Arizona Fall League - 7 Sox prospects

[GGajewski18]

JJ Stankevitz @JJStankevitz · 1h 1 hour ago

If Frank Montas can consistently throw the changeup he just did to strike out a righty...he's gonna be a heck of a starter. #WhiteSox

 

 

JJ Stankevitz @JJStankevitz · 14m 14 minutes ago

Frank Montas: 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 5 K, 5 H, 2 R. Command was sharp in first two innings and was spotty as game went on. #WhiteSoxTalk

[Y2Jimmy0]

JJ Stankevitz is at the AFL game that just started. Spoke very highly of Montas' change-up, which like with Bassitt, could be a key to whether or not he can be a starter.

 

 

Mike Ferrin of XM Radio really likes Montas too

 

Mike Ferrin @MikeFerrinSXM · 2h 2 hours ago

Frank Montas. Man. I liked that very much. #WhiteSox

 

Mike Ferrin ‏@MikeFerrinSXM 1h1 hour ago

@JamesFox917 well and the velo I think. Delivery looks more different than young Bart. Sharp recoil, front leg w/little flex

 

That was in response to me asking about the Colon comps. Then I brought up Fausto Carmona haha.

 

Mike Ferrin ‏@MikeFerrinSXM 49m49 minutes ago

@JamesFox917 the single most frustrating pitcher I’ve ever watched.

 

Mike Ferrin ‏@MikeFerrinSXM 47m47 minutes ago

@JamesFox917 I’m not even a Cleveland fan, but his stuff was SO good, and he had no idea what to do with it

 

Ferrin and JJ both were in agreement that it's nuts to automatically assume that he's a bullpen piece this early. You absolutely let him start until he proves he cannot. Here is the article from JJ from CSNChicago.com : http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...g-potential-afl

[caulfield12]

So Montas is our own version of Tyler Kolek but 2-3 years ahead of him in development.

 

Not bad to get what is essentially a return of two Top 100 prospects for Jake Freaking Peavy.

[NorthSideSox72]

So Montas is our own version of Tyler Kolek but 2-3 years ahead of him in development.

 

Not bad to get what is essentially a return of two Top 100 prospects for Jake Freaking Peavy.

And two more prospects to boot - Rondon and Wendelken. That looks more and more like a great deal for the White Sox.

 

[LDF]

And two more prospects to boot - Rondon and Wendelken. That looks more and more like a great deal for the White Sox.

 

how is Wendelken, how is his profile??

 

any info will help.

[NorthSideSox72]

how is Wendelken, how is his profile??

 

any info will help.

His fastball is low 90's with some sink, a slider that has been called above average, good control. He's been starting, but likely he's a reliever long term and is just taking he reliever-as-starter path that is common for the White Sox.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Also, if you go on FutureSox' YouTube Channel, there are three videos of him that we took in late 2013. Here are the direct links:

 

 

Didn't get any full at-bats for him, but the individual pitches give you a look.

 

 

 

[LDF]

 

many thanks for your hard work.

 

what gets me and I am 100% guilty of this. looking down on

pitchers who pitch in the low 90's. I guess with the era of the

power arm pitchers who pitch in the mid 90's as a starter got

me train to look for that kind of arm.

 

if he is like Bassitt who has the ability to miss bats while

piching in the 90 range. that is one thing.

[NorthSideSox72]

many thanks for your hard work.

 

what gets me and I am 100% guilty of this. looking down on

pitchers who pitch in the low 90's. I guess with the era of the

power arm pitchers who pitch in the mid 90's as a starter got

me train to look for that kind of arm.

 

if he is like Bassitt who has the ability to miss bats while

piching in the 90 range. that is one thing.

Bassitt's fastball runs 92-96. That's a far cry from "the 90 range".

 

[LDF]

Bassitt's fastball runs 92-96. That's a far cry from "the 90 range".

 

yeah you are right.

 

good catch, but I still mean the other things I wrote.

[NorthSideSox72]

yeah you are right.

 

good catch, but I still mean the other things I wrote.

90 now is not what 90 was 20 or even 10 years ago. Very few pitchers are hitting the majors now with any success that can't crack 90. Like, almost none. Axelrod managed it, but he's a 6th starter at best, and only because he throws a lot of strikes and has heavy pitches. There are exceptions of course.

 

That doesn't mean you need to throw 95 though. Tyler Danish will never hit 95, in fact his fastballs will usually be 88-92 or so, but he's got crazy movement, lots of sink and a deceptive delivery. He may represent, in the current game, the near-bottom-end of the playable fastball velocity range.

 

[LDF]

90 now is not what 90 was 20 or even 10 years ago. Very few pitchers are hitting the majors now with any success that can't crack 90. Like, almost none. Axelrod managed it, but he's a 6th starter at best, and only because he throws a lot of strikes and has heavy pitches. There are exceptions of course.

 

That doesn't mean you need to throw 95 though. Tyler Danish will never hit 95, in fact his fastballs will usually

be 88-92 or so, but he's got crazy movement, lots of sink and a deceptive delivery. He may represent, in the

current game, the near-bottom-end of the playable fastball velocity range.

this whole thing is what I was trying to say. but as I said before, for me,

if the pitcher does not have a power pitch per se, he will not be a sp.

 

[Jake]

FWIW, Danish was reportedly often reported as hitting 95 pre-draft. I know Perfect Game got him at 94 multiple times. So, he might hit 95 again. Togh to say the cause of the velo decrease - laying off, mechanics, skills decrease, making the sinker more sinkery, etc

[Jerksticks]

FWIW, Danish was reportedly often reported as hitting 95 pre-draft. I know Perfect Game got him at 94 multiple times. So, he might hit 95 again. Togh to say the cause of the velo decrease - laying off, mechanics, skills decrease, making the sinker more sinkery, etc

Haha it's gotta be making the sinker more sinkery

 

Maybe Danish has extra gears since he always has room to reach back farther.

[flavum]

Anderson 3-4, 2B

 

.313

[BlackSox13]

Anderson also stole his fifth base of the AFL.

[GGajewski18]

Anderson 3-4, 2B

 

.313

 

He seems to K every game. But as long as he continues to hit the ball hard and get on base, I can live with it for now.

 

Also, Snodgress has been pretty bad all fall. Gave up another ER today in 1 inning with 2 walks. I don't think there's a chance he sees the show as a LOOGY.

[LDF]

He seems to K every game. But as long as he continues to hit the ball hard and get on base, I can live with it for now.

 

Also, Snodgress has been pretty bad all fall. Gave up another ER today in 1 inning with 2 walks. I don't think there's a chance he sees the show as a LOOGY.

 

his offensive number has been consistently positive. I am starting to really

get excited about seeing him in the majors.

 

 

here is a question. with ref to the other pospects the sox sent to AZL, did the

team do itself any good? wouldn't it have been better to maybe send Hawkins,

or Beck, even Andrew Mitchell instead ??

Edited November 9, 2014 by LDF

[MnSoxFan]

I like that they batted him 3rd in the order as well. That is some respect.

[LDF]

I like that they batted him 3rd in the order as well. That is some respect.

 

that is sweet.

 

do you think it would be better for him to switch to 3b and concentrate on his

offense.

 

and let the sox go and find another ss?

[Rowand44]

that is sweet.

 

do you think it would be better for him to switch to 3b and concentrate on his

offense.

 

and let the sox go and find another ss?

No. Way too early to do that.

[LDF]

No. Way too early to do that.

 

that will prob be the majority opinion.

[caulfield12]

Anderson COULD eventually end up at 3B, but his offensive game best profiles at 2B or CF, with LF as the 3rd option.

 

You'd probably pick 3B number four simply because his range and athleticism would be wasted a bit there, compared to other positions.

 

For example, Joe Crede and Robin Ventura had very good instincts and first step quickness/reaction time, but neither had what you'd call great range in the sense they could play the middle of the infield, either 2B/SS.

[LDF]

Anderson COULD eventually end up at 3B, but his offensive game best profiles at 2B or CF, with LF as the 3rd option.

 

You'd probably pick 3B number four simply because his range and athleticism would be wasted a bit there, compared to other positions.

 

For example, Joe Crede and Robin Ventura had very good instincts and first step quickness/reaction time, but neither had what you'd call great range in the sense they could play the middle of the infield, either 2B/SS.

 

a good reference and analogy, I pick 3b b/c I wasn't sure if it was his range or

the range of the position that was causing him the problems. 3b like 1b doesn't

need the range of a ss or 2b. I wasn't sure if he was capable of handling the

outfield positions.

 

as many have stated he was / is a raw product and is now coming into his own. I take

that with his offensive numbers as well. it like the ole cliché, he is a blank paper with

lots of talent.

[caulfield12]

a good reference and analogy, I pick 3b b/c I wasn't sure if it was his range or

the range of the position that was causing him the problems. 3b like 1b doesn't

need the range of a ss or 2b. I wasn't sure if he was capable of handling the

outfield positions.

 

as many have stated he was / is a raw product and is now coming into his own. I take

that with his offensive numbers as well. it like the ole cliché, he is a blank paper with

lots of talent.

 

Range isn't the problem.

 

It's a combination of his hands, and his arm is probably MLB average or a notch above, but it's not his best tool....if he had the arm of a Valentin, Uribe or Alexei, a lot of his mishandled/misplayed balls could still be converted into outs.