elrockinMT Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 01/07/2004 12:33 PM ET Uribe to get second chance Middle infielder spends winter in Dominican Republic By Scott Merkin / MLB.com New acquisition Juan Uribe has a career .258 average in 314 Major League games. (David Zalubowski/AP) CHICAGO -- The move by the White Sox to acquire Juan Uribe from Colorado didn’t exactly make front-page news nationally when it happened on Dec. 2. In fact, some White Sox enthusiasts were looking forward to Aaron Miles, the infielder traded from Chicago to Colorado, getting a chance to move his solid offensive numbers over the past two years from the minor leagues to the South Side. But the Uribe transaction not only serves as the main offseason move to date for the White Sox but also could provide an important and versatile addition to their infield in 2004. Uribe, who will turn 25 on July 22, will back up Jose Valentin at shortstop and could challenge Willie Harris for the starting job at second base with a solid Spring Training. “This is not a guy who hasn’t done it before,” said White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. “This situation will be a settling one for him. It should be settling in some ways but demanding in others.” During three seasons in Colorado, Uribe hit .258 with 24 home runs and 135 RBIs. His best season came in 2001, when Uribe hit .300 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs. One of the knocks against Uribe is his strikeout-to-walk ratio, with 235 strikeouts in 1,155 at-bats, while walking 59 times. That trend has continued on a smaller scale during Winter League action in the Dominican Republic, where Uribe joined future teammate Jamie Burke and former White Sox catcher Josh Paul, as well as Rafael Furcal, David Ortiz and Neifi Perez, on Leones del Escogido. Uribe struck out 15 times in 69 at-bats for Leones, drawing five walks. But Uribe hit a solid .275 during 21 games. The talented shortstop did not hit a home run, a step away from the power swing adapted at Coors Field that might have caused him trouble. “I think his problem was that he was playing in the wrong ballpark,” said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of Uribe. “With the way the ball carries in Colorado, you try to become a home run hitter. “Juan is not a home run hitter. He has great hands, some of the best defensively in the National League. Hopefully, he will really help us.” Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 Uribe is his strikeout-to-walk ratio, with 235 strikeouts in 1,155 at-bats, while walking 59 times. without looking it up, that sounds like a better ration than Ozzie ever had wear a coat to USCF so you don't catch a cold from all the breeze from the swinging bats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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