History repeating with Podsednik

Since Saturday night’s game was on WGN, Extra Innings treated me with the Baltimore Orioles’ feed on MASN.
On one hand, it was immensely satisfying to hear Jim Palmer say, “Do you think Hawk is talking about Pierzynski being the smartest guy in the American League now?” after Pierzynski’s run-removing baserunning error.  From what I understand, the answer was “Yes,” because Pierzynski is somehow not responsible for responding to the play happening in front of him.
On the other hand, I apparently missed a bizarre rant in the early innings — railing on long-term contracts, and perhaps insinuating that pitchers fake injuries.
Which brings us to Alex Rios.
Despite having four off days over the last week and a half, Rios got another day of rest on Saturday due to the White Sox being too righty-heavy. Even though the Sox could’ve started Rios and had three lefties in the lineup.
Scott Podsednik, who has started in every game but one this August, evidently did not need rest.
This is potentially dangerous.
In 2006, the Sox offense sputtered in the second half due to a complete lack of production at the top of the order. Podsednik played a big part in that, as he posted a .296 OBP after the All-Star break that year.
Over the last month, Podsednik’s OBP is .293.
That number surprised me. It certainly doesn’t feel like he’s been that bad, and for a couple of reasons.
No. 1: He’s hitting .269, as opposed to .241.  And he’s slugging .378, as opposed to .297. He’s hitting more, and they’re counting for more.
No. 2: He hasn’t had any droughts.  He went 1-for-17 at one point toward the end of July, but in August, he’s usually been good for one hit a game.
The problem is that he’s stopped walking.  In fact, he’s been picked off as many times as he’s walked (three in 126 plate appearances), and he’s been caught stealing twice on top of that. Colossally stupid baserunning — and that’s being kind to the last two game-killing pickoffs — paired with an inability to get on base is, simply put, box score poison.
Compounding the issue, Podsednik came to the plate against left-handed Mark Hendrickson in the eighth inning with two outs, and tapped back to the pitcher. That in itself wasn’t anything unusual.
However, it confused me greatly when Guillen replaced Podsednik with Rios for defensive purposes in the ninth inning.
I understand well enough why Rios didn’t hit for Podsednik. It has to do with small sample size, as Podsednik is hitting .333 off southpaws this year (career .266). In an ideal situation, Rios hits for Pods, but there’s something to be said for recent results.
What I don’t get is lifting Podsednik for Rios when Podsednik was, sad to say, the most physically able to field his position of the starting trio. And it’s not like Quentin and Dye’s deficiencies are theoretical — they both committed errors earlier in the game. It should’ve been Rios in center and Podsednik in right, since the priority with a three-run lead is catching the ball, not throwing it.
To me, this could represent a misrationalization in Guillen’s thinking.  He knows Podsednik is an incomplete player, but he hasn’t altered the definition of how.  “Yeah, I know he’s not great — that’s why I have to replace him in center,” when it now should be, “I know he’s not great — that’s why he’s not leading off today.”
Am I reading too much into one decision? Maybe, but we’ve seen this all before. After they had acceptable first halves in 2006, Guillen cemented an ineffective Podsednik and the equally useless Pablo Ozuna in the leadoff spot while Rob Mackowiak wasted away in center. The Sox offense couldn’t get in gear, and they watched Detroit make the playoffs.
Maybe Podsednik isn’t done, but considering he couldn’t get a major-league job before the Sox took him back, I’d be more willing to wager that opposing pitchers have figured out the slap chop than Pods rediscovering the secret to a .360 OBP.
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Ex-Sox update:
*Clayton Richard is 3-0 with a 3.67 ERA in five starts with the Padres. after throwing six shutout innings against the Cardinals on Friday night. San Diego is 4-1 in games he’s started.
*Charlie Haeger shut out the Cubs for seven innings in a 2-0 victory on Saturday.  He struck out as many batters (seven) as he allowed on base.
*Brandon Allen picked up his first major-league hit with the Diamondbacks during his debut on Saturday.
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Minor league roundup:

  • Gwinnett 3, Charlotte 2
    • Tyler Flowers went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and an HBP.
    • Josh Fields drew two walks in four plate appearances.
    • Wes Whisler pitched a quality start, allowing three runs, five hits, and three walks. He also struck out three.
  • West Tenn 11, Birmingham 3
    • Jordan Danks went 1-for-5 and struck out once.
    • Christian Marrero hit a solo homer and a sac fly.
    • Dayan Viciedo went 0-for-4; C.J. Retherford went 0-for-3 with a walk.
    • Johnnie Lowe allowed seven runs on seven hits while recording just two outs — both came by strikeout.
  • Winston-Salem 3, Lynchburg 1 (13 innings)
    • Jacob Rasner struck out seven over eight shutout innings, scattering three hits.
    • Brent Morel went 1-for-5 with a walk.
    • Seth Loman singled twice and drove in two runs.
  • Kannapolis 5, Bowling Green 3
    • Drew Garcia doubled and drove in two.
    • Jon Gilmore went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
    • Eduardo Escobar went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
    • Nevin Griffth: 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K.
  • Bristol 4, Princeton 1
    • Leighton Pangilinan doubled, homered and drove in three.
    • Brady Shoemaker doubled twice and walked.
    • Alvaro Garcia struck out six over five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk.
    • Santos Rodriguez struck out three over two scoreless innings.
  • Idaho Falls 3, Great Falls 2
    • Nick Ciolli went 2-for-4 with a solo homer.
    • Kyle Colligan went 2-for-4 with an RBI; Jordan Cheatham also had two hits.
    • Cameron Bayne struck out two over two scoreless innings, with one walk.
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iowaoaks

Jim,
can you tell me how Haeger left the Sox organization? I’m sure it was probably just end of contract, blah blah blah.
I was able to catch a good portion of the game he pitched Saturday, he looked okay, a hell of a lot better then Garcia in his last outing.
and if anyone hasn’t said it lately, thank you for what you do.

knoxfire30

The whitesox using speed as a reason to have a guy bat leadoff? Why is this surprising to you Jim, seen it a hundred times with this team in the leadoff spot, who cares about defense, ave, obp, baserunning. If your fast then at every other expense you must leadoff!!! Its not just Pods either, Nix has leadoff recently, they would probably let Lillbridge leadoff if he ever got in a game and we all know how desperate they were for Owens then WIse to be the leadoff guys ect ect ect.
I am concerned when I feel a player who is better then another player doesnt get as many starts or at bats, but its practically something Ive accepted with the sox which is sad.
Richards numbers didnt look to great til he shut out a hot cards team, hats off to him.
Haeger I see as a guy who will simply never make it, I just dont remember him being good enough whenever I watched him and performing against the cubs right now isnt a big accomplishment, that team is heartless and left for dead, but hey maybe the pirates will come to town soon to give them some hope!

cushinglee

Yes, once again Hawk said that A. J. was “the best baserunner we have” after A. J. got thrown out once again. I don’t know why Hawk has ramped up his defense of A. J. so much this year–especially with him hitting over .300 and actually throwing out a few baserunners. Does Hawk know something we don’t?