fathom

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:46 AM) Well, they both have very different roles. I wasn't implying that we would be alright without Konerko--just that we would have more options. Ozuna/Mack do not equal what a healthy Pods can do for us. Not even close. Are we talking about Podsednik, or Rickey Henderson? Podsednik doesn't score a lot of runs for a leadoff hitter, and he doesn't drive in a lot of runs. He can be a good table-setter, but someone like Mackowiak, if he was to start for a month in place of Pods (on the DL) could help out the offense in different ways.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:42 AM) Very true. Gload deserves to be on the team, no doubt, and I like his defense at 1B. I just have a bias for lots of team speed. Thankfully, Gload has pretty good speed. I couldn't agree with you more in regards to wanting more speed on the bench. I've always wanted a righty power hitter on the bench (someone like Jason Dubois), but I think KW has done a very good job with our bench.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:37 AM) Buehrle, Garcia and Garland all struggled a bit. But it wasn't hard to see the difference between a White Sox team with a 100% healthy Pods compared to a not 100% healthy Pods. We just don't have anybody that can do what he does. Hell, even if Konerko got hurt, we'd have a lot more options to play with than if Pods is out for any real length of time. Konerko's contributions are far more valuable than Podsednik's are. If we lose PK's bat, any replacement would be a significant downgrade. I'm confident enough in Ozuna and Mackowiak that they can do what they have to in order to help the offense.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:35 AM) Pods is the straw that stirs the offensive drink. He is extremely important to the offense. Ozuna can fill in but it weakens the bench. IMO they need another speed guy, given Guillen's preference to have a running team. If Terry Francona were managing the team I'd feel differently. But I have a bias toward having as much speed as possible, and using it. I know that Pods is important, and that when he's getting on early and often, it makes the offense very potent (at scoring one run in an inning). With a guy like Thome batting 3rd, I'm more concerned about saving outs than I am playing smallball. However, I might as well save my breath, and I'm sure we'll play Ozzieball (and Ozzie deserves to keep playing this style).

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:29 AM) I hope people aren't fooling themselves in thinking will be alright without Pods for any long-stretch, or with him at less than 100%. Could we get by without him for a little while? I think so. But he's easily the most irreplaceable of all our position players. What happened last year when he was put on the dl was no fluke. Didn't all of our pitchers hit the wall over that same span? I actually think Pods is one of our most replaceable players, especially if he's not 100 percent. Also, JimH, don't you think Ozuna fits that speed category? He's the fastest player on our team.

Just like what rotoworld said, if Pods can't steal bases, he's a mediocre player. I'd have no problem with an Ozuna/Mackowiak LF platoon if Pods is hurt.

Here's the thing with Ozuna...he could have just as easily hit .100 vs lhp instead of .300 vs lhp last season. He had to lead the world in fewest feet per hit. However, he does a lot of little things right on the field, and there really isn't a significant drop-off between Pods and Ozuna.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 10:21 PM) No thanks, I'd rather see our guys hit him. I'm more concerned with our hitters than a guy who's on the Diamondbacks now. I'd also like to see Jenks try to pitch the last inning in a save-like situation.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 09:42 PM) Javy There goes your precious 5th starter.

Was Jenks the pitcher who allowed the runs?

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 09:37 PM) It's crazy isn't it. If you would have told me that Javier Vazquez would be our 5th starter in 2006 two years ago I would have said you were nuts. It's amazing how much things have changed in our staff.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 09:03 PM) I have a feeling Thome is going to hit at least 3 homers against Byrd this season. The funny thing is that I typed this post without even seeing that others had mentioned Thome's chances against Byrd.

QUOTE(chisoxfan79 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 08:27 PM) I have a hunch Byrd is going to be tough on the Sox all year like Millwood last year. I have a feeling Thome is going to hit at least 3 homers against Byrd this season.

Does anyone know the rotation match-ups for the first series vs Cleveland?

Prediction: Jason Michaels puts up huge numbers against Buehrle this season.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 03:33 PM) Haha, well now that I said that, hopefully we avoid opening day 04 all over again. It's amazing to think that we were in first place from start to finish last season. I'm pretty that there wasn't a single day where we weren't at least tied for first.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 03:25 PM) It doesn't work that way around here. Just imagine if our bullpen blows a lead opening night. Could you imagine how long that thread's going to be, especially since we have the next day off? That thread might be even too negative for me.

Exactly, don't like to see all of these nagging injuries already. The one thing I beg is that if Pods isn't feeling healthy, please don't have him trying to steal! We don't need to see him being picked off more than Cade McNown again this season.

Ozuna will be on the roster. That shouldn't even be in doubt.

Tavarez is an absolute piece of s***. I don't think even redandwhite would try to argue that with us.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:27 PM) I really dread the game threads this year. I thought people would be a little more mellow and cool with the WS win. THis spring has showed that it won't. I think people were expecting us to go undefeated in spring training and to have absolutely no weaknesses, etc.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:22 PM) Oh no. COtts isn't going to be good this year! By no means am I freaking out about Cotts....but he's far from a proven commodity. Just like Jenks, he could easily revert to a 5.00 ERA. As long as he has his control though, he should be fine.

QUOTE(kman @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:01 PM) On a sidenote, Wrestlemania is on Sunday the 2nd like our opening night. I hope no1 here has WWE tix kinda sux u have to choose 1 of the 2 cool events. Going to WrestleMania.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 09:41 PM) Mark Prior is licking the stamps I hear. And once he starts to do a poor job, he'll pull himself saying his tongue is sore.

QUOTE(SouthsideBlitz @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 09:20 PM) Such a great movie, Just dislike the fact it's about the Injuns The similarities between Jenks and Ricky Vaughn are frightening (especially how they can't find their fastballs from their first to second seasons ). Also, the way Vaughn comes in and K's the first hitter in Major League is similar to what Jenks did against Bagwell.