jphat007

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 23, 2005 -> 03:42 PM) Hey, I'm just trying to match your 'trade Harris' posts... But seriously, it would probably best fit the team to have Harris go down when Thomas comes back -- if Ozzie isn't comfortable with Harris at short. JMHO, but I think it would fit the team best if Harris went down in a week and a half. If not sooner. Give the ABs to Iguchi in ST.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Mar 23, 2005 -> 02:11 PM) I'm not sure if Joey told Pods to go home or if it was his own decision, but he should've stayed put. Not saying Willie didn't do a bad job though. Oh I know. But if Willie hits to the right side, or hits a medium deep fly ball there is no question. Dumb move by Cora, I know, but we need to have somebody that can do the job in that 2 spot, and I don't think Willie can do it.

Good job Willie. A short, weak fly ball to left with a runner on third. That's the way to try and make the team. I'm SO glad we picked up Tadahito.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 08:38 PM) I wonder what the plan will be if MB will only have to miss 1 or 2 starts to begin the season. It sounds like it's not going to be the 4-6 weeks first reported. Anyone know if the schedule will allow a 4 man rotation for the first 2 weeks? I doubt they'll bring B-Mac up for 2 weeks, I imagine if they need a fifth starter they'll have Hermanson or Adkins do it. If he's really day to day and not in any pain like he and KW said tonight, im sure he'd be ready to start opening day.

It depends. From some reports Buerhle could only be out a couple of weeks, if not less than that. THere might not even be a break in there. If thats the case, then THomas is the bigger injury.

It sounds like it is either a broken bone or nothing. If its not broken, they were talking like he coudl be back for opening day, especially since the pain is almost all gone and Buerhle is walking around okay. Great news.

Coop's talking about Buerhle like theres a chance he could still be ready for the opener. Talking about when he would need to work to get ready for opening day. Who knows tho.

Freddy always gets crushed in ST. He's always said he really doesn't care, and he just gets work in and works on his pitches up until the beginning of the season. This is the big lull in ST. I'm surprised they haven't talked about Buerhle more tho. THey were almost acting like it was a non issue at the start of the broadcast tho.

Hawk is acting like its not a huge deal, that they were just scared with it at first. Not that that means much. Should be interesting to see what happens.

what did our hitters do in the 6th? whoops i mean the 7th.

Who is pitching? Is that Diaz?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 02:46 PM) For the record, I think Iguchi deserves the spot to start off the season too. I think his upside is a .300 hitter with good gap-power, and a pretty solid eye at the plate. I just think that Harris shouldn't be tossed aside, because he is an asset -- he can hit righties pretty well -- and if Iguchi proves incapable of handling a full time job, I think it would best serve the team if he was platooned with Harris. Oh yah, I definately agree with that. Have Willie, Ozuna, and Iguchi, and then start Iguchi when the season starts and if he doesn't get it done, you can platoon. I just would hope that Ozzie wouldn't stop him from starting if he hits .280 in the spring while willie hits .250 or so. Who knows though. Numbers don't mean much in ST. I think we are all ready for the season to get here. Haha.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 02:32 PM) While the writer of the article hinted towards Kenny saying that Harris is catching up, Kenny actually didn't say that. What he says in the article is that Ozzie should play the better player, regardless of money. He's saying that whoever Ozzie feels gives the team a better chance to win, that's who should play... Yah, I see what you are saying. Maybe its just hte media. I think Iguichi is going to be really good though, but I think platooning him to start off the season won't do him any good because he needs to see live batters in real competition on a consistent basis, whether he struggles or not, to get a good read on him. It almost sounds like Farmer and Rooney and KW and everybody want Willie to start over Iguchi. Who knows though. I just hope he gets named the starter here coming up.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 02:15 PM) True, but with Iguchi, we have no prior knowledge as to how he'll do in the major leagues. We simply don't know how Iguchi will do (not saying that you know how others will do, but usually one has a general range...). I agree. ANd if he sucks through the end of May we can think about replacing him, but as of right now I think he is doing great considering the circumstances and for KW to say that Willie is catching up to him puts a lot of uneeded pressure on him. I just think it's a stupid thing for KW to say.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 01:57 PM) http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-cubs-headlines - Harris has better range than Igs - Igs made errors in the A's game that cost the Sox the game - Igs is struggling with inside fastballs - Harris' 4 hits are scattered over his 19 abs going 1 for 3 vs Cubs - Igs 5 hits were all in the 1st wk in ST & he's struggled since I'm still a big fan of Igs but I thought Ozzie was a little zealous at penciling him in as the #2. I always felt Igs needed to hit near the end of the lineup to get better adjusted to MLB pitching. It's common sense that the guys hitting 7-9 in the lineup will on avg face fewer ab's vs starters than the top 6. That should help Igs somewhat. If I were the GM I would tell Igs he might want to try check swinging for hits on the inside fastballs. With his speed he might be able to steal a hit & in doing so force the pitchers to go away from that spot more often. It seems right now they smell blood & are just daring him to hit that pitch. I can't believe no one's pitched inside to him before so I'm thinking he could be struggling with the dry air of AZ as well. I doubt he's faced any weather conditions like that in his career to date. Once he figures it out I think that's going to help him challenge pitchers a lot more effectively. He was 5 for his first 15, then went 0-4 in one bad game against the A's and RICH HARDEN. I wouldn't call that struggling for a week. I'd call it struggling for one game. Everybody does that.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 11:56 AM) I'm pretty sure major league baseball clubs are smarter than judging a guy based upon about 20 AB's... It's unfortunate that we won't be getting a defensive upgrade in Iguchi, too. I'm hoping Gooch is able to begin adjusting to the grass ASAP, because from what it sounds like from our radio voices of Farmer and Rooney, they aren't impressed at all... A platoon might be just what benefits the team the most, but Iguchi will probably get the majority of the starts. I'd just like to see Ozzie get Willie in there against tough righties... I'm confused. You say people shouldn't judge on 20 ABs, and yet you say Iguchi can't be an upgrade at 2B when he has played their for 6 or 7 games in a totally foreign country. How can you make that judgement when he is a gold glover in Japan, but already judge what he is on defense after 6 or 7 SPRING games, when we know he was a gold glover in Japan, after you just said you can't judge someone on a small sample size.

He's encouraged with Willie's 4-19, but upset with Iguchi hitting 5-21, starting agianst 3 or 4 very good right handers, in his first two weeks seeing American pitching? What am I missing? They ahven't even let Iguchi see a left hander yet. What a strange statement from KW.

Both opposite field too. I love it!

Man, some of our minor league pitchers are absolutely awful. They've been hit hard late in games this spring.

Our minor leaguers have gotten crushed by other minor leaguers this spring. Our starters and relievers that will be on the club have been really good, but man when our minor leaguers come in we play and pitch like crap.

El Duque looks really good. Hitting his spots.

Considering he is pretty much our 9th hitter, I don't think it's critical that he be "awesome" as long as he can be mediocre. .250 with 23-25 bombs and a bunch of ribbies won't be all that bad. Sure, we'd like him to be much better than that, but if he can just supply some pop from the 9 hole I think our lineup would still be pretty solid.

I like Pablo Ozuna after watching him for a couple of games and listening on the radio. He's 6-15 this spring (.400) and has shown some solid speed and good fielding. While ST doesn't mean a whole lot, I think he can be a pretty good utility infielder. He's certainly shown more than 0-9 on the spring Willie. I would rather not have him at SS.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 02:32 PM) man, in two TV games our baserunning has been atrocious. at best. A lot of it by players who won't be on the team. Borchard, Widger, etc. My guess would be that they are trying to impress Ozzie by being as aggressive as they can because they know they won't make the team otherwise. Might as well try and risk it.

It doesn't mean anything at all, but its interesting that we haven't hit a HR yet around 3 games into the spring.