scenario Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Not too much of a revelation here... but I found the comments on Gartrell interesting. In the wings: The White Sox's decision to trade Jim Thome was based at least partially on a wave of talent coming in the farm system. Rookies Gordon Beckham, Chris Getz and Jayson Nix made contributions this season, but only Beckham seems assured of sticking going forward. Double-A Birmingham has been one of the best stories in the minor leagues. The Barons, under manager Ever Magallanes, entered the last weekend of the regular season 88-46. "You could just tell we were going to have a really good team," All-Star second baseman C.J. Retherford said last week. "I wouldn't be surprised if every position player in [our Opening Day] lineup played in the big leagues. One through nine are awesome players." Retherford was speaking of Beckham, catcher Tyler Flowers, since-traded first baseman Brandon Allen, third baseman Dayan Viciedo and right fielder Stefan Gartrell, among others. Retherford himself has been a huge surprise, earning a unanimous selection onto the Southern League's postseason All-Star team and continuing to look like a more productive hitter than Getz. Gartrell, 25, might be the White Sox's biggest sleeper since Magglio Ordonez. A 31st-round pick in the 2006 draft, he has hit .280 with 21 home runs and 85 RBIs in 127 games between Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He looks a little like Jermaine Dye on the field and will make the Sox think hard about exercising Dye's $12 million option for 2010. "He really has improved his hitting," Birmingham hitting coach Andy Tomberlin. "He has a chance to hit for serious power." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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