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As the teams stand now, The Cubs are an 82 win team in the worst division in baseball. The Sox are an 85 win team in the second worst...

 

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What about Pierzynski makes him inferior to Barret? Barrett is a career .260 hitter with a career .316OBP and a career OPS+ of 81. Pierzynski is a career .294 hitter with a career OBP of .336 and an OPS+ of 100.

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There is only one reason why this article has rowand in left field. It is because they want to have the advantage on paper. Only stupid ass people would think to start the year scott podsednik will be in center. How has he proved he was any better of a fielder than rowand.

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I am not logged in and i am able to read it.

 

As the hot stove coals cool and the spring training heat is turned up, let's look back on a wrecking-ball winter of renovation for the future.

 

North and south of Madison Street, Chicago's two biggest baseball stars have been removed rudely, the ugly annulments leaving only scrapbook memories of happier summer days when all was right in right field.

 

Yes, the Cubs and White Sox will be playing without Sammy Sosa and Magglio Ordonez, respectively, and playing with their fans' emotions. In their places are Question Marks, with capitals because the phrase is as meaningful as the players' names.

 

They also will be without Moises Alou and Carlos Lee, leaving fans to wonder if offense has been left out of left field.

 

Chicago's teams underwent more than just an off-season nip-and-tuck. They have submitted to a major makeover in personnel while agreeing to an audacious alteration of philosophy.

 

The Cubs not only have given up the boom box, but the big-boomer theory of winning in Wrigley Field. They will go with pitching, defense and on-base percentage.

 

The White Sox have dismissed their bandbox ballpark and will go with the Band-Aid theory for offense, stressing overall—you guessed it—pitching, defense and on-base percentage.

 

Though the Cubs have hogged the headlines, the White Sox actually did more retooling. After all, they needed more.

 

Now, though both have postseason ambitions, it is the City Series that comes first for fans north and south. How do the remodeled Cubs and White Sox match up after a winter of remodeling? Let's take a look:

 

First base

 

Wow, what a way to start a matchup: Paul Konerko—the big bat and the new leader/face-of-the-franchise for the Sox—or Derrek Lee—the quiet, consummate professional for the Cubs. Konerko for his offense … no, Lee for his defense. Oh, boy, what a choice, but in the remodeled U.S. Cellular Field and with the remodeled Sox, offense is super-important.

 

Edge: Sox, but barely.

 

Second base

 

Sox fans will just have to take the word of general manager Ken Williams that Tadahito Iguchi is a legitimate major-leaguer. Maybe. The Cubs have a proven player in Todd Walker, a good second-place hitter and a rock in the clubhouse. The backups become important here because Jerry Hairston Jr. gets the nod over Willie Harris.

 

Edge: Cubs.

 

Third base

 

Aramis Ramirez has arrived, sooner and more spectacularly than Joe Crede. The Cubs finally have a big-time producer at third base, and the Sox still are hoping they have one. Though Ramirez is not in Crede's class defensively, he is improving.

 

Edge: Cubs, big-time.

 

Shortstop

 

The best off-season deal for the Cubs was the re-signing of Nomar Garciaparra, who will have a full year of comfort and, presumably, health to prove again that he is one of the game's elite players. Juan Uribe is not in the same class, but he isn't bad given the Cell's dimensions, and his move to shortstop will show off his shotgun arm.

 

Edge: Cubs.

 

Left field

 

Nowhere is the new direction of Williams' White Sox shown more dramatically than in left field, where speedy, defense-minded Aaron Rowand replaces the offensive numbers of Carlos Lee. But ditto the Cubs, who are replacing the production of Moises Alou with Jerry Hairston/Jason Dubois/Todd Hollandsworth, et al. The new looks in left are gigantic gambles for both teams.

 

Edge: White Sox.

 

Center field

 

The position of "ifs." If Corey Patterson lives up to his potential and finds a comfortable spot in the batting order. … If Scott Podsednik can get on base enough at the top of the order and steal bases. If neither of them do what is expected, the Cubs and Sox could be pondering "what-ifs" in October.

 

Edge: Cubs, but only on potential.

 

Right field

 

Well, we have seen Jermaine Dye and Jeromy Burnitz play and can say safely that neither is Magglio Ordonez or Sammy Sosa. Both have been around and come with huge question marks about how much offense they can contribute. It helps that the Cubs have retained Hollandsworth as a just-in-case.

 

Edge: White Sox.

 

Catcher

 

Hey, something this city hasn't seen in a while: Two offensive-minded catchers. Michael Barrett comes with proven credentials, A.J. Pierzynski with unproven credibility. One of the best off-season pickups, Pierzynski has something to prove and the potential to dial big, big numbers at the Cell, but until he does …

 

Edge: Cubs, maybe.

 

Starting pitching

 

Arguably, two of baseball's better staffs and unquestionably, two of the deepest. When Greg Maddux is the Cubs' fourth starter, when Jon Garland is the Sox's fifth starter, you have the makings of something special. But the Cubs—with Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano—have a chance to be elite; the White Sox—with Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and Orlando Hernandez—have a chance to be very, very good. Too many question marks on the South Side.

 

Edge: Cubs.

 

Relief pitching

 

The White Sox did more to improve, although they had further to go. By adding Dustin Hermanson and Luis Vizcaino, they have a very deep bullpen. But so do the Cubs, with LaTroy Hawkins moving back to a setup role with Mike Remlinger. Of course, questions surround the closers—the aging Shingo Takatsu, whose slow-and-slower has been seen once by the league—and Ryan Dempster, who never has done it but whose potential is more than acceptable.

 

Edge: White Sox, barely.

 

Designated hitter

 

When the teams meet at the Cell, the Sox have the advantage, with Frank Thomas (assuming he's healthy) vs. Hollandsworth/Dubois. In Wrigley, the Sox lose Thomas' bat but have a speed-defense team that should be comfortable.

 

Edge: White Sox.

 

The series

 

Three South and three North. The White Sox are better defensively and have more speed potential. The Cubs can shut down any team with pitching.

 

Edge: Cubs.

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There is only one reason why this article has rowand in left field. It is because they want to have the advantage on paper. Only stupid ass people would think to start the year scott podsednik will be in center. How has he proved he was any better of a fielder than rowand.

Yep, if they would have compared our outfield to the Cubs' outfield accurately they would lose at every position...

 

LF - Podsednik > Hairston/Hollandsworth/Dubois

CF - Rowand > Patterson

RF - Dye > Burnitz

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QUOTE(Al Lopez's Ghost @ Feb 4, 2005 -> 12:15 PM)
Patterson is rated higher than Posednik because of his potential, but they ignore potential when looking at Iguchi vs. Walker, who by the way cannot turn a double play. Rowand is defensive minded.

 

This is the world's greatest newspaper? Well, they make a great fish wrapper and bird cage liner.

Exactly, I found it amusing with Walker too, who is the worst DP second basmean in the league. Although this struck me as well, Patterson rates ahead of Posednik (which we already described as faulty comparison based on position) because of potential, yet until AJ proves he can overcome be bad, bad boy, Barret will rank ahead of him? Can anyone say inconsistent? :huh

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Wow the Trib is sooo biased it makes me sick. How can Barrett be ahead of AJ? AJ had the best offensive #'s for a catcher in the national league in '04. Wasn't Barrett in the National League last year? Of course he was. The Cubune just can't admit that the Sox have a better outfield, better bullpen, better defense, AND a better catcher. I admit the Cubs have a better starting rotation and infield, but that is it.

How come this doosh didn't mention the bench? If he would have mentioned the bench we would have won 5-2 in those categories.

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not a very well done article. like someone said, doesnt a deep bench count? nope. that would score one for the sox. far and away. bullpen is not even close, aj should beat out barrett, even if its barely. our whole outfield as a whole is better than theirs, only way to spin it was put pod in center. crede could have a great year, and he would still prolly be behind aram, but not by a lot. uribe could turn out better than nomar, but they made the right choice. rotation depth goes to the sox, despite the flubs having the better top of the line pitchers, who have all been suseptible to injury. i think were a little biased as well, but this article is not a message board. it needs to present the facts.

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1B: Push

2B: should go to Walker if only because we have never seen Iguchi in the majors yet.

3B: Aramis until Crede does something with the bat

SS: In the past, Nomar. As of right now, push.

LF: Pods

CF: Rowand, but if this "Potential" ever comes out, Patterson prolly will overtake Rowand on sheer talent. That's a BIG IF.

RF: Dye

Starting Pitching: Push.

Relief Pitching: Sox, but not by as much as some people here think.

Bench: Sox

 

I've got White Sox 5, Cubs 2 and 3 push.

 

Oh Cubune, money can't buy happiness.

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