DBAHO Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 From da Cubune, TUCSON, Ariz. -- It is only spring training, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has raised the level of expectations he has for Esteban Loaiza and Monday issued a gentle but firm challenge to his ace right-hander. Loaiza threw 80 pitches in four innings of a 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres last Thursday, a day on which Guillen blasted a lack of enthusiasm in his team. Loaiza yielded three runs on six hits and two walks, and Guillen expects better than that. Right now, in fact. "I want to see the Loaiza of last year," Guillen said. "I haven't seen it yet. " Maybe Loaiza was afflicted with what Guillen seemed to characterize as something akin to lethargy last week. In any case, "he's going to have to be more aggressive than he was the last outing," Guillen said. "The last outing, he had too many pitches in the count. [Tuesday] it's going to be a big game for him." … Grilli a battler Jason Grilli would never blame his manager for his control problems Monday against the Colorado Rockies, but Guillen may have jinxed the young right-hander with a case of famous last words. "He throws strikes with command and isn't afraid to throw the ball," Guillen said Sunday. Oops. Grilli, with a good jump on earning a roster spot to this point, threw 75 pitches in five innings Monday, and only 35 were in the strike zone. Some of the pitches that did find the zone were rocked, in particular a home run by Todd Helton and a 400-foot double by Jeromy Burnitz in the first inning. But in his third start, Grilli allowed only Helton's run. "When you can get results on a day when you're off, that's the bottom line," Grilli said. "I got out of some tough jams." "This kid is a battler," Guillen said. "He's going to give you the best stuff he has. I don't think he was dynamite, but he had good enough stuff to get people out, and that's what we want." … Jon Rauch gave himself a boost with four scoreless innings and one hit allowed in a "B" game against Colorado. … The Sox reduced their roster to 44. They optioned pitchers Arnie Munoz and Enemencio Pacheco to Triple-A Charlotte; optioned pitchers Ryan Meaux and Ryan Wing and infielder Ruddy Yan to Double-A Birmingham; and reassigned pitcher Francisco Campos to minor-league camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddy Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 interesting, we'll see if this style of managing is what the sox need, or just a push in the wrong direction. I have a feeling it'll help tho... heres to hoping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UofIChiSox Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Everybody talks about the big question marks at the end of the rotation, but the White Sox also have one of the biggest question marks at the beginning too. Is E-Lo an ace? I sure hope he can come back somewhere near where he was last year, but it's too early to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Everybody talks about the big question marks at the end of the rotation, but the White Sox also have one of the biggest question marks at the beginning too. Is E-Lo an ace? I sure hope he can come back somewhere near where he was last year, but it's too early to tell. It kind of sounds like Ozzie's wondering the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 This was an interesting bit as well Jon Rauch gave himself a boost with four scoreless innings and one hit allowed in a "B" game against Colorado. … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 "I want to see the Loaiza of last year," Guillen said. "I haven't seen it yet. " If Guillen can push Loaiza to pitch just like that year, then we should be able to make a run for our money. Guillen will push E-Lo to reach that certain intensity and fire he can have as an "ace." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 It's good to see Ozzie getting on the veterans and giving them that push to excel. I think that E Lo will respond just fine. I was interested in the add on comment on Rausch too. I think Jon is still in competition with Grilli for a spot in the rotation whether as the 5th/6th starter or in long relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Rector Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 As a player who never tried to excel, Ozzie has some nerve to get after Loaiza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 As a player who never tried to excel, Ozzie has some nerve to get after Loaiza. That's his job. Nerve? ... OK ... However we saw a lack of nerve for 6 years. It's about time somebody pushed players to excel in this organization. Ozzie the player has nothing to do with Ozzie the manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Rector Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 That's his job. Nerve? ... OK ... However we saw a lack of nerve for 6 years. It's about time somebody pushed players to excel in this organization. Ozzie the player has nothing to do with Ozzie the manager. If JM was as worthless as you say he was, then how on earth did the Sox win the Central Division in 2000? The way you and others write about him, you'd think that JM was nothing but a stick figure. JM may not have had the most outgoing personality, but he did know how to get the best out of his players. And he did it without trying to attract attention to himself, unlike Mr. Ozzie Publicity Monger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 17, 2004 Author Share Posted March 17, 2004 If JM was as worthless as you say he was, then how on earth did the Sox win the Central Division in 2000? The way you and others write about him, you'd think that JM was nothing but a stick figure. JM may not have had the most outgoing personality, but he did know how to get the best out of his players. And he did it without trying to attract attention to himself, unlike Mr. Ozzie Publicity Monger. Damn I know ppl round here are goin to dispute this. Jerry Manuel brought the best out of his players? Ha, if he did he'd still be managing becuase they would have won the AL Central last year. Every1 round here is glad JM is gone and retired down at Del Boque Vista, and to rant on Ozzie when he hasn't even managed a season game yet is just unfair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iguana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 If JM was as worthless as you say he was, then how on earth did the Sox win the Central Division in 2000? The way you and others write about him, you'd think that JM was nothing but a stick figure. JM may not have had the most outgoing personality, but he did know how to get the best out of his players. And he did it without trying to attract attention to himself, unlike Mr. Ozzie Publicity Monger. Jerry, is that you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 If JM was as worthless as you say he was, then how on earth did the Sox win the Central Division in 2000? The way you and others write about him, you'd think that JM was nothing but a stick figure. JM may not have had the most outgoing personality, but he did know how to get the best out of his players. And he did it without trying to attract attention to himself, unlike Mr. Ozzie Publicity Monger. I never said JM was worthless. However, motivation was not not his strong point. If he "got the best out of his players" why did the team not live up to preseason expectations the last 3 years? Several thought the Sox were World Seies bound after acquiring Colon, yet once again, we couldn't even win the division. I didn't have problems with JM, but this team desparately needed a change. They had grown stale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 I've been one of the stongest supporters of Manuel. But, I can't agree that he "got the best out of his players." That's why he's gone. Yes, he made some bad moves on the field, but the main reason he's gone is because he could no longer motivate the guys. That's a simple fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 If JM was as worthless as you say he was, then how on earth did the Sox win the Central Division in 2000? The Sox won the Central in 2000 by getting out of the gate strong and riding that good first half through an okay, but not much better than okay, second half and then getting outplayed and outmanaged by the Seattle Mariners. The Sox seem to have a good half ( usually the second half, except for 2000 ) and a bad half ( usually the first half, which buried the team before the good second half ) each season. That one Central division title doesn't make Manuel a good manager, and the fact that he couldn't get this team to play well for an entire season points to him NOT being a very good manager or motivator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Jerry, is that you? Sure seems that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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