Eminor3rd

Vladimir Guerrero. We need raw power, let's face it. Second choice? Thome. Third? Damon, but he'll cost too much. I like the Kila idea too, but I'd rather sign than trade, of course.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 25, 2009 -> 11:32 PM) Oh, well since the UZR says so, it must be true. Do you guys even know how UZR, RF, and defensive stats of the like are even measured? You realize none of them accurately measure the speed of the ball off the bat (actually they don't even try to) or the defensive positioning prior to the pitch? These statistics should be looked at and considered, but if you're going to use them as your sole proof of a defensive player's worth, you're going to be misguided much of the time. Companies like Stats Inc. are working on a system using cameras and computers (not people watching on monitors) to precisely measure stuff like this. Baseball has been moving forward with collecting data from this software from Sportsvision that does basically the same thing. Eventually it will be used in every ballpark, and after it is perfected and utilized, we'll have a considerably more accurate measure of defensive abilities. For the time being, UZR is flawed and it's a mistake to use it as a bible of some kind. It should be considered but shouldn't be everything. (Oh, and a happy holiday to everyone.) Yeah, well unfortunately it's the best statistic we have right now so it's going to keep coming up. The alternative is relying solely on our subjective memory, which we know is almost completely inaccurate from decades of psychological research. I agree that we need better statistical measures for defense than UZR, but at the moment, I'd much rather rely completely on UZR than on our own unsupported opinions. Happy holidays to you as well.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 10:56 AM) On many other teams, I'd agree. But this lineup currently has a serious OBP problem. Maybe I'm in a minority, but I want my high-OBP players hitting in the top half of the lineup. I contrast to what Ozzie thinks, I'd much rather that Beckham be used as an on-base guy (hitting in front of CQ and PK) with some power than an RBI guy right now. That means staying in the 2-hole (or possibly hitting 3rd at some point). If Kenny signs somebody like Thome or Delgado, I'd be more comfortable with Beckham hitting 6th temporarily. I agree whole-heartedly. IMO, the absolute #1 need for 1 and 2 spots is OBP. Alexei could be 2 hitter if he walked more, but he doesn't. At least the start of this season, Beckham has to bring his OBP to the two spot. Putting him at 6th (instead of 2nd) robs him of something like 72 at bats over the course of the season and reduces RBI from PK/CQ.

I would have picked up Rios too. KW had the opportunity to add an extremely athletic all-star to his midseason club and give up nothing because he was having an off year. Is he expensive? Yeah, but if he plays like we should be able to expect him to play, he's worth it. especially considering how much we needed to fill CF. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Rios had a bad year. There's no reason to think he won't bounce back.

I kind of wish we would have tried to sign Polanco instead of getting Teahen, or even instead of getting Juan Pierre.

Delgado will be more expensive than thome, and we don't have any money.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) You're right, but it's the old recency effect. People are usually greatly affected by events that occur recently. I think some people have had time to let the Peavy excitement wear off. I think its also because peavy pitched so well and we still lost it in the end. Its just tough because I think we're SO close. I mean if we could just add that solid dh, we'd really be co ntenders. Honestly, the juan pierre move, I think, was the best move we could have made given the circumstances. The starting pitching is top notch, no questions. The bullpen, all things considered, is solid. Its not without its holes but iits definitely AL central competitive. The lineup has a ton of potential, even though there's a huge if-factor. We just need that one proven bat for dh...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 01:27 PM) I'd still have absolutely no problem with that at all. Me either.

Again, I think we have to ditch konerko. The padres don't want pk and his salary, so we have to do it in a three way. If we involve another team, we can get them to throw a couple prospects at san diego, and it works like this: We get agon for pk and two prospects Sandiego get 4 prospects for agon Third team get pk for two prospects Tons of teams are in a position to trade a couple prospects for a good veteran bat. this is themost realistic scenario in my mind.

QUOTE (1977 sox fan @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 03:39 AM) yes we do need a real hitter . its sad that we can't find a way to spend 6 to 8 mil on a good player . well we could try to trade for Josh Hamilton he is cheap and i believe under team control for a couple more years . yeah he is a risk but he is a real talented player . I agree, id love to get hamilton, but I don't think we can without opening another hole.

Bottom line is, we need a serious hitter. A star player. We clearly can't afford one, so it'll have to come via trade. I still think there's a chance Jenks goes. I think they got Putz so he could set up Thornton. Freddy Dolsi could fill the missing short relief spot. Ideally, they get someone to overpay for Linebrink instead, but that's just wishful thinking.

Ozzie just wants a team of guys that were just like him when he played. Good defense, decent speed, mediocre bat with no power. There... I said it.

Yeah I'm in favor of not rushing him. Let Freddy run out of gas first.

I think it's solid. Though if Jenks gets traded, less so.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Dec 17, 2009 -> 09:09 AM) I don't want a bench player to necessarily be the DH, but I do want a DH that can play the field and maybe leg out a double. If Q or PK get a sore pinky toe, I want the flexibility to shuffle things and maybe be able to move the DH to 1b or LF. If the mystery DH happens to be the hottest hitter on the team when the Sox play in the NL parks, then Ozzie can find a way to get him in the lineup. I don't want the Sox to have to make the choice to put a limping TCQ in left because they can't afford to lose the bat. Having a DH only is almost like having one less roster spot. Obviously if the DH can hit .280 with 40 HR, that may help make up for it a bit. I doubt the Sox are going to get a pure DH of Frank Thomas in his prime quality this offseason and fit him in the budget. There is no way a power hitting DH-only guy doesn't upgrade this team in every way. You're going to have a bench player hit DH anyway and sit out in the NL games. Why not make it a good hitter instead of a mediocre one? Is it not better to have a good hitter in that spot for most of your games instead of none of them? Having a bench bat start in your lineup every day is a bad idea no matter HOW you look at it. If Ozzie wants to platoon for matchups, he still can. QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 17, 2009 -> 10:09 AM) just like Panic! at the disco you guys need to stop being emo, ya i went there. This team is fine! Harold Reynolds who i take as having a good baseball IQ has said with the addition of Juan Pierre we are in the position to win the division, the other guys on MLB TV seemed to agree. The worst player on our team is presumably Andruw whos gonna give us 25-30 HR (well maybe not if hes cycling with kotsay who i think can hit .280 with some decent power). That's because our division sucks.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 17, 2009 -> 12:06 AM) Guys, he's f***ing with you. Yeah, I got freaked out by this at first too, but come on, KW isn't THAT stupid. He didn't go out and spend $25-30million on Peavy and Rios just to cycle bench players into DH all year. I mean he's basically saying, "Well, Ozzie doesn't want any good hitters, and I want to respect that.".

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 08:54 PM) This gets dumber by the day +1 to this

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 02:35 PM) Is Mike Hampton still alive? Unfortunately no, but Denny Neagle is!

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 08:46 AM) Mark showed a little bit of power in Milwaukee. Perhaps we could just have the pitchers hit and skip the DH. It'll save some money too. I like it. There's the reason we've been looking for to go out and get Zambrano!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 07:37 AM) If KW is being straight, this is not encouraging. From the Sun Times: "Ozzie and I have been speaking on that, and we spoke on it again [Tuesday],'' Williams said of the DH spot. "Right now, what he would like to do is sit where we are right now because he likes flexibility with the DH position, whether it be a guy getting a break or keeping your bench players fresh. Guys like [Andruw] Jones, [Mark] Kotsay, [Omar] Vizquel, getting [Paul] Konerko off of his feet and getting into the DH spot ... he likes the flexibility that comes with it. "I've given him some names - this is a very critical last thing on our list. I certainly don't want to do anything from my seat that conflicts with what my manager wants, so regardless if I think there may be a need for a bigger left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup, he's the one in there and I fully support how he and his coaching staff see the situation fitting. That's something we'll continue to think about.'' KW already trying to deflect blame a la trading for Sandy Alomar for the 12th time if it doesn't work out. He's the GM. If he thinks the team would be better with another bat, its his job to get another bat. If there are no additions, Greg Walker is going to get more heat than ever before. Ugh. He has to be joking or deflecting attention from something he's working on. That makes no sense! "Giving guys a rest" is why you got all those bench players in the first place! To SUB them in or give them occasional starts. Not to WASTE a starting lineup position on an inferior player on a consistent basis. We're going to be the only team to have our DH consistently bat 7th or 8th.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) You say that like it's a bad thing. Not at all. But everyone was throwing around CQ+Prospects as a possibility

QUOTE (GO CHI SOX! @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 07:05 PM) David DeJesus Bronson Arroyo

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) Agree Nix is probably that guy now, but the Sox will make him compete for it if they don't bring in somebody else. The 40-man isn't a big deal. The Sox could always hand Mr. Marquez his walking papers. Armstrong and Torres are on there too, so no big deal if we want to sign someone. As long as it isn't Lillibridge

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 04:49 PM) The fact that the Sox wouldn't even look at him kind of disturbs me. Don't we have a regional scout in the south who could have driven over there with a radar gun and a video camera just to see what's to be seen? They would have had to reimburse the scout for his gas, which puts Juan Pierre out of the budget.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 06:04 PM) OK. Maybe we can give the Rays a buzz and propose a Teahen, Konerko, Jenks package for Longoria. I'm sure if we keep trying and trying and trying they'll bite. Now this sounds like me playing Baseball Mogul 2010.