Jose Abreu: White Sox Don't Have Same Desire to Win As Royals

[southsider2k5]

I'm also not buying this idea that the players are dogging it. That completely contradicts what I see.

 

The Sox are barely going to score 650 runs this season. THAT'S the problem.

 

I haven't really seen a lack of effort. Take last night. Down 4 runs in the 9th, they still were fighting to get back into an absolutely meaningless game.

[Black_Jack29]

41-33 at home 31-46 on the road.

 

We must have some more talent at home than on the road.

 

We're also 16-13 vs. the AL East, but 29-41 vs. a slightly inferior AL Central. Conclusions can't always be drawn from splits stats.

 

[Black_Jack29]

I haven't really seen a lack of effort. Take last night. Down 4 runs in the 9th, they still were fighting to get back into an absolutely meaningless game.

 

Yep. Whatever one thinks of Robin as a manager, I don't ever recall seeing players mailing it in under his stewardship.

 

[harkness99]

effort is important yes.

 

But winning and losing also has to do with the ability to handle pressure.

 

 

This team and coaching staff has never found a way to figure that out. I see this in the divisional and away records.

 

So who in our starting line-up isn't talented enough... since run scoring has been a huge issue.

 

Avi Garcia has struggled off and on for a few years? Are you "talent" guys saying he doesn't have talent?

 

Talent matters of course... but to act like that's all that's missing is amazingly asinine.

 

So just find the most talented players and throw them out their and wins happen automatically?

 

everyone in professional sports has talent... amazing talent.

 

The guys that can handle the pressure are the people who can produce.

 

 

 

[harkness99]

We're also 16-13 vs. the AL East, but 29-41 vs. a slightly inferior AL Central. Conclusions can't always be drawn from splits stats.

 

That's kind of supporting what I was saying... when the games are important division games we struggle more.

 

This shows that is not just talent.

 

[COACH612]

Is it okay? No, it's not. But overall it's not a problem on this team. Everybody's whipping boy Avi plays as hard as anybody. Eaton was told to dial it down so he didn't hurt himself. Rip on Robin and the staff all you want for an apparent lack of hustle, but the truth is it was a lot bigger problem in the Ozzie managed years with guys like Dye, Konerko and AJ.

 

What I'm saying is that if you think the problem with this team is a lack of hustle you're delusional. The problem is talent, plain and simple.

 

We can disagree on a few things but what I was trying to point out is no matter what talent level a team has, it takes more than that to be champions. It takes heart. I see that most, if not all, players on the Sox want to win. After all, that's what athletes want most. And at most times, I see hustle. But it should drive everyone crazy when we see players not hustling to 1st base and such. This is just 1 example so don't get your panties in a bunch. Hustling to 1st on routine grounders or even dropped 3rd strikes can make or break a game. Ask A. J. about that. But consistent championship teams have that hustle on every play in every inning no matter on offense or defense.

 

Now, that being said, for you to put people down like you did means you may not be interested in an intelligent conversation. If it makes you feel better to put others down who may disagree with you, go right ahead. I really don't care.

 

PLEASE DON'T RESPOND TO THIS. I AM DONE WITH YOU AND AM NO LONGER INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

[southsider2k5]

We can disagree on a few things but what I was trying to point out is no matter what talent level a team has, it takes more than that to be champions. It takes heart. I see that most, if not all, players on the Sox want to win. After all, that's what athletes want most. And at most times, I see hustle. But it should drive everyone crazy when we see players not hustling to 1st base and such. This is just 1 example so don't get your panties in a bunch. Hustling to 1st on routine grounders or even dropped 3rd strikes can make or break a game. Ask A. J. about that. But consistent championship teams have that hustle on every play in every inning no matter on offense or defense.

 

Now, that being said, for you to put people down like you did means you may not be interested in an intelligent conversation. If it makes you feel better to put others down who may disagree with you, go right ahead. I really don't care.

 

PLEASE DON'T RESPOND TO THIS. I AM DONE WITH YOU AND AM NO LONGER INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

 

AJ was one of the best at putting his head down and dogging it to first on a routine ground out.

[COACH612]

AJ was one of the best at putting his head down and dogging it to first on a routine ground out.

I understand that. Most catchers do since they have been squatting and are not stretched out for sprints. Not many people understand that. But his competitiveness was second to none. He even called out his own teammates for not hustling. That being said, he is one of the reasons why the Sox beat the Angels. Remember the dropped 3rd strike?

[southsider2k5]

I understand that. Most catchers do since they have been squatting and are not stretched out for sprints. Not many people understand that. But his competitiveness was second to none. He even called out his own teammates for not hustling. That being said, he is one of the reasons why the Sox beat the Angels. Remember the dropped 3rd strike?

 

Honesty it goes back to the point the Sox made with Adam Eaton about being smarter when playing the game.

[Kyyle23]

I understand that. Most catchers do since they have been squatting and are not stretched out for sprints. Not many people understand that. But his competitiveness was second to none. He even called out his own teammates for not hustling. That being said, he is one of the reasons why the Sox beat the Angels. Remember the dropped 3rd strike?

 

I think what we are all getting at here is nobody is gonna be benched for a reason such as what you pointed out, Melky not charging hard on a weak fly ball. Its ridiculous, and it serves no purpose for a veteran player, nor does it serve a purpose in the majors for most players. You can call for it all you want but you wont see it

[COACH612]

I think what we are all getting at here is nobody is gonna be benched for a reason such as what you pointed out, Melky not charging hard on a weak fly ball. Its ridiculous, and it serves no purpose for a veteran player, nor does it serve a purpose in the majors for most players. You can call for it all you want but you wont see it

 

 

Whatever, Time to move on to more intelligent conversations. Good luck.

[Black_Jack29]

We can disagree on a few things but what I was trying to point out is no matter what talent level a team has, it takes more than that to be champions. It takes heart.

 

It also takes a lot of luck. As in Jon Garland, Cliff Politte, and Dustin Hermanson all having career years. And Bobby Jenks coming out of nowhere and dominating. And Jose Contreras having one more dominant run at his advanced age. And Joe Crede reaching his potential at exactly the right time.

 

The Sox were lucky for the first five or six weeks of the season, and then it all fell apart. Abreu couldn't hit for power for the first half of the season, and looked like he was nursing a nagging injury. Albers completely fell apart. Rodon wasn't very good for the first four months of the season. Petricka went on the DL. Lawrie and A-Jax got hurt. Age appeared to creep up on Navarro and Robertson.

 

For the Sox to make the postseason next year, they need to get better at DH and CF, and they need to better luck than they had this year. Those factors are way more important than Hawk's "the will to win" metric.