southsider2k5 Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 James Daniel "Bull" Bullard LHP 6'7" 235 lbs Jim was drafted by the White Sox in the 9th round of the major league draft, out of UC Santa Barbara. He was signed by the Sox and sent to their short season A league team in Bristol. At Bristol Jim made only 4 starts (completing 1) covering 20 IP (striking out 31 batters)and a 3.00 era, before getting a promotion to the Kannapolis Intimadators. At Kannapolis Jim made 8 more starts, holding his era at 3.00 in 45 IP of work. Between the two teams Jim's WHIP was only a hair over 1.00, a really impressive number for his first year in professional baseball. 2002 saw Jim move up the ladder to high A ball at Winston Salem. Jim was 9-8 with an impressive 3.32 era striking out 89 in 143 IP. Bull also had some hardware to be proud of in 2002 being picked for the Carolina League All Star team, being honored as the Warthogs pitcher of the year, and even getting 2 innings of work in the Hall of Fame game at Cooperstown against the Colorado Rockies. His impressive season at WS got Jim a late season call up to the Birmingham Barons. In a short stint at AA, Jim was 0-3 with a 4.50 era in 20 IP 2003 had Bull return to Birmingham for the whole year, but saw Bull moved mostly to the pen, where the White Sox thought his future might be with the big club. Becoming the true definition of a grinder, Jim did everything from starting, spot starting, long relief, and even some closing. Bull made 53 appearences on the season which was good for #5 in the southern league. His final season numbers were solid again, ending up with an 8-4 record in 90 1/3 IP which also included 3 saves. It was good enough for ondeckbaseball.com to rate him as the Sox #22 pitcher in their minor league system. 2004 was another solid year for Bull, in which he continued his streak of never having a full season era over 4.00. Jim finished 8-4 with a 3.47 era which was good enough for 7th overall in the Southern League. Once again Bull's versatility was on display for all as he filled any role that his team asked of him, as he racked up 37 appearences, including 15 starts. 2005 Outlook. Jim has flown under the radar for many fans, not putting up huge numbers at any stop, and not having a huge fastball or the similar to make the fans at large drool. But what he has done is succeed and put up good numbers at every stop he has made in the minors. Jim has filled any role at any time, and has done well at doing it. For guys like this, all they really need is a chance. I would guess that Jim will be leading a staff at Birmingham again this year, with an outside chance at filling in his jack-of-all-trades job at AAA Charlotte, if he can open some eyes at spring training. Jim features a fastball of 86-91, a change that works 75-77, a slider, and a cutter that he just began to use at the end of 2004. That cutter could also be a weapon that could get him some notice, as a few Sox pitchers have learned it and exploded on the scene, such as Mark Buehrle and Esteban Loiaza. And most importantly, there will always be a market for left handed pitching who can get guys out. Personally I feel Jim Bullard would make an interesting sleeper pick for 2005-2006 out of the Sox system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 22, 2004 Author Share Posted November 22, 2004 Bull's complete stat package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 A recent update. After talking to Jim a little bit, he is looking at going back to starting, and hoping to start the year at AAA Charlotte. But if it takes relieving to get to the Knights, he is more than willing to do it. Especially age and experience-wise a trip to Charlotte is next on the natural progession of things. The problem is with all of the ML signings the White Sox made this off season, there are a lot less open spots to be had. It looks like Jon Adkins, Felix Diaz, Jason Grilli, Arnie Munoz, and Jeff Baj will all open the season at Charlotte barring injuries. Plus the Sox signed Kevin Walker in the offseason who will undoubtedly take another spot as a lefty out of the pen at AAA. The interesting thing for Jim will be if the Sox decide to use Adkins and Munoz out of the pen or as starters in AAA. Grilli and Diaz almost certianly will be full time starters. Munoz and Adkins are a little more up in the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodAsGould Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 just to clear it up does bullard ever have a real chance to become a starter in the majors or is he bound to the pen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 20, 2005 Author Share Posted January 20, 2005 QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 08:19 PM) just to clear it up does bullard ever have a real chance to become a starter in the majors or is he bound to the pen? My best guess is Jim's shot lies in the pen in much the same role he has played for a while now, and that is as the swing man. Down at Birmingham Bull has done everything from starting to closing, and that sure has to help his chances. I think developmentally his best shot is to keep starting and develop his pitches the way the Sox have tried to bring Diaz and Munoz along. Plus being a lefty always makes it easier to get to and stick in the major leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 9, 2005 Author Share Posted April 9, 2005 Jim is opening 2005 as the #1 starter for a deep Birmingham Barons team. He pitched their opener only giving up a 3 run HR over his first start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHAMBARONS Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Jim Pitched 6 outstanding innings tonight @ Carolina to give there first loss of the season. WAY TO GO BULL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Congrats on a great start, Bull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 20, 2005 Author Share Posted April 20, 2005 Bull has continued to make the most of his status as #1 starter in Birmingham, as he is 2-1 in 3 starts so far. His numbers have been solid as usual with Jim having an era of 3.46 in 13 1/3 innings pitched, with 8 k's and 5 bb's. He also has only given up 11 hits in his 13+ innings of work. With his solid start, and the horrible start by the Knights, Jim could be very close to a promotion to Charlotte if a shake up does indeed occur up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted May 10, 2005 Author Share Posted May 10, 2005 Bull is currently on the DL, as he has had some back problems, and now has a slight muscle pull in his arm. Before that he had been anchoring the Birmingham staff as its #1 starter. Jim's numbers were 2-1 with a 2.60 era. In 5 starts he had pitched 17 1/3 IP (leaving two starts early because of injury) giving up 15 hits, walking 5, and striking out 12 batters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHAMBARONS Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 The Bull @ Rickwood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 11, 2005 Author Share Posted June 11, 2005 As was first reported by Future Sox.com, The Bull is back off of the DL and headed back to pitch for the Barons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 13, 2005 Author Share Posted July 13, 2005 An update from the Bull himself... Jim was slowed for a while by a muscle pull in his armpit of all places which is what caused him to hit the DL for a spell earlier this year. Since coming back from the DL, Jim has since been promoted to Charlotte (where he should have been from Day one IMO). He started a few games, but has since moved back to the pen with the return of Brandon McCarthy to the Knights. The Bull is back to full strength health-wise, but it basically in spring training mode trying to make up for the time and strength he lost from his injury, because he wasn't even able to pick up a baseball for a period of weeks. Jim is excited to be getting regular and frequent work out of the pen, and on the side. He feels that his velocity will be back to full strength very soon. My personal spin is that Jim Bullard is in a very good situation to take advantage of his god given lefthandedness right now. After Neal Cotts and Damaso Marte there are really no clear cut solid lefty relievers in the Sox organization, especially with the preformance of Kevin Walker leaving a lot to be desired, Bull could be viewed as next in line after Arnie Munoz on the depth charts for lefty relievers in the Sox organization. If Bull can get back to full strength and turn some heads in a tough pitchers park in Charlotte, he might be able to get himself a chance at the big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Share Posted August 2, 2005 Bullard's numbers have improved greatly in the last month or so with him shaving about 4 runs per game off of his ERA in the month of July. His whole month statistics including the start Bull made on July 3rd showed him with an era of 2.38 with 10 hits given up covering 11 1/3 IP. Exploring his numbers since Jim moved back to the pen, Bull has 6 scoreless appearences covering 6 IP, 0ER, 4H, 3BB, and 3K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 2, 2005 -> 01:08 PM) Bullard's numbers have improved greatly in the last month or so with him shaving about 4 runs per game off of his ERA in the month of July. His whole month statistics including the start Bull made on July 3rd showed him with an era of 2.38 with 10 hits given up covering 11 1/3 IP. Exploring his numbers since Jim moved back to the pen, Bull has 6 scoreless appearences covering 6 IP, 0ER, 4H, 3BB, and 3K. Small sample size! Selective stats! Keep it up, Bull. We're all pulling for ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman31 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Bullard was released by the White Sox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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