maurice
09-19-2003, 01:19 PM
There's no sense waiting until the official end of the season, since we've all seen quite enough to make up our minds. These grades, given to players currently on the active roster, are based on their performance relative to pre-season expectations. For example, a "5" grade means that the player played well above expectations, a "1" means the opposite, and a "3" means he played at or near pre-season expectations. Without further eloquence:
5 - Loaiza - Probably the team's MVP. Tailed off in September, but there's no question that he played WAY above pre-season expectations. Expect a significant drop off next season.
5 - Marte - Over the past two seasons, he's gone from a marginal player on a bad team to one of the top relievers in baseball. This guy's the real deal.
4 - Thomas - Future Hall of Famer. Very solid overall numbers, especially in light of the view (held by many here) that he was done after his near-MVP campaign in 2000.
4 - Lee - Had the breakout season we've all been waiting for, after (finally) being moved into the #2 spot in the order. Thank goodness influential people read this site.
4 - Everett - Started off his Sox career slowly, but really impressed me during the stretch run. I'd like to see him back with the club, but KW first will need to clear out the glut of corner OFs.
4 - Gordon - Solid overall numbers and suprisingly good health.
4 - Wunsch - Otherworldly AVE against, but I'd like to see him cut down on the walks and stay healthy for a full season.
3 - Olivo - Very good defense and reasonable offensive production, considering his age and the fact that he skipped AAA. He'll hit better next year.
3 - S. Alomar - Just about exactly what I expected, including his .277 OBP and annual stint on the DL. It's past time for him to retire.
3 - R. Alomar - Definitely on the downside of his career but still good with the glove. He'll need to take a massive paycut to stick around.
3 - Crede - Great glovework and improvement at the dish during the second half. Overall numbers are consistent with expectations.
3 - Garland - Established himself as a solid major league starter at the young age of 23.
3 - Graffanino - Still a solid but unspectacular utility player.
3 - Rowand - Started ice cold after offseason injury but came on after mid-season callup. Overall numbers are consistent with expectations.
3 - Sullivan - Hasn't seen much action with the Sox, but solid overall. Unfortunately, Sox don't figure to pick up his option.
2 - Ordonez - Probably won't finish with 30 HR or 100 RBI after posting 38 / 135 last season. Escalating contract may mean the end of his career on the South Side.
2 - Valentin - Hard to give much credit to a guy with a .230 AVE and 18 errors.
2 - Colon - Solid lately, but a steep drop off from his previous 20 Win / 2.93 ERA campaign.
2 - Buehrle - ERA increased for the third straight year.
2 - Wright - Proved that he's not a major league starter, though he could become a good reliever.
2 - Daubach - Should have gotten more ABs early in the season, but failed as a pinch hitter and lacks the range to play OF regularly.
2 - Rios - Cut from the team and nobody else wanted him. 'Nuff said.
2 - Schoenweis - Very uneven performance in relief. Splits offer no reason to believe that he'll become a more effective starter. Must learn to use the cutter against righties.
2 - Adkins - Not sure why they called up this 26-year-old non-prospect.
1 - Konerko - Miserable first half followed by uneven second half. Probably can't deal him. Look for a return to form in 2004, though I doubt he'll ever play up to his contract.
1 - Koch - Foulke trade was a disaster. Probably can't deal him. Can't pitch any worse in 2004, but please throw strikes.
1 - Harris - Expected to contribute at 2B and/or CF, but couldn't hit major league pitching. (Note: I'd give Borchard the same grade, but the Sox didn't bother to call him back up. He was expected to be the Sox starting CF right now but struggled mightily in AAA. Next year could be make-or-break.)
Burke and Miles both get "incomplete" grades, since they saw little major league action. It will be interesting to learn whether the Sox are counting on either of these fellows (along with Rivera, Borchard, Reed, Rauch, Stewart, Diaz, Cotts, Pacheco, and a large handful of minor league relievers) to make the team out of spring training next season.
Overall, the pitching was great, but the Sox didn't get the job done because: (1) the offense (particularly Konerko) was terrible for long stretches; and (2) the manager is incompetent. It should be a rather interesting offseason, but I'd be extremely disappointed if the Sox didn't kick it off by announcing their intention to . . .
:firejerry
5 - Loaiza - Probably the team's MVP. Tailed off in September, but there's no question that he played WAY above pre-season expectations. Expect a significant drop off next season.
5 - Marte - Over the past two seasons, he's gone from a marginal player on a bad team to one of the top relievers in baseball. This guy's the real deal.
4 - Thomas - Future Hall of Famer. Very solid overall numbers, especially in light of the view (held by many here) that he was done after his near-MVP campaign in 2000.
4 - Lee - Had the breakout season we've all been waiting for, after (finally) being moved into the #2 spot in the order. Thank goodness influential people read this site.
4 - Everett - Started off his Sox career slowly, but really impressed me during the stretch run. I'd like to see him back with the club, but KW first will need to clear out the glut of corner OFs.
4 - Gordon - Solid overall numbers and suprisingly good health.
4 - Wunsch - Otherworldly AVE against, but I'd like to see him cut down on the walks and stay healthy for a full season.
3 - Olivo - Very good defense and reasonable offensive production, considering his age and the fact that he skipped AAA. He'll hit better next year.
3 - S. Alomar - Just about exactly what I expected, including his .277 OBP and annual stint on the DL. It's past time for him to retire.
3 - R. Alomar - Definitely on the downside of his career but still good with the glove. He'll need to take a massive paycut to stick around.
3 - Crede - Great glovework and improvement at the dish during the second half. Overall numbers are consistent with expectations.
3 - Garland - Established himself as a solid major league starter at the young age of 23.
3 - Graffanino - Still a solid but unspectacular utility player.
3 - Rowand - Started ice cold after offseason injury but came on after mid-season callup. Overall numbers are consistent with expectations.
3 - Sullivan - Hasn't seen much action with the Sox, but solid overall. Unfortunately, Sox don't figure to pick up his option.
2 - Ordonez - Probably won't finish with 30 HR or 100 RBI after posting 38 / 135 last season. Escalating contract may mean the end of his career on the South Side.
2 - Valentin - Hard to give much credit to a guy with a .230 AVE and 18 errors.
2 - Colon - Solid lately, but a steep drop off from his previous 20 Win / 2.93 ERA campaign.
2 - Buehrle - ERA increased for the third straight year.
2 - Wright - Proved that he's not a major league starter, though he could become a good reliever.
2 - Daubach - Should have gotten more ABs early in the season, but failed as a pinch hitter and lacks the range to play OF regularly.
2 - Rios - Cut from the team and nobody else wanted him. 'Nuff said.
2 - Schoenweis - Very uneven performance in relief. Splits offer no reason to believe that he'll become a more effective starter. Must learn to use the cutter against righties.
2 - Adkins - Not sure why they called up this 26-year-old non-prospect.
1 - Konerko - Miserable first half followed by uneven second half. Probably can't deal him. Look for a return to form in 2004, though I doubt he'll ever play up to his contract.
1 - Koch - Foulke trade was a disaster. Probably can't deal him. Can't pitch any worse in 2004, but please throw strikes.
1 - Harris - Expected to contribute at 2B and/or CF, but couldn't hit major league pitching. (Note: I'd give Borchard the same grade, but the Sox didn't bother to call him back up. He was expected to be the Sox starting CF right now but struggled mightily in AAA. Next year could be make-or-break.)
Burke and Miles both get "incomplete" grades, since they saw little major league action. It will be interesting to learn whether the Sox are counting on either of these fellows (along with Rivera, Borchard, Reed, Rauch, Stewart, Diaz, Cotts, Pacheco, and a large handful of minor league relievers) to make the team out of spring training next season.
Overall, the pitching was great, but the Sox didn't get the job done because: (1) the offense (particularly Konerko) was terrible for long stretches; and (2) the manager is incompetent. It should be a rather interesting offseason, but I'd be extremely disappointed if the Sox didn't kick it off by announcing their intention to . . .
:firejerry