Agressive Vital

[DBAHO]

From da Cubune,

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Willie Harris was on first base and Sandy Alomar Jr. on third with two outs in the second inning of Monday's White Sox-Oakland exhibition game.

 

Harris took off for second and A's catcher Damian Miller sailed his throw into center field, enabling Alomar to score.

 

The manufactured run is an example of the aggressive "National League" style of baseball Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is determined to bring to the South Side this season.

 

Or is it?

 

Stolen bases, hit-and-run plays and bunts—small ball—have long been associated with the National League because it's assumed those teams are at a disadvantage because their pitchers have to hit.

 

But a look at some statistics from last year raises questions as to whether the perception is reality and whether bringing the offensive style of the Florida Marlins—for whom Guillen was third-base coach last season—would be much of an improvement for the Sox.

 

The "small ball" National League wound up hitting 2,708 home runs last season compared with the American League's 2,499. The NL's 16 teams scored 11,945 runs to 11,033 for the 14 AL teams.

 

And for all the emphasis on stolen bases that has been associated with the NL, its teams had only 15 more steals than AL teams—1,294 to 1,279.

 

Meanwhile, there is scant evidence to suggest stolen bases lead to more runs. The Toronto Blue Jays stole 37 bases last season, fewest in the majors, yet scored 894 runs, third most behind Boston and Atlanta.

 

The Marlins won the 2003 World Series, but their final offensive statistics were in the middle of the pack in the National League and similar to the Sox's final stats.

 

No one stole more bases than Florida's 150, yet the Marlins scored only 751 runs, or 40 fewer than the Sox scored last season. The Marlins had to manufacture runs because they hit only 157 home runs playing half their games in spacious Pro Player Stadium, compared with the Sox's 220.

 

"Ozzie and (hitting coach) Greg Walker know what we're capable of," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "As for hitting and running and stealing bases, we'll probably do more of that."

 

Aside from Harris, the Sox don't have much speed in their lineup, as Guillen concedes. Harris said Guillen has given him the green light to run whenever he feels he can get a jump.

 

"He told me if I get thrown out, who cares? Be aggressive," Harris said.

 

Being aggressive doesn't just mean stealing bases. It means getting good jumps, going from first to third on a base hit, taking the extra base whenever possible and putting pressure on the defense.

 

"We don't have too much speed, but if we run the bases the way we should, it should be easy for us," Guillen said.

 

A team that doesn't run looks dead when it's not hitting, as opposed to a team that is always on the go. The running team may not score more runs, but it seems to have more energy.

 

"I remember last year when everyone was on us in May and June," Konerko said, recalling a prolonged dry spell at the plate. "Then in July we hit a ton of home runs, and everyone was saying that's the best thing."

 

Ideally, a team wants to strike a balance between big-inning capability and resourcefulness, playing for one run when the game dictates.

 

For the Sox, the best part of Monday's six-run output came in the first inning. Jose Valentin tripled and Frank Thomas, with two strikes, drove him in with a flyball.

 

That's the type of situational hitting the Sox often seemed incapable of last season, which cost them countless scoring opportunities.

 

"Once you put those two things together, you have a potent offense," Thomas said. "[Guillen] will know when we're swinging the bats well, and when we are I'm sure he'll slow it down."

[Jordan4life_2007]

This is gonna be a fun year. I can feel it..

[The Critic]

Also yesterday, the Sox got lucky when they DIDN'T run on a possible hit-and-run situation. First and third, grounder up the middle - would have been a DP if they had the H&R on, with the 2B covering the bag. As it was, the ball went through for an RBI single.

 

The Sox may or may not win the Central - who knows? - but I also think it will be a fun year, with baseball "beeeeeng playee dee rye wayee".

[mreye]

"Ozzie and (hitting coach) Greg Walker know what we're capable of," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "As for hitting and running and stealing bases, we'll probably do more of that."

 

What does he mean by "we"? I hope Pauly won't be running and stealing bases.

[The Critic]

What does he mean by "we"? I hope Pauly won't be running and stealing bases.

Sure Paulie will be running - whenever the pitch goes back to the screen...

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

This is gonna be a fun year.  I can feel it..

Yeah, hopefully we will drive other teams crazy and piss them the hell off the same way they did us the last few years under sleepyhead JM.

[Texsox]

This is one point in JM favor. We really do not have a small ball team. We are more lineman than DBs. Could you see Pauly bunting Frank over to third? Swing hard, you might hit something.