2004 Midseason All FutureSox Team

[Chisoxfn]

2004 Midseason All FutureSox Team

By Danny Santaromita and Jason Gage

July 6, 2004

FutureSox.com

 

The 2004 minor league season has roughly hit a half way point and FutureSox.com is going to compile its list of FutureSox players. The FutureSox honor is bestowed to the players that have been the best at each position over the season. We do not take into account potential when giving this award, rather production. FutureSox.com will wrap up its FutureSox team with the postseason All FutureSox team at the end of the year.

 

1st Base - Casey Rogowski, 23 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

2004 Stats (Winston-Salem): .312 AVG, .424 OBP, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 15 2B, 54 BB, 50 K, 12 SB

Rogowski started his third season with the Warthogs. His batting average over the previous season and a half in the Carolina League was a far from impressive .250 (this was entering the year). This season he has finally turned it around. With Brian Anderson and Brian Becker both promoted to Birmingham Rogowski’s .312 batting average stands as the best on the team. The lack of 1st basemen is evident in the Sox system, but Rogowski is having a solid season, and should see Birmingham by the end of the year. Another positive development in Rogowski’s season has been the power he’s flashed.

Runner Up: Aaron McNeal

 

2nd Base - Bryant Nelson, 30 – S/R

2004 Stats (Charlotte): .299 AVG, .352 OBP, 27 2B, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 30 BB, 26 K, 9 SB

Nelson’s great play earned him a spot on the International League’s All-Star team. After playing in Japan, Nelson has come over and done nothing but hit. Like Rogowski, he leads his team in batting average. Nelson has hit for average, power, and shown speed. He definitely has played well enough to earn a shot with the Sox sometime, even if only as a reserve.

Runner Up: Antoin Gray

 

3rd Base - Micah Schnurstein, 19 – R/R

2004 Stats (Kannapolis): .274 AVG, .320 OBP, 18 2B, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 16 BB, 59 K

Schnurstein came into the season as the best 3rd base prospect in the White Sox system, but that changed when Josh Fields was taken in the first round of this year’s draft by the Pale Hose. He hasn’t had great numbers which speaks to how thin 3rd base is for the White Sox for him having been the best season of the bunch. Throughout his young professional career he hasn’t hit many HRs, but he is tied for 2nd on the Intimidators in doubles (18). Micah’s power is expected to further develop. Many expected him to hit for a higher average than he has thus far, but Micah has been hot as of late. Inconsistency has been an issue for him this season.

Runner Up: Andy Gonzalez

 

Shortstop - Mike Morse, 22 – R/R

2004 Stats (Birmingham): .287 AVG, .336 OBP, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 9 2B, 15 BB, 46 K

Now that Morse is out of town from the Freddy Garcia trade he is no longer the White Sox best shortstop, but he is having too good of a season to leave him off this list. This season is by far his best as a professional. His career best batting average before this season was .257 in 2002. His 11 HRs already topped his previous career high of 10 that he hit last season. Morse is a project that should spend a few years in the minors before cracking the Major Leagues. Morse was sent to San Antonio of the Texas League, the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, after the trade.

Runner Up: Pedro Lopez

 

Catcher - Ryan Hankins, 28 – R/R

2004 Stats (Charlotte): .281 AVG, .338 OBP, 14 2B, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 12 BB, 20 K

Ryan Hankins has done a good job in his first year as catcher for the Knights. He has replaced Michael Rivera (A’s minor leaguer) and Jamie Burke (White Sox) who started the season as the catchers. Hankins also plays 1st and 3rd and can play outfield. After a slow start he’s emerged as a solid hitter and is improving behind the plate. It is unclear where Hankins sits in management’s eyes, but he has every bit of ability as Jamie Burke, who has become a successful reserve in Chicago.

Runner Up: Carlos Maldonado

 

Outfielder - Mike Spidale, 22 – R/R

2004 Stats (Birmingham): .295 AVG, .391 OBP, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 16 2B, 3 3B, 38 BB, 47 K, 20 SB

Spidale has been nothing short of impressive for the Barons. Spidale, along with fellow All FutureSox member Mike Morse were the leaders of the Barons offense in the first half. Spidale is hitting for average, draws walks, and plays a good centerfield. The only thing Spidale lacks defensively is a strong arm. Spidale will have to prove he can play a full season though. Last year Spidale had a strong first half with the Warthogs before hitting a 2nd half tell spin that left him hitting .

 

 

Outfielder - Thomas Brice, 22 – L/L

2004 Stats:

Winston Salem: .189 AVG, .259 OBP, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 14 K

Kannapolis: .313 AVG, .394 OBP, 16 2B, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 28 BB, 48 K

Brice spent the majority of the first half doing what he did last year – clobber South Atlantic League Pitching. However, this year Brice was doing it with more then a good average. He has flashed the power that some scouts felt he could develop while continuing to do a great job hitting for average. Brice, a native of Australia, credits cricket for making him such a good line drive and low ball hitter. Defensively Brice possesses what could be the best arm in an organization with some good outfield arms. He has struggled since being promoted to Winston Salem, but has shown signs as of late.

 

Outfielder - Brian Anderson, 22 – R/R

2004 Stats:

Birmingham: .350 AVG, .409 OBP, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K

Winston-Salem: .319 AVG, .394 OBP, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 22 2B, 4 3B, 29 BB, 44 K, 10 SB

Brian Anderson was snubbed on the preseason list, despite being one of the Sox top prospects. It was my (Jason) belief that Anderson wasn’t quite as ready at the plate as Ryan Sweeney. I was wrong and Anderson has done everything to prove me wrong about his offensive readiness. After a slow start Anderson took off and finally was promoted to Birmingham. At Birmingham he has been hitting well in the 2 hole. Along with good offensive potential, Anderson is a very fluid centerfielder with a strong arm. He has already hit for power this season, but should develop even more power as his body continues to fill out.

 

Runner Up: Joe Borchard, Andres Torres, Nate Murphy

 

Designated Hitter - Brian Becker, 30 – R/R

2004 Stats:

Birmingham: .255 AVG, .306 OBP, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6 2B, 5 BB, 10 K

Winston-Salem: .310 AVG, .362 OBP, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 16 2B, 20 BB, 54 K

Becker played DH more than anyone in the Sox organization so we at FutureSox thought he should be given the spot as the DH. He has played at 1st 21 times this season. Becker is having a great year between Winston-Salem and Birmingham. He was batting .310 for the Warthogs before being promoted. He hasn’t faired as well for Birmingham.

 

Starting Pitcher - Brandon McCarthy, 20 – R/R

2004 Stats:

Winston Salem: 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 5.0 INN, 5 H, 5 K, 0 BB

Kannapolis: 7-5, 3.78 ERA, 88.0 INN, 73 H, 103 K, 21 BB

Brandon McCarthy made his first start for Winston Salem on Monday, giving up 3 runs in limited action. Minus that start, as of late McCarthy has been the best pitcher in the Sox organization. His sneaky good stuff and fantastic control have led to a 3-0 run with 17 hits, 3 earned runs, 36 strikeouts, and 2 walks in 27 innings of work (His final four starts in Kannapolis). It appears that McCarthy will once again be the frontrunner to lead the Sox minor leagues in strikeouts and could once again be amongst the minor league leaders in strikeouts and strikeouts/walks.

 

Starting Pitcher - Arnie Munoz, 22 – L/L

2004 Stats:

Charlotte: 0-1, 9.49 ERA, 12.1 INN, 21 H, 17 K, 6 BB

Birmingham: 7-2, 2.05 ERA, 74.2 INN, 52 H, 68 K, 22 BB

Munoz has been a mystery of late, but you can’t overlook what he did for the Barons in his first year as a starter. He started the season 6-0, as part of a Southern League record 12 consecutive wins. At the time of his promotion to Chicago, he was one of the best 3 pitchers in the league. Unfortunately things got bad after going to Chicago. Munoz was ripped in his only start (against the Expos) and was since sent to Charlotte. In Charlotte things haven’t gotten much better and you have to think Munoz is a little shaken up mentally. Struggles aside, Munoz was tremendous for the Barons and should be one of the aces in Charlotte the rest of the season.

 

Starting Pitcher - Jon Rauch, 25 – R/R

2004 Stats (Charlotte): 6-2, 2.30 ERA, 70.1 INN, 49 H, 60 K, 23 BB

Rauch has since been called up to Chicago and a month ago he may not have made the list. But since his demotion and short fall out in the organization, Rauch was dominate. He is the International league leader in ERA and picked up a rare win for a Sox 5th starter in his last start for the White Sox. Rauch is now pitching out of the pen in Chicago, but could be back in Charlotte when Magglio Ordonez comes off the disabled list. However, Ken Williams kick in the butt is looking like the proper prescription for Rauch.

Runners Up: Felix Diaz, Sean Tracey, Rafael Flores

 

Relief Pitcher - Jeff Bajenaru, 26 – R/R

2004 Stats (Birmingham): 1-0, 12 SV, 1.16 ERA, 31.0 INN, 17 H, 10 BB, 49 K

Bajenaru has simply dominated as the Barons’ closer. His performance this year demands a promotion to either Charlotte or the White Sox. With no room to put him in Charlotte and the White Sox bullpen pitching well of late it would appear he is staying in Birmingham for a little while longer. Next season Jeff should be competing for a spot with the big league team, and if he fails to make the team he will be sent to AAA. Still, he should see Charlotte, at the very least, by the end of the season.

 

Relief Pitcher - Gary Majewski, 24 – R/R

2004 Stats (Charlotte): 2-3, 13 SV, 3.22 ERA, 36.1 INN, 24 H, 16 BB, 35 K

Majewski is also having a great season as the closer for the Knights. Similar to Bajenaru, Majewski’s name has been thrown around by some as an addition to the White Sox bullpen. Majewski is in his 2nd straight season with Charlotte, but wasn’t a closer until late last season (following the Roberto Alomar trade involving Royce Ring and Edwin Almonte). He had 8 saves in his career before saving 12 games this year for Charlotte. If he does not get called up late this season to the Sox he will be given a good chance to make the team next spring.

Runners Up: Ehren Wasserman, Josh Fields

[dasox24]

Great article guys! Although, considering it's the "future" sox team, maybe you should have based it on the players having the best years that have a lot of potential. I just don't see Nelson being a "future" White Sox player. But, whatever, I know this is a lot of work putting this together, so I won't complain any more. Oh, and again, great job on the article!

[danman31]

Basically we felt the preseason team was for that. It was loaded with prospects because, after all, they should have the best seasons of anybody in the minors. Either way, with the exception of Becker, these guys are all at least solid prospects. Nelson is in AAA so he is at least close and should get called up in September.

[Chisoxfn]

Once we finish the draft preview as well as have some more interviews (a new wave should be coming pretty soon) then were all going to sit down and redo the top 50 and make it as good as we can possibly do. This is where we figure the potential factor should be pieced in.

 

Were also going to debut with a Player of the Week Feature (For both position and pitcher) and probably a player of the month feature. These will tie in nicely with Dan's already badass Top 10 Performance List and what will probably be started back up as a top prospect rankings list that will be updated biweekly to monthly with about the top 10 or 15 guys depending.

 

I think we are going to try and add a lot more original pieces to go with the news pieces we already supply. I think when I first started I wnated to make sure the news process was taken care of and now were going to start exploring a lot more options.

 

So for other things people are interested in seeing, shoot me an email ([email protected]) or post it in here.

[Chisoxfn]

These new features will be tied in with what should be a pretty rocking new look to FutureSox.

[Mr. Showtime]

These new features will be tied in with what should be a pretty rocking new look to FutureSox.

I've been meaning to ask you what happened to that new version of the site. I guess it's coming...

[dasox24]

Once we finish the draft preview as well as have some more interviews (a new wave should be coming pretty soon) then were all going to sit down and redo the top 50 and make it as good as we can possibly do.  This is where we figure the potential factor should be pieced in.

 

Were also going to debut with a Player of the Week Feature (For both position and pitcher) and probably a player of the month feature.  These will tie in nicely with Dan's already badass Top 10 Performance List and what will probably be started back up as a top prospect rankings list that will be updated biweekly to monthly with about the top 10 or 15 guys depending.

 

I think we are going to try and add a lot more original pieces to go with the news pieces we already supply.  I think when I first started I wnated to make sure the news process was taken care of and now were going to start exploring a lot more options.

 

So for other things people are interested in seeing, shoot me an email ([email protected]) or post it in here.

That all sounds pretty f'n badass!

[ZoomSlowik]

Great job with the site, good article. Keep up the good work!

[Chisoxfn]

Ya guys inspired me back into the groove. I'm gonna put up a new piece as well before I leave on my trip called Promote me Already. Its gonna be on players that deserve to be promoted.

 

Then on the new site, I'm going to have a small spot of the page dedicated to a few players that are worthy of a promotion and those stats will be updated like weekly or something.

 

Also, for a little time table on the new site, its just the php portion thats still needed to be done. The actual design is finished but the backend and article portions needs to be finalized, so its half way there.

[dasox24]

I'm gonna put up a new piece as well before I leave on my trip called Promote me Already.  Its gonna be on players that deserve to be promoted.

That sounds like a really good idea! All these new features on FutureSox are gonna be so awesome!

[IlliniKrush]

Jason,

 

Thanks for all the hard work you do with the futuresox stuff. Not being able to see any of these guys play, i rely on you guys for information about our minor league teams and prospects. You guys really do an excellent job making the fans here more knowledgeable