The answer to all our problems?

[rangercal]

and we could throw Podsednik at shortstop.

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously though. It comes down to, right now, what would be the hardest position to fill? Shortstop or Centerfield?

 

I really want to see BA get a shot at the starting role, if he does not pan out, we could make a move at the deadline for either position. Just something like a stopgap until Beckham gets his call.

 

Thoughts?

[chw42]

Shortstop is probably harder to fill.

[rangercal]

Shortstop is probably harder to fill.

 

Depending on the tools you are looking for.

 

I guess we need someone who plays gold glove defense, has a power bat and is a base stealer .

Edited April 15, 2009 by rangercal

[chw42]

Depending on the tools you are looking for.

 

I guess we need someone who plays gold glove defense, has a power bat and is a base stealer .

 

Then you're talking about a hybrid of Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes. Not happening.

 

There are literally zero great SS in the AL right now. It's sad, but based on stats from last year, Alexei Ramirez is the best offensive shortstop in the American League right now.

 

Looking at these other SS, it looks pathetic.

 

NYY - Jeter

BOS - Lowrie

BAL - Izturis

TB - Bartlett

TOR - Scutaro

MIN - Punto/Harris

CLE - Peralta

DET - Everett

KC - Aviles

LAA - Izturis/Aybar

SEA - Betancourt

OAK - Cabrera

 

Who on that list is even close to Alexei in terms of offensive production when you take out Jeter and Peralta? I think the answer is absolutely nobody. Keep Alexei at short, you're going to have a hard time finding anybody that's even close to his production in the AL. The NL is a bit different.

 

Center fielders are also pretty damn hard to come by, but we have two great ones in our division right now (Granderson and Sizemore).

[103 mph screwball]

Shortstop is probably harder to fill.

Not if Beckham is still hitting .440 next month.

[rangercal]

Then you're talking about a hybrid of Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes. Not happening.

 

There are literally zero great SS in the AL right now. It's sad, but based on stats from last year, Alexei Ramirez is the best offensive shortstop in the American League right now.

 

Looking at these other SS, it looks pathetic.

 

NYY - Jeter

BOS - Lowrie

BAL - Izturis

TB - Bartlett

TOR - Scutaro

MIN - Punto/Harris

CLE - Peralta

DET - Everett

KC - Aviles

LAA - Izturis/Aybar

SEA - Betancourt

OAK - Cabrera

 

Who on that list is even close to Alexei in terms of offensive production when you take out Jeter and Peralta? I think the answer is absolutely nobody. Keep Alexei at short, you're going to have a hard time finding anybody that's even close to his production in the AL. The NL is a bit different.

 

Center fielders are also pretty damn hard to come by, but we have two great ones in our division right now (Granderson and Sizemore).

 

My previous post was sarcasm.

[caulfield12]

We have Beckham and Ramirez that could play SS well offensively and (probably) defensively...and we don't have any certified CFer that can play everyday, so the answer to that is obvious.

 

It's not only hard to find a CFer, we're TRYING to find a centerfielder than can lead off and alleviate some of the pressure on Chris Getz as a rookie to fulfill the expectations of that role.

 

We could throw Viciedo out there at SS.

Edited April 15, 2009 by caulfield12

[WCSox]

Not if Beckham is still hitting .440 next month.

 

I doubt that Beckham gets called up before September. But I could definitely see Alexei playing CF next season.

 

[chw42]

My previous post was sarcasm.

 

I know. I could tell by the big at the end.

[joejoedairy]

Depending on the tools you are looking for.

 

I guess we need someone who plays gold glove defense, has a power bat and is a base stealer .

 

Did you just say Gordon Beckham?

[Princess Dye]

These boards could get really interesting if Beckham tears up the minors the whole first half.

 

The debate will come down to arb clock savings vs. winning now

 

 

 

and in addition to maybe winning now, Beckham would get to know AL pitching this year as opposed to on the job next yr.

Edited April 15, 2009 by Princess Dye

[103 mph screwball]

These boards could get really interesting if Beckham tears up the minors the whole first half.

 

The debate will come down to arb clock savings vs. winning now

 

 

 

and in addition to maybe winning now, Beckham would get to know AL pitching this year as opposed to on the job next yr.

I don't think JR and KW will be worried about 6 years from now if they think Beckham will put the Sox over the top.

[caulfield12]

Did you just say Gordon Beckham?

 

 

If Beckham wins a GG, it will be more for his offense (like a Michael Young or Ian Kinsler type of situation) than because he's the best "pure" defender, like a Uribe or Vizquel. I think he can be a solid/above-average MLB SS, but to project a Gold Glove type ability on him at this point is stretching it a bit.

Edited April 15, 2009 by caulfield12

[G&T]

Beckham is not the backup right now for SS or 2b. This team has Lillibridge, Betemit, and Nix (when he gets healthy) that will get the shot before Beckham. Also, ARam wouldn't be moved to center unless BA, Owens, Pods, Lillibridge, and Wise (when he comes back) all fail.

 

As a speculative matter, after this season, either Getz (or whoever sticks at 2B) or Ramirez is likely to be moved to make room for Beckham. I suspect that KW would want to keep them at their most comfortable positions to maximize value.

 

So unless the Sox are desperate to fill a hole down the stretch and ALL of those people fail to be adequate major leaguers (not totally unlikely), Ramirez is not going to be moved to center.

[Steve9347]

There are literally zero great SS in the AL right now. It's sad, but based on stats from last year, Alexei Ramirez is the best offensive shortstop in the American League right now.

 

Looking at these other SS, it looks pathetic.

It's a wonder what cracking down on PEDs does. Gone are the days of freaks like Tejada and A-Rod making the position something it's not.

 

Keep Alexei at short. He's phenomenal there.

[103 mph screwball]

It's a wonder what cracking down on PEDs does. Gone are the days of freaks like Tejada and A-Rod making the position something it's not.

 

Keep Alexei at short. He's phenomenal there.

 

 

Interesting theory about PED's and SS's. Ripkin seemed to start the big shortstop trend. Maybe there will be more Ozzie type SS than Ripkin's.

[Steve9347]

Interesting theory about PED's and SS's. Ripkin seemed to start the big shortstop trend. Maybe there will be more Ozzie type SS than Ripkin's.

Historically a guy like Guillen is what defined the shortstop position moreso than a Ripken (not many out there like him, though I'm not accusing him of anything).

 

The last 15 years made a lot of people forget what the position is...

[rangercal]

It's a wonder what cracking down on PEDs does. Gone are the days of freaks like Tejada and A-Rod making the position something it's not.

 

Keep Alexei at short. He's phenomenal there.

 

 

Could Lexi be on PED's?

[elrockinMT]

Stick with the game plan in place. How many position switches should we make? Maybe Konerko could play CF?

[southsider2k5]

For some reason I seem to remember Alexei being pretty scary in CF in the few games we saw him there last year at the beginning of the season. Am I remembering wrong? Didn't he muff a flyball out there?

[Chisoxfn]

Couldn't Nix potentially play CF?

[ozzfest]

Alexei in center and Beckham at Short!!!!!

[caulfield12]

Staying at leadoff: Chris Getz returned to the leadoff spot despite a .263 on-base percentage.

 

"[The numbers] haven't been great, but they've been good enough," Guillen said of Getz, who missed two games because of a bruised right elbow. "We won a couple of games, he was on base a couple of times and we could do some stuff when he's on base. He [allows] the No. 3, 4, 5 hitters to get another at-bat. [Getz] is the one that's going to be there until we think he can't do it anymore." www.chicagotribune.com/sports

 

 

Nix has never really played any position regularly but 2B, and coming back from a quadriceps injury, that's the LAST place you would want to put him...in CF. Look at what happened to Jose Valentin, a better athlete than Jayson Nix. Besides, the fact is that Nix is only a factor in the possible mix because of his "Gold Glove" defense at 2B, because his bat has been spotty and he didn't hit as well as expected in Colorado. But he's not the type of hitter you would count on having an 800+ OPS.

Edited April 17, 2009 by caulfield12

[G&T]

Getz hasn't been very good, but he is young (unlike Wise) and should be given a chance to work through it. He is making contact, but unless he gets that his top hand working he is going to hit fly balls. His last two AB's were good.

[caulfield12]

Well, he made contact on the hit-and-run...for once a ball didn't go in the direction of a fielder, because the SS was covering the bag.

 

The other thing Harrelson has been picking on early this season is dipping the back shoulder, which is causing an upward plane swing and causing the likes of Lillibridge and Getz to hit the ball more into the air.

 

Chris was looking much better in ST...but hopefully he'll come out of it. Ozzie seems satisfied with him at leadoff for now, as long as the team's winning and he's getting walks or making things happen with his hustle. I imagine it would be acceptable (to Ozzie) as long as he had a 320-330 OBP, although that's not ideal.

 

Thome and Ramirez are more of a concern right now.

 

As far as bigger SS's go...well, would Ripken even make the Hall of Fame if it weren't for the consecutive games played streak??? Maybe not.

 

There was that point about 10-12 years ago when you had Garciaparra, Jeter, Tejada, A-Rod, Carlos Guillen, etc. and a couple of others all coming into the league and dominating as offense-first SS's. Vizquel is the last of the breed...until the cycle/trend turns around. But even Omar was a very pesky/dangerous hitter in his prime, much more like Placido Polanco than Ozzie Guillen.