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[shakes]

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White Sox Team Report

Scott Merkin /

Posted: 2 days ago

 

SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW

 

CHANGES THAT FIT:Without a Central Division title since 2000, general manager Ken Williams placed the offseason focus on reshaping his team from power-packed and station-to-station to a group based on speed, defense and pitching. In the process, Williams developed a unit that is better suited for the aggressive managerial style of Ozzie Guillen at a relatively cost-efficient price. The signing of Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez gives the White Sox a much needed five solid starters, after eight hurlers combined to finish 5-16 last year in the fifth spot of the rotation. A.J. Pierzynski provides a significant offensive upgrade behind the plate, and Scott Podsednik and Japanese import Tadahito Iguchi present the White Sox bona fide basestealing threats and on-base potential to set up the order.

 

 

CHANGE THAT DOESN'T FIT: Some of the same moves that appear to have helped the White Sox on paper eventually could hurt them in a home ballpark that plays small, such as U.S. Cellular Field. Although the White Sox still have plenty of power remaining, with the likes of Paul Konerko, Aaron Rowand, Carl Everett and newly acquired right fielder Jermaine Dye, the team will miss the production provided by Carlos Lee, who was part of a four-player deal with Milwaukee that included Podsednik, and a healthy Magglio Ordonez, who left via free agency. Pierzynski seems determined to prove that past reports of clubhouse problems were greatly exaggerated, but on a team looking to foster a more cohesive overall chemistry, the signing was a bit of a risk.

 

 

TO-DO LIST: Glaring needs, such as completing the rotation, upgrading the bullpen and team defense and adding speed, were identified and filled during the offseason. The White Sox are left to find a utility infielder who will primarily play shortstop and a strong righthanded hitter off the bench. They also need to gauge the health status of Frank Thomas, currently rehabbing from surgery on his left ankle in October.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

Doesn't this Scott guy work for whitesox.com?

[shakes]

Doesn't this Scott guy work for whitesox.com?

 

 

Your right, I didn't recognize the name at first.

[CanOfCorn]

Doesn't this Scott guy work for whitesox.com?

 

Yessiree, pop. But, that's probably why he was hired to write this blurb. Who knows the White Sox better than the beat reporter.

[retro1983hat]

Doesn't this Scott guy work for whitesox.com?

 

 

I believe he works for MLB.com and is the beat reporter for MLB.com for the White Sox. His articles are supposedly not reviewed or do not have any input from the team, but something is awfully "homerish" about everything written by him. But if you're going to the Sox website for information, it is expected it will be slanted in favor of the team.

[JUGGERNAUT]

What does Gload have to do to prove he can be a strong bat off the bench?

I don't buy into this RH & LH bat stuff. What count's his how a guy does against RH & LH hurlers.

 

3 yr avgs vs RH, LH:

Gload 218AB .298A, .358O, .445S .803

Gload 47AB, .383A, .420O, .574S, .994

 

That looks pretty strong to me

Edited February 10, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[southsider17]

What does  Gload have to do to prove he can be a strong bat off the bench?

I don't buy into this RH & LH bat stuff.  What count's his how a guy does against RH & LH hurlers.

 

 

 

Exactly. I think some people get lose site of the goal sometimes.

 

The same goes for pitchers. Vizcaino is a righty but lefties hit only .163 against him last year and .207 against him over the last 3 years.

[daa84]

What does  Gload have to do to prove he can be a strong bat off the bench?

I don't buy into this RH & LH bat stuff.  What count's his how a guy does against RH & LH hurlers.

 

3 yr avgs vs RH, LH:

Gload 218AB .298A,  .358O,  .445S  .803

Gload 47AB, .383A,  .420O,  .574S,  .994

 

That looks pretty strong to me

 

 

200 some number of ABs does not mean you are proven. Gload is a good guy on the bench, but he still has to prove he can do it on a more consistent basis. same thing with jaime burke, who everyone loves for some reason. hes a 33 year old career minor leaguer, who had some nice ABs in limited role playing half a season. I dont see people jumping on kelly dransfeldt

[JUGGERNAUT]

200 some number of ABs does not mean you are proven. Gload is a good guy on the bench, but he still has to prove he can do it on a more consistent basis. same thing with jaime burke, who everyone loves for some reason. hes a 33 year old career minor leaguer, who had some nice ABs in limited role playing half a season. I dont see people jumping on kelly dransfeldt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Ok. But again we are talking specifically about a bench player role & not an everyday player. I'm saying the article is ignoring a bench that features players who are strong against either & some time both LH & RH. That diminishes the need for a strong RH bat off the bench.

 

I can't agree more with the article's belief that we will miss Lee's production the most.

I think this is exactly why most analysts are downplaying us.

Lee 2004:

April 80AB .263 .341 .475 .816

May 102AB .304 .379 .373 .752

June 106AB .311 .368 .453 .820

July 97AB .309 .361 .773 1.134

Aug 91AB .330 .367 .593 .961

Sep 103AB .330 .400 .534 .934

 

We should have traded Koney to the Brewers for Pods+Vizc+PTBNL.

I don't see any one on the Sox contributing 315A, 375O, 540S from May-Sep in 05.

[CanOfCorn]

Ok. But again we are talking specifically about a bench player role & not an everyday player.  I'm saying the article is ignoring a bench that features players who are strong against either & some time both LH & RH.  That diminishes the need for a strong RH bat off the bench.

 

I can't agree more with the article's belief that we will miss Lee's production the most.

I think this is exactly why most analysts are downplaying us. 

Lee 2004:

April 80AB .263 .341 .475 .816

May 102AB .304 .379 .373 .752

June 106AB .311 .368 .453 .820

July 97AB .309 .361 .773 1.134

Aug 91AB .330 .367 .593 .961

Sep 103AB .330 .400 .534 .934

 

We should have traded Koney to the Brewers for Pods+Vizc+PTBNL.

I don't see any one on the Sox contributing 315A, 375O, 540S from May-Sep in 05.

 

Juggs...I love all your number crunching. I really do, mostly because I don't (or won't) do it myself. But, there are many other factors that go into who gets traded. the Brewers don't need a 1B is one. I think there was a hustle issue with Ozzie. Yes, we will miss his production, but we have a better defensive outfield w/o him. At least Pods or Rowand or whoever truly ends up playing there will get to more balls. We'll see, but I don't think the loss of Lee will be as bad as some people say.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Juggs...I love all your number crunching.  I really do, mostly because I don't (or won't) do it myself.  But, there are many other factors that go into who gets traded.  the Brewers don't need a 1B is one.  I think there was a hustle issue with Ozzie.  Yes, we will miss his production, but we have a better defensive outfield w/o him.  At least Pods or Rowand or whoever truly  ends up playing there will get to more balls.  We'll see, but I don't think the loss of Lee will be as bad as some people  say.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Overbay was a good, cheap easily tradeable for the Brewers to get a new OF or sign Dye to replace Pods. There were plenty of options available to the Brewers to trade for Koney & replace Pods. So I don't buy that for the reason Lee was traded instead of Koney.

 

Likewise I disagree with the general premise that we are stronger D with Pods, Rowand, Dye vs Lee, Rowand, Pods. I think Lee at this stage in his career can make more plays than Dye. Not to mention the durability factor of Lee. Who is more likely to avg 95+ AB a month for you?

 

As for the hustle factor that was one play! I can remember more plays in his time with the Sox where Lee gave up his body either to make a play in the field or make a play on the bases. It's pretty petty thinking to give up that much production over 1 play.

[CanOfCorn]

Overbay was a good, cheap easily tradeable for the Brewers to get a new OF or sign Dye to replace Pods.  There were plenty of options available to the Brewers to trade for Koney & replace Pods.  So I don't buy that for the reason Lee was traded instead of Koney.

 

Likewise I disagree with the general premise that we are stronger D with Pods, Rowand, Dye vs Lee, Rowand, Pods.  I think Lee at this stage in his career can make more plays than Dye.  Not to mention the durability factor of Lee.  Who is more likely to avg 95+ AB a month for you?

 

As for the hustle factor that was one play!  I can remember more plays in his time with the Sox where Lee gave up his body either to make a play in the field or make a play on the bases.  It's pretty petty thinking to give up that much production over 1 play.

 

don't forget they have Prince Fielder coming up right behind Overbay. i don't think they have a highly rated OF prospect coming up...and if they do, they can plug him in behind Brady Clark, if he's that good. Clark is a stopgap. And Jenkins has health issues.

 

i'll give you the Dye vs. Lee health issues. And we aren't in the clubhouse, Ozzie seemed to have soured a bit on Lee and as much as I'm sure he would like his production, Pods is more suited to what KW thought we needed (and cheaper than other options). We'll see how it goes.

[JUGGERNAUT]

don't forget they have Prince Fielder coming up right behind Overbay.  i don't think they have a highly rated OF prospect coming up...and if they do, they can plug him in behind Brady Clark, if he's that good.  Clark is a stopgap.  And Jenkins has health issues. 

 

i'll give you the Dye vs. Lee health issues.  And we aren't in the clubhouse, Ozzie seemed to have soured a bit on Lee and as much as I'm sure he would like his production, Pods is more suited to what KW thought we needed (and cheaper than other options).  We'll see how it goes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I like Pods as a player & I think it was a good move. We needed Pods & Lee more than we needed Koney & Maggs IMHO.

[YASNY]

I liked Carlos Lee as much as anybody other than Heather However, he was traded for a reason, or a multitude of reasons. Again, Juggs, you assuming the other GM would agree to take who you'd rather give them, instead of who they got. I reiterate that you cannot make that assumption, no matter what kind of logic you choose to back your statement up with. It just doesn't fly.

 

Whether those reasons are because Ozzie soured on him, the BrewCrew GM insisted on Lee or KW felt that Lee wasn't the direction he wanted to continue, the deal was made because both GM's believed it would improve their club in the short or long haul.

 

You also have to consider that maybe KW believed Konerko was the one he valued more out of the two. He certainly has more information on Konerko and Lee than we do. Hell, it's possible the Brewers asked for PK and KW refused to part with him. We can't, and don't, know these things. Nor do we know all the details of the organizational discussions to determine assets, strengths, weaknesses or whatever.

 

There are simply too many unknown variables to say 1. We should have sent Konerko. and 2. Milwaukee would have accepted Konerko.

[upnorthsox]

What does  Gload have to do to prove he can be a strong bat off the bench?

I don't buy into this RH & LH bat stuff.  What count's his how a guy does against RH & LH hurlers.

 

3 yr avgs vs RH, LH:

Gload 218AB .298A,  .358O,  .445S  .803

Gload 47AB, .383A,  .420O,  .574S,  .994

 

That looks pretty strong to me

 

 

I like Gload alot but where's he going to get AB's this yr? He'll be lucky if his AB's are only cut in half.

 

Merkin is a shill for the Sox, that's ok if you want some insider info or just need a little Sox love but as far as an objective analysis you might well listen in to a KW news conference.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I like Gload alot but where's he going to get AB's this yr? He'll be lucky if his AB's are only cut in half.

 

Merkin is a shill for the Sox, that's ok if you want some insider info or just need a little Sox love but as far as an objective analysis you might well listen in to a KW news conference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Ok in the Lee & Koney debate at least we agree getting Pods was the right thing. You may be right. Lee might have been the cornerstone of the deal all along for Milw. It could be that KW's asking price was initally Sheets for Lee & then they worked it down from there. We might never know. But we can certainly keep an eye on both in the years to come. I would be surprised if Lee digresses hits wise. Those streaks & those May-Sep numbers are just too strong. He will likewise benefit in a league & division that features fewer power pitchers than the AL does. I can't wait to see him battle the Cub.

 

As for Gload I think you're wrong. I think he's going to get plenty of AB's as a late inning PR for Koney. This team is going to have to manufacture runs a LOT more than the 04 team. I really see Koney losing about 100 AB's & Gload getting them.