daa84 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 09:40 AM) Even if he played 150 games this year, he still does not get to 600 home runs. He is a wonderful person, but we have to move on, he has not figured out how to beat the shift and soft tossing lefties make him look bad. so its perfect for ozzie...ozzie can do his mixing and matching vs. lefties thome still had an obp of .372 and slugged .493 with us last year, and 23 Hr (good for a 122 OPS+) ....still good production...frankly i think he fits perfectly here...its possible he completely breaks down, but on a 1 year contract for not much money, its low risk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Boyer in the other article, alluded to the fact that there is money available if needed. And Thome is a pretty perfect fit. Please just go sign the guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 07:40 AM) Even if he played 150 games this year, he still does not get to 600 home runs. He is a wonderful person, but we have to move on, he has not figured out how to beat the shift and soft tossing lefties make him look bad. We don't need to bring him back to chase 600 anyway. If have to believe he can help us win. The rest doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iWiN4PreP Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Yes - personal milestones are not what matters here. He got his 500 here, had his playing time. His 24/7 playing time is over, but would be a great addition to a platoon at DH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodAsGould Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Yeah Im still failing to see what is holding the white sox back from signing Thome. If Ozzie wants to rotate the DH spot more he can still do that by sitting Thome vs lefties. It would make the lineup much better, be relatively cheap signing, and bringing back a fan favorite.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 08:48 AM) Yeah Im still failing to see what is holding the white sox back from signing Thome. If Ozzie wants to rotate the DH spot more he can still do that by sitting Thome vs lefties. It would make the lineup much better, be relatively cheap signing, and bringing back a fan favorite.... They may still do it. I was pretty sure they would, now I'm 50/50. If they go into April with the rotating DH situation, hoping Andruw Jones will have a big comeback, that would be a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I'm definitely on board for bringing Jim back in a platoon role. He's a really good clubhouse guy, he still had good enough numbers vs. righties, and he wouldn't break the bank. I don't see a downside to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan562004 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I think the lineup really needs more pop, I really want them to bring Thome back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 08:48 AM) Yeah Im still failing to see what is holding the white sox back from signing Thome. If Ozzie wants to rotate the DH spot more he can still do that by sitting Thome vs lefties. It would make the lineup much better, be relatively cheap signing, and bringing back a fan favorite.... You make the perfect point here. Sit him against lefties, start Andruw vs righties. If one of them gets hot, well, there's your DH. That could be an incredibly effective combination at the DH spot for a total of what? 2.5 million dollars? Bringing back Big Jim at this point is a no-brainer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckweaver Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Seems to me, with all the press about Thome this week, that his signing is the most likely "Soxfest Surprise." And for all the reasons already noted...why the hell not?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 01:40 PM) Even if he played 150 games this year, he still does not get to 600 home runs. He is a wonderful person, but we have to move on, he has not figured out how to beat the shift and soft tossing lefties make him look bad. I would have liked to see more opposite field hitting by Thome also, but the reality of it is the Sox paid him to hit homers not singles to left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamshack Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 10:41 AM) You make the perfect point here. Sit him against lefties, start Andruw vs righties. If one of them gets hot, well, there's your DH. That could be an incredibly effective combination at the DH spot for a total of what? 2.5 million dollars? Bringing back Big Jim at this point is a no-brainer. Well, the question is, then what do you carry on your roster? Do you only carry an 11 man pen? Or do you cut Nix from the 25 man? As it currently stands, we're looking at the following: 8 regular position players 2 DH's in Kotsay & Jones 3 bench players in Vizquel, Castro, & Nix 5 starting pitchers 7 men in the bullpen =25 man roster If you sign Thome now, you'll have to cut Nix or go to a 6 man bullpen and leave Hudson in Charlotte, most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 10:07 AM) Well, the question is, then what do you carry on your roster? Do you only carry an 11 man pen? Or do you cut Nix from the 25 man? As it currently stands, we're looking at the following: 8 regular position players 2 DH's in Kotsay & Jones 3 bench players in Vizquel, Castro, & Nix 5 starting pitchers 7 men in the bullpen =25 man roster If you sign Thome now, you'll have to cut Nix or go to a 6 man bullpen and leave Hudson in Charlotte, most likely. I think if they do sign Thome or another DH-only type, then they'll go with 6 in the pen. Something they've stayed away from. But they need a couple reserve infielders no matter what, I think. If he does come back, I want him to be a part-time starter and pinch hitter. I don't want them to rely on 130 starts. Maybe 90 starts and pinch hitting duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderBolt Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:07 AM) Well, the question is, then what do you carry on your roster? Do you only carry an 11 man pen? Or do you cut Nix from the 25 man? You cut Nix. No question about it. Let him find a job somewhere else, and if he doesn't you outright him to AAA. Edited January 21, 2010 by Thunderbolt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:13 AM) You cut Nix. No question about it. Let him find a job somewhere else, and if he doesn't you outright him to AAA. Nix is really redundant on this team after signing Vizquel. Viz is better defensively and bats from the same side of the plate. Nix brings more power against LHP but based on last year is a defensive downgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamshack Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:13 AM) You cut Nix. No question about it. Let him find a job somewhere else, and if he doesn't you outright him to AAA. See, for some reason, the idea of being left with just Vizquel and Kotsay as reserve infielders frightens me. I'm not sure if it frightens me more or less than having Jones/Kotsay as out DH though.... Let's just hope that Ozzie and Kenny are really j/k with this Jones/Kotsay thing... Edited January 21, 2010 by iamshack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:18 AM) See, for some reason, the idea of being left with just Vizquel and Kotsay as reserve infielders frightens me. I'm not sure if it frightens me more or less than having Jones/Kotsay as out DH though.... Let's just hope that Ozzie and Kenny are really j/k with this Jones/Kotsay thing... There's one other possible solution to this issue...find a LH batter who can DH and also play the infield some. I don't know how his health is, but this is why my head keeps coming back to Blalock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamshack Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:19 AM) There's one other possible solution to this issue...find a LH batter who can DH and also play the infield some. I don't know how his health is, but this is why my head keeps coming back to Blalock. Well, I am more concerned about the MI than the CI positions. In a pinch, Gordo can always play third, along with Vizquel...It's just the idea of only having 1 guy who can play MI after the starters that bothers me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadwassoxfan Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I think that Kenny thinks we have enough right now to win the Division with our current DH combo. I like Thome alot and if he comes back that's cool with me. But I could see where Kenny might want to wait and see if he can pick up A. Gonzalez before the deadline. The asking price might be better than it is now. Just a thought!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitlesswonder Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (dadwassoxfan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 10:29 AM) I think that Kenny thinks we have enough right now to win the Division with our current DH combo. The current DH combo has the following numbers: Over the last 3 years, in 1000 ABs Jones has hit .207 with a .697 OPS and Kotsay has a .687 OPS in the same time frame. It gets worse if you factor in the at-bats at DH that Vizquel will receive. And think about that -- they're talking about playing Omar Vizquel at DH. If the Sox don't want Thome back, that's fine but they need to get a real hitter to play DH. Thome is attractive in that he'd probably be really cheap and you know you'd get over an .800 OPS from him versus RHP. But whatever, they need to acquire someone because replacing Thome at DH with a combo that might not OPS over .700 is insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky Mark Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 The only thing I'd mind about signing Thome would be if they still had him bat either 3rd or 4th. If he's back, they need to have him later in the lineup, 7th or 8th maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:49 AM) The only thing I'd mind about signing Thome would be if they still had him bat either 3rd or 4th. If he's back, they need to have him later in the lineup, 7th or 8th maybe. When you look at the lineup, Thome or someone like him would probably fit in best right around the 5th spot, even though it slows things down, just because your 2-3-4 hitters are all RH hitters almost no matter how you stack it, and you have 2 guys in AJ and Teahen who fit best in that 7-9 range right next to your other lefty in the leadoff spot. You've got to break that up, and unless Teahen rediscovers his .900 OPS form, that's where your DH fits. If you don't hit lefty 5th, you've got a giant string of RH bats in the middle of your lineup, and if you use one of the guys you have now, I'll just walk your cleanup hitter. Pierre Alexei or Rios or Beckham Quentin or Beckham Konerko or Quentin 5th spot, ideal for a lefty Rios or Alexei Teahen Rios or Alexei AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (dadwassoxfan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 05:29 PM) I think that Kenny thinks we have enough right now to win the Division with our current DH combo. and that's truly pathetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 10:17 AM) Nix is really redundant on this team after signing Vizquel. Viz is better defensively and bats from the same side of the plate. Nix brings more power against LHP but based on last year is a defensive downgrade. Haven't we mainly gone with a four man bench in recent years anyways? As said prior, unless Kenny's keeping Fielder or Gonzalez under a massive blanket, sign Thome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 10:06 AM) I would have liked to see more opposite field hitting by Thome also, but the reality of it is the Sox paid him to hit homers not singles to left. Last year, he started doing that a bit more. He actually hit some soft liners and ground balls to the far left side, on occasion, as I recall. He even attempted a bunt that direction once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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