fathom

I wouldn't consider trading for Chavez until he shows some more power this season. In today's steroid testing environment, his slugging percentage is one of the most shocking statistic.......was he on the juice?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 09:42 PM) I guess maybe I just see it as great because of the HUGE improvement over an OF of Maggs, Lee, Everett, Harris. Spod doesnt get good jumps, but his speed does make up for it. Timo has a canon, no range. A-row catches alot of uncatchable balls and Dye has been uncharacteristically error-prone. As far as the throws go, we havent had a ton of assists, but their ability to throw has ALOT of runnners holding on third. Good points, I can see your comparison with last year. However, we really need to avoid playing Everett in the outfield. He's an absolute liability out there.

I wouldn't trade Uribe's defense for any other SS. There might be some guys who are slightly better, but no one who makes him look like the second coming of Jose Valentin. Uribe's defense at SS may very well be the least of our concerns.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 09:36 PM) Seriously??? I think he has made it to several gap shots and short pop ups that would'vve been dropped in previous years. I think the defense has been good, with the exception of Dye's errors, I think we have caught many balls that we wouldnt have before. I think that the speed has gotten us several more outs, and the good jumps that we have been getting have spoiled us into thinking balls have to be caught. Yes, seriously. I've thought our outfield defense has been terrible this year. The throws by our outfielders have been terrible all year. Hell, the best throw of the year, by Pods at Oakland, was screwed by the ump. I don't think Pods has got very good jumps on balls (no shock to anyone who saw him in Milwaukee), Dye has been well below what we expected in RF, and Rowand had dropped some pretty catchable balls. Combine that with Everett's pathetic display in 2 games in the outfield, as well as Timo continuing to show absolutely no range.....and you have the basis of a poor defensive outfield.

Rob Mackowiak

QUOTE(chi-guy2 @ May 31, 2005 -> 09:30 PM) uribe has a better arm, ozuna is just hitting better of late and i guess thats leading him to think ozuna is an all around type of guy Ozuna's hitting better lately? The next time he hits a ball out of the infield, it will be a first. He's leading the world in fewest feet per hit. Ozuna was a nice story in ST and all, but he definitely hasn't carried over his hitting ability into the regular season. I like Ozuna because of his hustle and attitude, but if we have to count on him to play more than twice a week.....we're screwed.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 09:26 PM) Speed is overrated in the field, look at A-row in CF. Alot of people will complain about his range, and his speed, but the guy gets ridiculous reads on the ball when it comes off the bat, not to mention he takes some of the best routes to fly balls that I have ever seen. I've been a little disappointed in Rowand's outfield play this year. He's dropped some VERY catchable fly balls, and his arm so far has been nothing short of awful. As a whole, our outfield has been extremely disappointing on defense this season. It's nowhere near the strength that people thought it would be coming into the season

If anyone is complaining about Uribe's play at SS, I don't want to know what they think about our right side of the infield. Iguchi has been solid in the field, but he has absolutely no range. PK is pretty much the same. Uribe is as good of a defensive SS as we've had here in a long time. How many times does he just boot grounders like Valentin used to? Ozuna has shown me nothing to suggest he's an above average defensive infielder.

I honestly don't think some people watch the games. Some of the recent comments I've heard about particular players lead me to believe people just don't watch the games....and read what Ozzie and KW say in the paper.

I think the biggest problem a lot of us had with letting Everett bat was just how awful he's looked from the left side lately. The last two months or so, he's swung through an incredible amount of fastballs right down the plate. Iguchi has performed consistently enough to get the chance to atone for his error.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ May 31, 2005 -> 07:27 PM) Don't take this as a jab at you -- but, did the realists also see how bad Jon Garland truly is, too, for the past four-five years? For me personally, Garland was always about an average AL pitcher. However, Crede is so below average at 3rd base in the AL, it's pathetic.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 07:23 PM) It seems to be working nicely right now. If you can consistently score 4 runs a game and hold the opponent under that, you will win, simple as that. If this was a dire situation I could understand how furious you are at the offense, but fact is, we are still in first, have the best record in the MLB, and just got our best hitter back. Why wait for this to become a dire situation? First, we can't count too much on Thomas this year. I don't see how he's going to be able to play more than every other day over the course of the season. Also, why don't we ask the Dodgers from a few years ago how it is to have a great pitching, weak hitting team? Once it gets hotter out, the ball will be flying out of the Cell again. We're going to have to outslug teams.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 31, 2005 -> 07:02 PM) Holy smokes. Let me preface all of this by saying I have a great respect for Randa. Now ... if something happens to Crede I'm in your camp. Get on the phone and get Randa. Even though I disagree with you, that was a very good post. I agree that no moves will be made for a while, no matter how bad Crede looks right now.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:55 PM) not as much as I hate A-rows commercial with that stupid devil. Yep, it all leads to my hatred for the marketing campaign.

I hate the win or die trying slogan with a passion.

Do some of you people really want to see Crede here for another year and a half?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:46 PM) And you clear payroll from where??? Randa will be cheaper next season than Crede...guaranteed. Also, I have a strong feeling we will not resign Konerko next year, freeing up some money.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:43 PM) Lets say this goes through. What in the hell do we do next year in the hot corner?? Fields is NOT ready. You really think we're going to resign Crede or go to arbitration with him? Not a chance in hell right now, especially with Boras as his agent.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:37 PM) But i dont think that KW would make this trade, I think if he is going to trade a starter and a staple in the clubhouse for years. Since when has Crede been considered a leader on our team? I would imagine that everyone on the Sox would understand if we traded for a different 3rd baseman. They see the same ABs that we do every night.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:36 PM) I think trading Crede for Randa would DRASTICALLY help our team. Crede was a hole in the lineup last season and he appears to be the same this season. I think people have their hopes up way too high for a deal to get someone like Chavez. Based on salary, who we'd have to trade, and performance to date, a guy like Randa or Mackowiak would be a MUCH better option for us to trade for. For everyone wanting the Sox to trade for a high-priced guy like Chavez........if we got him, we'd have a nice 1b making like 750k next year. Can you say Ross Gload or Travis Lee?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:32 PM) All speculation though. When it comes down to it, if you are the Reds GM, and your team is floundering, and your fan base is turning against your moves the past two years, do you make a trade straight up, and how does that help your club. You are taking Crede, who has Bora$$ as his agent, and has not performed well in the majors. Or you could hold on to Randa until the end of the year when a contender will give up alot for a good 3B and a bat going in the stretch run. It doesnt make sense to me. We are going to have to agree to disagree. Because I think, if KW makes a move, its going to be a big one that DRASTICALLY helps the club. The Reds have had all sorts of problems at 3rd base over last few years. Brandon Larson was supposed to be their 3rd baseman for the decade, but he was a massive bust. I'm willing to bet they would jump at the chance of hopefully making adjustments to Crede, and letting him be their 3rd baseman for the next 8 years. I'm guarantee that the main reason Crede hasn't been traded, and likely will not be, is that KW doesn't want to get rid of him.

QUOTE(shakes @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:21 PM) What drives me nuts about Crede is his wasted at bats. He doesn't move or drive in runners. He never adjusts his swing to the situation. It all relates back to Crede being an easy out. I'm shocked, and happy, with how he laid off some close pitches in the 9th inning last night. But he rarely shows that type of presence at the plate. Compared to Randa, who seems like such a tough out in big situations. How many times did our pitchers have 10 pitch at-bats against him in a big situation, only for him to eventually walk or line a single to right field?

Randa or Mackowiak would be just fine with me. Crede has proven that he's far too inconsistent to be counted on by a contending team.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:15 PM) Aramis is a horrible defensive 3B, his fielding is bad on a slow infield and his throws are only saved by a gold glove first baseman. As for Mora and Blalock, I would take either one over Crede any day of the week of course. Trust me, there's not another person on this board who hates the Cubs more than I do. However, Aramis is not nearly as bad of a fielder as he used to be. His fielding pct right now is .001 higher than Crede actually. I'd say Crede's defense is a little bit better....but not nearly as much as it was a few years ago.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:02 PM) Another insightful post from an exciting new member.... :headshake Crede's fielding is underappreciated, he makes tough plays look easy and makes alot of plays that other 3B dont even look at. Look no further than the other side of town to see how terrible a fielder a 3B can be. As far as where Joe fits into our lineup, being that he is an EXTREMELY reliable fielder, and a good #8 hitter with power, I dont think its neccessary to replace him. Unless you are talking about Chavez, Crede will be our 3B the rest of the year. Do you watch the same games that I do? Crede's a good number 8 hitter with power? Crede is one of the easiest outs in the majors. He refuses to walk, and does not make consistent contact at all. Also, it seems like 3rd basemen are improving their defense a lot this year. Great hitters like Mora, Blalock, and even Aramis this year have played stellar defense. Crede is without a doubt our weak link.