Whether we win the World Series or miss the playoffs, I think its clear that a lineup that generates ~50% of its runs from HR's isn't the best idea. Clearly we have to play out the rest of 2008 as is. That being said, what do we do for next year?

 

Back in the 90's the Sox generated plenty of runs with just the Big Hurt as its main power hitter. Am I correct in saying that? Does this mean we should build a ball club with Quentin and Dye as our only legitimate power hitters? If so, what does that mean? Get rid of all of these (Griffey, Konerko, Thome) guys?

 

It seems like Getz might be the type of hitter to give us more balance. Would a 2009 IF of Fields, Alexei, Getz and Swisher be sufficient? Again, that leaves us without a legitimate leadoff hitter that can get on base. We don't really have anybody to trade in the minors, so what do we do? I'm guessing there isnt any young studs that are coming up for free agency, so maybe a Dave Roberts type player for a year or two?

 

I am just thinking out loud, but am I being captain obvious by saying that there is NO WAY that the White Sox go into 2009 so heavily tilted toward the all or none HR style that gets extinguished against the Dice-K's and Cliff Lee's of MLB?

Edited September 2, 200817 yr by NCsoxfan

So... what are our options?

 

 

Whether we win the World Series or miss the playoffs, I think its clear that a lineup that generates ~50% of its runs from HR's isn't the best idea. Clearly we have to play out the rest of 2008 as is. That being said, what do we do for next year?

 

Back in the 90's the Sox generated plenty of runs with just the Big Hurt as its main power hitter. Am I correct in saying that? Does this mean we should build a ball club with Quentin and Dye as our only legitimate power hitters? If so, what does that mean? Get rid of all of these (Griffey, Konerko, Thome) guys?

 

It seems like Getz might be the type of hitter to give us more balance. Would a 2009 IF of Fields, Alexei, Getz and Swisher be sufficient? Again, that leaves us without a legitimate CF that can get on base. We don't really have anybody to trade in the minors, so what do we do? I'm guessing there isnt any young studs that are coming up for free agency, so maybe a Dave Roberts type player for a year or two?

 

I am just thinking out loud, but am I being captain obvious by saying that there is NO WAY that the White Sox go into 2009 so heavily tilted toward the all or none HR style that gets extinguished against the Dice-K's and Cliff Lee's of MLB?

 

Well for one thing, it would help if we had guys in the 1 and 2 spots who didn't suck at getting on base. This team does rely too much on the HR at times. However, if we had guys in the 1 and 2 spots getting on base for CQ and Dye this lineup wouldn't go through funks near as often. The 3 power bats in the middle of the lineup haven't been the problem. Having guys in the 1 and 2 spots who don't get on base and then having PK and Swisher each sucking for the majority of the year has been the issue. If Konerko and Swisher had hit like they were capable of we probably wouldn't even be having this conversation.

An infield of Swisher, Alexei, Getz, and Fields would be one of the worst in the American League. I hate to say it, but Fields has turned into Joe Borchard.

I think the middle of the order (excluding Quentin) is a major part of the problem.

 

Against tough pitching, we struggle to get singles and doubles. We give up easy outs constantly. I include Crede in this as much as anyone.

I think the middle of the order (excluding Quentin) is a major part of the problem.

 

Against tough pitching, we struggle to get singles and doubles. We give up easy outs constantly. I include Crede in this as much as anyone.

 

Actually, the middle of the order is one of the best in baseball. If you're talking about hitting tough pitching, Jermaine Dye and Quentin are spectacular at that. Even Thome has had a lot of success against the better righty pitchers in baseball. Crede sucks....the sooner the left side of our infield is out of the organization, the better.

I agree regarding Dye and Quentin. Thats why I mentioned building a lineup with the only power hitters being those two guys. The question is how to upgrade the other positions with more versatile batters.

I agree regarding Dye and Quentin. Thats why I mentioned building a lineup with the only power hitters being those two guys. The question is how to upgrade the other positions with more versatile batters.

 

It doesn't matter how versatile guys are if they don't get on base. AJ and OC aren't power guys but they don't get on base consistently and that kills the production of the lineup.

That is a good analysis but it only further points the finger on Konerko and Thome. Those guys are both hitting below .250 - it would be naive to call that an anamoly given their ages and apparent decline in skill. They are major contributors to the Sox being so low in hits. More over, they are SLOW and hit into A TON of GIDP. Does that mean we should replace them with hitters that can hit .270 - .280 with 15 - 20 hrs? Maybe a Sean Casey / Carlos Guillen type hitter?

Does anyone put any stock in the relatively new WPA statistic? Here is what the Sox look like for 2008...

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?team=W...amp;season=2008

That is a good analysis but it only further points the finger on Konerko and Thome. Those guys are both hitting below .250 - it would be naive to call that an anamoly given their ages and apparent decline in skill. They are major contributors to the Sox being so low in hits. More over, they are SLOW and hit into A TON of GIDP. Does that mean we should replace them with hitters that can hit .270 - .280 with 15 - 20 hrs? Maybe a Sean Casey / Carlos Guillen type hitter?

 

Thome has not been a problem. He may not hit for a high average but he does get on base at a .370 clip. Konerko has been an issue because he has sucked this season, not because he is a power hitter. Same with Swisher. For the Sox to score runs on a more consistent basis they will need to upgrade the 1 and 2 hitters. The rest should take care of itself.

Welcome to your 2004 White Sox, as I've been saying all year. That team, like this one, was a HR-dependent, feast or famine team with zero speed and a revolving door 5th starter.

 

So we got rid of big bats Magglio and Lee and basically built our version of the Twins. And bang: we win the World Series. So, if it aint broke, fix it, right?

 

Yet here we are three years later and its 2004 all over again.

 

Our big fix-it trade made no sense whatsoever unless he was literally brought in because Paulie and Swisher weren't hitting.

 

What can we do? Start over next season. Get back to pitching + defense and the ability to play small ball to compliment our already there slugging ability.

 

Get a real leadoff hitter. No more experiments. Just say no to any more 2004 lineups.

Welcome to your 2004 White Sox, as I've been saying all year. That team, like this one, was a HR-dependent, feast or famine team with zero speed and a revolving door 5th starter.

 

So we got rid of big bats Magglio and Lee and basically built our version of the Twins. And bang: we win the World Series. So, if it aint broke, fix it, right?

 

Yet here we are three years later and its 2004 all over again.

 

Our big fix-it trade made no sense whatsoever unless he was literally brought in because Paulie and Swisher weren't hitting.

 

What can we do? Start over next season. Get back to pitching + defense and the ability to play small ball to compliment our already there slugging ability.

 

Get a real leadoff hitter. No more experiments. Just say no to any more 2004 lineups.

 

Ugh, no offense, but I cringe at comments like this. You put the 2005 starting pitching and bullpen with the 2003 or 2004 offenses, and you have a likely World Series winner. So many people forget how mediocre the Sox offense was for portions of the 2005 season. The reason this team has a revolving 5th starter spot is due to an injury. The 2005 Sox had a much worse 5th starter situation coming into that year, and then Duque goes and gets hurt. Thankfully, McCarthy was able to pick up some HUGE victories.

I don't understand how this can solely rest on the #1 and #2 hitters???? If we are 8th in the AL in OBP, how does that rest only on Cabrera and AJ?

What can we do? Start over next season. Get back to pitching + defense and the ability to play small ball to compliment our already there slugging ability.

 

Isn't that exactly what OC was supposed to bring us? You talk about getting players to get on base, and that's what Swisher was supposed to bring us.

I don't understand how this can solely rest on the #1 and #2 hitters???? If we are 8th in the AL in OBP, how does that rest only on Cabrera and AJ?

 

The 3rd base position has been a disaster since May.

An infield of Swisher, Alexei, Getz, and Fields would be one of the worst in the American League. I hate to say it, but Fields has turned into Joe Borchard.

 

Fields had so much trade value early on in the season, and we kept him for a reason I have no idea on now that we know Uribe can play 3rd with stellar ability

I don't understand how this can solely rest on the #1 and #2 hitters???? If we are 8th in the AL in OBP, how does that rest only on Cabrera and AJ?

It doesnt, but its a big part. They have the most oppurtunities to be on base for Thome, Dye, Quentin to hit in, so basically they key the offense most of the time. But that doesnt mean the rest of the offense can be deadbeats like Crede has been recently, or Swisher basically has been all year, and Konerko also.

Fields had so much trade value early on in the season, and we kept him for a reason I have no idea on now that we know Uribe can play 3rd with stellar ability

 

No doubt in my mind Fields was going to be traded by July 31st, but then Crede had to go and injure his back again.

Here's an option...put Ramirez in the 2nd spot in the lineup!

No doubt in my mind Fields was going to be traded by July 31st, but then Crede had to go and injure his back again.

Any guesses for what?

Any guesses for what?

 

Maybe in some sort of package for Duchsherer and/or Street.

Here's an option...put Ramirez in the 2nd spot in the lineup!

For what we have right now I wouldnt really mind that, but its more of a patch than a fix I think, atleast until we get a better leadoff hitter.

Any guesses for what?

 

Uribe, Fields, Masset, and Richar for Roberts!

For what we have right now I wouldnt really mind that, but its more of a patch than a fix I think, atleast until we get a better leadoff hitter.

 

A patch for the next 3 years?