FlaSoxxJim Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Holes, dysfunction, and all, I'm starting to get antsy to get this year going. And I don't know what it is, but I have this feeling Willie (see question 4 below) is going to rise to the occasion and have a big year. Go 2004 White Sox! Spring Training Preview Five questions for Sox camp Sunday, February 15, 2004 By Joe Cowley Staff writer ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The star slugger hasn't returned phone calls from his new manager. One of last year's "ace" pitchers has gone Hollywood for a rich free-agent deal. A candidate to be the new closer is the all-time saves leader ... in Japan. Welcome to White Sox Spring Training 2004, where Dr. Phil would have his hands full. "I'm excited to get this thing going," first-year manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I want to get these guys playing the game the right way. "I hate to always bring up Florida (where Guillen was the third-base coach for the World Series champion Marlins last season), but people didn't think we would even win 60 games at the start of the season, and we ended up winning it all. That's because we played the game the right way. That's what I want these guys to do, starting Day 1 in spring training." Sounds like a great plan — in a perfect world. But the world the Sox operate in is far from perfect. Chaotic is more like it. So, even before pitchers and catchers report to camp in Tucson, Ariz., next Friday, inquiring Sox fans have plenty of questions about the 2004 squad. Here are five of them: 1. Is Ozzie the right man for the job? Guillen says he wants his players to start "caring for one another more" and "learning how to win." But first he'll have to earn their trust by proving he knows what he's doing. The former Sox shortstop's passion for the game can't be questioned. General manager Ken Williams acknowledged that Guillen's "in-your-face" attitude was a key factor in winning him the job as Jerry Manuel's successor. "When I leave the ballpark after a tough loss," Williams said, "I'll know there's at least one other person that feels as bad, if not worse, than I do. That's why I hired this man." How that translates into wins and losses remains to be seen. The fact is, Guillen has never managed a major league game. He has promised to return hard-nosed baseball to the South Side, but what about astute game management? That's where veteran bench coach Joe Nossek comes in. Nossek is as sly as a fox in reading what the opposition is going to do, and Guillen will rely heavily on him. 2. Can the dysfunctional family play nice? Guillen angered Frank Thomas right off the bat, questioning the veteran slugger's ability to be a team player during the news conference at which Guillen was introduced as manager. Since then, Guillen has said Thomas has not returned his phone calls. Williams said the Big Hurt hasn't returned his calls, either. During SoxFest two weekends ago, Guillen did his best damage control by praising Thomas, but there's no doubt the two will have to sit down and talk things out early in training camp. This is a powder keg just waiting for a spark. Jose Valentin and Mark Buehrle have talked about a worst-case scenario — a Guillen-Thomas feud that carries over into the clubhouse. That could be big trouble for a team with psyche as brittle as the Sox's. What's more, Guillen took a verbal poke at second baseman Willie Harris — his pet project this spring — saying Harris didn't deserve to wear Guillen's old No. 13 last season. The strength of AL Central Division rivals Minnesota and Kansas City is their team chemistry. Tony Graffanino — one of the few "team" players the Sox had last season — signed a free-agent deal with the Royals this offseason, delivering a clear message that he was tired of being a part of a clubhouse divided. 3. Will the rotation have a great Scott? The Sox feel their top three starting pitchers — 2003 AL Cy Young runner-up Esteban Loaiza, Buehrle and Jon Garland — give them the best rotation in the division. But while Buehrle and Loaiza have the capacity to be a devastating one-two punch, No. 3 starter Garland is still an enigma. And after those three, there are some serious question marks. Lefty Scott Schoeneweis has been highly touted by Williams as the pitcher to watch in camp. A former starter turned reliever, Schoeneweis will get a chance to return to the starting role he lost in Anaheim. But his 23-27 career record and 5.28 ERA as a starter aren't very reassuring. "We had been after him for three years," Williams said. "We think he's one of those guys that's ready to turn the corner. I really think he's going to surprise a lot of people that doubt him." Considering the huge hole that was left by the departure of Bartolo Colon to the Angels, Williams had better hope Schoeneweis does turn that corner. 4. Willie ... or won't he? Harris' alarm clock had better be reliable while he's in Tucson. It's going to get a lot of work in the early-morning hours. The 25-year-old speedster has been informed by Guillen and third-base coach Joey Cora that he'll be expected to be on the field almost every morning for extra practice. The hope is that this superior athlete can be made into a baseball player. Harris is being penciled in as not only the starting second baseman — replacing free-agent departee Roberto Alomar — but also as the team's leadoff hitter. Considering he has a .213 batting average at the major league level, there's a lot of work to be done. No one knows that better than Harris. "You look at my numbers and I'm even like, 'Why are they giving me the job?' '' he said. "But I have the ability and they know my ability. Hopefully Ozzie can show me a lot of things that will help. I'm glad to be at second base and not center field because second base is home. Center field is more like a hotel. "I know there's doubters, but they don't know Willie. I know Willie." 5. Can Koch catch fire again? To say right-handed reliever Billy Koch is a key for the bullpen is a huge understatement. After losing Tom Gordon and Scott Sullivan to free agency in the offseason, the Sox 'pen is left with little experience in closing games — aside from Koch. Damaso Marte has shown glimpses of being an effective closer, but he hasn't done it on a regular basis. The same goes for Cliff Politte, who was grabbed from Toronto in the offseason. Shingo Takatsu is a veteran closer, but that was in the Japanese League. He has never played in a major league ballpark. The Sox are hoping Koch's mysterious drop in velocity last season is behind him. Mostly, they hope the righty has his confidence back. If Koch is near the 96-mph mark and can find the strike zone, the rest of the bullpen sets up very nicely behind him, with Marte, Politte and Takatsu each being late-inning guys. But if Koch shows up at camp with the same problems that hampered him last year, the closer's job will be completely up for grabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Only thing I have concern with is the starting staff....hopefully Schoney pitches decent and one of the young kids can pitch in the 5th slot. Either that or swing one of those many trade rumors that have been floating about. Other than that I am not too worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MnSoxFan Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Only thing I have concern with is the starting staff....hopefully Schoney pitches decent and one of the young kids can pitch in the 5th slot. Either that or swing one of those many trade rumors that have been floating about. Other than that I am not too worried. Not sure how you can be comfortable with bullpen. Koch has to show he can comeback, Mr Zero is a soft tosser, and Politte has a lot to prove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 This article addresses questions that have been discussed for months around here. They didn't have the answers either. We'll start getting answers to within the next couple of weeks. Like, Is Koch's velocity back? Others won't be answered till the regular season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 What's more, Guillen took a verbal poke at second baseman Willie Harris — his pet project this spring — saying Harris didn't deserve to wear Guillen's old No. 13 last season. It looks like another name change for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 It looks like another name change for me. Haha yeah, I assume he'll go back to number 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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