beckham in the 2-hole?

[lostfan]

what were you trying to say here

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic since the link qwerty posted said the 2 spot should be filled by a high OBP player.

Edited July 28, 2009 by lostfan

[Greg Hibbard]

if that's the case, LOL at me.

[JPN366]

Yes, he's a doubles hitter, that's the ideal spot in the order for him. Especially if he hits around .300.

[SoxFan1]

It just boggles my mind that you WOULDN'T want more runners on base in front of the heart of your order.

[WCSox]

I wasn't talking about this season. I was talking about last season. LAST season, when Bruce was batting higher in the order, they had 3 players with an OPS over .800.

 

Bruce was sharing significant time with Patterson and Freel last season, and was often hitting 5th and 6th in the lineup. How does that compare to Beckham being permanently penciled into the two-hole a month and a half after being brought up from AAA?

 

[iamshack]

Bruce was sharing significant time with Patterson and Freel last season, and was often hitting 5th and 6th in the lineup. How does that compare to Beckham being permanently penciled into the two-hole a month and a half after being brought up from AAA?

 

Honestly, you're not answering the question about Beckham.

 

He's jumped 2 levels in the midst of one season, changed positions, and still posted an .840 OPS after an 0-13 start.

 

Doesn't it appear as though they understand how special he is and aren't afraid of "stunting his growth" like you originally claimed?

 

After throwing all that at him, is a move to 2nd from 7th - 9th really going to pose a substantial risk of setting him back?

Edited July 28, 2009 by iamshack

[WCSox]

Honestly, you're not answering the question about Beckham.

 

He's jumped 2 levels in the midst of one season, changed positions, and still posted an .840 OPS after an 0-13 start.

 

Doesn't it appear as though the understand how special he is and aren't afraid of "stunting his growth" like you originally claimed?

 

After throwing all that at him, is a move to 2nd from 7th - 9th really going to pose a substantial risk of setting him back?

 

Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take that chance in playoff contention down the stretch with the best infield prospect you've had since Robin Ventura? I'm not. Not when Alexei is doing just fine in the two-hole for now. It's not like the rest of our lineup completely sucks nuts and we're relying on Beckham to be our savior.

 

I realize that nobody on this board has a vested financial interest or their job partially relying on Beckham's development. But try to put yourself in Ozzie and Kenny's shoes. Might you be a little more cautious? Might you be a little more concerned about Beckham's development than trying to win at all costs with a team that struggles to play .500 ball?

 

[iamshack]

Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take that chance in playoff contention down the stretch with the best infield prospect you've had since Robin Ventura? I'm not. Not when Alexei is doing just fine in the two-hole for now. It's not like the rest of our lineup completely sucks nuts and we're relying on Beckham to be our savior.

 

I realize that nobody on this board has a vested financial interest or their job partially relying on Beckham's development. But try to put yourself in Ozzie and Kenny's shoes. Might you be a little more cautious? Might you be a little more concerned about Beckham's development than trying to win at all costs with a team that struggles to play .500 ball?

 

I understand what you're arguing, I just don't agree with you at all.

 

All the available evidence completely contradicts everything you are arguing. The fact that they would change his position to something he never played before in his career, basically giving him a crash course in Charlotte, seems to me like something that is much more potentially damaging than simply moving him up in the order.

 

I have no financial interest on the line regarding the team, other than my sheer obsession with the organization, but I was still very nervous about them moving Gordo to third. In fact, I am still not happy about it and would rather Fields play 3rd and Gordo play 2nd instead of the current positioning - that is how important I think this kid is to our Organization. But moving him up in the order seems miniscule to me compared to asking a guy to go play a new position on the major league level less than a year after he even began playing pro ball.

[qwerty]

I'm a sarcastic asshole, I never asked you or anyone else to respond.

 

Sarcasm equates to insults? There was no sarcasm in your insults in this very thread. They were very frank and straight forward. I am not talking about what you said to myself i am talking about this thread with wcsox (who i do not particularly agree with) and yesterday in the game thread.

 

While it is true you never asked myself or anyone else to respond, it's only logical why you or anyone makes a a post... it's because they want some sort of feedback on their thoughts. If that was not the case we would all be writing down our white sox and baseball thoughts down in a journal.

 

Just seems to me a global moderator SHOULD NOT BE POSTING IN ALL CAPS!!! simply because they are frustrated someone does not agree with them, talk very snippy to others because they are pessimistic (game thread) then later go on to throw a temper tantrum later in that very thread... and of course insult. I found it amusing you threatened to ban people in the game thread while not possessing such power in the first place. Great scare tactic.

 

You can go ahead and run to the secret board board once you see this to complain, but honestly i could care less, as yourself, not myself, is the one in the wrong.

[Buehrle>Wood]

Alexei is a pretty elite 2 hole hitter at this point. I want to see how Beckham will handle the 3 spot, as that's where he's going to be don the line.

Edited July 28, 2009 by Buehrle>Wood

[SoxFan1]

Sarcasm equates to insults? There was no sarcasm in your insults in this very thread. They were very frank and straight forward. I am not talking about what you said to myself i am talking about this thread with wcsox (who i do not particularly agree with) and yesterday in the game thread.

 

While it is true you never asked myself or anyone else to respond, it's only logical why you or anyone makes a a post... it's because they want some sort of feedback on their thoughts. If that was not the case we would all be writing down our white sox and baseball thoughts down in a journal.

 

Just seems to me a global moderator SHOULD NOT BE POSTING IN ALL CAPS!!! simply because they are frustrated someone does not agree with them, talk very snippy to others because they are pessimistic (game thread) then later go on to throw a temper tantrum later in that very thread... and of course insult. I found it amusing you threatened to ban people in the game thread while not possessing such power in the first place. Great scare tactic.

 

You can go ahead and run to the secret board board once you see this to complain, but honestly i could care less, as yourself, not myself, is the one in the wrong.

Sorry sir.

[qwerty]

Sorry sir.

 

Sarcasm, oh my.

[WCSox]

I understand what you're arguing, I just don't agree with you at all.

 

All the available evidence completely contradicts everything you are arguing. The fact that they would change his position to something he never played before in his career, basically giving him a crash course in Charlotte, seems to me like something that is much more potentially damaging than simply moving him up in the order.

 

The "evidence" that you're citing is a teeny sample size of a month and a half. The truth is that we don't know how Beckham will respond to being moved around in the order (remember how Dotel, a veteran and former closer, responded to moving into the setup role last season?). Or how he'll react to his next slump, after tasting ML success. Or how he'll react to a tight division race in September. Or, if we get lucky, how he'll react to playoff baseball. While Beckham may look like the next Derek Jeter right now, we've seen so little of him that it's difficult to predict his future play with a high degree of certainty.

 

I understand your point, and think that it's a strong argument. However, I think that the Sox just need to be ultra-careful with Beckham at first. ESPECIALLY when Alexei is hitting reasonably well in the #2 spot and the rest of the lineup is pretty solid. If Beckham were a year older and/or had some more major league experience under his belt, I'd feel differently.

 

And thanks for disagreeing with me in a civil tone.

 

[gatnom]

How is there more pressure batting in the two hole versus batting later in the order?

[iamshack]

The "evidence" that you're citing is a teeny sample size of a month and a half. The truth is that we don't know how Beckham will respond to being moved around in the order (remember how Dotel, a veteran and former closer, responded to moving into the setup role last season?). Or how he'll react to his next slump, after tasting ML success. Or how he'll react to a tight division race in September. Or, if we get lucky, how he'll react to playoff baseball. While Beckham may look like the next Derek Jeter right now, we've seen so little of him that it's difficult to predict his future play with a high degree of certainty.

 

I understand your point, and think that it's a strong argument. However, I think that the Sox just need to be ultra-careful with Beckham at first. ESPECIALLY when Alexei is hitting reasonably well in the #2 spot and the rest of the lineup is pretty solid. If Beckham were a year older and/or had some more major league experience under his belt, I'd feel differently.

 

And thanks for disagreeing with me in a civil tone.

 

Well, I understand that his major league sample size is indeed small. But it is also the only sample size available. It isn't like I am spinning the numbers in one way or another.

 

Secondly, it isn't exactly just the mlb experience you can point to. This kid has been leaving an impression on people since he was 13 years old. And not that most talented players who make it this far didn't, but he seems like he leaves a wake of pretty impressed people behind him everywhere he goes. And he has done absolutely nothing yet to contradict that. Sometimes when a kid has it, he just has it. I think Gordon has it.

 

As for your concerns about Gordon playing in a playoff situation or a pennant race, I have no qualms about him being out there, and would have none were he to be batting second. To me, the guy is a top 3 hitter on our team right now.

[Felix]

Optimizing your lineup.

The Book is a good resource. I bought it a couple months back, and although I haven't gotten completely through it yet, I've found it very interesting thus far.

[MexSoxFan#1]

Beckham is a natural 3 hitter,I envision him hitting .300 plus avg and 20 plus homers,a righthanded Joe Mauer if you will.

[justBLAZE]

Beckham playing in the two hole tonight!

 

Close Thread!

[lostfan]

Beckham is a natural 3 hitter,I envision him hitting .300 plus avg and 20 plus homers,a righthanded Joe Mauer if you will.

Holy s***, let's not get carried away here. lol.

[SoxFan1]

Clearly Ozzie wanted to protect Beckham here.

[RockRaines]

Alexei in the 2-hole

 

.292 .354 .796

 

Thats mostly why, because there hasnt been a need to move him out of there.

[wsgdf_2]

Beckham is a natural 3 hitter,I envision him hitting .300 plus avg and 20 plus homers,a righthanded Joe Mauer if you will.

 

Carlos Quentin 2008 is a 3 hitter.

 

Beckham is a 2.

 

IMHO.

 

 

[iamshack]

Clearly Ozzie wanted to protect Beckham here.

 

You and I must've convinced him...

[BigSqwert]

Beckham playing in the two hole tonight!

Ozzie...you big racist

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Ozzie said that because he wanted the guys in the clubhouse to not worry about looking over their shoulder everyday, and so that they wouldn't have to worry about the manager undercutting them. Its to keep the clubhouse in tact, nothing else.

Maybe I'm more old school then Ozzie. D0 what's best for the team to produce. Our run production lately has been CRAP ( no offense to Richard or Poreda). Having Beckham at the bottom of the order is akin to putting Dye there as far as hitting ability goes. Beckham is a run producer plain and simple and this team needs run production. In my mind he isn't a rookie and he can handle it. We need wins and coddling the other hitters isn't producing enough wins.