Princess Dye

didnt realize... masset has never really done all that well at AAA, let alone the MLB level.

You dont keep Masset just because he's best suited for long relief. He has to give you something more than that. If that's all that matters, bring back Ohka. Or sign someone. But since they're both 25,26... go with the one that has proven some level of reliability since being at the MLB level. Wasserman has been arguably the most uplifting bullpen guy from last year and has to be on the team. EDIT: to be horribly honest, long relief, if not handled by MacDougal....is going to largely be one of these three guys who falters... Dotel, Linebrink, Thornton. Scary but plausible.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:48 PM) So true.. he is one of the worst hitters I've seen in my few years watching baseball. Although, wasn't Ozzie also one of the worst? I remember reading a list somewhere that had him in the lower 25 of hitters all-time (along with Uribe). Maybe Ozzie feels for him... The thing is, fans are known for getting emotional about the underachieving guy that's been around for awhile, and hating him a little extra for that. And wanting him out sooner in favor of lesser options. I mean, someone else suggested Marcus Giles, and I'll personally take the pop in Uribe's bat over that. He underachieved when we won the title, which leads me to think that we're going to win or not win this year as a result of something having little to do with Uribe in particular.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:35 PM) No, I think Richar would have been the front-runner. I'm just saying once Ozzie gets in a certain mind-state, he doesn't change it. If hes going to go with Uribe, he's going to stick with Uribe. Just like he stuck with Mack in CF, Widger at C, etc. etc. etc. Gotcha. You have some history to back you up on that, no doubt. I think one thing that unites us as humans, however, is the ability to tire of Juan Uribe at bats. And Ozzie is only human.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:07 PM) Actually, I was quite high on the White Sox going into 2005 because of their pitching staff and the addition of a true leadoff hitter and a catcher who could actually hit. Do you remember before 05 when we had 5th starter woes? What do you think of 3rd, 4th, AND 5th starter woes? 3.12, 3.87, 3.61, 3.50, 5.12 These are the ERAs from the guys on that 2005 staff. We are not as far from this as everyone purports. Certainly not close, but lets not romanticize that year's pitching. A divorce-less Jose up year, and one guy surprises us.... just sayin lets play the games. Just like that year, we need to belt a lot of runs. This part of the equation does not change with us.

also, it's funny to me how people keep lumping Crede and Uribe together. Crede's last healthy year was an outstanding 2006. Offensively and defensively.

QUOTE(max power @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:59 PM) Much unlike jesus christ, ironically. hey man, we are both defiantly busting out our lowercase here.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:27 PM) I just don't see anything that says Richar will get his spot if he gets healthy or Uribe continues his regular-seson suckfest. So if Richar were a-ok this spring, in all ways, you dont think he wouldve been front-runner? I'm as excited about Alexei as anyone, but if he hasnt played a lot of 2b in Cuba, there's no way he can be rushed into a MLB starting job. I mean, there are real and obvious reasons why Uribe is starter...by default. It's not some conspiracy to get him on the field.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:12 PM) Because it's Ozzie and Kenny we're talking about. I suppose I walked right into that one. But really I dont at all see Uribe being a personal favorite of either. Richar will get every opportunity when healthy. Unless Uribe's unbelievable coming out, and even then Richar will get a chance eventually unless we're winning.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:09 PM) I wish it was true, but we all know Uribe is our starting second basemen for the long hall. Only chance he's gone is if we're out of it by July and he's batting a very un-Uribe like average or sports an increased OBP. Richar is younger, under contract for awhile, and has already had a higher OBP than either of Uribe's last two years. Why are we to believe he wont take the starting 2b job when he's back?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:55 PM) I can't decide which is more embarrassing for this site... the thread accusing Obama of doing coke and having homosexual relations, or this one. Jesus christ that exists?

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:48 PM) I don't blame him for Richar breaking a rib. I blame him for not taking a golden opportunity to move Juan Uribe. He could have just as easily signed Marcus Giles whose production would be downright identical at 1/5 of Uribe's salary. Uribe knows he's unwanted, and now he's still here. They are throwing away money, but like I said that's not my problem. I actually watch these games though, and watching Uribe for ONE MORE AT BAT will be one too many. Giles' career stats downward sloping at present. Is pretty much 30 now and he hit .224 last yr. If he's identical to Uribe, they're throwing away 1/5 of Uribe's salary cost, too... which should also anger you. Because it's more JR money that you dont want seen thrown away. I think your last sentence marks the problem: we're letting our emotions get motivated by which players we're sick of seeing. When in truth, we have in Uribe a guy who can play SS if Cabrera goes down with anything. That's not worthless. I dont want Ozuna at SS and Alexei's fielding still has to be investigated more before it's truly known where/what he can do. You'd have a valid point on all this if not for the existence of (and plans in place for) Richar. Cano II !

QUOTE(max power @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:45 PM) No, I was happy they put him on waivers and supposedly someone picked him up. Then richar broke his rib and I was happy when they took him off waivers. Richar will heal, and uribe will be gone. Kenny made the right moves. I don't see how you can blame him for richar breaking a rib. The whole Uribe thing - i cant see why that gets people upset. No question Jerry would like to have the $4.5M back, but why do we care so much? They were willing to spend more than that on the difference between Hunter and Swisher, so really it's not like they wouldve spent that elsewhere. They can but didnt want to overpay for any of the remaining bigger FAs that hadn't said no yet. And, yes, the job is Richar's unless Uribe (or Alexei) is outstanding early. It's Richar's turn, and neither Ozzie nor the org have ever stood in the way of that.

yea, everyone is so dismissive of the holes in Fields' game. He hit .244 last year and the difference between his hitting and Crede's isnt going to be vast enough to save or kill the season. the difference in their fielding might be.

QUOTE(Princess Dye @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:26 PM) like chicken and the egg though. What was Jon Garland if not for his run support? And now we miss him. One of those guys can be a Jon with the support he got in good yrs. and no not this kind

QUOTE(iamshack @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 01:14 PM) But this season is going to come down to our starting pitching, and the rest is mostly just nitpicking. like chicken and the egg though. What was Jon Garland if not for his run support? And now we miss him. One of those guys can be a Jon with the support he got in good yrs.

This is really excellent

To me, all signs point to yes. 1) Richar's MLB on base pct has been higher than Uribe's was in both 2006 and 07. As soon as Richar's healthy, that spot is his. Only way that's not true is if Alexei is Soriano right out of the gate or something. 2) He's absolutely the kind of guy who could have another strong month at the plate, be dealt, and the fans wouldnt miss him at all. Would blame the org at all. Reason being, of course, that we've seen this before from him.

QUOTE(Big Hurtin @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 12:05 PM) That's something that keeps getting said, but I don't believe it. Hopefully they'll hit, making the point moot. There's no reason to believe Uribe wont have a short leash. Especially considering Richar and what he has done already in his career. Uribe's OBP the last two years has been lower than Richar's last year. Also (and this doesnt target your specific post at all).... people who decry the farm system being decimated should appreciate the possibilities of Uribe and Crede being showcased and being exchanged for prospects. Dumping them from the onset does nothing unless you really think the guys behind them are way way way better in the present.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 11:56 AM) and i can understand that. i just don't see fields being "ruined" by playing a month or two in triple-A. if he is the player many think he can be, he'll be back and he'll be fine. if playing for another month or two in the minors ruins him, he probably wasn't going to be that good anyway. I too am of the camp that doesnt see Fields' progress being automatically hurt by having to go down there. Right now, we have a strong defensive 3b, which the staff needs. Offense from either 3b is still a wild card. Additionally, the only way he's not up here in a few months is if we're a really good team.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 11:52 AM) Ramirez has impressed, and should get regular at bats, not be a backup. If Uribe was an Ozzie favorite, that'd be something to worry about. But there's no doubt that if Ramirez picks up where he left off in ST, he'll get all the at bats he wants. Richar also will get every opportunity he wants, if the position is still up in the air when he returns.

I think people are just really upset about Fields. Honestly, the possibility that Crede is headed out in a trade in one month still looms. It's not that much to lose sleep over.

To all the pessimists This is no different from most other years. If you dont have top of the line players, you need a lot to lock into place. It's not the NBA, where everything can lock into place and your team still isnt going anywhere. We COULD have a 2005. It's at least possible. For us and a lot of teams in our boat. OBP is improved, but we need the back of the rotation starters to make a leap, and some position player will have to shock us. As far as the farm system, it's hard to say we gave it all away when we were slamming how little there was to begin with. Either way, it's going to need to be built over time. Fortunately we have guys like Swisher, Fields who are (in different ways) cheap for several more years and (in different ways) young.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 11:31 AM) Most likely. He'll do a better job of getting on base and driving himself in than Owens will while Anderson is busy providing significantly better defense in CF. If we had a great pitching staff, things might be a little different, but I have a feeling at least two of the 3-4-5 will need all they help they can get defensively. Swisher against LHP is a pretty darn good OBP guy... but against RHP it's less...and that's also where he hits the HRs. Gotta have him lower in the lineup in that circumstance. I personally want Owens in there against RHP, but I'd probably even take Ozuna over Swisher (as leadoff) b/c of those facts

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 11:15 AM) Anderson had near-record level defense in CF in his rookie year and put together a solid month or two at the plate. There's no question in my mind that Anderson making a big jump offensively to go along with his GG-caliber defense gives you the best outcome. BTW, just going off of ST stats, Anderson looks more ready to make that jump. is Swisher your leadoff hitter vs. RHP?