VAfan Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Let's assume this is the starting group C - Grandal SW 1B - Vaughn R 2B - Andrus R SS - Anderson R 3B - Moncada SW LF - Benitendi L CF - Robert R RF - Colas L DH - Jimenez That leaves 4 openings. C - Zavala is the only lock Who are the other 3, and why? 1. Utility. Someone who can back up all the infield and OF spots. Most likely Garcia. 2. OF depth. Jimenez can play LF or RF, as could Sheets in a pinch. But that leaves CF. Can Colas cover there? Seems like someone is needed here. 3. Platoon value? Sheets offers value against righties, but not paired with Colas. And Vaughn isn't likely to sit often. Burger offers value against lefties if Colas sits and Jimenez plays RF. 4. Defense and speed. Hamilton can cover CF, and offers speed, but who does he run for? Grandal? Vaughn? My guess is Zavala, Garcia, Sheets mostly because they've played the most, with the 4th player a defensive outfielder. But I'm not confident beyond Zavala. Who do you have? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I think there's 2 scenarios. Scenario 1 is if Colas breaks with the team out of ST. Then I think we end up seeing Burger in AAA. Zavala, Leury, and Sheets are probably locks. The 4th spot is a fight between whichever NRI OF has the best ST. Marisnick probably makes the most sense as he can actually play good defense. Hamilton seems like a nice guy to have around for pinch running and late inning defense, but I don't think you want him for anything more than that. Victor Reyes offers switch hitting, but his defense is really bad. Scenario 2 is Colas is in AAA to start the year. Then I think you end up with Sheets and Eloy splitting time in RF. In that scenario, Burger probably makes the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 hour ago, VAfan said: Let's assume this is the starting group C - Grandal SW 1B - Vaughn R 2B - Andrus R SS - Anderson R 3B - Moncada SW LF - Benitendi L CF - Robert R RF - Colas L DH - Jimenez That leaves 4 openings. C - Zavala is the only lock Who are the other 3, and why? 1. Utility. Someone who can back up all the infield and OF spots. Most likely Garcia. 2. OF depth. Jimenez can play LF or RF, as could Sheets in a pinch. But that leaves CF. Can Colas cover there? Seems like someone is needed here. 3. Platoon value? Sheets offers value against righties, but not paired with Colas. And Vaughn isn't likely to sit often. Burger offers value against lefties if Colas sits and Jimenez plays RF. 4. Defense and speed. Hamilton can cover CF, and offers speed, but who does he run for? Grandal? Vaughn? My guess is Zavala, Garcia, Sheets mostly because they've played the most, with the 4th player a defensive outfielder. But I'm not confident beyond Zavala. Who do you have? Marisnick the other OF only option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Just now, caulfield12 said: Marisnick the other OF only option. Not enamored with Reyes. Too streaky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 54 minutes ago, chw42 said: I think there's 2 scenarios. Scenario 1 is if Colas breaks with the team out of ST. Then I think we end up seeing Burger in AAA. Zavala, Leury, and Sheets are probably locks. The 4th spot is a fight between whichever NRI OF has the best ST. Marisnick probably makes the most sense as he can actually play good defense. Hamilton seems like a nice guy to have around for pinch running and late inning defense, but I don't think you want him for anything more than that. Victor Reyes offers switch hitting, but his defense is really bad. Scenario 2 is Colas is in AAA to start the year. Then I think you end up with Sheets and Eloy splitting time in RF. In that scenario, Burger probably makes the team. Eloy has to be getting 150+ games between OF and DH for the Sox to go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpton Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 31 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: Eloy has to be getting 150+ games between OF and DH for the Sox to go anywhere. If he gets too many games in OF the chances of him injuring himself increase and then he won't make 150 games again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 How soon do we start losing the non-roster veterans? I am assuming some as early as opening day. Just wondering how much depth they can provide, in case of injury. Also, I cannot root against Billy to make the team. I just cannot do it. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 4 minutes ago, Sambuca said: How soon do we start losing the non-roster veterans? I am assuming some as early as opening day. Just wondering how much depth they can provide, in case of injury. Also, I cannot root against Billy to make the team. I just cannot do it. With the renewed emphasis on speed/defense/stolen bases/OF positioning like employed against Gallo in the spring...definitely has 25% more value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 5 hours ago, chw42 said: I think there's 2 scenarios. Scenario 1 is if Colas breaks with the team out of ST. Then I think we end up seeing Burger in AAA. Zavala, Leury, and Sheets are probably locks. The 4th spot is a fight between whichever NRI OF has the best ST. Marisnick probably makes the most sense as he can actually play good defense. Hamilton seems like a nice guy to have around for pinch running and late inning defense, but I don't think you want him for anything more than that. Victor Reyes offers switch hitting, but his defense is really bad. Scenario 2 is Colas is in AAA to start the year. Then I think you end up with Sheets and Eloy splitting time in RF. In that scenario, Burger probably makes the team. This. I am going Colas in AAA with a bench of Zavala, Leury, Marisnick and Romy. Only caveat to this is perhaps Alberto. He may earn a spot, which would be Romy’s. I’d still give Romy the clear leg up, tho that gap has to have closed some in the start of camp. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Alberto has the advantage due to his time spent with Grifol in KC...wouldn't hurt to give Romy another 200-300 at bats at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy U Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 (edited) If Colas, I think it’s Zavala, Leury, Romy, and ???. I could imagine them sending Sheets down cuz there are no at bats for him. Gun to my head, I think that last guy would be Hamilton, but it could be Hansel. Romy can play 7 spots which gives you incredible flexibility for that last spot. obviously, if Colas is sent down, Sheets is in the starting line up as DH or, gulp, their every day RF. Then they have to decide how they’re platooning. Does Burger make it as a platoon DH? Or do they go Marisnick as a platoon RF? Edited March 5, 2023 by Timmy U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcq Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 All of this could force a decision on Leury. Is he part of their best roster? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CentralChamps21 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Zavala and Leury are going to be on the team. I don't believe the Sox will DFA Leury. One spot will go to Colas or Sheets. One will go to Hamilton or Marisnick. Burger might very well force his way onto the team if he keeps hitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 The question is which three guys provide the most utility based on our roster construction. Assuming Colas makes the team, the OF is filled with guys who really don’t need late game defensive replacements. Realistically, you’d want a 4th OF who can crush LHP and spell Robert in CF. I hate the concept of Eloy playing the OF too much, but he may be Colas’ platoon partner in RF to start the year. You could go with Leury who provides average defense at all three spots and put up a 104 wRC+ against LHP from 2017 to 2021. And while Romy hasn’t played a lot of CF in his career, he seems like he has the athleticism to play the position and he crush lefties (.931 OPS) in AA in 2021. Marisnick would provide probably the best CF defense of the three options, but offers very little value with the bat. Out of those three options, I definitely would go with Romy. On the infield side of things, a left-handed hitter who could provide coverage at both SS & 2B would be ideal, but we don’t really have anyone like that. As such, you’re kind of stuck with using Romy or Leury there. And whether you believe a return to form is coming for Andrus, he has never been good against RHP and that creates some value for a late inning RHP masher off the bench who can fill in some at 1B like Sheets. As for Yoan’s backup, Burger would be the perfect fit offensively but was pretty horrible with the glove last year. While I think he’s better than he showed last year, I wouldn’t be excited to see him much at 3B without more minor league seasoning. He’d be awesome as a late inning pinch hitting option against LHP though, but that is a fairly limited role. To me, it’s pretty obvious they will go with both Romy & Leury as IF/OF utility types, which probably makes the most sense if you’re unwilling to eat the rest of Garcia’s contract and bring in a player who fits the roster better. That leaves one spot for Marisnick, Sheets, or Burger. To me, I probably go with Sheets over Burger. Obviously RHP has been a challenge for us for a few years now and Gavin gives us a guy who can help some there. I’d probably play him once a week at 1B against tough RHP and then use him as a late game pinch hitter for Andrus. Not a big role, but he’d also be the primary fill-in at 1B or DH if Vaugh or Eloy were to go down. The only way I go with Burger is if they plan to play Eloy in RF more than we think. If that’s the case, then Jake could be part of the DH mix and actually be pretty valuable. Just don’t like the idea of Eloy in the OF, especially not in RF with that noodle arm of his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 10 minutes ago, CentralChamps21 said: Zavala and Leury are going to be on the team. I don't believe the Sox will DFA Leury. One spot will go to Colas or Sheets. One will go to Hamilton or Marisnick. Burger might very well force his way onto the team if he keeps hitting. I think there is zero chance Romy doesn’t make the team. Right or wrong, I think they plan to use him as the de facto 10th regular similar to how Tony used Leury. I really don’t see Hamilton being a realistic option with a four man bench. They should just fire Boston and make Billy the OF coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CentralChamps21 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 44 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said: I think there is zero chance Romy doesn’t make the team. Right or wrong, I think they plan to use him as the de facto 10th regular similar to how Tony used Leury. I really don’t see Hamilton being a realistic option with a four man bench. They should just fire Boston and make Billy the OF coach. I'd 100% keep Romy over Leury, but I don't see how you can keep both unless Leury is your 4th OF and that's bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4uckOffCommieScum Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 hour ago, pcq said: All of this could force a decision on Leury. Is he part of their best roster? I don’t think so. I’d go with Alberto, Romy and Marisnick, Hamilton or maybe another OFer picked up after cuts start happening. Alberto offers better defense in the infield and more upside with the bat, and I’ve never liked Leury in the OF. Although, I suppose he is passable there. Hamilton sucks as a hitter but when he does reach he is likely to score and I think his defense makes up for it when he is in the lineup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4uckOffCommieScum Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said: They should just fire Boston and make Billy the OF coach. I like that idea but I doubt Billy is quite ready to retire. Seems to me he is the type that would rather play at AAA and wait for the inevitable call up than retire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliSoxFanViaSWside Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 2 hours ago, ChiSox59 said: This. I am going Colas in AAA with a bench of Zavala, Leury, Marisnick and Romy. Only caveat to this is perhaps Alberto. He may earn a spot, which would be Romy’s. I’d still give Romy the clear leg up, tho that gap has to have closed some in the start of camp. Going to die on that Colas to AAA hill. Well I guess I might die on the Colas to play on opening day hill also . But at this point I think people are assuming Colas on opening day. I'm not really but the extra year might be a good idea if he is really really good and I have always thought he would be very good. But that's also a reason to have him from the start. If this might truly be the one final push year in the window I want every advantage no matter how small. Who knows where the Sox will be in that extra year. I actually have no idea who the bench will be besides Zavala. All the names are out there in this thread. Marisnick, Hamilton, Alberto, Leury, Romy, Sheets. Really hard to say who has the advantage. Grifol really letting them run wild on the bases so far as steals are concerned. That might eliminate Sheets along with his defense. Grifol might be stressing defense along with speed to enhance ways of scoring and preventing runs to increase wins. Would be nice if some of the speed and defense guys could hit a little too. That's the main problem with choosing bench guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4uckOffCommieScum Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Considering Colas cost himself a year waiting to sign with the Sox, I think you have to give him the job if he is deemed ready. Between that and covid, this is a guy who under different circumstances may have been in the majors a year or two ago. He made it, albeit briefly, all the way to the major NPB league at, what, nineteen? This guy is a major league player already most likely. Sox ought to break from the norm and stop dicking around. Send a message to the team they are looking to win from day one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Zavala, Sheets, Garcia, Alberto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RibbieRubarb Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 10 hours ago, VAfan said: Let's assume this is the starting group C - Grandal SW 1B - Vaughn R 2B - Andrus R SS - Anderson R 3B - Moncada SW LF - Benitendi L CF - Robert R RF - Colas L DH - Jimenez That leaves 4 openings. C - Zavala is the only lock Who are the other 3, and why? 1. Utility. Someone who can back up all the infield and OF spots. Most likely Garcia. 2. OF depth. Jimenez can play LF or RF, as could Sheets in a pinch. But that leaves CF. Can Colas cover there? Seems like someone is needed here. 3. Platoon value? Sheets offers value against righties, but not paired with Colas. And Vaughn isn't likely to sit often. Burger offers value against lefties if Colas sits and Jimenez plays RF. 4. Defense and speed. Hamilton can cover CF, and offers speed, but who does he run for? Grandal? Vaughn? My guess is Zavala, Garcia, Sheets mostly because they've played the most, with the 4th player a defensive outfielder. But I'm not confident beyond Zavala. Who do you have? If you have a starting outfield of Ben10, Robert and Colas...you won't need a late inning defensive replacement. But I think they go with Jake Marisnick for the 4th OF. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4uckOffCommieScum Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I really wish mlb would expand the bench so there were more room for guys like Hamilton or for that matter Sheets. With four bench spots, there’s little room for any kind of specialists like you’d see back in the days of ten man pitching staffs. How would you fit a Jerry Hairston on a roster today? Having a bat like that on the bench was invaluable. It’d be nice to have a bat like Sheets but he simply isn’t versatile enough with the short benches. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4uckOffCommieScum Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, RibbieRubarb said: If you have a starting outfield of Ben10, Robert and Colas...you won't need a late inning defensive replacement. But I think they go with Jake Marisnick for the 4th OF. Yeah but those guys aren’t going to play 162 games. I’d rather have top defense to plug in when they are out of the lineup. Frankly after ‘22 I never want to see sub par defense in the OF ever again. I pretty much got a lifetime’s worth in one season. The marginally better offense you might get from a fourth OFer isn’t worth it imo. I’d rather have someone like Duvall, but seeing as we don’t have anyone like that I’d do go with the top defensive player available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 38 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said: Going to die on that Colas to AAA hill. Well I guess I might die on the Colas to play on opening day hill also . But at this point I think people are assuming Colas on opening day. I'm not really but the extra year might be a good idea if he is really really good and I have always thought he would be very good. But that's also a reason to have him from the start. If this might truly be the one final push year in the window I want every advantage no matter how small. Who knows where the Sox will be in that extra year. I actually have no idea who the bench will be besides Zavala. All the names are out there in this thread. Marisnick, Hamilton, Alberto, Leury, Romy, Sheets. Really hard to say who has the advantage. Grifol really letting them run wild on the bases so far as steals are concerned. That might eliminate Sheets along with his defense. Grifol might be stressing defense along with speed to enhance ways of scoring and preventing runs to increase wins. Would be nice if some of the speed and defense guys could hit a little too. That's the main problem with choosing bench guys. Im not really dying on it. I’ve said multiple times it could go either way and I still believe that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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