DashFan

Dick, you make some valid points but I also think that pointing to the argument with Eaton and one earlier in the season with Sale is really cherry picking. You could just as easily pick moments that I identified that represented a lack of urgency. I don't think that's what we are looking for. Eaton being upset over playing time is one thing. I want to see guys a little more upset over the season going down the tubes. I want Eaton to say that playing time has to be earned. If everybody on this team wants to play so bad I want the coaching staff to remind them they need to earn that playing time a little more often too. I was kind of bothered that Eaton was so outspoken and whiny about being benched.

We don't get to see everything that goes on behind the scenes. We get glimpses through comments in the media and a brief view into the personalities of the players and how they behave in the dugout. The lack of urgency and overall malaise this team has matches the personalities and even some of the comments the players have made to the media. Dick, you don't think performance is tied to intangibles, and it's your right to believe that. I would argue that it does and it's visible not just with the Royals but with other teams throughout the league who are doing well. I don't think that difference in overall energy starts with performance, I think it starts with the mentality of the team and it may be too late to change that this season with this particular cast of characters.

When you watch the top teams in the league, you see a lot more energy and a sense of urgency each at-bat. It's non-existent with this team. The Royals play every game as though they are still in the WS. It's a long season and I understand the argument that you have to pace yourself. I wasn't sure the Royals could maintain that over the course of the season, but here we are in June and our team taking it easy looks way more worn-down and finished than the Royals do playing high-octane every day.

A lot was made this offseason about acquiring not only talented baseball players, but also veteran leadership. Despite this, Eaton seems to have emerged as sort of the defacto spokesman for the players. I expected more from the likes of LaRoche and Cabrera. Unfortunately the only comment I saw from either regarding the slow start was LaRoche basically rehashing the company line of "it's still early." I also remember him saying something regarding the postseason to the effect of "if the team is good enough at the end of the season, we'll be there." Which seems fine for a statistician to say, but I was extremely disappointed to hear that kind of disconnected approach from a player. These guys are supposed to provide the TWTW, not sit back and see what happens. Something stinks with this team, and it's not it's the stat lines, it's the attitude of the whole org and I don't see anyone in it, including the vets we brought in, interested in changing it.

Just wait til this team gels, guys! It's early!

Sanchez was batting over 300 in the minors and has looked better at the plate in the past. Why didn't that translate to the majors at all?

Don't stop believin', hold on to that (offseason) feeeelin'!

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 29, 2015 -> 08:58 PM) What is LaRoche looking for Seriously. 3 pitches in that sequence were right down the middle... Take the bat off your shoulders! Our guys are only patient at the plate when the pitcher is throwing strikes.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ May 27, 2015 -> 04:41 PM) As for Miggy hitting in the Cell for 81 games, probably not much decline. It's a hitter's park, until they put on a Sox uniform...

I turned the game off. I'd rather have minor surgery than watch this team take another at bat.

A pitcher with a 6+ ERA + White Sox lineup = CG SO.

So many pitchers record strikeouts against our hitters and they hardly ever have to pitch in the zone to do so... K's Alexei with one actual strike.

Trying to score runs when Q is starting is a project that has failed time and time again!

Really starting to hate this team... Have they come out of the dugout ready to play ONCE this season?

Do we whiff this much when we swing at BP fastballs in BP? The whole team looks like they need glasses.

Anyone in the area know when this game might get started?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 14, 2015 -> 05:48 PM) Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 2m2 minutes ago Thriving in new role for White Sox, Gordon Beckham will stay put: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/60...hell-stay-right … Glad to see that. Even though I think Gordon should get some additional playing time, I want to see him continue at 3b. He's had his career as a Sox 2b, it didn't work out. We have plenty of middle IF prospects. Give Sanchez a shot and keep Beckham at 3rd

QUOTE (Condor13 @ May 10, 2015 -> 01:52 PM) Micah has had a far less impact negatively on defense then Ramirez or Connor or even Eaton Exactly! It would be one thing if the vets around him were playing solid D, but yesterday I saw Micah do nothing but try to save plays his teammates botched. Hard to hold the rookie to a higher standard than his mates.

QUOTE (Condor13 @ May 9, 2015 -> 09:55 PM) KW, Hahn, and RV should be fired immediately if Rodon goes back to the pen But we'll want Carlos ready for our playoff run, guys!

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 9, 2015 -> 06:20 PM) I do not care who it is at this point, ANYONE can do what Flowers brings to this team. But but but Tyler does so many things that don't show up on the back of a baseball card!

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 9, 2015 -> 06:08 PM) Truth is, if we don't hit it really doesn't matter how many runs we let up.. That's true. I think there would be a lot more complaints about the D if we were losing games 5-4, etc. but we get shutout 1-0 by the freakin Twins so it doesn't really matter that we give away an extra out or two right now.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ May 9, 2015 -> 06:05 PM) will we aever see an infield defense of gordon, ramirez, sanchez, la roche? That is actually a damn good infield compared to the joke we have now. That would actually be a smart thing to do with the offense struggling like it is. But instead we have KW and company telling us that we'll make a miraculous run to come back with this exact lineup...

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 9, 2015 -> 05:50 PM) If managers were judged by how their teams hit Cueto most wouldn't last very long. Hitting or not wasn't my issue. Not having a gameplan against any pitcher is what I take issue with.

Be hands on, Robin. Tell these guys to take a damn pitch! If there's no other reason to give this coaching staff the boot, the plan at the plate is non-existent from top to bottom.

Surprisingly, the defense seems to be slowly improving. Wish the offense could see the same trajectory.