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Sox OF could look different in '12


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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,5113365.story

 

How’s this for a 2012 White Sox outfield:

 

Left fielder Alex Rios, center fielder Alejandro De Aza and right fielder Dayan Viciedo?

 

Rios moves from center field, where he misjudged or took unique routes on several flies that eluded him. De Aza and Brent Lillibridge are the Sox’s best center fielders, and De Aza played well over a two-month stint while giving the team some much-welcomed energy.

 

And Viciedo finally gets to play every day while possessing the strongest outfield arm.

 

But for this to occur:

 

The Sox must feel confident that Rios can play left adequately. He has played in only one game in left field, but having him play mostly in center during his tenure with the Sox might have been a small reach because he played mostly right next to center fielder Vernon Wells during his time with Toronto.

 

The thought here is that Rios will have De Aza to his left and the left field line to his right and won’t be as responsible for the territory he was assigned to cover in center.

 

This also would mean that leadoff batter/left fielder Juan Pierre wouldn’t return, but that’s been anticipated since he is a free agent.

 

“Everything is up in the air,” Pierre said on the final day of the regular season on Sept. 28. “I think just because of the whole dynamics now. Ozzie (Guillen) leaving, (Mark) Buehrle and these guys are staples here, and you saw it (in Buehrle’s last start). It’s the feeling that I don’t think I’m high on the priority list. I know they have some in-house guys that can play the same type of game that I play. We’ll see. Either way, I can’t call it.

 

“They got some young guys you don’t know about. And De Aza is ready to go. He spent a lot of years in the minor leagues, and he’s coming into his own. These guys might be a couple years off, and you never know if the team wants to go young. Probably the only one I know of is De Aza. It’s sort of like watching me, only he has more pop. I tease him about it.”

 

If the Sox don’t acquire a leadoff hitter, De Aza could take over that role. De Aza batted only seven times in the leadoff spot in 2011 and actually had a .474 on-base percentage in the second spot. But he might be the Sox’s best answer at the top of the order.

 

Viciedo’s time has come, and the Sox owe him $2.5 million in 2012 in the final year of a four-year, $10 million contract after he left Cuba. To this point, Viciedo has been a good soldier for the Sox by keeping excess weight off while moving from third to first base and later right field.

 

To make room for Viciedo in right field, the Sox would have to move Carlos Quentin – which has been a distinct possibility since last July. Quentin is one year away from free agency, and his stock might never be greater as long as he shows he’s fully recovered from a sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder.

 

Before the July 31 trading deadline, Philadelphia and Atlanta scouted Quentin before settling on Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn, respectively.

 

But there are plenty of teams who will be seeking a power-hitting outfielder, especially San Francisco if the Giants can’t re-sign free agent Carlos Beltran.

 

Quentin and pitchers John Danks and Gavin Floyd are the Sox’s biggest bargaining chips. Rios is owed $38 million over the next three seasons, as the Sox already have earmarked $89 million to 12 players for 2012. So going with younger players isn’t a bad idea and it’s also essential.

 

The Sox could use some upper minor league talent to challenge the likes of Brandon Short, Justin Greene and Jordan Danks while Trayce Thompson gains more seasoning.

 

But giving the keys to Viciedo in right also means that they would be counting on him to provide more consistent power than he did during his one-month promotion, when he provided two extra base hits after Aug. 30.

 

Lillibridge will return from a broken wrist and hopes to receive more playing time.

 

At any rate, the Sox’s outfield appears ready for a facelift.

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http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011...e-soxs-outfield

 

The Chicago White Sox will have a new-look coaching staff following the hiring of Robin Ventura as manager, and they also could have a new-look outfield.

 

The Chicago Tribune reports the team might start Alex Rios in left field, Alejandro De Aza in center and Dayan Viciedo in right. The lineup this past season was Juan Pierre in left, Rios in center and Carlos Quentin in right.

 

Alex Rios could be the only returning starter to the White Sox outfield next year, and he still may switch positions.

 

In order for that plan to take shape, however, Rios must prove capable of playing left field—where he has played just once in his eight-season major league career.

 

This scenario also assumes Pierre will leave as a free agent and the White Sox will deal Quentin.

 

"It's the feeling that I don't think I'm high on the priority list. I know they have some in-house guys that can play the same type of game that I play. We'll see. Either way, I can't call it," Pierre told the Chicago Tribune.

 

The newspaper notes there was plenty of interest in Quentin prior to this season's nonwaiver trading deadline, and there would be plenty if the team made him available this offseason.

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Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011...d#ixzz1b31edToY

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QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 10:17 AM)
We're actually downgrading from Pierre in LF. Ah so sad

Of course...fielding in LF is less of a challenge than CF, so hopefully moving from CF to LF would strengthen our defense out there compared to the debacle that was Pierre.

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QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 09:17 AM)
We're actually downgrading from Pierre in LF. Ah so sad

 

Rios played like garbage all year, but he's been much better in the past. Plus let's not forget JP's error streak in the beginning of this year, and the fact that he can barely throw it to the cutoff man. Until his great 2010, everyone considered JP to be a bad LF. I think Rios has a chance to be a significant upgrade, if he decides to try.

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QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:27 AM)
Rios played like garbage all year, but he's been much better in the past. Plus let's not forget JP's error streak in the beginning of this year, and the fact that he can barely throw it to the cutoff man. Until his great 2010, everyone considered JP to be a bad LF. I think Rios has a chance to be a significant upgrade, if he decides to try.

Today we've gotten the "Ventura needs to work with Beckham" article and the "KW is kicking the Central American Scouts butts" articles. It shouldn't be long before we get the "Ventura is Hugging Dunn and Kicking Rios's tail" articles.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 03:33 PM)
Today we've gotten the "Ventura needs to work with Beckham" article and the "KW is kicking the Central American Scouts butts" articles. It shouldn't be long before we get the "Ventura is Hugging Dunn and Kicking Rios's tail" articles.

 

 

The only kicking butt stuff for Rios is out the door. He should be traded and we keep Quentin, who doesn't need any butt kicking to perform

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QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 12:06 PM)
The only kicking butt stuff for Rios is out the door. He should be traded and we keep Quentin, who doesn't need any butt kicking to perform

Yeah, if you kick Quentin in the butt he'll hit the 15 day DL.

 

And no one is trading for Rios. Repeating it doesn't somehow hypnotize other teams.

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QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:06 AM)
The only kicking butt stuff for Rios is out the door. He should be traded and we keep Quentin, who doesn't need any butt kicking to perform

 

It's just that easy.

 

Please stop saying things like this. It's not going to happen because this isn't a video game.

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QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:06 AM)
The only kicking butt stuff for Rios is out the door. He should be traded and we keep Quentin, who doesn't need any butt kicking to perform

 

I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like this. You can't trade Rios, Peavy, or Dunn because no one wants them. Being a GM isn't as easy as 'keep all the good players and trade the bad ones.'

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QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:42 AM)
I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like this. You can't trade Rios, Peavy, or Dunn because no one wants them. Being a GM isn't as easy as 'keep all the good players and trade the bad ones.'

 

You must be a buffoon. The Sox would be amazing next year if they just traded Rios and signed Albert Pujols. Jerry Reinsdorf is a rich man. I'm sure he can afford it.

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QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:47 AM)
You must be a buffoon. The Sox would be amazing next year if they just traded Rios and signed Albert Pujols. Jerry Reinsdorf is a rich man. I'm sure he can afford it.

 

You know, that IS a good point. Come to think of it, we could find the money to re-sign Buerhle AND keep Danks AND get the pitching prospects we need if we just traded Peavy for prospects instead of Danks. Also, we should have a big, beautiful cake to show off in CF all year, but also eat it, too.

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QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:56 AM)
You know, that IS a good point. Come to think of it, we could find the money to re-sign Buerhle AND keep Danks AND get the pitching prospects we need if we just traded Peavy for prospects instead of Danks. Also, we should have a big, beautiful cake to show off in CF all year, but also eat it, too.

 

Now we're cooking' with gas.

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QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 11:42 AM)
I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like this. You can't trade Rios, Peavy, or Dunn because no one wants them. Being a GM isn't as easy as 'keep all the good players and trade the bad ones.'

 

Well then the GM should be fired and not the beloved manager if that's the case.

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QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Oct 17, 2011 -> 12:57 PM)
Well then the GM should be fired and not the beloved manager if that's the case.

 

Honestly I want to see if these guys turn it around with a new manager. I am by no means convinced that Adam Dunn is who we saw last year. Same with Gordon Beckham.

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