Guillen Offers Updates at SoxFest

This is a stupid article. Very unspecific and speculative while overall uninformative.

We have to see how second base develops, but I've also heard reports of Beckham moving to 3rd. Then, what about Viciedo??? Anyway you look at it if either Getz or Lillibridge pans out, in a couple years an infield of Viciedo, Getz/Lillibridge, Ramirez, Beckham looks great offensively and defensively.

Maybe we'll see, but good luck with Vasquez if you guys get anywhere near the playoffs, if he's pitching you guys are screwed.

Viciedo probably ends up at first no matter what.

But moving Beckham to third is a big waste of his value. I think they end up with Beckham at second, someone from outside the organization at third, and Jordan Danks in center.

Moving Beckham to third isn't a waste of his value if Getz is better than Fields, who will start at third this year. If the whole infield pans out, moving Fields to the OF for Beckham would be the best course of action.

Ramirez @ SS = bad idea. If anything, move him to 3B - not Beckham.

Why? Am I the only one who isn't that impressed with Ramirez?

Ok so he had a decent year for a 26 year old rookie. But if he doesn't learn to get on base more than 31.7% of the time he better not be slam dunked as our long-term shortstop, especially over someone with as high of as high of a ceiling as Beckham.

poop even when Fields was healthy he struck out too much, played poor defense, so poor they were trying to move him to LF. The Sox do not need another player that is going to hit 30 HR, clog the bases, and strike out when it matters. So call me fickle if you want to but facts are facts and it isn't based on one year it based on his numbers from the day he was signed.

his natural position is shortstop, but they had cabrera there last year

i was talking about alexei

How do you figure 2B would be third after CF? That doesn't even make sense. If SS is his 1st best then 2B would definitley be 2nd ahead of CF. I don't even think he really played CF until he cam here, and that was a short lived experiment because he wasn't that great at it.

Sox Win I figure 2B is his 3rd position for numerous reasons.

A) In an early look article on Alexei in May of 2008 Justin Murphy spoke about Alexei's defense in Cuba. "while defensively he had been stationed at second base, his least comfortable position, after a series of injuries to teammates."

B) Alexei Ramirez was put on the Cuban national team, not as a SS or 2B but as an OF.

C) Ozzie Guillen stated last year that he wanted Alexei to play CF because he is comfortable there and it would make his transition easier. He was benched because he was not hitting well. After Uribe got injured, Alexei stepped in at 2b, began to hit well, and therefore won the position from Uribe. After Crede was hurt, Uribe moved to third base and Alexei became a mainstay at 2nd.

the above comment was in response to this one....

"There is no way that a player can be better at playing shortstop than second base. None."

LMAO @ those of you who have already given up on Lillibridge and Fields due to one down year.

Seriously.

I don't see why they both can't be league average players. They're not going to be superstars, but 90% of prospects won't be superstars.

However, if the White Sox and Ozzie Guillen aren't going to give them chances, I'm pretty sure other teams will. Maybe a reunion with half the recent Sox farm system is in order?

I'm sorry, but just because SS is Ramirez's "natural" position doesn't mean he'll be any better - if not worse - than he was at 2B last year. The dude belong at 3B or in the OF. I think he could make a fine CF.

Posted by: Tough | February 01, 2009 at 07:39 PM

Your right, I guess I assumed that wasn't the case because the Sox seemed so reluctant to put him there [CF].

Would have solved some problems if you ask me, now we have an influx of infielders and Ozzie is dead set on Ramirez as our shortstop for the next 10 years.

The only reason Ramirez wasn't at SS last year again is because of Cabrera.

The Sox said from the beginning his defense was rough at 2B. I don't think anyone is delusional here.

It won't surprise me one bit to see Rameriz play above avg D at SS next year. And if Getz does pan out at 2B, having a surplus is a good thing sort out.

"It won't surprise me one bit to see Rameriz play above avg D at SS next year."

Has a clearly below-average 2B EVER been a decent SS, over a full season of play? I'd be shocked if the answer was yes.

"Has a clearly below-average 2B EVER been a decent SS, over a full season of play? I'd be shocked if the answer was yes."

That isn't exactly proof is it? And the answer is I really don't know because I haven't researched it.

But I do know I'm comfortable with the opinion of Guillen on the matter who does seem to understand the position and does value infield defense. He doesn't exactly mince words.

Guillen's weakness has always been lineup related (as is most managers). His strengths have always been managing a pitching staff and understanding defense (infield in particular.)

SoxWin, I do agree that his aggressiveness at the plate does also contribute to his Ks, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on his swing being short. He does start from a compact position but he brings his hands back and below his should as the pitch is being delivered and then raises them to swing. That's not exactly a short swing. If he just didn't do the dip, it would probably be short and compact. He overall power comes from him driving through the ball well. Either way you look at it, he does need to cut down on strikeouts and get his OBP a little higher so he can use some of that speed.

^Sox fans

Guillen thinks Betemit can play all 4 infield positions?? He is mediocre at best at any one of the four.... he truly has no position at all on the field and soon the White Sox will come to realize that as the Yankees finally did...

"Betemit=Lillibridge"

Except that Lillibridge actually can play defense.

And Lillibridge is not a bust. One bad year =/= bust.

I can think of top prospects who floundered big-time at levels, and still are considered top prospects.

Why is everyone knocking Fields? Sure is Avg/OBP were down in 07, but do you all expect every rookie to put up Ryan Braun #'s? Check out his career minor league stats...

2004

.285 BA .332 OBP .445 SLG

2005

.252 BA .341 OBP .409 SLG

2006

.305 BA .379 OBP .515 SLG

2007

.283 BA .394 OBP .498 SLG

His overall #'s were down a bit in the majors in 07 but he still hit 23HR. Last year he had a few nagging injuries, but one bad year doesn't destroy a ballplayer. I don't want him to become the next Carlos Quentin because we give up on him. There is no reason he can't be a .275 35HR 100RBI .340 .500 type of player. I'll take that with the 140 k's.

Lillibridge will be solid. They say he has a mechanical flaw in his swing that should be easy to fix. I'll take that and take my chances. Especially with a guy who has his kind of speed an his versatility. But I do think that Flowers was the main part of that trade.

No doubt Shoe. The trade was all about Flowers. Getting above avg production from the C position will be huge.

"No doubt Shoe. The trade was all about Flowers. Getting above avg production from the C position will be huge."

If he stays a catcher. Huge positional questions there.

I actually think giving Lillibridge a shot at second, and possibly in the leadoff spot if Owens falls flat on his face, could be a good idea. He looked like a guy who could play solid defense at both middle infield positions and post a .360ish OBP before he struggled in 2008, but he still has some upside and I think there's a decent chance he ends up being the best player the White Sox get for Vazquez, which is sad, but could likely be true if Flowers has to move off catcher before he hits the majors.

dayan viciedo is supposed to be better than Alexei. If he's half the player alexei is I want him starting at 3B. Fields is good trade bait. He still has potential, but Viciedo could be the second coming.