Take a look at the closers in the Sox org right now

[NorthSideSox72]

With the Sox organization having so little depth of talent at most positions, its nice to see some exceptions to that rule. One of the exceptions appears to be closers. Charlotte has people going up and down from the big club (Wassermann, MacDougal), so let's look at the rest of the system, where there appear to be some real relief prospects...

 

Birmingham (AA): Jon Link (acquired for Rob Mackowiak, 2007, from San Diego Padres)

3-1

17 saves

1.80 ERA

1.32 WHIP

24 K in 25 IP

GO/AO: 1.45

 

Winston-Salem (A+): Kanekoa Texeira (26th round pick, 2006 draft)

2-0

10 saves

1.64 ERA

1.27 WHIP

21 K in 22 IP

1.53 GO/AO

 

Kannapolis (A-): Henry Mabee (19th round pick in the 2007 draft)

 

0-0

14 Saves

1.30 ERA

1.18 WHIP

37 K in 34.2 IP

GO/AO: 2.72

 

And here is a fun stat. Those three have pitched a combined 81.2 IP, and have not given up a single HR.

 

The really interesting part, to me, is that Mabee and Texeira were both late round picks. Nice pickups.

[scenario]

Good post NorthSide. Very interesting.

[danman31]

If you figure the closer is the best reliever, each team is bound to have one. None of the K rates are amazing, but the HR rates are nice. Remember Jeff Bajenaru and Dwayne Pollok? Haha, it's funny to look back and old minor league rosters (thanks thebaseballcube.com) and laugh at some of the names. Wassermann did work his way through as a closer though.

[bmags]

Almonte

[maggsmaggs]

Joe Valentine.

 

I don't Link is anything really, but his numbers are solid and he isn't that old. Teixeira has a great slider, so he could turn out to be something and MaBee has been good everywhere thus far. He also is on the Comcast TV show about the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Not sure what kind of stuff we are talking about, but he could be good. Needs to be promoted because 23 (will turn in July) in low-A ball is not that good.

Edited June 11, 2008 by maggsmaggs

[Jordan4life_2007]

Are any of these guys legitimate prospects?

[fathom]

Are any of these guys legitimate prospects?

 

Not really

[Jordan4life_2007]

That's what I figured. I'm so out of the loop in regards to our system this year. After the Swisher trade, I just stopped paying attention.

[whitesoxfan101]

Are any of these guys legitimate prospects?

 

Maybe Mabee (sorry, I had to). In all seriousness though, Mabee has the best shot I would say because he throws so many ground balls. He's the only one among them that might be though IMO.

[NorthSideSox72]

Are any of these guys legitimate prospects?

I'm going to have to disagree with my esteemed colleague, fathom, based on what I know...

 

Texeira has the right stuff, from what I have read and seen, and others who know more than I do put him as a legitimate relief pitching prospect. I know Jas is a big fan, he might be able to speak more on him than I could.

 

Mabee is a guy who I don't know about his stuff, all I see is his results - and he's kicked ass in GF after being drafted (skipped Bristol), and is kicking ass in A ball. He's what I'd call a wait-and-see guy. If he gets promoted to A+ or AA and still kicks ass, then I think its time to call him a prospect. I would like to know more about his stuff though, so, if anyone knows, please pipe up.

 

Link is interesting. His first couple years in the minors, 2005-2006, his numbers (core and peripheral) were less than stellar at A- and A+. Then in 2007, his numbers started improving. His H/9 went from 10-ish to 7-ish, his K/9 jumped from mid-6's in 2005 to near 10 in 2007. His BB/9 dropped from near 3.5 in 2006 to the mid-2's in 2007. Now this year, those numbers are just as good or better, as he continues to apparently improve. His walks are up a bit this year, but otherwise, he seems to be "figuring it out". At 24 he's not exactly ancient for AA, but he's not young either. If he can do this stuff in more of a hitters' park like Charlotte, I'd say he might have a future bullpen role somewhere.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Not really

As I am sure you and your brother know, its never black and white. There is no such thing as a can't-miss prospect, because some do. And for players who perform well, even if they weren't drafted high, some will end up making it (Buehrle, for example). They are all percentages, in my view.

 

So, depending on your definition of "prospect", where is that line? Is a guy with a 20% chance a prospect? 40%? 60%?

 

I wouldn't call any of these three guys high-level prospects, from what I have seen and read (which is admitedly limited). But I think all three have been successful and have good peripherals, and at least in Texeira's case, has been noted to have some plus stuff. That to me means that they are 0% guys. They are worth watching, because they may be valuable at a higher level. To me, that is the definition of a prospect - someone who MIGHT make it to the big leagues.

 

[scenario]

Not really

 

What are you basing that on?

 

[Balta1701]

I wouldn't call any of these three guys high-level prospects, from what I have seen and read (which is admitedly limited). But I think all three have been successful and have good peripherals, and at least in Texeira's case, has been noted to have some plus stuff. That to me means that they are 0% guys. They are worth watching, because they may be valuable at a higher level. To me, that is the definition of a prospect - someone who MIGHT make it to the big leagues.

Especially with bullpen guys though...if you're not projecting a guy to come in and be the next Huston Street or Bobby Jenks, then you're not projecting them to be "High level prospects". But there's been more than a few times that bullpen guys have come up with something funky or just had decent enough stuff that they've been able to pull off impressive performances over a fairly long career, even if they start late. Heck, You probably need 2 hands or more to list the bullpen guys that other teams have salvaged from the Sox when the Sox let a guy go for little. Majewski, Rauch, Grilli, Matt Guerrier, etc. They don't have to be great to be useful out in the bullpen.

[Chisoxfn]

Are any of these guys legitimate prospects?

Kanakoa Texiera (or however its spelled) is a legit relief prospect. I wouldn't call him a lock or anything crazy like that, but I definitely consider him a guy with the ability to be an above average major league reliever.

 

In terms of Link, IIRC, he has a power arm. Can't say much anything else about him though as I usually pay little attention to minor league relievers (unless they are top picks or have legit power arms). I'd say both Matt Long and Omogrosso would rank as better relief prospects (both have been doing there fair share of starting, but they both are projected as relievers (not starters).

[JPN366]

Link is interesting. His first couple years in the minors, 2005-2006, his numbers (core and peripheral) were less than stellar at A- and A+. Then in 2007, his numbers started improving. His H/9 went from 10-ish to 7-ish, his K/9 jumped from mid-6's in 2005 to near 10 in 2007. His BB/9 dropped from near 3.5 in 2006 to the mid-2's in 2007. Now this year, those numbers are just as good or better, as he continues to apparently improve. His walks are up a bit this year, but otherwise, he seems to be "figuring it out". At 24 he's not exactly ancient for AA, but he's not young either. If he can do this stuff in more of a hitters' park like Charlotte, I'd say he might have a future bullpen role somewhere.

 

First off, Jon Link is a good guy, real friendly. Anyway, he seems like the tradition closer type, bulldog mentality. Likes the tough situations, struggles a bit when it's not a pinch. I know he's supposed to have a good heater and a good cut fastball. I think he throws a power curve as well. I haven't seen an overly impressive number on the scoreboard radar gun yet for him. Although, according to his intro video on the scoreboard, he throws hot fire. He doesn't seem intimidated at all, he attacks hitters and makes them beat him. The numbers this year don't lie. Yes, his homes games are at a pitcher's park, but he's getting saves on the road as well. He's the best closer in the Southern League by the numbers at this point and would probably be a candidate for the Southern League All Star game. All in all, I'd say he could have a future as a closer or a setup man at a higher level, but he's not going to generate a lot of buzz. Maybe a Joe Borowski type with much better stuff.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Kanakoa Texiera (or however its spelled) is a legit relief prospect. I wouldn't call him a lock or anything crazy like that, but I definitely consider him a guy with the ability to be an above average major league reliever.

 

In terms of Link, IIRC, he has a power arm. Can't say much anything else about him though as I usually pay little attention to minor league relievers (unless they are top picks or have legit power arms). I'd say both Matt Long and Omogrosso would rank as better relief prospects (both have been doing there fair share of starting, but they both are projected as relievers (not starters).

Have you learned anything about Mabee? His core numbers, his strikeouts, and his high GO/AO are all encouraging, but I don't know about his stuff.

 

[scenario]

Have you learned anything about Mabee? His core numbers, his strikeouts, and his high GO/AO are all encouraging, but I don't know about his stuff.

 

A preseason article by Scott Merkin said Mabee has one of the best curveballs in the system and is expected to be in Winston-Salem by year end.