Chisoxfn
09-22-2008, 02:43 PM
http://www.chisport.com/?p=81
The Sox September struggles have been blamed on a tired rotation and bullpen, but the Sox offense has it’s problems too. The club has averaged 4.98 runs per game on the season, but in September, they are averaging just 4.15 a game, and have scored 3 or fewer runs in 10 games (19 Total).
It would be easy to put an asterisk next to this as run production is expected to slide when you lose the league’s MVP (Carlos Quentin). However, Paul Konerko’s re-surgence cancels out Quentin’s loss.
The real reason for the drop-off is a combination of the following (stats are based upon the players production over the past 30 days):
1. Jermaine Dye: .267 AVG, .276 OBP, 3 HR, 10 RBI
2. Alexei Ramirez: .242 AVG, .283 OBP, 5 HR, 15 RBI
3. Jim Thome: .221 AVG, .303 OBP, 7 HR, 15 RBI
4. AJ Pierzynski: .250 AVG, .250 OBP, 0 HR, 4 RBI
5. Nick Swisher: .133 AVG, .205 OBP, 3 HR, 6 RBI
Bottom Line:
Three Of the Five Hitter’s included on the above list have spent a significant portion of September in the top 5 spots in the lineup. Ozzie talks about going with the hot-hand and it’s time he makes some adjustments to the lineup to reflect such:
1. Konerko Bat’s 3rd. Konerko is batting .318 with 6 HR’s over the past month and has been the Sox best run-producer. Moving him into the 3 spot will give our best run producer more opportunities to “produce” runs.
2. Play Wise. Wise may be a career minor leaguer, but the man is hot (.289, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 14 Games). As long as Wise is producing, there is no reason to not have him penciled into the #2 spot of the lineup.
3. Less Bunting. This is both against Ozzie’s approach as well as my personal approach. I am a proponent of bunting and manufacturing runs, but the White Sox have consistently failed in executing and it’s time Ozzie takes this managerial tactic out to the pasture.
My New Lineup (w/o Griffey):
1. Orlando Cabrera - SS
2. Dwayne Wise - LF
3. Paul Konerko - 1B
4. Jim Thome - DH
5. Jermaine Dye - RF
6. AJ Pierzynski - C
7. Alexei Ramirez - 2B
8. Juan Uribe - 3B
9. Brian Anderson - CF
My New Lineup (w/ Griffey):
1. Orlando Cabrera - SS
2. Dwayne Wise - LF
3. Paul Konerko - 1B
4. Jim Thome - DH
5. Jermaine Dye - RF
6. Ken Griffey Jr. - CF
7. Alexei Ramirez - 2B
8. AJ Pierzynski - C
9. Juan Uribe - 3B
The above is an article I wrote for a Chicago Sports site. Sox fans have been watching the offense struggle all month and Ozzie has began making adjustments but I really believe now is the time to make some more adjustments to ensure your hottest bats are getting up to the plate as often as possible.
The reality is Dye/Thome/AJP have been struggling and now is a time to move Paulie up and to take advantage of Wise who is playing out of his mind.
Curious to see if others believe now is a good time for a change or if they feel the Sox should stick back and that it's too risky since they are about to embark on a 3 game set with the 2nd place Twins (I like the sound of 2nd place Twins so hopefully it stays that way).
The Sox September struggles have been blamed on a tired rotation and bullpen, but the Sox offense has it’s problems too. The club has averaged 4.98 runs per game on the season, but in September, they are averaging just 4.15 a game, and have scored 3 or fewer runs in 10 games (19 Total).
It would be easy to put an asterisk next to this as run production is expected to slide when you lose the league’s MVP (Carlos Quentin). However, Paul Konerko’s re-surgence cancels out Quentin’s loss.
The real reason for the drop-off is a combination of the following (stats are based upon the players production over the past 30 days):
1. Jermaine Dye: .267 AVG, .276 OBP, 3 HR, 10 RBI
2. Alexei Ramirez: .242 AVG, .283 OBP, 5 HR, 15 RBI
3. Jim Thome: .221 AVG, .303 OBP, 7 HR, 15 RBI
4. AJ Pierzynski: .250 AVG, .250 OBP, 0 HR, 4 RBI
5. Nick Swisher: .133 AVG, .205 OBP, 3 HR, 6 RBI
Bottom Line:
Three Of the Five Hitter’s included on the above list have spent a significant portion of September in the top 5 spots in the lineup. Ozzie talks about going with the hot-hand and it’s time he makes some adjustments to the lineup to reflect such:
1. Konerko Bat’s 3rd. Konerko is batting .318 with 6 HR’s over the past month and has been the Sox best run-producer. Moving him into the 3 spot will give our best run producer more opportunities to “produce” runs.
2. Play Wise. Wise may be a career minor leaguer, but the man is hot (.289, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 14 Games). As long as Wise is producing, there is no reason to not have him penciled into the #2 spot of the lineup.
3. Less Bunting. This is both against Ozzie’s approach as well as my personal approach. I am a proponent of bunting and manufacturing runs, but the White Sox have consistently failed in executing and it’s time Ozzie takes this managerial tactic out to the pasture.
My New Lineup (w/o Griffey):
1. Orlando Cabrera - SS
2. Dwayne Wise - LF
3. Paul Konerko - 1B
4. Jim Thome - DH
5. Jermaine Dye - RF
6. AJ Pierzynski - C
7. Alexei Ramirez - 2B
8. Juan Uribe - 3B
9. Brian Anderson - CF
My New Lineup (w/ Griffey):
1. Orlando Cabrera - SS
2. Dwayne Wise - LF
3. Paul Konerko - 1B
4. Jim Thome - DH
5. Jermaine Dye - RF
6. Ken Griffey Jr. - CF
7. Alexei Ramirez - 2B
8. AJ Pierzynski - C
9. Juan Uribe - 3B
The above is an article I wrote for a Chicago Sports site. Sox fans have been watching the offense struggle all month and Ozzie has began making adjustments but I really believe now is the time to make some more adjustments to ensure your hottest bats are getting up to the plate as often as possible.
The reality is Dye/Thome/AJP have been struggling and now is a time to move Paulie up and to take advantage of Wise who is playing out of his mind.
Curious to see if others believe now is a good time for a change or if they feel the Sox should stick back and that it's too risky since they are about to embark on a 3 game set with the 2nd place Twins (I like the sound of 2nd place Twins so hopefully it stays that way).