Haarold

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) Stats are a good tool for the sake of comparisons. However, I base most of my opinion on what I see. There are so many things stats or a box score won't tell you about a game or a player. That might be the most intelligent reply I have read on this board in a long time. AMEN BROTHER!!

QUOTE(ScottyDo @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 08:22 PM) While I agree that Paulie is not above being traded, you will NEVER convince me that his "clutch" home runs are any more infrequent than any other power hitter's on any other team. Hitting too many solo bombs, for any player on any team, is more an indication of the people's ability to get on base in front of them, or how you use them in the lineup (see: Soriano. Silly Lou...). It's not an indication of their "clutchness". Besides, clutch is a silly concept that just distorts statistics based on our ability to remember important hits more than unimportant ones. There are very few players in history with a numerical basis for the qualification, either positively or negatively. Most of them just came up with "important hits" that were totally in line with their career numbers. Just as an example, I could call Paulie clutch because he hit a Grannie in one of the biggest games in franchise history. Agree? No? Good, me neither. Heh, sorry for the rant, I do agree with some of your points and I think that we should trade Paulie if the deal is right. However, I haven't heard of a deal yet that I'd part with Konerko for...were I a GM. And it's a damn good thing I'm not or Shingo Takatsu would still be closing (he was SO FRIGGIN' COOL WHEN HE WAS GOOD!!!) Your right, Paulies "clutchness" is irrelevant, I mentioned it only because I knew that someone would point out that he hit 30 homers last year, and that that in and of itself is reason enough to keep him around and hitch a ride on his wagon year after year. My point was and still is, is that he is not the super star that alot of people think he is. His 30 homers merely offset every base running gaffe and rally killing double play he hit into. I'm not trying to throw Paulie "under the bus". Guys like him are marketable and make it fun for people to go to games... chanting "PAULIE, PAULIE" with the potential to see a big homerun. Not unlike your reference to Takatsu. Your right it was "friggin'" cool when he would trot from the bullpen and they would sound the gong. But just like Takatsu, Paulie is a one dimensional player. I wouldn't mind seeing him stay here in a dh type of role, and I think that if he is still here in two or three years, that will be his role.

QUOTE(almagest @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 08:20 PM) Who do you acquire for him? What teams are possible suitors? And who do we put at first then, if not Paulie "stretchless" Konerko? Neither Fields nor Crede have played first, and if defense is so important, why put them there? This organization had no problem trying to put him in LF last year. How hard would it be to start working him in at first. And who said anything about putting Crede at first?

QUOTE(greg775 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 05:28 AM) To the original post, I think I have seen Paulie stretch for the ball. Give me a break on that one. He has hit clutch home runs. He's a slugger, a plodder. He is what he is (oops, bad cliche). He's a good player. I love Crede. But I think if Fields starts the year in the minors that is a BIG franchise mistake. The guy is ready to play in the majors. If I was Fields I'd consider quitting and being a minister. He belongs in a major league uniform. Sorry, but Paulie does not stretch for the ball. I never said he didn't hit clutch home runs, I said that these days they are far and few between. Yes he is a good player, I just don't see in him what alot of other people do. People often get caught up on stats hr's rbi's ect.ect when determining a players worth. I look at all aspects of his game and I just don't see how the sun rises and sets with Paulie in so many peoples minds. This organization is kidding itself if they think this team will be able to compete in this division. They are banking on three unproven pitchers to fill out the rotation. Paulie's trade value is high right now and could go along way to fortify our minor league system. The thought of Fields going back to AAA is ridiculous, as is the thought of letting Crede get away.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 07:33 PM) Third basemen that every single GM in baseball would rather have right now than Joe Crede: Alex Rodriguez Miguel Cabrera David Wright Aramis Ramirez Ryan Zimmerman Chipper Jones Garret Atkins Adrian Beltre Alex Gordon Evan Longoria Mike Lowell Kevin Youkilis Josh Fields Brandon Wood Kevin Kouzmanoff Andy LaRoche and probably more. In addition to having only one offensive season that is better than average, Crede just had, um, major back surgery Your list is a joke. How many of those guys are wearing rings right now? Pitching and defense win baseball games. Period.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 06:08 PM) Mediocre 3Bman should not be kept long-term when there is a 3Bman with higher upside already in the wings. Mediocre? If Crede is mediocre at third who do you consider to be good?

Howdy All... it's been a while since I've posted here. I'm not sure if Crede has done something to anger this organization (Scott Boras aside), but it seems as if they are writing him off. If I were KW here is what I would do... Give Crede whatever is fair market value for a player of his caliber. He is arguably the best defensive third baseman in the AL and his bat has finally caught up with his play at third. Move Fields to first, yes thats what I said... move Fields to first. Trade Paulie and reload the farm system. I know everyone loves Paulie, but In my opinion he is as overrated as they come. He is a head case that has not produced for a full season in years. He gets into slumps that often last for 4-6 weeks where he does nothing but try and pull the ball, and is downright awful, hitting into double plays seemingly once sometimes twice a game. Look it up. It is well known that even though he was named the team captain, he is far from the clubhouse leader that everyone likes to think he is. His base running is terrible at best. I don't care how slow he is. Speed does not necessarily equate to being a good base runner. His range at first is limited, and I don't think I have EVER seen him attempt to "strech" at first base on a close play. He may have another good season or two in him but from where I sit he has already peaked and is on the downside of his career. In another month he will become a 5 and 10 player and we will be stuck with him. His heroics in '05 were awesome, and we probably don't win a championship without him, but in this game its about "what have you done for me lately". Yeah I know he hit 30hrs last year. Big deal. I can count one one hand how many of them were in the clutch. I bet that more than a third of them were solo shots. It may seem as if I am bashing him, but I am not. I am merely stating the obvious. He left me with memories from the '05 season that I will have for the rest of my life, but so did that girl I met back in the 8th grade.

I'm glad to be back.

Amen!!

It reminds me of when I used to play in high school. I was, am, very slow and my coach used to tell me that I was the most dedicated musician he ever saw, because I carried my piano with me where ever I went.

Are you kidding me? Neither one of them can move more than six feet to their right. Konerko is in no way far better than Frank at first base. He (Konerko) has to be the slowest player in the entire major leagues. I guarantee you Frank would beat him in a foot race. Not to mention Frank puts up monster numbers when he plays the field.

Then go root for the Cubs, because you just described the mentality of 90% of the people there.

What the hell does my number of posts have to do with anything? At least they were intelligent. I've been reading your posts for sometime now, and like I said before, you are an idiot.

You're an idiot... Why don't you go tackle an umpire.

You'd better move it quick because this ship will sink before the end of May.