they'd make room for him.

 

You rock Baj

[Chisoxrd5]

He's been filthy so far.  I'd start to say a promotion is ready, but I also look at it as part of this years experience for him will be to see how he holds up to an extended stay in the rotation.

 

Plus, the Knights rotation has been exceptional and is full.  I still have to  believe the move of Rauch to the pen is temporary and maybe even cancelled now that Pacheco just went down. 

 

I mean one of the starters is going to be promoted soon, probably Diaz, which would mean the 6 man rotation that was figured to be used goes back to 5.  Plus, I think Wright moving to the pen would make more sense, but I guess the Sox just don't think that highly of Rauch or at least thats what this would lead you to believe.

 

And you have the unhittable one, Baj, just lighting it up down in Bham.  He's got to get up to Charlotte by midseason and I'd hope by then they'd make room for him. 

 

You rock Baj 

The fact that theres solid players in AA doesnt really mean they need a promotion because the sox have a history of keepin some of their prospects at Birmingham and bringin them straight to the majors from there never making a stop at AAA....

[Chisoxfn]

Thats true, however, I think in Baj's situation, he won't be getting called up directly. With Munoz, its very well a possibility. The other thing that scares me about Charlotte is as of late, some of the Sox really good prospects really seem to go to Charlotte and then really sputter.

[southsider2k5]

18 hits/134 AB=.148 OBA

 

Damn.

Is there a chance of Munoz coming up as the 5th starter over Diaz?

[danman31]

Thats true, however, I think in Baj's situation, he won't be getting called up directly.  With Munoz, its very well a possibility.  The other thing that scares me about Charlotte is as of late, some of the Sox really good prospects really seem to go to Charlotte and then really sputter.

Getting to AAA is a major jump. AA to AAA is possibly the biggest jump in the minors because in AAA there are veterans rehabbing or trying to get back to the bigs, there are guys that have been there for a while trying to get that shot, and finally prospects. The prospects are obviously the rawest of that bunch. Another thing to think about is that the prospects have been facing guys close to their age the whole way through the minors until they get to AAA and face a lot of older guys. To me it seems natural that guys would struggle at AAA.

[Cerbaho-WG]

Is there a chance of Munoz coming up as the 5th starter over Diaz?

Little if any.

[Cali]

Little if any.

Arnie Munoz was another possibility mentioned by Guillen. The converted reliever improved to 5-0 for Double-A Birmingham on Saturday, with a 1.23 ERA. The left-hander has 35 strikeouts and nine walks over 36 2/3 innings, allowing a mere 18 hits. He would be on schedule to start Thursday afternoon's game against the Orioles.

[Rex Hudler]

Is there a chance of Munoz coming up as the 5th starter over Diaz?

Not likely, but anything is possible........

[Rex Hudler]

Getting to AAA is a major jump. AA to AAA is possibly the biggest jump in the minors because in AAA there are veterans rehabbing or trying to get back to the bigs, there are guys that have been there for a while trying to get that shot, and finally prospects. The prospects are obviously the rawest of that bunch. Another thing to think about is that the prospects have been facing guys close to their age the whole way through the minors until they get to AAA and face a lot of older guys. To me it seems natural that guys would struggle at AAA.

Actually, AA to AAA is considered one of the smaller jumps, hence the number of players that skip AAA and go to the Majors. The difference between AA and AAA talent-wise is not that great. The biggest difference is in consistency and experience. AA is full of players who should adapt to AAA rather easily, with minor adjustments. AA also has a lot of players who are at their highest level and will never make it to AAA or they won't stick if they do.

[danman31]

I wasn't speaking from personal experience. I was just saying that it would make sense. I would think experience and consistency would make a bigger difference in the overall performance of a player at that stage.

[Gene Honda Civic]

Munoz has been streaky in his career -- If I'm not mistaken I remember him posting a miniscule ERA in Winterball or AFL a while back, and then nearly making the big club in ST as a lefty specialist, losing out to Marte and Wunch, when he was optioned to the minors he got lit up early on. -- He was money for the last 4+ Months of the season though again -- He could be the real gem of an arm in the sox system.

[Rex Hudler]

Munoz has been streaky in his career -- If I'm not mistaken I remember him posting a miniscule ERA in Winterball or AFL a while back, and then nearly making the big club in ST as a lefty specialist, losing out to Marte and Wunch,  when he was optioned to the minors he got lit up early on.  -- He was money for the last 4+ Months of the season though again -- He could be the real gem of an arm in the sox system.

He was bad in 3 of his first 4 outings last year........ that's it... It took him all year to get his ERA down. His ST and beginning of the season was clearly affected by the number of innings he threw in 2002 and in Winter Ball.

 

Here you go........

 

Charlotte          INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (AAA) 2003
 

DATE     G#  OPP  H/R DEC GS GF CG    IP   H   AB  TBF   R   ER HR  BB  SO WP BK

04/03/03     RMD   H                 0.2   4    6    7   5    5  2   1   1       67.50

04/06/03     RMD   H                 2.0   5   10   12   4    4      2   2       30.38

04/12/03     IND   R                 0.1   1    2    3   1                       27.00

04/15/03     LOU   H                 2.0   3    9   10   3    3  2   1   2       21.60

[Rex Hudler]

For those interested, after the above 4 games, his numbers were as follows for the rest of the season.

 

ERA 3.06

IP 50

H 39

BB 23

K 58

[Gene Honda Civic]

Thanks Rex --

 

That's pretty much what I had remembered -- I just remember a monster ERA in April, then I watched it fall all year.

 

My point was that because of those four outings/ his slow start last season. He was able to fly under the radar --

 

When he was in camp last year he was a 1-pitch pitcher, that doesn't mean he only had one pitch -- He just relied heavily on his Curve. He had only one "out" pitch -- He had just come off of, as rex pointed out, lots of innings in Winter ball, where he dominated. Maybe the being close to making the Big Club, or rather the letdown that followed, contributed to his slow start.

 

As Jason wrote in a piece for Futuresox, the move from pen was not neccessarily one that meant they were converting him into a starter, but rather a means to get him to work on his other pitches. -- The move to the rotation, has no doubt made him a more effective pitcher, in whatever role that he is put into.

[Rex Hudler]

He keeps this up and stays healthy, he may never see the pen again... lol

[WSox30]

Maybe the being close to making the Big Club, or rather the letdown that followed, contributed to his slow start.

As reading through these posts, I had thought that maybe this was why and then you said it. IF, which is unlikely because i heard that ozzie wants to keep cotts in the bullpen, but IF we put cotts into the rotation, maybe we can put munoz into the bullpen and who knows what will happen from then on. If he had one bad month last year, and is pitching the way he is now for a couple more weeks, then i would like to seem in the big leauges.

[Chisoxfn]

He keeps this up and stays healthy, he may never see the pen again...  lol

Lol, I've been thinking the same thing. I mean, look at what Zito has done with a good curve alone. Its not like his other pitches are all that amazing, they are just good enough to keep hitters from sitting or focusing on his nasty curve.

 

All I know is Arnie has a bright future, whether its as a starter or reliever, I have no idea, but he is going to be good.

[danman31]

As reading through these posts, I had thought that maybe this was why and then you said it.  IF, which is unlikely because i heard that ozzie wants to keep cotts in the bullpen, but IF we put cotts into the rotation, maybe we can put munoz into the bullpen and who knows what will happen from then on.  If he had one bad month last year, and is pitching the way he is now for a couple more weeks, then i would like to seem in the big leauges.

Hey do you go to New Trier? I see that you are in high school age wise and you live in Winnetka.

[Cerbaho-WG]

I say Munoz is unlikely to be called up because this is his first year starting, while Diaz on the otehr hand has been starting for years.

 

I think it would be a very big mistake for the Sox to bring up Munoz.

[maggsmaggs]

I go to New Trier, just a funny thing I guess.

[danman31]

I go to New Trier, just a funny thing I guess.

Damn too many Trevians around here. I go to Glenbrook North. I just hope you aren't on any of the sports teams that whoop us (which would be all of them except boys gymnastics, lol).