Statistical Analysis: White Sox Offense Most One-Dimensional in Baseball

by The Cheat on Oct 24, 2008 4:35 PM CDT Comment 50 comments

Also, World is Round

Studes provides the hard data. (Read the article for an explanation of the numbers.)

The White Sox were the most extreme flyball hitting team in the majors last year. They were 73 runs above average on fly balls, tied for the highest in the majors with the Rangers. But, unlike the Rangers, they were below average in all other categories combined:

NIP: +10
LD: -11
GB: -26
Tot: -27

The White Sox truly did have a one-dimensional offense. No above-average offensive team relied more on one weapon than the Sox relied on their flies. Here are the lines for their Big Three:
Player        NIP   GB   LD   FB  Tot
Quentin C      14    0   -2   29   41
Dye J          -3    1   13   15   26
Thome J         8  -13   -3   27   20
Carlos Quentin had true plate discipline last year, and Jermaine Dye threw in some adept line drive hitting, but these three hitters were 71 runs above average with just their fly balls, 15 runs above average on all other batted ball types.

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Read More: homerun, offense, Chicago White Sox

Comments

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 24, 2008 4:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

by onlysoxfaninboston on Oct 25, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Oct 24, 2008 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

well this could be an interesting comments thread

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Oct 24, 2008 4:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ground balls and line drives are for...

"and when there is an opportunity, i do not hit. it hits all by itself."

by Toonderstrook on Oct 24, 2008 4:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 24, 2008 4:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"and when there is an opportunity, i do not hit. it hits all by itself."

by Toonderstrook on Oct 24, 2008 4:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

keep digging, watson

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Oct 24, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Gonna kick some ass in the USA. Gonna climb a mountain, gonna sew a flag, gonna fly on an eagle. I’m gonna kick some butt, gonna drive a big truck. I’m gonna rule this world. I’m gonna kick some ass. I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Rock, flag, and eagle!"

by Ozzie Montana on Oct 24, 2008 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Oct 24, 2008 5:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Oct 24, 2008 5:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by Ozzie Montana on Oct 24, 2008 5:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 24, 2008 5:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 24, 2008 5:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Oct 24, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, how soon before Ichiro is traded to the White Sox?

I will say before Thanksgiving.

Way to go danks

bitch can’t throw more than 130 innings a season? Trade him. He has no balls

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 2, 2008 7:16 PM CDT actions actions 0 recs

by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 24, 2008 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 24, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be born an Englishman is to win first
prize in the lottery of life

by hoodlight on Oct 24, 2008 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the best thread ever.

Whoosh!

by winningugly on Oct 24, 2008 7:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"and when there is an opportunity, i do not hit. it hits all by itself."

by Toonderstrook on Oct 24, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This thread...

and this thread will go down as two of my favorite SBN threads of all time.

Chicago White Sox Examiner — Your what hurts?

by UribeAuction on Oct 24, 2008 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That actually was better than ours,

especially the Dr. Seuss “Foot in Ass” book cover. I’ll have to pick that one up. Laughed my ass off. Thanks, UA.

Whoosh!

by winningugly on Oct 25, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is our best thread ever

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 25, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His stats are as good as Fields -- that's the sad thing

by Jbasic89 on Oct 24, 2008 8:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

in other news......

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Oct 24, 2008 10:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 24, 2008 10:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

why do all our campaign commercials have to be deemed indecent for the public eye by every tv channel?

we just want to give the people what they want

takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm

by furby2056 on Oct 24, 2008 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 25, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The movement was so devastating that television announcer Hawk Harrelson called it "the Doomerang," saying that if Day had enough distance to work with, the pitch would eventually come back to him.

by U-God on Oct 25, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

reifert laying groundwork for getz

What he does bring is that grinderstyle of play, coveted by the White Sox and on display during the 2005 World Series championship run. Getz has been compared favorably to an established Major Leaguer such as Minnesota’s Nick Punto.

“Nothing stands out in terms of tools, but he’s just a baseball player — I appreciate his game and players like that,” said Getz of the Punto comparison. “People get caught up in the big numbers, like the home runs and all that. But the role players who can be the foundation can be overlooked. I pride myself on being that old-school type of hard-nosed competitor.”

General manager Ken Williams appears to agree with one of his top prospect’s self-analysis.

“Yeah, he’s a baseball player,” said Williams, talking about Getz prior to the end of the 2008 regular season. “He’s another guy who fits that grinder mentality and you will appreciate over time, more then the flash that some times guys will show you initially.”

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081024&content_id=3643013&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

we know there’s no higher praise than being a baseball player.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i find this bullshit pr stuff to be exhausting. heaven forbid they just explain why they are leaning towards getz.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you know, the whole thing about merkin being a mouthpiece is kind of a joke.

as in, it’s basically not true. especially with stuff he writes in the offseason. he’s no more a mouthpiece than the other beat writers.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can you find me an article where he is critical of decisions the organization has made?

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

who cares whether he's critical. i'm not sure i actually want reporters to be critical.

at any rate, he wrote a bio piece on a player people care about to fill content on the site during a dead part of the year. the quotes he included from KW are a couple weeks old and were reported by each of the other new sites. being uncritical doesn’t equate him as being a mouthpiece. a mouthpiece writes what the white sox tell him to – which was your implication from you writing “heaven forbid they just explain why they are leaning towards getz.” i rather doubt anyone in the organization told him to write about getz. merkin doesn’t know shit. i rather doubt anyone in the front office has spoken to merkin recently.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm surprised at your naivety. (or perhaps i should be unsurprised at your argumentative inclination.)

1. who is he writing for? who signs his checks? if you’re suggesting that isn’t a factor in every article he writes, then you’re being oblivious.

2. the nick punto slant blows. if you want readers to understand why the sox would be inclined to use getz, tell them real shit. there are many solid reasons why getz might get the job, being like nick punto is the weakest one. he’s selling a product. that’s where my exhaustion stems from. i know they’re pushing product, but i’m disinterested in this tired sales pitch.

3. dismissing this as simply a fluff piece is fine, but then it does nothing to discount my comments.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i guess my point is, yes, he gets paid by mlb to write nice pieces about white sox players. so what.

i’ve never really seen any evidence that he actually knows anything more than any other writer (in fact, i’d say he knows less) or that he serves as a mouthpiece. i don’t read anything on that site and think “gosh, i guess this is what the white sox are thinking.” he doesn’t know shit.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

here's the sort of stellar insight into KW's plans that merkin has.

My best guess is that Crede ends up at third, Fields in left and a new veteran takes over in center. I’m not sure where Owens would fit in, especially if Pablo Ozuna and Darin Erstad return healthy.

i guess he got crede right.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i've read speculative pieces from him before, as well. certainly no one could accurately guess all of the organization's moves. and it would be impossible for the sox to tell him what they plan to do and then do it.

my issue was more with writing an article about said player using all the familiar platitudes that have become kw’s refrain regarding these so-called “grinders”. the fucking thing reads like it could have the header “from the desk of ken williams”. as i said before, there are valid reasons to use getz. it’s as if concern over public reaction to the lack of a new, proven mlb 2nd b-man is the reason for the article. why not explain why this very well may be the best decision for the white sox? this provides no insight and just spews the familiar.

if i was exhausted before, i am nearly comatose now. i’ve said my piece on the article. i just find this type of writing to be completely void of value.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dunno. i thought i was kind of interesting to read about him going back to UM.

and we all know that that crap is void of value. that’s why i bolded something and made a joke about it, right?

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep. my comment wasn't meant to be taken much past face value, either. but, since we delved into it a little deeper, i thought i'd state my wish for a little more insight than can be found on the concourse at comiskey.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

isn't that why you come here?

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 26, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i come here to have people i don't know tell me what they did this weekend, or what music they are listening to.

i also like to see how far people are willing to go with this whole fail thing, and to constantly reaffirm that thome and vazquez are not good enough to play in the mlb.

and the fake pictures.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 26, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

oh. my bad.

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 26, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

isn't that what everybody comes here for? what else is there?

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 26, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

mumbles something about a minor league fanpost

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 26, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, how about that market?

Someone sounds fried. Get some rest.

Whoosh!

by winningugly on Oct 26, 2008 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No hidger compliment:

“he’s just a baseball player.”

Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.

by ballyb on Oct 25, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

higher, also.

Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.

by ballyb on Oct 25, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

naive plea.

At 10 a.m. local time, it’s drizzling in Philadelphia. No one I’ve spoken to in the city—mostly non-baseball folks—think they’ll be able to play the game tonight. I’m not sure whether they will or not, but with the official chance of rain at 70 percent, it’s clearly unlikely.

So here’s a public request on behalf of every fan holding a ticket to Game Three: MLB, please don’t be oblivious. If the game isn’t going to be played, if it shouldn’t be played, make that decision early, three o’clock, maybe four. Don’t make people go down to the ballpark, pay whatever usurious charge is in place for parking, sit in the rain for a few hours, and spend money on concessions and souvenirs. If there’s real doubt—and based on the skies I’m looking at, there is—I’m fine with trying to get the game in. If there’s not, though… please, MLB, make it much easier on the paying customers by calling it off without opening the gates. Doing otherwise just makes it look like an attempt to squeeze cash out of people.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8254

"winning tacos for America was pretty cool too."

by larry on Oct 25, 2008 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

word of the day: usury

Main Entry: usu·ry
Pronunciation: \ˈyü-zhə-rē, ˈyüzh-rē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural usu·ries
Etymology: Middle English usurie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin usuria, alteration of Latin usura, from usus, past participle of uti to use
Date: 14th century
1archaic : interest
2: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use ; especially : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates
3: an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest ; specifically : interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Oct 25, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs