KW letting Sox Team vote on Rauch?

[RibbieRubarb]

On tonights edition of BBTN, they were commenting that Kenny is going to take a vote amongst the current 25 man roster and let them decide what to do about Jon Rauch.

Has anyone else heard this?!? And how is the Players Union going to react?

[chimpy2121]

yeah i read this on cbs sportsline:

9. Jon Rauch walks out on White Sox: He left the clubhouse before the end of Saturday's 5-1 loss to Anaheim after manager Ozzie Guillen removed him. Now GM Kenny Williams says he will consult with players to determine whether Rauch will ever pitch for Sox again. Hmmm -- after Pedro Martinez left the clubhouse before the end of the game on opening day in Baltimore, he didn't miss a start.

 

and from the sox website:

CHICAGO -- If Jon Rauch earned as much notoriety for his actual pitching Saturday as he did for leaving U.S. Cellular Field before the game was over, the White Sox's fifth-starter quandary finally might have been solved.

Unfortunately for the 6-foot-11 right-hander, he no longer seems to be part of the pool of possible solutions for the two-season pitching question. The Rauch saga continued Sunday morning, right up until Scott Schoenweis fired the first pitch to David Eckstein following a 42-minute rain delay in Sunday's series finale against Anaheim.

 

The series of events from Saturday seemed to become a little bit clearer Sunday. After getting touched up for 10 hits and five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, Rauch exited the game and left with his family for Louisville shortly thereafter.

 

An exact time of departure could not be established. Williams entered the clubhouse in the ninth inning, hoping to offer Rauch words of encouragement for an impressive three innings. Instead, he quickly realized that the maturation process for the one-time prized prospect in the organization hadn't moved along as far as he would have liked.

 

"I guess I would have to say with his actions, no," said Williams, when asked about Rauch's improved maturity. "It's the first time I've ever had a player option himself down.

 

"You never know what could have happened. Mike Jackson got hit the night before with a line drive. He was still sore. There were still a number of innings left. If someone goes down at that point, there might have been an opportunity for him to stay."

 

If a fifth starter was needed before June 12, Williams categorically stated that Rauch would have returned in five days based on the way he mixed up his pitches in the early going and stayed composed through tough situations. But that decision no longer lies in the hands of the White Sox general manager.

 

Rauch apologized by phone to both pitching coach Don Cooper and assistant general manager Rick Hahn after hearing Williams' criticism on the White Sox's flagship radio station. Hahn said that Rauch was "genuinely remorseful" but also a bit confused, believing that he could leave the game early to spend time with his family since he was being sent back to Triple-A Charlotte.

 

Williams received a phone message from Rauch, and accepted his apology Sunday morning. But it's up to the players who shared the clubhouse with Rauch as to whether he will ever pitch for the White Sox again.

 

Not surprisingly, closer Billy Koch was very outspoken following Saturday's loss concerning Rauch's actions. It was a speech centered around the theme of the White Sox as a family that was strongly seconded by the organization.

 

Koch also mentioned that Rauch needed to face the assembled media in both good and bad times.

 

"There were two or three times where I didn't talk to the media, but I found them front and center and faced up to it the next day," Koch said. "It's something you have to be accountable for, and then step up and take it like a man."

 

Other players weren't quite as direct as Koch. Jon Adkins, who was part of the Charlotte starting rotation with Rauch in 2003, said that he walked by Rauch in the dugout and patted him on the leg with encouragement but never talked to him.

 

First baseman Paul Konerko gave Rauch the benefit of the doubt, but also mentioned that it's always a good idea to stay around after leaving the game. Kelly Dransfeldt, one of Rauch's most recent teammates and the player who replaced him on the White Sox roster, didn't want to comment directly, having not been part of the game.

 

But he understands the spirit that can overcome a player after a rough day on the field.

 

"Jon is a competitor and wants to go out and do well," Dransfeldt said.

 

About the only person who seemed unaffected by the Saturday incident was manager Ozzie Guillen, who was in Florida for his son's high school graduation. Guillen handled talk of Rauch in the same way that he handled many other points of contention that took place before his arrival-leave the past where it belongs.

 

In this case, it might be a good idea to follow for the entire White Sox team, as Rauch tries to earn his stripes in the minor leagues.

 

"Hopefully, he has the right answer for his teammates and the general manager," Guillen said. "But whatever happened yesterday, I don't care. It's over, and I'm not going to worry about stuff I couldn't control."

 

"Remember, he is definitely a Major League pitcher in my mind," Williams added of Rauch. "He's going back to Charlotte and back into the rotation. If an opportunity presents itself for us to get better, then, yes, it's something we would explore. But we aren't in the business of giving away that sort of talent."

[Jordan4life_2007]

I think too much is being made of this. Rauch was no doubt wrong. But this is turning into a soap opera. I don't think players should decide the fate of another player. We're talkin about somebody's future. If Kenny wants to trade him then DO IT. I guess Kenny wants to cover his ass if he does decide to trade Rauch and he becomes a star somewhere else. Doing it this way he can always say "well the players voted him out"..Very, very lame.

[BobDylan]

Doing it this way he can always say "well the players voted him out"..Very,  very lame.

I agree 100%.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

I think that it's a good idea to have the team vote on it.

They have a better idea of the situation then we do.

[qwerty]

I agree 100%.

I also agree 100%

[Jordan4life_2007]

I think that it's a good idea to have the team vote on it.

They have a better idea of the situation then we do.

So why didn't Kenny have the players "vote" on the Todd Ritchie trade? Kenny is full of s*** on this one. He's tryin to cover his own ass.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

I think too much is being made of this.  Rauch was no doubt wrong.  But this is turning into a soap opera.  I don't think players should decide the fate of another player.  We're talkin about somebody's future.  If Kenny wants to trade him then DO IT.  I guess Kenny wants to cover his ass if he does decide to trade Rauch and he becomes a star somewhere else.  Doing it this way he can always say "well the players voted him out"..Very,  very lame.

I agree. What this team doesn't need now that we've got a good thing going is drama in the clubhouse. KW just do whatever the heck you want to do with him since its your call and be done with it already.

[Texsox]

I think Kenny is building that team chemistry and by getting their input he is making them part of the solution. Imagine if 24 guys are sitting there thinking if they ever bring this asshole into the clubhouse again, I'm otta here (or similar) or if 24 guys are thinking, man he looked good for a couple innings, let's get behind the guy and make this work.

 

No matter what the scenario, Keny should know what the players, coaches, and Ozzie is are thinking before making a move. We can debate how much their input should matter, but a good GM should know the clubhouse and what is happening before making a decision.

 

Real world example, most companies use team interviewing for many positions. If you are applying for a marketing job you may also interview with the creative team, perhaps some of the salespeople, and the people in accounting. It is all about developing team.

[YASNY]

The Sox biggest problem the last few years is that they have not been a "team" in the true sense of the word. I believe KW is doing absolutely doing the right thing by getting player input on this situation. Ozzie has this team acting and playing like a team. I can see no point in jeopardizing that for the 25th man on the roster. I hope the guys give Rauch a chance to redeem himself, but if they choose not to, so be it.

 

KW isn't trying to "cover his ass" because he hasn't traded Rauch so there is no transaction to cover his ass on.

[WSox30]

I don't see it as lame. The players would be the ones affected by his presence in the locker room, and if there is a negative presence, then therefore should they not have a say in it?

[southsider2k5]

I think it is a great idea as well. If the players in that lockerroom felt that Rauch abandoned them, then bringing him back could have dire consequences. If they decide to give the kid a second chance then good for them. I always thought that one of the big complaints about KW was that he was too domineering and too in control. Now he is including the MGR and players in his decesions, and I think it is great. Besides in the grand scheme of things, what does it matter if Rauch gets called up or someone else does?

[BobDylan]

So why didn't Kenny have the players "vote" on the Todd Ritchie trade?  Kenny is full of s*** on this one.  He's tryin to cover his own ass.

Agreed, he's realized his mistake and is trying to compensate for it0. You don't call a player out like Kenny did. Rauch made a mistake, he was wrong, so you punish him. However, you don't go off on a rampage and tell the media that his ass is getting traded before even speaking to the guy. A ridiculous move on Kenny's part.

[Soxbadger]

They talked about in Baseball Tonight last night, both Kruk and Reynolds were saying how this was such a great move, and that it should be the team that votes, because Rauch let his team down.

 

They of course said if he was throwing 98 the team would of probably cut him some slack, but I tend to agree that leaving it to the team is the best scenario.

 

That way the team feels that they are responsible to each other, and that they will be self policed, as opposed to having this ominous presence above them.

 

SB

[YASNY]

That way the team feels that they are responsible to each other, and that they will be self policed, as opposed to having this ominous presence above them.

That is a VERY good point.

[Steff]

I don't agree with this at all. Takes the control out of the hands of the manager - not that he had any in this case. You don't let the inmates run the asylum. Jon should be dealt with individualy and not by the rest of the team... who.. hello.. has to continue to deal with Kenny. IMO, it puts them in a bad spot. I'd guess that most of them didn't give a crap that Jon left and only made comments to break in their new tubes of chapstick - no doubt giftwrapped by Kenny himself.

No only that.. but I can't imagine anyone is very comfortable at this point. Knowing that the slightest little thing they do wrong will become public knowledge. That stuff should stay in house.

And one more thing.. I bet Ozzie was mad as hell when he heard what Kenny did. The second Ozzie steps away there is trouble. And some of us were worried about Ozzies mouth...