White Sox @ Rangers

[justBLAZE]

GAMEDAY ! GAMETHREAD!

 

 

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

[caulfield12]

Was trying to post this into the last game thread but it just archived.

 

As far as the #2 hitter, our choices are AJ and Ramirez.

 

That's it, nobody else profiles well up there.

 

You could theoretically stick Fukudome up there if he was to start sharing time with Rios.

 

Lillibridge is probably better at leadoff or down in the line-up. He strikes out too much for the 2 hole, unless he can learn to tighten up his swing with 2 strikes.

 

Morel's approach in the game yesterday was the opposite of the way he started last year. Intead of looking just to make contact and hit the ball up the middle and to RF, he's pulling his head off and pull happy. No way he could make contact with anything on the outside of the plate or off the plate, especially a breaking ball or offspeed pitch.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Was trying to post this into the last game thread but it just archived.

 

As far as the #2 hitter, our choices are AJ and Ramirez.

 

That's it, nobody else profiles well up there.

 

You could theoretically stick Fukudome up there if he was to start sharing time with Rios.

 

Lillibridge is probably better at leadoff or down in the line-up. He strikes out too much for the 2 hole, unless he can learn to tighten up his swing with 2 strikes.

 

Morel's approach in the game yesterday was the opposite of the way he started last year. Intead of looking just to make contact and hit the ball up the middle and to RF, he's pulling his head off and pull happy. No way he could make contact with anything on the outside of the plate or off the plate, especially a breaking ball or offspeed pitch.

 

Beckham and Morel projected better in the #2 hole than any other players on this team.

[caulfield12]

Beckham and Morel projected better in the #2 hole than any other players on this team.

 

 

The problem is "profile" and whether they can actually be counted on to produce in that spot, 2 entirely different things.

 

Morel struggled there quite a bit last season, and it took him out of his "normal" offensive game.

 

 

 

So many bad breaks in that game yesterday, but you make your own breaks too, especially on the road against the 2-time defending AL champions:

 

1) Horrible strike 3 called punchouts of Beckham and Viciedo with RISP that weren't even close (thanks, Winters)

2) The ball that Josh Hamilton fielded off the bat of AJ in RCF that he miraculously stabbed off the bounce and caught, which would have led to another Sox run and AJ on 2nd or possibly 3rd

3) Rangers playing the perfect defense in the late innings, no doubles/prevent....Dunn just crushed a ball down the 1B line right into the glove

 

 

Pitching coach Don Cooper said a closer-by-committee approach is not an option. Yesterday, SunTimes quote.

 

Edited April 7, 2012 by caulfield12

[Balta1701]

Morel struggled there quite a bit last season, and it took him out of his "normal" offensive game.

Morel also might well have struggled because he wasn't given a consistent role to adapt to.

[caulfield12]

Therein lies the beauty of this season.

 

There's just no reason not to give Viciedo, DeAza, Morel and Beckham at least a full four months to prove they're major league regulars and part of the future, or spare parts/complimentary pieces/bench players/waiver wire bait.

 

Viciedo, of course, is going to get a lot more rope. We simply don't have any impact hitters in the minor leagues...you have to reach all the way down to Trayce Thompson or maybe Mitchell if he has a great year in Birmingham.

 

 

[Balta1701]

Therein lies the beauty of this season.

 

There's just no reason not to give Viciedo, DeAza, Morel and Beckham at least a full four months to prove they're major league regulars and part of the future, or spare parts/complimentary pieces/bench players/waiver wire bait.

 

Viciedo, of course, is going to get a lot more rope. We simply don't have any impact hitters in the minor leagues...you have to reach all the way down to Trayce Thompson or maybe Mitchell if he has a great year in Birmingham.

Except of course for the fact that people are trying to shuffle Morel's role after 1 game. Again.

[Kyyle23]

I would rather see Morel bat lower in the order until he establishes a consistent approach for a lengthy period of time. It seems like he has been thrown into so many different roles, he really hasn't had an opportunity to just come in and hit.

Last year it looked like the situation continued to compound on him, and he was just trying to dink and dunk singles and attempt to move the runner instead of swinging and trying to hit the ball with authority. In September he finally found some success when he was allowed to go out and play.

 

Jmo

[caulfield12]

Except of course for the fact that people are trying to shuffle Morel's role after 1 game. Again.

 

 

FWIW, I agree with you, but I think they would be better off leaving Morel and Beckham alone at the very bottom of the line-up, where there's zero pressure.

 

Alternating Ramirez and AJ in the 2 hole, depending on the match-up with the opposing pitcher...might be a better idea.

 

Brent had his greatest success when he just "let her rip" at the end of the season, and he can't do that in the 2 spot if DeAza's getting on at a good clip like he did in 2011.

Edited April 7, 2012 by caulfield12

[Balta1701]

FWIW, I agree with you, but I think they would be better off leaving Morel and Beckham alone at the very bottom of the line-up, where there's zero pressure.

 

Alternating Ramirez and AJ in the 2 hole, depending on the match-up with the opposing pitcher...might be a better idea.

 

Brent had his greatest success when he just "let her rip" at the end of the season, and he can't do that in the 2 spot if DeAza's getting on at a good clip like he did in 2011.

Actually though...Brent's strikeouts went up quite a bit when he started "Letting her rip" and being more aggressive at the end of the year. He already seems to be doing 1 part of that in the 2 slot.

[Heads22]

Yay, first WGN game.

[Kyyle23]

Actually though...Brent's strikeouts went up quite a bit when he started "Letting her rip" and being more aggressive at the end of the year. He already seems to be doing 1 part of that in the 2 slot.

 

Everything changed when he started letting her rip. He got more walks, RBIs, homeruns, and his Ks went up. I will take the strikeouts if it comes with a drastic improvement in everything else. It wasnt like he was striking out at an Dunn-like rate

[TheBlackSox8]

Would like to see the effect ventura has on morel after this one game, where he struggled at the plate and fumbled on defense. I keep him where he is...let Morel play himself out of the spot before any quick decisions are made.

[justBLAZE]

It comes down to this: we all say we dont have any expectations for this team, yet deep inside everyone's hoping for 2005 redux.

[Kyyle23]

It comes down to this: we all say we dont have any expectations for this team, yet deep inside everyone's hoping for 2005 redux.

 

Of course, it surprised all of us. I would love to have that again

[claydude14]

Yesterday was a heart breaker of a game. Let's go back and tie this series up! C'mon Sox, dagummit!

[Marty34]

Morel also might well have struggled because he wasn't given a consistent role to adapt to.

 

This is an excuse.

[macsandz]

Peavy will be so amped for tonight I'm afraid he's gonna get shelled.

[sunofgold]

Yesterday was a tough frustrating loss, but win today and I will be happy. We have hit Holland well in the past, but Peavy has struggled against the Rangers. Hopefully that was a "not-100% healthy" Peavy and he says he is 100% now.

 

Closer situation is frustrating just b/c there is no need to hide that information. If it isn't closer by committee, I am thinking that they have fallen in love with Santiago and think that can be the next Mariano Rivera. If that is the case, then that means Santiago won't be moved into a starting role (like Sale) but molded into being a elite closer for a long time.

 

This could be good for the White Sox but Santiago hasn't proven yet that his is a major league closer. Guess we will probably find out soon. I am feeling better about our bullpen overall. I was worried a little bit since Sale moved into the rotation and Santos was traded. Still not sold on Nate Jones but if he doesn't work out there are other guys to try from AAA.

[Balta1701]

This is an excuse.

Correct. Like "he was mad at the GM" is an excuse for a manager quitting on the team and throwing away ballgames. Both can be true, and there is an appropriate remedy for them...stop doing the mistake that caused the poor performance.

[Marty34]

Correct. Like "he was mad at the GM" is an excuse for a manager quitting on the team and throwing away ballgames. Both can be true, and there is an appropriate remedy for them...stop doing the mistake that caused the poor performance.

 

 

Guillen has as much to do ith the 2012 White Sox as Jerry Dybzinski does. You continue to live in the past.

[Balta1701]

Guillen has as much to do ith the 2012 White Sox as Jerry Dybzinski does. You continue to live in the past.

That's an excuse.

[Reddy]

we should be able to light Holland up. lets get a W boys!

 

screw you all, I'm still excited.

[flavum]

DeAza CF, Morel 3B, Dunn DH, Konerko 1B, Rios RF, Alexei SS, Flowers C, Viciedo LF, Beckham 2B

 

Is it safe to say Flowers will be Peavy's personal catcher? Or at the very least, he'll catch about 75% of his starts? It's not like they have a day game tomorrow.