Brian Anderson as a power hitter?

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Ok his defense is good, but again people don't realize he gives those outs back when he cant execute a simple bunt or move runners over with less than 1 out. If he is so spectacular there should not be 3 guys fighting for the job .

What, are Jerry Owens and Dewayne Wise spectacular fundamental players? And even if they were, in what world does a bunt or groundout to the right side here and there make up for s***ty defense all the time? If you want to talk about fundamental play, the most important thing you can do on a baseball field fundamentally is play your position well. Brian is the only one here who can do that.

 

Brian is a spectacular defender, why are you arguing that? I think you're trying to twist that and say he's not a spectacular all-around player, well no s***. That's not the point. The point is, if you have three guys who can't hit, you take the one who can play defense. That's not supposed to be a difficult decision to make, in fact, the Sox may be the only organization in baseball that will have trouble making that decision.

 

League average for CF last year: .274/.343/.430

 

Brian last year in MLB (181 AB): .232/.272/.436

Owens last year in MLB (16 AB): .250/.250/.250

Wise last year in MLB (129 AB): .248/.293/.450

 

Brian's career in MLB (597 AB): .221/.277/.379

Owens' career in MLB (528 AB): .268/.321/.312

Wise's career in MLB (468 AB): .214/.254/.385

 

Let's say none of these guys improve at all offensively, but they don't get even worse either. Let's say all 3 hold to their career lines and each get 550 AB. Here are the differences between the three over the course of a full season:

 

Anderson: 122 H, 168 times on base, 208 TB

Owens: 147 H, 191 times on base, 172 TB

Wise: 118 H, 150 times on base, 212 TB

League average: 151 H, 211 times on base, 237 TB

 

There are 6 months in the season. So, let's divide this all by 6 and look at their monthly averages (rounding up here):

Anderson: 20 H per month, 28 times on base per month, 35 TB per month

Owens: 25 H per month, 32 times on base per month, 29 TB per month

Wise: 20 H per month, 25 times on base per month, 35 TB per month

League Average: 25 H per month, 35 times on base per month, 40 TB per month

 

So overall, by their career lines, this is what you're getting offensively per month with this group in comparison to league average:

Anderson: -5 H/month, -7 times on base/month, -5 TB/month

Owens: +0 H/month, -3 times on base/month, -11 TB/month

Wise: -5 H/month, -10 times on base/month, -5 TB/month

 

^That's how much offense you can expect to lose in a given month by going with this group compared to league average production. What the Owens and Wise defenders need to realize is that 1) Wise is no better offensively than Anderson, 2) Owens is slightly better than Anderson in 2 offensive categories, yet much worse in a third, and neither of the two areas where he's better than Anderson can he be expected to be better than league average. So he sucks, basically.

 

The question the defenders need to ask themselves is, considering the either non-existant or very minimal offensive gain of Owens and/or Wise over Anderson, is the speed they bring more important than Anderson's defense? The answer is no. No freakin' way. Hell no. Not when you consider the 350-400+ chances they'll get every year in CF, plus amount of times the opposition has a runner threatening to take 3B or go home on a short- to mid-range flyball in CF. I mean if we're talking like great offensive production - the likes of which Dewayne Wise and Jerry Owens will never see in their careers - then yes, maybe you can consider some weaker defense. But since that is not the case, don't let this Ozzie speedy lead-off man and fundamentals at the plate bulls*** fool you.

[SouthsideDon48]

The question the defenders need to ask themselves is, considering the either non-existant or very minimal offensive gain of Owens and/or Wise over Anderson, is the speed they bring more important than Anderson's defense? The answer is no. No freakin' way. Hell no. Not when you consider the 350-400+ chances they'll get every year in CF, plus amount of times the opposition has a runner threatening to take 3B or go home on a short- to mid-range flyball in CF. I mean if we're talking like great offensive production - the likes of which Dewayne Wise and Jerry Owens will never see in their careers - then yes, maybe you can consider some weaker defense. But since that is not the case, don't let this Ozzie speedy lead-off man and fundamentals at the plate bulls*** fool you.

 

That's why it's best to have Wise lead off and use BA as a late-inning defensive replacement.

 

If the Sox decides to go with a platoon, then they can have Anderson bat 9th, (then we'd have a problem with leadoff) and we can use Wise as a late-inning pinch-hitter/pinch-runner.

 

People are grossly undervaluing the speed Wise brings to the lineup. We have too many slow station-to-station runners that we really need some quicker guys on the bases that can potentially steal bases.

 

With the way this team is made up, we might have no choice but to use Wise as our leadoff hitter, because who else is going to do it? It has been said that Ozzie doesn't want to stress Getz out in the leadoff role, so who else is it going to be? Alexei? He's better in the middle of the order around #6 for his rbi potential.

 

CF: Wise

2B: Getz

LF: Quentin

RF: Dye

DH: Thome

1B: Konerko

SS: Alexei

C: AJ

3B: Fields

 

I like that lineup. But there's not really any place for Anderson on there, Anderson can't hit lead-off, so if Anderson was in the lineup and batting 9th, then who will hit 1st?

 

Now without Wise at lead-off (Wise is way better than Owens), what else can we do? We don't have much flexibility, and we won't have much flexibility as long as we have guys like Thome on the team.

 

The speed element helped us in the past with the likes of Timo and Ozuna, and the Sox is a better team having that speed element in the 25-man roster and in 2009 it comes in the form of Wise.

[JorgeFabregas]

Ozzie once publicly said that BA needed to decide whether he was going to be a base stealer or a homerun hitter. Is that a veiled encouragement to juice? The dude is huge now.

Edited March 16, 2009 by JorgeFabregas

[WinningUgly85]

I think he has the potential it is just a question if he can reach it. I know he's shown in the past that he has some power but realistically I don't think he can do it on a consistent basis. I think our organization feels let down by BA. I believe Ozzie is at the point where he just won't give him another shot not after 2006. If were not using him we should trade him in my opinion but obviously KW thinks he still can contribute and in ways he has with his glove. I still think we should trade him though, I mean what are we waiting for his trade value to go up?

[almagest]

That's why it's best to have Wise lead off and use BA as a late-inning defensive replacement.

 

If the Sox decides to go with a platoon, then they can have Anderson bat 9th, (then we'd have a problem with leadoff) and we can use Wise as a late-inning pinch-hitter/pinch-runner.

 

People are grossly undervaluing the speed Wise brings to the lineup. We have too many slow station-to-station runners that we really need some quicker guys on the bases that can potentially steal bases.

Please no. Wise could barely play left field last year. I don't see how he's going to be a successful center fielder all of a sudden. Your assumption of "speed=stolen bases=good" is a little off as well, since Wise needs to actually get on base to do any running. His lifetime .254 OBP doesn't indicate he can do this, at all.

 

Unless we put Alexei in CF, or go outside the organization, our best option (best defense, equivalent offense, best potential) is Brian Anderson.

 

[Wedge]

If Anderson could bring a Juan Uribe caliber bat to CF, I think I'd be happy.

[Y2HH]

If Anderson could bring a bat to CF, I think I'd be happy.

 

Fixed.

[JorgeFabregas]

If Anderson could bring a Juan Uribe caliber bat to CF, I think I'd be happy.

This is what I would anticipate if he was the everyday starter. .230-.250, low OBP, and 18-25 homeruns.

[witesoxfan]

That's why it's best to have Wise lead off and use BA as a late-inning defensive replacement.

 

If the Sox decides to go with a platoon, then they can have Anderson bat 9th, (then we'd have a problem with leadoff) and we can use Wise as a late-inning pinch-hitter/pinch-runner.

 

People are grossly undervaluing the speed Wise brings to the lineup. We have too many slow station-to-station runners that we really need some quicker guys on the bases that can potentially steal bases.

 

With the way this team is made up, we might have no choice but to use Wise as our leadoff hitter, because who else is going to do it? It has been said that Ozzie doesn't want to stress Getz out in the leadoff role, so who else is it going to be? Alexei? He's better in the middle of the order around #6 for his rbi potential.

 

CF: Wise

2B: Getz

LF: Quentin

RF: Dye

DH: Thome

1B: Konerko

SS: Alexei

C: AJ

3B: Fields

 

I like that lineup. But there's not really any place for Anderson on there, Anderson can't hit lead-off, so if Anderson was in the lineup and batting 9th, then who will hit 1st?

 

Now without Wise at lead-off (Wise is way better than Owens), what else can we do? We don't have much flexibility, and we won't have much flexibility as long as we have guys like Thome on the team.

 

The speed element helped us in the past with the likes of Timo and Ozuna, and the Sox is a better team having that speed element in the 25-man roster and in 2009 it comes in the form of Wise.

 

Wise is a terrible defender in LF...how do you think he's going to fare in CF? He's not even that fast either. And on top of that, the dude can't draw a walk to save his life. 23 walks in 504 career plate appearances, 8 walks in 143 last season (which is above his career norm and is still not good).

 

It's amazing that in what amounts to like a one month span - June and July, where he got 52 plate appearances, a few select bats in August and September, 1 game in the postseason, and Spring Training against pitchers who aren't working at 100% - that Dewayne Wise has gone from AAA afterthought to leading off the season and playing CF for the White Sox. Something doesn't click, and having Wise lead off would be an Erstadian mistake.

 

Fixed.

 

Not sure what good a bat in CF is going to do, I've always struggled catching balls with bats.

[Y2HH]

Not sure what good a bat in CF is going to do, I've always struggled catching balls with bats.

 

I was going to say something similar to this, but I understood what he meant -- just like you understood what I meant. That said, I see whut u did thar.

[witesoxfan]

I was going to say something similar to this, but I understood what he meant -- just like you understood what I meant. That said, I see whut u did thar.

 

atleast the sense of humor still works

[DBAHO]

If Anderson could bring a Juan Uribe caliber bat to CF, I think I'd be happy.

His numbers post ASB in 2008 were basically very similar to what Juan Uribe gave the Sox most of the time (not a good OBP, but a good SLG and an OPS around the .775 mark).

[lostfan]

People are grossly undervaluing the speed Wise brings to the lineup. We have too many slow station-to-station runners that we really need some quicker guys on the bases that can potentially steal bases.

Not really. What are you going to have him do? Sprint back to the dugout? That's where he'll end up after about 3/4 of his at-bats, at least.

[YASNY]

Here's the way I think things happened with Brian Anderson from the get go through now. He had minor league success generally every step of the way. He made his ML debut in '05 for the eventual World Champs. That off season, KW traded Rowand, which gave Anderson a few of months of time for his head to swell even more, as in "I'm going to be starting CF for the defending World Champs!" So he comes into camp all cocky and thinking his s*** don't stink. The season starts, he struggles but assumes his talent will eventually show itself, therefore he would not listen to Walker or attempt to make any adjustments. I think his attitude is the reason they threw him under the bus after a few weeks of major suckage. Heading into '07, I believe KW, Ozzie, Walk and whoever else had input decided Anderson needed to go down to AAA with the message "Grow the f*** up!" tattoed on him. BA, Mr. Attitude, went down there and pouted for a few months instead. Sometime before the '08 season, something got through that thick head and he realized that he was blowing his shot. He came into camp with a different attitude, and Ozzie said okay, let's see if this is for real. I really believe '08 was Ozzie's way of making Anderson prove that he now had a professional approach to the game. Brian accepted his role, did what was asked of him and never, as far as I know, complained about not starting, lack of playing time or whatever. I don't know if Anderson will begin '09 as a starter, but I do believe Ozzie will give him enough playing to prove whether or not he is capable. In other words, Ozzie will give him the chance to earn the position. I also believe that if given that chance, he will succeed.

[YASNY]

Here's the way I think things happened with Brian Anderson from the get go through now. He had minor league success generally every step of the way. He made his ML debut in '05 for the eventual World Champs. That off season, KW traded Rowand, which gave Anderson a few of months of time for his head to swell even more, as in "I'm going to be starting CF for the defending World Champs!" So he comes into camp all cocky and thinking his s*** don't stink. The season starts, he struggles but assumes his talent will eventually show itself, therefore he would not listen to Walker or attempt to make any adjustments. I think his attitude is the reason they threw him under the bus after a few weeks of major suckage. Heading into '07, I believe KW, Ozzie, Walk and whoever else had input decided Anderson needed to go down to AAA with the message "Grow the f*** up!" tattoed on him. BA, Mr. Attitude, went down there and pouted for a few months instead. Sometime before the '08 season, something got through that thick head and he realized that he was blowing his shot. He came into camp with a different attitude, and Ozzie said okay, let's see if this is for real. I really believe '08 was Ozzie's way of making Anderson prove that he now had a professional approach to the game. Brian accepted his role, did what was asked of him and never, as far as I know, complained about not starting, lack of playing time or whatever. I don't know if Anderson will begin '09 as a starter, but I do believe Ozzie will give him enough playing to prove whether or not he is capable. In other words, Ozzie will give him the chance to earn the position. I also believe that if given that chance, he will succeed.

[Harry Chappas]

This team will NOT lose with Brian Anderson hitting 8th and playing CF 162 games this year.

 

This team WILL lose with Owens/Wise batting lead-off for 100+ games this year.

 

The Sox are looking to fill a need as a lead off hitter with Wise and Owens something Anderson can not do that is the only reason they are around and the sooner they are gone the better.

 

Brian Anderson si the all around better baseball player than the other two who actually has some potential.

[DBAHO]

This team will NOT lose with Brian Anderson hitting 8th and playing CF 162 games this year.

 

This team WILL lose with Owens/Wise batting lead-off for 100+ games this year.

 

The Sox are looking to fill a need as a lead off hitter with Wise and Owens something Anderson can not do that is the only reason they are around and the sooner they are gone the better.

 

Brian Anderson si the all around better baseball player than the other two who actually has some potential.

Well on that;

 

1 - Do the Sox give the leadoff spot to Getz when from what I've read they want to ease him into it lower down the order?

2 - Do the Sox target a leadoff hitter outside of the organization e.g a Gregor Blanco?