The minor league season is in its final stretch. With a little more than a couple weeks left in the regular season, it’s time to see which White Sox affiliates will be in the playoffs and which clubs still have a chance to earn a spot.
Charlotte Knights (AAA International League)
Record: 63-66 (eliminated from division, 9 GB in wild card)
Games remaining: 15
The Knights haven’t made the playoffs since 2006 and that streak will continue. They do have a chance to get the club’s first winning season since that same year though.
Birmingham Barons (AA Southern League)
Record:47-79 (24-46 first half; 23-33 second half, 10 GB)
Games remaining: 14
If you read JPN’s posts regularly, you know the Barons have had a tough go of it this season. They’re all but eliminated and will snap a streak of two straight years in the Southern League playoffs.
Winston-Salem Dash (High-A Carolina League)
Record: 70-53 (43-27 first half division winner; 27-26 second half, .5 game lead)
Games remaining: 15 (playoffs begin Sept. 8)
The Dash were dominant in the first half and still have the best overall record in the Carolina League. The race to face the Dash in the playoffs is close. Salem currently leads but only by 1.5 games ahead of Myrtle Beach and Kinston. The first round of the playoffs is a best of five series. Hopefully the Dash can do better than their playoff showings the last two years when they won a combined one game.
Kannapolis Intimidators (Low-A South Atlantic League)
Record:59-66 (31-38 first half; 28-28 second half, 4.5 GB)
Games remaining: 14
First half division winner Lakewood leads again in the second half likely resulting in a wild card spot being available. The Intimidators are out of the race for this because it goes to the team with the next best overall record. If the Intimidators make the playoffs they would have to win the second half division title, which is an uphill battle with time running out on the season. (Edited for error regarding SAL playoff procedures)
Great Falls Voyagers (Rookie Pioneer League)
Record: 33-26 (23-15 first half division winner; 10-11 second half, 1.5 GM)
Games remaining: 15 (playoffs begin Sept. 10)
Already in the playoffs, the second half race is irrelevant to the Voyagers. After winning the league title in 2008, the Voyagers lost the best of three semifinal in three games last year. This will be the fourth straight year they have made the playoffs.
Bristol White Sox (Rookie Appalachian League)
Record: 25-33 (eliminated from playoffs)
Games remaining: 10
Bristol usually struggles because they tend to get the high school draft picks from the White Sox while some teams use the Appalachian League as their higher rookie level team. As a result they haven’t made the playoffs since 2002.