Andre Rienzo’s walk rate is up

After today’s 6 IP/6 K/6 BB outing, Andre Rienzo already has 25 walks in 42.2 innings. Last year Rienzo issued 32 walks in 101.0 innings. Please cut down the walks Andre!

Rienzo is one of the subjects Buddy Bell addressed today. See posts by J.J. Stankevitz, Mark Primiano (U-God) & Jim Margalus, and Scott Reifert.

FutureSox’ White Sox Top 25 post-season prospects list [UPDATE]

FutureSox:

1. Chris Sale
2. Dayan Viciedo
3. Brent Morel
4. Jared Mitchell
5. Tyler Flowers
6. Trayce Thompson
7. Eduardo Escobar
8. Jacob Petricka
9. Jordan Danks
10. Addison Reed
…

UPDATE: Jim covers the White Sox Top 10 prospect list by Phil Rogers for Baseball America.

Fangraphs’ “must watch” and more 2011 White Sox prospects

Both articles are from Bryan Smith. First the “must watch” prospects:

In 56 plate appearances (so, sample size alert), Sale held right-handers to a .120/.214/.240 batting line. He did it while throwing them six change-ups in 220 pitches (2.7%), which accounted for 3 balls, 2 called strikes and 1 swinging strike. It was a non-factor. as he went with a two-pitch approach: 66.8% four seamers, 26.4% sliders. And, to my surprise, looking at his Texas Leaguers chart, he wasn’t just back-dooring the slider everytime. It’s a pitch he trusts, and a pitch that works, against right-handers. …

and those prospects outside the ‘Top 10′:

I credit Baseball America and Matt Eddy being the first to make me aware of Mike Blanke, the team’s 13th-round pick from the Division II University of Tampa. Blanke hit .329/.400/.508 in the Pioneer League, where Eddy ranked him as the number seven prospect. He wrote, “…he would have gone much earlier had clubs had any inkling that he would show plus power, arm strength and receiving skills in his pro debut.” …

FutureSox’ Midseason Top 25 Prospects

Cassidy:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	179	1	unch
2	Dayan Viciedo	172	4	+2
3	Chris Sale	168	n/a	NEW
4	Tyler Flowers	161	2	-2
5	Jared Mitchell	156	5	unch

…

I’d rank them in this order: Hudson, Sale, Flowers, Mitchell, Viciedo.

FutureSox’ Top 25 White Sox prospects

FutureSox:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	208	2	1
2	Tyler Flowers	203	1	-1
3	Jordan Danks	194	4	1
4	Dayan Viciedo	186	3	-1
5	Jared Mitchell	184	6	1
6	Brent Morel	178	7	1

…

Buddy Bell’s conference call

FutureSox notes from Buddy Bell’s conference call:

• On Dayan Viciedo: “He has such great hands. He can sit back and drive the ball the other way.” However, he said Dayan gets opposite field happy and gets anxious. They are trying to get him to stay behind the ball more because he is so quick.
• David Holmberg looks real good. He has great instincts for his age, but they will be slower with him this year because there are older guys they need to see at a higher level. He has big upside. The coaches don’t have to tell him twice what to do.

Buddy Bell mentions correcting Tyler Flowers’ swing like Kenny Williams.

He also touches on Gregory Infante, Dan Remenowsky, C.J. Retherford, Jordan Danks, John Shelby, Kyle Bellamy.

FutureSox reviews Sox Relieving pitching prospects

Here’s what they have to say on Sergio Santos:

What he needs to improve: Control, big time. Santos has the ability to be a very good Major League reliever, but until he can harness his stuff he isn’t going to succeed. His slider can be inconsistent.

January 8 links

- Sox Minor Leaguer suspended 50 games

- Jim has some minor-league notes from Phil Rogers’ Baseball America chat (Trayce Thompson, Daniel Hudson, Clevelan Santeliz, John Ely, Dan Remenowsky, Josh Phegley, Santos Rodriguez, Charles Leesman, Sergio Santos, Jose Martinez, Ryan Buch).

- Fangraphs adds CHONE projections.

- Jonah Keri on Tim Raines.

- Dan Shaughnessy get the FJM treatment from Patrick Sullivan.

- Graph of starts/innings in 2009. And broken down by league.

2009 All-FutureSox Team

FutureSox:

We wanted to make an all-star team of sorts for FutureSox, but fielding an ‘all-prospect’ team would be as easy as picking the top player at each position from our 2009 Postseason Top 25 Prospects. Clearly that would be somewhat redundant. Instead, we decided to create the All-FutureSox Team as the best performers of 2009. Forget age and park adjustments, this is simple stats. Who had the most productive year for his minor league team(s)? That’s what this is. ..

A look at Kannapolis’ pitching staff

FutureSox:

Kannapolis, the Sox Low-A affiliate, put up a chubby 5.12 ERA in 2007. In 2008, it dropped more than a full point to 4.08. And here in 2009, it dropped 80 more points to 3.24, 2nd best in the South Atlantic League by just .01. They were also 2nd in strikeouts, 2nd in WHIP, and led the league with 15 shutouts. Not surprisingly they finished the season at 82-57, best record in the 16-team league, despite being below the median in most offensive categories. And the pitching staff that achieved this was filled mostly with players drafted or signed since the 2008 June draft, not much more than a year ago. …

Justin Greene and Dan Remenowsky on FirstInning’s All South Atlantic League Team

Doug Gray:

Like the other teams, this list is going to be based for the most part off of who had the best seasons in the league. Age will play a small factor, as a guy with a very good season at a younger age may get the spot over a guy with a slightly better season who was a bit older.

Outfield – Justin Green

Green hit .303/.387/.444 for Kannapolis with 17 steals before earning a promotion to the Carolina League.

Relief Pitcher – Dan Remenowsky

Remenowsky had a 1.99 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 44.1% strikeout rate to go along with a 6.5% walk rate for Kannapolis.

FutureSox interviews Dan Remenowsky

FutureSox:

Judging by your K rate, how does it feel to throw an invisible baseball? Seriously though, are strikeouts your goal, or would you be happier getting a first-pitch ground out? And do you have one pitch that has been your strikeout pitch?

Haha, our pitching coach Larry Owens said that to me earlier in the season. I would much rather prefer to get a guy out on the first three pitches no matter what. I think a key for me is that I’m able to get ahead of the guys, and put them away when I have 2 strikes. I try to throw my fastball to four different spots and I think not throwing the ball down the middle of the plate has helped me so far this year.

Full interview at the link.

SoxMachine’s Winston-Salem & Kannapolis Minor League roundup

Justin Edwards:

at Winston-Salem: 1-0, 7.00 ERA, 9 IP, 10 H, 4 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
at Kannapolis: 4-3, 3.80, 45 IP, 48 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 30 K

The Sox have put Edwards on the fast track following Tommy John surgery, getting the call to Winston-Salem despite being the third- or fourth-most deserving Kannapolis pitcher.  His fastball is in the high-80s, so he has some work to do in terms of missing bats.