BearSox

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 05:26 PM) I apologize, but I just CAN'T stand this type of philosophy. Well, two people with two different ideas of how a team should be set up will never agree upon something.

Oh yeah, and if you thought the players we have now suck vs. lefties, you should look at Dellucci's career vs. lefties... It is scarey bad.

Dellucci and his 2 steals or whatever a year just won't cut it for this team. The Twins have Luis Castillo, the Indians have Grady. We need a table-setter. I am a firm believer in having a table-setter, and we do need someone to get on base, and cause havoc on the bases. Dellucci is not a need on this team, and I'd rather take my chances with Pods having an 03/05-esque season rather than having Dellucci popping homers.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 05:16 PM) I like the fact that Ozuna will be starting and all but I don't think it was for the right reasons, Ozzie has been saying for the past few days that a 100% healthy Podsednik would be his Opening Day starter in LF so instead of starting Ozuna in LF because there's a lefty on the mound, he's putting him out there because Podsednik still isn't healthy. I highly doubt that. Just look at their career stats vs. C.C., Ozuna was an obvious choice to start.

I personally feel the Tigs were one year wonders, and I don't think the Twins have that good of a rotation to be as good as their were last year. I think it will go White Sox, Indians, Twins, Tigers, Royals. For the East, I think the Yanks will win it once again, followed by the BJays, and the Red Sox offseason fails miserably with them in 3rd place.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 04:52 PM) Huh? Pods best season -- his 2003 season -- isn't anywhere near as good as Delluci's last two seasons. His 2005 season isn't even as good as Delluci's 2004 season. There's really no reason to take Pods over Delluci, other than BS "I think he's going to have a good year" conjecture. They are different hitters. We don't need a Dellucci smaking out 20 dingers. We need someone to get on base and steal 50 bases.

not surprised... Pablo is a beast vs. lefties, usually.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 04:29 PM) I'm fine with him when he's at his real position, but his lack of a batting eye and any defensive skills whatsoever in the outfield give me nightmares. I also love his hustle and heart, don't get me wrong. That's why he is an infielder by trade

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 03:56 PM) There are some I disagree with, but not to the point of arguing; however, what the hell dude? Just look at the numbers. Not even a healthy Pods is as good as Dellucci, and it's really not even close. Anyways, kind of a cool story, my boss back in Bismarck actually played youth baseball with Hafner. He wasn't nearly the monster that he is now, but he said he was still quite a bit better than everyone else. Kind of funny to think that the best hitter in the AL (IMO of course) is from a town of about 200 people. I picked Pods of Dellucci because Pods has more speed and if Pods has an 03/05 esque season, that's be better then having Dellucci being his usual .250-.270 avg guy with 15-20 homers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-o...p&type=lgns Sad, very sad. RIP.

Stone >>>>> all the White Sox announcers.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 01:20 PM) If for some reason we couldn't keep Gooch, which would be a real loss, I'd definitely take Ozuna over any of our current in-system options at 2B. Just to let you know, I forgot to put "mind" into that one sentence... It really supposed to say "I wouldn't MIND Ozuna get the majority of the playing time"

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:37 PM) Well he is one of the ugliest players in baseball along with Aaron Harang, Ezequiel Astacio, Jay Gibbons, Brad Wilkerson, Yuniesky Betancourt and possibly Gavin Floyd. I wouldnt call them ugly, but just goofy looking.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 01:16 PM) beat me to it by a hair. like the deal, if he keeps being productive it's a great one. ok so Pablo and Thornton... naturally Gooch comes next right?? Hopefully Dye

very nice. We have our top 3 pen guys locked up for a couple years now.

I like it. Ozuna is a great guy off the bench, and if we can't keep Iguchi, I wouldn't mind Ozuna getting the majority of the playing time at 2B in 08.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:46 PM) That makes no sense. How can he average 30 HR per year if he only hit above that number once? Must've hit about 60 in that one season... Impressive. I said he averaged around something like 30 homers a year. I didn't know the exact number. I don't know his stats from Japan by heart... Okay, I just checked his stats, and in the seasons where he was healthy, it looks like he hit around 20-30 homers. And from all the articles I read about him when we first signed him, they all talked about his power. I think 6 more homers out of Iguchi, even if he does have less AB's, is very reasonable if he is hitting lower in the order and swinging for himself.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) So now 30 years old isn't the peak age for a player as they can put up better numbers in later years. ? 29-30 is when a player usually reaches their top play. Look at the majority of players, they usually put up their best numbers when they are 29-30 years old, and can last until they are about 35-36. But usually when a player reaches an age near 40, their body starts to wear down, and their stats decline.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:51 PM) He was playing American Legion ball when the Rangers found him. Didn't start rookie ball until he was 20. Wasn't he drafted in like the 30th round out of a community college? I don't know why it took him so long to reach the show, but he did put up great numbers in the minors. And starting rookie ball when you are 20 is perfectly normal.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:41 PM) Hafner will be turning 30 in June therefore by your definiton he is going to decline. So if Thome, 7 years older, is putting up similar numbers to a guy who has hit his peak, why is it so obvious to take the second guy? Hafner's best years are in front of him. Thome will be declining in stats every year from this point, probably. Also, Hafner has around 10 years left in him, Thome only has a couple. Plus, the stats you posted were pretty mis-leading... Last season, at the age 28-29, Hafner had a .439 OBP, .659 SLG, and a .308 AVG all together, and crushed lefties. Also, in 40 less AB's, Hafner hit the same amount of homers then Thome, while also driving in 7 more runs. Also, as you posted, Hafner destroys Thome vs. left handed pitching. Plus, Hafner would have had better power numbers most likely, if he had not gotten hit in his elbow by a pitch which ended his season early. After looking at their stats more carefully, it really isn't close anymore.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:24 PM) Heh. After looking at the stats, I realized it was pretty close. I didn't know their stats were that similar. QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:34 PM) Travis Hafner is a year younger than Paul Konerko. I know Thome is older, but "youth" isn't a word I would associate with Hafner. Thats right, Hafner didn't come up to the bigs until he was about 26-27, correct? Well, Hafner being 29 is a better age then Thome at 37. 29 is usually the peak of a players career, and 37, it usually goes downhill from there...

QUOTE(TheOcho @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:25 PM) Gooch only hit 30 homers once in his time in Japan, that was with 552 at bats. I said he averaged something like 30 homers a year in Japan. I didn't say he consistantly hit 30 homers year in and year out. I think 6 more homers, but in less AB's, is very do-able for Iguchi, if he is batting lower and swinging for himself more often. Iguchi is a powerful guy.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:03 PM) Last week on ESPN, Josh Hamilton was playing center for the Reds, someone hit the ball out to the wall, he picked it up around the warning track and fired a no bounce throw to 2nd to get him out on the last out of the game. (He looked safe actually.) This guy had all the potential in the world, it'll be interesting to see if he can have a productive career still. He is still relatively young at 25-26, so there is still some hope left in him. Also, he hit a 500 ft homer this spring. I think after a month or so, Hamilton will be the starting CF, Freel will be moved to LF, and Dunn will play 1B. Looking over their roster, the Reds have a pretty good team this year. They have a decent rotation w/ Harang and Arroyo at top, but their pen could really use some work. I can see the Reds actually having a pretty good, playoff contending season, in the weak NL Cen.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2007 -> 12:17 PM) Vs. LHP Hafner: .321/.442/.658/1.100 (222 PA's) Thome: .236/.354/.361/.715 (222 PA's) Vs. RHP Hafner: .300/.436/.659/1.095 (332 PA's) Thome: .321/.454/.749/1.203 (375 PA's) Overall Hafner: .308/.439/.659/1.097 (554 PA's) Thome: .288/.416/.598/1.014 (597 PA's) Don't be silly Bearsox, it's pretty close. It's pretty close, but Hafner's youth and ability to hit lefties puts him over the edge, IMO. We have plenty of guys who can hit righties...

I just put that bad boy up...