White Sox sign 22nd round draft pick RHP Blake Drake

Baseball America’s draft database reports 22nd round draft pick RHP Blake Drake has signed with the Sox. He was assigned to Great Falls:

Yet another long-armed hurler is Blake Drake, a 6-7 former Indiana State star who was selected in the 22nd round of this year’s draft.” Drake has some different arm action that will surprise some people, I think,” said Drahman. “He’s a little sneaky, but he gets it up there it seems like, too.”

Here’s a 2009 scouting report from perfectgame.org:

Blake Drake is a Col RHP with a 6’7”, 185 lb. frame from Louisville, KY. Drake has a projectable frame and sat 88-91 this outing. He is a little raw but really projects as he continues to refine his craft. He showed a good slider to go with his upper 80’s to low 90’s fastball. He played at Wabash Valley this spring.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	ERA	W-L	APP-GS	CG	SHO/CBO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	2B	3B	HR	AB	B/Avg	WP	HBP	BK	SFA	SHA
2011	4.78	1-5	26-4	0	0/3	10	49.0	50	28	26	21	37	8	0	2	190	.263	6	12	1	0	2
2010	7.92	3-0	13-6	0	0/0	0	25.0	25	25	22	22	14	5	0	4		.260	5	4	0	1	1

Drake was in Wabash Valley Community College for a couple years:

Year	GP	IP	R	ER	Hits	SO	BB	ERA	W	L	Save
2009	11	39.0	36	30	39	30	28	6.92	3	4	0
2008	10	22.0	15	14	16	26	12	5.73	4	0	0

And here’s his MLB.com scouting video from the 2009 draft:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=4827585&c_id=cws (0:31)

PS. From the Great Falls Tribune article we learn that released outfielder Salvador Sanchez has been converted to a reliever and will play for the Voyagers.

White Sox sign 19th round draft pick RHP Kevin Vance

Baseball America’s draft database reports 19th round draft pick RHP Kevin Vance has signed. Baseball America’s scouting report says:

Closer Kevin Vance performed well in the Cape Cod League for Chatham last summer, impressing scouts with a fastball that touched 94 mph. He showed similar velocity during UConn’s scout day and intrasquad workouts, sitting 90-92, but during the spring he has mostly been in the 86-90 mph range. Vance still was one of the Big East’s top bullpen arms, registering 12 saves and holding opponents to a .105 average through his first 23 appearances. He flashes an above-average curveball with good shape and a decent changeup. When he’s on, scouts said Vance looks like Ricky Bottalico, though the drop in velocity could hurt his draft positioning.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	ERA	W-L	APP-GS	CG	SHO/CBO	SV	IP	ER	BB	SO	2B	3B	HR	AB	B/Avg	WP	HBP	BK	SFA	SHA
2011	2.12	1-0	27	0	0	0/4	13	29.2	14	7	7	7	31	4	1	0	103	.136	1	4	0	1	1
2010	2.41	1-0	17	0	0	0/0	8	18.2	12	5	5	7	17	1	0	2	67	.179	1	1	0	0	0
2009	4.70	0-1	6	0	0	0/0	0	7.2	7	6	4	3	5	2	0	0	31	.226	3	0	0	1	0

White Sox sign 5th round draft pick LHP Scott Snodgress

Baseball America’s draft database reports 5th round draft pick LHP Scott Snodgress has signed. Baseball America’s scouting report says:

Another physical lefthander, Scott Snodgress, showed better velocity in the fall and settled back into the 90-92 mph range out of Stanford’s bullpen this spring. Scouts like his size–he’s 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds–and potential, but he doesn’t have great command or composure. Snodgress throws a good curveball and changeup and needs to trust his stuff is and show more confidence on the mound.

John Sickels says:

5) Scott Snodgress, LHP, Stanford: Rather raw for a Stanford pitcher, but works in low-90s, curveball has some bite, but inconsistent.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	ERA	W-L	APP-GS	CG	SHO/CBO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	2B	3B	HR	AB	B/Avg	WP	HBP	BK	SFA	SHA
2011	4.94	2-2	26-0	0	0/0	2	31.0	28	19	17	28	38	1	1	1	118	.237	1	2	0	1	4
2010	5.59	1-2	22-4	0	0/1	1	37.0	33	25	23	29	38	6	2	2	133	.248	3	5	1	1	4
2009	5.85	1-3	17-5	0	0/0	1	32.1	41	24	21	12	17	9	1	3	131	.313	6	9	1	0	3

And a video of Snodgress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dycIBrUw164

Smells Like Mascot: Dog Eat Dog

Carl’s latest:

http://smellslikemascot.blogspot.com/2011/06/dog-eat-dog.html

He captures the frustration we feel perfectly!

:p

White Sox sign 37th round draft pick LHP Todd Kibby

Baseball America’s draft database reports 37th round draft pick LHP Todd Kibby (last) has signed with the Sox.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	GP	IP	R	ER	Hits	SO	BB	ERA	W	L	Save
2011	20	69.0	37	32	68	71	52	4.17	4	4	0
2010	11	9.1	12	9	9	8	8	8.68	0	2	0

White Sox sign 35th round draft pick RHP Joseph Dvorsky

Baseball America’s draft database reports 35th round draft pick RHP Joseph Dvorsky has signed with the Sox. He was assigned to Great Falls.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	ERA	W-L	APP-GS	CG	SHO/CBO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	2B	3B	HR	AB	B/Avg	WP	HBP	BK	SFA	SHA
2011	2.83	3-0	24-1	1	1/0	7	41.1	41	15	13	10	38	7	2	2	156	.263	0	2	0	4	3
2010	54.00	0-0	2-0	0	0/0	0	0.2	5	5	4	0	0	1	0	1	7	.714	0	1	0	0	0

He was in McLennan Community College before:

Year	GP	IP	R	ER	Hits	SO	BB	ERA	W	L	Save	PO	A
2009	16	60.0	53	35	81	39	29	5.25	2	5	2	3	11
2008	43	60.1	57	47	82	45	23	7.01	4	7	0

In 2008 he tried swinging the bat:

Year	GP	AB	H	2B	3B	RBI	BA	HR	SB	SBA	SB%
2008	43	88	26	5	0	13	.295	0	1	2	.000

White Sox sign 21st round draft pick 2B Joe De Pinto

Mansch @ GFT:

Second baseman Joe De Pinto, a 21st-round pick out of Southern California, also caught Newman’s eye.

“Joe’s from USC — that’s good experience playing Pac-10 ball — he looks like he’s going to be a solid in the middle of the infield for us,” said Newman.

PerfectGame.org scouting report

Joseph DePinto is a 2007 MIF/OF/P from St. Francis HS, residing in Sunland, CA, with a 5’10″ 150 lb. frame. DePinto was named to the top prospect team at the California Underclass Showcase. Has a medium but athletic build, with wiry musculature. Offensively possesses a quick bat and a swing path that is very short to the ball. DePinto is a contact/spray hitter who makes consistent contact. He makes the pitcher work to get him out but don’t read that as he is a pest… he can really hit. He also runs well and understands game, making him an effective base stealer. Defensively, DePinto has quick feet and a good early burst to the ball. He is a very solid defender and a very solid player. Consider him a good follow for most D1 programs on the West Coast.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	AVG	GP-GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	SLG%	BB	HBP	SO	GDP	OB%	SF	SH	SB-ATT	PO	A	E	FLD%
2011	.300	56-56	190	32	57	11	2	0	24	72	.379	31	7	23	6	.409	4	7	9-13	104	147	12	.954
2010	.286	60-60	252	50	72	15	2	2	23	97	.385	19	6	28	6	.348	2	7	4-6	106	161	14	.950
2009	.277	55-53	191	37	53	12	0	3	22	74	.387	25	5	31	2	.369	4	9	11-15	82	131	9	.959

White Sox sign 20th round draft pick C Martin Medina

Evans @ BC:

The four picks from Cal State Bakersfield have all signed. They are right-handed pitcher Mike McCarthy, outfielder Ryan McIntyre, catcher Jeremy Rodriguez and catcher-infielder Martin Medina.

Medina, a 20th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox, is one of three catchers assigned to Great Falls, Mont., in the Pioneer League.

“Right now, like everyone else, I’m trying to find a host family (to live with),” Medina said. “Right now we’re all in a hotel.”

Great Falls’ season opens Monday.

“I might play a little third, also,” Medina said. “If I’m hitting well, they’ll keep my bat in the lineup.”

A 2010 scouting report from 49th State Hardball:

When I think of Martin Medina, I think of power. The guy’s got a stout upper body and a big, quick power cut. At 5’10″ and a lean 200lb, he’s got some muscle mass to spank the ball around a bit with. And the proof is in the pudding. Five homers in 34 games as a Goldpanner this year. Just to put things into something more digestible with those familiar with pro ball, that’s 24 blasts over a 162-game period. That’s not too shabby. With a .505 slugging percentage to go with it…yeah, he can knock the ball around a bit. The guy looks like he could put on a little more brawn, even, so I think he has a little more power potential corked away that might just now be blossoming.

Here are his College Stats:

Year	AVG	GP-GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	SLG%	BB	HBP	SO	GDP	OB%	SF	SH	SB-ATT	PO	A	E	FLD%
2011	.287	55-55	209	38	60	11	1	9	53	100	.478	26	2	37	4	.362	6	1	0-0	206	25	5	.979
2010	.311	56-56	238	44	74	16	2	12	52	130	.546	26	6	53	12	.393	0	0	1-3	135	49	11	.944
2009	.285	50-50	193	29	55	13	4	8	40	100	.518	23	8	51	1	.379	3	0	2-2	106	61	20	.893

Medina tried pitching too:

Year	AVG	GP-GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	SLG%	BB	HBP	SO	GDP	OB%	SF	SH	SB-ATT	PO	A	E	FLD%
2011	4.54	3-3	17-1	0	0/0	8	33.2	38	24	17	14	45	6	1	3	144	.264	4	0	0	1	2
2010	4.01	5-2	11	2	0	0/0	1	24.2	23	11	11	8	22	5	2	0	88	.261	2	3	0	0	1
2009	6.87	3-3	13	4	0	0/0	2	38.0	44	32	29	28	36	7	2	4	150	.293	5	4	3	2	3

And Pep Fernandez of KERO-23 has a 2 minute video on Medina.

A.J. Pierzynski blames Gavin Floyd for the frequent basestealers; Ozzie tells him to look in the mirror

A.J. Pierzynski deflects the blame:

Last night, Pierzynski unflinchingly put the blame on Floyd’s shoulders, saying, “We all know where we stand with the running game when Gavin is out there. Everyone knows where we stand, and it’s just part of the game.”

but Ozzie doesn’t,

“It’s not fair? When a guy steals second and third with a slide step, you have to wear it, you gotta admit you’re not throwing the ball well right now,” Guillen said. “If you have to take the blame, take the blame. The people think it’s your fault, well, it’s somebody’s fault. It’s not my fault. It has to be between the pitcher and the catcher, and the pitcher went slide step twice.” … “When the team loses, I take the heat,” he said. “When they steal bases, obviously A.J.’s gotta take the heat. Who else is going to take the heat? He’s got to wear it and live with it.”

Other White Sox links: J.J. agrees A.J. Pierzynski deserves blame, James interviews Robin Ventura, Ozzie Guillen says Adam Dunn may play 1-2 games in the field in the upcoming Interleague series, and Omar Vizquel shows his artistic side (3:42 video).