Robbie Alomar

[DBAHO]

Are you a scout, a GM, a manager, a trainer, or what?

 

Not trying to be a wise ass, but the point being, you don't know that the guy is done.  He had pretty decent numbers this year with Arizona in limited time.  He had decent, not great, but decent numbers last year and did some good things.

 

Very tough to make a definitive value judgement on him.  Making the judgement is complicated by the fact he's not 100%.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if there were a place for him in '05, in a platoon situation.  Not saying it's an ideal situation, just that I wouldn't be shocked.

Some team will take a chance on him in a platoon situation, based on his early season play with the D-Backs, probably an NL team like the Reds I'd say.

[israel4ever]

Robbie needs to retire.

 

He sucks! He can't help any team, unless maybe he becomes a coach.

[HoosierSox]

If I were Ozzie Gload would be DH the rest of the year.

[Guest JimH]

Slow bat

lousy pitch selection (usually part of the game that improves with age...but not so)

speed gone

lazy (ailing back is one thing; waiting forever to get off a DP throw? unacceptable!)

defensive range and arm combo that makes one weep for Jimenez.

 

Sorry, but his problems go way beyond a bad back.  And who's to say his back ever fully heals? 

 

And mind you, this comes from a person who was very much pro-Robbie when KW made the deal as I felt he was very solid while playing for Arizona and cost the Sox next to nothing.    But after watching him closely in games against Cleveland, Detroit, Boston, etc I was horrified at how irredeemably bad he was.

 

I can honestly say that Willie is a better all-around player at this point - THAT's how low Robbie has fallen.    But hey, if you're right and I am wrong and Robbie has a "Robbie" season for the Sox in 2005, I'll be more than happy to chow on tasty crow.

 

 

 

 

[/not a scout, GM or batboy.  do have a pair of eyes, tho]

I've got eyes too, so do Williams and Guillen. They're making sure what if anything he has left. There are always things behind the scenes none of us know about - things that a fan watching him "closely" in a few games might not pick up.

 

Don't know how else to explain it. But when there are half-cocked statements made (not from you) like "Edgar Martinez is 100 times the hitter R. Alomar is", I'll challenge that every day of the week ... especially coming from a guy who has nit fits every time a prospect is traded.

 

BTW, have you ever tried to play baseball with a sore back? I have. Everything is negatively affected - offense, defense, everything.

[Dick Allen]

Sorry, disagree.

 

I don't know if he has anything left in the tank, he's not been 100% healthy this year, first with the busted hand and now with the bad back.  Very tough to make the call that the guy is finished when he's laboring with a bad back, but hey, it appears you've got dibs on the crystal ball.

 

What's wrong with wanting to start a guy who hits righthanded against a left handed pitcher?  Crede was at 3B.  Perez and Gload may have done well, but they're lefthanded.  Davis is the backup catcher and needed a breather after playing a lot lately.

 

So, the manager quit, and insulted us to boot, because he started a future Hall of Famer who happens to switch hit at DH?  Just how large is that jump to conclusion Jim?

 

I'm not especially loyal to Robbie Alomar, but you say I am so it must be true.  In truth, what I'm seeing is the Sox making sure of a situation.  If the guy is healthy, and if he has something left, he will be very valuable to some team because he is very motivated to get to 3000.  He'll try to hit singles instead of home runs, by the way that's a good thing for this team in 2005.

 

I see what Guillen and Williams are doing here, and I'd just as soon they do it.  I don't get insulted by it because I see the big picture, and generally ignore the Nostradamus-esque crystal ball statements of a fan who isn't close to the situation.

 

Now, you may be right, he may be a joke and totally washed up.  I'd rather they know for sure, and I'd rather better judges of talent than you (and me) make that determination.

 

Plus, you hate anybody the White Sox get for those precious prospects, don'tcha Jim? 

 

Oh, one more thing.  I'll make my own determinations of whether or not someone from the White Sox organization insults me, I don't need you to point it out for me, but thanks anyways.

Robbie's back and hip were bothering him last year. If KW and Ozzie are trying to find out NOW if Alomar can help them next year, I have really lost any confidence in them. His back has been bothering him since he came back here. Why play him with a sore back? They obviously wouldn't be able to evaluate him properly. Robbie may have something left in him if everything falls into place correctly, but I think the odds on that happening are quite long. Its amazing to me how far he has fallen in a relatively short period of time. 3 years ago he was a gold glover hitting .330 with 25 homers and 25 steals. He looks like he's 70 years old on the field now.

[israel4ever]

Put a fork in the Alomar brothers...they are DONE!!!

 

[Guest JimH]

Robbie's back and hip were bothering him last year. If KW and Ozzie are trying to find out NOW if Alomar can help them next year, I have really lost any confidence in them. His back has been bothering him since he came back here. Why play him with a sore back? They obviously wouldn't be able to evaluate him properly. Robbie may have something left in him if everything falls into place correctly, but I think the odds on that happening are quite long. Its amazing to me how far he has fallen in a relatively short period of time. 3 years ago he was a gold glover hitting .330 with 25 homers and 25 steals. He looks like he's 70 years old on the field now.

You could be 100% right.

 

I'm suggesting they're playing him for a reason, a reason we are not privy to. Not to sound cloak and dagger, but there is always more behind the scenes going on.

You are certainly correct that he doesn't look like himself out there.

[Rex Hudler]

JimH, I just can't see any way they keep Robbie next year. Even if Robbie bounces back and has a good year, Harris can give you the same. Robbie won't hit .320 again, nor does he have the range to be a gold glover. Why keep an aging vet around when you have a young player that can give you the same production.

 

I was all for trading for him last year because I felt his veteran presence would help last year's team get over the top. That was then, this is now. The Sox need to make wholesale changes and hanging onto Robbie just doesn't seem to fit the mold.

 

You and KW may disagree with me that wholesale changes are necessary, but I say that there need to be at least 2-3 new position players in the lineup next year. Younger players need to be brought in and a new core of the team needs to be developed. They have tried tweaking the lineup with this same core the last four years and it just hasn't worked, unless you are happy finishing second, mired in mediocrity.

 

Speaking of aging vets, I do think it would be a good idea to look into getting Omar Vizquel next year. A solid glove at SS would be welcomed as would his ability to hit in the two-hole. I also think keeping Robbie would keep us from getting Omar.

[Hatchetman]

Alomar is done. We shouldn't be wasting at bats with him.

[Guest JimH]

You and KW may disagree with me that wholesale changes are necessary, but I say that there need to be at least 2-3 new position players in the lineup next year.  Younger players need to be brought in and a new core of the team needs to be developed.  They have tried tweaking the lineup with this same core the last four years and it just hasn't worked, unless you are happy finishing second, mired in mediocrity.

 

Speaking of aging vets, I do think it would be a good idea to look into getting Omar Vizquel next year.  A solid glove at SS would be welcomed as would his ability to hit in the two-hole.  I also think keeping Robbie would keep us from getting Omar.

Your 1st paragraph ... I agree and have been saying that for a month now. The whole infield situation should be changed around. The absolute only way I see Alomar fitting in is if they use Uribe as a super sub and give him ample playing time at 2nd base. Have Uribe be the backup guy at 2B, SS, and 3B with the most time at SS and 2B.

 

Your 2nd paragraph ... I see it as independent events. Getting a veteran SS shouldn't have much if anything to what's done at 2B. They've had a veteran SS all along in Valentin and have had both Harris and Alomar in there.

 

Here's where I'm coming from with all of this ... I'm convinced Guillen does not want Harris on the team next year. He's good defensively but he cannot bunt and he cannot steal bases. Personally, I believe they'll go an entirely different direction at 2B next year and I would not be shocked if Alomar is kept around for insurance. Remember too when they reacquired him KW said it was possible he could get some time at 3B, although he hasn't played there. Range is less of an issue there.

 

I'm not trying to shoehorn Robbie Alomar onto the 2005 White Sox, I'm simply saying it's prudent the Sox are giving him playing time to 1). make certain as to what he's got in the tank, if anything and 2). keep their options open at 2B in case he does have something left and they can't get the 2B they want.

 

Again, I'm basing all this on the assumption Guillen does not want Harris on the team. Some pretty strong hints have already been given. I'm more speculating on what they (Guillen and KW) might be thinking vs. what I'd like to happen.

[Rex Hudler]

You may be right in that Ozzie may not want Harris around next year........ if that is the case, then I think they are giving up on him too soon, but I am not there everyday, so I can't say for sure.......

 

But if they are giving up on him right away, it is a shame they traded Miles instead of Willie. I do believe Miles would have helped this year. I am not saying he is the solution for the next 5 years, but despite not having the sexiest stats, Miles is the kind of player a manager loves to have on his team. He plays hard and does the little things a manager loves.