Kevin Goldstein on Jared Mitchell

Goldstein @ BP:

Jared Mitchell, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 2-for-3, HR (6), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. 2009 first-round pick who missed all of 2010 has been mostly a disappointment in return, by 5-for-7 with two home runs in last two games for .220/.273/.415 line.

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.

Baseball America on Jared Mitchell’s return

From the ‘Not-So-Hot’ section of today’s ‘Prospect Hot Sheet’:

Jared Mitchell, cf, White Sox. Mitchell hasn’t been able to catch up to Carolina League pitching yet after missing the 2010 season with a torn tendon in his left ankle. The 22-year-old is hitting just .202/.243/.372 through 129 at-bats with high Class A Winston-Salem and has had severe problems making contact. Mitchell has struck out 50 times, tied for the most in the minors, while drawing just six walks in 137 plate appearances. He’s also struck out at least once in 20 consecutive games. Mitchell struck out 13 times this week while hitting .160/.160/.320 (4-for-25) with one home run and one double.

John Sickels on Jared Mitchell

Sickels @ MLBall:

Another outfield prospect who missed all of 2010 is White Sox ’09 first-rounder Jared Mitchell. Unlike Pollock, Mitchell is seriously struggling this year, hitting just .205/.250/.385 in 117 at-bats for High-A Winston-Salem, with a horrible 6/46 BB/K. He was always raw for a college guy and while he always struck out a lot, he also drew walks at LSU and in Low-A. That has completely left him this year. He’s also stolen just three bases in six attempts, and while the word is he hasn’t lost the speed he had before his horrible ankle injury last spring, it sure isn’t showing up in the numbers. He’s in a very deep slump currently, 6-for-40 (.150) in his last 10 games, with 20 strikeouts.

Jeff Marquez clears waivers

Gonzales @ CT:

Pitcher Jeff Marquez was expected to accept an assignment to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday after clearing waivers.

Good. We’ll see how his Spring Training K & BB ratios hold up.

Gonzales also reports the minor league teams where some of the Sox prospects will be assigned to. Jared Mitchell will go to A+ Winston-Salem; Josh Phegley and Andy Wilkins to AA Birmingham; Mike Blanke, Trayce Thompson, Jacob Petricka, and Addison Reed to A Kannapolis.

FutureSox looks at the White Sox outfield prospects

The OF prospects looked at were Jared Mitchell, Trayce Thompson, Brandon Short, Jordan Danks:

Thompson joined Kannapolis as an injury replacement after the start of the season and showed some of his upside. Right out of the gate he showed some massive power numbers and a decent walk rate. Naturally, an injury cost him a lot of the season and he slumped later on. Today is his 20th birthday so he has plenty of time, but it’s awful to lose development time like he did last year. He’s already well-regarded by scouts and publications alike, but 2011 could be a big breakout year since it will be his first full pro season if he stays healthy.

Jonathan Mayo’s 2011 Top 10 White Sox prospects (video)

Mayo @ MLB:

Rank	Player	ETA
1.	Chris Sale, LHP	2011
2.	Brent Morel, 3B	2011
3.	Dayan Viciedo, 3B/OF	2011
4.	Eduardo Escobar, SS	2012
5.	Jared Mitchell, OF	2013
6.	Greg Infante, RHP	2011
7.	Brandon Short, OF	2013
8.	Trayce Thompson, OF	2014
9.	Tyler Flowers, C	2011
10.	Josh Phegley, C	2013

And here’s Mayo’s White Sox OMG (One More Guy): Jacob Petricka, RHP.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13144373&c_id=cws

Here’s Brent Morel’s description:

More of a right-handed Wade Boggs type than a power hitter at the hot corner, Morel is ready to take over at third for the White Sox. He’ll hit for average, as his .305 career mark shows, and he’s an outstanding defender, one who could even play shortstop if needed.

Wade Boggs? Did Kenny Williams made a deal with the devil?

Baseball-Intellect’s 2011 Top 15 White Sox prospects (1-5)

Chris Sale gets an A-/B+ and is #1. From his scouting report:

I know some are worried about his arm action. I think those worries are overblown. If you are worried about his elbow going above his shoulder, the first thing I’d say is that the inverted arm action theory is just that: a theory, and it doesn’t mean a pitcher is guaranteed for an injury-plagued career. The second thing I’d point out is that the height of Sale’s elbow is exaggerated since his torso is hunched over, distorting the elbow’s position as it relates to the shoulder.

Also, Sale’s arm slot requires the elbow to drop back down to below shoulder’s level. The elbow comes down before the period of maximum stress on one’s shoulder. Remember, even those who completely buy into the inverted arm action theory will tell you it’s not that the elbow goes higher than shoulder’s height, it’s if the elbow is above shoulder’s height as it begins external rotation. You also have look at the front shoulder. Those who subscribe to the inverted arm action theory are concerned with a pitcher’s timing. If the arm is not vertical and the front shoulder has begun opening, then you have a timing problem — I tend to agree with this.

If you look at Sale’s mechanics, you’ll notice he does a good job of keeping that front shoulder closed. In fact, Sale’s front side mechanics are extremely sound. He firms up the glove out in front of his chest and brings his chest into the glove. As a result, he’s able to keep his front shoulder from flying open and achieve excellent finish and extension on his pitches as well.

Brent Morel (B-), Jared Mitchell (B-), Jacob Petricka (B-), and Trayce Thompson (C+) round up the Top 5. Hit the link for the full report on Sale.

Kevin Goldstein’s 2011 Top 11 White Sox prospects [UPDATE]

Goldstein @ BP:

Five-Star Prospects
1. Chris Sale, LHP
Four-Star Prospects
2. Eduardo Escobar, SS
3. Brent Morel, 3B
Three-Star Prospects
4. Dayan Viciedo, 1B/3B
5. Jared Mitchell, CF
6. Jacob Petricka, RHP
7. Greg Infante, RHP
8. Trayce Thompson, OF
Two-Star Prospects
9. Addison Reed, RHP
10. Thomas Royse, RHP
11. Andre Rienzo, RHP

9 more and Goldstein’s scouting report on Chris Sale at the link.

UPDATE: Goldstein discusses the White Sox Top 11/20 on Episode 25 of his podcast (mp3). The White Sox discussion is at the 72:30 mark and runs for about 12 minutes.

Diamond Futures’ 2011 White Sox Top 12 prospects

Baseball Numbers @ Diamond Futures:

Grade A

1) Chris Sale, LHP (2010 Performance Scores– Dominance 80; Control 60; HRrate 29; Stamina 27)

We believed Chris Sale was the best college arm available in the 2010 draft. His 2010 College Performance score trailed only Texas A&M’s Barrett Loux. So we were as shocked as the White Sox likely were when he was still available at #13. The Sox fast-tracked Sale to the Big Leagues in a relief role, and he only continued to make favorable impressions once arriving—ending the season as the team’s best option at closer. Coming out of the bullpen allowed Sale to consistently throw his fastball in the mid-90s—a few ticks higher than he had worked as a starter. The relief work also allowed him to focus on his slider—the pitch that offered greatest concerns coming into the draft. What the bullpen did not allow him to do was showcase his plus-plus change—the pitch that is the main reason why we believe that he is ideally suited for a starting role.

At a slight 6’6”, we believe Sale could ‘beef-up’ and work in the mid-90s as a front of the rotation starter with a solid three-pitch repertoire. Unfortunately, word out of Chicago is that Sale is likely to once again find himself in the bullpen in 2011. This isn’t a two-pitch Neftali Feliz, that we advocated a bullpen role for. Therein lies the paradox with the White Sox decision to make a run at the Central division in 2011—as it likely means that Sale is the de facto closer vs. working on being a difference maker at the top of the rotation. Still just 21yo, the White Sox are unlikely to harm his development in any significant way, but this is a special arm that should be developed as such.

Hit the link for the other 11 reports.

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.

Most Important Sox, 2011 and beyond edition (#21-30)

Ballantini @ CSN:

As the coals in the hot stove are just beginning to get stoked up, it’s time to rank the current Chicago White Sox, in order of importance for 2011 and beyond. It’s not intended to be a strict list of merely the best players, or best values, on the White Sox. Rather, it takes into account team depth, the free agent market, or answering the question of which player would hurt the most not being on the team? …

… 30. Eduardo Escobar, SS

One great AFL season does not make a prospect. But given that Escobar has lit up a fall season that earns more than its fair share of attention from major-league eyes, Escobar becomes an important trade chip this winter. Perhaps the inclusion of the shortstop in a Carlos Quentin-Colby Rasmus deal with St. Louis gets that trade done.

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.” …

Fangraphs’ White Sox 2011 Top 10 prospects

Hulet @ FG:

1. Chris Sale, LHP

Sale not only reached the Majors in his draft year – he dominated. The lefty pitched just 10.1 innings in the minors before posting a 2.74 FIP in 23.1 innings. He missed a lot of bats (12.34 K/9) while showing respectable control (3.86 BB/9). A starter in college, Sale pitched out of the bullpen in pro ball and saw his fastball velocity climb from the low 90′s and sit around 96 mph. He also displayed a sharp slider, at times, and a promising changeup (which he’ll need to combat right-handed batters). …

More at the link.

THT’s White Sox 2011 Top 10 prospects

Hagen @ THT:

1. Chris Sale / SP/RP / Sale is a tenacious competitor who belongs in the rotation long term. He displays great movement and strong command of an impressive three-pitch mix. He is far and away Chicago’s best prospect. 

The rest at the link. It also lists the Top 10 White Sox players under the age of 26.