whitesoxfan101 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 (edited) Maybe it's just me, but I've never seen a team benefit more from two injuries than this years White Sox. If Jerry Owens hadn't been injured in March and throughout spring training, does Carlos Quentin even make the team? I think he doesn't, especially if Owens has a decent spring. On May 15th, Alexei Ramirez was hitting .143 in very limited playing time and looked like he needed some time in triple A. The next day, he was in the lineup for an injured Juan Uribe (who went to the DL a week later) and hit a game winning home run at San Francisco. A month and a half later, Alexei has been playing everyday at 2B, and is now hitting right around .300 while playing outstanding defense. Even since Konerko was injured, Swisher's average, on base, and slugging are up about 20 points each as he plays excellent 1st base defense (although, admittedly, our CF production is down, but now we know what Swish can do at 1B). I just find it interesting that a team could benefit from injuries, and certainly this is the exception to the rule especially with as few injuries as we've had, but it's just strange to think that without the injuries we've had, we'd probably be several games worse recordwise, and not have discovered two of our young budding stars in Quentin and Ramirez. Edited June 30, 2008 by whitesoxfan101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pants Rowland Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 09:59 AM) Even since Konerko was injured, Swisher's average, on base, and slugging are up about 20 points each as he plays excellent 1st base defense. This has been great to see. I do believe Konerko and Thome in the same lineup magnifies the all or nothing issue they have had all season. I think the offense has been more balanced with Konerko out as well as with the Sox in NL parks and no DH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:02 AM) This has been great to see. I do believe Konerko and Thome in the same lineup magnifies the all or nothing issue they have had all season. I think the offense has been more balanced with Konerko out as well as with the Sox in NL parks and no DH. I agree that the lineup has been more balanced and the games in NL parks seemed to make Paulie's injury a case of good timing for us. However, I'd much rather have a healthy PK in the lineup now that interleague play is behind us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
---------- Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 I can think of some football parallels. Tom Brady is one. I think Brett Farve is another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 (edited) QUOTE (YASNY @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:10 AM) I agree that the lineup has been more balanced and the games in NL parks seemed to make Paulie's injury a case of good timing for us. However, I'd much rather have a healthy PK in the lineup now that interleague play is behind us. I agree with this, I actually think seeing Swish play so well defensively at 1B is more of a good to know for the future thing, such as in case Thome is gone after this year and Konerko moves to DH more. I am just hoping that in the time Paulie heals his oblique, he can also heal his thumb injury. I firmly believe the thumb was the biggest reason Paulie struggled, especially after seeing how Quentin's slump a couple weeks ago coincided directly with his hand bothering him. It sucks Paulie had a setback, but if we can get him back with the oblique AND thumb 100 percent, he could come back and get on one of his hot streaks that we know can carry the team for a couple weeks. PK is only 32, no way he's done yet. QUOTE (Maxwell @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:15 AM) I can think of some football parallels. Tom Brady is one. I think Brett Farve is another. That's true. Maybe I should have been more specific and said baseball teams. After all, I don't think Wally Pipp was injured, just had the flu. Edited June 30, 2008 by whitesoxfan101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:18 AM) I agree with this, I actually think seeing Swish play so well defensively at 1B is more of a good to know for the future thing, such as in case Thome is gone after this year and Konerko moves to DH more. I am just hoping that in the time Paulie heals his oblique, he can also heal his thumb injury. I firmly believe the thumb was the biggest reason Paulie struggled was the thumb, especially after seeing how Quentin's slump a couple weeks ago coincided directly with his hand bothering him. It sucks Paulie had a setback, but if we can get him back with the oblique AND thumb 100 percent, he could come back and get on one of his hot streaks that we know can carry the team for a couple weeks. PK is only 32, no way he's done yet. That's true. Maybe I should have been more specific and said baseball teams. After all, I don't think Wally Pipp was injured, just had the flu. I think Swish is one of those guys that you put anywhere on the field other than pitcher, and he'd prove to be at least adequate. There are guys that are just good baseball players, and they'll step up and do what needs to be done and Swish is that type of player, imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (YASNY @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:23 AM) I think Swish is one of those guys that you put anywhere on the field other than pitcher, and he'd prove to be at least adequate. There are guys that are just good baseball players, and they'll step up and do what needs to be done and Swish is that type of player, imho. Alexei Ramirez too... although I wouldn't put him at catcher, he might literally die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 12:01 PM) Alexei Ramirez too... although I wouldn't put him at catcher, he might literally die. LMAO ... I agree. Alexei at catcher may prove to be fatal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (YASNY @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 02:05 PM) LMAO ... I agree. Alexei at catcher may prove to be fatal. That reminds me of a few months ago when I was talking to some Bears fans suggesting the Bears draft Colt Brennan (vomit in my mouth from saying that notwithstanding). I was like... do you have somethign against Brennan? Why would you want to put him behind the Bears' offensive line (this was before they drafted Williams)? He wouldn't make it through the first quarter without losing a couple of limbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan99 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Jun 30, 2008 -> 11:02 AM) This has been great to see. I do believe Konerko and Thome in the same lineup magnifies the all or nothing issue they have had all season. I think the offense has been more balanced with Konerko out as well as with the Sox in NL parks and no DH. Considering Konerko's replacements have been Anderson and Wise I don't really see how the offense has been more balanced. It isn't like those guys are getting on base or producing at a great rate. Basically have just replaced Konerko's automatic out thus far this year with Wise or Anderson being an automatic out. Having the top 4 guys in the lineup hit in addition to Alexei and Swish hitting has made the difference, not Konerko being out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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