2010 Chicago White Sox Spring Training

[Balta1701]

They may see Flowers as a DH.

If they do, then they need to deal him for a catcher.

[ThunderBolt]

And he's worthless defensively when not at 2nd.

He's not worthless at 3b, actually. He's about average there. He's worthless at SS.

[Balta1701]

He's not worthless at 3b, actually. He's about average there. He's worthless at SS.

(Serious question)...how much can we take from last year's performance, when he'd only been a 2b his whole career up to that point?

[southsider2k5]

Weren't they going to get him some time at C this spring, or will that be during the season.

 

That was the plan. I don't know if it has happened.

[ThunderBolt]

(Serious question)...how much can we take from last year's performance, when he'd only been a 2b his whole career up to that point?

I agree. We all talk about Becham having to adjust to 3b on the fly, but Nix was the same way with 3b, SS, and LF. No one seems to talk about that.

[NorthSideSox72]

I agree. We all talk about Becham having to adjust to 3b on the fly, but Nix was the same way with 3b, SS, and LF. No one seems to talk about that.

My bigger concern with him was at 2B. That was his native position, and he came to the bigs with a solid reputation there, but he looked to me like an average defender at best. He'll probably improve on that, but for a guy who was reputed to be a high end defensive 2B, I thought he looked very mediocre.

 

You can't really expect most utility guys to be plus defenders at multiple positions. Its usually good if they can play 3+ positions just "OK".

 

[southsider2k5]

I agree. We all talk about Becham having to adjust to 3b on the fly, but Nix was the same way with 3b, SS, and LF. No one seems to talk about that.

 

Because Nix wasn't being locked into one position at the time, so he wasn't going to have a chance to settle in. It means if he really sucks hard at a position, he is most likely going to continue to do so, because he isn't going to get a lot of time to adjust. It also means the value he could have as a multi-positional players is nil, because he essentially is a back up second baseman.

[BigSqwert]

Since we no longer have a Sox catch all thread, Happy Birthday Harold Baines!

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Damn De Aza is looking good.

[justBLAZE]

Damn De Aza is looking good.

 

 

Would you?

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

 

Would you?

 

Twice.

[SoxAce]

Wouldn't mind De Aza winning the DH job, giving Oz more flexibility in the OF position and more speed, but I highly doubt we do that plus he has his lineup set already.

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he would start playing a set lineup soon, although the one for Monday's night game against Kansas City was more mix-and-match.

 

Juan Pierre was scheduled as leadoff hitter Monday, but Omar Vizquel was in Gordon Beckham's No. 2 hole. In fact, Pierre, Paul Konerko and Mark Kotsay might be the only ones playing Monday who also will be there for the first regular-season game.

 

"I know my lineup," Guillen said. "I got it against lefties and righties already."

 

That comes with a large "however" attached.

 

"If Andruw (Jones) is hot, he's playing," Guillen said. "I don't care if it's righty or lefty. Whoever is swinging the bat good will be in the lineup."

 

Nice tidbit on Mitchell's character a couple days ago.

 

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jared Mitchell, who will undergo surgery for a torn tendon in his left foot, visited the White Sox clubhouse Sunday morning heavily bandaged and on crutches.

 

"I'm fine," he said when asked about his mental state. "Just some extra work I've got to put in. It's all part of the process. What else can you do? I'm not going to quit. It's all a test of character."

 

The Sox No. 1 draft choice last June hurt his ankle Friday while playing in a split squad game. He was expected to start the season at Class A Winston-Salem, but surgery and rehabilitation could cost him most of the season.

 

And "interesting" one on Pierre.

 

If he finds himself lacking motivation this spring - and that rarely is an issue - Juan Pierre can simply take a few steps outside of the White Sox' clubhouse and look over at the other side of Camelback Ranch.

 

That's where his old team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are preparing for the upcoming season. It's the same team that Pierre rode the bench with for much of the past two seasons.

 

"Just didn't work out," Pierre said of his Dodger days. "I put up good numbers for eight years and it landed me on the bench. The way I look at it, I saved my legs the last two years and I'm ready to go."

 

Two years ago, Joe Torre took over in Los Angeles and Pierre quickly fell out of favor as the new manager opted to play veterans Andruw Jones and Manny Ramirez and youngsters Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

 

But when Ramirez was suspended for 50 games last year for using performance enhancing drugs, Pierre stepped in and batted .308 while stealing 30 bases in just 76 starts.

 

Why was he traded? Ramirez is back in left field for the Dodgers and Kemp and Ethier are set in center and right. That made Pierre expendable, and as a reward for being a good solider and not complaining, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti traded the 32-year-old left fielder to a team that needed him. Colletti also agreed to pay $10.5 million of the $18.5 million Pierre has remaining in his contract the next two years.

 

Can he still play? As he said, Pierre got plenty of rest the past two seasons and the White Sox are confident he'll be the same player that has piled up 200 or more hits in a season four times and 40 or more stolen bases eight times.

 

Oh yeah, Pierre played in every (162) regular season game from 2003-07 when he was with the Marlins, Cubs and Dodgers.

 

"One thing about Juan, health has never been an issue for him," Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He's always been out there. Having him out there, having that threat every day definitely puts pressure on the other team. I know as a catcher, when you're playing against a guy like that, it puts pressure on you, the pitching staff and everybody."

 

What are Pierre's strengths? In addition to his ability to put the ball in play, run the bases and stay healthy, Pierre leads all active players with 165 bunt hits. The left-handed leadoff man also has a great eye, striking out just once per 18.00 plate appearances which also tops all active players.

 

What are Pierre's weaknesses? He has never walked much, and that's unusual for a leadoff hitter. That pattern continued last year when Pierre drew just 27 free passes in 380 at-bats.

 

"I hear that all the time," Pierre said. "But my game is putting the ball in play. It's not like I'm going up there trying to get my walks."

 

As a fielder, Pierre is decidedly below average.

 

"You're not going to like the way he throws," general manager Kenny Williams told fans at SoxFest in late January. "But you're going to like the way he tracks the ball down."

 

Who plays when Pierre gets a rest? He wants to be in the lineup every day, but Pierre is likely to take a seat against tough left-handed starting pitchers.

 

When he does get a day off, Andruw Jones is the likely starter in left field.

 

How devastating is Jared Mitchell's injury? The White Sox' top prospect is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday after tearing a tendon in his left ankle in a Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

 

This was going to be an important year in Mitchell's development, and now it looks like he could miss the entire season.

 

Mitchell was expected to push for a spot on the 25-man roster next spring, but his ETA is up in the air for now.

Edited March 15, 2010 by SoxAce

[ThunderBolt]

I'm not sure i saw Mitchell pushing for a job next spring, but he was looking great. I wish someone had caught the Mitchell play on film. If that's the play that he had to go out on, it certainly wasn't lacking in the spectacular.

[NorthSideSox72]

Wouldn't mind De Aza winning the DH job, giving Oz more flexibility in the OF position and more speed, but I highly doubt we do that plus he has his lineup set already.

What makes you think De Aza would be a good DH choice? I'm honestly curious, I don't know a lot about the guy.

 

[SoxAce]

What makes you think De Aza would be a good DH choice? I'm honestly curious, I don't know a lot about the guy.

 

He isn't the ideal power guy for me personally, but I'm thinking in terms of what Ozzie likes. He likes speed, versatility, and De Aza will give you a good OBP not to mention he is left-handed which KW mentions we are lacking (albeit power). This guy probably would have been a solid player, perhaps at worst a great 4th OF, if injuries didn't derail his development not to mention he was blocked in Florida.

Edited March 15, 2010 by SoxAce

[Leonard Zelig]

Would DeAza have to clear waivers if he does not make the team?

[Kalapse]

Would DeAza have to clear waivers if he does not make the team?

No, he still has an option left.

[Melissa1334]

im kinda hoping the reason it seems like ozzie is playing vizquel so much this spring is because he doesnt intend to use him a lot this year. (i didnt check how mant games he played in this spring, it just seems like he plays everyday)

[justBLAZE]

Here is Cowleys take on things, come 25th/utility and bullpen spot.

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2010/03...r_rankings.html

[NorthSideSox72]

Here is Cowleys take on things, come 25th/utility and bullpen spot.

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2010/03...r_rankings.html

Danks at #3, CJ at #5? Really?

 

[flavum]

1. Jayson Nix

2. CJ Retherford

3. Brent Lillibridge

4. Alejandro De Aza

5. Jordan Danks (but not really)

 

[NorthSideSox72]

1. Jayson Nix

2. CJ Retherford

3. Brent Lillibridge

4. Alejandro De Aza

5. Jordan Danks (but not really)

That's about what I was thinking, though 2 and 3 might be pretty much tied at this point. The next week of play will tell us more.

 

[Balta1701]

That's about what I was thinking, though 2 and 3 might be pretty much tied at this point. The next week of play will tell us more.

If 2 and 3 are tied, then that means you gave Lilliputian about a 10 slot head start.

[Ken Harrelson]

If 2 and 3 are tied, then that means you gave Lilliputian about a 10 slot head start.

 

viva la lost art of crude white sox nicknames.

 

long like lillipuke

[chisoxfan09]

KC tonight, GO SOX!!