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Bouncing Back by the Bay

When you pick up your morning paper later today, you'll probably be greeted with stories crafted around the idea that the White Sox needed to bounce back from the brutal loss Thursday at the hands of the Orioles. I'm wasn't exactly concerned about how they bounced back.

This team is playing very well right now. Since last Saturday, they've lost two games, each by a run. The first came at the hands of a lefty making his second career start, and the second being the aforementioned bullpen meltdown in Baltimore. During that stretch they've also shutout Detroit, twice, and allowed more than 2 runs just once.

There's a feeling about this club that they can -- nay, should -- win every time they take the field. And when you've got a team going like that, you don't worry about how you'll respond to a tough loss; you can't wait to get back on the field and get back in the W column.

I was not at all surprised to see Javier Vazquez and the offense right back at it, doing exactly what they've been doing all season. Vazquez was able to pitch over a terrible HBP call and a poor defensive decision by Pablo Ozuna in the second and was quickly rewarded. The offense put together two big innings on the strength of back-to-back Jim Thome and Paul Konerko homers in the 3rd inning and took advantage of an Evan Longoria throwing error to get things started in the 4th. It was a laugher before the game even reached the half-way mark, giving Ozzie the opportunity to play the back-end of the bench.

* * * * *

Jerry Owens officially came off the DL and was promptly optioned to Charlotte, where he was on rehab assignment. This is a clear sign that the Sox are happy with their current 25-man roster. Who can blame them when they're leading the AL Central with a 10-6 record, and playing this well? But I'd actually like to see Owens on the roster.

Owens is never going to be anything more than a 4th or 5th outfielder on a good team, while Alexei Ramirez might be able to hold down a starting role on a good team in the near future. I could see keeping Alexei around if he was getting some starts on the infield, but Juan Uribe has started all but one game at second, and Ozuna appears to be the primary backup on the infield. With the emergence of Carlos Quentin, who has been the left field starter every game since game 2, there just aren't enough at-bats to go around. I'd rather those at-bats not be given to Owens than Ramirez, who could clearly use some more development time.

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Agreed...

Ramirez will likely be a starter on the 2009 Sox team—whether it’s at SS if Cabrera leaves via free agency or it’s at 2B once Uribe is gone. Either way, he needs to be playing everyday in AAA and getting some game time at both positions.

by SSH2005 on Apr 19, 2008 6:06 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

???

I don’t know… I like Alexei and want to see more playing time, but the guy is 26 (hopefully not in Tejada years). He has been playing at a very high level for a while. I just don’t know how much more people develop.

Ways to get Alexei at bats

Sit uribe, play Alexei at 2b
Sit either thome or konerko, (move swish to first, and play Alexie in CF)
Sit Dye, swish to RF and Alexie to center
Sit OC, play Alexei at SS.

Now the last suggestion scares me, but if he is going to be playing SS next year like people predict then he might as well get a start or 2 now, while we are winning.

I am definitely not complaining, just stating that i think Alexei helps this team more than Jerry Owens. Given Ozzie’s recent wake up call about OBP and the fact that we have 2 steals this year, i see no place for JO. Our team philosophy has changed a bit, and he doesn’t fit into it. Anderson is a better defensive replacement, and Pablo can pinch run and play the infield.

I am going to ask you one time, and i'm gonna ask you nice. Where the fuck is Ringo bitch.

by ElDiablo on Apr 19, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

correction,

i meant to say that Pablo can pinch run and play the infield, poorly.

I am going to ask you one time, and i'm gonna ask you nice. Where the fuck is Ringo bitch.

by ElDiablo on Apr 19, 2008 9:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If we optioned Alexie

and I’m for that, that leaves only Ozuna who can play the IF positions. Should that be more than a minor concern this early in the season?

"I don't want no songs for plants, I want songs for me"

by onlysoxfaninboston on Apr 19, 2008 7:17 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Danny Richar's back must be serious

He hasn’t played a game yet for Charlotte.

''It's a grinder-type attitude, energetic attitude, confident-type attitude, and if it grinds on some people, then I need to know who those people are so we can move them on''

by ChicagoPete on Apr 19, 2008 7:39 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I hate that guy.

Because we traded Iguchi. Totally senseless anger directed to that kid I know, but I cannot help it.

Bloggin'

http://bierjournal.blogspot.com/

by Six Pack on Apr 19, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Carlos Q

Is so dreamy….

Bloggin'

http://bierjournal.blogspot.com/

by Six Pack on Apr 19, 2008 7:33 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

.448 OBP

from the leadoff slot.
nuf said.

Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote

by Chiburb on Apr 19, 2008 7:41 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

At games

I keep hearing ‘Swing the bat Swisher! Enough with the walks!’

Cmon people get with the program!

Bloggin'

http://bierjournal.blogspot.com/

by Six Pack on Apr 19, 2008 8:42 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Are you effin serious?

Have they forgotten Big Hurt already?

by sti3 on Apr 19, 2008 9:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I am serious

on the train back two men were also talking about how much Carlos Q sucks on Monday. Wowie Zowie.

Bloggin'

http://bierjournal.blogspot.com/

by Six Pack on Apr 19, 2008 10:36 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he's batting .245

he does suck

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 10:39 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

fwiw

a guy at work was saying you don’t need that many great hitters on a team, just a few. Everyone has the romantic notion that smallball won the championship for us in 2005, ignoring the fact that most championships these days are won by teams with guys who take lots of walks and hit lots of home runs.

by sti3 on Apr 19, 2008 11:12 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Do they not remember all the HR's...

They hit close to 200 every freaking year.

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 19, 2008 1:14 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

the 05 team really didn't take walks, either

there’s this thing called “pitching”. it’s not that difficult to win if you only need to score 4 runs a game to do it.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I've heard it too at both the games I've been to so far.

You’d think Sox fans would learn after all those brutal 8 pitch 1-2-3 innings we had last year.

by chrome on Apr 19, 2008 11:43 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

On target, Chiburb.

And a “tip of the hat” to Nick Swisher, embracing this new role, giving his all and doing HIS PART to make this team better. A great example, the importance of which can’t be overestimated.

Pitching and defense.

by ballyb on Apr 19, 2008 11:19 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Always nice

to read your recaps that avoid the obvious points and add something original to the mix. Off I go to chicagosports.com to get my cliche fix for the day!

by sti3 on Apr 19, 2008 9:48 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

"I'd rather those at-bats not be given to Owens than Ramirez, who could clearly use some more development time."

couldn’t agree more. freudian slip?

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 9:58 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

I think it's not a Freudian slip

Someone will be on the major league bench not getting at-bats. Cheat would rather that’s Owens than Ramirez, who could actually use some playing time in AAA to a useful end. At least that’s how I read it.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 19, 2008 10:19 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

sure

i just wanted to take a quote out of context to make my own point. i’m selfish that way. i’d much rather those at bats not be given to bourgeois than owens. we can debate roster construction regarding the last player on the bench until we’ve out-minutiated the minutiae. i simply think jason provides more than owens on this team. and the danger of decisions being made based upon an infatuation with speed is effectively eliminated.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 10:26 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Isn't Bourgeois

pretty darn fast too? I think I saw him steal second and third in an inning in Spring Training…

Their numbers at AAA are very very similar right now…

by sti3 on Apr 19, 2008 11:15 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

sure

but, for reasons that aren’t particularly clear based upon their respective skillsets, he isn’t a danger to take real playing time from anyone by virtue of being able to steal fifty bases and bat leadoff.

i’m sure most people on here realize my distaste for owens and my like for bougeois. but the only real reasons to put owens on the roster are for speed, for left-handedness, and for playing center. bourgeois isn’t quite as fast but, from what i’ve seen, may be a better baserunner overall than owens. pick what you want from a pinchrunner. bourgeois too can play center in a pinch but this team doesn’t really need another CF with BA. the lefty thing kind of makes some sense i guess but is jerry really going to be pinch-hitting for anyone against a righty closer? and i’m not sure he’s otherwise an improvement from anyone that you’d really want him starting to get a platoon advantage. and bourgeois can play infield positions in addition to left so all those people who worry about only having ozuna on the bench don’t have to worry.

i think i’ve minutiated that.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Seeing Bourgeois

In Charlotte, I just don’t get how he isn’t on the major league roster ahead of Ozuna, Owens. If we aren’t going to let Alexei bat Bourgeois should really be the back up infielder. I’m sure Ozzie is a better judge of talent then I and maybe his skills don’t translate to the big leagues but I just can’t see how he wouldn’t be a better option.

by Grinder in Training on Apr 19, 2008 2:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Ozuna has a guaranteed contract

so that’s why the frenchman is behind him

-Jeeves Life in the Cell

by jeeves on Apr 19, 2008 2:15 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Which is dumb.

A million dollars is pocket change in today’s game – it’s not something that should drive roster decisions.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 2:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I dont really think its the money at this point.

Ozzie really really likes Ozuna. Hawk does too.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:21 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hawk?

doesn’t Hawk love everyone on the Sox roster?

by The Wizard on Apr 19, 2008 2:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

lol

Good point. He REALLY loves Pablo.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:45 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

don't know much about him

but he plays multiple positions, including infield, no?

"I don't want no songs for plants, I want songs for me"

by onlysoxfaninboston on Apr 19, 2008 11:54 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he can play third and SS

about as well as pablo. which means, of course, don’t play him there unless you have to. juan should back those up.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

According to b-ref...

Bourgeois has played -

437 games at second base
136 games in the outfield
119 games at shortstop
6 games at third base.

He hasn’t played shortstop in a few years, though.

Chris Getz currently has a .304/.360/.370 line – he might be another option soon.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

good one, phil

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I know...

Rogers likes him, too, but he’s got decent on-base skills, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him supplant Uribe at second if Richar can’t for whatever reason.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 1:35 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i would

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:38 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Why?

Just curious. I haven’t seen him play, so I don’t know if he’s a butcher defensively or anything.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 1:45 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he's not

he’s fine on defense. even above average. i’ve just never been impressed with him or his skill set. looks like a AAA guy to me. if they’d bother to teach him some other positions maybe a AAAA guy or utility type. but he shouldn’t be a starter on a serious major league team. simply not good enough.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Not enough power?

That’s about the only knock on him that I can see, and it’s a legitimate one. He looks to have Jerry Owens’ ability in terms of extra-base hits.

Otherwise, though, he’s pretty good at getting on base, and he’s still fairly young. Obviously, I’d prefer the team give Richar a real chance, but if he’s a bust, I think Getz deserves at least a shot.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 2:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he makes owens looks like a power hitter

players like that should not be starting on major league teams, unless they’re wizard with gloves. which neither is.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 7:11 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Thanks!

"I don't want no songs for plants, I want songs for me"

by onlysoxfaninboston on Apr 19, 2008 1:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i tell ya, i'm sure glad we dumped this thome guy while we still could

1.023 OPS the last 7 days. major, insurmountable issues.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 10:44 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

OPS?

what’s this? the guy sucks!

by The Wizard on Apr 19, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

3-for-10...

two homers, a double, and four walks, since that day off against the A’s.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 1:51 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He should have had two days off, at least

"I don't want no songs for plants, I want songs for me"

by onlysoxfaninboston on Apr 19, 2008 2:00 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Thome's clearly overmatched

Show mercy. I get to watch the Rangers.

by Tim from Texas on Apr 19, 2008 1:07 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

I agree about Owens-Ramirez

but having Owens at the MLB roster is too dangerous, too dangerous

I am all for the bourgeois idea though

by The Wizard on Apr 19, 2008 1:30 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

For playing in US cellular

Sox pitching has really limited HRs allowed. opposing teams have hit merely 5 against us all year, with the sox hitting 24. league average HRs allowed at this point is 16. Keeping those balls in the yard has really helped out our pitching

Lurking since 2006

by boyonthedock on Apr 19, 2008 1:31 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

could be that whole playing only seven games at home

in generally frigid weather and against such powerful clubs as oakland and minnesota. i wouldn’t put too much into that.

somewhere in baseball purgatory, jerry owens loudly whines.

by larry on Apr 19, 2008 1:34 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I would. They have played in and out

And they havent seemed to have too much trouble hitting them.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 1:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Japanese school team hit for 66 runs in two innings

[yahoo]

The hapless hurler had already sent down over 250 pitches, allowing 26 runs in the first inning and 40 in the second before Kawamoto asked for mercy.

"At that pace the pitcher would have thrown around 500 pitches in four innings," Kawamoto’s coach was quoted as saying. "There was a danger he could get injured."

250 pitches and you take him out? not chicago tough…

by The Wizard on Apr 19, 2008 1:59 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Any news on Richar?

Uribe’s defense has been great but he’d but much better as a super sub with Richar the 3/4 days starter.

by madvillian on Apr 19, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

I honestly have to say I just dont get this....

Uribe is very valuable right now at settling the infield. His offense would be nice but is currently not needed. Why is everyone in a hurry to put Richar there? I like Richar but he isnt assured of being a + hitter yet. I realize that it is hard to believe but the White Sox are not out of it currently. There is no great hurry to develop someone on the major league squad.I think this speaks to Cheat’s point of sending Alex down. The pitching needs a decent cast behind it.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:11 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He is an awful hitter

And 2nd base isn’t a hard position to play. If he was still at SS I think this argument makes more sense. (something I might mention I’m all for, OCab has done nothing in the field to make me confident he should be out there)

by Grinder in Training on Apr 19, 2008 2:14 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Maybe Grinder

But his adapting and turning double plays has really surprised me. And we know hes not going to SS. Id rather have him there right now.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

To add

And I realize we get into the worthiness of defensive metrics, Uribe presently seems to be keeping some elite company at 2b early on in his revised zone rating and leads both leagues in DPs turned. Is that really so easily replaceable on this team with little above avg defenders? Maybe numbers wise an avg to little below avg 2B with a plus bat is the greater combination. I honestly dont know.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:40 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

His arm helps limit triples to right also.

Jermaine gets the ball to him and he cannons it to 3rd.

Pitching and defense.

by ballyb on Apr 19, 2008 4:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It's almost like...

you haven’t watched a single game this year.

Out-underacheiving the other guy.

by defensive indifference on Apr 19, 2008 2:49 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I'm still waiting...

for the gold glove defense we’ve been hearing about from Cabrera, but he has been doing a good job getting on base.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 3:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You know

Jerry I am going to have to hitch on to you with this one. Where did his glove go? He doesnt even look comfortable.

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 3:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hmmm...

Frank Thomas benched for foreseeable future.

Thomas’s season looks pretty similar to Jim Thome’s thus far, FWIW. Low batting average, three homers, lots of walks.

He also has a $10 option for 2010 that vests if he reaches a certain number of plate appearances.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 2:11 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Part of me really would have liked to see Frank retire

I know 10 bigs one. I dont want his career avg to fall below .300

by Tdogg on Apr 19, 2008 2:13 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Sunday lineup a day early

Dye & AJ with the day off. Alexei and Hall in the lineup

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 19, 2008 3:38 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Dye...

hasn’t yet had a day off.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 19, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I'm not really complaining

I absolutely understand the need for both of them to have off-days

The bottom 3rd of the lineup just looks a whole lot uglier with them out.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 19, 2008 3:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The value of Jerry Owens...

The Giants are going to DFA a similar player…

The Giants said Saturday that they’re going to call up Manny Burriss from Triple-A Fresno and designate Rajai Davis for assignment.
Wow. Now the Giants are going to be wasting 40-man roster spots on both Brian Bocock and Burriss long before they had to. Both were 2006 draft picks, and neither has hit at all in the minors. Burriss was bizarrely rushed to Triple-A this season despite hitting .165 in high-A ball last year and was hitting .258/.281/.306 with two steals in four attempts. It’s incredible what Brian Sabean is being allowed to get away with while running the once-proud franchise. Burriss presumably will split time at shortstop until Omar Vizquel returns.

by SSH2005 on Apr 19, 2008 4:41 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs