Flowers’ solo blast – Dunn’s solo dinger (video)

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21611153&c_id=cws (0:58)

Hittracker puts it at 433 feet and says it’s the longest non-Adam Dunn 2012 White Sox Home Run. Speaking of Adam Dunn, his Home Run from the same game had a 436 feet distance:

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21609699&c_id=cws (0:54)

Other White Sox links:

• James looks at Dayan Viciedo. He, also, looks at Gavin Floyd.
• Chris looks where the hot dogs of US Cellular Field come from. Here’s Part 2 of his post.
• BTB’s Nathaniel Stoltz looks at 8 rookie relievers, Nate Jones being one.
• Do you hate bunting too? Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron explains you’re not wrong.

Gavin Floyd & Company shut down the Royals

KC @ Sox:

Chi White Sox	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Floyd(W, 3-3)	7.2	5	0	0	2	5	0	2.53
Thornton(H, 5)	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.05
Santiago, H	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5.25
Totals	9.0	5	0	0	2	7	0	3.46

Pitches-strikes: Floyd 116-71, Thornton 4-3, Santiago, H 12-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Floyd 6-6, Thornton 0-0, Santiago, H 1-1.
Batters faced: Floyd 30, Thornton 1, Santiago, H 3.

Pitch F/X for Gavin Floyd:

Pitch Statistics
Pitch Type	Avg Speed	Max Speed	Avg H-Break	Avg V-Break	Count	Strikes / %	Whiffs / %	SNIPs / %	Linear Weights
FF (FourSeam Fastball)	90.49	92.9	-4.71	6.63	54	32 / 59.26%	2 / 3.70%	24 / 52.17%	-2.2936
CH (Changeup)	82.63	82.9	-9.06	3.03	3	2 / 66.67%	0 / 0.00%	2 / 66.67%	-0.0880
CU (Curveball)	79.51	82	6.12	-5.79	12	3 / 25.00%	0 / 0.00%	2 / 18.18%	0.7683
FC (Cutter)	85.16	89.8	-0.79	2.29	47	34 / 72.34%	5 / 10.64%	20 / 60.61%	-1.7269
Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm. SNIPs are “Strikes Not In Play” and do not include any balls in play.

Inning-by-Inning Pitch Totals
Inning	Pitches in Inning	Strikes in Inning	Strike% in Inning	Cumulative Total Pitches	Pitch LWTS in Inning
1	11	6	54.55	11	-0.848
2	20	11	55.00	31	0.296
3	12	8	66.67	43	-0.848
4	13	8	61.54	56	-0.862
5	12	7	58.33	68	-0.834
6	11	7	63.64	79	-0.335
7	10	7	70.00	89	-0.834
8	27	17	62.96	116	0.925

More Pitch F/X readings inside.

Gavin Floyd’s Cinco de Mayo special

Sox @ Detroit:

Chi White Sox	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Floyd	7.0	7	2	2	0	6	0	3.03
Jones, N(W, 1-0)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.64
Santiago, H(H, 1)	0.2	1	0	0	1	0	0	6.75
Reed(S, 1)	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Totals	9.0	9	2	2	1	7	0	3.57

Pitches-strikes: Floyd 108-67, Jones, N 6-4, Santiago, H 20-11, Reed 5-4.
Groundouts-flyouts: Floyd 6-8, Jones, N 2-0, Santiago, H 0-2, Reed 0-0.
Batters faced: Floyd 29, Jones, N 3, Santiago, H 4, Reed 1.
Inherited runners-scored: Reed 2-0.

Pitch F/X for Gavin Floyd:

Pitch Statistics
Pitch Type	Avg Speed	Max Speed	Avg H-Break	Avg V-Break	Count	Strikes / %	Whiffs / %	SNIPs / %	Linear Weights
FF (FourSeam Fastball)	91.28	92.7	-5.65	9.23	38	20 / 52.63%	2 / 5.26%	11 / 37.93%	0.5163
CH (Changeup)	83.58	84.3	-9.44	6.60	4	3 / 75.00%	1 / 25.00%	2 / 66.67%	-0.4121
CU (Curveball)	79.74	81.2	7.74	-4.79	19	11 / 57.89%	4 / 21.05%	9 / 52.94%	-0.0765
FC (Cutter)	84.61	87.1	-0.81	3.39	39	27 / 69.23%	8 / 20.51%	19 / 61.29%	-1.3936
FT (TwoSeam Fastball)	90.03	93.1	-10.52	6.07	8	6 / 75.00%	0 / 0.00%	3 / 60.00%	-0.2187
Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm. SNIPs are “Strikes Not In Play” and do not include any balls in play.

Inning-by-Inning Pitch Totals
Inning	Pitches in Inning	Strikes in Inning	Strike% in Inning	Cumulative Total Pitches	Pitch LWTS in Inning
1	14	8	57.14	14	-0.350
2	21	16	76.19	35	1.145
3	18	11	61.11	53	-0.335
4	16	8	50.00	69	-0.848
5	10	6	60.00	79	-0.848
6	10	6	60.00	89	-0.848
7	19	12	63.16	108	0.499

BTW, here’s James’ recap.

Gavin Floyd takes a no hitter into the 7th

Boston @ Sox:

Chi White Sox	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Floyd(W, 2-3)	6.2	3	1	1	1	9	0	3.13
Reed(H, 4)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0.00
Thornton(S, 1)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.82
Totals	9.0	3	1	1	2	12	0	3.41

Pitch F/X for Gavin Floyd:

Pitch Statistics
Pitch Type	Avg Speed	Max Speed	Avg H-Break	Avg V-Break	Count	Strikes / %	Whiffs / %	Linear Weights
FF (FourSeam Fastball)	90.28	91.8	-5.86	7.29	55	39 / 70.91%	5 / 9.09%	-1.9794
CH (Changeup)	86.63	89	-6.37	6.15	3	2 / 66.67%	0 / 0.00%	-0.0888
CU (Curveball)	79.59	80.4	6.25	-6.54	15	9 / 60.00%	3 / 20.00%	-1.2463
FC (Cutter)	84.15	89.6	-1.04	1.53	29	16 / 55.17%	4 / 13.79%	-0.3206
FT (TwoSeam Fastball)	90.96	91.9	-8.88	7.56	9	4 / 44.44%	0 / 0.00%	0.0899
Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm.

Inning-by-Inning Pitch Totals
Inning	Pitches in Inning	Strikes in Inning	Strike% in Inning	Cumulative Total Pitches	Pitch LWTS in Inning
1	17	13	76.47	17	-0.848
2	10	7	70.00	27	-0.862
3	14	8	57.14	41	-0.862
4	13	9	69.23	54	-0.848
5	23	13	56.52	77	-0.532
6	13	7	53.85	90	-0.834
7	21	13	61.90	111	1.242

BTW, here’s James’ recap.

More Pitch F/X inside:

White Sox vs. Brewers @ 2:05 pm CT; free webcast

Watch free live webcast of South Siders’ desert finale

Gavin Floyd will be on the hill today at 2:05 p.m. CT, live on a free exclusive whitesox.com webcast, vs. the Brewers in the final Cactus League tilt. Floyd is scheduled to throw six innings or 110 pitches. Will Ohman is also scheduled to pitch. Watch live webcast | Gameday | Boxscore

Or click the video below and wait 4-5 seconds (the video at the whitesox.com webcast can be expanded to full-screen):

White Sox @ D-backs @ 9:05 pm CT; game on CSN-TV [VIDEO UPDATE]

Watch on CSN as Gavin Floyd and the White Sox face the D-backs tonight. Floyd is scheduled for five innings or 78 pitches. Gameday | Boxscore

UPDATE: A.J. ‘Tubby‘ Pierzynski hit an inside-the-park HR! Here’s video of the HR (0:14) and Tubby’s reaction (1:06).

Hector Santiago, starting pitcher?

Scott Merkin:

[Hector] Santiago, 24, entered Tuesday’s scheduled off-day for the White Sox as a veritable lock to break camp as one of the team’s seven relievers. He threw a scoreless inning against the Reds during Monday’s 1-0 loss at Camelback Ranch, giving him six without allowing a run this spring, while striking out six.

And the screwball has played a major part in this success.

… After being selected in the 30th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Santiago made 129 of his first 130 appearances out of the bullpen for Bristol, Class A Kannapolis and Class A Winston-Salem. He started 23 games for Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham in 2011, before pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for the White Sox, giving up just one hit.

His impressive debut with the White Sox and continued success in Spring Training has caught the eye of the higher-ups in the organization.

“You know, we may take a [Chris] Sale approach with him,” said White Sox general manager Ken Williams of Santiago, who also could work as a late-inning left-hander. “We might keep him in the bullpen and then look to start him down the line.”

Speaking of pitches, Jake Petricka wants to continue developing his breaking stuff:

The harshest critic of Jake Petricka is … Jake Petricka.

Armed with a mid-90 mph fastball that most deem to be a “plus” offering — scouting jargon for beyond big league average — the White Sox’s No. 5 prospect shrugged and said he believed it to be only average. OK, he relented, maybe slightly above average.

Despite receiving an invitation to Chicago’s Major League camp this spring, it’s clear the 23-year-old right-hander is wary of becoming a one-pitch pitcher destined for the bullpen. He’s intent on improving his secondary pitches — a changeup and a slider — necessary ingredients for a future in the rotation.

Petricka finished 2011 in Class A Advanced Winston-Salem’s starting rotation. He went 7-8 with a 3.65 ERA over a career-high 113 1/3 innings across three lower levels before working exclusively as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League. Impressing others, if not himself, in either role this month likely would lead to a spot with Double-A Birmingham.

MiLB.com asked Petricka to describe and grade each of the three pitches he employs, fastball included. (His grade is based on a scout’s traditional 20-80 scale, 50 being Major League average.) Here is Petricka, in his own words:

Other White Sox links:

• Chris has an excellent post on the Birmingham Barons new publicly-financed park.
• J.J. looks at Gavin Floyd future, and Jake Peavy’s bullpen comments.
• James looks at Dayan Viciedo’s future.
• Chris Kamka says the Jackie Robinson could’ve broken the color barrier in a White Sox uniform.
• John Sickels likes Nestor Molina.
• David Pinto looks at the Sox’s run production.

Someone screwed up in and in a very big way

Dave van Dyck:

Dunn now says there “is no doubt in my mind” his April appendectomy caused his season to disintegrate after a strong opening day.

“I was never the same,” he said. “I came back too soon, and I couldn’t even bend like I should have (while batting). And it threw my swing way off.”

Who screwed up? Was it Adam Dunn himself? I think that’s the more probable explanation. That Dunn didn’t reveal the extent of his after-surgery symptoms. It can’t be a coach or a trainer.

Other White Sox links:

• James looks at the Adam Dunn admission, and at the Gavin Floyd trade rumors.
• J.J. and Tony Andracki come up with the 1970-1979 All-Chicago team.
• Watch parts 1-3 of CSN’s Inside Look: Jerry Reinsdorf. Part 4 is here. Some extras are here. Put them all in 1 place J.J.!
• Kenny Williams says he put a high price on Sox players other teams wanted this winter and stuck with that price.

Gavin Floyd is a popular guy

Bruce Levine @ ESPN:

Multiple sources told ESPNChicago that teams are lining up with offers for [Gavin] Floyd, who could be a free agent (if the team declines its option) after the 2013 season

Will someone make Kenny an offer he can’t refuse?

Chuck Garfien interviews Jerry Reinsdorf

CSN’s Chuck Garfien interviewed Jerry Reinsdorf. Here’s Reinsdorf’s comment on Mark Buehrle’s departure:

“Mark Buehrle was a pillar of this franchise. He was a cornerstone, he was here for a long time. He came out of nowhere. He was a 38th round draft choice. He did everything we ever asked for him. He caught all the first pitches, he threw a perfect game, a no-hitter. Anytime you needed him to go to a school or a hospital, or whatever, Mark Buehrle was always there. But the fact is at his age, it didn’t make sense for us to do what the Marlins were prepared to do for him. So he went, certainly with my blessing. I spoke to him and said, ‘You gotta take it. You gotta take this deal.’ And Mark said, ‘I’ll be back in 4 years.’”

Buehrle will be back? Is this meant to soothe Sox fans angry over Buehrle’s departure? Anyway, if the Sox won’t be competing in the immediate future, Buehrle’s talents would be wasted if he stayed here….

Other White Sox links:

• James previews the Sox infield. And the outfield.
• J.J. explains that 10 Spring Training games shouldn’t be cause of concern.
• BTB’s David Fung looks graphically at the Sox ‘Window to Win.’
• THT’s Chris Jaffe asks and answers 5 questions for the Sox.
• Ken Rosenthal’s major league sources say the White Sox are not currently pursuing a left-handed reliever. It was rumored the Sox were interested in Mike Gonzales and Arthur Rhodes.
• Danny Knobler’s major league source says Gavin Floyd was “nearly” trade to Baltimore this winter.

Herm Schneider is in the best shape of his life

No kidding, he really is:

The most noticeable change among the Sox’s traveling party was trainer Herm Schneider, who declined to disclose how much weight he lost this winter.

Daryl Van Schouwen says it’s 70 pounds:

Nobody looks better than White Sox trainer Herm Schneider, who lost about 70 pounds over the offseason.—
Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) February 22, 2012

BTW, here’s a picture of Herm from August of 2011:

Good job Herm!

Other White Sox links:

• James looks at Tyler Flowers replacing A.J. Pierzynski, and replays the April 12, 2008 Sox-Tigers game (Gavin Floyd’s breakout).
• J.J. looks at the battle for the last spot in the Sox bench, and contributes to publishing the All-Chicago 2000-2011 baseball team.
• Baseball America released its ’2012 Top 100 prospects’ list. The only Sox prospect on the list is 23-year old RHP Addison Reed at #66.

Robin Ventura talks about the 2012 Sox

Scott Merkin:

Ventura was asked about a few key matters during an interview session with White Sox beat reporters on Thursday and came up with a few pre-Spring Training solutions. The White Sox starting rotation, which looks to be one of its strongest suits, seems all but set with John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Chris Sale and Jake Peavy. According to Ventura, Philip Humber has the advantage at No. 5 over any of the young newcomers such as Nestor Molina or returnees such as Zach Stewart or Dylan Axelrod.”Phil would be that leader heading into the clubhouse,” Ventura said of Humber, whose breakout 2011 effort resulted in a 9-9 record and 3.75 ERA. “I don’t see anything changing with that at this point. We will see during Spring Training, but I’m confident in Phil in doing that No. 5 position.”Humber posted an 8-5 record with a 3.10 ERA and .218 opponents average against in the first half, but had a 1-4 mark, 5.01 ERA and .287 average against after the All-Star break.

Reliever Matt Thornton‘s season was slightly reversed, as the left-hander posted a 2.45 ERA over 52 games after May 1 following an 8.64 ERA in April. Thornton also had blown saves in his first four chances, although he didn’t have the best of luck behind him. Even with that slow start, Ventura tabbed Thornton on Thursday as his leading 2012 closer candidate over rookie Addison Reed and Jesse Crain. “I’m leaning on Matt doing that,” Ventura said. “I don’t think those type of things are concrete. I would like to see him do that, but we’ll see how that goes in Spring Training with him and how he feels.”

In Ventura’s estimation, the team doesn’t have a true utility infielder at this point. Brent Lillibridge earned high praise from Ventura for his versatility and talent, but he wasn’t identified as a possible backup shortstop. Ventura said that Alex Rios could see time in both left field and center field, and as of now, Alejandro De Aza looks to be the leadoff man. Of course, it’s just late January and things could change by the end of Cactus League action. “Gordon [Beckham] could probably do it depending on how he feels about that and how he looks in Spring Training, as far as getting on base,” Ventura said of the leadoff slot. “He has more power than normal leadoff guys, but he’s one of them.”

Alexei Ramirez to Boston? Gordon Beckham to SS?

Phil Rogers says Gavin Floyd isn’t the only White Sox player rumored to be traded to Boston:

With Eduardo Escobar already on the fringes of the big-league roster and Tyler Saladino on the horizon, why wouldn’t Ken Williams consider sending Ramirez and [Gavin] Floyd to Boston in a package for as much 25-and-under talent as possible?

One rumor bouncing around says Ramirez isn’t the White Sox regular the Red Sox are eyeing for the shortstop opening they created when they traded Marco Scutaro to the Rockies. It says they think Gordon Beckham is capable of regaining his ability as a run-producer and returning to the position he played at the University of Georgia.

Eduardo Escobar playing 2B? I don’t see this happening.

Short leash for Alex Rios?

Scott Merkin’s mailbag:

… If Rios does get off to a slow start, let’s say through April or even a week into May, I don’t think the White Sox will hesitate to go in a different direction.

Other White Sox links:

• James finds Kenny Williams’ off-season aproach improved, and looks back to the blackout game.
• colin looks at the terms of John Danks’ extension and sees “a fair market deal that works in the White Sox’ favor thanks to the organization’s talent for handling pitchers.”
• BTB says Gavin Floyd is a younger alternative to Hiroki Kuroda and Roy Oswalt.

Scott Merkin reviews the White Sox 2011 season

Scott Merkin:

As for that brief era of good feeling between Williams and Guillen, another slow start didn’t help the cause. A dispute over whether Minor League sensation Dayan Viciedo, who was Williams’ choice, or leadoff man Juan Pierre should be playing every day in the outfield in early June seemed to re-start tensions. Basically, both sides needed a change at this point.

Maybe Pierre will end up in Miami too…

Other White Sox links:

• James looks at the prospect of losing Gavin Floyd, and at Kenny Williams’ style of rebuilding.
• J.J. looks at what not trading Carlos Quentin would mean.
• 2012 Sox draft picks: #13, #48 (via #56), #77, #108, #141. And how the new CBA effects the draft.