bighurt4life

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Mar 14, 2009 -> 03:08 AM) does anyone here honestly think chris getz is a better option at 2B than beckham to start the season, and is a better (more capable) baseball player at this point in time? seriously, there's really no reason why Getz should be given a shot over Beckham, not one good reason and before someone says "what if Beckham struggles and has to be sent down, and hurts his confidence?" my response if Beckham struggles, getz is DEFINITELY going to struggle because Beckham > Getz Yes there are several good reasons. 1. Beckham is not a natural 2B and should be given every chance to stay at SS as he'll have the most value for us at that position. 2. Getz has worked his way through the minors and has succeeded at every level. 3. Getz is older and has more experience than Beckham, his skills are more refined. 4. Getz would be a more natural lead off hitter than Beckham as he has above average speed and has a great eye at the plate. He actually averaged more BB's than K's in his minor league career and we need a good OBP guy at the top of the order, there's plenty of guys in our lineup with power but we need people to actually get on base for that power to help us.. 5. Getz has already played a bit for us in the majors. That plus his minor league experience makes him more of a known quantity than a guy who has played 30 games for us in our organization so far. There's five reasons for you and I could probably come up with more if you want. Don't confuse tools/talent with readiness. It's obvious that Beckham is a baller and as tons of talent but he's not a finished product yet. So he has had a great spring training, BFD. Lots of guys murder the ball in ST, lets see what he does in AA for a couple of months before anointing him the new 2B messiah. It's a long season and the cream always rises to the top. If he's supposed to be in the bigs, they'll find a spot for him.

I like him in the two hole because of his high contact ability, speed, power, and low K rates.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 13, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) It could and it might just be considering he hasn't gotten a single inning out there this spring and Bill Melton (not the best source of information to say the least) keeps comparing him to Ross Gload. The fact that he's played more 1B than CF tells me the Sox may see him as more of a corner OF/1B type. A Lillibridge/Kroeger CF would be interesting though with 207 total chances in centerfield between them since 2005. What I've read is that he has slightly above average speed so he is passable in CF. He has also played CF in the minors though not much. If he plays a corner OF that would lead one to believe that he has at least an average arm. I wouldn't mind seeing him out there over Wise/Owens. He has potential and we already know what those other two bring to the table, their poor route running really negates their speed in CF, if Kroeger can get good reads on the ball I'm sure he'd perform as well as those two with much more hitting potential.

Not sure why but nobody has mentioned Josh Kroeger as a possibility at CF. He has lots of talent and has played well so far this year. He's also a lefty so he could platoon with either Lilli of Anderson. Not sure what his defense looks like but it couldn't be any worse than Wise or Owens. I'd much rather give him a shot over those two. He's only 25 or 26 so he still has a chance to blossom unlike Wise/Owens who are both about 30 and clearly don't really have that much to offer as anything other than situational players.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Mar 11, 2009 -> 12:27 AM) I get it, but then I don't get it ya kno... it's crazy. Nix is obviously the better player, but Getz is more of a sure thing to succeed. Then there's Lillibridge who is just as risky (and talented) as Nix, but fits the leadoff hitter profile probably the best out of the three. (Oz already said he doesn't want to put Getz at the leadoff, and sees him more as a 9th hitter, or real good #2 hitter, which I like him to be) I'm torn. Best case is they try Alexei at CF, Lilli at SS and Getz at 2B. But it's on Lillibridge. That kid has got to hit, which I honestly don't see him doing. So more than likely, Getz will probably be forced somewhere in the line-up unless it's 9th (he's MLB ready at least.. way more ready than the other two, though Nix had a good year in AAA last season as well) Regardless they are either keeping the seat warm for Beckham, or trade bait/a good problem to have next season) I still think Beckham needs some more time, at least rush him to AAA if the sox think he can handle it. We don't know that Nix is "obviously" better than Getz. He does have a better pedigree and purportedly gold glove level defense but we really haven't seen what he can do at the plate. His numbers from the minor leagues suggest that he has below average plate discipline and with Jerry Owens poor spring so far it is looking more and more like our 2B will need to be able to lead off for us, we really just don't have any other options. Getz profiles as the best leadoff that we have as he has great BB/K ratios and also has some good speed. Lilli would look great at leadoff but it looks like he can't hit a lick so it's really just down to Getz and Nix. If we had someone else who could take the top spot in the order I'd really like to see Nix' defense at 2B but as it is, we can't afford to have him in the lineup without bringing someone in to leadoff.

I still want to see an Anderson/Kroeger platoon in CF. This is contingent on Kroeger being able to handle center but I've read that he has above average speed and arm strength and that he can play CF. Also, CF at the Cell is smaller and a bit easier to play than at other parks. They would compliment each other well, especially with Kroeger handling all the righties we would still have BA on the bench as a late inning defensive replacement at all 3 outfield spots.

He doesn't really say all that much about anyone that we didn't already know. In fact, I'm not sure why he even wrote the article as there is nothing and I mean NOTHING new here. Maybe he had a deadline and nothing else to turn in???

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 9, 2009 -> 07:51 PM) The Sox released him in late October. I didn't notice it when it happened. Just found it by looking through minor league transactions from late fall. Damn!! I picked him up in my keeper league. He was going to be my 2013 sleeper.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Mar 9, 2009 -> 03:33 PM) He will be release soon. My crystal ball told me that. This is my prediction and nothing is official. You got some voodoo thing going on there??? I hope you're right.

I'd like to see a Kroeger/Anderson platoon in CF. Kroeger would get most of the starts and BA could be on the bench as a late inning defensive replacement.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Mar 8, 2009 -> 02:55 PM) They wouldnt do it if for no other reason dont want to start the arbitration clock early. If anything it would be similar to Longoria on the Rays. exactamundo

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 6, 2009 -> 09:04 AM) Dye is one of the worst defensive RF'ers in the game. That's a pretty bold statement. I'm not saying that he's going to win any gold gloves but you can see that he takes great routes to the ball and gets good jumps which makes up for his diminishing speed. He also still has a good arm. Just because he's old doesn't mean that he can't play defense. I think that he's head and shoulders above many other starting RF's in the game right now- Abreu, Vlad Guerrero, Magglio, Mark Tehean, Geoff Jenkins and Milton Bradley are the ones that come to mind who I think JD is better than overall defensively.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Mar 5, 2009 -> 04:34 PM) I've really grown to hate these "future" threads. It's fun to look back at previous versions and see how far off people can be. KW has always been the guy to trade away the farm for splashy names or guys he's had a hard on for. Here's one from Juggs: http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30879 All due respect that assessment came from a period of time where we didn't really much talent in our system. When you don't have many players in your system you tend to just get excited about whoever it the best among the guys you do have. Even if they aren't very good. I think that there is a big difference between our farm system in 05 and our system now, that is not to say that all of our guys are going to pan out and turn into superstars, but I think that there's a much better chance at success now because we do have players with legitimate talent.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) I think Ozzie will make the right choice this year and start Anderson in CF. I think Getz will get the 2B job, and Lillibridge and Betemit will be on the bench. That leaves us with one major problem, who is our leadoff??? Anderson definitely can't do it, and Getz is more of a #2 hitter. That's why I think that Jerry might be our starting CF although I'd rather go with BA in center and take our chances having Lexi or Getz/Nix leadoff.

I'm a nice, good looking guy??? Is this his eharmony description page???

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 03:36 PM) Frankly, and this is a good thing to say, now that we have Flowers, there's really no position we can look at the minor leagues and think "We have no one who can take this spot in the next couple years." They won't all succeed, never do, but that's a nice thing to build from. BPA all around. We are still a bit thin in our SP ranks within the organization. There aren't any really exciting types that we have outside of Poreda and he's probably going to be a reliever unless he somehow learns how to throw offspeed pitches this season. We do have Hudson and Carter who owned in Great Falls last season but that's a long ways away. We really need some electric arms who can move up and take over for Buerhle in a few years.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 03:43 PM) Maybe he is following the same career path as Kenny Powers... dammit dammit dammit!!!!! you beat me to it. that is my absolute new favorite show. even better than flight of the conchords. "I'm just rehabbing my shoulder, trying to get my f*** on!"

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:53 PM) Young, exciting, legitimate talent that you can actually get excited about! Feels like 1999 again. Yeah, people that actually have the tools to be big time players. Not just guys who happen to be the best players in our system like Egbert and we have no other option but to try and get excited about guys who have #5 starter as their ceiling.

QUOTE (letsgoarow @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 02:24 PM) THIS.TEAM.IS.DEAD QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) Barring Richard that was a complete and utter crapfest QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 02:43 PM) lol, hey didn't we have a losing Cactus League record in 2005? Maybe everything is not all doom and gloom afterall. I wouldn't get too worked up about spring training results. When it's football season I'm a Raiders fan and a couple seasons ago we had a new coach, Art Shell. He came in and the team went 4-0 in preseason, everyone on the board was saying playoffs, division title, etc... and I think most people know how that turned out. These games are just practice and we shouldn't be too concerned with the outcomes. They are chances for guys to work on new pitches, mechanics and so on against live professional talent.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 10:07 PM) Close... but it was actually 39 and 2nd in MILB. Player - Home Runs 1 D. McPherson 42 2 Carter STO 39 3 Stanton GBO 39 4 Cruz OKL 37 5 Ka'aihue OMA 37 QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 10:50 PM) Didnt Carter smack 5 in the playoffs though which would indeed give him 44. BAM!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 03:37 PM) How is it you've forgotten the awesome power we received in exchange for Carter? In defense of sircaffey, Carter did hit 44 hr last season which led the minors at all levels, and he does have as good of power potential of probably anyone in the minors. I'm not saying that I'd rather have him over TCQ but he does have a point. Carter also doesn't play a premium position and when he was in our system I seem to recall him having below average defense.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) That power should be replaced by Fields, Viciedo, Flowers and Allen...not to mention "plus" power up the middle of the diamond with Beckham and Ramirez. Then a couple of nice athletes in Shelby and Danks. If there's any huge long-term concern, it's defensively, and the LH power (which right now is only Allen). However, if the economic troubles continue, it's not difficult to imagine not having to spend very much to acquire it. The days of a Thome-like contract for a DH are long gone now. If everything works out well we will absolutely replace that power AND we will add speed with Beckham, Shelby and Danks. Beckham has above average speed and can probably project to stealing 15-20 a year but if Shelby can find a position and some plate discipline he has a fantastic speed and power combo, as does Danks but he too needs a little plate discipline. However, it seems that what we would be missing is the high OBP that we get from guys like Thome, Konerko, and Dye.

QUOTE (michelangelosmonkey @ Feb 22, 2009 -> 05:53 AM) Add into that mix, after the mess of the Sox minor league organization in the past we are presented with maybe the most interesting six pack of sox prospects at one camp...Flowers, Poreda, Allen, Bekham, Danks and Allen. I like Allen too but I still don't think he's so good that he counts double.

We've already got him in the system, his name is David Cook.

His name is still Merkin. That sucks for him.