Jim Fainter Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Two weeks to go to Spring Training as I write this. I don't like to recommend managing from a negative, but it might make some sense with the Sox in 2003. We have a lot going for us this year to maintain positive thinking, BUT.............. We (JM, KW, JR) have to avoid anyone on the Sox having a year like Todd Ritchie had last year. I said it before on some other post (I can't remember where) that if you plug Ritchie's performance into any of last year's playoff teams, they would not be a playoff team. End of story. I mean, he was 5-15, ERA over 6, 176 hits, 57 walks in 133 innings!!! That kind of performance was absolutely devastating to the Sox last year. It would be devastating to any team, including the 2003 White Sox. Why he was allowed to flounder for so long is beyond me, but all of that is ancient history. It can't happen again. If it does, we have no chance. We have so much depth that there is no excuse for it to happen this year. I can't stress this enough, and if I keep saying it, I would just be redundant, but if any Sox player approaches the performance of Todd Ritchie, whether it is caused by injury or not, set him down, please. Then we can win this thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Two weeks to go to Spring Training as I write this. I don't like to recommend managing from a negative, but it might make some sense with the Sox in 2003. We have a lot going for us this year to maintain positive thinking, BUT.............. We (JM, KW, JR) have to avoid anyone on the Sox having a year like Todd Ritchie had last year. I said it before on some other post (I can't remember where) that if you plug Ritchie's performance into any of last year's playoff teams, they would not be a playoff team. End of story. I mean, he was 5-15, ERA over 6, 176 hits, 57 walks in 133 innings!!! That kind of performance was absolutely devastating to the Sox last year. It would be devastating to any team, including the 2003 White Sox. Why he was allowed to flounder for so long is beyond me, but all of that is ancient history. It can't happen again. If it does, we have no chance. We have so much depth that there is no excuse for it to happen this year. I can't stress this enough, and if I keep saying it, I would just be redundant, but if any Sox player approaches the performance of Todd Ritchie, whether it is caused by injury or not, set him down, please. Then we can win this thing. you are going to see excitement from this group and a fondness for each other, yeah and i am including big frank in that. that is why you get rid of the cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 If someone in the rotation has a Ritchie like year, I'll be surprised....I think we have one of the better staffs as a whole in baseball. I believe our key to success is not on the pitching side of the ball....it is up the middle. If Jose puts up respectable numbers, like he has the past two years, than we won't have to worry about him...I'm more worried about Jimenez at 2B, Olivo at C, and whoever the hell plays CF(whether it be Rowand, Harris or Borchard, or maybe Rios, if he can play there)....I am mostly worried about CF....I don't want Harris to start there. That is a disaster waiting to happen almost. We need more team speed, but I want it to come in the form of atleast a .265 average, and I'm not sure Harris could put up even that. If he can produce like he did when he came up the first time, I won't mind it as much....but he has to realize that he'll be hitting from the #9 spot in the order if he did make the team as the starting CFer. And then we'd have to have a backup CFer in case Rowand isn't ready for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 If someone in the rotation has a Ritchie like year, I'll be surprised....I think we have one of the better staffs as a whole in baseball. I believe our key to success is not on the pitching side of the ball....it is up the middle. If Jose puts up respectable numbers, like he has the past two years, than we won't have to worry about him...I'm more worried about Jimenez at 2B, Olivo at C, and whoever the hell plays CF(whether it be Rowand, Harris or Borchard, or maybe Rios, if he can play there)....I am mostly worried about CF....I don't want Harris to start there. That is a disaster waiting to happen almost. We need more team speed, but I want it to come in the form of atleast a .265 average, and I'm not sure Harris could put up even that. If he can produce like he did when he came up the first time, I won't mind it as much....but he has to realize that he'll be hitting from the #9 spot in the order if he did make the team as the starting CFer. And then we'd have to have a backup CFer in case Rowand isn't ready for that. a very good point......... but other teams has learned to play with one weakness or another. ours is going to be cf on the offense side. i think he will do well on the defense. i will refrain from the catcher point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj1832 Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I believe we are weak in the following areas C, CF, Defense and the leadoff spot. These I think are our main areas of concern. Hopefully they will work themselves out during Spring Training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I believe we are weak in the following areas C, CF, Defense and the leadoff spot. These I think are our main areas of concern. Hopefully they will work themselves out during Spring Training. i never address the lead off spot, but didn't deangelo bat first last season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleM23 Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I believe we are weak in the following areas C, CF, Defense and the leadoff spot. These I think are our main areas of concern. Hopefully they will work themselves out during Spring Training. i never address the lead off spot, but didn't deangelo bat first last season? I believe he did... I guess he can bat first but there are better options out there. We'll see.. A lot has to go right for the '03 Sox for them to be serious contenders. As I see it, if they keep the nucleus that they have right now together, they are maybe 1-2 years and 1-2 players away from being really solid. Right now, I don't think they are anything more than an 85-90 win team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 Two weeks to go to Spring Training as I write this. I don't like to recommend managing from a negative, but it might make some sense with the Sox in 2003. We have a lot going for us this year to maintain positive thinking, BUT.............. We (JM, KW, JR) have to avoid anyone on the Sox having a year like Todd Ritchie had last year. I said it before on some other post (I can't remember where) that if you plug Ritchie's performance into any of last year's playoff teams, they would not be a playoff team. End of story. I mean, he was 5-15, ERA over 6, 176 hits, 57 walks in 133 innings!!! That kind of performance was absolutely devastating to the Sox last year. It would be devastating to any team, including the 2003 White Sox. Why he was allowed to flounder for so long is beyond me, but all of that is ancient history. It can't happen again. If it does, we have no chance. We have so much depth that there is no excuse for it to happen this year. I can't stress this enough, and if I keep saying it, I would just be redundant, but if any Sox player approaches the performance of Todd Ritchie, whether it is caused by injury or not, set him down, please. Then we can win this thing. The key is we don't have any reason to stick with a guy like Ritchie for a long time, unless it is Colon, but I don't see him struggling unless he is hurt. We stuck with Ritchie because the Sox gave up so much for him, and the fact that the younger players weren't ready. Now we have Loiza, Heredia and Josh Stewart right there if any of the starters falter or get hurt. When it comes to the bullpen, theres Munoz, Sanders, and Almonte ready and waiting if anyone falters or gets hurt. Then in the infield we have Thomas if PK goes down or vice versa. Borchard in the outfield, Hummel/Harris in the infield. Catching wise, that Burke guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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