Rating the September Call-Ups
May 3, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Marcus Semien (5) at bat against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
It’s that time of the year again, the last month of the regular MLB season. Which means one thing for non-contenders, we get a good look at the new September call-ups. The only question is, are these the guys we wanted to see?
Surely it’s no surprise to anyone who the obvious snub was, as it was assumed that Carlos Rodon was on the fast track to Chicago as soon as September 1st came. Some may argue that this is a good decision, as we’ve seen what can happen when a player with a lot of hype is rushed to the big leagues (see Gordon Beckham). Others thought the young southpaw getting some September experience would be a good move to get some big league innings in before 2015. Whatever the case, Rodon’s year is over, and we’ll see how he does next year after he is inevitably put into the rotation.
Now, onto the prospects who were called up. How will these young guys fare the final month of the year?
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Phegley had a great season in his 4th year with Charlotte. He finished the 2014 campaign with a .274/.331/.530 triple slash line and was a mid-season and postseason all-star. Phegley, 26, played 105 games behind the plate this year and finished with a .991 fielding percentage. He also threw out 41 runners, good for a 44% throw out rate. It’s time to accept that Tyler Flowers is not the future catcher for this team. Although Phegley may not be either, he has been given far fewer opportunities. I’d love to see more out of Phegley and see if he can stick around for next year.
Call-Up Rating: B-
It would have been nice to see some young pitchers to fill out our rotation or bullpen. Instead, we got Scott Carroll back. While the 29-year-old was a fill in for the rotation, expectations were never very high for him. He currently is 5-9 with a 5.07 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, numbers that aren’t overwhelming anybody. I’d much rather see some young pitchers in the system, than to bring back Carroll, who is already 29. We’ve seen what he can do (and can’t do), why try to make it work now?
Call-Up Rating: D
Another uninspiring call-up in my eyes. Still unsure why the team keeps giving him chances, Danks continues to be all glove and no bat. The 28-year-old has solid AAA numbers (.268 average in 7 years), but it’s clear that he can not hit major league pitching. Over 163 career games played with the Sox, he has a .219/.297/.327 slash line in 344 plate appearances. Another guy that we already know the story to. Should be a solid defensive replacement and nothing else.
Call-Up Rating: D
One call-up that intrigues me has got to be Chris Bassitt. Bassitt, 25, hasn’t even seen AAA ball yet, but was called up prior to September call-ups for a spot start. He didn’t fare well in his only start, going 6.1 innings and giving up 5 earned. Bassitt had a 3-1 record with a 1.56 ERA in Birmingham in 34.2 innings this year, so the talent is definitely there. It will be interesting to see if he will be used in the bullpen or for some September starts.
Call-Up Rating: B+
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This next player has seen the most playing time for Chicago this year besides Scott Carroll, Marcus Semien. The 23-year-old utility infielder came up big in some clutch situations earlier this year, but was not hitting well enough to maintain a spot on the bench. Semien hit .218 in 186 plate appearances for Chicago prior to being sent down earlier this year. Since then, he’s hit .267 for Charlotte, and has 15 long balls, including an inside-the-park home run. With a solid foundation of Conor Gillaspie, Alexei Ramirez, and Carlos Sanchez in the infield, Semien should still find time to contribute off the bench. He will probably also see a handful of starts throughout the month.
Call-Up Rating: B
When it comes to Eric Surkamp, I feel this was mainly a move to get a left-handed pitcher back in the bullpen. Also to stop moving him back and forth from Charlotte to Chicago. The 27-year-old reliever has not fared well in his 3 big league seasons, compiling a 7.05 ERA in 31 appearances. This move seems more for bullpen depth than anything, making it a seemingly pointless move.
Call-Up Rating: C-
Now, probably the least known prospect on this list. Michael Taylor, 28, has seen short time here and there with the Athletics in the past. Now, with his first stint in Chicago, he’s hoping to prove himself before it’s too late. Taylor played left field and hit 6th in the lineup last night in his first game with the Sox. Unfortunately, he finished 0-4 with a walk and 3 strikeouts. He also left 5 men on base. Not a huge concern, as Taylor is very little risk for the White Sox. If he works out well, that’s another solid outfielder that the team can use. If not, it is most likely back to Charlotte for Taylor.
Call-Up Rating: C
Overall September Call-Up Rating: C+
Overall, I give this new group of guys with the team a C+ simply because they do not have their best talents up. It’s understandable why they want to preserve guys like Rodon and Matt Davidson, but it also can’t hurt to give these young guys a month to prepare for their inevitable call-up in 2015. In the end, this group of guys leaves a lot left to be desired, but considering where the White Sox stand at the moment, you can’t really be upset either way. Best of luck to these 7 gentlemen. Let’s hope a few of these guys play well enough to make the 2015 team.
Any thoughts on who should have been called up, or who should have been left in the minors, don’t hesitate to comment your opinions.