The “All-City Team” Tribune baseball reporter Phil Rogers picked before the first White Sox-Cubs series two weeks ago leaned heavily toward the South Side. Seven of the eight position players chosen were White Sox, and the eighth was Eric Hinske, a former Cubs farmhand now with Toronto who was deemed the most deserving third baseman.
A reasonably knowledgeable fan could dispute some of the choices–Royce Clayton over Alex Gonzalez at shortstop, Kenny Lofton over Corey Patterson in center field–but nowhere was the debate more heated than in right field, where Rogers chose the understated excellence of Magglio Ordonez over the flamboyant Sammy Sosa.
Rogers presented some impressive statistics to suggest Ordonez has been a more effective all-around player than Sosa this season, but Sosa’s fans didn’t want to hear it. Sosa, of course, has put up some truly remarkable numbers over the past 4 1/2 seasons, but their argument is more of a gut feeling: Ever notice how nobody heads for the beer stand when Sosa’s turn to hit is approaching?
Through ChicagoSports.com more than 500 fans voiced their opinion on the great right-fielder debate. Slight edge to Sosa. Maybe they’ll settle it once and for all–or at least for this year–on the field this weekend.
IN FAVOR OF SAMMY SOSA:
Only in Chicago could this “debate” be taken seriously. And then only by Sox fans who must need glasses if they can’t tell the difference between great and good. There are only two hitters today who are consistently pitched around, and Sammy is one of them. Then again, Sox fans still think Luis Aparicio was better than Ernie Banks and Nellie Fox better than Ryne Sandberg.
John Prescott, Buffalo
Sammy Sosa all the way. The guy has simply had perhaps the best four-year offensive stretch ever.
Nathan Kinnee, Palatine
You can’t be serious. Maggs is a great player but over a can’t-miss Hall of Famer in his prime? It isn’t even close. Take a poll of all the GMs in baseball. It might be unanimous.
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Dave Schlabaugh, Iowa City
Sosa or Ordonez? Sorry . . . had to get up off the floor after falling down laughing. Ask any major-league manager whom he’d want in right field and I guarantee he’d take Sosa without a second thought.
Larry Vaught, Beaverton, Ore.
Sammy. Magglio Ordonez, although a good player, doesn’t exactly strike fear into an opposing pitcher the way Sammy does. Sosa is not the greatest fielder, but neither is Ordonez.
Todd Kirby, Chicago
I am a big Sox fan and a huge Magglio fan, but for this year at least, you have to give the nod to Sammy. It pains me to admit it.
Jim Eberle, Chicago
To take Ordonez over Sosa is absolutely asinine. “Take Sosa’s homers away and he’s only hitting .240” Really? Take Sosa’s hits away and he’s hitting .000.
Just imagine putting Sosa in that White Sox lineup behind Lofton/Durham and ahead of Konerko.
Dallas Jenkins, Los Angeles
Sammy Sosa is the best right fielder in the major leagues, so he’s certainly the best one in Chicago.
Mary Ann Cobb, Traverse City, Mich.
This Phil Rogers, is he a soccer writer?
Richard Ball, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Maggs is a pretty darn good ballplayer. But please, let’s not be stupid about this.
Bob Arnold, Irmo, S.C.
Maggs is a very good ballplayer and deserves all the accolades he gets. Sosa is a future Hall of Famer who continues to rewrite the record books on his way to becoming one of the greatest sluggers of all time, if not the greatest.
Andrew Rury, Iowa City
Home runs, RBIs, durability and the interest Sosa has sparked nationwide. Ask anyone outside of the South Side who Ordonez is–we think there would be some amusing responses.
Susanne and Raymie Humbert, Chandler, Ariz.
Sosa will swing out of the strike zone, but as Joe Morgan said, that’s deceiving because he will crush the next one you try to sneak over the plate. The thing I love most about Sammy is the power potential to all fields and the improvement on defense. But most of all because he loves Chicago and plays for the fans, and I don’t even live in Chicago.
Mike Bialkowski, Lansing, Mich.
If you take away Sammy’s home runs, RBIs, walks, runs, leadership qualities, his passion for the game, his hard-working demeanor and his intimidation factor, Ordonez is a much better player.
Kevin Snyder, Davenport, Iowa
The next time Magglio hits 60-plus homers in a season I would consider for about a second that maybe he is better than Sosa. Then realization will hit and I will understand that Sosa is Hall-of-Fame bound and Magglio will be gone the way of Grace. Good Chicago guy, not good enough for the Hall.
Maynard Keenan, Elmhurst
Magglio who?
Jeff Ervin. Richmond, Ind.
IN FAVOR OF MAGGLIO ORDONEZ:
Magglio is the obvious choice, and not just because I’m a Sox fan.
Sammy’s offensive numbers are traditionally higher, but Maggs holds his own.
Maggs is a far better baserunner, with a 72 percent steal success rate since 1997. Sosa’s success rate is 62 percent, and his stolen base numbers have dwindled from 22 in 1997 to zero last year.
Defense? Magglio has no more than five errors in a season; Sammy has no fewer than six. Plus Magglio has a stronger, more accurate arm.
Sammy may be the star of baseball in this city, but if I had both of them on my team, Sammy would have to move to left field, first base or DH.
Todd Feurer, Chicago
Definitely Ordonez. He’s solid, steady and just does his job more consistently than Sosa. He doesn’t showboat like Sammy–hop when he hits a home run or flies out, for example–and he just has better all-around skills.
Scott Fortin, Bradley, Ill.
I would rather have Ordonez, hands down. Sure, Sammy is a good hitter, but Ordonez is a much better all-around player and teammate. Magglio plays better defense, steals bases and will move a runner along, rather than swing for the fences. Magglio has a team-first attitude, while Sosa is concerned first with himself, then his fans, then the team.
Craig Steffel, Schererville, Ind.
I understand why Cubs fans are upset, but then again, they’re the ones who think Ronnie Woo-Woo is a genius. With Ordonez’s salary at less than half of Sammy’s, it’s an obvious choice.
Brian Cowhey, Chicago
Ordonez does not hit as many home runs, but he has more RBIs and a higher average with runners in scoring position. Ordonez plays a steady right field. Unlike Sosa, he hits the cutoff man.
Jason Bauman, Sterling, Ill.
They’re both true gamers who play hard day in and day out, but if I had to choose I would take Maggs. He puts up the numbers every season, he is a home-grown player, he is better in the field than Sammy and, most important, he is not a Cub.
Mike Mitchell, Denver
Maggs is the choice because he excels when it counts, with runners in scoring position. If it were a home-run contest, Sammy would be the clear choice.
Derek Semmler, Oswego
Magglio. Sammy’s an island. He’s powerful and interesting, but he’s all by himself doing whatever he wants to do. He not only sees himself as bigger than the team, he sees himself as the only reason the team exists. Maggs is a good team player. He keeps his mouth shut and just hits.
Brad Perri, Chicago
I’ll take Maggs’ consistency over Sosa’s erratic fielding, strikeouts and ego any day of the week. Sosa comes off as a one-man show, not a team player. Maggs lets his actions do the talking. If Maggs starts hopping out of the batter’s box on long fly balls I’ll reconsider my answer.
Leo Sullivan, Elmhurst
Maggs is a better outfielder because he is able to read the ball, get a jump and make the plays. Sammy is often found unaware and makes strong attempts when there is no chance to make the play. Maggs is a shoo-in for best right fielder in Chicago.
Lisa Lettenberger, Wood Dale
Maggs is a better fielder, has a better arm, consistently hits the cutoff man, steals more bases and, most important, doesn’t strike out nearly as much. Since 1998 (Maggs’ first full season), the Sox have won 333 games to the Cubs’ 310, and a division title, not a wild-card berth. The future of Chicago right fielders is Ordonez, not Sosa.
Joe Balitewicz, Chicago
Magglio, hands down. He does not proclaim “my house” upon late arrival, does not practice self-laudatory antics at the expense of his team and is an overall better ballplayer anyway.
At his best, Sam-me is a two-tool player. It’s no contest.
Dan Hanrahan, Romeoville
This season
CATEGORY SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .315 .316
On-base .426 .376
Slugging .667 .547
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Games 76 75
At-bats 279 285
Runs 61 55
Hits 88 90
Doubles 13 25
Triples 2 1
Home runs 27 13
RBIs 51 56
Total bases 186 156
Stolen bases 2 6
Caught steal 0 3
Walks 54 28
Strikeouts 64 45
Last 3 seasons
CATEGORY SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .313 .307
On-base .403 .367
Slugging .667 .529
Games 479 471
At-bats 1811 1809
Runs 368 300
Hits 565 556
Doubles 96 109
Triples 8 7
Home runs 178 93
RBIs 441 357
Total bases 994 793
Stolen bases 14 56
Caught steal 14 17
Walks 285 177
Strikeouts 492 198
Scoring position
THIS YEAR SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .235 .310
On-base .488 .410
Slugging .490 .583
At-bats 51 84
Hits 12 26
Home runs 4 5
RBIs 21 41
BB/SO 27/17 15/13
LAST 3 YEARS SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .311 .324
On-base .416 .411
Slugging .725 .541
At-bats 453 510
Hits 141 165
Home runs 46 24
RBIs 263 264
BB/SO 130/121 88/55
Pre-All Star Game
LAST 3 YEARS SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .300 .320
On-base .392 .385
Slugging .626 .572
Games 256 249
Runs 200 163
Home runs 85 58
RBIs 233 197
Post All-Star Game
LAST 3 YEARS SOSA ORDONEZ
Average .324 .292
On-base .416 .347
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Slugging .716 .481
Games 223 222
Runs 168 137
Home runs 93 35
RBIs 208 160
Other averages
THIS YEAR SOSA ORDONEZ
Men on, 2 out .105 .316
Inning 1-6 .335 .290
Inning 7+ .253 .370
0-0 count .577 .349
0-2 count .218 .237
Source: STATS, Inc.
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