Kalapse

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 11:32 AM) I'd be willing to be there's more than one. Their production would be about similar right now, with Anderson having the much higher ceiling for this, and many more years to follow. Anderson plays a better defense (despite Erstad's god-like, unparalleled reads ), has a better arm, has more power, and is cheaper. Erstad can steal better and is unquestionably the guy I want up there if we need a ball to not leave the infield and preferably to the second baseman. Oh, and injuries. Let's not forget those. If you need a 4-3 putout, you know who you're going to.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 11:25 AM) There probably is a single manager. Probably one that is either influenced by the GM (if Erstad wasnt an FA pickup) or has a younger, rebuilding team. I dont see the benefit of putting BA in over Erstad right now. The only real upside is that some of us like to watch prospects develop at the MLB level, which alot of people want to see. Or the upside is that he'll out produce Erstad since Darin is probably going to have a slugging percentage about 30 points higher than his batting average this year and an OBP right around .300, I'm still waiting for him to show any sort of promise in either of those 2 categories but I really don't see it happening. You have a 33 year old who's coming off a couple ankle surgeries, picks up no extra basehits, isn't a high on base percentage guy, gets good reads in CF but has below average closing speed and you have a 25 year old with incredibly similar tools expect he's 8 years younger and actually has some power potential. If the 2 players are this similar to eachother I'm going with the one who could be a player for me in the near to distant future. Erstad appears to be an 8/9 hole hitter and a couple of singles and the occasional bunt aren't going to make me think otherwise.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 11:21 AM) Yeah, cause ozzie is the devil, blah blah blah. Is it really that outlandish to believe there's a single manager in baseball right now who would start the 25 year old over the 33 year old? I don't think any of this has to do with anyone being the devil.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 11:34 PM) slow? Yeah, one adjective too many, he's pretty quick on the basepaths. How about light hitting, low on base, no power type hitter like Erstad?

QUOTE(gosox41 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) It will help, but may not matter much until Thome, Konerko, Crede, and Dye hit like they're capable of. Bob What's wrong with Thome?

6th? Yeah that's the spot for a light hitting, slow, no power type hitter like Erstad.

Well we know for sure that one of them is Brian Anderson.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 08:18 PM) Then AJ should get them, too. Ozzie would NEVER do that to one of his veteran players.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 08:15 PM) What I meant was -- and I think I made it clear -- is that Molina called a damn good game. AJ's been lacking for the last year, IMO. If Molina could hit he'd be a valuable major leaguer. I highly doubt the rookie AA catcher Gustavo Molina is calling his own game. I'd say there's a 99% chance he was getting his pitches from the dugout today.

Just for the record, Anderson was #37 in '05. Right there with guys like Scott Olsen #38, Conor Jackson #40, Ryan Sweeney #42 and Brian McCann #44. Who gives a s*** if he was a 'blue chip' prospect anyway? It's going to be fun as hell this offseason when KW has to decide who will be in his future outfield because he has nothing going for him right now in the way of young OF.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 07:30 PM) What has Anderson does wrong in the field? Isn't it now two consecutive days where Erstad has made mistakes in the field? I've been so disappointed in Erstad's defense this year, he's looked good a majority of the time in CF with his reads but he's made too many damn mental mistakes for a guy who is supposed to be the ultimate cerebral player. That along with his lack of closing speed and I'd say he's been less than stellar.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 05:11 PM) Big Pappi ain't exactly a burner on the basepaths. I know what you're saying...but I just get this sense that he's going to light it up this year. He has a great knack for the dramatic hit, which you have to admit, always factors in to the voting. David Ortiz knows how to take a walk, he posted a .961 OPS as a 27 year old and has been posting 100+ OPS seasons since his 25th birthday, Crede is 29 now and his best season by far he posted a .829 OPS. HUGE difference. I'm not really sure where you can compare the 2. If you can't run at all you better be able to take a walk or hit 40+ homeruns or you're just not going to get that sort of recognition.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 05:06 PM) Joe Crede is going to win the AL MVP this year. Just not for the first two weeks of april. I'll go out on a limb and say he'll never even finish in the top 20 of MVP voting any year of his career. He just doesn't have the tools to be that valuable. ~.800 OPS guys with no speed aren't often awarded with MVPs.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 03:32 PM) Ozzie made one dumb mistake today in the 9th - pinch hitting Podsednik for Uribe - when down by 1. I'm just of the belief that you don't put a singles hitter in over a power hitter in a 1 run game, especially when Uribe is off to a hot start. Just doesn't make sense to me in the least. Other than that, he managed well today, and that really wasn't a move that was going to cost the team anyways. This loss is entirely on the offense sucking complete ass. Agree with Rowand that this team feels good, if you will, right now, but you have to remember this team got outstanding pitching until about June 1 last year when Garland turned his season around. I want to see the pitching be able to keep that up, and the offense has to turn it around, plain and simple. Yeah, this. I thought Guillen did a pretty damn good job today aside from pulling Juan and even that I can maybe understand. I was really hoping they'd move Crede this past offseason and he's only reaffirming this belief with his play thus far this season. KW could have gotten SO much for him. QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 05:03 PM) repeat after me: If the Sox lose, it's because of Ozzie. If the Sox win, it's in spite of Ozzie. It's a very simple principle. I think you're always going to have a few people who hate on the manager for absolutely no reason, no matter who the guy is. I really can't understand any disdain for Oz after today's game but I guess some people just like to look his way after every loss no matter how ridiculous that may be.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 03:38 PM) so does this guy work for Maxim or something? This is the 3rd thread he's started linking to a Maxim article so yes, yes he does.

QUOTE(Dam8610 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 01:59 AM) Your math is just a tad off there. That's 7 years/$40 million, or less that $6 million per year. No way Santana takes that little. $17M/$23M per year. YEAR 1: $17M YEAR 2: $17M YEAR 3: $17M YEAR 4: $23M YEAR 5: $23M YEAR 6: $23M YEAR 7: $23M ---------------- TOTAL: $143M over 7 years.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 01:42 AM) Even I can agree with you on that one.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 11:24 PM) not to mention his ability to handle the bat better than Brian. So when does this start happening? Darin Erstad didn't earn jack s*** and I'd like for you to prove otherwise using tangible evidence to support your case.

Ok so Ozzie is saying that Anderson's lack of production last season killed any chance of him starting for the team in 2007 correct? Then why did he spend all of Spring Training saying if Brian produces in March, the CF job is his? That if he continued to show he can hit during the Spring that there would be a starting job for him on the big club? This is just further proof that any outfield competition during Spring Training was purely fictional.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 08:14 PM) Kalapse, isn't that guy from Toronto your favorite manager in baseball today or something? And you're complaining about Ozzie being childish? I don't really see where there are huge differences between them personality wise. I like John Gibbons because he's crazy as hell and doesn't manage the team I root for. He's a horrible manager and I'd never want him to manage the Sox but I love to watch Blue Jays games just to see what insane thing he'll do next. The shots of him in the Jays' dugout when things are going to hell for his team on the field are just priceless. I never said I liked Gibbons' managerial style or even the way he carries himself, just the trainwreck that is his managerial career tends to entertain me.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 08:09 PM) Which wont ever happen. Well, if he ever decides to grow up, he'll be cool in my book.

I don't even hate Ozzie or want him fired. I just wish he would drop the stubborn bulls***, the childish attitude and the personal vendettas.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 08:02 PM) Damnit Kalapse, ruining my "Guess the OBP"!! It was a good point none the less.

I have no interest at all in debating any of the same tired bulls*** that I've wasted so much time arguing on here over the past month so I'll only address one point. I don't really get the Thome criticism, compare his numbers this year to those of Konerko's and you'll see who the weaker player has been Jim is still sporting a .442 OBP and the second most hits on the team despite being a 'feast of famine' hitter. He swings hard and strikes out a lot, that's the way he's been his entire career, get used to it. He's also going to walk more than anyone else in the lineup, hit a pissload of homeruns and knock in some runs if this team ever finds a competent hitter to bat second.

Whole lot of opinions being masqueraded as fact in there.