I think the obvious - Pablo Ozuna has really made a case that he should be brought north with the Sox in April, instead of Wilson Valdez (or possibly Willie Harris at this point). Take a look at this:

 

Last season with Scranton Wilkes-Barre (AAA Internaional League) in 126 games, 472 AB, .307/.415/.344. 76 RBIs, 31 SB in 43 attempts. He also had 27 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers 22 walks, 77 runs, 196 TB. He struck out 43 times and committed 15 errors splitting his time evenly between 2B and SS.

 

This Winter - In the Dominican League with Estrellas Del Oriente (which roughly translates to "Stars of the Orient"), he played in all 46 games, batted .344/.470/.378, was 24 for 24 in stolen bases, 3 homers, 3 triples, 18 RBIs in the regular season. In the post season, he played all 18 games, and had 18 hits, .254/.324/.284, 3 SB, 7 RBIs.

 

Kinda makes ya wonder how this guys has quietly slipped thru the cracks.

 

This Spring - with the Sox, thru thursday, he's hitting .553 in 38 AB, and is the team leader with 21 hits. Just a week ago he was hitting .462! Only 1 SB in 4 attempts, but his speed suggests he'll improve. He's also got 27 TB, 6 RBIs, a triple, 4 doubles and 8 runs scored.

 

What a workhorse. Does he ever take a month off? Oddly, these stats suggest he is getting better the more he plays. If this trend continues, I predict that by August, he'll have grown into a 30 foot giant and shatter every hitting record in major league history. OK, maybe not, but I bet he'll out hit Timo Perez and Alverez.

 

I didn't quote the stats for Alverez or Harris in the above comparison, because they're not even close. Plus, Ozuna can play just about any position. Hear that KW and Ozzie? Barring a collaspe in the final week Ozuna needs to be on that roster when the Sox return to 35th and Shields on April 4.

Today's paper said Harris has one more minor league option.

I think Harris comes north over Valdez. I think with Ozuna on the team we have no need for Mario. Ozzie will either get his 3rd catcher or 12th pitcher.

wow i am so excited for the sox's future. Suddenly weve got all this talent that seems to have 'popped out of nowhere' and its really exciting. I hope Ozuna doesnt make the team though because it would be a waste of his talents being a bench player. I say keep him at AAA until someone fails or next year etc etc. Same thing with BMac. I think we should let them play until we need them, not have them rot on a ML bench.

wow i am so excited for the sox's future.  Suddenly weve got all this talent that seems to have 'popped out of nowhere' and its really exciting.  I hope Ozuna doesnt make the team though because it would be a waste of his talents being a bench player.  I say keep him at AAA until someone fails or next year etc etc.  Same thing with BMac.  I think we should let them play until we need them, not have them rot on a ML bench.

 

I agree wholeheartedly, you cant waste a guy on the bench or make BMac a reliever, it only hurts their future.

Ozuna is 30.

 

We're not talking about a prospect who's 22 years of age.

 

He belongs on the bench, and if he proves he can do more than just be a bench player, Ozzie will find room to play him -- just like last year with Uribe.

Ozuna is 30.

 

 

^^^

 

Ross Gload hit well in the minors in 03, but as a 28 year old, you're not going to consider him a prospect.

 

Therefore, Ozuna is a bench player.

No chance for Wilson Valdez to make the team. Two of these guys will:

 

Ozuna, Harris, Burke, Widger

I agree with Jim and 406.

Ozuna deserves to come North with the big club.

He's done everything they've asked of him, and done it well.

No chance for Wilson Valdez to make the team.  Two of these guys will:

 

Ozuna, Harris, Burke, Widger

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Thats not true neccesarily.

Thats not true neccesarily.

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I should have stated it as an opinion.

 

Nothing is ever necessarily true before it actually happens.

With one hit in three at-bats Friday, Ozuna currently is hitting .536. He has 15 hits in his last 23 at-bats.

 

Apparently, he is leading the entire team in hits with 22. Rowand is second with 19. There is no reason why he should NOT make the team.

ok i didnt realize he was thirty... yeah, bring him up.

Thats not true neccesarily.

 

Who is Valdez going to beat out then?

Who cares if Ozuna is 30? Iguchi is 30 and he's our starter. I'd rather have an older, established hitter off the bench than have to depend on a young turd like Willie.

Who cares if Ozuna is 30?  Iguchi is 30 and he's our starter.  I'd rather have an older, established hitter off the bench than have to depend on a young turd like Willie.

 

Playing in 65 MLB games by the age of 30 isn't exactly what I would label an established hitter. Ozuna deserves to make the roster right now as a bench player, and nothing more than that.

Playing in 65 MLB games by the age of 30 isn't exactly what I would label an established hitter.  Ozuna deserves to make the roster right now as a bench player, and nothing more than that.

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Well, he is somewhat an established hitter because he spent so much time in the minors hitting and hitting well. It may not be the majors but it's better than nothing.

Edited March 26, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Who cares if Ozuna is 30?  Iguchi is 30 and he's our starter.  I'd rather have an older, established hitter off the bench than have to depend on a young turd like Willie.

 

Young turd? Alrighty then, I'm glad we're having some great baseball discussion.

 

I brought up his age because people were talking like he's a big-time prospect or something who needs to be playing every day, not be on the bench. He's 30 -- he's no longer a prospect, so it best serves our organization if he's on the bench...

 

Oh, and I wanted to bring this up somewhere. Harris had over 100 more walks in less than 1000+ AB's than Ozuna in the minors... Just, FWIW.

I want Ozuna to make the team. But I also agree that he shouldn't and won't be more than a bench player. I'm sure he'd just be happy enough to make the team.

I agree Ozuna is a bench player but with Crede struggling I hope he's ready to play 3B.

Young turd?  Alrighty then, I'm glad we're having some great baseball discussion.

 

I brought up his age because people were talking like he's a big-time prospect or something who needs to be playing every day, not be on the bench.  He's 30 -- he's no longer a prospect, so it best serves our organization if he's on the bench...

 

Oh, and I wanted to bring this up somewhere.  Harris had over 100 more walks in less than 1000+ AB's than Ozuna in the minors...  Just, FWIW.

 

Walks in the minor leagues don't necessarily mean very much. Look at guys like Michael Young.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  New York-Penn League » St. Catharines Stompers 06/17 to 09/03 1997

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.308 74 276 49 85 48 18 3 9 33 59 9 5

 

South Atlantic League » Hagerstown Suns 04/02 to 08/30 1998

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.282 140 522 86 147 87 33 5 16 55 96 16 8

 

Florida State League » Dunedin Blue Jays 04/08 to 09/05 1999

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.313 129 495 86 155 83 36 3 5 61 78 30 6

 

Southern League » Tennessee Smokies 04/06 to 07/18 2000

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.275 91 345 51 95 47 24 5 6 36 72 16 5

 

Texas League » Tulsa Drillers 07/20 to 09/03 2000

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.319 43 188 30 60 32 13 5 1 17 28 9 3

 

Pacific Coast League » Oklahoma Redhawks 04/05 to 05/24 2001

 

AVG G AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS

.291 47 189 28 55 28 8 0 8 20 34 3 3

Walks in the minor leagues don't necessarily mean very much.  Look at guys like Michael Young.

 

Yeah, but it tends to translate better to the major leagues than a high batting average does. And, Young seems alright as far as 'walking', but he didn't show a lot of consistency at taking the base on balls in the minors. For the most part, it seems that Young relies on a fairly high BA to get on base, though he's not 'afraid' (lack of a better word) of taking a walk.

I agree Ozuna is a bench player but with Crede struggling I hope he's ready to play 3B.

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Good point.

Young turd?  Alrighty then, I'm glad we're having some great baseball discussion.

 

I brought up his age because people were talking like he's a big-time prospect or something who needs to be playing every day, not be on the bench.  He's 30 -- he's no longer a prospect, so it best serves our organization if he's on the bench...

 

Oh, and I wanted to bring this up somewhere.  Harris had over 100 more walks in less than 1000+ AB's than Ozuna in the minors...  Just, FWIW.

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Willie Harris (Minor League Totals)

.290 AVG

.369 OBP

.415 SLG

.784 OPS

 

Pablo Ozuna (Minor League Totals)

.317 AVG

.357 OBP

.443 SLG

.800 OPS

 

Also keep in mind that while Willie can play 2B, CF, and possibly some SS, Ozuna can play 2B, SS, 3B, and the OF. Ozuna has played CF in the past just like Willie. I never said that Ozuna should start but I do think he could make a better bench player than Willie.

Edited March 28, 200521 yr by Jabroni