Comments on: 2009 Impact Rookie: Chris Getz

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:22:48 +0000

Last spring training, the talk with the White Sox was that Ramirez was VERY talented at shortstop, but the word that kept coming up at 2B was “raw.” They did not think he could handle 2nd, so Uribe got the job. Due to offense, Uribe lost the job and Ramirez caught on surprisingly quickly at 2B. As a White Sox fan, I did see a lot of range, especially into the OF, and he had a knack for pulling off ‘great’ plays, though the ratings indicate that he didn’t fare so well on the routine. I expect he will be a better SS than he was at 2B, as it IS his natural position, the White Sox thought he was great at SS and terrible at 2B last spring, and he seems to have the tools. I expect he’ll be better equipped to handle the routine plays at the position he knows better.

I think we need to look at his SS defense as more of an unknown. If he were transitioning from 2B to SS, his UZR at 2B would be telling, but since he was playing out of position last year, without any time in the minors learning the position, I’d rather assume league average (0) defense.

My 3 cents.

P.S. It still might be best to move him to CF and use Beckham as the ’10 SS. Depends on Getz/Nix/Lillibridge v. Wise/Anderson/Owens, I guess.

By: Eric Cioe

Eric Cioe — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:16:28 +0000

Yeah, he can inherit the SS Gold Glove from that other defensive whiz, Michael Young.

What do you mean UZR can’t measure range because numbers can’t do that yet? They might not be able to do it perfectly, but taken in sum, a few defensive metrics can give a good idea of how a player looks in the field. He might have made some impressive looking plays, but then you put Adam Everett or someone like him on the same field on the same play and he makes it look routine, so you don’t think he’s as good

By: AJP

AJP — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:53:48 +0000

I gues playing in SS in Cuba his WHOLE career discredits that it’s his natural position. Alexei also played CF but his primary position was SS and had very little experiance at 2B. The transition he made last year not only in terms or offense but also in defense was amazing and gets very overlooked. UZR cannot accuratly measure someones range because numbers cannot do that yet. The only way to tell if someone has good range is by the eye test and last year Alexei had some of the best range you’d ever see. He made amazing plays all year plays that shouldn’t have even been made. Alexei is going to be a SS because its his natural position and don’t be surprised to see him win a gold glove because he’s going to be amazing.

By: vivaelpujols

vivaelpujols — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:22:21 +0000

UZR begs to differ.

By: AJP

AJP — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:44:13 +0000

Alexei does not belong in CF, he’s a natural shortstop. If Getz is that good of a hitter then he can be moved to CF because he actully has experiance in CF.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:15:11 +0000

This assumes, of course, that Chicago doesn’t get smart and move the Cuban Missile to center, freeing SS up for Beckham.

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:54:45 +0000

Yeah, I was going to say, I think Beckham takes over 2B in 2010, if not sooner.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:19:58 +0000

“The White Sox system does not have a surefire second base prospect coming up behind Getz, so the job should be his for awhile, unless he struggles mightily.”

So, you’re not counting Gordon Beckham then, even though he is apparently switching from SS to 2B and could be called up in the next 2 months if he shows enough in the minors?

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:22:05 +0000

This guy is a sleeper at a thin position for sure. He could be a Kelly Johnson type…