Leftovers from Monday's Knights-Wildcats scrimmage

Here's a smattering of leftover quotes/thoughts from Monday's Charlotte Knights - Davidson Wildcats scrimmage at BB&T Ballpark...

The Knights and Wildcats really took advantage of their "scrimmage" on Monday.

Charlotte manager Joel Skinner penciled 11 guys on to his batting order and sent three pitchers and a catcher over to the Wildcats' dugout.

Two innings ended before three outs were completed. One Davidson batter got to see four strikes. Much like a concert, the Knights and Wildcats played an extra (unannounced) half inning that allowed Daniel Webb to get some extra work.

"Today was a controlled environment, which is what we were looking for," said Skinner. "We’re very thankful to Davidson because that’s much better than having to play simulated games. To actually have live competition and no (cage) above home plate, was just what we needed right there." 

White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon -- who was a bit under the weather -- started the game for the Wildcats, with his former N.C. State battery mate Brett Austin catching (yes, it looked a bit strange to see two former members of the Wolfpack with a team of Wildcats behind them). 

Rodon’s outing was up and down. The lefthander struggled with his location and failed to get through two of his four innings before reaching his maximum pitch count of 25 per inning.

In four(ish) innings of work (unofficially 67 pitches), Rodon struck out three, walked four and hit a batter, while throwing mostly fastballs and changeups. He did not surrender a run, but that was largely due to his high pitch count ending two innings early.

"Carlos got his work in," said Knights pitching coach Richard Dotson. "He wasn’t feeling too good. He was a little bit under the weather and was kind of erratic with the strike zone, but he’s shown that his first inning can be his toughest. After that, he usually settles down a little bit and he did today and he got through it." 

Dotson noted that a lot of Rodon's misses on Monday were high to his arm side. 

  

"A perfect strategy against him early in the game is to let him get two strikes," said Dotson, playing devil's advocate. "Take until you get two strikes, because he’ll throw a lot of pitches, get his count way up and won’t be able to last as long." 

Rodon, who is now scheduled to make his 2015 Knights debut on Saturday, took time to speak with the media following the outing. 

"My command wasn’t very good with the fastball," he said, while battling a stuffed-up nose." I threw a couple good changeups, but it was more just to get work in and get ready for my start coming up."

While he acknowledged not feeling well, Rodon didn't want anyone to think he was using that as an excuse. 

"Yeah (I'm sick)," he said, "but you can’t use it as an excuse. I’m sure some time this season I’m going to be under the weather and I’m going to have to pitch and produce and perform for my team. So, we’re not going to use that." 

Rodon also noted that during warmups he felt good about his changeup. 

"I just couldn’t correlate it when I got out to the mound, which is weird," he said. "I guess that adrenaline comes and you’re not as smooth, but it’s getting there."

Newly signed Matt Lindstrom made his spring debut with the Knights and was tagged for three runs and the loss. Lindstrom, who worked 92-94 mph with his fastball, tossed the fifth inning for Davidson and surrendered a run-scoring triple to Knights’ centerfielder Trayce Thompson. 

Scott Carroll, Zach Phillips and Webb combined to hold the Wildcats hitless on the day. The lone “Davidson” hit on the afternoon came off the bat of Austin.

Brett Austin, who will likely be reassigned once George Kottaras (personal) arrives in Charlotte, spoke a bit about Rodon's outing. 

On Rodon's Changeup:

"Everybody says that’s his bugaboo and that’s why he’s in Tripe-A right now. Personally, I think he’s good enough to be up right now with the big league team, but that’s neither one of our calls. Today he threw (the changeup) in warmups and it looked really good. If he can just repeat it over and over again, I think he wont be here too long."

On Rodon's "misses" with the changeup today:

"Up and away. He doesn’t finish it. We were talking today and sometimes he tries to do too much with it instead of letting the grip do its thing. He tries to manipulate it a bit too much. He just needs to trust it, throw it and he’ll be good.

On the pitch's movement:

"It’s almost like a two-seamer, but slower. It drops. When it’s good, it’s really good. He just needs to repeat it." 

Of Note: Prior to the start of Monday’s scrimmage, the Knights released their pitching lineup for the opening series against the Norfolk Tides. Veteran righthander Brad Penny is scheduled to start Game 1, with Chris Beck going in Game 2 and Rodon making his 2015 debut on Saturday. Scott Carroll and Shawn Haviland should round out the five starters. …  2,192 fans turned out to BB&T Ballpark to watch the 3 p.m. game, which was free of charge.

Joel Skinner back, as Charlotte Knights' coaching staff remains largely intact

The Chicago White Sox announced their 2015 player development staff on Wednesday afternoon and although several lower-level farm teams will be getting used to new faces, the Charlotte Knights’ staff from 2014 will remain largely intact. 

Joel Skinner will return for a fourth consecutive season as the Knights’ manager, along with Richard Dotson (pitching coach), Andy Tomberlin (hitting coach), Ryan Newman (bench coach) and Chad Efron (strength and conditioning).

Skinner is the winningest manager in Knights’ franchise history (211) and his four-year run at the helm will also make him the lonest tenured skipper in team history.  

The lone new face in the clubhouse – Scott Johnson (athletic trainer) -- should actually look familiar to long-time Knights’ fans. Johnson spent the past two seasons (2013-14) with Double-A Birmingham, but previously spent 12 seasons with Charlotte from 1999-2010.

“We are very pleased to embark on our second season at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte with Joel Skinner returning as our field manager,” Knights Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski said via press release. “Joel’s leadership, experience, and ability to develop future Major League talent have been evident over the past three seasons. We also welcome Richard, Ryan, Andy, Chad, and Scott back to the Knights staff this year.”

The Knights – who had 19 players promoted to the White Sox during 2014 -- finished 63-81 in their return to Charlotte under Skinner’s guidance.

In Skinner’s first season as manager of the Knights, he led the club to an International League Southern Division title (2012). That season, the Knights posted a 83-61 mark -- the club's second highest single season win total in franchise history

Dotson will enter his eighth season as the teams’ pitching coach.

Tomberlin, an alumnus of Piedmont High School, is back for a second consecutive with the club (The Monroe, NC native also spent 2012 as Charlotte’s hitting coach in Fort Mill, SC). Under Tomberlin’s guidance last season, the Knights slugged 176 home runs, which tied with High Desert (California League) for the most in Minor League Baseball.

The likely first chance for Knights’ fans to catch Skinner and company in person will come on Friday, April 3 when the White Sox and Knights will collaborate on a “Leadoff Luncheon” at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura, along with Rick Hahn (White Sox Senior Vice President/General Manager), Buddy Bell, (Chicago White Sox Vice President/Assistant General Manager), and members of the 2015 Knights will be on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.

Later on April 3, the White Sox and Knights will play a charity exhibition game at BB&T Ballpark, beginning at 6 p.m.

For a full list of the White Sox 2015 player development staff, click here.  

Note: Former Knights catcher Cole Armstrong will manage the Great Falls Voyagers (the White Sox Advanced rookie affiliate in MT) this year. He hit 10 home runs for Charlotte in 2009.

Scott Carroll recalled to Chicago White Sox; Erik Johnson optioned to Charlotte Knights

By Seth Lakso, Charlotte Observer Correspondent

On Sunday the Chicago White Sox promoted Charlotte Knights RHP Scott Carroll. He’s scheduled to make his Major League debut for Chicago today against the Tampa Bay Rays and David Price. 

In another roster move, the White Sox have optioned RHP Erik Johnson to the Charlotte Knights.

Johnson entered the 2014 season as the White Sox No. 2 prospect, according to Baseball America. Following a strong Spring Training, the second-round pick in 2011, earned a spot in Chicago’s starting rotation.

However, he has struggled with his control as of late, walking 15 batters in 23 2.3 innings of work. In his most recent start, Johnson lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs, while walking four.

"I think it's just something where I have to go down and refine my stuff and get it back to where it was, and hopefully come back up and help the team as best as I can," Johnson told MLB.com.

"They just said, 'You're going down to Charlotte,'" Johnson continued. "'You need to just get your stuff back and be who you are and just get back to what you know how to do.'

"No one expects to go down. I think it's definitely a privilege to be in the big leagues and it's a privilege to play here and you've got to bring it every day. Right now what I'm doing is not what gets results out there."

Carroll, 29, has been excellent this season with the Knights, posting a 3-1 record and a 1.57 ERA. He was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Week after not allowing an earned run in his first 19 innings of work this season.

"He's doing pretty good down in Triple-A," Sox manager Robin Ventura told MLB.com. "For us, it's 'give the guy a shot.'"

Carroll missed most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Knights pitching coach Richard Dotson, credits the rehab work Carroll put in for the sinker-baller’s refined mechanics and success this season.

It's been a long road to the Majors for Carroll, who is by all accounts a high-character guy. His first pitch against the Rays is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. today. You can follow his start, HERE. 

Notes: Scott Carroll wins IL Pitcher of the Week, Frank Francisco added to Knights roster

By Seth Lakso, Charlotte Observer Correspondent 

IL's Pitcher of the Week, Scott Carroll, emerging as rotation possibility for White Sox 

On Monday, Charlotte Knights' sinkerballer Scott Carroll was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week after not allowing an earned run in two starts over the course of the week. 

Carroll, 29, who is now 3-0 on the season, held the Durham Bulls scoreless through six inning on Tuesday, April 8, before blanking the norfolk Tides through seven innings at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday afternoon. 

In 19 innings pitched this season, Carroll -- who had Tommy John surgery in November of 2012 -- has yet to allow an earner run. He needed just 76 pitches to get through seven innings on Sunday. 

Three ground ball double plays made it so that Carroll faced just one over the minimum batters it would require to pitch seven innings. 

Carroll pitched just 41 innings between Advanced Rookie Bristol and Double-A Birmingham last year.

"He's been real good," said Knights pitching coach Richard Dotson. "He's worked on some things and put a lot of effort into coming back and it's a wonderful thing to have him back.

"Last year, we talked about cleaning up his direction a little bit, not being so, 'Iron Mike-ish.' He had a tendency to kind of come off the ball and lead with his front shoulder coming out and that exposed his arm a little bit and he's cleaned that up."

Asked what's he's seen from Carroll this season, Dotson responded: "He's used his curveball well and he has a really good sinker and when he's getting on top of it and putting it over the plate to where he's getting ahead of guys and they need to swing, he's real tough."

The International League Player of the Week was Gregory Polanco of Indianapolis. The Knights had nominated shortstop Tyler Saladino, who entered Monday hitting .417 with six doubles and a home run.  

White Sox sign former Mets closer Frank Francisco and add him to Knights roster

The Knights bullpen is starting to fill up with veterans, who have experience pitching late in games.

On Monday, they added Former Mets closer Frank Francisco to a list that already included Mitchell Boggs, who led the National League in saves in 2012 with 34 and Javy Guerra, who saved 21 games for the Dodgers in 2011.

Francisco, 34, who signed as a free agent, will likely spend some time getting in game shape before appearing with Charlotte. His addition give the Knights 25 men on their roster. 

Francisco appeared in just eight games for the Mets last season after recovering from offseason elbow surgery. He owns a career Major League record of 20-22 with 73 saves and a 3.93 ERA in 387 games.

The White Sox bullpen currently ranks last in the American League in ERA (6.93) and the idea that they may look to Charlotte for some relief is becoming less and less far fetched.

Castle storming 

Through three sold-out home games this season, the Knights have drawn 30,631 fans to Uptown Charlotte's BB&T Ballpark. Last season, it took the Knights eight games to get to that mark in Fort Mill, S.C.

Today's Links:

• Scott Fowler: The Cat who beat out Hall of Famer Cal Ripken: A Charlotte baseball story
• USA Today: Jim Thome's not so accurate first pitch on Charlotte Knights Opening Day.