Pierzynski 12 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 (edited) CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with left-handed pitchers Chad Bentz, Javier Lopez and Stephen Randolph, right-handed pitchers Agustin Montero and Tim Redding, outfielders Darren Blakely and Ben Grieve and infielder Jorge Velandia. All eight players, in addition to 11 players within the White Sox system, have received non-roster invites to the club's spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz. Bentz, 25, and Lopez, 28, have a combined 221 games of major-league experience, while Redding has appeared in 101 games (79 starts) with Houston (2001-04), San Diego (2005) and the New York Yankees (2005). Grieve, 29, is a career .269 (864-3,215) hitter with 118 home runs and 492 RBI in nine major-league campaigns and was named the American League Rookie of the Year with Oakland in 1998. Pitchers Lance Broadway and Ray Liotta, outfielder Ryan Sweeney and third baseman Josh Fields, Top 10 prospects in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America, headline the list of players within the organization who have received invites to major-league camp. Sweeney, 20, hit .298 (128-429) with one home run and 48 RBI last season at Class AA Birmingham. He was the Sox second-round draft choice in 2003 and owns a .294 (307-1,045) average in three minor-league seasons. Broadway, the White Sox No. 1 selection (15th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Texas Christian University, spent his first professional season at Class A Winston-Salem, going 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA (28 ER/55.0 IP) and 58 strikeouts in 11 starts. He went 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA his senior season at TCU and was named First- Team All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger. Liotta, 22, was 14-5 with a 2.02 ERA (37 ER/165.0 IP) in 28 starts between Class A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem in 2005. The southpaw was named to the South Atlantic League's midseason All-Star Team, led all Sox farmhands in ERA, ranked second in IP and third in wins and strikeouts (144). Fields, 23, batted .252 (120-477) with 16 home runs and 79 RBI at Winston-Salem in his second professional season in 2005. The former No. 1 draft choice ranked third in the Southern League in RBI and fifth with 134 games played. White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Friday, February 17, with physicals and a workout scheduled for the following day. Position players are to report on Wednesday, February 22, with physicals and the first full-squad workout the next day . http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws Edited January 19, 2006 by Pierzynski 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RME JICO Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Wow, Ben Grieve, haven't heard that name in awhile. He could be a huge pickup if he can return to form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Montero was one of the first players suspended for steriod use last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Ugh, I don't like the Sox being associated with roiders at all. Nice to see Broadway with an invite, along with Grieve. Blakely's a bit of a surprise, but I think BHAM will be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Pitchers (8) B T Ht. Wt. 2005 Club(s) W-L ERA IP SO Chad Bentz R L 6-2 210 Class AA Carolina 1-0 1.29 7.0 5 Class AAA Albuquerque 0-1 4.01 33.2 32 FLORIDA 0-0 31.50 2.0 0 Lance Broadway R R 6-4 190 Class A Winston-Salem 1-3 4.58 55.0 58 Ray Liotta L L 6-3 220 Class A Kannapolis 8-3 2.26 115.1 107 Class A Winston-Salem 6-2 1.45 49.2 37 Javy Lopez L L 6-4 200 COLORADO 0-0 22.50 2.0 1 Class AAA Tucson 0-1 2.22 24.1 16 ARIZONA 1-1 9.42 14.1 11 Corwin Malone R L 6-3 200 Class AA Birmingham 5-5 4.53 97.1 81 Agustin Montero R R 6-3 210 Class AA Frisco 2-4 5.46 61.0 69 Class AAA Oklahoma 0-0 5.40 5.0 4 Ste. Randolph L L 6-3 200 Class AAA Fresno 1-1 3.40 39.2 50 Class AAA New Orleans 2-2 9.62 29.0 34 Tim Redding R R 6-0 195 SAN DIEGO 0-5 9.10 29.2 17 Class AAA Portland 0-0 0.90 10.0 5 Class AAA Columbus 3-4 5.08 51.1 47 NEW YORK-AL 0-1 54.00 1.0 2 Catchers (3) B T Ht. Wt. 2005 Club(s) AVG G HR RBI Carlos Lee R R 6-1 220 Class A Winston-Salem .289 84 14 48 Donny Lucy R R 6-3 210 Class A Kannapolis .264 54 1 22 Gustavo Molina R R 6-2 180 Class A Winston-Salem .261 109 11 41 Infielders (5) B T Ht. Wt. 2005 Club(s) AVG G HR RBI Josh Fields R R 6-2 210 Class AA Birmingham .252 134 16 79 Andy Gonzalez R R 6-2 180 Class AA Birmingham .274 123 4 63 Tim Hummel R R 6-2 190 Class AAA Pawtucket .250 64 4 27 Class AAA Memphis .275 56 6 23 Robert Valido R R 6-2 180 Class A Winston-Salem .288 119 8 59 Jorge Velandia R R 5-9 180 Class AAA Indianapolis .277 105 3 39 Outfielders (3) B T Ht. Wt. 2005 Club(s) AVG G HR RBI Darren Blakely S R 6-1 190 Class AA Birmingham .283 128 18 89 Ben Grieve L R 6-4 210 Class AAA Iowa .266 86 14 51 CUBS .250 23 0 1 Ryan Sweeney L L 6-4 200 Class AA Birmingham .298 113 1 48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I really like the ben grieve sign/invite. If he hits .250 he off the bench he will be more valuable than timo ever was. Hell if he hits .220 he will be more valuable than timo ever was. He is a really nice obp guy and plays fine enough defense that no one should complain about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 03:39 PM) I really like the ben grieve sign/invite. If he hits .250 he off the bench he will be more valuable than timo ever was. Hell if he hits .220 he will be more valuable than timo ever was. He is a really nice obp guy and plays fine enough defense that no one should complain about it. Grieve is pretty brutal defensively, but it appears his once promising career has transformed into being a career pinch hitter. The fact that he can hit it into the seats is nice. I still think Borchard is better than him at this point though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg The Bull Luzinski Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 (edited) I think Redding might have a shot at a bullpen spot. It is just a gut feeling. Or maybe the s***s are coming back... KW usually finds one diamond in the rough every year (Loiza, Pablo, Etc). Redding at worst could replace Jon Adkins. Edited January 19, 2006 by Greg The Bull Luzinski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 White Sox Announce Non-Roster Invites 11 Former Warthogs invited to camp Press Release from Winston-Salem Warthogs WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Chicago White Sox announced Thursday their non-roster invites, including 11 former Warthogs, to the club’s spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz. Pitchers Lance Broadway and Ray Liotta, outfielder Ryan Sweeney and third baseman Josh Fields, Top 10 prospects in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America, headline the list. MORE... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2HH Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 If LHP Ray Liotta is as good as he was in Goodfellas, we may have a new ace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I like seeing Grieve getting invited, he could end up being the 25th man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 03:52 PM) Grieve is pretty brutal defensively, but it appears his once promising career has transformed into being a career pinch hitter. The fact that he can hit it into the seats is nice. I still think Borchard is better than him at this point though. Grieve is definitely passible for a bench player defensively. Offensively i do not think they are really that close at the major league level. Borchard looks nothing but lost up there ( outside of when he runs into one here and there). There is only a two year difference and grieve has done ten times more than borchard ever has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Real excited about the Grieve signing. These invites are the ones that have the most to gain out of ST, so it's fun to see what comes of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxin' Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Fall back on Grieve if Anderson is a bust? Sounds good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RME JICO Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Grieve has shown that he can play at this level with some good years in OAK, I just hope those years were not influenced by the Giambi Products Inc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLAK Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 06:53 PM) Grieve has shown that he can play at this level with some good years in OAK, I just hope those years were not influenced by the Giambi Products Inc. I don't really know because I didn't see him last year but he wasn't good enough to crack that all-star roster on the grub last year. IIRC he came up when Patterson went down and played so well they brought Patterson back. An ill omen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 05:21 PM) Wow, Ben Grieve, haven't heard that name in awhile. He could be a huge pickup if he can return to form. Coop should be able to fix him up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 08:44 PM) Coop should be able to fix him up. He's not a pitcher... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 05:50 PM) He's not a pitcher... Yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownsportsfan Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 (edited) Ben Grieve's best years are way, way behind him. There are reasons these guys aren't signed to major league contracts, and Grieve is no exception. As to the thought that Grieve could play CF in case Anderson fails, what gives you that idea? He's been a corner outfielder/DH his whole career. I don't see him covering the gaps in center at age 30 when he's never done it over the course of a MLB season. This is really an "eh" invite. No reason to get mad or excited, just "eh". You look at his career line: .269 .367 .442 and say "hey, not too bad". But then you consider that he's 30, hasn't had over 300 PA since 2002 and he plays positions on the wrong side of the defensive spectrum and you go "hmm". His last "full" season was 2002: .251 .353 .432 He's better than TIMO that is for sure, than again, Borchard is better than TIMO. Point is, Grieve is an average bench player with a slight, slight, slight, chance to somehow recreate his years before the big drop in 2002. I doubt he makes the roster though. The Sox are just too deep this year. I wouldn't be surprised is he catches on with someone by the end of the year. Edited January 20, 2006 by chitownsportsfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 09:50 PM) He's not a pitcher... I thought it would be obvious without the green but I guess not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RME JICO Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 10:01 PM) I thought it would be obvious without the green but I guess not. I guess someone has to pitch in place of Viz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(TLAK @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 08:35 PM) I don't really know because I didn't see him last year but he wasn't good enough to crack that all-star roster on the grub last year. IIRC he came up when Patterson went down and played so well they brought Patterson back. An ill omen. Can't use that as an example. They were trying to get Corey some playing time as a showcase to get rid of the guy. And Grieve could be sent down. I don't think they said, "Grieve sucks, bring back Corey." I think it was, "We won't get anythign for Corey if he's in AAA, so who do we send down...*throws dart at dartboard*...Grieve it is!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
santo=dorf Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 If Ben makes this team he better be willing to SWING the bat when he comes off the bench. I noticed some Cub fans still remember when he came up to bat in the 9th with two outs and struck out without removing the bat off his shoulder. He also pissed off Lou in TB making a comment along the lines of "It doesn't really matter" when striking out looking in the 9th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChWRoCk2 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 19, 2006 -> 11:55 PM) If Ben makes this team he better be willing to SWING the bat when he comes off the bench. I noticed some Cub fans still remember when he came up to bat in the 9th with two outs and struck out without removing the bat off his shoulder. He also pissed off Lou in TB making a comment along the lines of "It doesn't really matter" when striking out looking in the 9th. Is it just me or is he like another Ross Gload, they strike me as similar players, frankly instead of Grieve Id like to give some of the younger guys a shot at pinch hitting. I dont necessarily think we needed him, not like hes done anything impressive as a pinch hitter for the Cubs that comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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