White Sox general manager Kenny Williams does not get enough credit for what he has done this season. His team is currently in first place, 3 games ahead of the pre-season favorite Detroit Tigers. Williams has a reputation as a gambling trader. But it appears that he has gathered a better farm system than most pundits realized; let us compare the rookie pitchers that have been promoted to the big leagues this year.
The Chicago Cubs spent the last several seasons under former GM Jim Hendry on signing pitchers. When it came to crunch time this season by injury or otherwise, the Cubs promoted the following:
Parker 4 G 0-0 record, 0.00 ERA, 4.1 IP 1.63 WHIP
Rusin 1 G, 0-1 record, 1.80 ERA, 5.0 IP, 0.60 WHIP
Ascencio 12 G, 0-0 record, 3.07 ERA, 14. 2 IP, 1.57 WHIP
Beliveau, 11 G, 0-0 record, 3.18 ERA, 11.1 IP, 1.59 WHIP
Bowden 15 G, 0-0 record, 4.67 ERA, 17.1 IP, 1.50 WHIP
Raley 4 G, 1-2 record, 6.64 ERA, 20.1 IP, 1.57 WHIP
Cabrera 13 G 0-0 record, 8.38 ERA, 1.86 WHIP
Castillo, 10 G, 0-1 record, 10.64 ERA, 11 IP 2.55 WHIP
The two spot starters and bullpen fodder combined for a 1-4 record. It is glaring that these young pitchers have series control problems with their high WHIPs.
The White Sox used the following young pitchers to solidify its staff:
Veal 8 G 0-0 record, 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 0.63 WHIP
Sale 24 G, 15-5 record, 2.81 ERA, 157 IP, 1.06 WHIP
Quintana 18 G, 5-2 record, 2.86 ERA, 110 IP, 1.19 WHIP
Jones 49 G, 7-0 record, 3.20 ERA, 50.2 IP, 1.52 WHIP
Santiago 35 G, 2-1 record, 3.99 ERA, 47.1 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 4 saves
Reed 50 G, 3-1 record, 4.11 ERA, 46 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 24 saves
Omogrosso 5 G 0-0 record, 4.26 ERA, 6.1 IP 1.58 WHIP
Axelrod 11 G, 2-2 record, 4.93 ERA, 45.2 IP, 1.38 WHIP
One could argue that Sale was with the club last season, but only in a limited bullpen role. This is his first year as a big league starter. Overall, this group of young pitchers have an impressive 34-11 record. That is outstanding production from the White Sox minor league system.
Clearly, the White Sox are in a better position going into next season with all the quality arms they have promoted this season. The system really stepped up when ace John Danks was sidelined with a shoulder injury and the struggles of Gavin Floyd.
