If at all.

 

 

And sub question - which matters more, defensive CF or a potential PR. We dont really have a PR, which makes me think Wise has a chance of staying up here. He's the most complete of the real CFs here.

 

 

 

 

No QUESTION i'd rather have Wise on a playoff roster over BA. kind of like Pablo when he got in there in the playoffs and made a serious difference on the basepaths. or like Willie Harr...ok i'll lay off the rum now.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by Princess Dye

First of all, the defense is for sure more important when you have a defensive outfield like ours (aka not very fast and no range). As for Wise, I don't think he's all that great of a defender, as he plays too shallow, especially for a guy with his speed when coming in is easier than going back. Anderson obviously can't steal bases like Wise, but he can be an effective pinch runner because he does have speed. Combine that with the fact that the numbers say Wise's offensive numbers will go down in due time, and I'd for sure rather have BA on the roster if I could only pick one. That's just my opinion though, there are reasons why you could want Wise around too, this isn't an open and shut case.

Considering the surplus the Sox now have in outfield, two of which who can't play CF very well, I'll take Brian Anderson. I don't like to underestimate the late inning defensive replacement -- funny, as I'm typing this, Brian Anderson comes in to run for Griffey. Also, I'm sure there's a minor leaguer down there who can come up and jump start the bases. Speed isn't terribly hard to come by, especially when you don't need the player to hit. Wise, in my opinion, doesn't really serve a purpose to this team right now. The bench also gets a boost with the rotating outfield, DH, 1B. Konerko just needs to get a few hits to make that statement true.

Hmm, see I hear everyone who says we need the best defensive replacement b/c the outfield is going to be a weak point in late innings

 

But the same case can be made for baserunners in the 8th inning. More likely than not, a clutch situation baserunner in the playoffs is going to be slow.

 

b/c of Alexei we can be kind of flexible and likely get Wise in there for anyone when it's a 2-1 ballgame and we need a run or we're done.

 

 

 

I guess it's what you dont want to bite you more, bad CF defense or slowness in a big time situation. I have this horrible feeling that we'll have a palm-to-forehead moment in the playoffs when we're quite simply asking ourselves "how did we not have THAT on the roster."

also sub-sub point, we could be working our way towards a situation where you could consider leaving Paulie off a playoff roster.

 

if they try one of the other OFs at first, and it's a big success, you'd really have to think about it.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by Princess Dye

I guess it's what you dont want to bite you more, bad CF defense or slowness in a big time situation. I have this horrible feeling that we'll have a palm-to-forehead moment in the playoffs when we're quite simply asking ourselves "how did we not have THAT on the roster."

 

Maybe, but I think you're giving Wise too much credit. He only has 18 career stolen bases. He's not exactly a burner. Brian Anderson isn't slow, either. Anderson's defense is among the best in baseball. Wise's defense, nor speed is anywhere near the best. When Crede gets back, I'd look to send Fields back down and replace him with that base runner. I just don't know who's in the minor's to do that.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by BobDylan

I guess an argument against me also is that against lefties you can put PK and BA out there and sit GriffSwish.

I guess an argument against me also is that against lefties you can put PK and BA out there and sit GriffSwish.

 

Brian hits .196 against lefties. The platoon is a horrible idea. He goes deep against them, but nothing else.

Interesting stat about Brian though...he gets better when he gets to face a pitcher more than once.

 

First time .205

Second .219

Third .348

 

Also hitting .308 close and late.

Brian hits .196 against lefties. The platoon is a horrible idea. He goes deep against them, but nothing else.

 

vs LHP, with Swisher at .207, Griffey at .212 - they'll take BA's defense and probably do it that way anyway

 

 

 

 

EDIT: wauu, Swisher's OBP against LHP is ridiculous. ok i'm back to my pro-Wise stance.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by Princess Dye

Wise doesn't seem that bad defensively. Everyone and the coaching staff are confident in Anderson's D in LF and Cf. What Wise does best is hit RHP [.319/.353/.532 in 47 ab's]. Something Brian hasn't been able to consistently do [though he hasn't had a lot of time in the lineup]. Guys like Wise and Anderson must produce in the limited time they get or they won't be around. Wise has been stellar in his role, producing big time.

 

Wise has enough speed to steal bases-6 for 6 isn't bad in only 54 at bats. Brian-not so much. the sox can afford to wait until Sept. 1 to call up Owens to be the PR late in games. Wise can handle it until then.

 

BTW-Wise played with Griff the last two years in Cincy.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by beck72

interestingly, you could also keep Alexei in mind as a late inning CF replacement, with Juan going to 2nd

 

which means if you want a lefty bat you keep Wise. although i dont know how we evaluate Alexei's short time in CF this year.

You want speed then we've got Owens in AAA right now, he's just come back from an injury and is hitting the ball pretty well right now. Also you'd have to come up with a pretty good argument as to how he isn't the fastest baserunner in the system right now

Could just put Paulo Orlando on the 40 man and have him destroy the basepaths in September.

 

Could just put Paulo Orlando on the 40 man and have him destroy the basepaths in September.

 

Ha, Herb Washington style.

Ha, Herb Washington style.

 

Orlando would need a killer nickname.

Orlando would need a killer nickname.

 

The Brazilian Blur?

 

 

Could just put Paulo Orlando on the 40 man and have him destroy the basepaths in September.

 

I was talking more about people who could conceivably be brought up to the big league team

Wise has done pretty good since his recall and does add speed. But, I think Brian Anderson is a better fit right now and Griffey bats lefty and BA is a righty so that helps BA.

Also hitting .308 close and late.

In what, 5 AB?

 

(sorry, looked it up and it was ~20.. still not big enough to mean anything)

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by Felix

Wise has done pretty good since his recall and does add speed. But, I think Brian Anderson is a better fit right now and Griffey bats lefty and BA is a righty so that helps BA.

 

 

the point was made earlier that Swisher is better than any of these guys against lefties, so pitching matchups might not be a reason to ever play BA anyway.

 

 

it really does come down to late inning basestealer PR vs. late inning defense in center. my position is Wise gives you the former and most of the latter, whereas BA only gives you the latter in full.

Edited August 2, 200817 yr by Princess Dye