GreenSox Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Texsox said: Who knows, maybe Jake can prevent the FO from doing something even dumber. Yep, especially as pitching isn't exactly firmed up right now. And pitching flamed out in the playoffs last year. This is good news. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 3 minutes ago, bmags said: What? Who the hell knows at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 4 hours ago, vilehoopster said: Are 2nd base and RF weak spots, or are they the only places where Sox don't have an all-star or Silver Slugger candidate? Potential all-stars/ Silver Sluggers: Catcher, check: 1st base, check; shortstop, check; 3rd base, check; LF, check; centerfield, check. So that leaves only RF and 2nd. Vaughn had an OPS of .938 vs lefties last year (rookie year) and Sheets had an OPS of .900 vs. righties last year, also as a rookie. Both were competent in the field. Again both were rookies and should show significant improvement in 2nd year (You know like Moncada and Robert). So, to label a RF hybrid of those two as a weakness going into next year is just not true. Are they all-star/ Silver Slugger candidates? No, but far from weaknesses. Well, maybe defensively, but as someone said earlier on this thread, the move now is to sacrifice defense to get big offense in the line up. I agree with that. Now as for maybe Burger at 2nd base, that's a pretty electric bat, so far from all indications. He might struggle there on defense (let's fine out), but again, is 2nd base really that more difficult than 3rd; let's get that bat in the line up; it has a much higher ceiling than Garcia or anyone else I can imagine the Sox getting. Let me get this straight, you want to rock a defense with Vaughn/Sheets in RF and Burger at 2B? Like I can’t imagine what that would do to our team defense. I’m all for letting Jake learn the position in camp/minors and enhance his versatility, but entering the season with him as the starting 2B on the major league club is the definition of insanity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 56 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said: Let me get this straight, you want to rock a defense with Vaughn/Sheets in RF and Burger at 2B? Like I can’t imagine what that would do to our team defense. I’m all for letting Jake learn the position in camp/minors and enhance his versatility, but entering the season with him as the starting 2B on the major league club is the definition of insanity. I don’t want to see Burger facing a lot of tough righties. If anything platoon him with Sheets at DH. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, bmags said: What? We tried to "improve" all those guys by moving them their off initial positions. Leave Burger at 3B/1B/DH. Would have been better to just run Hernandez out there and hope for an offensive rebounds. You're just going to get him hurt again. We keep saying it's so easy to find corner outfielders, DH's, 1B...heard over and over again that Madrigal would be easily replaced, too. The only sort of logical thing is they're trying to play up his versatility to boost potential trade value. Edited January 16, 2022 by caulfield12 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tray Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 41 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: Leave Burger at 3B/1B/DH. The only sort of logical thing is they're trying to play up his versatility to boost potential trade value. Agree 100%. Edited January 16, 2022 by tray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 1 hour ago, caulfield12 said: We tried to "improve" all those guys by moving them their off initial positions. Leave Burger at 3B/1B/DH. Would have been better to just run Hernandez out there and hope for an offensive rebounds. You're just going to get him hurt again. We keep saying it's so easy to find corner outfielders, DH's, 1B...heard over and over again that Madrigal would be easily replaced, too. The only sort of logical thing is they're trying to play up his versatility to boost potential trade value. I think he’d rather be a major leaguer but maybe we can ask him if he wants to be charlottes starting 3b instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpton Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 9 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said: Let me get this straight, you want to rock a defense with Vaughn/Sheets in RF and Burger at 2B? Like I can’t imagine what that would do to our team defense. I’m all for letting Jake learn the position in camp/minors and enhance his versatility, but entering the season with him as the starting 2B on the major league club is the definition of insanity. Well it can't get much worse they were 26th ranked last season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerksticks Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I love burger but cmon those balls all hit the nets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold's Leg Lift Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 51 minutes ago, Jerksticks said: I love burger but cmon those balls all hit the nets The exchange is rushed and clunky and his feet are slow and heavy. Watch a real big league 2B do that same drill and the difference would be glaring. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxForce2 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Harold's Leg Lift said: The exchange is rushed and clunky and his feet are slow and heavy. Watch a real big league 2B do that same drill and the difference would be glaring. Putting some time in at second will likely broaden his experience and possibly improve his play at his natural position at third. I really think that it would be best for all concerned to move him to a team where he has a legit shot at making a ML club at third. With the logjam at DH and Moncada locking down the corner he could easily get lost in the shuffle. Win -win in moving him to another team. Edited January 16, 2022 by FoxForce2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 8 hours ago, FoxForce2 said: Putting some time in at second will likely broaden his experience and possibly improve his play at his natural position at third. I really think that it would be best for all concerned to move him to a team where he has a legit shot at making a ML club at third. With the logjam at DH and Moncada locking down the corner he could easily get lost in the shuffle. Win -win in moving him to another team. The other part to think about is injury. Right now, Leury is the starting 2b, he has a big injury history, and he also is the backup for SS where Anderson usually has an injury every year. Presumably they still want to add someone at 2b, but even if they do that, an injury to that player, Leury, Moncada, Garcia, Anderson, or Romy creates a need for a backup IF, and I bet that several of those guys will have IL stints at some point. If Burger played there for 10 games, his defense is unlikely to cost them the division, and that depth could be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Balta1701 said: The other part to think about is injury. Right now, Leury is the starting 2b, he has a big injury history, and he also is the backup for SS where Anderson usually has an injury every year. Presumably they still want to add someone at 2b, but even if they do that, an injury to that player, Leury, Moncada, Garcia, Anderson, or Romy creates a need for a backup IF, and I bet that several of those guys will have IL stints at some point. If Burger played there for 10 games, his defense is unlikely to cost them the division, and that depth could be useful. Conversely, is his additional positional flexibility MORE LIKELY to get a White Sox SS (see Anderson, Tim) or even 1B injured? One can easily imagine it happening, due to general unfamiliarity the position, covering on steals or double plays, where to be on the field for cut-offs. We're already worried enough about this with Jimenez and Sheets in RF (of course, Robert by extension), let alone Abreu at 1B...with the pitching more LIKELY to be down this year compared to last, it really doesn't make sense not to just have a competent defender at that spot as the primary back-up (or starter). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 21 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: Conversely, is his additional positional flexibility MORE LIKELY to get a White Sox SS (see Anderson, Tim) or even 1B injured? One can easily imagine it happening, due to general unfamiliarity the position, covering on steals or double plays, where to be on the field for cut-offs. We're already worried enough about this with Jimenez and Sheets in RF (of course, Robert by extension), let alone Abreu at 1B...with the pitching more LIKELY to be down this year compared to last, it really doesn't make sense not to just have a competent defender at that spot as the primary back-up (or starter). No. Jake Burger taking over 2b because of an injury is not more likely to cause Jake Burger to take over 2b because of an injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 41 minutes ago, Balta1701 said: No. Jake Burger taking over 2b because of an injury is not more likely to cause Jake Burger to take over 2b because of an injury. I'll happily go on the record saying any MLB games of Burger at 2nd will endanger either himself or other Sox players. Moreso than Jimenez in LF and Sheets/Vaughn/"Palka" in RF place Robert in jeopardy...or run the risk of him overextending himself trying to do too much to cover for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron883 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'd like them to get him some reps at shortstop as well. He's definitely got the arm to play there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerksticks Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 hours ago, ron883 said: I'd like them to get him some reps at shortstop as well. He's definitely got the arm to play there. Just so we’re clear, you mean for the 40 or so games when Tim is backup catcher right? You’re not advocating for full time Tim at C…or are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 43 minutes ago, Jerksticks said: Just so we’re clear, you mean for the 40 or so games when Tim is backup catcher right? You’re not advocating for full time Tim at C…or are you? Poor Greg775. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 People freaking out about Burger taking reps at 2B in personal offseason workouts when his natural position is very much blocked are comical. Relax people. He’s just doing what he can to get himself big league reps. Chances he’s ever anything but an emergency 2B are remote. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Grinder Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Hoping we can find a home for him somewhere soon after all he will be 26 in April Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiddleCoastBias Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'm on record with my concern/interest to see if/how he can adjust defensively to meet the requirements to play 2B. Let him get the reps in the off-season to see what he can do, can't hurt. Setting aside all rational thought now and jumping on the positive feedback loop, I now fully expect him to be the next Max Muncy that can play every infield position and mash as a big guy. Don't let me down, Max! Er, Jake! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 41 minutes ago, The Grinder said: Hoping we can find a home for him somewhere soon after all he will be 26 in April He has built himself back up to having some decent value. That in itself is a happy surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREEDY Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'd just like to add that the Sox were one hot Lance McCullers away from their defense being THE reason they failed in 2021. The glaring issue was mainly controlling the run game but I'm very hesitant to fill any of our three obvious openings (2B, RF, Backup C) with anything less than an above average defender. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominikk85 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I'm not sure burger will be able to play 2b full time but for his playing time it would be good if he became good enough at 2b so that he could play there occasionally. If he could play 1st, 3rd, second and maybe left field in a pinch (and of course DH) you could carry him kinda as a super utility guy albeit of course ideally you want your util guy to play short in a pinch too which definitely wouldn't work with burger. But generally more flexibility is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunt Ritual Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 19 hours ago, GREEDY said: I'd just like to add that the Sox were one hot Lance McCullers away from their defense being THE reason they failed in 2021. The glaring issue was mainly controlling the run game but I'm very hesitant to fill any of our three obvious openings (2B, RF, Backup C) with anything less than an above average defender. I'd be more than happy with like Jose Iglesias or Andrelton Simmons playing 2B and hitting 9th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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