I'd dump Ozuna. He doesn't hit better than anyone he subs for, he's a minus fielder at every position he subs for, and he's not fast enough to steal a base as a pinch runner any more. At least Uribe is a plus-plus fielder at both 2B and SS. That's not much, but it's something.

According to the ESPN critics, Jeter is an awesome shortstop, on both offense and defense. That was part of the sarcasm. He was talking like Uribe could hit like Jeter and "field like a gold glove shortstop" like writers thought last year when they handed him his gold glove.

 

except, of course, that Juan Uribe actually does bring gold glove defense at SS.

 

I look at this two ways. #1, if Cabrera goes down, are you happy replacing him with Ramirez and then letting Ozuna/Richar/Getz take over at 2B? #2, if you get rid of Uribe, who can you replace him with that fits that role as a great defensive supersub with power? if you get rid of Pablo, who can you replace him with that fits his role as a solid average bat on the bench and player you can let sit at 3B, SS, and 2B?

 

To me, Pablo is the clear cut choice to go. If you replace Uribe, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors; if you get rid of Ozuna, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors.

Or, they can always send Wise to someone for a prospect.

Or, they can always send Wise to someone for a prospect.

 

The White Sox aren't going to get a prospect with any consequential value for a 30 year old who has a career average of .211 because he has 24 good appearances in the majors and half a good season in the minors.

If we lose an infielder to injury, I want someone that lock down the position defensively. Uribe stays, imho.

well, if Ozuna is auditioning for a position, last night didn't help much. 0 for 3 with an error.

 

Ideally, we send Russel back to Charlotte and carry only 11 pitchers. However, Ozzie said that already isn't happening.

 

So, I agree with Gage on this one, Anderson is the likely one to be sent down. It'd be stupid to carry only 1 backup INF (not including Hall) but 2 backup OF's. Let Anderson get playing time everyday in Charlotte and work on his swing. However, if the decision came between Ozuna and Uribe, you gotta keep Ozuna.

 

While Uribe does provide better D, how often will we need a defensive replacement for Ramirez, Crede, or Cabrera? And whoever is saying Uribe is a better bat than Ozuna is simply crazy. Uribe is a garbage hitter, one of the worst in the league. Sure he has some pop, but last time I checked, we have plenty of power already in the lineup. Ozuna provides the team with more good AB's, put that ball on the ball (only 3 K's in 60+ AB's), can bunt, and can hit and run. While he has also lost a step due to that injury, he's still faster than Uribe and a much better base runner.

except, of course, that Juan Uribe actually does bring gold glove defense at SS.

 

I look at this two ways. #1, if Cabrera goes down, are you happy replacing him with Ramirez and then letting Ozuna/Richar/Getz take over at 2B? #2, if you get rid of Uribe, who can you replace him with that fits that role as a great defensive supersub with power? if you get rid of Pablo, who can you replace him with that fits his role as a solid average bat on the bench and player you can let sit at 3B, SS, and 2B?

 

To me, Pablo is the clear cut choice to go. If you replace Uribe, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors; if you get rid of Ozuna, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors.

 

Yes, because we'd still get more production out of 2B with decent D as well.

10 years ago, 1998, Jeter owned a Rate of 95 and a -7 FRAA. So no, he wasn't absolutely horrible, but he was still below average. Ironically enough, 10 years ago was his best defensive season up until 2004.

 

No, defensive stats never tell the whole story, however Derek Jeter has always been a average to below average shortstop defensively.

 

I don't rely on sabermetrics or message board groupthink (or ESPN, for that matter) to evaluate players. I do it the old-fashioned way: I watch the games.

 

While nobody would confuse Jeter with Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel, the way that his defense is ripped here is ridiculous. There's a difference between overrated and overexposed. Yeah, Uribe was more deserving of those Gold Gloves in '05 and '06. Geez, get over it.

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by WCSox

If we lose an infielder to injury, I want someone that lock down the position defensively. Uribe stays, imho.

 

I think that is a good point. But, I still think defensively Uribe is better than Ozuna and can play 3 positions just like Pablo, who I am not certain has been seen at SS much if at all. Not that Pablo doesn't give it his all though.

I think that is a good point. But, I still think defensively Uribe is better than Ozuna and can play 3 positions just like Pablo, who I am not certain has been seen at SS much if at all. Not that Pablo doesn't give it his all though.

 

Giving it his all, and locking down the position defensively are two entirely different things. I don't care about his lack of offense, Uribe defensively is head and shoulders above Ozuna. Our pitchers will feel much better with Juan out there than Pablo, and that means a lot.

Giving it his all, and locking down the position defensively are two entirely different things. I don't care about his lack of offense, Uribe defensively is head and shoulders above Ozuna. Our pitchers will feel much better with Juan out there than Pablo, and that means a lot.

 

 

I would have to say that defense wins games and Uribe has it over Ozuna

I don't rely on sabermetrics or message board groupthink (or ESPN, for that matter) to evaluate players. I do it the old-fashioned way: I watch the games.

Me too, and I can see that Jeter makes flashy diving plays on balls that Uribe or even Cabrera get to routinely and boringly. That is mostly a gut feeling, and the sabermetric stats support it.

I would have to say that defense wins games and Uribe has it over Ozuna

 

Tazmanian devil or not, Uribe is worth more to team than Ozuna.