RockRaines

I dont understand playing Uribe over Alexei. Its just a dumb move. He is hitting, and really flashing some leather at 2B. I dont know if Uribe gets to those two dives tonight. And Floyd's walk off was very predictable. He leaned out over the plate for the first pitch and was obviously looking for something outside and hard, Line shakes off two breaking balls and serves up the HR.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 30, 2008 -> 04:24 PM) I'm not going to go on a week's worth of stats. That gets you nowhere. He's been doing all those things all season, with a few slumps here and there. Making decisions on a week-long time span, which is about how long his slump has been going (7 or 8 games), will just be problematic. When you do that, players never get comfortable in a slot, the lineup changes too often and that effects other hitters around them, every player in baseball goes through periods like that, and its just too few at bats to make a judgement. If he's hitting .200 in the 2-hole for another couple weeks, AND if there is someone who is ready to move up (i.e. Swisher starts hitting), then you make that move. Yes, but you said he was doing those things as a #2 hitter. He hasnt since he has been in that slot, I dont know how much more clearly I can make it. There is no stats doctoring, no timelines, no way for me to change the fact that as a #2 hitter this season for the White Sox in 13 games 52 AB's .231 .286 .613 OPS with 1 more strike out than in almost half as many at bats as in the #6 position. He had more RBI per AB, more HR per AB, more 2B per AB, and about the same run ratio in the #6 position than in the 2 hole. Its pretty clear.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 30, 2008 -> 10:22 AM) How about this? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Swisher is still batting around .200 so you think putting him in the 2 hole is a good idea? Ridiculous. Yes. And them winning doesnt have a whole lot to do with AJP hitting 2nd, it has ALOT to do with Q hitting 3rd and 90 percent of it is starting pitching and bullepn

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 30, 2008 -> 03:09 PM) What games are you watching? He does precisely the things you want from your #2 - high contact, low strikeouts, hits to all fields, high (or decent) average, decent OBP. What else could you possibly want from a #2 hitter? The only realistic criticism I see of AJ at #2 is a lack of speed, but then most of the lineup fits that category. His OBP could be a bit higher, but he's still above most of the lineup. Actually as a #2 hitter he hasnt really done any of that. As a #6 hitter he has, but in the #2 hole, not so much.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 30, 2008 -> 06:46 AM) No one said AJ was THE reason for the resurgence, but I still feel his being in the #2 really makes him a better hitter. He has always been a bigger threat when he is looking at using all of the fields instead of trying to yank the ball into the bullpen sports bar. It has certainly helped the team, but its hard to ignore the statistics that suggest he is actually a more complete and better hitter further down the order. I think the winning has given you Rosey colored glasses when looking at AJP since the move. I am guilty of it too, and thought the same way until I looked at his stats after seeing how much his numbers had fell during last nights game.

It is annoying because you will pick up the paper and the whole front page and most of the second page of the sports section deals with the cubs win over a crappy team, talks about their shoe tying or Dempster's new guitar or something stupid like that, and the sox win is sqeezed into the little sidebar and maybe a small story about how the clubhouse doesnt get along on the second page.

QUOTE (RME JICO @ May 30, 2008 -> 05:59 AM) What makes the Sox record even more amazing is the Road games. Right now the Sox have played the 2nd most Road Games (31) and will have the most Road Games played by the end of the TB series (34) - 61%. In comparison, Cleveland has only played 21 Road Games and Minnesota has played 25. Also in comparison, the Cubs have played all their games at home, and about 50 percent against the Pirates.

QUOTE (rangercal @ May 30, 2008 -> 05:25 AM) The only stat that matters to me is W-L and the Sox are winning with AJ at # 2. Does it really have that much to do with him at #2, or more with Q at 3? Q since the switch: .327 .409 .636 SLG 19 RBI in 15 games Previous #3 hitter: .209 .350 .769 OPS 22 RBI in 37 games How bout OC's move: batting 2nd: .220 .298 .569 OPS 3 2B 17 runs in 30 games batting 1st: .276 .311 .709 OPS 6 2B 17 runs in 23 games AJP batting 2nd: .231 .286 .613 OPS 4 RBI 3 2B 6 runs 13 games So we can see that although AJ's stats have gone down with the move, overall our offense has been a bit more productive and our #3 hitter has basically blown the doors off the previous hitter. But it would be foolish to think that AJP was the reason as OC was actually close to the same hitter in that spot.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 29, 2008 -> 09:31 PM) Whats our record since the line up change? The question wasnt whether our team is winning, its what to do with Swish, and if AJP is playing better in the 2 hole or further down the order. The biggest change has been Q in the 3 hole as his RBI count is above how many games they've played. Its an illusion that AJ is better in the 2 hole, he is in fact been a better hitter further down the order.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 29, 2008 -> 07:58 PM) Look at his stats from the last two years in the lower spots in the order. You can make stats lie all you want, but he is a better hitter when he isn't swinging for the fences. How is showing actual stats making them lie? Looking at his stats, the #6 spot appears to be the best fit, his .788 OPS and .292 avg in the 6 hole is basically his best stats for any spot in the order, and thats for his career. Now if you are talking about the last 2 years, the best number are when he was in a power position in the order, 2007 was 3rd, 2006 was 5th. As an add on, Swish in the 2 hole .243 .365 .459 .824 I'd take that OPS in that slot.

nice game. Maybe Paulie is breaking out of it? Crede put the best swings on balls ive seen in awhile, almost hit two out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 28, 2008 -> 07:35 AM) I agree. AJ is a much better hitter when he is given a role like #2 hitter, versus a power guy in the #5 or #6 slot. This is the AJ I fell in hate with when he was a Twin. Oh really? 2008 stats #2 hitter .255 .314 .362 .675 3 2B #6 hitter .315 .351 .522 .872 10 2B so you prefer when he doesnt hit?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 29, 2008 -> 08:15 AM) There you go. That's leadership from Guillen, once again taking the pressure off of Cabrera. If Cabrera doesn't respect Guillen, he can catch the next train out of town as far as I am concerned. To be honest, I'd like to see OC get a day off one of these days and watch Alexei play a game or two at SS. Maybe it could give us a glimpse of the future.

I was looking at the indians MLB board, I think its funny that they are of the opinion that the Umps gave us all the breaks in this series. I would say the exact opposite, it was clear their pitchers were given a wider plate than ours. They are also complaining that Alexei never touched home on the sac fly, I think the replay showed pretty clearly that his hand touched it.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ May 28, 2008 -> 04:21 PM) The White Sox should just thank themselves they don't have to play in NYC. It's 10 times worse here for the Yankees and Mets. That said, I have no patience for these hadget job stories. Too often the beat writers and columnist forget that their readers are actually fans of the clubs they are reporting on -- we can make up our own minds and don't mind a little bad with the good. Well outside of New York, Chicago is probably the toughest media city to play sports in, so its pretty much still bad.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 26, 2008 -> 09:10 PM) his hair says it all. I guess I just assumed he did it. Now it is confirmed. His father said it was before he grew that hair.

The main problem with the Prius is that you are driving a Prius.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 28, 2008 -> 04:11 PM) There's no reason to ever play Uribe again. We're been doing well without him. Seriously does anybody in their right mind want to see Uribe bat for the White Sox again?? Not really, Alexei is flat out a better option there for this team.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 28, 2008 -> 04:03 PM) Well their bullpen is just as talented as the Sox is, save Borowski (who should be DFA'ed by July 1st if he pitches like I think he will), so that's atleast what is going to make or break them. If it turns around, they'll perform pretty well; otherwise, they're a .500 team, like nearly every team in the majors with a mediocre bullpen. How so? Our closer, set up guy, 7th inning guys and long guy is all better than what they have.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ May 28, 2008 -> 03:01 PM) Pretty scary. I'm a daily Red Line commuter and probably once a month I think to myself "man that'd suck if this thing derailed underground..." even worse when its on the track above ground. Think of that blue line to ohare if it derailed when it was in Wicker park hitting all those bumps. right off the track into a house, or pedestrians, not to mention the people inside.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ May 28, 2008 -> 02:46 PM) Sabathia - Lee - Laffey - Westbrook - Byrd is as good as it looks. Still slightly better than our rotation, imo. Lee was in the minors last year, Westbrook is a 4+ ERA guy, Byrd is avg. I think our rotation matches up very well with theirs.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 28, 2008 -> 02:42 PM) Forgetting the number of outs was dumb but that happens. Swinging from your heels on a hit and run is dumb and hopefull he'll learn. He got a high fastball and pulled the trigger, nothing he could do there. It happened the other day defensively to a SS, i cant remember who it was, but it should have been a dp, but instead they gave up the tying run due to his miscue.

QUOTE (29andPoplar @ May 28, 2008 -> 02:44 PM) Well, yes, he's made some very good instinctual plays but some brain cramp plays as well. He had a huge cut on a hit and run the other night and Crede was thrown out by a mile. He should know to shorten his swing. Also, he forgot how many outs there were the other night. I agree he's in the midst of an adjustment period and maybe some of this is nervousness or being over anxious. Hopefully that's the case. It's clear he is talented but there have been a number of fundamental errors anyone at the MLB level shouldn't be making. That said he's not the only one making those mistakes on this team but I'm just focusing on Ramirez in this thread. How many of those can be called rookie mistakes? How about rookie's who havent played ball in the US before? I mean come on, its a totally different game, different country, hes a young kid and you say he should have "known" to cut down a swing, like he intentionally tried to have a long swing? Come on, how nitpicking can you get?

In other new, LV was bored today.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 28, 2008 -> 06:46 AM) The thing that bugs me about Ramirez is that he really seems to have a low baseball IQ. Where in the hell do you get that notion from? He's a mlb rookie spending his first few months in the US playing professional baseball, and doing pretty well at it. He has made many baseball smart moves other than the butcher boy, how bout his slide in the game today, recognizing the catcher's placement and where the plate was. I would say you are entirely wrong in that statement IMO.