Vance Law

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Sep 1, 2007 -> 11:03 PM) but why keep picking on Darin Erstad like he's been the reason the Sox have been a failure this year??? IMO the guy has a legitimate spot on this team as a 4th OF/backup 1B next year, a Mackowiak type position. Hitting .265-.270 in that role while being solid defensively, is not a bad choice. I'd much prefer to have Mackowiak in that Mackowiak-type position.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Sep 1, 2007 -> 08:22 AM) This will probably be the worst/least upside/not ready group of callups in MLB. ....because most of the top rookies were already on the team.

I did an interesting unscientific analysis/look-see into the careers of players based on where they were drafted. Looked at position players drafted in the 1st round, picks 1 through 10. Looked solely at whether or not the player got 3000 at bats in his career, 1977 - 2003 (for young players drafted in the 2000s, I gave the benefit of the doubt on my own judgement for players like Delmon Young, Alex Gordon, Joe Mauer, Adrian Gonzalez that they would reach 3000). The major outlier was the 1st overall pick in the draft. Since 1977 18 position players drafted, only 2 did not reach 3000 at bats, and none since Shawn Abner in 1984. Like 11%. Picks 2 and 3 were around 41% that did not reach 3000 at bats. After that, on down to pick 10, they were all between 50% and 70% not reaching 3000 at bats. The vast majority of those that did not reach 3000 at bats in the big leagues, did not even reach 1000 at bats. Just found that interesting. Redskins quarterback Jay Schroeder was drafted 3rd by the Blue Jays in 1979. Goodnight.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 12:33 AM) I guess it's good to get Fields time in left right now in Major League conditions like you say, Kalapse, but at least have some option at third base that isn't an automatic out and terrible fielder. I guess losing 9 of 10 games just rubs me the wrong way. As I mentioned yesterday, it just goes to show how bad K Williams is, that he doesn't have a better 8th option down on the depth chart at 3rd base than Gonzalez (who has an OBP .330s, way better than any of our other rookies, and many of our veterans). How can you not have someone better waiting in the wings for just in case Crede gets injured, Pablo breaks his leg, we trade Mackowiak, Fields gets moved to left field as practice for next year since these games are meaningless, and Cintron is on bereavement/ his arm injury hampers his ability to throw from 3rd. Most other teams have 9, if not 47 great options at 3rd for just these types of situations when the games don't matter.

QUOTE(stretchstretch @ Aug 30, 2007 -> 07:38 PM) those that write off the impact of Rowand's trade just see it to be too SIMPLE a way to bring a whole team down, but in doing so, continue to underestimate the value of chemistry and the impact on a clubhouse of a vocal fighter. Through a combination of skill, dumb luck, momentum, the totally random occurrence of events in baseball, and more luck we had the best pitching in the league in 2005. This lead us to the playoffs and to a World Series win. After that, K Williams made a trade that improved the extremely mediocre offense. And it panned out. Jim Thome's amazing hitting combined even with the lowly contributions of rookie Brian Anderson, far and away outdid the 05 combination of Everett and Rowand at the plate. And Anderson was no slouch with the glove either. BUT SINCE THE PITCHING STAFF GAVE UP AN ENTIRE RUN MORE PER GAME IN 06 THAN IN 05 the team did not make the playoffs, though surprisingly won 90 games thanks to the excellent offense offsetting the worse than average pitching.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:58 PM) As bad as it sounds, which of the two are better for our future -- a top three pick, or finishing up strong in a useless season and ending up around 7-10? If believing in this makes me a bad fan in someones eyes, then so be it. Judging from this thread many agree with me. I'm with you. I just hope we don't take a pitcher. Having a great hitter at a tough defensive position (SS, CF, 2B, C) would be ideal.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:57 PM) I keep forgetting that we did that. IMO, Sweeney not developing might have cost the sox future plans of 2 sandwich picks for now and the future as far as prospect development. I didn't wanna see Dye here next season but unfortunitely we will. Dye is second in Major League baseball in homers and third in slugging since the all-star break. #8 OPS

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:36 PM) 4 games back, but we get to play Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota over and over the rest of the year. We definitely have a shot. We surprisingly have a winning record against the Central this year. Better than Detroit can say.

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:33 PM) What the hell has he done to deserve any optimism besides being a cheap option for KW at 2nd base in 2008? Had an .870 OPS through 98 AAA games this year. At second base. Has 10 walks (one of the best things to see out of a young hitter) in his first 92 plate appearances. Has played good defense. Is fast.

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:17 PM) Rangers Execute to score and Dumbass Richar and Sox Do not, another Sox giveaway! It would have been over long ago if the Rangers had executed. The pitcher had at least 2 errors tonight. Richar's speed got him safe at first and 2 more bases on a bad throw, then scored on a shallow sac fly.

Do it, Ozzie, I dare you. Leave the lefty in to pitch to Sosa. Idiot!!! Sosa is hitting 1,000,000 off lefties this year.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 10:38 PM) It just seems like Richar would ground out 400 times in a season if he got 600 at-bats. He's fast, but not fast enouh where he's going to beat out enough infield choppers to get a batting average like Juan Pierre, etc. Basically, I'm sick of slap hitters, and want legitimate big league hitters that can get more than 20 extra base hits in a season. He had 46 extra base hits in 98 minor league games this season. 13 HR and 8 triples

QUOTE(TheBigHurt @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 10:34 PM) Fields in LF has been a headache (I really don't get why everyone thinks it's such a good idea. Stupid if you ask me). Enough with the superlatives and exaggerations. Not EVERYONE thinks it's SUCH a good idea. Why is it an idea? Because we have 2 third basemen under our control for next year for relatively cheap. Crede has very little trade value coming off his back injury such that his upside is much higher than his trade value. If he is actually healthy, he should be able to play his stellar defense and put up numbers similar to what he has in the past. You can't get a free agent with Crede's offensive productivity for just a one year deal for $4-5 million. If he is healthy and can play well, we can keep him for the year, or trade him and get something rather than giving him away. Fields is a very good athlete. Left field is one of the least demanding positions. These games where he's trying it out are meaningless.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 10:24 PM) I'm not saying Anderson is a better hitter than Fields. I'd rather have Fields at the plate myself. I just don't understand how one is just crap and the other destined for stardom. I think there was a pretty good chance Anderson's power and OBP and average would increase over his rookie season as well. Maybe he does have an attitude problem, but it can't be too easy breaking in with the defending champion, trying to repeat. His 17 homers in less than 300 at bats. That's the thing. That's a really hard thing to do. On pace for 35 in a year. Lots of guys can hit 11 or 12 homers in a year. Few can hit 35 and that's a really useful thing to do. I'm not saying Anderson could never be good. Maybe he can. If he hadn't injured his wrist this year and instead hit well in AAA, he would have been up with the team for a good chunk of the year. If he's going to be good in the majors, he'll have to show that in AAA once he's healthy.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 10:15 PM) I thought people on this board didn't like the all or nothing approach? Isn't Fields probably the most extreme all or nothing hitter on the team? I wasn't saying what I like. I was opining on where I think he ranks in the ROY voting. and Uribe is certainly worse than Fields in that regard. Using your terminology and standards, Anderson, last year, was nothing or nothing. Which is worse than all or nothing. Looking at the stats, all of the rookies on the team this year are nothing or nothing besides Fields. Presumably, as his minor league stats show, Fields will be able to bring up his ba and obp.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 09:35 PM) does Fields have a legitimate shot at winning rookie of the year? If he got really, really hot batting average-wise he could make it interesting, but not too likely. He is #1 in HR, #2 in RBI, #2 in SLG, #4 in OPS. He's top-5 in the voting.

We should not have had Thorton in against Sosa. Don't care if you're wasting a pitcher. Look at Sosa against lefties this year.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 09:45 PM) 19 of 20, that's not a typo? Yes a typo, kinda. He's reached base in 19 of 20 plate appearances against the Rangers- there are some walks in there. He doesn't have hits in 19 of 20 at bats.

Thome 19 of 20 against the Rangers now. Yipes. And he's reached in 7 straight at bats.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 08:17 PM) I like Richar. Fella can run. Takes two bases on the bad throw and scores on a not-too-deep popout. I like to watch Richar round the bases. Fine, if none of you are going to notice, I'll have to point it out myself. Let it be known that I'm on record as the first ever to use the term "Richar round."

I like Richar. Fella can run. Takes two bases on the bad throw and scores on a not-too-deep popout. I like to watch Richar round the bases.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Aug 28, 2007 -> 10:37 PM) as it seems as if andruw has lost a step or two Yes, and it obviously looks like he's eaten a cheeseburger or two since his early days

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Aug 28, 2007 -> 09:08 PM) But then you also have to realize how much more that would bring in fan support...a team fielding only 8 players? Not sure that's ever been done before. The Sox would bring in flocks of people from all over the world. That's like a Veeckian promotion right there. True.

It just goes to show how poorly Kenny did preparing for this year when we do not have a better 8th 3rd baseman down on the depth chart after Crede gets injured, Ozuna breaks his leg, Mackowiak gets traded, we move Fields to LF to prepare for next year, Cintron goes on bereavement........ Every other team's 8th 3rd baseman is way better than ours. Why, old Chris Young over in Arizona has a .295 OBP.......

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Aug 28, 2007 -> 09:44 AM) Vizquel... wheee. that's going to solve all our problems. That's where you're wrong. Right there, with that statement. I think Vizquel might not solve all of our problems. There is that chance. It is, however, a free agent market bereft of even one "good" SS option. Our current shortstop is slick with the glove but a very poor hitter, whose most notable skill of 'some pop' is not even particularly what we need. Vizquel better than Uribe? Who knows, maybe, maybe not. He was last year. This year they both blow pretty equally hard. People have mentioned Furcal as a hopeful trade option. Him having one of his good years would be pretty ideal for us (he's decidedly medium this year, but medium is better than what we have). He would be just a one year rental- and at what price??? We de-pantsed the Phillies last year (despite bizarre complaints to the contrary) dumping $10 million and Garcia and getting a hot shot lefty in Gio (and one time top-prospect Floyd thrown in to boot). Would we have to give up a prospect of similar ability to rent Furcal?