Ozzie sets the infield of the future for the Sox (UPDATE)

Here’s Ozzie Guillen:

“[Nix] is going to be my utility player as long as he wants to. This kid is a great utility player. I think our plan is having [Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez] and Getz at their positions for the future. [Nix] can help us a lot when we need him. He’s playing very well, but am I going to pencil him in every day? Time will tell. Now we have three guys and we count on those guys for a long time.”

So, we have: 2B: Getz, SS: Alexei, 3B: Beckham, UL: Nix

Seems Ozzie doesn’t think Nix > Getz

UPDATE: More Ozzie on Nix:

”When he hits them, he hits them pretty good. ‘He’s got unbelievable bat speed. I’m very surprised the team he played with in the past [the Colorado Rockies] let him go. I’m sure they had their own reason. He’s going to be a White Sox for a little while.”

John Sickels on Justin Smoak

Sickels:

Hitting .239/.354/.356 for Oklahoma City, but this includes a .364 mark with nine walks in his last ten games. In the three contests I saw, Smoak went 6-for-10 with three walks and two doubles. He was controlling the zone very well. I thought his swing got a bit longish in a few at -bats, but in others it was quick and compact. Although he’s hit just 11 homers this year, I didn’t see anything to make me think that the power won’t come eventually. He just needs more time, and he certainly didn’t look overmatched in this contest. Looked sharp with the glove, making good scooping plays and showing the requisite range for the position.

this from MLB.com’s Jamey Newberg:

All things considered, it’s probably unlikely that Texas will purchase Smoak’s contract in September, but he’s nonetheless finishing his Triple-A stint strong. On the strength of a .262/.400/.385 August, he’s steadily brought his hitting and on-base numbers up even though the power that he’s always exhibited hasn’t shown up in Oklahoma City yet. The switch-hitter has reached by hit or walk in 26 of his last 29 RedHawks games.

Jake Peavy’s next rehab start: Monday

Jake Peavy’s next start in the minors will be on Monday and not Sunday as it was scheduled. Peavy threw a bullpen session as Kenny Williams watched. Gregor says it looks like the best-case scenario now for his Sox debut is Sept. 4 against Boston.

Peavy says he expects to throw 75 pitches. Here they say his fourth start could be in either the Minors or the Majors.

SI ranks the setup man

Corcoran:

1) Matt Thornton, White Sox

Fireballing lefty Matt Thornton is the highest ranking non-closer in Baseball Prospectus‘ opposition-adjusted win-expectation-based relief pitcher statistic WXRL. If that doesn’t move you, his traditional stats should: 2.44 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, 4.2 K/BB. A former first-round draft pick and minor league starter, Thornton’s wildness out of the Mariner pen led Seattle to trade him to the south side for Joe Borchard in March 2006, and he’s been a Second City mainstay ever since. He had a breakout season at age 31 last year and has been even better this year, shaking the LOOGY role for proper setup work in early June. Since July 1, he’s posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and walked just four men in 21 innings for a staggering 6.5 K/BB.

Didn’t Kenny hand-out a 4-year/$19-million contract to get another setup guy? For some reason he’s not on the list.

Fangraphs on Bobby Jenks

from the Death Grip category of the A.L. Closer report:

Bobby Jenks, White Sox

Jenks served up another jimmy jack this week, getting taken deep by Oakland’s Mark Ellis in a loss on August 16th. He did collect two saves, closing out games against the Royals on the 17th and the 19th. Bobby’s peripherals are actually much stronger this year than in 2008: his K rate has jumped from 5.55 to 8.52 per nine innings, while lowering his walk rate from 2.48 to 2.28. However, a .307 BABIP and a big ol’ 15.8 HR/FB% have made his 2009 ERA (3.74) appear far worse than 2008’s mark (2.63). Keep that in mind for next year’s draft, as Jenks hasn’t really declined and could be had at a bargain price.

Quote of the day

Jeff Francoeur:

“That was a lot of fun. You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer.”

Smells Like Mascot: Elvis Night

http://smellslikemascot.blogspot.com/2009/08/elvis-night.html