10/7/08

Coal Sox Have Intriguing Internal Options to Fill ’09 Holes

by Earl Valentine, Allegheny Allegory

With their starting catcher, center fielder, and designated hitter departing to free agency and a pre-existing hole in right field, the Coal Sox will have some serious lineup reconstruction ahead of them this offseason. The Coal Sox will obviously explore all options (trade and free agency included), but here’s a sneak peak at some prospects who stand a good chance of succumbing to black lung disease in 2009.

C Víctor Salgardo (ML West Virginia: .229/.282/.313, 1 HR, 13 RBI) – Technically no longer a prospect, the 26-year old Salgardo has been the Coal Sox backup catcher since being acquired in the Ki-tong Pei trade in 2007. He has struggled mightily without regular at-bats (only 131 this year) but the Coal Sox are in love with his defense and his swing. Salgardo will finally assume the starting job barring an outside acquisition after having been informed the job would be his for 2008, only to have the Coal Sox acquire Rob Wright in PEBA’s historic four-team trade.

LF Jorge López (AA Maine: .268/.346/.374, 9 HR, 46 RBI) – Probably the name least familiar to the Coal Sox faithful, López has an outside chance of making the Opening Day roster. Although players like Zi-xing Chen and Wilbur O’Billry have more experience at higher levels, the Coal Sox view López – acquired in the Palm Springs’ famous “Senility Sale” just prior to PEBA’s inaugural season – as having a much higher ceiling. They plan on sending the 24-year old Mexican to their winter development camp in Kauai and, if he shows enough promise, will attempt to teach him right field in Spring Training. After that, who knows? He’ll have to show rapid development to make the big league camp.

Earl Valentine is an assistant to the West Virginia Director of Player Development. Allegheny Allegory is his personal blog.