The Kids Can Play II?

[knightni]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-kn...-theyre-winning

 

Is this rebuilding? White Sox have nine rookies, but they're winning

 

By Danny Knobler | Baseball Insider

09:18 PM ET June 29, 2012

 

NEW YORK -- Two straight nights this weekend at Yankee Stadium the White Sox used a rookie starting pitcher.

 

Friday, they began the game with a bullpen consisting of Matt Thornton and five rookies.

 

If you didn't know better, you'd say this team was rebuilding, just as general manager Ken Williams threatened for the first half of last winter.

 

If you didn't know better, and if you didn't look at the American League Central standings, you'd say that.

 

The White Sox are relying on kids, partly by choice and partly because of need. But the White Sox, with nine rookies on their 25-man active roster, are in first place.

 

They beat the Yankees Thursday behind rookie Dylan Axelrod and two rookie relievers. They won again Friday behind rookie Jose Quintana and two more kids.

 

It's not exactly rebuilding.

 

"It's awesome," rookie closer Addison Reed said Friday. "We're a young team, and we're doing well."

 

In a division left wide open by the Tigers' unexpected struggles, the White Sox have put themselves in position to be buyers rather than sellers this summer. Williams already added Kevin Youkilis, in a low-risk move that has paid off so far. (Youkilis went 5 for 16 in his first four games after switching Sox).

 

Some in the organization believe that the next move will be for a starting pitcher, or for some bullpen help, or perhaps both.

 

But pitching coach Don Cooper said Friday, "I'm not thinking or asking, 'Get us this or get us that.'"

 

Cooper and first-year manager Robin Ventura have nursed along their young staff, which got younger with starters John Danks and Philip Humber on the disabled list, and with setup man Jesse Crain a candidate to join them there.

 

Danks, the opening day starter, won't be back until late July, at the earliest.

 

In Danks' absence, the White Sox rotation has been led by Jake Peavy and Chris Sale (who is just 23, but does not qualify as one of the seven rookie pitchers). But the Sox have also won five games started by Quintana and two started by Axelrod.

 

And in a year where some potential contenders have fallen because they've had to rely on too many kids in the bullpen (yes, Phillies, that would be you), the White Sox have leaned heavily on Reed and Hector Santiago and Nate Jones, all rookies, at the back end of their pen.

 

"[Thursday night], we used three rookies [at Yankee Stadium] and we won," Cooper said. "That bodes well for us now, and in the future. You know, veterans can trip and fall, too."

 

Santiago began the year as the closer. Reed took over in early May, and has held the job since.

 

"He's not afraid, and he's got good stuff," Cooper said. "Bottom line, we're not afraid."

 

Reed is interesting because he says he has never wanted to be a starter. He grew up in Southern California as an Angels fan, and grew up wanting to be the next Troy Percival.

 

"I just remember him coming in from the bullpen, with everybody on their feet," Reed said. "The first time I saw him run out there for the ninth inning, that's all I wanted to do."

 

Eighteen games into his big-league career, that's what he was doing.

 

The White Sox, who had their second rookie closer of the year, didn't need to be reminded that they won the 2005 World Series with Bobby Jenks as a rookie closer (and as their third closer of the year).

 

"People make a lot of us having rookies," Ventura said. "It's what we have."

 

The pitchers and Cooper give Ventura credit for how he has handled the young staff, something that isn't always easy for a first-year manager.

 

Or for a veteran manager. Just this week, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was talking about how hard it can be to try to win and develop young pitchers at the same time.

 

"I don't look at it as difficult," Cooper said. "Me and my bullpen coach, we welcome the challenge. We want [the pitchers] to welcome the challenge.

 

"It's fun. It's fun when they help us succeed."

 

So far, they have. So far, if this is rebuilding, it's been relatively painless.

 

"I don't think you can call it rebuilding," Cooper said. "I think it's transition."

 

So far, it's successful.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

It's really an amazing story so far.

[T R U]

It is nice so far, but Detroit will still win this division. We got off to a nice start but I doubt that they will be able to keep this up the entire season.

[Cali]

I don't get why everyone just assumes Detroit is gonna magically turn it around?

 

Have you watched them play? They are just as inconsistent if not more so than the Sox. No pitching outside of Verlander who's not the CyMVP this season, the worst infield defense in the league and an offense with Miggy and Prince that's scored 31 less runs than our Sox. It's almost the mid-way point and they haven't started a run yet, so maybe just maybe, they're not that good this season...

[T R U]

I don't get why everyone just assumes Detroit is gonna magically turn it around?

 

Have you watched them play? They are just as inconsistent if not more so than the Sox. No pitching outside of Verlander who's not the CyMVP this season, the worst infield defense in the league and an offense with Miggy and Prince that's scored 31 less runs than our Sox. It's almost the mid-way point and they haven't started a run yet, so maybe just maybe, they're not that good this season...

 

Doubt it. They will turn it around. We aren't that good, Dunn and Peavy have already started slipping back a little bit. We have a shaky rotation right now, I just dont have the feeling that this is going to last.

 

Detroit, for as bad as they have started, are only 5 games back. Teams with as much talent as they have on that roster usually get it right at some point. The hole they are in just isnt deep enough.

[Rowand44]

The Tigers aren't very good.

 

The sox are definitely good enough to win this awful division.

[T R U]

The Tigers aren't very good.

 

The sox are definitely good enough to win this awful division.

 

Yes, they could win this awful division. I just don't trust some of the performances we have seen so far.

 

I don't think the Tigers fell far enough behind, plus they can still add at the deadline. I think were about done making any kind of significant moves. I just don't buy that the Tigers aren't going to make noise in the second half, especially in this awful division.

[The Ginger Kid]

It's wide open - I wouldn't even count out KC if they could find a way to get hot. Detroit will get hot and they will probably be in 1st at some point in the season. I'm just hoping the Sox under Ventura don't suffer the 2nd half blues in August/September, and find a way to get hot themselves and win it at the end.

 

Bottom line: just glad my team is going to be fun to watch all summer.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Doubt it. They will turn it around. We aren't that good, Dunn and Peavy have already started slipping back a little bit. We have a shaky rotation right now, I just dont have the feeling that this is going to last.

 

Detroit, for as bad as they have started, are only 5 games back. Teams with as much talent as they have on that roster usually get it right at some point. The hole they are in just isnt deep enough.

 

 

Last years Sox team says hi.

 

I think the slogan should be "The kids can pitch"

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

"Going forward in reverse" started to look like an appropriate slogan after about the 33rd time a rookie or minor league call up came up here and the relatively good play (and lead over the rest of the Central) has held up.

 

Another slogan that would probably work is "Alex Rios", or even just the mug shot they show on the jumbo tron during his at-bats.

 

2012 Chicago White Sox:

 

Alex Rios was the face of the 2011 season for me- more so than Adam Dunn or the Guillen family. It's only fair that I would identify 2012 with him, even with the plethora of other solid contributions this roster has handed in.

Edited June 30, 2012 by Swingandalongonetoleft

[knightni]

Axelrod 26

Jh Danks 27

Jones 26

Quintana 23

Reed 23

Sale 23

Santiago 24

Septimo 27

Flowers 26

Beckham 25

Escobar 23

Jr Danks 25

Viciedo 23

 

13 of 25 under 27.

 

Pretty good.

 

 

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

Axelrod 26

Jh Danks 27

Jones 26

Quintana 23

Reed 23

Sale 23

Santiago 24

Septimo 27

Flowers 26

Beckham 25

Escobar 23

Jr Danks 25

Viciedo 23

 

13 of 25 under 27.

 

Pretty good.

 

And that's with a 25 year old Morel being replaced by the 33 year old Youkilis. The Sox got younger a lot more quietly than I would have thought. The Cubs have gotten younger too, they were pretty loud about it. They've all but printed the fact on the cover of their media guide and their tickets.

[scenario]

I don't think the Tigers are that talented. Yes they have a few all stars.

 

But I think they also have several players who overachieved in 2011 and simply came back down to earth this year.

 

 

 

[fathom]

I don't think the Tigers are that talented. Yes they have a few all stars.

 

But I think they also have several players who overachieved in 2011 and simply came back down to earth this year.

 

I agree with this. They're probably the most talented team in the division, but they're not as good as they played last year. With that said, it would be great to keep a lead of 4 games or more over them at the ASB. They have an easy stretch next week to end this first half, as they face the crappy part of the Twins pitching staff.

[OldSmoky2]

Worth noting that the Sox have given up 14 unearned runs while the Tigers have given up 41. And that doesn't account for the balls that get through Detroit's infield and lead to earned runs, balls that Beckham, Ramirez and now Youkilis get to and turn into outs. Add to that the speed in the Sox outfield and you can see one big reason the Sox have a better record than Detroit. The runs you prevent are just as important as the runs you score. And Detroit isn't going to replace any of those infielders, except possibly at second base, with mid-season acquisitions. I'm not saying it's going to be easy and, yes, the Sox pitching needs to hold up, but there is good reason there to believe that the Sox will continue to win more games than Detroit.

As for the schedule, the Sox have 15 games left with KC and 12 with Minnesota - winning most of those series is big. There are 9 left with Detroit and 6 with Cleveland, by the way.

[Reddy]

It is nice so far, but Detroit will still win this division. We got off to a nice start but I doubt that they will be able to keep this up the entire season.

 

They can't pitch. We can.

[southsider2k5]

Worth noting that the Sox have given up 14 unearned runs while the Tigers have given up 41. And that doesn't account for the balls that get through Detroit's infield and lead to earned runs, balls that Beckham, Ramirez and now Youkilis get to and turn into outs. Add to that the speed in the Sox outfield and you can see one big reason the Sox have a better record than Detroit. The runs you prevent are just as important as the runs you score. And Detroit isn't going to replace any of those infielders, except possibly at second base, with mid-season acquisitions. I'm not saying it's going to be easy and, yes, the Sox pitching needs to hold up, but there is good reason there to believe that the Sox will continue to win more games than Detroit.

As for the schedule, the Sox have 15 games left with KC and 12 with Minnesota - winning most of those series is big. There are 9 left with Detroit and 6 with Cleveland, by the way.

 

The Tigers defense is just scary bad. My co-ed softball team plays better D.

[caulfield12]

If Smyly and Fister are really healthy, it's a bit ridiculous to say DET can't pitch.

 

Porcello and Scherzer also have a ton of talent, in the Edwin Jackson-ish way, but it's there. They're not garbage.

 

So, in the end, you give the Tigers the VERY slight edge, but it could definitely go either way. In one month, looking at both rosters after the trade deadline has passed, we'll know a lot more to make a more accurate prediction for the 2nd half, presumably.

 

 

[Balta1701]

If Smyly and Fister are really healthy, it's a bit ridiculous to say DET can't pitch.

 

Porcello and Scherzer also have a ton of talent, in the Edwin Jackson-ish way, but it's there. They're not garbage.

 

So, in the end, you give the Tigers the VERY slight edge, but it could definitely go either way. In one month, looking at both rosters after the trade deadline has passed, we'll know a lot more to make a more accurate prediction for the 2nd half, presumably.

Why you continually get to assume the Sox rotation and Cleveland lineup will be beaten up but the Tigers will get healthy I don't know.

[Reddy]

If Smyly and Fister are really healthy, it's a bit ridiculous to say DET can't pitch.

 

Porcello and Scherzer also have a ton of talent, in the Edwin Jackson-ish way, but it's there. They're not garbage.

 

So, in the end, you give the Tigers the VERY slight edge, but it could definitely go either way. In one month, looking at both rosters after the trade deadline has passed, we'll know a lot more to make a more accurate prediction for the 2nd half, presumably.

Smyly of the ~4.50 ERA?

 

Porcello and Scherzer = Danks/Floyd. Tons of talent but can't consistently get it together. I still don't trust Fister in the long haul, but we'll see what happens if he's healthy.

 

I'd take Sale and Peavy over any of their 1-2 options.

[caulfield12]

Yes, but how long will we continue to have our #1 and #2 options?

 

You're going to throw Sale 180-200 innings? 220?

 

Peavy, probably he'll hold up, but can he continue to be a sub 3 ERA pitcher for much longer?