2007 V7 - Cause for Optimism in Chicago

[kestu]

While 2007 represented another sub-.500 season in Chicago, there were plenty of positive signs to give fans cause for hope:

1) RF Jesus Cruz was a bonafide MVP candidate during the first half of the season, hitting .372 with 23 home runs and 15 RBI's through 6/30. He cooled down substantially after that and got hurt towards the end of August, but he made his first All-Star appearances and looks to be a legit middle-of-the-lineup weapon.

2) SS Duncan Harvey was the opposite of Cruz during the year, hitting .218 from April - June and .328 from July - September. He ended the season with 32 home runs, 20 of which were hit after July 1st. He also provided solid defense at SS and can hopefully carry this momentum into 2008.

3) SP Tom Madonald was inconsistent as a starter during 2007, going 9-8 with a 4.41 ERA, but at times showed the potential that made him the #1 overall pick in 2003. Still only 23 years old, some of the excitement around this potential ace has returned.

4) 1B Orlando Chavez is the favorite to win the 2007 Johnson League Rookie of the Year award, primarily on the strength of his 2nd half production. He has done nothing but produce at every level since being drafted in the 1st round back in 2002 and he shows no signs of letting up.

5) LF Andre Morris has had his critics since being dealt for as part of the controversial deal that sent Steve Faulkner to Montreal back in 2005. However, he has done nothing but produce since arriving in Chicago. Despite missing a month of time due to injury in each of the past two seasons, he owns a .350 career average in almost 1,000 career at bats. 2007 saw him post a slugging percentage over .500 for the first time and his 334 career hits in 238 career at bats is nothing short of exceptional.

6) SP Dave Corrigan had a terrible 2006 season, going 4-15 with a 6.04 ERA. He substantially improved on those numbers in 2007, going 9-16 with 4.52 ERA and reached 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career. While he'll never be a #1 starter on a contending team, he should be a real asset at the back end of the Black Sox rotation for years to come.

7) RF Jose Lopez was acquired in the Bodeen trade back in May, and was largely a disappointment for Chicago. However the 27 year old ended the year with 25 home runs and 29 stolen bases and will be a major beneficiary of the DH-rule being implemented in 2008. After posting a -22.5 ZR in CF for Chicago in only 104 games, you can be assured he has played himself out of that position.

Minor Leaguers

8) SP Jason Brooks cruised through AA and AAA this year, earning a couple spot starts in September for the big club. He looks like a future ace and could earn a spot in the rotation as soon as 2008.

9) SS Alonso Rodriguez dominated AA this year and struggled at AAA. He most likely needs more seasoning at the AAA-level but his arrival is just around the corner.

10) SP Antonio Rodriguez posted a 3.44 ERA in 110 innings at A-ball this year and will likely start 2008 at AA. He showed solid progress during the year and also looks like a potential top-of-the rotation starter.

11) SP Roy Nevel Jr hasn't pitched yet for the Black Sox organization but is already thought to be major-league-ready by many scouts. His recovery is coming along nicely and he will most likely be given a chance to earn a rotation spot during spring training next year.

12) LF/RF Phil Owry had a great year in AAA for the Black Sox organization. His path is unfortunately blocked by Cruz/Morris and Lopez, but he is a potentially great offensive weapon both on the bases and at the plate. He has 30/30 potential and looks to be major-league-ready.

13) C Manual Roman is making his case to take over for veteran Robert Bloomquist when Bloomquist's contract ends in a few years. Roman showed substantial progress offensively this year hitting .317/.404/.403 in A-ball and .304/.360/.422 in AA. The 20 year old has a ways to go defensively, but is on the right track.

Links will be added later.

[kestu]

Did Morris with the ROY last year? I see he won the rookie of the month in 5 of the 6 months, but I don't see that he won the annual award - but that doesn't seem to make sense...

[kestu]

Never mind - I found it - can't argue with MacNeil winning it over him...

[Al-Hoot]

Did Morris with the ROY last year? I see he won the rookie of the month in 5 of the 6 months, but I don't see that he won the annual award - but that doesn't seem to make sense...

OOTP game is sometimes out of kink in how it determines who a rookie is. McNeill was a true rookie by MLB standards. But he was never listed as a rookie by the game. (Which I complained about, given the guy won like 16 in a row.)

But McNeill showed up on the OOTPOU voting utility as a rookie, so....

We've had comparable situations in the past.

Sent using tapatalk.

[recte44]

Nevel Jr could go right from college to the MBBA with a year in between of rehab.

[trmmilwwi]

[kestu]

Feel free to read the last line of the article...

[trmmilwwi]

[kestu]

[kestu]

Nevel Jr could go right from college to the MBBA with a year in between of rehab.

He actually never went to college - if he makes it he would go directly from high school to the MBBA.

His career high school k/bb ratio is something to behold - 178 to 5.

[recte44]

Right, that's what I meant.