By Mike Talley
Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Opening Day of the 70th anniversary Brewster Baseball Association season is upon us, so Chicago Sports Online is taking a look at the Black Sox 27-man roster in a special 2-part series.
Part One looked at the team’s pitching staff, while this installment looks at the team’s position players.
There are a couple of big changes to highlight: On-base machine and glove disaster Mark Wareham has departed after a one-year tenure at shortstop. He’ll be replaced by brash young rookie Miguel Valdéz, who figures to struggle at the plate and impress in the field. After enduring Wareham’s 26 errors and -6.4 range factor in 2041, Sox management is OK with that.
The other change is at third base, where the Sox will begin phasing out veteran Luis González in favor of second-year player Tomás Durán who will bring more power and speed to the leadoff position against right-handed pitchers. González will fill the leadoff role against left-handers.
Another fresh face is super-sub Joe Mills, who comes to the Sox from the Calgary organizations via the Rule 5 minor league draft. Mills plays every infield position, except catcher, and all three outfield positions, most at a high level. Although he’s a light hitter, his versatility in the field was too tantalizing for the Sox front office to pass up.
Here, then, is a look at your 2042 Black Sox position players:
The Infield and DH
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Mark Simpson | 2041 | 155 | 723 | 124 | 160 | 36 | 100 | 2 | .290 | .448 | .547 | 6.5 |
Mark Simpson, 1B: If there was any doubt before, Simpson established himself as the best player on the Black Sox roster with his marvelous 2041 season. He led the league in walks and OBP, with 159 and .448, respectively, while hitting .290 and bashing 36 home runs. This season, he’ll bat second in the lineup behind Durán or González in what the coaching staff hopes will be nightmarish top of the lineup for opposing pitchers.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Rocky Wattson | 2041 | 160 | 694 | 97 | 158 | 28 | 97 | 18 | .254 | .323 | .454 | 2.3 |
Rocky Wattson, 2B: The 23-year-old Wattson has established himself as a reliable presence in the middle of the Sox lineup, although coaches hope he raise his batting average a level or two. Still, he hits for power and plays an outstanding second base and the Sox are more than pleased to pencil him into the lineup every day. He figures to bat 5th or 6th most of the time this season.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Miguel Valdéz | 2041, AA | 133 | 628 | 64 | 153 | 2 | 53 | 6 | .274 | .337 | .373 | 3.3 |
Miguel Valdéz, SS: Although he’s an outspoken fella who sometimes rubs people the wrong way, the Sox were impressed enough by his work last season with the Warren Cox League Champion Beloit Blue Sox that they brought him into spring training this year. He showed enough there (.258/.338/.355, and stellar play in the field) to convince them to release Santiago Morales and hand the shortstop job to him. His performance there figures to be one of the keys to Chicago’s chances this season.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Tomás Durán | 2041 | 38 | 114 | 9 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 3 | .257 | .342 | .436 | 0.5 |
Tomás Durán, 3B: You can be forgiven if you didn’t realize Durán was on the roster last season. He played sparingly behind Luis González, but his combination of speed and power is too potent at this point for the Sox to leave on the bench any longer. And an extended trial in the lead-off spot this spring was so successful (.339/.418/.508), manager Julian Negrete decided to go ahead and switch Durán into that spot against right-handers during the regular season.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Aarnaud Budding | 2041 | 112 | 440 | 71 | 101 | 16 | 75 | 0 | .274 | .368 | .485 | 1.5 |
Aarnaud Budding, DH/1B: Left-handed Budding split time at DH with right-handed Tommy Cochran last season in a potent platoon that will continue this season. Cochran also plays some against right-handers because he hits them nearly as well as lefties, but Budding will get most of those at-bats. The platoon isn’t especially fair to either player because both have full-time talent, but the Sox are unwilling to sit either on the bench. So … platoon, they will.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Tommy Cochran | 2041 | 91 | 352 | 43 | 93 | 21 | 72 | 0 | .292 | .344 | .558 | 1.4 |
Tommy Cochran, DH/1B: Last season was frustrating for Cochran, who chafed at the platoon with Budding, but the man proved he can hit even while sulking. He and Budding can both field at first base, too, so look for both of them to occasionally spell Simpson when he needs a breather.
The Catchers
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Diesel Dave | 2041 | 104 | 428 | 58 | 88 | 26 | 67 | 0 | .216 | .248 | .452 | 0.3 |
Diesel Dave, C: The Sox plan to install Dave, who’s also the team captain, as the undisputed starting catcher this season. Although he strikes out a ton and rarely walks, he hits home runs by the bushel and his play suffers in a backup role. So, on a team that struggles to score runs, Dave will get most of the playing time – especially on the road in home-run friendly parks.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Hotha Popo | 2041 | 64 | 249 | 26 | 46 | 3 | 28 | 0 | .228 | .363 | .327 | 0.5 |
Hotha Popo, C: At this point in his career, Popo essentially does one thing well: draw walks. Happily, that one thing is still valuable, so look for the Sox to work him into the lineup when possible (especially at home, where the power-hitting Dave is at a bit of a disadvantage). Still, the Sox expect Popo won’t like sitting more often behind Dave and expect he may want to exercise his contract opt-out at the end of the season, but they’re OK with that.
The Outfield
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Hao Hang | 2041 | 95 | 416 | 65 | 106 | 23 | 75 | 7 | .301 | .392 | .599 | 3.0 |
Hao Hang, RF: By this point, Hang needs little introduction – especially after his sensational September Hitter-of-the-Month performance last season. He picked up where he left off, slashing .316/.435/.561 this spring. The Sox figure to be better this year if for no other reason than that they’ll have Hang in the lineup for the full season.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Manny Cleide | 2041 | 147 | 570 | 63 | 132 | 4 | 49 | 24 | .265 | .335 | .361 | 0.2 |
Manny Cleide, CF: Analysts say the Sox need an upgrade here, and there’s little disputing that Cleide doesn’t measure up to the offensive talent Chicago fields in the corner outfield slots. But Manny hits pretty well, he’s fast, he’s an expert at bunting for base hits, and he’s strong in the field. So, yeah, the Sox probably do need an upgrade here. But until then, it’s not like he’s disastrous in center.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Fernando Reyes | 2041 | 133 | 533 | 73 | 158 | 23 | 87 | 0 | .325 | .378 | .549 | 3.2 |
Fernando Reyes, LF: After a down year in 2040, Reyes exploded at the plate last season, slashing .325/.378/.549 with 23 homers and 3.2 WAR. Virtually all of that production came against right-handed pitchers, though. He struggles mightily against lefties, so the Sox do plan to platoon him, most likely with newcomer Jorge González or supersub Joe Mills.
The Bench
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Luis González | 2041 | 139 | 562 | 71 | 152 | 4 | 50 | 30 | .300 | .354 | .393 | 1.4 |
Luis González, 3B/2B: Although González turned in another fine season last year, Sox management has decided it’s time to begin phasing Durán in at third. That means Luis will most likely play the short side of the 3B platoon, against left handed pitchers, and spell Rocky Wattson occasionally at 2B. How González will adjust to this is an open question, but he’s a strong piece to have available on the bench.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Joe Mills | 2041, AAA | 2041 | 81 | 272 | 37 | 51 | 1 | 28 | 7 | .216 | .302 | .288 | 0.1 |
Joe Mills, INF/OF: Utility players don’t come any more versatile than Mills, who plays every position except pitcher and catcher. He doesn’t hit especially well, but that’s not really why he’s here. The Sox front office refers to him as a “one-man bench”, which is pretty much the case. He’ll fill in for injured or tired players, or play late inning defense wherever it’s needed. He figures to get plenty of playing time, regardless.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Jorge González | 2041, A | 68 | 291 | 43 | 75 | 4 | 22 | 15 | .280 | .326 | .407 | 1.4 |
Jorge González, OF: A Rule 5 Minor League Draft acquisition, González provides a right-handed bat to help spell Fernando Reyes against left-handed pitchers, he plays a strong center field, and he runs like a house afire. Oh yeah, he’s also a captain, so he can help Diesel Dave soothe any ruffled feathers caused by loose cannon Miguel Valdéz. Whether he sticks all season isn’t certain, but for now the Sox are glad to have him – especially given that he slashed .412/.412/.647 in spring training.
| Player | Yr | G | PA | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | WAR |
| Keith Sánchez | 2041 | 85 | 176 | 20 | 27 | 4 | 17 | 9 | .180 | .288 | .313 | -0.1 |
Keith Sánchez, OF: The Sox hadn’t intended to break camp with Sánchez, but the slick-fielding left-hander had a strong spring (.306/.346/.367) and the front office decided to send Jim Lorenzen back to AAA Carolina to work on his hitting some more and finish learning how to play left field. Of course, if Sánchez keeps hitting, that could be a long visit to Cape Hatteras for Lorenzen …
The Wrap-up
So that’s the team. Sox faithful hope it’s good enough to contend for a wild card spot this season, but they’re a hopeful bunch by nature.
We’ll see whether those hopes can be realized starting tonight when the Sox host Valencia for the season opener at the newly-expanded Black Sox Park.
Play ball!