Rick Hahn on named Baseball America’s MLB’s top general manager candidate

Merkin:

According to a Baseball America survey, White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn rates as Major League Baseball’s top general manager candidate among executives who have never been a general manager previously. This list was based on conversations with current general managers, other front-office officials, agents and baseball writers, according to the publication.”That recognition is nice, absolutely,” Hahn said. “But let’s be frank. It’s not like being named that the organization has the No. 1 position player or pitching prospect in the game. I’d probably trade myself for Jayson Heyward or Steven Strasburg in a minute, and I’m guessing [White Sox general manager] Kenny [Williams] would probably drive me to the airport if that was on the table.”

Becoming a general manager certainly stands out as something Hahn would like to accomplish in his career, as he begins his 10th season with the team. His present focus, though, falls upon the 2010 White Sox.

“Right now, the furthest thing from anyone’s mind is what job is next or what openings may be there after the season,” Hahn said. “It’s 100 percent focused on being excited about this year and feeling good about the work we put in during this past offseason and see it play out for real in games that matter.

“It’s something I certainly hope one day is in the cards. Until that time is right, I measure opportunities against a place where I’m comfortable and happy.”

Minor League Transactions

Eddy:

Signed: RHP Scott Elarton, 3B Javier Castillo

Released: RHP Kevin Asselin, RHP Ben Fritz, RHP Brett Graffy, RHP Jacob Marceaux, RHP Orber Moreno, LHP Matt Jernstad, C John Curtis, C Zach Larson, 1B Todd Gossage, 2B Jesus Avila, 3B Jose Fulgencio, OF T.J. Bohn, OF Kent Gerst, OF Sergio Morales, OF Joe Persichina

Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Carlos Torres, C Tyler Flowers

Lost another one to Costa Rica

Greenberg:

Floyd got married on Jan. 2 in St. Petersburg, Fla., but the planning didn’t get to him. Either did the cost or the honeymoon.Getting ready was a different story.

“I got a bowtie and no one knew how to do a bowtie,” the 27-year-old Floyd said at his locker the other day. “So I was a little late to the wedding. We had YouTube (videos of tying a bowtie) going on two phones, we had instructions on one, we had wedding guests come up and try to figure out. My dad’s friend came in with shaving cream on his face, no shirt and just shorts, and they finally figured it out.”

I can picture the scene, and I can picture his teammates, who live to razz the pitcher, getting on him when they hear about that.

Don’t worry about Floyd though. With his future life in mind, he signed a four-year, $15.5 million deal before the 2009 season. And he honeymooned at the Four Seasons in Costa Rica. …

Spring Training Game #30

Sox @ Indians @ 3:05 pm CT (Boxscore, Gameday, Video highlights)

Jake Peavy in the Cell

Carson via Tango:

A study by Dan Turkenkopf of The Hardball Times shows us that The Cell and PETCO have HR/FB indices of 118 and 75, respectively. What that means is that if you multiply those numbers by .11 (percentage of all fly balls that become numbers), you discover that about 13 percent of fly balls become homers in Chicago, versus only about 8.25 percent in San Diego.

Erik Manning has more.

Don Cooper on Sergio Santos

Greenberg:

“If he continues to progress and learn and work on things, and if he stays healthy, there’s no reason to think by sometime late in the year or maybe next year, he’s got a chance to be a strong setup guy with the possibility of maybe being a closer,” Cooper said. …

Joe Poz’s sleeper pick: Mark Teahen

Joe Poz:

I have been a Teahen booster for a long time, and except for a terrific second half in 2006 — when he hit .319 with 18 homers in 83 games — he has mostly disappointed. I tend to believe that most of it has had to do with his circumstances in Kansas City, where the Royals moved him from position to position and bounced him up and down the lineup. Teahen is now settled in Chicago — he will be the White Sox everyday third baseman (his favorite position). And he will be playing in the best home run park in the American League. Scouts keep telling me that Teahen is what he is — a .270 or so hitter with only moderate power and good base running instincts. I think he might be a bit more. …

Scouting Jake Peavy

Gregor:

Here is what one respected scout told me the other day about Jake Peavy, who threw all fastballs during a Cactus League loss vs. the Royals last week:

“He lost confidence in his fastball when he was with the Padres last year. He was just throwing sliders and cutters. They’re both great pitches and he gets a lot of movement with them. But he’s got to get the fastball back.”

Kenny says paint it black

Merkin:

Ken Williams has a special request or, better yet, a challenge for White Sox fans to be carried out on April 5, and it involves their choice of clothing worn to the game against the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

The White Sox general manager would like to see the return of the Blackout.

“No better time to start than Opening Day,” Williams said. …

Spring Training Game #29 (free live webcast)

Sox vs. A’s @ 3:05 pm CT (Free Webcast, Boxscore, Gameday, Video highlights)

Hawk Harrelson Night, Frank Thomas Day, and [Nancy] Faust Fest

White Sox 2010 Promotional Schedule:

White Sox franchise legends also will be honored on several dates this season. Hawk Harrelson Night, presented by Comcast SportsNet, will be held on June 8; Frank Thomas Day, which will feature a special limited-edition “Big Hurt” bobblehead, on August 29; and Faust Fest, in honor of famed White Sox organist Nancy Faust, on September 18 that will feature a Faust bobble-hands doll giveaway. …

White Sox make final 7 roster moves

whitesox.com:

Prior to today’s game vs. the Oakland Athletics, the Chicago White Sox made the following seven roster moves:

• Optioned OF Alejandro De Aza, RHP Daniel Hudson and INF Brent Lillibridge to Class AAA Charlotte;

• Reassigned RHP Greg Aquino, LHP Charlie Leesman, C Donny Lucy and LHP Erick Threets to minor-league camp.

With the moves, the White Sox 25-man roster includes 12 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders.

Sergio Santos and Jayson Nix made the opening day 25-man roster.

MLB.com’s 2010 Sox prospects and organization preview

Top 10 prospects:

Clevelan Santeliz, RHP: A setup man extraordinaire at Birmingham last summer, the Venezuelan prospect was added to the 40-man roster after posting an 0.96 ERA in 40 games and striking out 52 batters in 56 1/3 innings. He moved to the closer role at the end of the season and collected 10 saves. Throwing a fastball in the mid-90s and a plus slider, he pitches with a lot of energy and is a ton of fun to watch.

organization preview:

LHP David Holmberg (2[nd round]) is a high school star out of Florida who has four solid pitches, with a fastball that touches 90 mph, a 12-6 curve, a changeup and a slider. He also has a good feel for the mound.

RHP Kyle Bellamy (5) out of Miami is a fast-track prospect who combined for a 1.23 ERA in 20 games in relief between Bristol and Kannapolis, walking just two while striking out 32 in 22 innings. He limited hitters to a .169 average and then moved on to the Arizona Fall League, where he had a 1.59 ERA in five games.

RHP Justin Collop (6) out of Toledo had a 2.72 ERA in 15 games for Great Falls, striking out 33 in 39 2/3 innings and limiting Pioneer League hitters to a .257 average.

RHP Ryan Buch (8) out of Monmouth had the best fastball in the Draft class, one that touched the high 90s, as well as a curveball with plus potential. In 16 games in relief, he had a 3.38 ERA and limited hitters to a .183 average at Great Falls.

Mos Def – Quiet Dog (Bite Hard)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZFcVzlvL4c

lyrics inside

FutureSox reviews Sox corner outfield prospects

Here’s what they have to say on Trayce Thompson:

What he needs to improve: Right now, a little bit of everything. He needs to fill out to improve his power, he needs to cut down on the strikeouts and improve his batting eye. His defense seems to be the best part of his game right now, but he also has good bat speed. If he can shorten his swing he should be able to do fine in 2010.