The Case For Ozuna

Photo courtsey of the Scranton Times Tribune/Linda Morgan

Cactus League Update: With the financial markets closed on friday, that meant no work for me, and I watched the game on a cold snowy afternoon in Chicago whilst drinking some tasty Special Export beer. The Sox suffer their worst loss of the spring, losing 11-0 to Milwaukee. Garcia did a good job - 3 IP, 3 Ks, no ER - and pitched himself out of a jam in the 3rd. Otherwise, he didn't look all that overwhelming to me, though I'm sure I'd have a much different opinion if I had been batting against him instead of armchair quarterbacking it from 2000 miles away. Vizcaino also looked good in one scoreless inning of work. Marte blew it in the 5th - 5 ER in just 2/3rds of an inning. Both Renyoso and Smith stuck out 3. No real offensive hightlights. Harris and Rowand both made errors. In Harris' case, it cost some runs. Piezyrski threw out at least one Brewer trying to steal second. Ozuna was 1 for 3 and...

I think the obvious - Pablo Ozuna has really made a case that he should be brought north with the Sox in April, instead of Wilson Valdez (or possibly Willie Harris at this point). Take a look at this:

Last season with Scranton Wilkes-Barre (AAA Internaional League) in 126 games, 472 AB, .307/.415/.344. 76 RBIs, 31 SB in 43 attempts. He also had 27 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers 22 walks, 77 runs, 196 TB. He struck out 43 times and committed 15 errors splitting his time evenly between 2B and SS.

This Winter - In the Dominican League with Estrellas Del Oriente (which roughly translates to "Stars of the Orient"), he played in all 46 games, batted .344/.470/.378, was 24 for 24 in stolen bases, 3 homers, 3 triples, 18 RBIs in the regular season. In the post season, he played all 18 games, and had 18 hits, .254/.324/.284, 3 SB, 7 RBIs.

Kinda makes ya wonder how this guys has quietly slipped thru the cracks.

This Spring - with the Sox, thru thursday, he's hitting .553 in 38 AB, and is the team leader with 21 hits. Just a week ago he was hitting .462! Only 1 SB in 4 attempts, but his speed suggests he'll improve. He's also got 27 TB, 6 RBIs, a triple, 4 doubles and 8 runs scored.

What a workhorse. Does he ever take a month off? Oddly, these stats suggest he is getting better the more he plays. If this trend continues, I predict that by August, he'll have grown into a 30 foot giant and shatter every hitting record in major league history. OK, maybe not, but I bet he'll out hit Timo Perez and Alverez.

I didn't quote the stats for Alverez or Harris in the above comparison, because they're not even close. Plus, Ozuna can play just about any position. Hear that KW and Ozzie? Barring a collaspe in the final week Ozuna needs to be on that roster when the Sox return to 35th and Shields on April 4.

Baseball pharse of the day: swish 1. n. a hard swing of the bat that makes no contact with the ball. 2. v. To swing hard and miss.