Tony Alvarez or Joe Borchard?

[SSH2005]

Latest News  Dec. 24, 2005 - 2:03 pm et

 

Minor league free agent Tony Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double yesterday for La Guaira of the VWL.

Alvarez missed most of last season after failing to make the White Sox out of spring training. He's been one of the top players in Venezuela, batting .291/.426/.523 in 151 AB, and he's tended to put up very good numbers in the minors. He'll probably be a solid reserve outfielder once he gets the chance.

Alvarez will be 27 years old when the season starts and he can play every outfield position. Like Borchard, he used to be a highly rated prospect. What do you guys think?

[SoxAce]

Ain't too many Borchard backers on soxtalk (All I know of is Aboz) so any move that takes Borch off the 40 man (hopefully the entire sox organization all together) is fine with me.

[3E8]

Looking at Borchard's minor league numbers, his development path was way too ambitious. He's got 1774 minor league at-bats, only 106 of them coming outside the AAA level.

[Chisoxfn]

Looking at Borchard's minor league numbers, his development path was way too ambitious.  He's got 1774 minor league at-bats, only 106 of them coming outside the AAA level.

For some reason the stats on Sports-wired pull out his 2001 season, but he put up monster numbers in Bham that year.

 

I'd assume he had around 500 hits, but I can't find his 2001 stats at the moment (I am pretty sure he was in Bham for the entire season) which would equate to 500-600 AB's.

[3E8]

For some reason the stats on Sports-wired pull out his 2001 season, but he put up monster numbers in Bham that year. 

 

I'd assume he had around 500 hits, but I can't find his 2001 stats at the moment (I am pretty sure he was in Bham for the entire season) which would equate to 500-600 AB's.

Oops. I didn't notice 2001 was missing. I got mine from thebaseballcube.com.

 

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/223540

 

There it shows his full '01 season, 515 AB's.

Edited December 25, 2005 by 3E8

[Chisoxfn]

Oops.  I didn't notice 2001 was missing.  I got mine from thebaseballcube.com.

Thats the same place I get my stuff from. I don't know whats up with it, but I'm too lazy to dig through my stats right now. I think he hit around 26 HR's in Birmingham and played the entire year there.

 

After that year, people were really really raving about him. Its not to often a guy comes into Bham and hammers the ball like he did. Chris Young's one of the few that has and I fear were really going to miss him.

 

The worse part about the Chris Young trade for me is that not only did I lose my favorite prospect, but it means we'll lose one of my favorite pitchers in Garland for a guy thats been a grade A baby for the past couple seasons in Vazquez.

 

I'll let that end my rant. The more it settles in the more I hate that move.

[Heads22]

Don't think Alvarez is under Sox control anymore. Pretty sure of it actually. Let me check rotoworld.

[Heads22]

Well I guess, yah, it says right there he is a free agent. Never mind me.

[DBAHO]

Thats the same place I get my stuff from.  I don't know whats up with it, but I'm too lazy to dig through my stats right now. I think he hit around 26 HR's in Birmingham and played the entire year there. 

 

After that year, people were really really raving about him.  Its not to often a guy comes into Bham and hammers the ball like he did.  Chris Young's one of the few that has and I fear were really going to miss him. 

 

The worse part about the Chris Young trade for me is that not only did I lose my favorite prospect, but it means we'll lose one of my favorite pitchers in Garland for a guy thats been a grade A baby for the past couple seasons in Vazquez.

 

I'll let that end my rant.  The more it settles in the more I hate that move.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Young, and whether they rush him to the big leagues straight away. If they play their cards right, they're going to have a hell of a young nucleus in a few years with Quentin, Jackson, Gonzalez (not Luis), Young, Tracy, Drew, possibly Upton and Montero.

 

Jason what are your thoughts on Vazquez, and do you think it was wise trading for him so we get the 3 years out of him, instead of just the 1 year out of Jon (which could still happen), and losing Young in the process.

 

And the part that really bugs me about this deal (right now I'm prob 45-55 on it), was that we could of possibly traded Brian Anderson instead of Chris Young, but we chose Anderson because he's supposedly ready now.

[elrockinMT]

Joe Borchard deserves the chance. You don't inverst $5M in a player & just let him go. He may have struggled, but was showing some real promise last year with cutting down on hs swing and making some adjustments.

[Balta1701]

I somewhat hope Borchard gets that last ou tfield spot, simply because if he gets 200 or so at bats (Timo + Carl as outfielders last year), he may very well hit 10-20 home runs, which really wouldn't hurt us. Furthermore, if he could somehow do that while hitting .250 plus, which is the one thing which has killed him in the big leagues (hitting below .200), then all of a sudden that trade value which right now appears to be nothing could skyrocket.

 

Teams right now would give up a ton for Adam Dunn even though he strikes out a lot. Borch isn't that good, but if he could somehow show that he could handle the bat in the big leagues and not kill us, he could net us something valuable.

 

On the other hand, if someone would give us a decent lefty reliever for Borch right now, I could care less if he's on the team next year, because we have several other people we could plug in.

[VAfan]

And the part that really bugs me about this deal (right now I'm prob 45-55 on it), was that we could of possibly traded Brian Anderson instead of Chris Young, but we chose Anderson because he's supposedly ready now.

 

I would agree with this. Comparing Young to Anderson at the same stops is rather depressing when you realize we kept Anderson.

 

And since this post is supposed to be about Borchard, my question is how great a difference is there defensively between Anderson and Borchard? Because Borchard is probably a better hitter than Anderson at this point. (And what does THAT say about Anderson?) (I hope I'm wrong.)

[Guest JimH]

I would agree with this.  Comparing Young to Anderson at the same stops is rather depressing when you realize we kept Anderson. 

 

And since this post is supposed to be about Borchard, my question is how great a difference is there defensively between Anderson and Borchard?  Because Borchard is probably a better hitter than Anderson at this point.  (And what does THAT say about Anderson?)  (I hope I'm wrong.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Anderson covers a lot more ground than Borchard and grades a lot higher on routes, instinct, baseball sense. They both have plus arms.

 

I would totally disagree that Borchard is a better hitter than Anderson at this point. No way. Borchard has more power but that's about it.

[Heads22]

Anderson covers a lot more ground than Borchard and grades a lot higher on routes, instinct, baseball sense.  They both have plus arms.

 

I would totally disagree that Borchard is a better hitter than Anderson at this point.  No way.  Borchard has more power but that's about it.

 

Chicks dig the 504 foot longball!

[Chisoxfn]

I would agree with this.  Comparing Young to Anderson at the same stops is rather depressing when you realize we kept Anderson. 

 

And since this post is supposed to be about Borchard, my question is how great a difference is there defensively between Anderson and Borchard?  Because Borchard is probably a better hitter than Anderson at this point.  (And what does THAT say about Anderson?)  (I hope I'm wrong.)

Anderson is bar none the better defensive player and he's also by far a better offensive player than Borchard. Your assesment couldn't be more wrong. Anderson will definately suffer some growing pains offensively, but as of now he's the more polished hitter of the two and its why he's going to be our starting center fielder.

[DBAHO]

Anderson is bar none the better defensive player and he's also by far a better offensive player than Borchard.  Your assesment couldn't be more wrong.  Anderson will definately suffer some growing pains offensively, but as of now he's the more polished hitter of the two and its why he's going to be our starting center fielder.

I can definitley understand that right now for 2006 Brian Anderson should outperform Chris Young. He's better defensively, and will probably hit a little better than Young would if they were both in the majors. I've got no beef with that.

 

What annoyed me though, was that almost every minor league guru here on Soxtalk has stated that Chris Young has the potential to be a better player then Brian Anderson. I look at Anderson and see a Jacque Jones type of career for him, not bad for a CF at all. But Young has the chance to be a better than Mike Cameron type, and I think if given a choice most of those minor league experts would have preferred to keep Young.

 

Of course if we did keep Young and traded Anderson, then for CF you'd hav Jerry Owens, or you'd have to find a solution on the FA market (e.g Kenny Lofton, Jeff DaVanon) or in the trade market.

[Heads22]

Out of curiosity, when's the last time Owens even played center? I'm pretty sure he played all of 05 in left....

 

I get the idea a lot of people thought Owens played center this last year, but according to BHam, he was in left for every game, even when Young was out...Blakely would play center.

[Chisoxfn]

Out of curiosity, when's the last time Owens even played center? I'm pretty sure he played all of 05 in left....

 

I get the idea a lot of people thought Owens played center this last year, but according to BHam, he was in left for every game, even when Young was out...Blakely would play center.

Which is why I continue to laugh at everyone who suggests Owens plays CF. He'd be worse than Pods in CF and folks we don't want to see Pods in CF.

[Guest JimH]

Which is why I continue to laugh at everyone who suggests Owens plays CF.  He'd be worse than Pods in CF and folks we don't want to see Pods in CF.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

He (Owens) can play CF if he has to but you are right, he is not the guy you'd want out there full time, at least not at this point.

 

The valid question is, what do you do if Anderson gets hurt? He has a history of nagging injuries so it's fair to suggest he might miss some time. Who do you plug in there, Joe Borchard? I would actually take Owens in CF over Borchard due to Joe's below average speed.

 

Does it not make sense to bring in a defensive specialist who can play all three spots and can run a bit?

Edited December 27, 2005 by JimH

[Chisoxfn]

He (Owens) can play CF if he has to but you are right, he is not the guy you'd want out there full time, at least not at this point.

 

The valid question is, what do you do if Anderson gets hurt?  He has a history of nagging injuries so it's fair to suggest he might miss some time.  Who do you plug in there, Joe Borchard?  I would actually take Owens in CF over Borchard due to Joe's below average speed.

 

Does it not make sense to bring in a defensive specialist who can play all three spots and can run a bit?

Defensively, I'd take Joe. However, if Anderson stinks or misses an extended period of time, I'd go to the trade front. Jerry Owens is not a viable candidate. The people I've talked to have pretty much all flat said he's not a CFer. The guy is a mediocre left fielder (defensively) and he's going to have to hit and steal to be sucessful in this league (I've yet to see him in person aside from spring training and I know he has some talent) but he's yet to really put his high end speed to work on the bases (he steals a good number of bases, but for the minors I"d expect more steals).

 

I, however, don't think as highly of Jerry as Ozzie seems to and I know there are some baseball people that feel the same way I do (in terms of it being nuts to put him in CF).

 

I have one thing to worry about. Brian Anderson looked like garbage at the plate last season with the Sox. Most of the time he was up there he looked like a total fool. His swing was awkard. He made a few strides later on, but I hope he's been working hard and was watching film and that he'll make some adjustments.

 

Cause if he plays like he did last year, we will have a MAJOR hole in CF. However, long term, i think Anderson can be a very similar player to Torri Hunter (maybe a notch below him defensively). I just think Anderson has a swing thats still a work in progress.

[Guest JimH]

Jason, what are you hearing on the Dodgers front? Anything in the papers?

 

Are they going hard after Jeff Weaver or do you suspect something else?

[Balta1701]

Jason, what are you hearing on the Dodgers front?  Anything in the papers?

 

Are they going hard after Jeff Weaver or do you suspect something else?

The LAT keeps saying that they want to add another starting pitcher and they are "Negotiating" with Boras, but they've gone no farther than saying Weaver is a possibility, and they always line up the other possiblities, from Garland to Billingsly, whenever they write about that 5th starter spot.

[Heads22]

Wow, Jason and I agree on something.

 

I will say, I wouldn't be surprised to see Scott spell Brian in center some this year.