I'll take blasphemy for $800, Alex

by The Cheat on Mar 9, 2008 1:18 AM CST in White Sox News

Joe Cowley has a ridiculously high opinion of Jerry Owens. In an article where he proclaims Owens the Sox center fielder, Juan Uribe the second baseman, and Josh Fields their starting third baseman, Cowley writes:

"If speed kills, Owens is a serial killer. He is a true leadoff hitter, with Kenny Lofton-like potential. Besides adding 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason, his confidence is sky-high. A tweaked groin has slowed him down a bit, but he should be fine."

Kenny Lofton is not a Hall of Famer, but he is a Hall of Very Gooder, much more than Jerry Owens could ever hope to be. For example, in Lofton's age 27 season (1994), he posted a .349/.412/.536 line and finished 4th in MVP voting behind some guys named Thomas, Griffey, and Belle. He stole 60 bases and hit 53 extra-base hits in a strike-shortened 112 games.

Jerry Owens is entering his age 27 season. He has posted a .270/.341/.353 line over the last two seasons in a AAA hitters park, compiling 37 extra base hits and 63 stolen bases in 171 AAA games.

It's like looking in a freakin' mirror.

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really?

So Cowley saw a black leadoff hitter with speed who plays CF and just decided he was like Kenny Lofton.

Thats some pretty great analysis. Lofton had a 106 OPS+ in his first full season. It wasn't until his 10th full season that he actually dipped below 100. I guarantee you that Owens will never have an OPS+ over 100 in a full season.

MrROFL.com - now with real content!

by shaftr on Mar 9, 2008 3:24 AM CST reply actions

That's what I love

The Lofton/Owens comparison extends only as far as "speedy black guy". Of course, we'd hate to have facts get in the way of a good argument...

A better comparison for Owens is this guy. Nixon was black too, wasn't he? The comparison would've fit!

by CWSKeith on Mar 9, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Fortunately for Owens...

...that comparison doesn't extend to looks:

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Mar 9, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

If Owens plays until his late 30's...

and early 40's... something is terribly wrong with the universe.

Nixon never posted any season OPS+ over 100. I'm afraid Jerry Owens never will either, unless he juices and adds an additional 15 lbs of muscle.

Nixon's career slugging is lower than his OBP by quite a bit. The similarities between him and Jerry are striking.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Mar 9, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Unreal

At this point, only a prolonged injury to Owens' groin could save the Sox from themselves.

by Winning is Fung on Mar 9, 2008 9:05 AM CDT reply actions

You know what?

Owens is so good, I'd like to see him play both CF and LF. They can sit that base-clogger Swisher. What'd he hit last season? .260? With no speed? Pffft.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 9, 2008 9:13 AM CDT reply actions

The sad thing is

Owens seems like a great kid, and I'd love to have him on my major league roster if I could carry 27 players.

by palehose67 on Mar 9, 2008 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

I'm starting to think God

has conspired to do the Sox a favor by taking the power to play Jerry Owens right out of their hands.

He is looking down and shaking his head, saying "seriously?", and then finally deciding he's seen enough.

And then miraculously, as he did for us in the cases of Scott Podsednik and Darin Erstad, rendering him lame to save the Sox from themselves.

And God was good.

Get Yo Self A Handful

by MarketMaker on Mar 9, 2008 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

Where was this God you speak of last season

when Luis Terrero and Andy Gonzalez were pretending to be big league ball players?

I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

by Hazymania on Mar 9, 2008 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe

He has got a sense of humor as well?

Get Yo Self A Handful

by MarketMaker on Mar 9, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't blaspheme!

Terstado (MVP) was waaaaaay better than Andy Gonzalez and shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath!

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Mar 9, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Kenny's OBP was .412 in 1994

I wonder if Cowley and his koolaid are forgetting about that whole a leadoff hitter is supposed to get on base thing. Because the only way Owens gets on at a 400 clip is if he brings a dart gun to the plate with him to sedate the pitcher when he bunts.

Then I look at Lofton's slugging in 94 and I truly giggle at the comparison. He had an OPS+ of 144 for gods sake.

by southsideirish71 on Mar 9, 2008 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

details, details

dis keed is fast!

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

he doesn't even play good defense!

The question I want answered is if cowley believes this or needs this to keep high level access.

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Mar 9, 2008 10:29 AM CDT reply actions

I am trying to figure out something else

Has anyone seen Hawk and Cowley in the same room at the same time?

by southsideirish71 on Mar 9, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure any stick should be invested

in what Cowley says. His analysis (which is actually off-the-cuff opinion) should be regarded like the word of any other garden variety buffoon.

Owens, if he does indeed end up as the opening day CF, won't last long if he doesn't produce. Sure, Ozzie has talked him up, on and on, etc... But he Ozzie says a lot of things. This season, the onus is on the Sox to do one thing: win. I think they realize what another 70-odd win season will do to their franchise. They won't continue to trot out players who don't produce, Owens will get his shot, mainly because he fits the type of role Ozzie's in love with. But his window is slim.

by HulkSmash on Mar 9, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

stock, that is

by HulkSmash on Mar 9, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't invest a stick

Show mercy. I get to watch the Rangers.

by Tim from Texas on Mar 9, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Wasting time in Arizona

Here is a comment from Sox and The City:"Oney Guillen is getting Spring Training at-bats? Seriously? Guess what this no-talent, privleged hack did with those two at-bats; he struck out twice.

Are you telling me there's no better use of those at-bats than to give them to the biggest waste of patronage space in the White Sox organization? Maybe we should get some AB's for Carey Schueler while we're at it. I bet she's got that Chicago Swagger.

Jeez. I knew our farm system was thin, but is it really this thin? Cut this .... yesterday! Or have Brian Anderson cold .... his ... again."

I saw somewhere Oney had made a sparkling play but had no idea Ozzie/KW were thinking of replacing Andy Gonzalez with his son, get serious spring training should not be for family members horsing around. Ozzie is digging a huge hole in Chicago with his mouth, his ideas and his arrogance.

by Florida Jim on Mar 9, 2008 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

you're hilarious

and so is sox and the city. he's got a few ABs as a late replacement in some split squad games. who cares.

by larry on Mar 9, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

for cheat

and other egbert fans:

Jack Egbert, who made his presence known within the organization with a 12-8 record, 3.06 ERA ad 165 strikeouts over 161 2/3 innings for Double-A Birmingham in 2007, makes his Cactus League debut on Sunday. Egbert has been sidelined this spring by inflammation near his right elbow.

by larry on Mar 9, 2008 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

14 ABs this spring.

He's hit the ball out of the infield twice with those 10 extra pounds of muscle.

As advertised, great competition this spring.

Was that a ground out to 2nd for Owens?

by ballyb on Mar 9, 2008 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

Speaking of Jeopardy

The big Jeopardy bus -- the one with Alex Trebek's name plastered gigantically on the side -- was at my school this week. They were having tryouts and I can say proudly that while I didn't try out, my friend did and he was the first person of the day to fail the initial test.

by CWSKeith on Mar 9, 2008 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

Robothal on Crede

[Robothal]:

The Dodgers' decision on whether to trade for a third baseman such as the White Sox's Joe Crede or Tigers' Brandon Inge is "all about the budget and whether (owner Frank) McCourt will allow them to add money," according to a source familiar with the team's thinking.

Even for high-revenue teams, significant payroll increases are rare during spring training. Crede, earning $5.1 million this season, is more affordable than Inge, who is owed $19.1 million over the next three years. The White Sox also might settle for prospects, while the Tigers want more immediate help for their bullpen.

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2008 1:56 PM CDT reply actions