Ozzie's roster thoughts

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 8:24 PM CDT in White Sox News

it's full speed ahead for the torpedo boat:

Ozzie Guillen's comments to reporters in Maryvale on Monday seem to indicate the competitive field at second base has dwindled from four at the start of Spring Training to two, with Opening Day sitting a mere two weeks removed.

Juan Uribe looks to be the front-runner at the position, but the White Sox continue to be intrigued by the athletic possibilities produced by Alexei Ramirez. Pablo Ozuna has been tabbed as the team's utility infielder, and as for Danny Richar his late arrival to camp due to visa problems getting out of the Dominican Republic, coupled with back problems limiting him to four Cactus League contests, just might leave Richar as Triple-A Charlotte's second baseman to begin the 2008 season.

"Going to be tough for him," Guillen said of Richar, who finished 1-for-4 against Milwaukee on Monday. "Now I've got to give at-bats for Ramirez, Ozuna and Uribe. It's going to be hard for me to give him the at-bats he deserves.

...According to Guillen's analysis, Uribe has turned in a great spring with the bat, and the White Sox manager is satisfied with Uribe's defense at second. Guillen's primary worry about Uribe is whether he can carry out this success for a full season, as he did during his first two years with the White Sox.

...Ramirez started in center field Monday, indicating he could be in mind for a utility role. Factoring in 12 pitchers, Ozuna and Toby Hall as reserve locks, Uribe at second and Jerry Owens as the starting center fielder, two roster spots exist between Brian Anderson, Ramirez and Carlos Quentin.

A major concern surrounding Ramirez was his ability to adjust defensively at second after moving over from shortstop, where he played in Cuba. But Guillen said Monday that he is seeing that necessary improvement in the field.

..."Every time we play this kid at any position, he goes out there and looks better than what we thought. He talked to me about it and said he'd like to play center field. He's a good center fielder.

***** In other news,

Rich Lederer: Categorizing Pitchers by Strikeout and Groundball Rates: Starters - 2007 Edition (hat-tip Baseball Musings).
Fangraphs sorts pitchers by velocity. Fastball velocity: Javy @ 91.8, Jose @ 90.1, John @ 89.5, and Mark at 85.9 (hat-tip THT).
New pitching metrics: tRA and ROA (hat-tip Tango).

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So is Ozzie saying Richar is going to start in AAA

because of the Visa problems, or the back? If it's the Visa issue, this organization is a total clusterfuck.

by Tony82087 on Mar 17, 2008 8:29 PM CDT reply actions

it's two weeks to opening day

and richar has played in four games. i think the answer is obvious. he was in a competition for a job and he didn't compete.

by larry on Mar 18, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Ramirez:

..."Every time we play this kid at any position, he goes out there and looks better than what we thought. He talked to me about it and said he'd like to play center field. He's a good center fielder."

Damn, before the season started, who thought the kid might be a decent CF option?

The old pensioner, WU, that's who. We'll see how it plays out, but it sure as hell makes some sense.

What does NOT make sense is the "lock" of Ozuna, Hall, and Richar over Quentin, Ramirez, and BA.

Hey man, this game is a bunch of front-runners. If you're good, they kiss your butt. If not, you're horse s---.

by winningugly on Mar 17, 2008 8:29 PM CDT reply actions

Well

Unless you are going to Armstrong - Hall is a lock, we have no other backup + he's being paid a major league salary

We have heard the tauting of how Ozuna was badly missed for 3/4 of a year, not to mention being a foa of Oz and also having a major league salary, so him being a lock should not surprise. And honestly, he is a dependable utility guy...

That really leaves Richar, Quentin, Ramirez and BA.

I'd expect Richar to start in the minors - yes partially because of the visa (don't know the circumstances, but others made it on time... and if you know you still have to ern a position...)
Quentin should start in the minors and resolve the shoulder issue without the pressure of producing at the major league level.
That leaves BA and Ramirez - in my eyes they both deserve the call - even more so the Owens who has limited appearences because of the injury (However he seems to have been granted the role - a fact that even Stone has jumped on the wagon with)

So instead of a big splash, there were ripples -- enough to change the tide, Williams believes

by Brush Back on Mar 17, 2008 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

have you missed

that we have another catcher still in major league camp? but, yeah, unless hall breaks again he's on.

by larry on Mar 18, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Yea - I forgot about him

But I don't see him on the roster

So instead of a big splash, there were ripples -- enough to change the tide, Williams believes

by Brush Back on Mar 18, 2008 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

he'd be the guy, though

if hall (or AJ, for that matter) goes down. neither lucy or armstrong are ready to step in.

by larry on Mar 18, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

You're correct

My point was I just don't see us carrying more then 2 catchers. AJ does not like to be away from the plate and he'll let Ozzie know. (Then again, perhaps his new contract doesn't have the plate apearence bonus, so he may care as much now)

So instead of a big splash, there were ripples -- enough to change the tide, Williams believes

by Brush Back on Mar 18, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

new contract

has bonuses for GS up to 120 games

by larry on Mar 18, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions

You're insane

Sometimes I think you work for the Sox the way you have immediate access to this stuff - you're actually Rick Hahn aren't you?

So instead of a big splash, there were ripples -- enough to change the tide, Williams believes

by Brush Back on Mar 18, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions

gonzo says he shined in CF

[Mark Gonzales]:

Ramirez shines in center field for Sox

Alexei Ramirez handled his first start in center field flawlessly Monday with less than two weeks before the White Sox set their Opening Day roster.

Ramirez, who has played second base and shortstop since joining the Sox last month from Cuba, called off left fielder Nick Swisher and shortstop Pablo Ozuna to catch Mike Cameron's shallow fly to end the third inning.

Ramirez had three putouts and played all 10 innings in center in the Sox's 4-4 tie with the Brewers. Ramirez hit an RBI double during a four-run third.

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice Bobby article

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ao8kBzoADiv8j7n_pXnym605nYcB?slug=jp-springjenks031708&pro v=yhoo&type=lgns

Bobby talking about his 100 mph fastball, "It's always there in case I need it."

by RME JICO on Mar 17, 2008 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

From Merkin's latest mailbag

[Scott Merkin]:

"The White Sox clearly are at their best, offensively, with Jerry Owens at the top of the lineup."

clearly...

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

Scott Merkin's "homerbag".

by SSH2005 on Mar 17, 2008 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Owens "slugging"

.571 this spring.

Gotta move him down.

Was that a ground out to 2nd for Owens?

by ballyb on Mar 18, 2008 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I saw the fangraphs velocity last week.

the thing that jumped out at me most was this...

Jon Garland's Velocity

Season    FB      SL      CB      CH

2005    91.1    84.3    75.2    81.0

2006    89.8    82.6    74.5    79.4



2007    89.3    80.9    73.4    78.5

KW might have gotten out from under that one just in time before Garland is forced to go the Paul Byrd route.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 17, 2008 9:51 PM CDT reply actions

uh huh

he was going to turn into a pumpkin sometime soon. best not on our watch.

by larry on Mar 18, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Contreras jumped out for me.

FB velocity
2005 (92.9)
2006 (91.9)
2007 (90.1)

Not a good trend and backs up the declining K rate.

by bhoov on Mar 17, 2008 10:50 PM CDT reply actions

Inversely related

To the amount of drop-down fastballs

by 3E8 on Mar 17, 2008 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought crede's range was ok

[Andrew Baggarly]:

White Sox third baseman Joe Crede, who once seemed destined to be traded to the Giants, is batting .091 this spring and his range at third base hasn't impressed scouts. Crede missed most of last year recovering from back surgery.

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 11:16 PM CDT reply actions