Squeezing blood out of a turnip

[VAfan]

Here are the overal stats for the players that typically play in those positions in our lineup, ranked by number of ABs.

 

NAME G AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS

Scott Podsednik 103 391 74 103 24 6 3 148 38 43 72 32 13 .263 .337 .379 .716

Tadahito Iguchi 92 383 67 108 15 0 12 159 48 34 82 7 3 .282 .344 .415 .759

Juan Uribe 92 325 37 80 19 2 14 145 53 10 55 0 1 .246 .271 .446 .717

Brian Anderson 90 244 32 52 15 0 6 85 26 25 64 4 4 .213 .288 .348 .637

Alex Cintron 63 208 28 57 5 2 3 75 25 9 26 8 3 .274 .309 .361 .670

Rob Mackowiak 81 194 23 58 8 1 3 77 15 21 41 5 1 .299 .374 .397 .771

Pablo Ozuna 54 117 18 40 6 1 1 51 13 5 13 5 6 .342 .379 .436 .815

 

We are not carrying just one Brian Anderson in the lineup. Against lefties especially, we seem to have 4 automatic outs. For example, Podsednik looks like this against lefties: .233 .290 .308 .598 Iguchi is also terrible against lefties: .218 .282 .359 .641. Mack's lefty splits are even worse, at .205 .279 .205 .484. And Anderson isn't much better.

 

We also have guys that have hit a slump at the same time. Pods and Iguchi have both been in huge slumps. Uribe was back to terrible ways in July after a torrid June, and hasn't played lately. Ozuna has had 2 hits since he injured his legs and been thrown out 6 times versus 5 successful steals.

 

So what can be done, if anything? If Uribe can play, I would consider sending Ozuna down to give him some ABs. Right now he's of zero value to the team. Once he starts hitting again, I would sub him for Pods or Iguchi against some lefties. When Ozuna was on early in the year, he sparked us to some wins. I would also not be afraid to use Cintron against lefties. Historically, he's been much worse from the right side. Not this year. I might also start Mack a couple of games in LF against righties to see if it lights a fire under Pods. But these tinkering moves would likely make little difference.

 

The good news is that there is potential for considerable upside here. Both Pods and Iguchi have historically hit much better against lefties than they have lately, suggesting they have no where to go but up. We all know Uribe, if healthy, can go on an offensive tear at any time. And Brian Anderson is likely to continue to improve.

 

In the longer run, the Sox need to find a better left fielder, hope Anderson learns how to hit, and consider replacing Uribe at SS if he doesn't flash his brilliance at the plate more than once every few months. And if Iguchi remains this helpless against lefties, he's going to need replacing too. In the meantime, we just have to hope these guys can show the skills they have shown in the past.

[Balta1701]

In the longer run, the Sox need to find a better left fielder, hope Anderson learns how to hit, and consider replacing Uribe at SS if he doesn't flash his brilliance at the plate more than once every few months. And if Iguchi remains this helpless against lefties, he's going to need replacing too. In the meantime, we just have to hope these guys can show the skills they have shown in the past.

To be fair, Brian Anderson is hitting .269 against lefties since the beginning of June.

[Princess Dye]

If Uribe can play, I would consider sending Ozuna down to give him some ABs. Right now he's of zero value to the team. Once he starts hitting again, I would sub him for Pods or Iguchi against some lefties. When Ozuna was on early in the year, he sparked us to some wins.

 

a little rash there.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Its pretty simple, when pods gets on base, the team wins

[VAfan]

a little rash there.

 

Not sure why its rash. Ozuna has had 2 hits since June, and he's not been on the DL. Plus, as a pinch runner, he's been thrown out more often than he's been successful. So, I'd love to get the April-June Ozuna back, but don't want to lose ML games trying to find out when he's going to find the spark again.

 

As for Anderson hitting .269 against lefties since June, whoopee! Even his .300 overall average in July was weak, as he still had a very low OBP and little if any power. I can live with Anderson because his defense is essential in CF. I just want him to be the only seriously weak link in the lineup.

[VAfan]

Last night's game would have turned out differently had we received ANY production out of the 8, 9, or 1 spots in our lineup. The good news was that Iguchi appeared to be back, but that was countered by AJ having a worthless game. (Case in point, Villone, who threw 4 straight balls to Crede to load the bases in the 7th, then threw 4 straight balls to AJ. Unfortunately, AJ swung at two of them and got himself out. A walk would have added a crucial extra run, and also would have turned BA's long fly into a sac fly instead of the third out.) The bad news was that Ozuna remains of no value, that Podsednik is an easy out, that Ozzie for some inexplicable reason declined to pinch hit Mackowiak, and that Uribe was unavailable as a pinch hitter for Cintron with the bases loaded in the 7th or down by a run in the 9th.

 

We need some blood out of these turnips down the stretch.

[VAfan]

Well, lo and behold! The turnips came through in a big way in last night's 5-4 defeat of the Yankees.

 

In the key 4-run second inning, AJ Pierzynzki (an on-the-cusp turnip for the way he played the night before) followed a Jermaine Dye HBP with a solid single to right. After Joe Crede hit into a DP that A-Rod threw into right field, Alex Cintron stroked a single to left that Melky Cabrera misplayed into a double. BA didn't advance him to 3rd, but Podsednik, turnip #1, stroked a single to center that picked him up.

 

Then, in what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the 6th, BA took a very close outside pitch with two strikes that Mussina thought was a strike -- and started to walk to the dugout to show up the ump. After that pitch, he hit a solid double to right. Podsednik then followed with another single to plate the critical run. So, with two outs and no one on, the #9 and #1 turnips manufactured a run.

 

With Thome and Konerko each 0-4, we desperately needed these guys to provide SOMETHING, and they came through!

 

Plus, pitching turnip #1, Javy Vazquez, had an incredible game when you think about it. In major trouble in every inning, he wriggled his way through 5, giving up only Giambi's 2-run HR in the 3rd. And he didn't even get DPs to help him off the hook.

 

This was a team effort tonight. A series win against our likely 1st round playoff opponent (if we make it), a game that put us back into the lead for the wild card, and our second 1-run victory in a row.

 

GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kyyle23]

Can Ozuna be optioned down right now without having to pass through waivers?

[VAfan]

Can Ozuna be optioned down right now without having to pass through waivers?

 

I don't know, frankly. Never been an expert on the waiver rules.

 

But, given the fact he has two hits total since June and hasn't been on the DL, I'm not sure anyone would claim him.

[Balta1701]

Can Ozuna be optioned down right now without having to pass through waivers?

I am almost certain that Ozuna can be sent down.

[VAfan]

I am almost certain that Ozuna can be sent down.

 

Then we should ship him out pronto. He has value if he can hit lefties and run the bases, but right now he can't do anything. Give him some AAA ABs and bring up Tracey. Ozzie needs the flexibility to start yanking our starters after 5 without wearing out the bullpen too.

[Balta1701]

Then we should ship him out pronto. He has value if he can hit lefties and run the bases, but right now he can't do anything. Give him some AAA ABs and bring up Tracey. Ozzie needs the flexibility to start yanking our starters after 5 without wearing out the bullpen too.

Our bullpen still has pitched the fewest innings of any bullpen in baseball. On top of that, we actually have a long releiver already in that bullpen who we can hopefully call on when starters leave early, and we've removed a couple guys who pitched innings for us earlier in the year (Politte) and replaced them with guys fresh off the DL who haven't thrown a ton of innings. Ozzie has all the flexibility with the bullpen he wants. The only guy he's used about as much as he could be is Jenks.

[VAfan]

Just wanted to note here that the "turnips" came through again offensively yesterday, driving in all 4 runs (unearned) in a 4-3 win over the Tigers. Uribe hit a 2-out double, Anderson followed with a 2-run single, and Alomar (certainly an offensive turnip) hit a sac fly. With the Sox only getting 4 hits, needless to say, these contributions were huge!

 

The Sox need some production out of these guys to sustain winning streaks like the one they are on.

[3E8]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAME	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	TB	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Scott Podsednik	107	406	75	107	24	6	3	152	40	43	75	32	14	0.264	0.335	0.374	0.709
Tadahito Iguchi	96	399	70	116	16	0	13	171	50	35	83	7	3	0.291	0.351	0.429	0.779
Juan Uribe	93	328	38	81	20	2	14	147	54	10	56	0	1	0.247	0.272	0.448	0.72
Brian Anderson	94	257	33	55	16	0	6	89	28	25	67	4	4	0.214	0.288	0.346	0.634
Alex Cintron	66	220	29	60	6	2	3	79	26	9	27	8	3	0.273	0.306	0.359	0.665
Rob Mackowiak	82	194	23	58	8	1	3	77	15	21	41	5	1	0.299	0.374	0.397	0.771
Pablo Ozuna	55	120	18	40	6	1	1	51	13	5	14	5	6	0.333	0.37	0.425	0.795

[Balta1701]

Just wanted to note here that the "turnips" came through again offensively yesterday, driving in all 4 runs (unearned) in a 4-3 win over the Tigers. Uribe hit a 2-out double, Anderson followed with a 2-run single, and Alomar (certainly an offensive turnip) hit a sac fly. With the Sox only getting 4 hits, needless to say, these contributions were huge!

 

The Sox need some production out of these guys to sustain winning streaks like the one they are on.

2 of our last 3 wins have come largely thanks to the work of the back end/top of our order.

[VAfan]

2 of our last 3 wins have come largely thanks to the work of the back end/top of our order.

 

Yes, and today as well. Cintron drove in 3 runs subbing for Iguchi in the 2 hole; Ozuna got only his 3rd hit since June to drive in a run. Pods, Anderson, and Uribe all scored a run each, with Anderson also getting an RBI. So, for the turnips, that's

 

5 runs, 4 RBI in a 7-3 win over the Tigers. HUGE.

 

Just shows that we need some contributions from the bottom and top of the order guys who went into a terrible funk, and when we get them, it is almost as important as getting good pitching. Getting both together spells WINNING STREAK.

 

GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!