Top 20 Performances of the Past Two Weeks

[danman31]

Top 20 Performances of the Past Two Weeks

 

Great starting pitching dominates list

By Danny Santaromita

 

The top performances of the week are back after time constraints held off last week's list. Last week and this week are combined for a top 20. The rankings were solely based on the individual game statistics. The list counts games from May 31st to June 13th.

 

20. 6/11 Jason Grilli, Charlotte Knights 7 IP, 1 R, 2 K, 3 BB, 5 hits (ND)

Grilli is making a push for the Knights with a good run of starts lately. He is on the list coming up again and with his success his name is being thrown around for the White Sox 5th starting spot. The unfortunate thing about this outing is that the struggling Knights took a 2-1 loss to Indianapolis.

 

19. 6/9 Jim Bullard, Birmingham Barons 6.2 IP, 2 R, 1 K, 2 BB, 7 hits (W)

The most impressive part about this outing from Bullard is that he did it from the bullpen, replacing an injured Courtney Duncan. Bullard has been huge for Birmingham so far this season. Coming out of the bullpen, making spot starts, and doing well all at the same time, that's impressive. His stats have not been as good as they could be, but that's understandable when he has been moved in and out of the rotation all season long.

 

18. 6/7 Cory Haggerty, Kannapolis Intimidators 4-5 2B, 2 RBI, 1 run

Haggerty has been a solid utility guy this season for Kannapolis and is batting .287. Antoin Gray, Micah Schnurstein, and Robert Valido have patroled the infield ahead of him, but Haggerty has still seen decent playing time.

 

17. 6/2 Pedro Lopez, Winston-Salem Warthogs 4-5 2B, 2 RBI, 1 run

Lopez has been hot of late. He was slumping in the first two months of the season. His batting average was as low as .240 after June 1st. His average is now up to .275. The sad thing is that his batting average is 4th best on the team.

 

16. 6/9 Rafael Flores, Kannapolis 7 IP, 2 R, 1 K, 0 BB, 7 hits (W)

Flores has become a stud for the Intimidators. Including one more good outing today (June 14th) he has had 3 great starts in a row. His ERA stands at 2.92.

 

15. 6/7 Eduardo Villacis, Birmingham 6 IP, 1 R, 6 K, 3 BB, 3 hits (ND)

Villacis has been a solid pickup since joining the Barons a couple weeks ago. At 24 he still has a bit of a prospect status. With the Sox need for pitchers he could come up if he continues to pitch well.

 

14. 6/13 Micah Schnurstein, Kannapolis 3-5 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 1 run

Schnurstein is no longer the best third base prospect in the Sox system now that Josh Fields was drafted by the Pale Hose. He is batting .271 with good power numbers, but hasn't quite met expectations. His future at third is in question with Fields in the system. In this 5-4 win he was a triple short of a cycle.

 

13. 6/10 Heath Phillips, Birmingham 6 IP, 0 R, 4 K, 2 BB, 8 hits (W) 8-1 over Huntsville

Phillips has been solid this season for the Barons. The lefty has a 3.72 ERA on the season.

 

12. 6/4 Rafael Flores 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 K, 2 BB, 3 hits (ND)

As mentioned above, Flores has become arguably the best starter for Kannapolis. The 20 year-old is really coming onto the radar as a prospect this season.

 

11. 6/9 Brandon Bounds, Kannapolis 2-4 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs

After dominating rookie level Great Falls Bounds has struggled this season. Coming off an injury he had two solo HRs in an 8-2 win. His batting average sits at a disappointing .222.

 

10. 6/4 Bryant Nelson, Charlotte 3-5 2 2B, HR, 3 runs, 1 RBI

Nelson has been turning heads this season in Charlotte. One may look at the stats for the Knights and see Nelson at the top of the list with his batting average (.317) and wonder who he is. He is a 31 year-old who most see as a AAAA player. Hopefully he can prove his doubters wrong and give some support off the bench for the Sox if a player gets injured.

 

9. 6/4 Chris Young, Kannapolis 3-4 HR, 3 RBI, 1 run, SB, BB, K, Error

This game epitomizes what Chris Young brings to the table, a little bit of everything. He has power, speed, can draw walks, will strikeout a lot, and throw in an error for good measure (he has six on the season, 4th most on the team). Many like the tools Young brings to the table, but his .245 batting average is not impressing anyone.

 

8. 6/12 Felix Diaz, Charlotte 7 IP, 1 R, 7 K, 1 BB, 4 hits (L)

Diaz finally got back on track since returting to the Knights. After his stint with the White Sox Diaz wasn't as dominant as he was before his promotion. This outing was good to see because you don't want Diaz to have lost confidence over getting rocked in the bigs. Unfortunately he took a tough luck loss in a 1-0 game against Indianapolis.

 

7. 6/10 Brandon McCarthy, Kannapolis 7 IP, 0 R, 7 K, 1 BB, 4 hits (ND)

McCarthy has been a K machine for the Intimidators and outings like this are what he has been doing a lot of lately. Unfortunately for him, Kannapolis lost 1-0.

 

6. 6/1 Andres Torres 3-4, Charlotte 2B, 3B, HR, 2 runs, 5 RBI

Torres was a single short of a cycle on this day. The Knights' leadoff hitter has been a very good addition to the club since they signed him midseason.

 

5. 6/2 Eduardo Villacis 6 IP, 0 R, 4 K, 0 BB, 4 hits (W)

As said earlier Villacis has been a welcome addition to a Barons' pitching staff that has been swarmed with injuries. His ERA stands at 4.60.

 

4. 6/12 Kenny Ray, Winston-Salem 6 IP, 0 R, 5 K, 3 BB, 2 hits (W)

This game was part of a great week for the 30 year-old veteran. Ray won Player of the Week in the Carolina League this week. He struggled earlier in the season, but is starting to pitch well for the Warthogs.

 

3. 6/10 Aaron McNeal, Birmingham 3-5 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 runs

McNeal has been on fire of late. His batting average was .264 after June 8th. Today it stands at .290. The 26 year-old first baseman has been hitting for power all season long (15 HR, 44 RBI) and the average is finally catching up with that.

 

2. 6/1- Jason Grilli 7 IP (CG), 0 R, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 hits (W)

As already mentioned Grilli has been pitching really well the last couple weeks. His season ERA stands at 3.82 and he is 3rd on the team in strikeouts with 51, but troubling is the amount of walks he has given up (34). He leads the team in walks and that is something that Major League hitters will take advantage of.

 

1. 6/9 Jon Rauch, Charlotte 7 IP, 0 R, 9 K, 1 BB, 4 hits (ND) 3-2 loss to Buffalo

Many wrote off Rauch after he disappointed yet again with the White Sox and GM Ken Williams said he would never pitch again for the Sox after Rauch left the locker room before the game ended. Rauch bounced back with this great outing which is really what many had come to expect from him in the past. His future remains in question and it appears very likely he will be traded during the deadline this season.

[Chisoxfn]

Great stuff Dan

[dasox24]

Great article!