Sox fans watching ESPN Friday morning were able to get a first look at Georgia shortstop and
White Sox first-round pick Gordon Beckham during the NCAA Super Regionals.
He had
an OK day, but not spectacular like the amount of hype surrounding him during the broadcast suggested. He grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, hit a two-run double to the left-center gap on a hanging curveball, flew out to right a couple of times and was walked on four pitches, none of them close.
In the field, he made a nice snag on a bad hop, and also started one double play and turned two others. On the other hand, he also dropped a low-but-decent throw on what could've been a 3-6 double play, and committed a double error with two outs in the ninth. After seeing a grounder go off the tip of his glove while ranging to his left, Beckham picked it up and made an ill-advised throw to first. It was going to be late anyway, but Beckham threw wildly as well, which allowed a second run to score.
Some impressions, which are subject to change since it's only one game:
Hitting: He has a little bit of a loopy swing, though it's not a sweeping one like Brian Anderson's. His hands look like they're more direct to the ball. It's not pretty, and on his flyouts to right, he dipped his back knee, like Anderson is wont to do. I didn't see him swing at a bad pitch, though.
Fielding: He made the easy plays look easy, and his footwork around second on the double plays seemed pretty quick. Couldn't get a good idea of his range yet, because the cameras during the college games have unusual angles.
Throwing: Seems like he has some unusually long arm action. Strong enough, but it looked kind of weird.
Georgia plays N.C. State at 11 a.m. CST today, so you can get a look for yourself then, if you haven't already.
The Sox used the first pick in the second day of the draft on
Jordan Danks, John's brother, with their seventh-round selection. The Sox drafted Jordan in the 19th round of the 2005 draft, but watched him go to Texas instead.
Baseball America's blurb:
Texas outfielder Jordan Danks
(86) was considered a first round pick out of high school in 2005, but
his commitment to Texas dropped him to the 19th round. Danks is one of
the best athletes in the draft, but he has yet to deliver the power
scouts expected out of high school.
That sounds a little like Ryan Sweeney, who was worth a second-round pick in 2003. Jordan, like his brother,
is a Scott Boras client, but I'm guessing something will get done.
On the other hand, I think it would be hilarious if
sixth-round pick Kyle Williams had prolonged, acrimonious negotiations with the team.
*************************
Speaking of hilarious, MLB.com/entertainment has
a dopey feature on at-bat music for White Sox hitters. Orlando Cabrera "really likes Nickelback," which is another reason why the sox shouldn't re-sign him, but I liked Nick Swisher's the best:
Song: "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins
Swisher: "I was looking for something that was fun, and someone
came up with the idea. Your come-up song is something that gets you
fired up, gets you ready to hit and is something that means something
to you. And this one is old-school, man."
Critic commentary: "Quite possibly the best choice in all of
MLB. Tongue firmly planted in cheek, the always-entertaining Swisher
strides to the plate to the not-so-daunting sounds of one half of
Loggins and Messina. This could only be better if the choice came
without irony, but it surely does not. Swisher hasn't been a Top Gun
this year, but he sure keeps it interesting." --Jim Welte, Editor, MP3.com
Considering Swisher had yet another lineout and warning-track flyout to dead center, I'm thinking "Born Under A Bad Sign" would be a better pick, because if it wasn't for bad luck, he wouldn't have no luck at all. Although why he bypasses
"The Swish" is beyond me.
(And of course, Paul Konerko would get Slipknot's "Eeyore" and Jim Thome anything by Lifter Puller.)
My top five that the PA system would allow:
- "Who Knows" -- Jimi Hendrix and the Band of Gypsies.
- "Papa Don't Take No Mess" -- James Brown.
- "The Swish" -- The Hold Steady (if Swisher won't use it, I will).
- "Ride of the Valkyries" -- Wagner
- "Symphonie Fantastique" -- Berlioz (the part that starts at 3:23 in that clip)
If by some chance, they let me play the most deflating songs possible, I'd go with these:
- "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" -- Gordon Lightfoot
- "Sometimes When We Touch" -- Dan Hill
- "All Out Of Love" -- Air Supply
- "Lovin' You" -- Minnie Ripperton
- "If" -- Bread
And no, I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about this or anything.
*************************
Minor league roundup:- Pawtucket 7, Charlotte 4
- Good news: Jack Egbert struck out eight over five innings. Bad news: He gave up nine hits, which led to four runs, although only two were earned.
- Danny Richar went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, his third. He also committed his fifth error.
- Josh Fields went 2-for-4, and Chris Getz also had two hits, with a double and two RBI.
- Montgomery 6, Birmingham 3
- Kyle McCulloch struggled with control, walking five on top of six hits over 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs to score.
- Ricardo Nanita went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
- John Lujan pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings; Fernando Hernandez added 2 1/3 himself.
- Frederick 19, Winston-Salem 4
- Matt Long allowed seven runs over five innings, but four were unearned.
- Ugliest pitching line went to Israel Chirino: 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
- John Shelby went 3-for-4 and fell a homer short of the cycle; he also stole his 14th base of the season.
- Brandon Allen went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs.
- West Virginia 5, Kannapolis 2
- Tyson Corley had a tremendous relief outing in a losing cause: 3 2/3 scoreless innings, one hit, six strikeouts, and stranded the only runner he inherited.
- Mark Fleisher went 2-for-3 with a triple; Christian Marrero drove in two