Mackowiak's place on the team

[whitesoxfan101]

I think it's pretty clear this guy CAN NOT play CF....however I think it's also clear that he can be a valuable player. So my question to Ozzie (especially with Pablo knicked up) is, why the hell don't we put Mack in left and lead him off when Pods needs a day off? Mack actually can play a decent LF defensively (sure as hell better than Pods), he gives quality at bats, has adequate speed, and his .310 average and .394 OBP are both better than Pods, who isn't exactly stealing a ton of bases these days anyways (and hell, Ozuna has sucked on steals all year). Combine this with the fact that Anderson is the only guy on our team that can play CF on defense and actually hits righties better than he does lefties, and it's clear BA should be in CF hitting 9th everyday, and that if Mack is to play, he should be in left while Ozuna should be strictly an infielder (as we've seen when he does play LF).

 

If this is so obvious to me and many Sox fans out there, why isn't it to Ozzie?

[BigSqwert]

You are preaching to the choir. He has been completely misused. He should play twice a week, one game to rest Pods and one game to rest Dye. Pablo should only sub Crede and pinch run.

[whitesoxfan101]

You are preaching to the choir. He has been completely misused. He should play twice a week, one game to rest Pods and one game to rest Dye. Pablo should only sub Crede and pinch run.

 

Agreed on all counts except Dye doesn't need 1 day a week off, I'd say more like a day every 10 days to 2 weeks he needs off. But anyways, your right on track and that is how the rotation SHOULD go. Hell, I'd even be willing to give Uribe a few more days off to get Cintron in at SS and let Ozuna take Gooch's spot at 2B on Gooch's off days if we're that desperate to keep everybody playing.

[Balta1701]

Agreed on all counts except Dye doesn't need 1 day a week off, I'd say more like a day every 10 days to 2 weeks he needs off. But anyways, your right on track and that is how the rotation SHOULD go. Hell, I'd even be willing to give Uribe a few more days off to get Cintron in at SS and let Ozuna take Gooch's spot at 2B on Gooch's off days if we're that desperate to keep everybody playing.

Cintron was ungodly bad yesterday, by the way.

 

Not really anything to do with the topic, I just wanted to point that out.

[BigSqwert]

So who subs for BA when he needs a day off?

[NorthSideSox72]

So... you guys want Anderson to play 162 games a year, then? Who is his sub if not Mack?

 

I am not saying Mack should play every other day out there, but he'll need to spell Anderson on occasion, unless you want Gload or Ozuna or Pods out there.

[whitesoxfan101]

Cintron was ungodly bad yesterday, by the way.

 

Not really anything to do with the topic, I just wanted to point that out.

 

I'm aware of it. Other than Gload for Konerko at 1B (which never happens except late in games) and Mack for Pods in LF, we lose A LOT on defense anytime we play any of the reserves, which is the reason why I wish we'd play the everyday guys as much as possible (although I'd like to see Mack in LF a lot more....)

[BigSqwert]

So... you guys want Anderson to play 162 games a year, then? Who is his sub if not Mack?

That's the dilemma.

[whitesoxfan101]

So... you guys want Anderson to play 162 games a year, then? Who is his sub if not Mack?

 

I am not saying Mack should play every other day out there, but he'll need to spell Anderson on occasion, unless you want Gload or Ozuna or Pods out there.

 

If Mack is in center once every 10 days to 2 weeks to give Anderson a blow, I can live with it. But that is not how we are doing it, at all.

[NorthSideSox72]

I'm aware of it. Other than Gload for Konerko at 1B (which never happens except late in games) and Mack for Pods in LF, we lose A LOT on defense anytime we play any of the reserves, which is the reason why I wish we'd play the everyday guys as much as possible (although I'd like to see Mack in LF a lot more....)

I think Ozuna makes a decent 3B sub, Cintron is acceptable most of the time at SS (less so at 2B), and Mack plays corner OF just fine. So really, you only go really bad on defense when we have to play a sub at CF or C. Or when Ozuna ends up in LF, but even he is getting a little better out there, especially compared to Pods.

 

I just wish Ozzie would play Ozuna at 3B, or even Mack, instead of Cintron, who is a hack at 3B.

[iamshack]

So... you guys want Anderson to play 162 games a year, then? Who is his sub if not Mack?

 

I am not saying Mack should play every other day out there, but he'll need to spell Anderson on occasion, unless you want Gload or Ozuna or Pods out there.

 

Anderson is 24 years old and beginning to develop nicely.

 

He has already sat plenty of days.

 

Miguel Tejada has played over 1000 straight games. Before being injured, Hideki Matsui had played around 700 or so.

 

I think Brian could play 70.

Edited July 20, 2006 by iamshack

[Guest JimH]

The answer to all of this is easy, talk to Ozzie and KW about it if you disagree but they think Gload is a more valuable piece of the team vs. a very good defensive OF who can sub all three positions. Mackowiak hasn't played a lot of 1B in his career but I suspect he can capably handle playing there occasionally.

 

They need a guy for late inning defense and that same guy should be able to sub for Anderson now and again to give him a breather.

 

I have respect for Ross Gload but the guy barely plays.

 

Now, the trick is locating that multipurpose OF player. Not as easy as it sounds. Sweeney is the closest they have in the organization but that's not a perfect scenario or fit for that matter.

[Milkman delivers]

I've been saying for a while to give Mackowiak a chance out in LF with Ozuna platooning with him sparingly.

 

If we can get another OFer that is capable of playing a good CF, then go for it. If not, Anderson has already had a lot of time off this year and it won't hurt him much to play out there almost everyday with Mack giving him a break once in a while (he just plays way too much at this point in CF, it's like once a series).

[Harry Chappas]

Brian Anderson is 24 years old and there are plenty of off days the rest of the way. He should not get a day off until his average drops below .180