5/28 Games

[NorthSideSox72]

Charlotte @ Rochester, in pre-game, looks like Wes Whisler (5-2, 2.68) is starting according to the box score (Tomo Ohka is listed on the scoreboard preview)

 

Jacksonville beat B-Ham, 4-2. Details...

 

Cook: 0-1, 3 BB, R (pitchers just seem to be going around him now)

J Castillo: 1-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI

Valido: 0-3, K, his 13th error resulted in 3 of the 4 runs scored by Jacksonville, giving Cassel a tough loss

 

Cassel (L, 3-3): 7 IP, 9 H, 4 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 4 K

Lujan: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K

 

Myrtle Beach @ Winston-Salem: postponed by rain.

 

Kanny is off.

 

[BearSox]

Richar 1 for 2 tonight with a homer, rbi, and walk. Fields 1-3 with a K. Eldred continues to rake with homerun number 19 and rbi number 50.

[Balta1701]

Richar 1 for 2 tonight with a homer, rbi, and walk. Fields 1-3 with a K. Eldred continues to rake with homerun number 19 and rbi number 50.

Picking up right where he left off last time he was in Charlotte. Bring it Danny.

 

Richar and Alexei pick it up, and it opens up a lot more options for the Sox. 2b platoon to get them both AB's comes to mind. Could clear out Uribe or Ozuna if they wanted, put a LH bat on the bench permanently with Danny.

[JPN366]

Today was the Rickwood Classic for the Barons. It was awesome as usual except for the loss. Javier Castillo's homerun traveled 438 feet.

[bighurt4life]

I've asked this before but when does David Cook get moved to AAA. Between last season and this year he's played 80 games in AA and has a combined OPS of about 1.070, I think that he's shown all that he needs to in B-Ham to warrant a promotion.

[JPN366]

I've asked this before but when does David Cook get moved to AAA. Between last season and this year he's played 80 games in AA and has a combined OPS of about 1.070, I think that he's shown all that he needs to in B-Ham to warrant a promotion.

 

The Barons are trying to secure a playoff spot at the moment and he is the 3 hitter in that lineup. Charlotte can wait. B'ham's magic number for a playoff spot is 12. Charlotte has plenty of boppers in the lineup. You don't take a good hitter away from a competitive team to promote him to an average team at best. That would be a like a punch to the gut for B'ham. Collaro was promoted to Charlotte beacause it didn't hurt B'ham's chemistry.

Edited May 29, 2008 by JPN366

[whitesoxfan101]

The Barons are trying to secure a playoff spot at the moment and he is the 3 hitter in that lineup. Charlotte can wait. B'ham's magic number for a playoff spot is 12. Charlotte has plenty of boppers in the lineup. You don't take a good hitter away from a competitive team to promote him to an average team at best. That would be a like a punch to the gut for B'ham. Collaro was promoted to Charlotte beacause it didn't hurt B'ham's chemistry.

 

This logic is ridiculous. Cook is running out of time already as a guy who turns 27 later this summer, ancient by minor league standards, plus he already has proven that AA pitching can't touch him. The minor league system isn't about winning (crazy but true), it's about finding talent and promoting it as it proves itself. David Cook at AA is pretty ridiculous, he should be in Charlotte.

[JPN366]

This logic is ridiculous. Cook is running out of time already as a guy who turns 27 later this summer, ancient by minor league standards, plus he already has proven that AA pitching can't touch him. The minor league system isn't about winning (crazy but true), it's about finding talent and promoting it as it proves itself. David Cook at AA is pretty ridiculous, he should be in Charlotte.

 

I am aware that the minor leagues are not about winning. But when a team is winning, a promotion can wait a few weeks. The Barons have 17 games left in the first half. They can promote him all they want then, but right now he's best served to help the team he's with secure a playoff spot. The logic is not ridiculous. All I'm saying is that a promotion can wait two and a half weeks. Micah Schnurstein wasn't promoted from W-S to B'ham last year and he was tearing it up in the Carolina League. Just because a player is doing well at a level doesn't mean that your promote him ASAP and be damned the team left behind. If you use that logic, then why hasn't Brad Eldred been called up? Why hasn't Brandon Allen been promoted? Yes, David Cook deserves a promotion and I hope he gets it. But, even the White Sox know it can wait a few weeks. The logic that it has to happen now is ridiculous. Charlotte doesn't take precedence over B'ham. Cook can help Charlotte in the second half, he's helping B'ham in the first half.

Edited May 29, 2008 by JPN366

[NorthSideSox72]

The Barons are trying to secure a playoff spot at the moment and he is the 3 hitter in that lineup. Charlotte can wait. B'ham's magic number for a playoff spot is 12. Charlotte has plenty of boppers in the lineup. You don't take a good hitter away from a competitive team to promote him to an average team at best. That would be a like a punch to the gut for B'ham. Collaro was promoted to Charlotte beacause it didn't hurt B'ham's chemistry.

 

This logic is ridiculous. Cook is running out of time already as a guy who turns 27 later this summer, ancient by minor league standards, plus he already has proven that AA pitching can't touch him. The minor league system isn't about winning (crazy but true), it's about finding talent and promoting it as it proves itself. David Cook at AA is pretty ridiculous, he should be in Charlotte.

 

Right now, with Richar and Uribe in rehab in Charlotte, its too crowded anyway. Conveniently, that also allows for the Barons to have Cook a little longer, to clinch that first half playoff spot. Happy coincidence that helps everyone.

 

But I'd bet in a week or two, when Uribe and Richar are fully healed, and maybe we'll see Cook moved to AAA. But here is the issue - where would he play? The Charlotte OF would be Bourgoeis-Owens-Wise, so, I suppose you can put JB on the infield. But where? Its just very crowded down there. I suppose its possible they might release Jeff Liefer, who usually is at DH. He's old, isn't doing well at AAA, and would allow Cook to DH and play a little OF here and there.

 

[JPN366]

I've watched minor league baseball enough to know that you don't see significant roster shake up below AAA until midseason. AAA is a holding pen for Major League reserves. AA and lower is for player development. B'ham's roster has not been altered significantly at all this season because they are winning. You don't undercut a winning team in your organization just to promote someone. In a few weeks, it won't be harmful at all.

Edited May 29, 2008 by JPN366

[29andPoplar]

I've watched minor league baseball enough to know that you don't see significant roster shake up below AAA until midseason. AAA is a holding pen for Major League reserves. AA and lower is for player development. B'ham's roster has not been altered significantly at all this season because they are winning. You don't undercut a winning team in your organization just to promote someone. In a few weeks, it won't be harmful at all.

Not only that, but the experience gained by playing on a team fighting for a division win is a developmental experience in and of itself. The Twins organization is a perfect example. They feel it's important to stress chemistry, winning as a team. So you're absolutely right, the promotion can wait.

[JPN366]

Not even Evan Longoria, a big time prospect who obviously was on a fast track to the majors, was promoted through the minors at times when it would hurt the teams he played for. From A ball to AA at the end of 2006. From AA to AAA in July of 2007. And, from AAA to Tampa back in April. The minors may not be about winning, but it is far from irrelevant.

[Balta1701]

Not even Evan Longoria, a big time prospect who obviously was on a fast track to the majors, was promoted through the minors at times when it would hurt the teams he played for. From A ball to AA at the end of 2006. From AA to AAA in July of 2007. And, from AAA to Tampa back in April. The minors may not be about winning, but it is far from irrelevant.

It's also worth noting that Tampa has other motives that might cause them to hold a person back...like $.

[Chisoxfn]

This logic is ridiculous. Cook is running out of time already as a guy who turns 27 later this summer, ancient by minor league standards, plus he already has proven that AA pitching can't touch him. The minor league system isn't about winning (crazy but true), it's about finding talent and promoting it as it proves itself. David Cook at AA is pretty ridiculous, he should be in Charlotte.

That is the point, Cook is an organizational guy anyway and taking him away from Birmingham could have a significant impact on the Sox relationship with one of there minor league affilliates. I realize to fans of the big league club, we don't necessarily care if Bham wins or loses, we care if the prospects are doing well. However, to the minor league organizations, they care about winning and making the local fan base happy and moving a guy like Cook (org guy) would be a bad move.

 

Now if you are talking about a guy whose a top top prospect, development would win out and the guy would get promoted, not so much for those organizational type guys (plus in the grand scheme of things, another couple weeks in AA isn't going to have a significant effect on whether he turns into a good player at the next level or not).

[NorthSideSox72]

That is the point, Cook is an organizational guy anyway and taking him away from Birmingham could have a significant impact on the Sox relationship with one of there minor league affilliates. I realize to fans of the big league club, we don't necessarily care if Bham wins or loses, we care if the prospects are doing well. However, to the minor league organizations, they care about winning and making the local fan base happy and moving a guy like Cook (org guy) would be a bad move.

 

Now if you are talking about a guy whose a top top prospect, development would win out and the guy would get promoted, not so much for those organizational type guys (plus in the grand scheme of things, another couple weeks in AA isn't going to have a significant effect on whether he turns into a good player at the next level or not).

I'm no longer sure that Cook is just an "org guy". Once in a while, a player will figure things out a couple years later than he should have. I think its a good idea to watch for those types, because they may be able to contribute later. Cook has had two straight seasons now of not just good hitting, but truly stellar hitting. That's not just a hot streak anymore.

 

That said, I agree with you that a few weeks isn't going to do any harm one way or the other, and the Sox do indeed want to keep that good relationship with the affiliates. Cook will see Charlotte sometime this year, I would almost guarantee it.

 

[JPN366]

And, he can come back to B'ham in September if they clinch that spot in the next few weeks and Charlotte doesn't go to the playoffs themselves.

[bighurt4life]

That is the point, Cook is an organizational guy anyway and taking him away from Birmingham could have a significant impact on the Sox relationship with one of there minor league affilliates. I realize to fans of the big league club, we don't necessarily care if Bham wins or loses, we care if the prospects are doing well. However, to the minor league organizations, they care about winning and making the local fan base happy and moving a guy like Cook (org guy) would be a bad move.

 

Now if you are talking about a guy whose a top top prospect, development would win out and the guy would get promoted, not so much for those organizational type guys (plus in the grand scheme of things, another couple weeks in AA isn't going to have a significant effect on whether he turns into a good player at the next level or not).

 

That makes more sense. However like previous posters have said I'm not sure that he's just an organizational guy anymore. He's hitting for average, power, high walks, low strikeouts and have heard that he's a pretty good outfielder. I say move him up soon and lets see what he can do in AAA. Some guys just take longer to figure it out like Paul Lo Duca who was in the minors until he was like 29 or 30.

[Balta1701]

That makes more sense. However like previous posters have said I'm not sure that he's just an organizational guy anymore. He's hitting for average, power, high walks, low strikeouts and have heard that he's a pretty good outfielder. I say move him up soon and lets see what he can do in AAA. Some guys just take longer to figure it out like Paul Lo Duca who was in the minors until he was like 29 or 30.

Um...well, with a guy like Paul Lo Duca, there may be other reasons behind his suddenly going from hitting 6 home runs in 2000 between AAA and the big leagues to hitting 25 home runs in 2001.

[NorthSideSox72]

Um...well, with a guy like Paul Lo Duca, there may be other reasons behind his suddenly going from hitting 6 home runs in 2000 between AAA and the big leagues to hitting 25 home runs in 2001.

yeah, Cook has had power all along. That hasn't changed much. Its his average and OBP that have gone up, and I think that's different than Lo Duca's situation. The main point is still strong though - there are players who develop late.

 

[Balta1701]

yeah, Cook has had power all along. That hasn't changed much. Its his average and OBP that have gone up, and I think that's different than Lo Duca's situation. The main point is still strong though - there are players who develop late.

Totally agreed. I just think you should tend to avoid using the worst of the worst of the Mitchell report list as a way to prove a point. There's a great bit in Moneyball that I laugh at where they talk about how Giambi didn't really develop his power until he got to the big leagues. I think that illustrates my point. Plenty of people develop late. Others got stuck in AAA and found other ways to make the big leagues.

[scenario]

This is Cook's 5th year since being drafted. So, we'll have to put him on the 40-man this fall to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

This is Cook's 5th year since being drafted. So, we'll have to put him on the 40-man this fall to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

If he keeps hitting like this, and gets to Charlotte, I'd bet he gets added. Unless there are a bunch of moves in the fall that make such a move not possible.