Aaron Poreda selected

[whitesox94]

what do you think of this kid. Another project for coop?

[briguy27]

hear that? thats the sound of my controller going through my tv screen.

[juddling]

MLB website says he's got a great fastball but rest of pitches need work. I guess it's gonna be another 'power arm' for the Sox.

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

cough cough, Scott Ruffcorn.

[T R U]

this has to be some sick joke

 

what is wrong with this damn franchise

[nitetrain8601]

Maybe KW needs to be demoted to Asst GM, we could bring in a guy who knows what he's doing, and fire the rest of the scouts.

[fathom]

66 strike outs in 100 IP against average-to-mediocre college competition. I can't see how he projects to be anything else than a reliever.

[witesoxfan]

atleast he has a high ceiling

 

or somethin or somethin

[BearSox]

I am so glad we passed on the best high school pitcher in the draft for what looks like to be Andrew Sisco part II...

[AWhiteSoxinNJ]

Aaron Poreda-S- White Sox Jun. 7 - 4:28 pm et

 

 

White Sox selected University of San Francisco LHP Aaron Poreda with the 25th pick in the 2007 draft.

 

Poreda is a big left-hander capable of throwing 95 mph. He lacks quality secondary stuff at the moment, but he has more upside than Lance Broadway or Kyle McCulloch, the college pitchers the White Sox took in the first round the previous two years.

[kwolf68]

The two mock drafts I saw didn't even have this guy projected in the first round. Im not necessarily saying its a bad pick, but it doesn't look like a good one.

[southsideirish71]

I like the plus velocity of his arm. If he can throw strikes and develop a 2nd pitch he could be a good starter. If he doesnt, he will be a reliever.

 

The only thing that stings is that Porcello was still on the board, and was selected by the Tigers.

[Chisoxfn]

Lefty that throws that hard, big frame, projectable...only scary thing is he really has nothing aside from a fastball.

[Gregory Pratt]

He has nothing but a fastball...hasn't been playing baseball too long...was an "under the radar" pick...has weak secondary pitches...

 

...and we took him first round?

 

I'll be happy to admit I was wrong but I think this is a bust pick. What the f*** is this?

 

--

 

Maybe the thing that bothers me most is: Cooper will have him throwing with less velocity to harness "control."

 

f***

[Flash Tizzle]

Aaron Poreda-S- White Sox Jun. 7 - 4:28 pm et

 

 

White Sox selected University of San Francisco LHP Aaron Poreda with the 25th pick in the 2007 draft.

 

Poreda is a big left-hander capable of throwing 95 mph. He lacks quality secondary stuff at the moment, but he has more upside than Lance Broadway or Kyle McCulloch, the college pitchers the White Sox took in the first round the previous two years.

That's about an exact description of what I gave the pick. Although these velocity readings better be consistent 95+mph and not 91-93 with touching 95. I don't want to see a Nick Masset scenario where magically advertised velocity disappears.

 

If Porcello weren't available with Detroit picking two below us it'd be easier to stomach. But I just can't believe we overlooked him. Who is this organization to overlook talented pitchers? I don't care if it was for 8 million. Give him 15 million for all I care. The minor league system desperately needs talented pitchers to compete with those within the division. And unfortunately now with Porcello at Detroit their jobs become that much more difficult.

 

Anything less than a #1 or #2 status for Poreda is a failure in my mind. He better start developing secondary pitches quickly.

[The Ginger Kid]

CHICAGO -- The White Sox vowed to take the best player available when their 25th pick came around in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, regardless of possible needs on the middle infield or at catcher.

 

They also were looking for a player with raw talent, an individual with the potential to be developed into a Major League All-Star at some point in his career. In left-hander Aaron Poreda, the White Sox just might have got their man.

 

Poreda became the third consecutive pitcher to be selected in the first round by the White Sox, following Lance Broadway (2005) and Kyle McCulloch (2006). All three picks came from the collegiate level, with Poreda practicing his craft for the University of San Francisco.

 

Draft 2007 | Complete Coverage

 

As a junior starter for the Dons during the 2007 season, Poreda finished 7-6 with a 2.89 ERA over 14 starts. Poreda struck out 66 and walked 18 in 99 2/3 innings. Poreda has a fastball touching 97 mph, while also having command of his slider and changeup.

 

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound southpaw also started 17 games of his 18 appearances as a sophomore, posting an 8-5 record with a 2.49 ERA. He led the team in strikeouts in each of the last two years.

 

sounds pretty promising to me.

[Soxfest]

Not real excited about this selection at all. Sox just sent a few hard throwers to the minors

[quickman]

wes whisler Jr.

[DBAHO]

I don't mind the pick.

 

It's obviously annoying that Porcello was still on the board, and the Tigers got him, but I like this selection more than I have the Broadway and McCullough selections over the past couple of seasons, so at least that's a positive.

 

And the Sox have done a pretty good job in teaching secondary pitches to their guys in the minors, so hopefully Pareda can do that. At least the guy can throw some HEAT, which is something we've been crying out for.

[SoxFan1]

Nevin Griffith interview:

 

"Nevin Griffith is an awesome high school pitcher from Tampa, Florida. The 6’4” righty has shot up draft boards this spring with his projectable, athletic body and great stuff – including a fastball that touches 96, good sinker and plus slider. Griffith should be drafted very highly on Thursday, perhaps even creeping into the first round. I had the pleasure of interviewing Nevin via e-mail, and here is what he had to say

 

PerfectGame.org

 

First off, start by telling everyone where you grew up, how you became interested in baseball and a little about your prep baseball career.

I grew up in Brandon, FL. My older brother played baseball, so the game was introduced to me early in my life. My first time out of the house as a newborn baby was actually to the baseball field - to one of my brother’s games. Naturally, I was interested in the game and when I was four years old, I enrolled in tee-ball. In high school, my coach decided I was going to be a pitcher.

How would you describe yourself as a pitcher to someone who hasn’t seen you pitch? What pitches do you thrown? How do they rank? How do you like to attack hitters? Write your autobiographical scouting report!

I pitch to get outs. That is not my main focus as much as it is my only focus. I throw a fastball that usually sits around 93-95 MPH and a sinker around 91 MPH. My slider is my out pitch and it’s usually in the range of 82-84 MPH. Those three pitches are my bread and butter in the course of a game. My curveball and change-up are usually used later in the game as a surprise pitch. I like to stay away from hitters most of the time unless they are a strong hitter then I’ll come inside. I mostly throw outside to lefties and like to backdoor them with my slider.

 

Tell us about your pre-game preparation and what you do on the days you're not pitching. What routine do you go through when you're on the mound that day. What do you do after the game, when you're done pitching? Do you ice? Stretch? How often do you throw on your off days?

First off, I try to throw everyday whether it is just a short toss or flat ground to a long toss and a bullpen. I like to long toss before I pitch and run just two poles. After the games I pitch, I don’t ice as many pitchers do. My arm usually feels good so I run about four miles the day after just to get all of the lactic acid out of my arm built up from the game.

 

You've had a prestigious prep baseball career. Please talk about some of the travel teams you have been on and showcases that you have played in.

I have played for many travel teams and summer clubs but the team that outranks all of those teams is Chet Lemmon’s Juice - they are the real deal.

What player have you played with or against that makes you say, "That guy is going places!"?

I went to Atlanta for an East Cobb Showcase and I played with this shortstop named Derek Deitrick - now that guy is really going places!

 

On a related note, you've had some intense battles against Michael Burgess - another player from Tampa that will be a high draft pick in a couple weeks. Tell us about those.

I went at Mike like he was just an ordinary batter. He got no special treatment because of his name. I treated him like a strong-hitting lefty, so I stayed in on his hands and used the slider outside to back door him. I used the sinker and the curveball to keep him off balance.

Do you have a favorite MLB team?

No.

 

Who is your favorite pro baseball player? Is there a pitcher that you try and model your game after?

My favorite baseball player is Dontrelle Willis, but hopefully it will be myself pretty soon. LOL. But I try to model my pitching after Roger Clemens because in his prime he went for the win with his all and he has two power pitches, like me.

What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career?

When I threw my first perfect game this year. It was memorable because the fans for the other team were actually rooting for me.

Do you have any superstitions? If so, how did they develop? I always associate #23 with Michael Jordan - is that why you chose that number, or are there different reasons?

I have no superstitions, but I always have the number 23 because that was the date I was born - March 23rd. There’s no sense in having a number that means absolutely nothing, so I decided that my number would be 23.

 

We’ve now heard about Nevin Griffith, the ballplayer, but tell us about Nevin Griffith, the person. What do you like to do when you’re not playing baseball? What is something unique about you?

When I’m not on the field, I’m just a regular 18-year-old young man that likes to go to the movies, play spades and halo with his friends. Something unique about me is that I hate pizza but love sushi.

 

Favorite Movie? Music group/artist? Book?

“300”, Lil Wayne & To Kill a Mockingbird."

Edited June 7, 2007 by SoxFan1

[Flash Tizzle]

Nevin Griffith interview:

 

First off, I try to throw everyday whether it is just a short toss or flat ground to a long toss and a bullpen. I like to long toss before I pitch and run just two poles. After the games I pitch, I don’t ice as many pitchers do. My arm usually feels good so I run about four miles the day after just to get all of the lactic acid out of my arm built up from the game.

I subscribe to the Tim Lincecum model of arm training as well. Long tossing everyday and avoiding ice seems to work for Japanese pitchers. Older pitchers in MLB did this as well.

[whitesoxfan101]

Everybody laughed last night at the projection that we'd pass on Porcello, take a project, and the Tigers would take Porcello instead. I guess the people around here haven't learned about Kenny and our scouts yet, they aren't very smart.

[SoxFan1]

Everybody laughed last night at the projection that we'd pass on Porcello, take a project, and the Tigers would take Porcello instead. I guess the people around here haven't learned about Kenny and our scouts yet, they aren't very smart.

That, or you are just far too wise to be on a message board.

[whitesoxfan101]

That, or you are just far too wise to be on a message board.

 

Taking a guy with 1 pitch and a mediocre strikeout rate in college over Porcello is inexcuseable. I am not nearly informed enough to speak of our other picks, but to take Andy Sisco clone over Porcello isn't working at all.

[SoxAce]

Taking a guy with 1 pitch and a mediocre strikeout rate in college over Porcello is inexcuseable. I am not nearly informed enough to speak of our other picks, but to take Andy Sisco clone over Porcello isn't working at all.

 

Since obviously you don't know what the hell your talking about and especially saying he's an Andy Sisco clone when he does have control just drop the "Im smarter than you" act.

 

You and BearSox should start your own scouting firm. Again, how many times have you seen Poreda pitch?

 

Seriously I might have to tell 101 like I told BearSox and stick with a sport where your knowledge excels at. Obviously for him is football and for you is basketball.