VAfan

I'm coming around to the view that the best way to improve the Sox hitting is for all the guys under career norms to get back up to them. Starting with Carlos Quentin. If Quentin can get back his 2008 confidence, he's a better addition than anyone that's been debated here. AJ is also moving up. Pierre can hit better. Beckham is going to find his stroke at some point this year I believe. Ramirez always improves as the year goes on. I don't have much hope for Kotsay/Jones, but we now have Viciedo as an option at DH, 3B, and 1B (with Konerko resting at DH). And Teahan, while bad, only has to be better than Kotsay to be an improvement as a utility guy. So, I doubt we do anything for awhile.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 04:51 PM) You know, about a month ago right now, I remember Hawk Harrelson talking a few times about the 1983 team and reminding people how that team started out 16-24, but then went onto bigger and better things, ultimately winning 99 games that season. My recollection of that season is that things started turning around in June once that awesome starting rotation back then starting putting it together. They started pitching the way everyone knew they could pitch and didn't stop for the rest of the season. Seems to me we might be in a similar situation with the '10 squad. Oh, the offense as currently configured can't hold a candle to the '83 team, but from a pitching standpoint, it does seem eerily similar. Just an interesting context to consider as we try and figure out what lies ahead for this year's White Sox! I loved that 1983 Sox team. The rotation? Lamar Hoyt, Richard Dotson, Floyd Bannister, Jerry Koosman, Britt Burns. Off memory, I seem to recall that Bannister won like 8 in a row in the second half, Dotson won 9 in a row, and Hoyt won 10 in a row. And between them I have a vague memory of them going 42-5 in the second half. It was obscenely good. They were 3 games over at the ASB, then won 99 games. "Winning ugly" was the motto. The key offensively was putting Carlton Fisk in the #2 hole. Rudy Law stole 70+ bases in the lead off spot. I also remember down the stretch that Britt Burns, who was not as consistent, would pitch shutout, then get hit hard, then shutout, then bad game. Well he was on his shutout turn in the playoffs, and did in fact shut out the O's for 9 innings. But the baserunning blunder by the "Dibber" and Vance Law cost our best shot at a run, and we lost in 10. With Hoyt coming back at home the next day, the Sox would have been in the World Series. One of my favorite Sox squads until '05.

I was at the game, and though I was watching from the side, thought he looked very good. He smoked a line drive into right center that Nyjer Morgan ran down on a very fine play. Then he crushed a line single his second time up for an RBI. He grounded into a DP his third time up with the bases loaded. That was a missed oppty, but it added a run. He was out his fourth time, then gave way to Vizquel in the 8th defensively. He also started the only Sox DP on the day. A fine beginning, showed some power in his bat.

I think the Nats believe they can re-sign Dunn, and they won't want to kill the middle of their order just when they expect their pitching to improve dramatically. So, as much as he would look very good in the #5 hole, I doubt it's happening without the Sox overpaying for him. Plus, I seem to recall him saying he doesn't want to DH.

As the VAfan, I live just outside the DC. So I was able to see back-to-back-to-back Sox games for the first time this season. I would say the pitching is looking very fine, though the Nats were scuffling coming in, so it is hard to get a solid read. I would also say the team's tenacity is looking much better. Beating the Nats when Strasburg is pitching was a real accomplishment even if the Sox looked like toast after the lead off frame. Then winning a 1-0 game was impressive. Today, as soon as Freddie gave up the lead, we took it back. It is the hitting that is still the problem. Yet, on that score, the Sox have any number of players who, if they returned to what you might call "normal," would give a huge offensive boost to the team. - Quentin - Beckham - Ramirez - AJ - Pierre - whoever is playing DH All of those guys can hit better, perhaps much better. If even 3 of them do, we could contend. Today, we saw Viciedo. I was in the upper deck, so I couldn't see where the pitches were. But he nailed his first two hit balls, missing a double on a fine running catch by Morgan. I'd say he could add something at 3B/DH. Still, I'm a waffler. But I think there's real hope. We probably need a reliable bat to contend. But with the DH spot open, we could fill that slot many ways. If we can keep moving into positive ground, I would expect KW to make a move or two. GO SOX!

I thought it was a fantastic Opening Day. Love the link to 2005, the most magical year in Sox history. I'm pretty sure we also beat the Indians that day, though it was 1-0, the same score as the final game of the year. And it was obviously Mark Buehrle on the mound then too. The Buehrle play was just downright amazing and fun to watch. Web gem of the year on Opening Day. Great to see Rios hit, and Quentin wearing the pad so he doesn't get hurt when he gets hit (twice yesterday). If Carlos stays healthy, I think he's back. Nice to see him leg out a double in the first. He couldn't run like that last year. Great to see Rios's range, too. We need it when he's flanked by Pierre and Quentin. Beckham's baserunning was the best. Took third without a throw on a ball that almost didn't get out of the batter's box. That kid is a team leader (by example) already. He also looked pretty good at 2B. Ranged to his left and spun to make one play look easy. Has to get more used the pivot on the DP, and one throw to Alexei kept them from having another DP, but I'm sure he'll quickly improve like he did at 3B. We know Thornton is awesome! Putz looked pretty good too. They were swinging at stuff that dropped way out of the zone. He may be the key to the pen. Guys scored from 3rd with less than 2 outs. Kotsay, as weak as he is in the 5 hole, beat out a double-play grounder when Konerko hustled down to second to help cause an errant throw. Added a run on a hustle play. The only guy who seemed a bit befuddled was Pierre, but he'll come around. Sox win. Indians, Twins, and Royals lost. Still a chance to go wire-to-wire.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Apr 6, 2010 -> 01:58 AM) Great game. Everything went our way. We hit, ran, pitched and defended well. I'm glad to see the offense carry over from the Braves series and I hope that this is going to set the trend for the season. However, it was just the AAA Cleveland Indians. Cleveland is no longer AAA with Sizemore, Choo, and Hafner in their lineup. Sure, no Victor Martinez now, but they outscored us by 49 runs last year.

I'll admit I don't know the roster of the Twins that well any longer. But their team used to thrive on the slap grounders that would make it through a turf infield that often won't make it through grass and dirt. And they needed that because they were never a strong HR club. Ironically, the Sox are less of a power club now when power will probably play better in Minnesota. My only other note at the moment is Thome will not be helped by a short RF porch. He's a CF and LCF HR hitter, not much of a pull guy.

In any discussion of who will win the AL Central this year, I think you have to take into account that the Twins will no longer play 81 games in the Metrodome, and instead will play them outdoors on a grass field. If you look at their grass/turf splits, it doesn't look good for them. But is it all just a road/home split? Or is their team not suited to play as well on grass? I'm looking for some analysis of this issue. Anyone want to weigh in?

Frank Thomas made it cool to be a White Sox fan. I certainly hope he receives the accolades he deserves now that he's gone. His legacy certainly looks so much better now that many of the steroids cheaters have been exposed. Let Frank bask in first-ballot HOF glow while all the cheaters rot on the sidelines. That would be some justice.

Are the Twins really the favorite on a home grass field? That has been a team made for the Metrodome confines for years. Maybe it will translate onto grass, but I'll have to see it first to believe it.

I'd vote for Carlos Delgado, who just got a hit rehabbing in some winter league. He's 37, coming off hip surgery, so he'd likely be cheap enough.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 3, 2009 -> 12:36 PM) Nick Johnson I like Nick Johnson too. High OBP guy. But Delgado, if he's recovered from hip surgery, has much higher power potential than Johnson. He's slugged under .500 only once in the last 10 years. Nick Johnson has done so only once. Plus, Johnson regularly gets hurt. Delgado has mostly stayed healthy.

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 03:57 PM) i want carlos delgado I would agree with this. Delgado could be the power lefty the Sox could really use if he's healthy enough. He'd put down the nonsense of having a rotating DH, which never works. If you sign Delgado, the Sox hitting roster would probably be set, assuming we carry 12 pitchers again. C - AJ 1b -- Konerko 2b -- Beckham SS -- Alexei 3b -- Teahan LF -- Quentin CF -- Rios RF -- DH -- Delgado Bench: Kotsay, Flowers, Vizquel, Nix, Jones With this group, the Sox would be forced to rotate Kotsay/Jones/Nix in RF, or cut Nix and sign a RF. Not the best solution, but probably better than signing a RF and rotating Kotsay/Jones at DH. (BTW -- Ozzie will not DH his back-up catcher.)

For this deal to really benefit the Sox, Mark Tehean must hit considerably better in 2010 than he has hit in 2009, 2008, or 2007. Perhaps there is some chance of that at the Cell, by playing one position (3b) instead of being moved around, and in a lineup that will be better than the Royals' lineup was over those years. I'm not holding my breath. I guess the best that can be said is that Tehean is at least no worse than Chris Getz, and has some chance of being quite a bit better. The main reason I like this move is that it puts Gordon Beckham at 2B, where I thought he belonged all along. We want this kid to be a right handed Chase Utley, giving us superior offense from a position that rarely exhibits it. By moving Beckham, the Cuban Viciedo can naturally develop as a 3B and take over for Tehean when he's ready. If Tehean hits well enough to keep Viciedo in the minors, then the Sox are way ahead. If not, then we no longer have a roadblock at 3B. Tehean could be moved again when Viciedo is ready. The added bonus is we've unloaded Josh Fields, who went from 20-HR promise to being a whiner, when he really should have been looking at his own performance. In short -- this deal isn't likely to pay immediate dividends -- but it does re-balance the Sox infield in a good way at very little cost.

Nick Johnson and Bobby Abreu. Both lefty high OBP guys. Abreu has the added benefit of still having some speed even as his age. But his defense apparently sucks, and we'd likely have Nick Johnson filling the DH slot. So, it's not perfect. But it wouldn't cost us anything in trade. My lineup would be: Beckham 3b -- yes, lead off, b/c I can't see any of our bottom 3 getting on reliably enough Abreu RF -- Could put Johnson here too, but I like Abreu's speed Quentin LF -- needs a bounce-back year offensively and defensively Johnson DH -- not a classic clean up guy, but you have to put him high enough to take advantage of his OBP Konerko 1B -- if Quentin doesn't hit like 2008, move Johnson to 3rd and Konerko to clean up AJ C -- despite his high average, why doesn't AJ drive any runs in? Pods knocked in almost as many. Ramirez SS -- I'd love to see him hit lead off some day, but he's too inconsistent Rios CF -- hopefully he'll find his bat before next year. I put him here in the speed group. Getz/Nix 2B -- Getz isn't ready to lead off yet, but if he hit as well as Pods, that's where I'd put him Of course, if Kenny wants to spend more money, then I'd go after Matt Holliday, but that's not realistic. Nor is Carl Crawford, or Prince Fielder, or Adrian Gonzalez, or Adam Dunn. I'd happily take Dunn over Johnson at DH, but I live outside DC and the word is the Nats aren't trading Dunn. He's one of the few guys they have who will draw fans to the ball park. Okay, maybe I would make a run at Dunn anyway, because he's a perfect fit at DH for the Sox. He's the power lefty we could really use. He's not that expensive. And if you got him, you could afford to go for a better defensive right fielder than Abreu.

I still don't get why so many guys here talk about trading a ton of talent and depth for Fielder or Gonzalez. Why not try to improve the club without sending out players? Matt Holliday has nearly the same value as Prince Fielder (5.4 WAR v. 6.2 WAR) and Adrian Gonzalez (6.4 WAR) but would cost only money -- probably less than it would cost to extend Fielder beyond his current deal. Granted, Holliday is a righty, whereas we need some lefty power. But still, doesn't it make sense to add some valuable bats without weakening out starting rotation, bullpen, or depth?

I suggested Prince Fielder in one thread, but it was mentioned he's a Scott Boras client. If true, the Sox aren't going to go anywhere near him. Plus, the Sox need to find ways to improve without weakening other parts of the ball club. Take out Danks or Floyd and the Sox are back to having a starting rotation that is one pitcher short. That cost us the division this year. If Contreras and the other 5th guys had pitched .500 ball, we'd be right there this weekend fighting for the playoffs. You can pencil in Dan Hudson, but he started this year in LOW-A. I'd rather have Hudson be the insurance in case Freddy Garcia flames out again. Sox could add Nick Johnson as a lefty DH/1B without giving up anything. Sure, he doesn't have Fielder's power or run producing ability, but he brings a very high OBP and a lefty bat. Then you need an offensively minded right fielder and you could have enough offense to go with the best pitching in baseball.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 27, 2009 -> 11:16 PM) The Nationals are years away. If they can find people that will potentially contribute in 2012/13/14 when their talent will actually start to show up, they will do it in a heartbeat. I live in Nats land. They aren't trading Dunn, period, so don't hold your breath. They've lost 100+ for the last two years, but they cannot afford to gut what's good and start over. Their offense is respectable with Zimmerman and Dunn and Willingham and Morgan at lead off. I expect they'll try to re-sign Dunn beyond next year, as he's the only significant FA who was willing to take their money. Meanwhile, they've drafted pitchers, whom they expect to bring on line while Dunn is still here. The Sox could offer them nothing they would be interested in for Dunn.

Nick Johnson and Bobby Abreu. Two free agents. Both might want more money, but Johnson has had injury issues that will prevent him from getting a long term deal, and Abreu is too old for anyone to pay a lot or give him several years. Both might be had for very reasonably priced 2 year deals, or one year deals with options. These guys would not give us the power we are used to, but they would bring OBP at a very high level, and together would balance our lineup from the left side. Nick Johnson is third in baseball with a .420 OBP. His career mark is .401. Bobby Abreu is 21st in baseball with a .391 OBP. His career mark is .404. Johnson has an RC/27 rate of 6.36 runs/game. Abreu is at 6.31 runs/game. By contrast, Paul Konerko is leading our team with 6.0 runs/game. I could see a lineup like: Beckham 3B Abreu RF Johnson DH Quentin LF Konerko 1B AJ C Ramirez SS Rios CF Getz/Nix 2B You could also flip Johnson and Abreu or Quentin and Konerko, or even move one of the righties between the lefties to break them up. Beckham is not idea at lead off, but I don't see Getz, Ramirez or Rios able to handle it. The difference from this season would be having Beckham instead of Fields from the beginning, Rios instead of Anderson/Wise, Abreu instead of Dye, and Johnson instead of Thome. Beckham and Rios could help offset the loss of HRs. A Quentin rebound could too. It's certainly not as clogged up on the basepaths, with speed from 7 around through 2. I'm not saying that Johnson and Abreu are the best players out there by any means. If we could afford Holliday, for example, I'd take him over Abreu. I just think these are the kind of semi-bargain signings the Sox specialize in. The only thing this doesn't do is improve the defense.

The Nats are not trading Dunn, period. Zimmerman and Dunn are the key to their offense. They'll keep both unitl their young pitching comes around.

Johnson was healthy this year. I think if he DH's most of the time, he would be more likely to stay healthy. His best attribute is a .401 career OBP. I don't think it will cost much to sign him, given his injury history. No one is going to give him a long-term deal. Johnson doesn't give you much power, however, so we would still have no lefty power on the team unless we added it elsewhere, like RF. It might make an interesting team to bring in Johnson and a guy like Abreu for RF. Consider this lineup. Beckham Johnson Abreu Quentin Konerko AJ Ramirez Rios Getz If Quentin rebounded to something close to his 2008 totals, you would have a team with a much higher OBP. If you want to break up the righties and lefties, then Abreu could follow Quentin. Speed-wise, only Konerko is truly slow in that lineup. AJ isn't fast, but can go from first to third and second to home at a reasonable clip. Ramirez/Rios/Getz puts the real speed at the bottom of the lineup. And Abreu can run. Beckham is okay. I actually think I like that kind of lineup. Perhaps a lot. Beckham is not ideal as a lead off hitter, but I don't think Getz is ready, and I can't see either Rios or Ramirez getting on base enough. But, if any of the bottom 3 guys could morph into a reliable lead off hitter, so much the better. Kotsay would have less value b/c the prime guys he would back up would be lefties. But you could keep him to give Konerko and Quentin and even Rios a rest now and then. He could also insure against Johnson's health.

If we want to trade for someone, why not Prince Fielder? The guy would give us that monstrous LH bat in the middle of the lineup. He's only 25. You could build a much better offensive team around him.

What about Nick Johnson? I believe he's a free agent. He hasn't had an OBP below .400 in forever. His career OBP is .401. He doesn't have a lot of power any longer, however, and apparently not as much range at 1B, and he's had injury issues. But he could be a cheap option as a lefty DH. His RC/27 rate is 6.42 runs, which is better than Konerko or anyone else on our club, including Jim Thome.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Sep 19, 2009 -> 01:57 PM) Yeah, and they're either not tradeable or are going to cost a ton in guaranteed money as FAs this winter. We're stuck with trash like Tony Pena, Lance Broadway, and Jimmy Gobble as our realistic cheap options. I don't consider a 1.28 WHIP "terrible" for a closer. By that definition, K-Rod has also been "terrible" this year. Statistically, Jenks was a lot better this year than he was in 2006. All I hear on this site is "Jenks sucks," "Jenks costs too much," "get rid of him," but I never hear a viable alternative. I agree that $7 million next year would be over-paying him, but who are you going to replace him with? Thornton, who's never closed in his life? Who's going to take the setup role then? Linebrink? Are you going to dole out a 4-year/$20 mil deal to somebody like Valverde, who's entering the downside of his career? The Sox have historically done best with closers who they've developed in their minor league system (Jenks, Foulke, Hernandez, Thigpen), and I don't see that strategy changing. I don't see anybody in our farm system who appears capable of stepping in, and that would be a hell of a gamble as well. This is a baseball team, not the stock market. You're trying to put a winning team together, not avoid over-paying players at all costs. Our bullpen completely sucks right now and dumping Jenks would be tantamount to eliminating half of its effective pitchers. The Sox need to add talent to the bullpen, not subtract it. I agree with this. If you think Bobby Jenks will be the most overpaid player on the Sox next year, you only have to look out to CF to realize that won't be true. Money isn't the only way to evaluate Bobby. Can he rebound? Can he close for a playoff team? The chances are likely better on both of those questions than that we will get any kind of return that will help us next year.