Whenever somebody comes out with a list, it's usually good for a debate. I don't really want to talk about another pointless Bears loss tonight, so instead I'm going to link to ESPN Chicago's list of the top 10 White Sox players of this decade.
If you're too lazy to click on the link, here they are:
1. Mark Buehrle -- Two no-hitters, including a perfect game, four All-Star appearances and 135 wins in this decade.
2. Paul Konerko -- 2005 ALCS MVP, hit grand slam in the 2005 World Series, 235 home runs this decade.
3. Jermaine Dye -- 2005 World Series MVP, averaged 33 home runs per season over five years with the Sox.
4. Frank Thomas -- Greatest hitter in team history, should have won 2000 AL MVP, got screwed over by steroids-using Jason Giambi.
5. A.J. Pierzynski -- Biggest pain in the ass in the American League. Catches 130 games every year. Will rip off your skull and piss on your brain in order to win a game.
6. Bobby Jenks -- Recorded 146 saves since joining the Sox in July of 2005. Pitched the final inning of the 2005 World Series.
7. Jose Contreras -- Ace of the 2005 champs. Won 17 consecutive decisions from late 2005 through the start of '06.
8. Magglio Ordonez -- Hit 139 home runs over the first five years of the decade. Left in a contract dispute, allowing the Sox to sign three or four good players with the same money.
9. Jon Garland -- Won 82 games for the Sox this decade, including a career-best 18 in 2005.
10. Aaron Rowand -- Brought 'The Fire and the Passion.'
Here's my question: How is Joe Crede not on this list? ESPN calls Rowand "an important force in the decade." Huh? Rowand was only a starter with the Sox for two years. His legend grew after he was traded.
All Crede did was hit .368 with two homers in seven RBIs in the 2005 ALCS. His defense during that entire playoff run was brilliant. On that basis alone, he should be somewhere in this Top 10.
Unlike Rowand, Crede was a full-time starter for the Sox for six years. Not that these lists matter much, but I think "Clutch Crede" got overlooked by the people who put together this list.
I think you should post a list like this. Only have it be the WORST players of the decade for the Sox. They'd be everyday players. And I don't think the number of years with the Sox should matter because if they were that bad, they shouldn't of had a long stint.
Worst everyday players of the decade? Hmmm. This past decade is probably one of the best in the modest history of the Sox, so I don't think I could field a complete team of bad everyday players from the past decade.
For example, Paul Konerko has been the Sox first baseman for this entire decade. Thus, there could be no "bad" first baseman on my list. Also, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome were pretty good DHs. I don't have a "bad" DH to recommend.
Here's a list of some guys who sucked:
C: Mark Johnson, played quite a bit in 2000 and 2002. Ben Davis was pretty bad in 2004.
1B: N/A
2B: D'Angelo Jiminez. He was awful in 2003. Willie Harris was OK as a bench player , bad when he played every day.
SS: Royce Clayton. That's an easy one.
3B: Josh Fields. He hit 23 homers in 2007, but he was crummy in 2009.
OF: Joe Borchard, Brian Anderson, DeWayne Wise, Jerry Owens. I included Borchard because he was actually the starting RF for awhile in 2004 after Ordonez got hurt. Boy, what a bust.
DH: N/A