Hey frents, it’s your boy BeefLoaf and why yes I am on vacation. I just got back from the pool, getting bronzed af and beating the GILFs off with a stick, not to brag.
Even though I am recharging on an enjoyable vay-cay I am still cognizant of recent White Sox news even if it’s adjacent to our fearless warriors trudging towards a potentially record loss season.
These recent promotions are all great news on the surface. 3 young players playing well enough to be recognized by the org. Beautiful. But, as a White Sox fan nothing is ever so cut and dry and I immediately found myself with 3 concerns. It was so urgent I communicate this that I am currently writing this on my phone between #108ing seshes. I’m sorry.
How will the Birmingham Barons Win The Southern League???
It’s been over a decade since the White Sox AA affiliate has made the playoffs. And they did it with age appropriate budding future major leaguers. However, the recent promotions are leaving them a little short handed to finish the job and win the Southern League title.
Yes I know it’s fucking AA, but a title here can be put on the mantle of both a Chris Getz regime lacking in such player development wins and emerging managerial candidate Sergio Santos. Not to mention a “winning culture” seems to be canon for the most Luddite Sox fans, so why not? If any of these dudes get demoted for the chance to win the title. I’m down with it.
What If Brooks Baldwin Really Hits?!?!?!
Big 108 Fans will think I’m hedging against a recent blog I wrote about prospect hugging. Others will think I am somehow against Brooks Baldwin.
Nope. That ain’t it. What if Baldwin hits the ground running. The real prospect huggers will get over their skis happy gloating and dunking on me. Fine. The more sage of you will realize that hitting in Charlotte is like Colorado except using aluminum bats.
Me, the jaded old damaged Sox fan will utter, what does that say about our top 100 prospects that are struggling their proverbial balls off at AAA? As of this post the savior known as Colson Montgomery is posting a .210 / .329 / .380 slash line through 74 games, while the freshly “promoted” Bryan Ramos is slashing .235 / .273 / .314 in 26 games. Fuck.
What conclusions will we draw from this? I’m not looking forward to it. Could be great for Brooks and not so much for the rest of them ?
Why do this to Ky Bush?
I was elated when the White Sox promoted Drew Thorpe directly from the AA roster to Chicago. Well deserved and getting his feet wet asap as possible in the bigs. I’m a big TINSTAAPP kinda guy. But there is another factor.
Charlotte is a fucking nightmare for pitchers. Everyone gets lit up there. I don’t want this kids confidence crushed. What about another month in AA and then once you’ve dealt off arms from the big league club and realized tryna make Mike Clevinger happen again is a total bust, promote directly to Chicago. If this kid gets Charlotte’d on, there will be nobody to blame but Getzy!!
Promotions are great, but not without downside. Okay, back to the pool.