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Sweeney in '07?
https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=7172		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Spinnin' Bucket [ Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Sweeney in '07?
David Justice hit only six home runs in his third professional season.

Will Clark hit 10 his last year in the minor leagues and 11 his rookie year with San Francisco before breaking out with 35 his second season on his way to becoming one of the best first basemen in San Francisco history.

That's why the White Sox believe time is on Ryan Sweeney's side as he tries to incorporate power into his offensive game.

"Every time I see this kid in spring training, I really like what I see," Sox hitting coach Greg Walker said. "I just think he has to mature and hang on to the same efficient swing for a full year, and you'll see higher power numbers as he gets older and older."

In four professional seasons, Sweeney, 21, has impressed the Sox as much with his willingness to learn as much as with his .295 minor-league batting average.

His only glaring deficiency is a lack of power. His 13 home runs at Triple-A Charlotte this year nearly doubled his previous season high but fell short of Sox expectations for a 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound outfielder with a sweet left-handed swing.

"You look at his numbers—they say he's not going to be a power hitter," said Walker, who will visit LaGuaira of the Venezuelan League this winter to oversee Sweeney's progress. "He might not be a 40-home run guy, but this guy should hit for power. I'm talking doubles, triples and home runs. He should drive the ball, gap to gap.

"He's a physically talented kid and very coachable. That's what I've liked about him. He has natural instincts and he has a chance to be a very good player."

Since joining the White Sox organization as a second-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sweeney has displayed his fearlessness. Less than one month after turning 19, Sweeney collected hits off the likes of Bartolo Colon, LaTroy Hawkins and Carlos Zambrano in exhibition games.

Last spring Sweeney batted .357 with three home runs and was one of the team's final cuts.

Walker, however, noticed a change in Sweeney when he was promoted from Charlotte to the Sox on Sept. 1.

"I've seen him have three types of mechanical swings since he has been here," Walker said.

"I know he's only 21. Our minor-league people changed him once—and wrongly so. This spring, it was a totally different swing, but it worked. But there are different ways to do it. You can hold your hands in 100 different spots as long as you know how to get your swing to the point [of attack].

"This spring he had an efficient swing and hit for power. He went to Triple A and lost that, and he changed his swing again. His swing mechanically worked, but it wasn't efficient. In the last two weeks [of the regular season], we got back to where he was in spring training. When he's efficient, he's going to hit for power."

Sweeney is aware the Sox want more power from him. That will be a point of emphasis in Venezuela.

But Walker said he believes Sweeney isn't far from attaining that goal because he wants to improve.

"If a small guy hits a golf ball far, it's because he has an efficient swing," Walker said. "And, under pressure that you duplicate, that's what we look for. You take your physical gifts and take a mechanical, efficient swing, and the last piece of the puzzle is approach.

"You make sure you have a good pitch to swing at because it's a lot harder to put a good efficient swing on a bad pitch than a strike. So you try to do thing three things—physical ability, an efficient swing and good approach. And that's maxing out."

mgonzales@tribune.com
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
The Sox can only afford to have Sweeney and Anderson in the outfield if they have a 4th OF who can start every day should one fail.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
maybe that 4th OF'er should be Pods.
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
The 4th OF should be someone with speed and exceptional defensive ability so that he can be a replacement both defensively and on the bases. The Sox have enough bats off the bench.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
i think pods should be bunting every day this off season. everyday until his hand start bleeding.
Author:  Scott898 [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Point
good dolphin wrote:
The Sox have enough bats off the bench.


Okay, ya i can see your point.
Author:  Keyser Soze [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think Pods should nail his insanely hot wife until his dick bleeds then try to find another team to steal from.

GD- Brady Clark?
Author:  good dolphin [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am crazy enough to think that you go into next year with either Pods or a rookie who has a phenomenal spring as the LF.

You have to stay cheap at some positions and Pods will certainly be cheap. He may be one of those players who is on one year and off the next. That would be good news for the Sox. Even if he begins the year in LF and Sweeney/Fields are sent down, they can easily be brought back up if Pods fails again.
Author:  good dolphin [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
They are at budget right now Nas. Things might have been different if they made the playoffs, but I believe from anecdotal evidence that the season ticket base has already dropped. Even if they get rid of Freddy they cannot afford Soriano. Anyway, they need to find a place for Fields. I think his age and production mandates that he get a shot at MLB by early next year.
Author:  Mustang Rob [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Anyway,
Soriano's agent is making it known that his client wants to return to making errors around 2B again. It is rumored that Soriano much like Kent believes that his offensive numbers as a 2b will be good enough for Cooperstown.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
iguchi has been a great 2nd basemen for years, i wouldnt move him anywhere.
Author:  doug - evergreen park [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
whatever they decide to do, they better come out hot in 2007 or they'll lose many of us who "left" in early September.

i have a feeling that pitching and the A-Rod factor will likely dominate the Sox hot-stove. LF will likely be addressed after those items fall into place.

Soriano would be nice. Pods....eh, I don't know. I think he was hurt all year. When the little speed guys can't run, they're worthless.
He proved that.
Bringing up the kids? I'm for that too.

I'm for whatever works best.....which isn't saying much, I know.

I do believe, however, that we will see a Sox youngling playing significant innings.
Author:  Keyser Soze [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think Pods has worn out his welcome with Kenny and Ozzie. Sweeney is only 21 so another year in the minors will probably do him good. I'd love to see Kenny swing a trade for Chone Figgins to play left then decide between Sweeney or resigning Dye to play right next off season.

Kenny made his 'big' moves last year by resigning Paulie and trading for Thome that's why I don't see him getting another high ticket player like A-Rod or Soriano.
Author:  Keyser Soze [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
The Sox have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball Coach. Since 1990 they have only 4 losing seasons (and 2 of them were 80 wins)and they have gone the longest without a top 10 draft pick. Longer than the Yankees, Braves, Red Sox, etc. They don't get the credit they deserve for consistently fielding a winning team.
Author:  Keyser Soze [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
His quote was....

Quote:
playoff tickets will disappear and the Sox will get back to their core crowd if they dont make consistent playoff runs.


13 of 17 winning seasons and a World Series championship qualifies as consistent in my book.
Author:  Keyser Soze [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Same difference as far as I'm concerned. :D
Author:  Beardown [ Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:01 am ]
Post subject: 
The Sox don't have to do anything major. Just shuffle the deck a little bit. They could bring the same team back and win the division. They won't and I don't want them to either. Pods is gone. Concentrate on trading for bullpen help. That's my biggest concern.

By the way Nas there is no way Iguchi can play short. No way. Doesn't have the range or the arm. Plus he's 32 and even good short stops lose a little at that age let alone somebody just learning it.
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