Cliff Lee’s name is going to be printed way too much in trade rumors over the next week-and-a-half. Meanwhile Cleveland’s other worthwhile starting pitcher is barely being talked about. Yes, it’s Carl Pavano. Yes, he has injury concerns. Yes, his ERA is huge. No, teams shouldn’t shy away from acquiring him for the rest of the season.
There are inherent concerns and risks associated with Pavano like with all other pitchers. Obviously prior injuries seem to plant a giant red flag on Pavano’s shoulder, but the reward could be worth the risk. Pavano’s 5.13 ERA is misleading. His FIP is a crisp 3.59; xFIP is 3.92; tRA is 4.33; and tRA* 4.49 (and remember, tRA is based on the RA scale, not ERA, so when you scale it to ERA those numbers are more like ~3.6-4.2). In words: he’s pitching quite well. …
July 21, 2009
Potential Trade Deadline Bargain
Braves Assistant GM at the Sox game tonight (UPDATE)
Jim Fregosi, Special Asst to Braves GM, at tonights Sox game. Is something brewing??
UPDATE: From the AJC:
Fregosi has been scouting the White Sox most of the week, but the Braves are not believed to be interested in first baseman Paul Konerko, as some have speculated. He comes with a hefty price tag of what’s remaining of his $12 million salary this year and $12 million next year.
Scouting Tyler Flowers
Q: I read Phil Rogers’ story on the Futures Game, so I know that the White Sox organization still believes that Tyler Flowers can improve his defense enough to remain at catcher. What do your scouting contacts say about his chances defensively? – Vince
A: I’m told that he has made great strides defensively since spring training. That the Sox promoted Tyler from Double- to Triple-A in mid-season shows their faith in him as well as their intent to challenge him at a higher level. His defensive development will go a long way toward sculpting the Sox’s catching situation in 2010 and years after that.
Kenny Williams talks trades
“We aren’t mortgaging the farm,” said Williams, regarding possible trades. “In the same breath, if there’s something, and I’m not speaking about Halladay, in general, if there’s something that makes sense and makes us better, we do what we always do: Look at it.”
Draft update
The Sox appear confident that they’ll be able to sign Trayce Thompson [2nd round] and Justin Jones [7th round].
BTW, FS has a review of the Sox 2003 draft.
Rick Hahn on Freddy Garcia
Hanging with Mr. Torres
Sox pitching coach Don Cooper on Carlos Torres:
“Mr. Torres has done a good job over the years in the system, and now he’s doing it in Triple-A. He’s got a good fastball. I think I saw it the other night at 92-94 in the Triple-A All-Star Game. That night I also saw him locate his fastball, throw some good curveballs and some cutters. The consensus from everyone around him is that he’s the right choice to come up here and fill in Danksi’s spot [Wednesday].”
More on John Danks at the link too.
Carlos Torres to start Wednesday (UPDATE)
Mark Gonzales reports that Carlos Torres will make his MLB debut Wednesday:
John Danks will miss Wednesday night’s start because of a blister on his left index finger.
Carlos Torres, who was 8-4 with a 2.20 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte, will take Danks’ spot. Danks is scheduled to miss just one start.
BTW, here’s FS Carlos Torres’ scouting report.
UPDATE: Cowley has more on John Danks.
John Farotto working on his changeup
[John] Farotto was drafted by the White Sox in the 34th round of the MLB draft. He signed with the club earlier this month and was sent to the Bristol White Sox, the organization’s rookie affiliate in Virginia.
….
Farotto said one key to moving up is changing up, as he is attempting to add a changeup to his pitching arsenal. “The changeup is one of the hardest pitches to hit,” he said. “I’ve been relieving pretty much my whole career. I usually only see guys one time through the lineup, so I haven’t really needed one.
Do you know if you like Brian Anderson, you are a member of a cult?
Anderson has developed a cultlike following since breaking in with the White Sox in 2005.
I like Brian’s CF defense while readily admit his offensive shortcomings. I think the Anderson “movement” is more a product of the absense of an average CenterFielder. Anyway, when is the next meeting of the club?
