Kenny puts Scouts on Notice

[DBAHO]

Thought you would all be interested in this, since this topic has become quite the discussion over the past couple of seasons;

 

Scout's honor: Williams issued a challenge to a few particular members of his staff following a question from the audience Saturday about the team's recent shortcomings in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft in regard to finding young, power arms.

 

"We have to do a better job and the scouting department has been put on notice that I expect more from them," Williams said.

 

Although the White Sox have been able to pluck some late-round finds in the draft and have had the disadvantage of drafting in the lower half of the first round, their top picks have been inconsistent recently in terms of Major League success. Brian Anderson, the top pick from 2003, started for the White Sox in 2005, and Josh Fields (2004's top pick) should be contributing soon, as well as starter Lance Broadway (2005). But there also have been some notable underachievers such as pitchers Jason Stumm (1999) and Kris Honel (2001), infielder Jason Dellaero (1997) and even Joe Borchard (2000), to some extent.

 

But in a chat with a group of White Sox reporters following the meeting with the fans, Williams explained how the conversation he had with the amateur scouting department was similar to the theme of all his talks with his entire staff.

 

"I had a conversation with them, just as I had with everyone in the organization actually, so it wasn't just limited to them," Williams said. "It was a message that winning the 2005 World Series was not the endgame. The goal is for this organization to be one of the top organizations in baseball.

 

"In order to do that, you have to have sustained success that starts first and foremost with the scouting and player developing. Always there. They lay the foundation."

[Heads22]

What do they mean Borchard was a failure, to some extent? The best thing he did was get traded.

[whitesoxfan101]

What do they mean Borchard was a failure, to some extent? The best thing he did was get traded.

 

I assume they mean he can't be a total failure since we turned him into a lefty bullpen arm that throws 96 to 100.

[shipps]

Whitesox scouting seems a little like Chicago Bears scouting,definetly alot better picks in later rounds throughout the years.

[Jordan4life_2007]

It's great to see Kenny realizes they have to improve in this area.

[Reddy]

I assume they mean he can't be a total failure since we turned him into a lefty bullpen arm that throws 96 to 100.

??

[Flash Tizzle]

I'm glad he has recognized the problem, although it wasn't nearly to the extent I envisioned before opening this thread. We're not competing within this division with Lance Broadway anchoring a pitching staff. Williams didn't bring in a handful of projectable pitching prospects because he has faith in our own.

 

With his public announcement regarding long term deals for pitchers, suitable replacements are needed immediately. I don't believe, as we've seen with Buehrle, every starter will be traded. Several will pitch for our club through their contract year. Thus, production from within is crucial to sustaining success. I just hope one/two of Danks, Gonzalez, and Sisco reach their potential.

 

Personally, I believe if Danks is a bust (which may take several years to determine) there should be an overhaul within our scouting department. Its been mentioned within print that our scouts have monitored Texas' system for quite awhile, no? There should be accountability if these individuals have placed enough faith in Danks/Massett that trading McCarthy was necessary. Brandon's production goes a long way towards determing their faith as well.

 

Also, on another note, it's sort of a convoluted argument to suggest Borchard wasn't a failure because he brought us Thornton. So? His return value has no bearing on the player he was expected to be once his production increased within our system. Or, even earlier than that, when a tremendous signing bonus was awarded. Expectations were sky-high for him.

Edited January 28, 2007 by Flash Tizzle

[beck72]

Kenny stated the amateur scouting dep't needed improvement--the guys who draft High school, and college guys. Those guys are different than the scouts who look at Danks, et al who are in the minor leagues.

Edited January 28, 2007 by beck72

[southsideirish71]

Hopefully this means we will see some more stuff guys from the draft instead of some safe picks. Passing up Garza and others for Broadway based on Broadway being safe might have finally sunk in for Kenny when he saw Garza make the bigs last year.

[Felix]

I would think that after this offseason, KW's thought on this topic is pretty obvious. I mean really, how many young pitchers did we add this offseason, especially ones that throw in the upper 90's?

[hitlesswonder]

Hopefully this means we will see some more stuff guys from the draft instead of some safe picks. Passing up Garza and others for Broadway based on Broadway being safe might have finally sunk in for Kenny when he saw Garza make the bigs last year.

 

Other players the Sox passed on to take Broadway: Carillo,Pawelek, Jacob Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Colby Rasmus, Chris Volstad, and Aaron Thompson. It looks like there may have been a lot of talent in the 2005 draft.

[Flash Tizzle]

Other players the Sox passed on to take Broadway: Carillo,Pawelek, Jacob Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Colby Rasmus, Chris Volstad, and Aaron Thompson. It looks like there may have been a lot of talent in the 2005 draft.

Higher picks often slip down because of signability concerns. Wasn't Hansen projected as a top five selection in 2005? If we're willing to pay someone the money REGARDLESS of agent (ahem, Boras) we can find ourselves decent pitchers at our draft position. Christ, what other option is there for us? Latin American talent is non existent and we're not willing to sign pitching deals beyond 3 years. If we're intending on building our system by trading veteran starting pitchers, we'll first need Danks/Gonzalez to step up. Everything falls into place from there.

[Heads22]

Why does everyone hate Broadway? He's already in consideration for the fifth spot.

[santo=dorf]

Hey flash, Aaron Rowand isn't considered an impact player?

[hitlesswonder]

Why does everyone hate Broadway? He's already in consideration for the fifth spot.

 

What I've read is that he's a one-pitch pitcher (curevball) with a fastball the struggles to get over 90. And he was very hittable in AA: 160 hits in 154 IP. Also, only 6.47 K/9.

 

I haven't seen him in person, and if I did I probably still wouldn't know if he was good or not. But he's just not regarded as a high-ceiling prospect. It's particularly troubling because Garza is regarded by many as a potential top of the rotation starter. Of course, the Twins clearly have some of the best scouts in baseball.

[witesoxfan]

What I've read is that he's a one-pitch pitcher (curevball) with a fastball the struggles to get over 90. And he was very hittable in AA: 160 hits in 154 IP. Also, only 6.47 K/9.

 

I haven't seen him in person, and if I did I probably still wouldn't know if he was good or not. But he's just not regarded as a high-ceiling prospect. It's particularly troubling because Garza is regarded by many as a potential top of the rotation starter. Of course, the Twins clearly have some of the best scouts in baseball.

 

Yeah, and he's never been considered more than a 3rd-4th starter type. The plan for Broadway the whole time has been to get him in the MLB quickly, as they figured he'd fly through the minors. He has.

[CWSGuy406]

Not to pick on Hansen, but why would anyone want him over Broadway at this point? He's been awful in 40+ innings as a reliever at the big league level, and his K/9 in the minors is below eight, which (again) for a reliever is brutal.

 

I agree with the general point, but bringing up Craig Hansen does nothing to back up your case.

[winninguglyin83]

To remember that we once had a four-year streak of:

 

Jack McDowell

 

robin Ventura

 

Frank Thomas

 

Alex Fernandez

 

is to understand how badly we have drafted in recent years.,

 

We're not picking as high as we were back then, but we've been horrible. Not only the bad first picks, guys like Tim Hummel and Matt Ginter come to mind, too.

 

Glad to see Kenny call them out.

 

How many homegrown guys do we have on this team?

 

Buehrle

 

Anderson

 

Crede

 

Logan

 

And then rookies like Haegar, fields and Sweeney.

 

That's poor.

[OilCan]

To remember that we once had a four-year streak of:

 

Jack McDowell

 

robin Ventura

 

Frank Thomas

 

Alex Fernandez

 

is to understand how badly we have drafted in recent years.,

 

True, but didn't the Sox finish near the cellar in order to pick the fab 4 high in the first round?

I remember that Alex was the 4th overall pick in 90, and Frank the 8th pick in 91. Forgot the number of McD and Robin.

[winninguglyin83]

I said we picked higher back then.

 

But over the last 10 years, guys like Stumm, Honel, Borchard and otthers have been very bad.

[Kalapse]

Didn't want to start a new thread. Williams on talking to Garland about the trade rumors this off-season.

My god you're not going to find a more candid GM anywhere. That is a classic line though.

[winninguglyin83]

how many years of Garland do we have?

 

two.

 

are garland, Crede and Vaz the big free agents of 08?

 

buehrle, Dye, Iguchi this year?

[witesoxfan]

He basically said he got that close to completely f***ing Purpura in the ass.

 

Willie, I so almost called this offseason perfectly.

[witesoxfan]

I thought some of you guys would enjoy it.

Not hard to figure out the package either.

 

Jon Garland

For

Taylor Buchholz

Jason Hirsh

Willy Taveras

Hunter Pence

I would have driven Jon to Houston if the 'Stros did that deal.

 

Kenny was really holding out for a monster package.

 

Maybe it's just me, but you could take out any of those players - except Hirsh I 'spose - and I make that deal in a second.

[DBAHO]

When the whole Houston deal was being talked about, I really didn't want much to do with Buchholz or Willy T. I love Burke, and I personally thought a Burke-Hirsh for Garland deal would have been a steal.

 

But yes, I agree with you.

Hunter Pence was the deal breaker in that scenario.

 

But if I got offered Pence and Hirsh for Garland alone, that's still an extremely hard deal to turn down.

 

Unfortunately, Pupura decided to go and overpay for Jason Jennings instead.

 

But imagine getting those 4 players in that deal. Pence takes over for Dye in 2008, Hirsh steps into the rotation for 6 seasons, either Anderson or Taveras gets traded to a team like Florida for some of their young pitching, and Buckholz gives you more options for the rotation or pen.