For GB BOB

[Cannon Shell]

Farve may be gone but youve got Swisher now...


By John Dewan

Who would you rather have�
Hunter, Rowand or Swisher?

March 6, 2008


During this past offseason, the Chicago White Sox were strongly pursuing free agent center fielders Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand. They started with Hunter, and couldn't sign him. They then tried for Rowand and that didn't work either. They had to "settle" for Nick Swisher by dealing for him from Oakland. However, when you look at the numbers here, nearly every number, and certainly all the key ones, favor Swisher:
2008 Projections

Age Avg OBP SLG HR Walks OPS
Swisher 27 .265 .384 .524 36 102 .908
Hunter 32 .282 .339 .494 27  45 .833
Rowand 30 .287 .348 .452 17  38 .800

2007 Statistics
Baserunning / CF Fielding Plus/Minus
Swisher +22 +4
Hunter -10   0
Rowand   -1 -4

Sometimes what you want may not be what's best for you. In this case, that's exactly what happened to the White Sox. Swisher may not wind up in center field for the Sox, but he is a very valuable acquisition for them, especially because he can play center field well if needed.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Farve may be gone but youve got Swisher now...


By John Dewan

Who would you rather have�
Hunter, Rowand or Swisher?

March 6, 2008


During this past offseason, the Chicago White Sox were strongly pursuing free agent center fielders Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand. They started with Hunter, and couldn't sign him. They then tried for Rowand and that didn't work either. They had to "settle" for Nick Swisher by dealing for him from Oakland. However, when you look at the numbers here, nearly every number, and certainly all the key ones, favor Swisher:
2008 Projections

Age Avg OBP SLG HR Walks OPS
Swisher 27 .265 .384 .524 36 102 .908
Hunter 32 .282 .339 .494 27  45 .833
Rowand 30 .287 .348 .452 17  38 .800

2007 Statistics
Baserunning / CF Fielding Plus/Minus
Swisher +22 +4
Hunter -10   0
Rowand   -1 -4

Sometimes what you want may not be what's best for you. In this case, that's exactly what happened to the White Sox. Swisher may not wind up in center field for the Sox, but he is a very valuable acquisition for them, especially because he can play center field well if needed.

I still would rather have had Hunter, but not with that contract and I love Rowand, but am still suspicious of his offensive numbers. So..we'll see..Swisher is what that clubhouse needed and he's flexible in positions to allow the best players to make the team.

There pitching is much better than Detroit and they should hit again, unlike LY...could be interesting.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I still would rather have had Hunter, but not with that contract and I love Rowand, but am still suspicious of his offensive numbers. So..we'll see..Swisher is what that clubhouse needed and he's flexible in positions to allow the best players to make the team.

There pitching is much better than Detroit and they should hit again, unlike LY...could be interesting.

Did you say that the SOX pitching is better then Detroit?

Verlander, Bonderman, Willis, Robertson, Rodgers

Buehrle, Vazquez, Contreras, Danks, Floyd

Buehrle would probably bump Rodgers or Willis but the others? And don't give me Contreras because you know he is brutal

Both bullpens are sketchy, except Jenks who is decent....

Kool Aid must be good

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Scav

Did you say that the SOX pitching is better then Detroit?

Verlander, Bonderman, Willis, Robertson, Rodgers

Buehrle, Vazquez, Contreras, Danks, Floyd

Buehrle would probably bump Rodgers or Willis but the others? And don't give me Contreras because you know he is brutal

Both bullpens are sketchy, except Jenks who is decent....

Kool Aid must be good

You name it..Contreras will win 15 this year..guaranteed

Rodgers? Is he still alive?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GBBob

You name it..Contreras will win 15 this year..guaranteed

Rodgers? Is he still alive?

Seriously though, how can you say that the Sox staff is bettern then Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson and Willis, I can see the argument with Willis but he should have a good year because not many in the AL have seen him, especially the first half of the year. I see all four of these guys haven't better years then the White Sox staff, except maybe Buerhle, who is good, but he loves to get shelled

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Scav

Seriously though, how can you say that the Sox staff is bettern then Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson and Willis, I can see the argument with Willis but he should have a good year because not many in the AL have seen him, especially the first half of the year. I see all four of these guys haven't better years then the White Sox staff, except maybe Buerhle, who is good, but he loves to get shelled

I was referring top to bottom, but really felt my only leap was in the bridge to get to Jenks. And I think they will get that solved with Thorton, Linebrink and two others. For the starters we agree on Buerlhe and I will put my Kool Aid aside, but still wager anything you want that Vazquez and Contreras will win more than Detroit's 2 and 3. Gavin Floyd will win at least 10 in the 4 or 5 spot and Danks is good for 10, I mean he won 7 or 8 last year in half a season before hitting the rookie wall.