WHITE SOX HEADLINES of JUNE 6, 2017 “Avisail
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WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JUNE 6, 2017 “Avisail evolving on mental side of the game” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox Minors report: Robert to DSL club” … Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com “Giolito fans 11 for Charlotte” … Mike Rosenbaum, MLB.com “The app that’s redefining the way White Sox players work out” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “White Sox rookie Adam Engel receiving big-league education” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox prospect Micker Adolfo credits new approach for improvement” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox's rebuilding status looks good compared to Cubs of 2012” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Sloppy play getting worst of White Sox” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Why Chicago White Sox starter Quintana is struggling” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Avisail evolving on mental side of the game White Sox right fielder developing better understanding of his at-bats By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | June 5th, 2017 CHICAGO -- In describing Avisail Garcia's renaissance in 2017, begin with words such as recognition and accountability. Recognition, as in Garcia quickly realizes when he expands the strike zone and chases nearly unhittable pitches. Accountability, as in the White Sox right fielder becomes the first one to point out the issue. "Same person, different thought process," White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson said. "Saying, 'I know what I did and I don't need a 45-minute session in the cage to fix myself.'" • Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for Garcia and other #ASGWorthy players "Been missing a couple pitches in the middle of the strike zone and fouled off a couple pitches," Garcia said. "You've got to be ready." Garcia's average sat at .357 after a four-hit, six-RBI performance against the Mariners on May 20, From May 21-29, Garcia dipped into a 4-for-27 funk, with one extra-base hit and nine strikeouts. But a significant change for Garcia, 25, has been not letting slumps get too deep. That stretch was followed by an 8-for-22 run, punctuated by three singles in a 7-4 loss to the Tigers on Sunday. Having a better understanding of what went wrong allows Garcia a better opportunity to build on the positive. "Hitters always have -- I wouldn't use the word 'fear' -- a problem with getting out," Steverson said. "You get out a lot, but it's like everybody wants to do well. "So when it doesn't happen consistently, it's how you deal with it. He's dealing with his outs better, understanding how that kind of correlates. 'I'm out, but did I hit it well? I'm out, but am I out because I swung at a bad pitch?' You are able to put those in a better place in your brain than to just say, 'I was out.' "It's a question of, why were you out?" Steverson said. "Did you get out because you hit it right at somebody? In that case, what can you do? Or did you let them have an at-bat? What function did you not execute during those one or two minutes you were there?" The 2013 three-team trade with Detroit and Boston brought Garcia to the White Sox as the center of their most recent rebuild prior to 2017. He was labeled a five-tool talent -- tools which hadn't been on display consistently until this season. Even through his struggles, the organization stood behind Garcia. And as general manager Rick Hahn pointed out recently, executive vice president Ken Williams emerged as a strong Garcia supporter. Garcia is a player who needs to be involved in all aspects of the game, so Williams believed he would excel with a return to right field from designated hitter. That support has been rewarded as Garcia develops greater knowledge of his game. "One thing I tried to remind people around here is that his acceleration to the big leagues was really quick," Williams told MLB.com. "But if you look at the physical talent on the guy, there's not too many guys that have his total package. "Sometimes you have to allow that to take a step back in your expectation and take a step forward in your patience. So yeah, I fought for him, and I'll continue to fight for him, because I believe in him." White Sox Minors report: Robert to DSL club By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com | June 5th, 2017 The White Sox have dropped five in a row and moved to a season-low seven games below .500 at 24-31 for the season. But a young bullpen that perhaps overachieved early in the season is still performing quite well, the noted progressions of potential cornerstones such as Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia have continued, and a stacked farm system provides a glimpse at what is to come for the South Siders. The big league club caught a glimpse of that future when the club brought up right-handed reliever Brad Goldberg to make his Major League debut. Goldberg is not currently ranked in the organization's Top 30 prospects according to MLBPipeline.com, but he has shown the ability to pitch well at Triple-A Charlotte (1.99 ERA in 17 appearances) and do so on a big stage such as he did with Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Goldberg made his debut Saturday, giving up three runs in one-third of an inning. So who else has stood out from the crop in the organization? Luis Robert, DSL Robert, the club's recent splash in the international signing pool, reported to the club's DSL team in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, and put on a White Sox uniform for the first time. This will be some of his first competitive baseball action in over a year for the outfielder, who is already No. 3 on the club's Top 30, according to MLBPipeline.com. Carson Fulmer, Charlotte Fulmer, who is currently the club's sixth-ranked prospect and the fourth-rated right-hander in the system, bounced back after a string of rough outings by holding Buffalo to a run on two hits in five innings of work. It snapped a streak of three consecutive outings in which he had given up four or more earned runs. Control and command continue to elude him, however, has he has walked multiple batters in four consecutive outings. Zack Collins, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem Collins, who was Chicago's first-round selection in last year's Draft, has been progressing well and showing his ability at the plate. He's riding a hot streak as of late, hitting safely in seven consecutive games and nine of his last 10 overall while posting an on-base percentage of .395 over that stretch. Collins is currently the No. 7 prospect and No. 3 position player in the White Sox system according to MLBPipeline.com. Worth noting • Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, has continued to slump for Charlotte since his return from a thumb injury last month. In his 10 games since his return on May 26, he has gone 5-for-36 (.139) with 13 strikeouts and just a pair of extra-base hits. In that span, he's seen his season batting average drop from .324 to .291. Giolito fans 11 for Charlotte By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | June 5, 2017 • After fanning 10 batters in 16 innings across his three previous starts, No. 30 overall prospect Lucas Giolito (White Sox No. 4) recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts while tossing six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision for Triple-A Charlotte. The 22-year-old righty scattered five hits and walked two en route to throwing 101 pitches, 72 for strikes. He lowered his ERA to 4.95 with the performance, and he's now punched out 53 in 52 innings overall. The app that’s redefining the way White Sox players work out By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | June 5, 2017 Similar to many other aspects of sports, technology has invaded and improved the White Sox strength and conditioning program. The White Sox have streamlined their program with the aide of the CoachMePlus application, which allows players to participate in offseason workouts wherever they are. While the in-season benefits are extremely helpful in creating an electronic, real-time log of a player’s activities, the most significant benefit comes in October. As long as they have an internet connection, players can log in from anywhere to learn what strength and conditioning coach Allen Thomas has designed. The app not only offers a detailed workout plan, it provides video examples of each exercise and a chance to comment and the ability to update the activities completed as they occur. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from -- if you have internet in the Dominican, it works there just as well,” Thomas said. “All they’ve got to do is pull their iPad up and it’s right there for them. A virtual coach, really. “Just follow the offseason condition program and they’ll be fine. I’ve never in 20 years had a problem with any player that has followed the program.” Thomas said the White Sox began to use CoachMePlus, which bills itself as “the leader in Strength and Conditioning and Applied Sports Science provides the most complete tool for safely preparing your athletes for competition” five seasons ago. According to its web site, the company has been in operation since 2007 and it’s many applications are used by other professional teams as well as universities.