This guy seems to be nothing more than a mediocre player

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

ROY! Robbed, dagnubbit.

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Fire Phil Emery

He has slow Aprils. He is a legitimate starting shortstop in this league.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Alexei ALS'er.

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Agreed.

I don't think Alexei Ramirez is a dud by any means, but it's awfully frustrating that a guy who's supposed to be the White Sox starting shortstop in the eyes of their front office is as cold as the weather when the Sox leave their Glendale, AZ Spring Training home at Camelback Ranch.

I heard White Sox Insider Joe Cowley of the SCORE/Sun-Times suggest shutting Alexei down in April and giving journeyman Omar Vizquel an opportunity to possibly start if Ramirez's slow April continues. The bottom of the current Sox lineup, Ramirez & new 3B Mark Teahen, I don't believe have a single hit yet through the first 3 games between them.

I think he will be fine. I still think they should have left him at 2B tho. He will be a decent SS in this league, but I think he could have been a top tier 2B.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He has a track record of not hitting early. Still, you can't win the division in April, but you can certainly lose it. I wouldn't mind seeing old man Vizquel getting a lot of playing time until the weather heats up. If Alexei starts hitting, move Vizquel over to third.

This would also allow you to hit Vizquel 2 so he can bunt behind Pierre if necessary. Move Beckham down to 5th.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

I thought Alexei was good at second baseman when he replaced Juan Uribe in Anaheim 2 years ago, but we're in the minority on this one. White Sox management was hell bent on having #10 at shortstop once he had a solid rookie season in 2008. He'll snap out of this funk, but I wish Alexei was more productive in April than he's been.

Do MLB teams play in April?

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Best player in Chicago!!!

Maybe you mix in Vizquel a little more than planned if Ramirez gets off to a slow start, but shut him down? Not a good idea by Cowley.

That's what Joe told Mac & Spiegs today on the "Danny Mac Show", before the gremlins cut the show short today at the Boundary.

won't help in october will it?

Come on panther, don't start making excuses. These are professional ball players, they all have to play in the cold at times during this part of the season.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm starting to think he isn't a very intuitive player. That play he booted then failed to pick up quickly, not only is he giving away extra outs, but there is now runners on first and third. Hawk pointed out there could have been 2 errors given on the play.

Then the late ball Hardy hit that he dove for, it was hit exactly where he should have been standing. I don't think he reads the catcher signs or moves pitch to pitch. Cal Ripken was excellent at this, he played short for a long time with almost no range. I don't know if Alexei just got by on athleticism on the Cuban team, but he might be better served in center field. Unfortunately for him that hole would seem to have been plugged by Rios. He has good range and a rifle arm but he doesn't seem to "think" the game and he has way too many mental lapses.

I'm starting to think Ozzie should run Beckham out to his natural position and at least see if he can play an adequate SS. Ramirez has a cheap contract so there's little benefit in dealing him, unless someone is offering up some juicy prospects. Turn him into a utility player, or go back to 2nd base... and 3rd isnt exactly locked down either.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Really...Rios is such a great CF that after he was aquired last season, they kept trotting Wise out there and Andruw Jones has taken time from him in spring training AND the regular season. Rios is made out to be a better CF than he actually is. Jones, after losing weight is probably once again, a better CF than Rios.

Alexei Ramirez ALWAYS gets off to a slow start, whether he just takes a few weeks to get into it, or it's truely a weather related issue I have no idea. But once he starts going, he's solid. He's not outstanding. He may never be an all-star. But he's solid. He has above average power, a plus arm, good range and he can run. Unfortunately he makes too many errors on routine plays and despite his speed, is not really a great base stealer. But of all the SS in Baseball, he's probably rated slightly above average. I'd take him over Theriot.

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Go Cubs!!!!

No way is Jones better than Rios in CF at this point in his career. I'm not saying Rios is a gold glover, but he's above average where Jones right now is average at best.

This is a major reach. Jones is not the player he once was. He can probably still play CF at an acceptable level, but I don't think he's the defensive player he was, and Rios is much better at this point.

Steve is probably not even watching the games. The simple eye test tells you that Rios has the most range of any current Sox outfielder, he is the best equipped to play center with the current roster. He is a natural center fielder who had to move because of Vernon Wells' reputation as a good center fielder, Wells had won a couple Gold Gloves earlier in his career but didn't necessarily outplay Rios with the glove.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Rios has been compared to BA defensively
Theriot isn't a good shortstop!

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Alexei's shitty defense has been something I have been talking about for 18 months now. He lacks focus and makes too many errors. To say that he has an above-average arm is just not accurate. Try watching other team's SS's.

I'm pretty sure a decision like that is above Ozzie's pay grade.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

The logic of having Ramirez at SS and Bacon at 2nd base has escaped me ever since they announced their intention to do it this way last year.

Supposedly, SS is Ramirez's "natural" position, but he played a better 2B in 08 than SS last year. Why not put him back at 2nd and give Beckham a try at SS, his "natural" position.

The fact is that Ramirez's lazy throws, bad positioning, etc. can be better covered up if he is playing 2nd instead of SS.

If you want to believe UZR (ultimate zone rating) Alexei is a much better SS.

'08 2B

-10.6

'09 SS

2.4

Yeah, I think a comparison with BA is pretty decent. I think Anderson is better, but not by a whole lot. But after the deal last year, why did Ozzie have Rios in RF so often and Wise in CF???? Because Wise was the better CF'er!!! Rios is a legit CF'er, but not great. I have seen him misplay a couple balls in the gap already this year. As far as Theriot is concerned, I have said for a long time, that he should not be a SS. He does not have great range, not the prottypical SS arm. he would be much better suited to 2B. I hope Starlin Castro can get to the majors soon, so that move can be made.

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Go Cubs!!!!

shut

the

fuck

up

.

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