Konerko update

[LosMediasBlancas]

So... does anyone actually have an update on PK in this thread? Any idea how the X-Rays went?

 

 

apparently NO.

[Balta1701]

I just don't agree. I doubt more than 1 game was turned significantly due to Mack's presence in CF, and he has won us at least one game I know of. So I don't see the huge impact.

 

Now Pods, who plays every day, his bad D worries me more than Mack's once every 3-4 days in CF.

Pods has played slightly more than 2 times as many innings in LF as Mack has played in CF.

[fathom]

I just don't agree. I doubt more than 1 game was turned significantly due to Mack's presence in CF, and he has won us at least one game I know of. So I don't see the huge impact.

 

Off the top of my head:

- Cubs game on Barrett's triple

- Tigers game where he let IRod tag up on routine fly

- Orioles game from Sunday

[Gregory Pratt]

Off the top of my head:

- Cubs game on Barrett's triple

- Tigers game where he let IRod tag up on routine fly

- Orioles game from Sunday

 

More times than that, IMO, but I recall all those offhand.

 

At least his bat is an excellent tool off the bench.

[CanOfCorn]

I think it's silly to say that because Thome is out, the offense is doing better. Bull.

 

I do like, however, the way this team is built, and even without Thome, we've gotten good games from the rest of the guys. I'm not sure if they could sustain it for too long a time, and in fact I'd bet that they can't, but I like this team's depth, talent and resilency.

 

 

It may not be THE factor, but it sure is a contributing factor, along with the rotten staffs that the O's and Royals have. Not having Thome or Konerko in there forces this team to do more of the little things to score runs and not rely on Caveman Jim.

[G&T]

I just don't agree. I doubt more than 1 game was turned significantly due to Mack's presence in CF, and he has won us at least one game I know of. So I don't see the huge impact.

 

Now Pods, who plays every day, his bad D worries me more than Mack's once every 3-4 days in CF.

 

The fact that Ozuna has been struggling with the bat isn't helping anything either. But if Anderson keeps improving his offense we won't have to worry about center.

Edited August 2, 2006 by G&T

[Gregory Pratt]

It may not be THE factor, but it sure is a contributing factor, along with the rotten staffs that the O's and Royals have. Not having Thome or Konerko in there forces this team to do more of the little things to score runs and not rely on Caveman Jim.

 

Caveman Jim? That nickname sucks.

[NorthSideSox72]

Off the top of my head:

- Cubs game on Barrett's triple

- Tigers game where he let IRod tag up on routine fly

- Orioles game from Sunday

i don't recall what he did Sunday, but I do remember the others - and they were screwups. But did they turn the game? How many times did rallies die on Anderson's bat?

 

Mack is a significant defensive downgrade from Anderson. Duh. But when one considers offense as well in the positive (where Mack is a full 100 points higher in average and is better on the basepaths), and looks at the whole season, I recall only one game where the big negative difference was Mack's play on something Anderson would have made. And he won at least one game I can recall.

 

Therefore, all things considered, I think Mack's impact on the team over/under Anderson is minimal. Which is exactly what you want from your bench.

[YASNY]

Caveman Jim? That nickname sucks.

 

I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa.

[fathom]

i don't recall what he did Sunday, but I do remember the others - and they were screwups. But did they turn the game? How many times did rallies die on Anderson's bat?

 

Mack is a significant defensive downgrade from Anderson. Duh. But when one considers offense as well in the positive (where Mack is a full 100 points higher in average and is better on the basepaths), and looks at the whole season, I recall only one game where the big negative difference was Mack's play on something Anderson would have made. And he won at least one game I can recall.

 

Therefore, all things considered, I think Mack's impact on the team over/under Anderson is minimal. Which is exactly what you want from your bench.

 

But how about the argument all year that we've had enough offense from the other 8 players, and we needed a defensive force out there in CF? Trust me, I cringed at Anderson batting for the first few months of the season. However, time and time again, Mackowiak has proven he's not a CF. If Ozzie wanted to get his offense into the game, there's a spot in LF where we're not getting more production that what Mackowiak has given us this year. And FWIW, the first two games I mentioned with Mack saw those plays absolutely impact the final outcome of the game.

[G&T]

I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa.

 

I don't have much of an appetite.

[YASNY]

i don't recall what he did Sunday, but I do remember the others - and they were screwups. But did they turn the game? How many times did rallies die on Anderson's bat?

 

Mack is a significant defensive downgrade from Anderson. Duh. But when one considers offense as well in the positive (where Mack is a full 100 points higher in average and is better on the basepaths), and looks at the whole season, I recall only one game where the big negative difference was Mack's play on something Anderson would have made. And he won at least one game I can recall.

 

Therefore, all things considered, I think Mack's impact on the team over/under Anderson is minimal. Which is exactly what you want from your bench.

 

Think about it from this point of view. Not games cost but pitches thrown. How many of Mack's defensive gaffes has led to our pitching work more, harder, under stress with runners on base? That stuff adds up over the course of a season. We won last year with pitching and defense. Without the defense the pitching struggles more ... did the struggling pitching steamroll? Who knows. But it's damn sure possible.

[BigSqwert]

I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa.

Nicely done.

[NorthSideSox72]

But how about the argument all year that we've had enough offense from the other 8 players, and we needed a defensive force out there in CF? Trust me, I cringed at Anderson batting for the first few months of the season. However, time and time again, Mackowiak has proven he's not a CF. If Ozzie wanted to get his offense into the game, there's a spot in LF where we're not getting more production that what Mackowiak has given us this year. And FWIW, the first two games I mentioned with Mack saw those plays absolutely impact the final outcome of the game.

I of course do agree that Ozzie's particular use of Mack isn't ideal. As I mentioned in another thread, the ideal way to involve Mack is to play him once very 7-10 days in EACH OF position, thus getting him in the lineup every third day or so, but allowing Anderson, Dye and Pods to still get most of the time at their positions. Or something like that. Maybe even more often than that in LF, since Pods is under-producing.

[Pants Rowland]

But how about the argument all year that we've had enough offense from the other 8 players, and we needed a defensive force out there in CF? Trust me, I cringed at Anderson batting for the first few months of the season. However, time and time again, Mackowiak has proven he's not a CF. If Ozzie wanted to get his offense into the game, there's a spot in LF where we're not getting more production that what Mackowiak has given us this year. And FWIW, the first two games I mentioned with Mack saw those plays absolutely impact the final outcome of the game.

 

I was in the third row in straightaway right field in that Sunday game versus the cubs. I was furious with Guillen for not bringing Anderson into Center for defense to help preserve what would have been a victory. Mack clearly got a bad read and then tried to compensate by making an illadvised dive which took him totally out of the play. There is no doubt in my mind Anderson makes that play and the Sox go on to sweep the Cubs.

[Milkman delivers]

Defensively, it is a very significant drop off if he's in CF, which is where he is most of the time.

 

He doesn't seem to get that point.

 

Our lack of a back-up CF is absolutely important. It's come back to haunt us about 10 times this season, and we would likely have had 2 or 3 more wins if there was a better defensive option out there. Mackowiak has been excellent at the plate this year...but his defense in CF is absolutely medicore. When you say we have a lot of problems, a lot of them come from our awful outfield defense this season. Our starting pitching has struggled this season, but they've gotten no help from our LF defense and CF back-up. A lot of rallies have started against us do to miscues out there.

 

Thank you.

[NorthSideSox72]

He doesn't seem to get that point.

I acknowledged that point numerous times. Others do not get that it doesn't necessarily mean he has caused all these issues that are being attributed to him, nor does it acknowledge the huge offensive advantage he gives.

[Milkman delivers]

The problem is of course that ozzie insists that we need a backup Center Fielder who will start in CF every 3rd game, thus putting one of the worst defensive center fielders in the game out there for us, and costing us at least 1 run it seems every time he's out there. (Last time he was out there, on Sunday, he short-hopped 2 balls Anderson would have had easily, at least one of which turned into an RBI).

 

Wow, exactly what I've been saying. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks he costs us every single time.

[NorthSideSox72]

So, back on topic, I found this in the Herald, and its the best I could find on PK:

 

Black and blue: Paul Konerko had to leave Tuesday’s game after being hit by a pitch from Royals reliever Scott Dohmann in the sixth inning.

 

Konerko suffered a contusion above his left elbow, and he was taken for precautionary X-rays. Like Jim Thome, he’s not expected to play tonight.

 

“Hermie (trainer Herm Schneider) said he didn’t see anything real bad,’’ manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He got hit on the top of his arm, so there’s more muscle there.’’

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=213209

 

Looks like it isn't too bad.

[whitesoxfan101]

Yeah, it's just a contusion, it originally looked like he might have got it on the funnybone, but in fact it's a pretty good bruise. Knowing Ozzie, Kong might get the day off tonight however, which means Freddy REALLY better be on his game if Kong and Thome are out. Or Joe needs to go 4 for 5 again.

[YASNY]

Yeah, it's just a contusion, it originally looked like he might have got it on the funnybone, but in fact it's a pretty good bruise. Knowing Ozzie, Kong might get the day off tonight however, which means Freddy REALLY better be on his game if Kong and Thome are out. Or Joe needs to go 4 for 5 again.

 

I like our chances against the Royals. This may set the tone for a classic Freddie Garcia 'step up' game without the big guns in the lineup.

[whitesoxfan101]

I like our chances against the Royals. This may set the tone for a classic Freddie Garcia 'step up' game without the big guns in the lineup.

 

Yeah, with the day off tomorrow and the flight to Canada, I'd be shocked if we don't just give Kong and Thome today off. Hopefully the offense and Freddy step it up, although as long as Freddy is throwing a Greg Maddux velocity fastball, I'm still worried about him.

[YASNY]

Yeah, with the day off tomorrow and the flight to Canada, I'd be shocked if we don't just give Kong and Thome today off. Hopefully the offense and Freddy step it up, although as long as Freddy is throwing a Greg Maddux velocity fastball, I'm still worried about him.

 

I agree, but Freddie has been known to step up in tough games ... see Game 4 of the Series ... and maybe, just maybe, getting into a tough game may make him realize he's been skating and not working hard enough. I hope that's the problem, and not the fact that he's unable to pitch anymore.

[whitesoxfan101]

I agree, but Freddie has been known to step up in tough games ... see Game 4 of the Series ... and maybe, just maybe, getting into a tough game may make him realize he's been skating and working hard enough. I hope that's the problem, and not the fact that he's unable to pitch anymore.

 

I think he can still pitch, his stuff just isn't good enough, which terrifies me. At least with Buehrle, I know his problem has been location and there is hope for him to turn it around, I'm MUCH more iffy on Garcia.

[NorthSideSox72]

Yeah, with the day off tomorrow and the flight to Canada, I'd be shocked if we don't just give Kong and Thome today off. Hopefully the offense and Freddy step it up, although as long as Freddy is throwing a Greg Maddux velocity fastball, I'm still worried about him.

So, the lineup will probably look like...

 

Pods

Gooch

Pierzynski

Dye

Crede

Uribe

Gload

Mack

Anderson

 

I'm guessing. With Mack or Dye at DH.

 

Maybe Mack and Uribe flipped in that order, though.

 

 

I think he can still pitch, his stuff just isn't good enough, which terrifies me. At least with Buehrle, I know his problem has been location and there is hope for him to turn it around, I'm MUCH more iffy on Garcia.

I think I saw somewhere that he was back up at 91-92 with has fastball in his last start, instead of 86. Maybe he can get back to 94 again.