The one thing this team lacks is...

[whitesox61382]

high OBP guys. I am from the Beane school of thought when it comes to OBP. I think it is one of the most important offensive stats in the game for obvious reasons. The more runners you have on base the more likely you are to score runs. For example, the Sox rank 4th in HR's in the AL, but only 8th in runs scored. When you have as much power as the Sox do you expect to rank near the top in runs scored, but when the majority of your HR's are solo shots that indicates that this team isn't getting on base enough. Sure enough only 1 guy on the team is hitting above .291 and only 1 guy on the team has more then 57 walks, that makes for a low overall team OBP. Most managers will tell you that it is much easier to find a decent clean up hitter then it is to find a decent leadoff hitter. This is one of the reasons that I am so high on Reed. He is a high OBP guy and will complement the power hitters nicely. The Sox need to trade some of these power hitters for guys with good OBP, which is easier said then done with the lack of quality OBP guys and big contracts that the Sox power hitters have. Another area that the Sox need to improve is athletism. This team needs to get away from the one-dimensional power hitters and add players that are more complete. I would much rather have a team of .300/15/75 20 SB solid D and plate disipline guys then .260/35/100 5 SB poor D and poor plate disipline guys, which currently make up this team. I realize that I am stating the obvious, but I really think this is an issue that needs to be addressed if the Sox want to make the playoffs in the near future.

[DBAHO]

That's exactly why we need to get rid of one of Thomas or Konerko (I'm hoping it's Paulie) and replace the whole make up of this team and build around guys who can get on base and use their speed. One guy I would luv on this team to even replace Carl Everett would be Carl Crawford from TB. He's gonna be a monster in the next decade for steals and OBP.

[greg775]

You said we must "replace the whole makeup of the team."

 

I disagree.

Here should be our team next year (I realize we won't pay all these guys, but this

SHOULD be our team with a new skipper).

 

Starters: E-Lo, Colon, Garland, Mark B, with our fifth starter some free agent.

Setup: Wright and all those guys we traded for this year.

Closer: Flash and Marte.

This is a good staff.

 

Infield: Crede, Guzman, Robbie and free agent at first (trade Paulie for 3 prospects).

Outfield: Lee, Reed/Rowand, Ordonez.

Catcher: Olivo.

DH: Thomas or let him go and acquire somebody.

 

IF we replace the whole makeup of the team we could be sorry.

[DBAHO]

You said we must "replace the whole makeup of the team."

 

I disagree.

Here should be our team next year (I realize we won't pay all these guys, but this

SHOULD be our team with a new skipper).

 

Starters: E-Lo, Colon, Garland, Mark B, with our fifth starter some free agent.

Setup: Wright and all those guys we traded for this year.

Closer: Flash and Marte.

This is a good staff.

 

Infield: Crede, Guzman, Robbie and free agent at first (trade Paulie for 3 prospects).

Outfield: Lee, Reed/Rowand, Ordonez.

Catcher: Olivo.

DH: Thomas or let him go and acquire somebody.

 

IF we replace the whole makeup of the team we could be sorry.

Ok I take back my statement. We shouldn't replace the whole makeup of our team but we should cut out da bad links which r holding this team back e.g Valentin and Konerko and replace them with some heart and hustle guys who can get on base e.g Spiezio, Guzman and Eckstein etc. Doubt we'd get 3 prospects for Paulie, but I'd like to ship him off either to the Dodgers or O's for some quality young pitching. Give Wright a chance in da Pen in 2004 and he fails at that, ship him off somewhere. If Ordonez is too expensive to keep around, the Padres and Dodgers will desperately want him and we could get some really good prospects as well.

[YASNY]

Eckstein is not what we need at short.