Nate Whalen's
vision of the 2008 25-man roster terrifies me -- not because I believe they're bad opinions (although I do), but because it's possible that his views are close to the organization's, since his job requires him to be close to the organization.
It certainly has a better chance of foreshadowing doom than
Joe Cowley's attempt at guessing the 2007 roster last year. Cowley's scenarios had the Sox acquiring two free agents that ended up costing $176 million combined, while trading away two top-tier starting pitchers for players who didn't end up making the roster. In other words, they were completely unrealistic, and thus gave us no need to fear.
This time, Whalen rationalizes the picks just well enough to frighten me into thinking that while he's got a lot wrong, he's got a lot right at the same time. Some selections:
1. Jerry Owens, LF: He's proved he can hit some at the big-league level, and has the speed, bunting ability and bat control that manager Ozzie Guillen loves from his leadoff man.
If he showed an ounce of power more than once every two weeks, like he did with that triple
in tonight's game, I might be inclined to be more excited. Until then, he's not going to make pitchers afraid to challenge him, which is going to result in a lot of weak outs. Lots of at-bats down the drain. Many stats will consider him the worst everyday hitter in the league.
Sure, I'd rather have him over Scott Podsednik, but that's only because he's about $3 million cheaper. At this time, I'd like to remind the Sox brass that neither are necessary. The Sox won't be forced to forfeit games if they don't have a one-tool speedster playing left and hitting first or anything. It's completely OK to play somebody in left with two, even three tools! Just something they might want to consider.
But, if we're judging Whalen's opinions as if they're based on the organization's biases, this is a very likely outcome.
2. Khalil Greene, SS: General manager Ken Williams is good for one big trade per offseason and this could be it. Williams reportedly wanted Greene as part of a trade-deadline deal for Jermaine Dye, and he could finally acquire the quick, slick-fielding shortstop in an offseason swap with San Diego. The Sox would send Jon Garland -- who nearly was traded last offseason to Houston -- and Brian Anderson to San Diego for Greene, reliever Heath Bell and a pitching prospect or two.
I don't object to this one, but Greene is interesting to discuss.
Greene is an upgrade over Juan Uribe, but it's hard to tell by how much. He's slugging .455 in one of the toughest hitter's parks in San Diego, but his plate discipline has gone down the crapper. Add in that he's only played 121 and 122 games in 2005 and 2006, and there are a fair amount of question marks.
(Fun scenario:
Greene forms a double-play combo with
Jason Bourgeois, leading casual fans at the Cell to say, "The scoreboard has it backwards -- the white guy is playing short, and the black guy's playing second.")
6. Aaron Rowand, CF: Yes, Sox fans, the center fielder returns. After Rowand's great 2007 with the Phillies -- through Sunday he was hitting .314, with 19 homers and 66 RBI -- the Sox could sign the free agent to a long-term deal. He solves the problem in center, can steal some bases and hit for power. A perfect fit -- and they'd have some money left over after dealing Garland.
7. Ryan Sweeney, RF: With a solid top and middle of the order, the Sox put Sweeney in a non-pressure situation. He can also steal some bases, and would complete an outfield that would cover a whole lot of ground.
This scenario scares me. Like any Sox fan, I love me some Rowand. However, he's putting those numbers up with
the National League's top offense. He'd be coming to one of the American League's worst offenses, and when he last teamed up with Greg Walker,
he grounded out to short a helluva lot.
I just don't think a major-league team has a snowball's chance if Rowand is clearly the best offensive outfielder, and if he's flanked by Owens and Sweeney, the Original Grinder is going to lap the field. It won't even take his All-Star performance this year, to do it; the unremarkable .261/.321/.425 line he posted in 2005 would suffice.
Pablo Ozuna: The super utilityman can play pretty much anywhere at any time.
Darin Erstad: Guillen loves this grinder, who'll make a solid backup for Sweeney and Owens as they go through the learning process.
Toby Hall: Finally healthy, Hall will get more playing time in 2008.
Alex Cintron: Just in case something happens with Richar.
Ozuna was struggling before he broke his leg, Erstad is roster poison and Cintron's the same -- but Ozzie loves them anyway, so Whalen could be right. Even though I'm horrified, because Josh Fields can't find a spot on this roster. That's right, a team with one reliable, above-average right-handed hitter, a lack of power and quite a few health issues has no room for Fields.
Of course, Fields has the nasty habit of having multiple skills, including a very good one. If this year's bench is any indication, that won't fly in Ozzie Guillen's clubhouse.
Fortunately, Whalen's pitching staff is pretty solid. Sure, it has Nick Masset as the fifth starter, but considering the amount of love Kenny Williams gives him, even though he's had about half a good season in the minor leagues, it's not out of the question.
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Minor league round-up:
- Durham 15, Charlotte 5
- Durham scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, chasing Lance Broadway after 4 1/3 innings. He gave up seven runs on eight hits (two homers) and five walks.
- Dewon Day faced three batters -- one got a hit, the other two walked. They all scored as Shaun Babula allowed five hits in one-third of an inning. Jake Robbins pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, for what it's worth.
- Casey Rogowski went 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBI; Jason Bourgeois hit a solo shot.
- Ryan Sweeney went 0-for-3, but did draw two walks.
- Mobile 5, Birmingham 3
- Wes Whisler pitched 6 2/3 quality innings, allowing only two runs on four hits and striking out three.
- Fernando Hernandez Jr. took the loss, giving up three runs in one-third of an inning.
- Shaun Garrett and Cole Armstrong had two hits apiece; old friend Aaron Cunningham went 1-for-5 for Mobile.
- Winston-Salem 8, Frederick 4
- Fautino De Los Santos allowed four runs on only four hits over four innings. Three of the four hits were for extra bases, and one run scored on a two-out wild pitch. He struck out six while only walking one.
- Matt Zaleski, Rich Rodriguez and Jon Link combined for five scoreless innings of relief.
- Daron Roberts went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI; Micah Schnurstein and Matt Sharp also drove in two apiece.
- Hagerstown 12, Kannapolis 7
- Jason Rice allowed six unearned runs over 3 2/3 innings, but he didn't help himself by allowing seven hits and four walks.
- Sergio Miranda went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Lee Cruz also had three hits, and John Shelby, Francisco Hernandez and Scott Madsen had two apiece.
- No. 3 and 4 hitters Brandon Allen and Chris Carter combined to go 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts, although Carter did draw two walks.