Iguchi in the 7 spot?

[CanOfCorn]

Interesting. The Sox JUST reported to camp, haven't played a game and many of you are freaking out. Is it possible...just POSSIBLE that Erstad could have even a good season? Y'know, last chance kinda thing? Or that Anderson knocks the snot out of the ball? Or that Podsednik, when healthy, can be a .350 OBP guy?

 

Relax. They haven't even started to pitch to each other yet.

 

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying Iguchi in the 7th spot again. Why not? Try it. It's not like his job depends on it.

[DrunkBomber]

Id hope if they did experiment with this that they would make the change if it didnt work, or Thome and Konerko will be putting up career lows.

[StrangeSox]

I would say that Gooch batting 7th would not be that big of a deal. It is not like the order matters that much after the 1st inning. What matters more is who is hitting before and after him.

 

The Erstad-Pods thing however would be horrible. Actually, anything with Pods in it is horrible at this point.

 

I was listening to an interesting analysis of this on the Score after the Cubs signed Soriano. I don't remember all of the exact details, but, suffice it to say that the order really does matter over the course of the season for total number of at-bats and RBI opportunities.

[Heads22]

Unless, of course, Guillen begins to play favorites; in which case may God help us.

 

 

Heh...imagine the thought of that.

[Gregory Pratt]

Iguchi struggled in the seventh spot last year in ST because he was trying different things with his bat. He was experimenting with different approaches to hitting -- a different stance and things of that sort -- and he struggled at the same time as he was in the seventh spot by coincidence. Iguchi could handle any spot in the order, and he knows how to swing a bat, ala Japan, so let's not pretend that somehow he'll fall apart if you put him at seven.

 

I don't think it'll happen because we don't really have good options at second or first without him, but it wouldn't be bad at all.

[badatbest]

I knew picking up Erstad was a bad idea. It just gives Ozzie the opportunity to dick around with Anderson's playing time.

[Y2HH]

Analysis of this thread, and almost every other similar (and annoying) thread on this board as of late:

 

Person #1: Erstad will suck!

Person #2: So will Pods!

Person #3: Regurgitate what person #1 said.

Person #4: Regurgitate what person #1, #2 and #3 said.

 

I mean...wow. Just. Wow.

 

Almost all of you are literally hoping that Scott Podsednik fails before day one, just so you can be right. Same goes for Erstad.

 

Call me the odd man out that actually hopes the team succeeds, but this isn't even fun anymore. Read baseball on this depressive board for a half hour and you feel like we haven't won a world series in 99 years like our counterparts up north. Maybe one or two of you will be man (or woman) enough to step up if Pods or Erstad succeeds, where if they don't, all of you will play the "told you so" game.

 

Two seasons off a world series, and already some of you sound like the same old malcontent fans that expect failure so much, that you actually hope for it.

 

And I know...I'm the bad guy for saying it. I'll get flamed endlessly because, "I'm st00pid" or I'll get the standard cookie-cutter replies of "thats not what we mean at all...we just want the best for this team" crapola...but I'm not buying it. We all want whats best for this team...but this is it. This is the team we have. Live with it.

 

It's almost spring. It's supposed to be a new beginning with new hope.

 

Around here...it's not a new beginning we new hope. Call the season...we've already lost. Podsednik will be horrible. Erstad will be horrible. Ozzie will make terrible decisions (because you say so), and we will come in 16th place.

 

-Y2

[badatbest]

Analysis of this thread, and almost every other similar (and annoying) thread on this board as of late:

 

Person #1: Erstad will suck!

Person #2: So will Pods!

Person #3: Regurgitate what person #1 said.

Person #4: Regurgitate what person #1, #2 and #3 said.

 

I mean...wow. Just. Wow.

 

Almost all of you are literally hoping that Scott Podsednik fails before day one, just so you can be right. Same goes for Erstad.

 

Call me the odd man out that actually hopes the team succeeds, but this isn't even fun anymore. Read baseball on this depressive board for a half hour and you feel like we haven't won a world series in 99 years like our counterparts up north. Maybe one or two of you will be man (or woman) enough to step up if Pods or Erstad succeeds, where if they don't, all of you will play the "told you so" game.

 

Two seasons off a world series, and already some of you sound like the same old malcontent fans that expect failure so much, that you actually hope for it.

 

And I know...I'm the bad guy for saying it. I'll get flamed endlessly because, "I'm st00pid" or I'll get the standard cookie-cutter replies of "thats not what we mean at all...we just want the best for this team" crapola...but I'm not buying it. We all want whats best for this team...but this is it. This is the team we have. Live with it.

 

It's almost spring. It's supposed to be a new beginning with new hope.

 

Around here...it's not a new beginning we new hope. Call the season...we've already lost. Podsednik will be horrible. Erstad will be horrible. Ozzie will make terrible decisions (because you say so), and we will come in 16th place.

 

-Y2

 

 

I have no problem with Erstad, i think he will be fine. I just dont want him in CF. He should be an insurance plan on Pods being injured and/or playing to the level he has for the past 1.5 years.

 

Pods has been a bitter disapointment for 1.5 years, I see no reason why that will change. As a fan I hope i am wrong, i doubt i am though.

 

 

Don't confuse my and other's critisism/discussion for a lack of hope and excitement for the coming season.

Edited February 21, 2007 by bad at best

[badatbest]

Also.

 

Most of the people on this board are fairly sophisticated and well informed fans that are interested in analysis and deconstruction of every move the white sox make. Most fashion themselves armchair GMs. I for one have no interest in being a cheerleader all day long. I'll save that for the games.

[Y2HH]

I've been here long enough to know what people fashion themselves after, and I have no issues with looking at and discussing potential weaknesses of the team. That said, spring training has *just* begun, and we haven't seen anything out of the new look Sox just yet.

 

Right now, they aren't even being armchair GMs because they haven't had a single look at the team we are fielding yet, they're being paper GMs, and if that's the case...where is our WS trophy from last year? Because we should have won it on paper...and look where that got us.

 

I have no issues being objective after we've seen a little action, at least spring training action...but I've seen Erstad and Pods being called failures before anyone has seen them do a single thing on this team this year.

 

This isn't last year. Or the last 1.5 years. This is this year. Let's see what THIS team, THIS year has in it...before we start calling individuals a failure...when we may end up with a replacement thats even worse...even if he looks better on paper.

 

Everything I've been reading is conjecture and thoughts based on "last years performance". Sox fans of all fans should know how much that works in this game...as based on 2005, our pitching staff should have dominated in 2006...but the opposite happened. One year to the next is night and day in this game. I just figured we would have learned that.

 

But since that's what we're doing...I'm gonna go out and say Pods will be great this year...after all, based on his past, he's usually better after a down year (every other year!).

Edited February 21, 2007 by Y2HH

[Whitewashed in '05]

You'd think Ozzie would learn to do things that made a little more sense this year since a lot of his bulls*** cost us the playoffs last year, but no here he goes again.

[elrockinMT]

I like Scott Podsednik and the signing of Erstad. How CF plays out with the number of potentials is anyone's guess and I suppose the same can be said for LF, but at least we have lots of options. It's too early to be saying I told you say. That should wait till July or October B)

[witesoxfan]

I'll man up to everything I say on this board, and I'll eat the deserved crow if I'm wrong. I've been Vazquez's biggest backer by far for about the past 6 months, I've been critical of Podsednik, and critical of Erstad (though I have cooled down a bit on that front because he should put up a .330 or so OBP he'll be fine) and if Vazquez blows, and Podsednik and Erstad exceed all expectations, I'll admit I was completely wrong and I'll eat said crow. The same can be said if Floyd is just horrendous, if Haeger is great, if Danks sucks...I'll name them all if you want.

 

I'm just not a fan of Pods, and I have my reasons for not liking him as a baseball player - namely how he's essentially a no-tool player at this point, seeing as how he can't even f'ing steal bases anymore at a good clip.

[GreatScott82]

I understand why Ozzie wants Iguchi to bat 7th. He wants a more balanced lineup. The top and bottom of the order last year just wasn't too good. However, Pods, Anderson and Erstad are ALL big question marks this year. And to have Pods-Erstad be the 1-2 punch for 2007 can be bad. However, it can also be good. What is to say Pods doesn't rebound strong and has another 2005 type season. Whats to say Erstad wont have a solid bounce back season? Nobody knows anything at this point. My only concern with this is having Anderson's development stunted. But as i mentioned before, time and time again Rowand was replaced and sent back to the minors, sent back to the majors as a back up to guys like Everett and Lofton time and time again. He turned out okay and found his own.

[Milkman delivers]

I knew picking up Erstad was a bad idea. It just gives Ozzie the opportunity to dick around with Anderson's playing time.

 

Anderson better damn well earn that spot then. If that happens, we have nothing to worry about.

[santo=dorf]

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 07:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

With no true leadoff man, why not place him at the one?

Personally I think Iguchi is better at driving in runs than getting on base. Although he hasn't been good enough, Pods is better at getting on base than driving in runs.

[shoota]

Ugh, this season has the potential to be even more maddening than last year. Just kill me now so I won't have to suffer through the insanity.

 

Guillen limits the ability of this team.

[Gregory Pratt]

No way.

[South Side Fireworks Man]

Interesting. The Sox JUST reported to camp, haven't played a game and many of you are freaking out. Is it possible...just POSSIBLE that Erstad could have even a good season? Y'know, last chance kinda thing? Or that Anderson knocks the snot out of the ball? Or that Podsednik, when healthy, can be a .350 OBP guy?

 

Relax. They haven't even started to pitch to each other yet.

 

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying Iguchi in the 7th spot again. Why not? Try it. It's not like his job depends on it.

 

 

You make too much sense to be posting on this thread.

[greg775]

Almost all of you are literally hoping that Scott Podsednik fails before day one, just so you can be right. Same goes for Erstad.

 

No we aren't. I think everybody who takes the time to post on here wants them to do well.

I like many fear Pods is pretty useless if he can't steal bases and that's a legit concern. If he can still

steal, great. I will also eat crow and praise him. I just don't like Erstad, but he's 0-for-0 right now and deserves a chance til proven otherwise.

I'm not burying him in my mind. Just concerned about an outfield of Erstad (Pods), Anderson and Dye. I love our infield and catcher spots. Love our DH slot. Like our bench. Like our starters while realizing there are some sudden question marks after last year. Like our middle relief, setup guys, don't love 'em.

Love our closer.

Love our manager.

Bring the season on!

Edited February 22, 2007 by greg775

[That funky motion]

I have to say that Pods looked in great shape yesterday, when I saw him on Channel 5.

[CanOfCorn]

Pods is not a no-tool player. He was injured last year. Ever try to run with a pulled muscle or a sports hernia? Ya ain't gonna be good. He gutted it out and should be commended for it. He also should have been benched, if there was a good replacement, which there wasn't.

 

So, let him heal and let's see what kind of ballplayer he is this year.

[GreatScott82]

Pods is not a no-tool player. He was injured last year. Ever try to run with a pulled muscle or a sports hernia? Ya ain't gonna be good. He gutted it out and should be commended for it. He also should have been benched, if there was a good replacement, which there wasn't.

 

So, let him heal and let's see what kind of ballplayer he is this year.

I dig your positivness CanOCorn i'm not going to lie!! GO SOX!!!! Lets get the season going.

[Kalapse]

Pods is not a no-tool player. He was injured last year. Ever try to run with a pulled muscle or a sports hernia? Ya ain't gonna be good. He gutted it out and should be commended for it. He also should have been benched, if there was a good replacement, which there wasn't.

 

So, let him heal and let's see what kind of ballplayer he is this year.

Rob Mackowiak was a more than acceptable replacement.

[Y2HH]

Rob Mackowiak was a more than acceptable replacement.

 

Ya know, I like Mackowack...but he just didn't do it for me in a Sox uniform, even considering where he's from. I felt more comfortable with an in jured Pods out there than I ever did with Mack. Not really sure why, either.