BrandoFan Posted May 31, 2004 Author Share Posted May 31, 2004 I like Randall Simon, I think he's a good LH bat and a well liked teammate. My concerns are the defensive flexibility Gload gives the Sox, since Gload is likely the odd man out if they pick up another 1B LH bat. The team needs more speed too. Simon doesn't fit in that respect, but there's no doubt he'll help someone. Guillen appears to really like Gload and I'm not thinking they'll want to move him. Who knows, it's a wait and see. Simon is one of those player where you look at his 3-year OPS and go "hmm, what's so special about him?", but if you put him in the right set of circumstances such as a team that plays a lot of high-adrenaline games, puts runners on base for him to drive, a team that only needs him against RHP, etc......he can be deceptively valuable as he's shown with the Cubs last year. As far as Gload, he impressed me in the beginning, but now....I just don't see it. He is just so mechanized if that's the right word; for someone with a short swing, he sure is tardy on a lot of fastballs. Before blooping a base-hit today, he was pretty abysmal against righties and failed many times in the clutch, something that is Simon's bread and butta. If course, if Paulie starts hitting RHP the way he hit them pre-2002 ASB (he was actually better against righties than lefties), then Simon might become an after-thought. At 800K, I would like to see Sox take that chance because that would show they actually know how to improve the ball-club's depth with low-risk/high-reward acquisitions. As far as Sox team needing speed....Sox have Olivo and Willie as #9 and #1. Uribe and Rowand are #1 and #2 when lefties start. Magglio, Carlos, Jose aren't exactly slow. This team has decent speed, Frank, Konerko, Crede and Alomar notwithstanding. What Sox need is better coaching because they don't take good leads, their jumps are mediocre - that's the reason behind so many Caught Stealing. Also, so many hit-and-runs are botched because hitters at plate lack technique and desire to sacrifice, not neccessarily because of lack of speed. Randal Simon is so damn effective at yanking his hands in and puling the ball through the right side of the infield - if he had Jose or Juan running from 1st, they'd be standing on 3rd base every time and he'd get cheap hits as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Socks Posted May 31, 2004 Share Posted May 31, 2004 Why is there a fascination for Randall Simon? He is a journeyman player. This team seems to have developed some sort of positive chemistry. I don't think we need to start making trades just for the Hell of it. Plus Kenny usually gets screwed in his trades. I'm not a big Konerko fan, but he is playing reasonably well, tons better than last year, so let's just leave him alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted May 31, 2004 Share Posted May 31, 2004 Randal Simon is a below average player who got lucky a few times. WE DON'T NEED HIM. Just thank god that KW has more sense then to take his dumbass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted May 31, 2004 Share Posted May 31, 2004 Brando, after reading this thread, it looks like you are willing to overlook 3 years worth of stats in favor of the impression Simon left on you over a period of a few weeks. I mean if this guy is so damn good, why is he on his way out with Pittsburg? Perhaps last year was just a blip, and the real Randall Simon is the guy that accumulated those questionable 3 year stats you referred to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted May 31, 2004 Share Posted May 31, 2004 I dunno bout choo, but I consider Paulie's production against RHP since the ASB of 2002 (two years including spring training) something worthy of prioritizing. Again, this has nothing whatsoever to do with our pitching situation; the Randal Simon trade might as well be handled by KW's minions as to not "distrupt" His thought process. There is virtually no downside to this....and the upside is HUGE: Simon finally shrinking his strike-zone and having a break-out season, making Konerko's salary highly expendable - especially if Paulie has himself a 2002-type season and thus becomes a somewhat desired trade commodity. If nothing else, Simon is a colorful character in the clubhouse who will give you clutch hits off RHP down the stretch and possibly in the post-season. Actually, Konerko has a higher on base, and higher sluggling average vs. RHP than Simon. So does Gload. Simon having a breakout season? He has only batted 44 times with 0 hr and 2 rbi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Bartman's my idol Posted May 31, 2004 Share Posted May 31, 2004 whats the love affair with this guy, he is slow as molasses, I don't want him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 1, 2004 Author Share Posted June 1, 2004 Brando, after reading this thread, it looks like you are willing to overlook 3 years worth of stats in favor of the impression Simon left on you over a period of a few weeks. I mean if this guy is so damn good, why is he on his way out with Pittsburg? Perhaps last year was just a blip, and the real Randall Simon is the guy that accumulated those questionable 3 year stats you referred to. I have explained and clarified my "love affair" with Simon point-by-point in many posts in this thread. I am not going to repeat myself, other than to say, again, that the reason I like Simon is the reason I liked Uribe last year - I see his talent being put to good use by a contending team, in this case the Sox. What he did with the Cubs in the second half (esp in the clutch) was no fluke IMO. Right now he's just coming off a ham-string injury and stagnating with the Pirates, but I can see him repeating his Cub performance with the Sox. I have also soured on Gload, Sunday's bloop single notwithstanding. And after the last 2 years (since 2002 ASB), I no longer trust Konerko against RHP, esp in clutch situations - Simon would be a cheap insurence in case Paulie goes into meltdown mode, if anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Socks Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Brando, what are you saying? Do you want to cut Gload to give Simon a roster spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 1, 2004 Author Share Posted June 1, 2004 Brando, what are you saying? Do you want to cut Gload to give Simon a roster spot? si senior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerhead johnson Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Isn't Randall Simon the guy who brutally beat that sausage in Milwaukee? Doesn't he beat his own sausage, real brutal like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Yeah we forget that he attacked that poor woman for no reason... Randal Simon should be the last guy we consider picking up unless maybe for a minor league deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 I'd be down with getting a guy like Simon for cheap. Like the Cubs did last year. For something like a lower level prospect. But I like what Paulie is doin right now. No real need to make a trade for a 1st baseman. Especially one that wouldn't play everyday anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 I have explained and clarified my "love affair" with Simon point-by-point in many posts in this thread. I am not going to repeat myself, other than to say, again, that the reason I like Simon is the reason I liked Uribe last year - I see his talent being put to good use by a contending team, in this case the Sox. What he did with the Cubs in the second half (esp in the clutch) was no fluke IMO. Right now he's just coming off a ham-string injury and stagnating with the Pirates, but I can see him repeating his Cub performance with the Sox. I have also soured on Gload, Sunday's bloop single notwithstanding. And after the last 2 years (since 2002 ASB), I no longer trust Konerko against RHP, esp in clutch situations - Simon would be a cheap insurence in case Paulie goes into meltdown mode, if anything else. You have explained yourself point by point, true. However those points are based on opinion and selective stats. I'm not trying to start an arguement here. I'm just saying that you usually are more apt to look at the big picture, such as 3 years worth of stats, than stats put out there over a few particularly productive weeks. In other words, this obsession (for lack of a better word) with Simon is so unlike you. I've seen you berate other posters for taking "over the short haul" stats vs. "over the long haul" stats to prove their point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 1, 2004 Author Share Posted June 1, 2004 You have explained yourself point by point, true. However those points are based on opinion and selective stats. I'm not trying to start an arguement here. I'm just saying that you usually are more apt to look at the big picture, such as 3 years worth of stats, than stats put out there over a few particularly productive weeks. In other words, this obsession (for lack of a better word) with Simon is so unlike you. I've seen you berate other posters for taking "over the short haul" stats vs. "over the long haul" stats to prove their point. Yes despite his overall numbers not looking all that sexy, I think Simon could be an exception, I really do. He just doesn't show up in games that don't matter from the looks of it. When I saw him with the Cubs during the pennant race last year, he was a completely different player than with Tigers or Pirates - he was having fun and was more intense at the same time. (Ditto for Ramirez and Lofton, btw.) And his 3-year stats against RHP (which is what the Sox would need him for in case Paulie can't hit them again) - particularly with RO and RISP - are suprisingly good. Plus there is (an admittedly small) chance that as he gets closer to 30yo he'll get smarter and will start laying off some of the head-high/dirt-low pitches that he loves to go after, and will thus becomes a better hitter....It's a chance that's IMO worth a few hundred K he would cost the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sox-r-us Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Ah yes.... Why could Sox possibly need a...... 1. Hitter with a live bat and great hand-eye coordination who might just "figure it out" one of these days. If Dummy Sosa could upgrade his hitting IQ and stop chasing everything at 30yo, then so could 29yo Simon. 2. Hitter, who despite having to sit for days on end, had NO problem coming up to the plate against RHP and driving in a big run, after big run, after big run and helping to propel the Cubs into an unlikely divisional crown in '03.......and then repeated that feat when given the opportunity in playoffs - and considering how badly Sox 3-4-5-6 sluggers choked the last time they were in the playoffs, I reckon Sox could use a hitter who is absolutely FEARLESS. 3. Hitter who hits extremely well against righties (Konerko would be handling lefties naturally) when the runners are on base or in scoring position - a money player in other words. Again, if Paul Konerko starts mashing right-handed pitching, then you don't play Simon. But if Paulie struggles against them like has in the last 2 years, then Simon would do a WHOLELOT better than Gload who is awful agaisnt RHP this season. 4. Hitter who despite his wild-swinging just does NOT strike out much and sprays hard grounders all over the place......which, considering he is a LH'ed hitter, means you can do all sorts of imaginative base-running things with Rowand/Olivo/Valentin/Uribe in front of him - how many botched H-n-R have we seen this year already? 5. Hitter who will cost you absolutely NOTHING, both in terms of salary and prospects. That means, for those who haven't figured it out, that Sox can STILL go after a pitcher and whatever other need they have....How do you say "low risk, high reward" in Bonhofferian? 6. Hitter who might just kick it up a notch when he plays on a winning team. Watched him in the dug-out with the Cubs - the guy was dancing and smiling and keeping everybody alive. Moreover, in the recent interview he admitted that he would absolutely LOVE to be back in the "great city of Chicago"......I have a feeling he would also love to play for Ozzzzzzie. I realize that people cannot get over the Sausagegate, producing a knee-jerk response when hearing 'Randal Simon'. I also think some here might have a problem with Sox "picking up Cubs' table scraps" - afterall, if Cubs didn't keep him, he might be worthless......Just more rubbish IMO. GET HIM NOW and light a fire under Paulie's ass against RHP - it's a win-win situation. Sox took a chance on Uribe and it paid off big time. Simon is even more Uribe than Uribe You just do not trade for the sake of it when your team has such awesome chemistry and 1st B is not a hole. We need a left handed hitter, but focus on getting that at the CF spot, where we need an upgrade (assuming we play Willie at 2B and Uribe at 3B if Crede continues to struggle) Go look at how many "mights" you have in your post. I am sure you "might" become the next Barry Bonds, so maybe we should just get you in the lineup instead. After all you do have two hands, two legs, two eyes and an attitude to boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sox-r-us Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 whats the love affair with this guy, he is slow as molasses, I don't want him. Absolutely correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 I thought this thread was a joke at first. Randall Simon barely had a .300 OBP last year, there is only one word to describe that and that word is f***in' brutal. The Pirates just released Chris Singleton too should we go get him, at least there OBP's would be similar. Randall Simon has been very anti-clutch his entire career, because some of you saw him hit once or twice doesn't erase that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 1, 2004 Author Share Posted June 1, 2004 We need a left handed hitter, but focus on getting that at the CF spot Steve Finley? He will have 3-4 Mill left on his contract by the time Sox realize Timo Perez sucks. What do Sox give up in order for money-hemorraging D-Backs to want to pick up the remaining salary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Yeah we forget that he attacked that poor woman for no reason... Randal Simon should be the last guy we consider picking up unless maybe for a minor league deal. What the hell does a sausage have to do with baseball? What he did with the Cubs in the second half (esp in the clutch) was no fluke IMO. Right now he's just coming off a ham-string injury and stagnating with the Pirates, but I can see him repeating his Cub performance with the Sox. I can't argue with that. He looked like a scary guy to face in the playoffs, mostly when he hit a homerun (against the Braves I believe) to tie the game. He is a good hitter and I wouldn't mind seeing him with the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 1, 2004 Author Share Posted June 1, 2004 I can't argue with that. He looked like a scary guy to face in the playoffs, mostly when he hit a homerun (against the Braves I believe) to tie the game. He is a good hitter and I wouldn't mind seeing him with the Sox. He pretty much won Game 3 of NLDS and Game 3 of NLCS for them. Had another big hit but I forget which game. Coming off the bench, that's not easy to do. Some of his outs were hard-hit, too. The thing with Simon is you have to know what he can't do - hit LHP, hit with bases empty and play on a losing team. Then he just goes through the motions and his numbers plummet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted June 2, 2004 Share Posted June 2, 2004 Low-risk, high-reward. Those 4 words are music to my f***ing ears. And those are the words KW and JR like to hear as well. Cliff Politte, Shingo Takatsu, and Juan Uribe ring a bell? Low-risk, high-reward? I rest my case. (Obviously, Politte has sucked ass...but that's where the low-risk part comes in...we can dump his ass any time we want to pretty much) Then, if you can move Paulie in a deal, you are set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted June 2, 2004 Author Share Posted June 2, 2004 Low-risk, high-reward. Those 4 words are music to my f***ing ears. And those are the words KW and JR like to hear as well. Cliff Politte, Shingo Takatsu, and Juan Uribe ring a bell? Low-risk, high-reward? I rest my case. . What about Willie, Marte and Olivo? I also think Politte will be ok in the long run. When he had his slider earlier in the year, he made the batters look foolish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Parque Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 :fthecubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyw41 Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Randall Simon is being cut for a reason. He sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 He had some clutch hits last year, but I also remember him looking terrible at some times. I dont think he fits in with the Sox, I dont think they have a roster spot that they want to give to another 1b, and I dont think they want to lose Gload who is a left handed bat who can play 1b and the outfield. If I had to chose today Gload or Simon, I would chose Gload. SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.