Gonzales suggests lineup changes

1. Lf Carlos Quentin. Highest on-base percentage at .399, and at least he can drive himself in with a team-high nine home runs.

2. C A.J. Pierzynski. A left-handed hitter helps in the second spot, and Pierzynski is batting .303 and has only 10 strikeouts.

3. RF Jermaine Dye. The only middle-of-the-order hitter who is producing.

4. 1B Paul Konerko. Only 11 extra base hits but has fewer strikeouts (24) than Dye, Nick Swisher or Jim Thome.

5. 3B Joe Crede. Will end up his career as a No. 5 hitter (cleanup if he plays for San Francisco), so why not give him a chance now?

6. CF Swisher. On-base percentage has dipped to .331, but having a switch-hitter in the middle of the order helps - if the game is on the lineup late in games. Brian Anderson deserves more of a look somewhere, based on his power potential and satisfying his unpaid advisers.

7. DH Jim Thome. Take away his first two at-bats vs. Sabathia, and he's batting .212 vs. left-handers. It's worth giving Alexei Ramirez a chance against left-handers. Anderson also could serve as DH, but team would lose one of its best defensive outfielders.

8. SS Orlando Cabrera. More of a top-of-the-order hitter, but .224 average doesn't reflect his track record.

9. 2B Juan Uribe. Recently raised his batting average over .200.

3 months ago The Cheat Comment 38 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

I don't think Gonzales realizes that it won't matter...

None of these slappies are hitting so what does the order matter?

by SSH2005 on May 14, 2008 1:02 PM CDT 0 recs

Deck chairs, meet shuffling

by hitlesswonder on May 14, 2008 1:09 PM CDT 0 recs

Cowley's suggestion

The way it stands right now, if I was Ozzie I would lead off with Carlos Quentin (.399 on-base percentage – a team high), followed by A.J. Pierzynski and then Jermaine Dye. After that, throw in a little Joe Crede in the cleanup spot, followed by Jim Thome and then Paul Konerko. Nick Swisher would hit seventh, Juan Uribe eighth and Orlando Cabrera ninth, with the hope he can get on base for the top of the order.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 14, 2008 1:18 PM CDT 0 recs

Why are they even suggesting this stuff?

Ozzie has changed the lineup around a few times already and it has made no difference.

by SSH2005 on May 14, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

glad to see you've come around

by larry on May 14, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

because it's fun...

It’s something you can write about without much thought…. You know this… How many SSH lineups did we see posted in the off-season?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 14, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

It was fun when we thought that these guys would actually perform.

by SSH2005 on May 14, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Speaking of the off-season, let's get ready for 2009

Who the hell will be the SS, 2B, CF next season? Much more interesting to speculate on than 2008 lineups….

by hitlesswonder on May 14, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Anderson, Alexei, Richar

by Grinder in Training on May 14, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

FWIW

Cowley’s lineup does cluster the highest OBP players together, which is a welcome change from injecting speed into the top of the order as far as suggestions go.

by hitlesswonder on May 14, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

I like this lineup. But it will never happen.

by SoxfaninAZ on May 14, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Cowley’s suggestion that is.

by SoxfaninAZ on May 14, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

While ackowledging that this is completly futile, and any improvement in offense will be purely coincidental

Here’s how I would “shake things up”—

vs. RHP

Thome—I wonder if Gonzo noticed Thome is hitting .191/.356/.351 vs. RHP this year… Far more concerning than his LHP numbers, when you consider the respective sample, and expected numbers. Put him in the leadoff spot to utilize the one thing he has done decently thus far, get on base.
Quentin
Pierzynski
Crede
Dye
Swisher
Konerko
Uribe
Cabrera

Vs LHP

Swisher
Cabrera
Dye
Quentin
Konerko
Fields ( when he comes off the DL)/Thome
Crede/Fields
Pierzynski/Hall
Ramirez/Uribe

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 14, 2008 1:42 PM CDT 0 recs

Nice, Cheat

I suggested Thomer in leadoff slot last year when he was the leading OBP person, justforthehellofit. I like your style overall. We sure look like dog crap in the field vs. LHP, though.

I took the "under".

by winningugly on May 14, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

After Thome gets on, it will take 3 singles to get him in.

by SoxfaninAZ on May 14, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

So...

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 14, 2008 5:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

This team has a hard time getting 2 hits in an inning, let alone 3 or 4.

by SoxfaninAZ on May 14, 2008 6:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

And how does the line you approved above yield that result?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 14, 2008 8:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

the japanese freddy?

Kenshin Kawakami – Japan’s highest paid starter for the champion Chunichi Dragons (he made around $3MM) mixes a fastball, cutter, and curveball. His fastball runs around 87 and his curve is very slow. He’s known as a big game pitcher and always challenges hitters. He was 12-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 2007, but the K/BB ratio was an appealing 6.3 in 167 2/3 IP. He’s a HR prone strikeout pitcher. Kawakami has been healthy for the past four seasons.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/05/kenshin-kawakam.html

big game kawa?

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 14, 2008 1:51 PM CDT 0 recs