Here's the one Sox item I found today (thanks to Baseball Musings): Voros McCracken notes base running isn't the problem for the White Sox:
The Chicago Tribune has a story about the White Sox new third base coach, former A’s "slugger" Jeff Cox. The White Sox want to "get back to" doing what they supposedly were doing in 2005. I find it interesting that a team that finished dead last in the Majors in On Base Percentage (despite having a DH with a .400+ OBP as opposed to a pitcher) feels that the problems stem from what happened to guys after they reached base, rather than the more obvious problem of a severe lack of guys on the basepaths to begin with.
Then he describes how the White Sox can build a team in which base running does matter (BBTF has 2 threads).
There is nothing wrong with good baserunning, proper bunting technique, hitting cutoff men, etc. The thing is there’s a reason why they call them the ‘little things.’ All of it can get canceled out by a three run homer in a hurry. When it comes to ‘doing the little things,’ being able to do the ‘big things’ probably needs to come first.
BTW, what's your Superbowl prediction? Mine? New England 42, New York 13.
- Jim looks at the 2008 Sox PECOTA projections and Santana's departure.
- The Tigers signed CF Curtis Granderson to a 6-year $30 million deal (6th year club option).