A look at the Sox' top prospects

We're already almost a third of the way through the baseball season? I think it snuck up on me because the Sox were so mediocre for most of the first two months. The Bulls and Blackhawks might have had something to do with it, too.

But it's June now, so it's ok to start paying attention to standings and - more importantly - the trade market. Big, in-season trades are nothing more than a pipe dream for most fans, but not us. Man, do I love Kenny Williams. Sure, he still misses (both Swisher trades were a kick in the groin), but I'd rather have my GM swing for than fences than idly sit still. Even when it doesn't really work out (like last season's trade Griffey), in-season trades can only be classified with one word: fun. I sort of knew the Griffey thing wouldn't work out last year - I think a lot of people did - but when I woke up, logged onto this site, and saw the Sox traded for him, I couldn't be more excited. Stompy mentioned that when the Bears traded for Jay Cutler it was his happiest moment as a fan. That's because one of the dirty little secrets of sports is that what happens off the field - namely trades - is often more fun than what happens on it. And I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with that.

We've seen Kenny Williams go for the jugular once already this season with Peavy, and with a very average team in a very average division, I have no reason to believe he won't try something crazy again. But this year is different than any other during Williams' reign. It's the first time he actually has a decent - if not good - farm system to work with.

Two months of data is a pretty nice sample size to work with, so I thought now would be a good time to get to know the White Sox Big 5 prospects. These guys are probably going to an impact on this year's team - whether they're called up to the bigs or traded. Prospects listed in order of "goodness" by my own personal rankings, which you should not put merit in under any circumstances.

1. 3B/2B/SS Gordon Beckham - AAA Charlotte
At AA Birmingham: 38 games, 148 at-bats. .299/.366/.497. 4 HR, 17 doubles, 22 RBI
At AAA Charlotte -  6 games, 23 at-bats. .435/.417(?)/.609. 0 HR, 4 doubles, 3 RBI

See here.

2. C Tyler Flowers - AA Birmingham
At Birmingham: 45 G, 148 at-bats. .270/.439/.473. 40 hits/39 walks. 7 HR, 25 RBI

It's not the first number in that triple slash you need to look at, it's the second. With that type of plate discipline, Flowers is going be a really good major league hitter. He probably could be already, even though this is his first year in AA. The problem here isn't offense, it's defense. There's probably a 60 percent chance he can't stick at catcher. Having to live with A.J. behind the plate for the second half of the decade, the White Sox know all about how many problems a bad defensive catcher can cause.

It's going to come down to defense with Flowers. If he can develop into an average or slightly below average catcher, he could be a top thirty prospect in baseball next season. I think he's that type of hitter. If the Sox have to move him to DH or first, he may not be all that special.

3. 1B Brandon Allen - AA Birmingham
At Birmingham: 53 G, 207 at-bats. .295/.369/.464. 6 HR, 28 RBI


Another problem if Flowers can't stick at catcher: right now, I think the 2010 Sox are in line to have Allen at first and Konerko at DH. Allen came out of nowhere last season to develop into an actual, real life prospect - something that would be even more jarring if the Sox didn't have four others. He's supposedly a good athlete and a good defender, and has the build to become a 30+ homers a year guy (even if he's a tad short at 5'11). His contact and patience has been great all year at Birmingham, though I'd like to see a little more power. A first baseman hitting .295 should have an OPS over .833 in AA.

4. 3B Dayan Viciedo - AA Birmingham
At Birmingham: 53 G, 206 at-bats. .277/.295/.353. 3 HR, 32 RBI

Yeah, he's got flaws: Big D (that works, right? Yes? No?) is a butcher in the field, and, being Cuban, you know, you don't walk off the island. The low on-base percentage doesn't really bother me too much though, it is what it is. It's not like the fact that Viciedo swings at everything is a surprise. I'm honestly not too worried about those weak ass power numbers yet either. I'm encouraged his contact is coming around - Viciedo was in the low .200s for most of this year - and I expect the power to follow.

Again, this comes down to defense. I'd bet a large sum of money (without ever seeing him play!) that Big D isn't an infielder. DH is a possibility. So is left field.

5. LHP Aaron Poreda - AA Birmingham
At Birmingham: 10 starts, 58.1 innings. 44 H, 20 ER, 62 K, 30 BB. 4-4 record. 2.62 ERA

The big fish in the Peavy trade was Poreda, 2007's first round draft pick and by far the best pitcher the Sox have in their system. He's a big lefty who throws gas. The rest is a mystery. Poreda's success in the majors will come down to his ability to  develop another pitch or two he can consistently throw for strikes. If he can do that, he's golden. If not, hitters are going to tee off on that fastball after a while.

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Two things....

a) I can't overestimate how weird it is that the Sox have a kind of good farm system. It lacks depth, but those five guys (and maybe even CF Jordan Danks, John's little bro) all look legit. As someone who has always been more interested in the fuuuuture than the present, I find this very satisfying.

b) Something I find hilarious: the Sox have had a ton of success with their current core, but what's everyone's No. 1 complaint? All sluggers, no speed and D. Well guess what? The next core is going to be the same way. This doesn't bother me at all, but it will drive some people crazy in 2011.