Some stats to cheer you up...

[Jabroni]

After having a horrible team OBP to start the season, it has gradually increased to a respectable .327. We are now ranked 20th in MLB in team OBP, right above the Flubs. Hopefully, this number will continue to rise.

 

Even though Pods missed 6 games due to his pulled groin, he is absolutely BLOWING AWAY the rest of the base-stealers in the MLB with 22 SB. Willy Taveras of the Astros is #2 in SB with only 13.

 

We are leading the entire MLB in team stolen bases with 44.

Edited May 15, 2005 by Jabroni

[Dam8610]

Imagine how good this offense will be if Konerko and Dye ever decide to hit, and if Frank comes back in 04 form. Granted it won't be as good as last year's club was offensively, but with the astonishing improvements in the pitching staff, it will make for an even better team that might win even more games.

[Jabroni]

Imagine how good this offense will be if Konerko and Dye ever decide to hit, and if Frank comes back in 04 form. Granted it won't be as good as last year's club was offensively, but with the astonishing improvements in the pitching staff, it will make for an even better team that might win even more games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Frank should jack up our team OBP a great deal just by himself. Having him in the lineup should also help Konerko.

[witesoxfan]

Frank should jack up our team OBP a great deal just by himself.  Having him in the lineup should also help Konerko.

 

Interesting that you are to bring this up.

 

Thomas played in 74 games - roughly half the season. Konerko's splits from last year

 

Pre All-Star - .296-.384/.567/.951

Post All-Star - .258-.333/.502/.835

 

A 115 point difference in OPS is very, very sizeable. Thomas will help this offense in many more ways than 1.

[Jabroni]

A comparison:

 

Scott Podsednik

.270 AVG

.388 OBP

0 HR

10 RBI

22 SB

20 R

21 BB

11 SO

 

Carl Crawford

.272 AVG

.302 OBP

3 HR

19 RBI

11 SB

22 R

7 BB

28 SO

Edited May 15, 2005 by Jabroni

[3E8]

Well after watching Pods to start this season, it's very evident to me that he takes pitches better than anyone else on this team. He's maintained his AB/K ratio of about 10 the entire way. That's just what we want from our leadoff guy. I wish he could swing the bat a little better.

[SoxFan1]

A comparison:

 

Scott Podsednik

.270 AVG

.388 OBP

0 HR

10 RBI

22 SB

20 R

21 BB

11 SO

 

Carl Crawford

.272 AVG

.302 OBP

3 HR

19 RBI

11 SB

22 R

7 BB

28 SO

11 K's to 28 and 21 BB's to 7...........I'll take Scotty PLUS the 2x SB's.

[jackie hayes]

Well after watching Pods to start this season, it's very evident to me that he takes pitches better than anyone else on this team.  He's maintained his AB/K ratio of about 10 the entire way.  That's just what we want from our leadoff guy.  I wish he could swing the bat a little better.

The question is, what kind of bodysnatcher is so patient (and can we get some more, please). B/c so far, Pods k & bb numbers are exactly the opposite of what he's done in the past (1/2 k/bb vs 2/1 in the past, 1 k per 10 ab vs 1 bb per 10 ab in the past) -- including his rookie season. It'd be great if he made solid contact more often, but all in all, I've been very happily surprised so far.

[CWSGuy406]

On the flipside, we also lead the majors in caught stealing with 19. Meaning, we're successful about 70% of the time -- so, overall, it's not making a huge factor in our wins and losses (aside from Podsedniks stolen bases, which are making a difference).

 

I just hope Ozzie realizes that there's only a few guys on this team who should be attempting stolen bases consistently. No more running Joe Crede or Carl Everett, even in a two strike count.

[Reddy]

i threw this out last night in the chat but check this out!

 

Scotty has more SB than these entire teams:

 

As

RedSox

Rangers

Royals

Tigers

Indians

Twins

 

and has the same no. as the Blue Jays

 

f***IN SWEET!

 

Edit: and thats only the AL

Edited May 15, 2005 by Reddy

[Reddy]

in the NL add:

 

CUBS

Mets

Giants

Dbacks

Marlins

Pirates

Braves

Reds

Rockies

Dodgers

Nationals

Cardinals

Brewers

 

That means more SB than 20 other whole teams!!!! HOLY s***!

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

On the flipside, we also lead the majors in caught stealing with 19.  Meaning, we're successful about 70% of the time -- so, overall, it's not making a huge factor in our wins and losses (aside from Podsedniks stolen bases, which are making a difference).

 

I just hope Ozzie realizes that there's only a few guys on this team who should be attempting stolen bases consistently.  No more running Joe Crede or Carl Everett, even in a two strike count.

 

 

Even if Posednik doesn't steal he is still a major factor on the basepaths. His very presence there is a big distraction to the opposing pitcher and guys like Gooch see better pitches to hit or walk because of it.

[whitesoxin']

If Podsednik stay healthy, he is on pace to have 110 stolen bases. My god, that is amazing.

[AirScott]

A comparison:

 

Scott Podsednik

.270 AVG

.388 OBP

0 HR

10 RBI

22 SB

20 R

21 BB

11 SO

 

Carl Crawford

.272 AVG

.302 OBP

3 HR

19 RBI

11 SB

22 R

7 BB

28 SO

 

that's a shame for D-Ray fans, because it looks like Crawford's out of his element and trying to do too much batting 3rd.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I'd take Crawford. Better in the field and he has much mroe power. He will probably only get 40 bags hitting third though. Interesting that givne the disparity in steals and walks that he has scored more runs than Scott.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

I'd take Crawford. Better in the field and he has much mroe power. He will probably only get 40 bags hitting third though. Interesting that givne the disparity in steals and walks that he has scored more runs than Scott.

 

 

I think the fact that he has scored more runs is because our 3-5 hitters have not exactly been stellar this season so far.

[Jabroni]

I'd take Crawford. Better in the field and he has much mroe power. He will probably only get 40 bags hitting third though. Interesting that givne the disparity in steals and walks that he has scored more runs than Scott.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Crawford mostly plays LF though. Podsednik has been solid in LF this season and he can also play CF decently enough. The difference in fielding isn't that big because LF is where you usually stick your worse defender. I'm pretty sure Crawford has a much better arm than Pods though. I don't know who is faster (probably Crawford) but Podsednik is obviously a better base-stealer. Also, I don't think Crawford really has that much more power than Pods. Crawford hit his career high 11 homers last season while Pods hit 12 last season (also his career high). The thing is that we don't want Pods hitting homers. We want him to maintain his high OBP and right now Pods (.391) is absolutely killing Crawford (.299) in OBP. Pods' career OBP (.347) is also much better than Crawford's (.313). Obviously, Crawford is a lot younger at 23 than Pods is at 29 so he has many more years to improve. I like Podsednik right now but I'd obviously rather have Crawford for the near future. Hopefully, Jerry Owens will pan out for us in the future. He could be a Podsednik / Crawford type player.

 

So far, Jerry Owens is tearing up Double AA and playing like Pods...

 

Jerry Owens

119 AB

.336 AVG

.402 OBP

0 HR

11 RBI

10 SB

0 CS

13 BB

21 SO

Edited May 16, 2005 by Jabroni

[3E8]

When Pods said his average was down in 2004 because he was trying to hit for power, I thought he was just trying to cover up for being bad.

 

Now I kind of believe him, cause when I watch him at-bat I think, how the hell did you hit 12 home runs last year? He may have accidentaly ran into a couple, but in at least 100 AB's he was probably purposely trying to hit for power.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Crawford will eventually hit 20 homers. He has that kind of power potential. Carl obviously could stand to improve his plate discipline a bit but I think he clearly has time to do so at 23. I didn't mean to say that Pods isn't a great leadoff man but Crawford has that rare combination of tools ala Rickey.

[Jabroni]

When Pods said his average was down in 2004 because he was trying to hit for power, I thought he was just trying to cover up for being bad.

 

Now I kind of believe him, cause when I watch him at-bat I think, how the hell did you hit 12 home runs last year?  He may have accidentaly ran into a couple, but in at least 100 AB's he was probably purposely trying to hit for power.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed. I thought the same thing. I guess he was being honest. If he keeps up his .391 OBP, I hope he never hits a homerun this season.

 

Crawford will eventually hit 20 homers. He has that kind of power potential. Carl obviously could stand to improve his plate discipline a bit but I think he clearly has time to do so at 23. I didn't mean to say that Pods isn't a great leadoff man but Crawford has that rare combination of tools ala Rickey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm, Crawford never really showed much homerun power in the minors. I know he's young but why do you think he will eventually hit 20 homers?

Edited May 16, 2005 by Jabroni

[Punch and Judy Garland]

His increase in homers at the big league level has been interesting (11 last year). I think that if he continues to bat in the 3rd spot or out of the leadoff spot that he will continue to develop his power game. He won't have Beltran power but I think a 20-50 player is a reasonable expectation for his prime.

[Jabroni]

The Sox are leading the MLB in team SB with 46. Pods has half of our team's stolen bases with 23. The Devil Rays are ranked 2nd in team SB with 38.

Edited May 16, 2005 by Jabroni

[southsider2k5]

The question is, what kind of bodysnatcher is so patient (and can we get some more, please).  B/c so far, Pods k & bb numbers are exactly the opposite of what he's done in the past (1/2 k/bb vs 2/1 in the past, 1 k per 10 ab vs 1 bb per 10 ab in the past) -- including his rookie season.  It'd be great if he made solid contact more often, but all in all, I've been very happily surprised so far.

 

I think the big difference is the team philosophy of the Sox is 180 degrees of what the Brewers was. All the Sox want from Pods is to be on base, and steal bases. He doesn't have to worry about hitting for power, driving in runs, or just trying to do too much in general. Even if he can't get on, if he works the count full in the first AB, he sets the tone, and lets Iguchi and the rest of them, see pitches, and work the pitch count upward. Pods really has an easy role this year.

[Jabroni]

I think the big difference is the team philosophy of the Sox is 180 degrees of what the Brewers was.  All the Sox want from Pods is to be on base, and steal bases.  He doesn't have to worry about hitting for power, driving in runs, or just trying to do too much in general.  Even if he can't get on, if he works the count full in the first AB, he sets the tone, and lets Iguchi and the rest of them, see pitches, and work the pitch count upward.  Pods really has an easy role this year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good observation. That is the key right there. Pods is almost always taking at least the first 2 pitches to start off his at bats. Even if he doesn't manage to get on base, it seems like he is always at least working the pitcher's pitch count. Greg Walker and Ozzie must have just told him to take pitches all day long. Why else would Pods have 21 BB's and only 12 K's? The past two years, he has pretty much struck out twice as much as he has walked.

Edited May 16, 2005 by Jabroni

[DBAHO]

Pods is making only about $650,000 this season right? Didn't Crawford sign a long - term deal with the D-Rays as well last season? I know Philly were very interested in trading for him.