macsandz Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Williams believes Viciedo is ready to contribute Young Cuban is hitting .313 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs in Triple-A By Scott Merkin / MLB.com CHICAGO -- The question to Dayan Viciedo didn't need an English-to-Spanish translation, although Jackson Miranda was on the line to help facilitate the process. Before Miranda could ask the power-packed young outfielder if he felt Major League ready, Viciedo provided a definitive response. "I'm ready," said Viciedo in English during a phone interview with MLB.com All White Sox parties agree that Viciedo is a Major Leaguer. The 22-year-old looked prepared offensively in 2010 when he hit .308 over 104 at-bats during his big league callup, but he didn't really have a definitive defensive position. Now, Viciedo has found a home in the outfield, leaving only a pair of questions to be decided about his future. How will Viciedo be used with the White Sox? And when will he arrive? During a conversation with MLB.com, general manager Ken Williams seemed strongly inclined to get Viciedo up to the White Sox soon, but definitely not in a reserve capacity. "It would be awfully interesting to have him in this lineup," said Williams of the player dubbed "the Cuban Tank." "He's ready. He's obviously got some things he still needs to work on, but I would have no qualms about bringing him here. "I'm not going to bring him here to sit. [White Sox manager] Ozzie [Guillen] is not ready to change the mix he has right now, and that has to be respected." Guillen always has favored a fleet-footed hitter at the top of his lineup. He watched the 2003 Marlins, with whom he served as third-base coach, win the World Series with Juan Pierre as the leadoff man. And he watched his 2005 White Sox claim their first crown in close to nine decades with Scott Podsednik setting the table. In the 2011 White Sox lineup, that leadoff spot once again belongs to Pierre. He's a hard-working, upbeat and popular clubhouse presence, but has one strike going against him. The start to the present campaign has not been good for the 33-year-old playing in the last year of his contract. After hitting .243 with a .286 on-base percentage in April, Pierre bumped those numbers up to .286 and .365, respectively, in May. He has since fallen to .225 and .311 in June. Pierre also has struggled with basestealing, checking in at just above a 50 percent accuracy rate (10-for-19), and has had some surprising problems catching the ball in left field. Speed never slumps is a theory espoused by Guillen, who readily admits that he looks at the game in a slightly different way than does Williams. But even as a staunch defender of Pierre, Guillen is not locked into the speed factor if it's not productive for the attack. "If you have speed and you can't hit, then we don't need your speed," said Guillen, speaking in generalities and not addressing Pierre specifically. "Speed is good when you get on base and you can hit, and that's what Juan has been doing lately. "You always like to have some speed at the top to make things happen. This guy can run, but you can't steal first." Williams and Guillen share the opinion of Viciedo needing to play regularly if he comes to the White Sox. Guillen set the bar at getting Viciedo out there five times per week, or for 20 or 30 at-bats, in order to continue his development and keep him productive. Give credit to Viciedo for honesty. The 5-foot-11, 230-pounder, hitting .313 with 10 homers, 19 doubles and 45 RBIs for Triple-A Charlotte, wants to make an everyday impact when he gets the call. "I love to play and I love to play every day," said Viciedo, with Miranda's assistance. "That's the kind of player I am. It's the only way to do what I'm doing, playing every day." "He is slowly acquiring a little bit more plate discipline, and the ball comes off of his bat harder than anyone we have," said Williams, who regularly sees Viciedo through Minor League video feeds that he has at U.S. Cellular Field. "And the sky is the limit to where his potential can take him. Getting him off of third base and putting him in the outfield, it has really helped him start to make some progress offensively." By his own admission, Viciedo came into Spring Training this season with a greater focus than in previous years. It was noticed by Guillen, who said that Viciedo put the White Sox on the spot, as they have to think about what they are going to do with him. A fractured right thumb, suffered when hit by a David Bush Cactus League pitch, derailed Viciedo's rising challenge to break camp with the team. "Now we know why we signed him and what we have for the future," said Guillen of Viciedo, who is playing in the third year of a four-year, $10 million deal. "Finally we put him in one spot and say, 'Let him play there and see what happens.' "To me, he seemed like a kid who didn't care nothing about it. He seemed that way. But he definitely cares. He has pride. He matured as a man and matured as a player." Viciedo will be in Chicago for two days this week to finalize his United States citizenship process. It might not be too long before Chicago becomes his permanent baseball residence. Adam Dunn is locked in for three more years at designated hitter, and Alex Rios is set in the outfield for another three as well. There are those who believe that Viciedo and Carlos Quentin will become an either/or outfield proposition. Williams is not one of those people. "That's going to be the trio of Chicago," said Viciedo of an outfield including himself, Quentin and Rios, with Quentin potentially moving back to left. "There are some pretty good hitters in the lineup just mentioned," Williams said. "Someone else will have to figure out the leadoff spot, if that were something to think about." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkman delivers Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 It would be about time. There's still time to take this division, but we have to start making the right calls like this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Contribute to sitting on the bench while Pierre keeps starting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Philips Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 06:16 PM) It would be about time. There's still time to take this division, but we have to start making the right calls like this one. lillibridge to lead off if pierre dfaed or traded away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkman delivers Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Well, it's on Williams to do the right thing at this point and just designate Pierre for assignment. Ozzie's wishes be damned. He can cry to the media about it, but it's on Kenny to make the right move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkman delivers Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 QUOTE (forrestg @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 06:23 PM) lillibridge to lead off if pierre dfaed or traded away That's acceptable, at least for the time being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macsandz Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 06:26 PM) That's acceptable, at least for the time being. ...and where would Tank play?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Lilly and Tank can't play in the same lineup. Q and Rios need to play and there's no room at 1b, 2b, SS or DH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Soxfan Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 06:24 PM) Well, it's on Williams to do the right thing at this point and just designate Pierre for assignment. Ozzie's wishes be damned. He can cry to the media about it, but it's on Kenny to make the right move. Amen, just accept that Pierre does not have it. I do not see any of our division rivals picking him up, so give it a ride and release him. Is there any any chance that if KW trades or releases Pierre it voids the contract offset from the Dodgers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ginger Kid Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 It could just be my read on it, but it seems like Pierre has been coming to the plate a lot this season with RISP. More so than usual. Why not give Lexi the lead off spot? He would still be in a position to drive in runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapzk Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Lillibridge - CF Ramirez - SS Quentin - RF/LF Konerko - 1B Pierzynski - C Viciedo - LF/RF Dunn - DH Beckham - 2B Morel - 3B now thats how the lineup should look like, can swap AJ with Dunn if Dunn keeps up his streak. Put Dayan in DH against lefties and Rios back starting in CF. Only way this is possible is to get rid of Pierre. Are their any teams that are in need of a leadoff man or speedy guy so we can unload Pierre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I can't wait for him to come up and play 2 games a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 QUOTE (kapzk @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 08:50 PM) now thats how the lineup should look like, can swap AJ with Dunn if Dunn keeps up his streak. Put Dayan in DH against lefties and Rios back starting in CF. Only way this is possible is to get rid of Pierre. Are their any teams that are in need of a leadoff man or speedy guy so we can unload Pierre There may be teams in need of a speedy guy or leadoff hitter, but that's why they haven't asked about Juan Pierre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapzk Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 how bout we deal Jackson and Teahan to like the Yankees thats the only way Dayan can be a regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 QUOTE (kapzk @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 09:00 PM) how bout we deal Jackson and Teahan to like the Yankees thats the only way Dayan can be a regular. Viciedo is pitching now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjshoe04 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Alexei Beckham TCQ PK Dunn Viciedo Rios Morel AJ My dream lineup. Although a bit Right handed at the top for Ozzie. Keep Lilli in the super sub role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapzk Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 09:02 PM) Viciedo is pitching now? LOL Ya he might put an end to our closing miseries. Nah but on a serious note hopefully we can have Peavy healthy by then, cuz we might as well get a prospect for a guy that will leave at the end of the season. And we might be able to pry away one of the more talented Yankees prospects as they are desperately in need of pitching since Colon hit the DL now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeavyTime Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 1. Pierre sucks and has to go. 2. Give it up with the Lillibridge nonsense. I love the little guy but he is not an everyday player. 3. There is no such thing as a lead off hitter. There was only one Rickey Henderson. This theory of a fast, high OBP guy who can steal bases and bunt is just BS. Unbelievably easy conclusion that needs no thought: Pierre, he gone. Viciedo up to start everyday in RF. Quentin to LF. Lineup is whatever you want. Ramirez Viciedo Quentin Konerko Dunn Rios AJ Beckham Morel Is what I would choose but really, you can draw names out of a hat and these guys will score runs. Just please get rid of Juan Pierre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Why not put Dayan in LF? CQ has been playing a good RF (check his UZR) and seems to have responded poorly to being moved around in the past. Dayan's growing pains may be hidden better in LF, not to mention he doesn't have years playing any particular position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I agree, keep CQ in RF... put Dayan in left, just wish we had more OBP in our lineup beyond our 3 slowest runners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 This is really a no-brainer. JP is just bad. I don't know how else to say it. He offers nothing. This team is starving for some cheap, young, position player talent. All Dayan has done for the last year and a half is rake. Ozzie needs to get over his obsession for slappy, low OBP, no power whatsoever LFs and get with the program. This is the AL. Not the NL. You can get away with multiple blackholes offensively in the NL (look at the Giants). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 09:53 PM) Why not put Dayan in LF? CQ has been playing a good RF (check his UZR) and seems to have responded poorly to being moved around in the past. Dayan's growing pains may be hidden better in LF, not to mention he doesn't have years playing any particular position. They better not touch CQ. Carlos has been great in just about every facet of baseball this year. He's been better than the likes of Justin Upton and Jay Bruce. There's a bad baseball player roaming LF that needs to be banished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish71 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) "There are some pretty good hitters in the lineup just mentioned," Williams said. "Someone else will have to figure out the leadoff spot, if that were something to think about." Nice knowing you Juan. Have a fun time either on the bench or rolling in your millions somewhere else. Edited June 14, 2011 by southsideirish71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Soxfan Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I hope Dayan is on a plane to Minnesota tonight.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scenario Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Lots of wishful thinking until Ozzie decides to sit Pierre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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