"Harris coming to grips with utility role

Now welcomes opportunity to stay in big leagues"

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

 

I found this to be quite interesting...

Harris, ironically, signed as a shortstop out of Kennesaw State (Ga.).

 

"Once I got to pro ball I went to second base and never really went back over there," Harris said. "I took ground balls at shortstop, but never really worked at it. I never felt I was going to play there anymore."

 

He did Wednesday and he will likely see more action there.

 

"I'm ready for it," he said. "I'm ready for a challenge."

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines

trade willie, i wouldnt trust him at short, he wont ever hit enough, i rather have ozuna

Some of this is beginning to make sense. I think we can assume that both Ozuna & Valdez are out of options. That means the Sox can't add them to the 40 man roster. Either they fill out the 25 man or they go on waivers & get designated for assignment. Harris on the other hand has option yrs left since he's played mostly on a 25 man roster the past 4 yrs.

 

As a sub you can minimize his futility vs LH & he hits RH's pretty good.

I'm surprised by all of the coaches comments of Harris recently. It certainly seems they are leaning to Uribe as #2 at 3B, & Harris as #2 at SS, & 2B. I wonder if there's a major drop off in speed betweeen Harris & the other two.

I didn't see any comments, direct or indirect, that they're leaning toward Uribe being the 3B backup, or even thinking about it

 

This battle will likely come down to the wire, and let's not forget other teams may make someone available which might change the whole picture.

 

It's no accident though, that the Sox have had both Ozuna and Valdez working out at 3B, and Harris at SS. Nothing wrong in seeing who can do what.

 

Ozuna appears to have an edge on Valdez for now (hitting). Harris is doing just fine in the field thus far but his bat is lagging. Iguchi is not tearing it up at the plate either but they will be more patient with him.

 

We are at the halfway point of spring training, the most impressive thus far has been Ozuna. Things can change though.

trade willie, i wouldnt trust him at short, he wont ever hit enough, i rather have ozuna

 

He won't ever hit enough, yet Ozuna, who's 30 and has had what, 100 ML AB's, will hit enough?

 

Thanks, I needed a laugh -- school is boring.

trade willie, i wouldnt trust him at short, he wont ever hit enough, i rather have ozuna

 

How he hits righties says it all to me.

Willie coming to grips with it?? Hell what choice does he have really?

I'm still sayin keep Willie. We need his speed, especially for a pinch runner or incase one of our middle infielders gets injured.

the Sox should be carrying 11 pitchers, which mean they should have room on teh roster for both Harris and Ozuna, to go with Gload, Perez and Burke.

 

Once Thomas comes back, you decide on who goes: Harris or Perez.

 

Harris will be needed this season. With Crede, Uribe and Iguchi all question marks, you need some type of option somewhere in the infield. Harris gives them that option at second.

the Sox should be carrying 11 pitchers, which mean they should have room on teh roster for both Harris and Ozuna, to go with Gload, Perez and Burke.

 

Once Thomas comes back, you decide on who goes: Harris or Perez.

 

Harris will be needed this season. With Crede, Uribe and Iguchi all question marks, you need some type of option somewhere in the infield. Harris gives them that option at second.

 

 

Thank you, someone that agrees with me today. All three of those players are question marks. We don't know if Uribe will be as solid, Crede is always a question mark, and then who knows what Iguchi will do.

Both Kenny & Ozzie made references to Uribe playing 3B. All the major baseball sites (incl fantasy) show Uribe as #2 in their depth charts/tables for 05 ChiSox.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/springStats?team=chw&year=2005

I've read a column at Fox Sports that has a different take on all this. That columnist suggests the White Sox are hoping Davis continues to look impressive in Cactus league play so other teams will take an interest in him. The column goes on to say the ChiSox are happy with Burke's hitting in CL play & are experimenting with him at 1B, 3B. It seems to suggest Burke has all but secured a spot on the rotation as a 3rd C with the intention that the team will trade Davis when the first opportunity presents itself.

 

All of the reports I'm reading about Ozuna & Valdez is that they are not good D players. They are more along the line of avg or below avg. If you read the fantasy player reports they state that Uribe represents the only reasonable D sub for the White Sox at 3B. This might be way all of them place Uribe as #2 in the depth chart.

Both Kenny & Ozzie made references to Uribe playing 3B.  All the major baseball sites (incl fantasy) show Uribe as #2 in their depth charts/tables for 05 ChiSox.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/springStats?team=chw&year=2005

I've read a column at Fox Sports that has a different take on all this.  That columnist suggests the White Sox are hoping Davis continues to look impressive in Cactus league play so other teams will take an interest in him.  The column goes on to say the ChiSox are happy with Burke's hitting in CL play & are experimenting with him at 1B, 3B.  It seems to suggest Burke has all but secured a spot on the rotation as a 3rd C with the intention that the team will trade Davis when the first opportunity presents itself.

 

All of the reports I'm reading about Ozuna & Valdez is that they are not good D players.  They are more along the line of avg or below avg.  If you read the fantasy player reports they state that Uribe represents the only reasonable D sub for the White Sox at 3B.  This might be way all of them place Uribe as #2 in the depth chart.

 

I'm thinking Burke is going to have the backup job too and will serve as a backup third baseman option, as will Ozuna and Uribe. Neither Ozuna or Burke are the greatest of options at third, but they are options nonetheless, along with Uribe, I can live with that. However, if Crede starts to struggle, then the Sox will have some work to do, unless Ozuna busts out and allows Uribe to shift to third.

I'm thinking Burke is going to have the backup job too and will serve as a backup third baseman option, as will Ozuna and Uribe. Neither Ozuna or Burke are the greatest of options at third, but they are options nonetheless, along with Uribe, I can live with that. However, if Crede starts to struggle, then the Sox will have some work to do, unless Ozuna busts out and allows Uribe to shift to third.

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I disagree. I don't see Burke making the roster. He is shaky at 3B at best and he only has a shot at the roster because he can play a bit there. They aren't going to cut Ben Davis and pay him his $1 million.

I disagree.  I don't see Burke making the roster.  He is shaky at 3B at best and he only has a shot at the roster because he can play a bit there.  They aren't going to cut Ben Davis and pay him his $1 million.

 

 

Yeah, sadly I don't see Burke making it either. He's a real class act, I'm rooting for him to make it.

Burke's not going to make it, that was pretty much confirmed with a couple of things this off-season, including Ozuna's stellar play, Burke's ineptness at 3B in that 1 game, and when he was taken off the 40 man roster for Bobby Jenks.

See the thread referring to Davis being traded. A "no comment" by KW usually means "you're gawn!"

 

Burke represents a good RH bat off the bench. One of the team's weaknesses. I agree it's asking a lot of Uribe to backup Crede at 3B. The Sox risk burning him out with that extra playing time & responsibility & that's best to be avoided at all costs. Uribe will play 3B only if the Sox get a new SS. But after Uribe all other options are ill-experienced: Harris, Burke, Ozuna, Valdez - all green when it comes to playing 3B.

 

I think KW is probably hoping a team with a player offering more experience at 3B is interested in Davis. The bat skills of this player are no where near as important as his glove. A solid showing by Davis in CL play might get the ChiSox such a player.

 

I think KW will be looking all season to upgrade 3B if Crede continues to struggle.