I am sure he will do his filling in, but to me, this is a great move as essentially another coach.

 

Then couldn't we just sign him as a coach? The guy will be 43 next season. I understand that he has been a great defender in his career, but he can't honestly be anywhere near as good as he was.

This would be solid. If you're gong to sign a veteran backup infielder you might as well make it an elite defender who's willing to work with the kids.

God, i hope Nix sticks around. I've been tooting his horn for so long, i see so much potential left in him, i would of loved to of seen what he could have done off the bench for us this year.

Then couldn't we just sign him as a coach? The guy will be 43 next season. I understand that he has been a great defender in his career, but he can't honestly be anywhere near as good as he was.

He's still awesome in the field, doesn't really matter how old he is.

You offer no real reason as to why you wouldn't like the deal.

Okay hes 43 and bad. There are better replacement level shortstops out there than Vizquel.

 

The "teach Alexei things" is just an idiotic argument because you assume that Alexei has room to improve. He's 28 (I said 27 earlier I misspoke) entering the peak of his career. It's pretty silly to say he can improve on defense at that age when really, defense is the first set of skills to deteriorate.

 

Does this indicate in any way that the White Sox are looking to move Nix now? I'm hearing some of that speculation, and all this means to me is that Nix won't be a backup SS since he did struggle at that position last year filling in for Ramirez.

I guess Kenny always gets his man... eventually. I have no problem with this. He can help this team defensively and hopefully show Alexei and others how defense is done.

Clearly KW was sick of the Getz/Nix talk on ST forums.

Okay hes 43 and bad. There are better replacement level shortstops out there than Vizquel.

 

The "teach Alexei things" is just an idiotic argument because you assume that Alexei has room to improve. He's 28 (I said 27 earlier I misspoke) entering the peak of his career. It's pretty silly to say he can improve on defense at that age when really, defense is the first set of skills to deteriorate.

Kenny obviously disagrees with you. He's been making excuses for Alexei for the past few months and has now signed him a mentor. Given that Vizquel is still a damn good defender, will not make much and this team is in need of an injection of defense there isn't much to get upset about here.

Okay hes 43 and bad. There are better replacement level shortstops out there than Vizquel.

 

The "teach Alexei things" is just an idiotic argument because you assume that Alexei has room to improve. He's 28 (I said 27 earlier I misspoke) entering the peak of his career. It's pretty silly to say he can improve on defense at that age when really, defense is the first set of skills to deteriorate.

Peak of his career huh? Entering his second season playing SS in the major leagues and he's already peaked? I guess I didnt know that you couldnt learn anything about playing defense once you hit 28 years old.

Our former all star SS manager couldn't help Alexei improve his D so what exactly will Vizquel be able to do in that department?

Kenny obviously disagrees with you. He's been making excuses for Alexei for the past few months and has now signed him a mentor. Given that Vizquel is still a damn good defender, will not make much and this team is in need of an injection of defense there isn't much to get upset about here.

 

My only issue with this move is that I'm guessing that Vizquel would make around $1 million (whatever the minimum is for a veteran like Vizquel)....The Whtie Sox say that they are cash-strapped. I know it's not much, but I'd rather be patient with the money, and see what develops in the market place.

Our former all star SS manager couldn't help Alexei improve his D so what exactly will Vizquel be able to do in that department?

Ozzie was great, but he doesn't have nearly the pedigree that Omar does.

Edited November 20, 200916 yr by Thunderbolt

This would be solid. If you're gong to sign a veteran backup infielder you might as well make it an elite defender who's willing to work with the kids.

Agreed. He can do everything that Nix could do accept better and add value as a mentor. Nix does have much more power though, but the defensive ability of Omar at multiple positions would be tremendous.

Peak of his career huh? Entering his second season playing SS in the major leagues and he's already peaked? I guess I didnt know that you couldnt learn anything about playing defense once you hit 28 years old.

I'm speaking in general terms of course, most players hit their peak between 27-32. Oh, and that is if you believe he ACTUALLY IS 28. What is Vizquel going to teach Alexei an infield coach can't? There are not any huge secretes.

Agreed. He can do everything that Nix could do accept better and add value as a mentor. Nix does have much more power though, but the defensive ability of Omar at multiple positions would be tremendous.

 

Do you believe that the backup IF's are set then - Vizquel as the primary backup SS/3B and Nix at 2B/3B?

When is the report going to come that he ACTUALLY SIGNED WITH THE GIANTS?!

 

and then we win the WS.

God, i hope Nix sticks around. I've been tooting his horn for so long, i see so much potential left in him, i would of loved to of seen what he could have done off the bench for us this year.

Well he wasn't going to get many opportunities this year with Teahen-Alexei-Beckham 3rd to 1st, so he should end up getting more playing elsewhere then. If Kenny can't get anything for him then the Sox should keep him around to battle for a spot in ST.

My only issue with this move is that I'm guessing that Vizquel would make around $1 million (whatever the minimum is for a veteran like Vizquel)....The Whtie Sox say that they are cash-strapped. I know it's not much, but I'd rather be patient with the money, and see what develops in the market place.

That's $600K over the league minimum, it's not going to keep the Sox from making any other moves. We needed a backup infielder who can play good D all 3 positions and Vizquel fits the bill.

I'm speaking in general terms of course, most players hit their peak between 27-32. Oh, and that is if you believe he ACTUALLY IS 28. What is Vizquel going to teach Alexei an infield coach can't? There are not any huge secretes.

 

Wow.

 

Look at the assumptions and accusations you're throwing around in this thread.

 

Now Alexei might not even be as young as he says is...

 

 

Well, it appears that yes, we are upgrading our defense. Hope to God an upgrade to offense comes before December, you know, for Christmas sake.

 

OR DURING! I forgot how late it was in November.

Edited November 20, 200916 yr by bmags

That's $600K over the league minimum, it's not going to keep the Sox from making any other moves. We needed a backup infielder who can play good D all 3 positions and Vizquel fits the bill.

 

Exactly.

 

If JR gave KW a 95M target this year (assumption) and Kenny wants to go sign someone in March but can't b/c it would put them at 96M b/c of the Vizquel signing, I guarantee JR would be okay with that...

That's $600K over the league minimum, it's not going to keep the Sox from making any other moves. We needed a backup infielder who can play good D all 3 positions and Vizquel fits the bill.

 

 

Plus he can do one thing with the bat the seemingly no one else on the Sox can, lay down a good sac bunt. He can be a terrific situational player for the Sox, he is definitely not equipped to be a full time starter at this stage, but can give Ozzie some options for a situational defender or pinch bunter.

Looks like I'll need to update my Fighting to Win!™ signature to include Mark Teahan and Omar Vizquel. 2010 will be so exciting!

I'm speaking in general terms of course, most players hit their peak between 27-32. Oh, and that is if you believe he ACTUALLY IS 28. What is Vizquel going to teach Alexei an infield coach can't? There are not any huge secretes.

Maybe he helps him, maybe he doesn't. I don't really see what it matters. The whole "mentor" thing is just speculation anyway, Vizquel is a good fit as a defensive specialist backup infielder when you have 3 question marks on defense at 3B, SS and 2B. Assuming he does get signed, I'm just glad that the Sox are showing a little interest in defense -- they've been indifferent for quite a while.