 |
|
|
| |
« Odds & Ends: Kennedy, Rays, Bonds, Wagner | Main | With Moss Out, Wilkerson Could Be An Option For Red Sox »
Jerry Owens Blocked By Carlos Quentin's Surprising Start
One of the most pressing needs the White Sox addressed this off-season was finding a permanent center fielder, a position that has given the ChiSox headaches ever since they traded Aaaron Rowand to the Phillies in the Jim Thome deal.
By trading for Nick Swisher and Carlos Quentin, as well as with the emergence of rookie Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson's patently familiar story (highly touted White Sox outfield prospect who doesn't pan out), White Sox GM Kenny Williams hoped to have that issue put to rest.
The Sox were hoping to give Owens a shot in the outfield this year, but after a strong April (leading his team in four offensive categories), Quentin has effectively blocked what should have been Owens' season to shine. (Owens did start the year at Triple-A due to injury).
The problem is the Sox offense is not hitting much, with nine of their last home runs being solo jobs (a trend that was common place last year) and even though management knows Owens could be a spark plug, Manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't want to recall Owens to have him sit on the bench. Unless Quentin cools off, the status quo calls for an uncomfortable log jam in the ChiSox outfield.
Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e200e5520dc6648833
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Jerry Owens Blocked By Carlos Quentin's Surprising Start:
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
Perhaps that solo home run trend has something to do with low OBP (team OBP of .326, 10th in AL)? Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen are dynamic at the helm of the idiot mobile.
Posted by: MetFanBen | May 04, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Yes, because it is absolutely their fault that the White Sox aren't hitting. Thank you. Thank you for your enlightening insight.
Posted by: gogopalehose | May 04, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Is it me or should the A's be looking at Owens or Anderson for CF. Or the Padres could also be in this as well.
Posted by: CUBBIES2008 | May 04, 2008 at 04:51 PM
"Yes, because it is absolutely their fault that the White Sox aren't hitting."
It's their fault that the White Sox are bad. Are you saying Guillen and Williams aren't doing a bad job? Guillen is one of the best managers at creating unnecessary outs for his team.
Posted by: Victor | May 04, 2008 at 05:34 PM
How? Do you watch the White Sox? He has bunted maybe twice all season. It is NOT their fault that the hitters are doing badly.
Posted by: gogopalehose | May 04, 2008 at 06:02 PM
And the White Sox are a game under .500 after a five game losing streak. They are in a funk and are not a bad team, they just can't hit for crap right now. I fail to see how that Ozzie or Kenny's fault. But feel free to keep spewing crap.
Posted by: gogopalehose | May 04, 2008 at 06:03 PM
It's Kenny's fault because he brought back the guys who weren't hitting last year so they could continue not hitting this year and for years to come.
Posted by: MikeMeyer | May 04, 2008 at 09:18 PM
They are a bad team.
They played way over their head early on (the first 2-3 weeks). They are now settling down to where you would expect them to be.
I know, call me crazy for not believing that Crede and AJ P would continue to sport a 1200+ OPS.
This is an awful team. They need to shed their big contracts and bring up some kids. Some guys they need to move will force them to eat money. Others should return young talent. In either case, start building for the future. There are young White Sox players who would be great to build around. I just hope (for their sakes) that management sees the opportunity.
I will offer the same advice to the Reds, Astros, Giants, Rangers, and Orioles. Why any of those teams have players that earn $10m+ a season is beyond me.
Posted by: bjsguess | May 05, 2008 at 02:05 AM
gogopalehorse ... the eternal optimist. That's OK - the joys of being a fan.
You say = they have lost 5 in a row and are just 1 game under 500.
I say = they are winners of just 5 of their last 15 games.
An optimist would point to a team that was good as recently as 2006.
A realist would point to a team that finished a full 6 games ahead of the WORST team in baseball. A team that was 22 games away from sniffing the Wild Card OR 5 games FURTHER out than the Pittsburgh Pirates in terms of reaching the playoffs.
This is not a well ran organization.
Posted by: bjsguess | May 05, 2008 at 02:15 AM
The Sox aren't going to start trading vets and bringing up young guys anytime soon. Remember, Kenny Williams thinks that the Tigers and Indians are just now in a position to "compete" with the White Sox. Doesn't sound like a guy that gets it to me. The Sox will continue to struggle with Williams and Ozzie getting more and more disgruntled everyday since they'll be unable to figure out why.
Posted by: pageian | May 05, 2008 at 09:18 AM
The slump has nothing to do with veterans such as Thome or Konerko not hitting yet this year? They were playing well early with 4 guys that were hitting, and while it wasn't likely that they would continue, but there should have been other players step up when they cooled off. Not all 9 hitters will hit at the same time, usually you get 4-5 and it will carry your team. Right now the Sox have exactly 1 player hitting. I don't care who you are, 1 player will not carry a whole team. The only player in the lineup that wasn't expected to do anything is Uribe, and well, he isn't. Everyone else, with exception of Quentin, are established hitters. Ozzie and Kenny can't make up for 7 hitters not doing what they are capable of.
Posted by: rype123 | May 05, 2008 at 11:48 AM
They could start trading Konerko, Thome, Dye and Crede, but there isn't a market for them. I would prefer them trading Konerko and Thome, while moving Dye to DH, and bring up Fields to play 1st, but I just don't think they are going to get anything of value for those 2 players. Thome could only go to an AL team, and they are mostly set at DH, and as I said earlier, Konerko hasn't hit since 06. Dye had a down year last year, and should be a DH, and they tried to trade Crede this offseason, but had no takers. It's not that he won't trade the veterans, I just don't think he can
Posted by: rype123 | May 05, 2008 at 11:51 AM
First let me say I'm a huge Sox fan. Ok, with that said, the main reason I see with this team is they are WAY too slow up and down the lineup. How can you score a bunch of runs when 5 of your middle of the lineup layers cant score from 2nd on a single or score from 1st on a double? I would not mind if this team tanked and Dye, Konerko(although 10/5 almost makes impossible) and Crede are moved. Quentin in left, Anderson(who really impressed me and looks to have turned the corner) in center, and owens in right. Fields at third. Much more exciting and balanced looking lineup...
Owens
cabrera
Thome
Quentin
Swisher
Fields
A.J.
Anderson
Uribe/Ramirez
Posted by: skunkberry | May 05, 2008 at 03:59 PM
skunk,
I like the way you are thinking, granted I don't see Owens as anything more than a 4th OF, and I'd rather get rid of Thome and DH Dye. But if you were to play an OF of Owens, Quentin and Anderson, obviously Quentin would be in right and Owens in left. Quentin is a natural right fielder, and Owens isn't very good defensively, but has speeed.
Posted by: rype123 | May 05, 2008 at 09:13 PM