greasywheels121 Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Great article by Chris De Luca from the Sun-Times.... Forget injuries for now, Sox gotta have heart BY CHRIS DE LUCA STAFF REPORTER Forget the standings for a moment because they flip-flop too much. Here's a hard fact: The White Sox have more talent than the Minnesota Twins -- even without Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez. The Sox long have had more talent than the Twins. Better players but, curiously, a lesser team. This idea doesn't sit well in the Sox' clubhouse, but it's true. Just look at the last three seasons. If there is one player claiming the Twins had more talent than the Sox, he is lying. Or in denial. With Thomas and Ordonez, the Sox had considerably more weapons and should have opened a wide lead in the American League Central Division during the first half, something that would have provided a safety net for these trying times without their two biggest bats. It didn't happen, for whatever reason. Maybe for the same reasons the Sox didn't nudge past the Cleveland Indians or Twins in 2001 or get by the Twins in 2002 or 2003. Maybe because the Sox have been long on talent, short on heart. But general manager Ken Williams has built a balanced team that has the division's best starting pitching and an explosive offense than can hurt you top to bottom. With the Twins opening a three-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field, now is the time for the Sox to find their heart because there is a good chance they could be without either Thomas or Ordonez -- maybe both -- for the rest of the regular season. It's no longer Frank Thomas' team or Magglio Ordonez's team. It belongs to all of the Sox. When the Sox sent only pitcher Esteban Loaiza to the All-Star Game, there was general griping throughout the clubhouse that a first-place team should have more representation. Maybe players should have looked at it this way: The Sox were a first-place team because they were playing well together, not relying on one star. That's what won them a division title in 2000 and that's what will do the trick this season. Now they have to believe it. When the players care -- as they did Saturday, rallying from a four-run deficit on Joe Crede's ninth-inning home run -- they can beat anyone. When they don't -- as they have shown time and again in Oakland -- they look like division bottom-feeders. Basically, wasted talent. But no feeling sorry for themselves or waiting for someone else to carry the load. All of the Sox need to take responsibility and step up -- especially Juan Uribe and Willie Harris, two players who were twin threats the last time Minnesota came to town May 14-16. If the Sox get caught up in the losses of Thomas and Ordonez, they will be reverting to excuses that don't hold up. Yes, pitchers would approach this lineup much differently if Thomas and Ordonez were stacked in the middle. But there are plenty of other hazards. During the Twins' last visit to Chicago, manager Ron Gardenhire was most worried about stopping Uribe, even though Thomas and Ordonez were healthy. Paul Konerko has been the team's RBI and home-run leader most of the season. Carlos Lee has shown more pop since Thomas' exit and Aaron Rowand quietly has solved the Sox' long-standing sore spot in center field. Jose Valentin, playing better defense, is showing the same kind of power he had in 2000. The Sox are five games into a 22-game stretch against Central Division teams. Sox players insisted at the All-Star break their best baseball was ahead of them. It better come during this stretch. The Sox are 20-9 against Central Division foes. The Twins are 25-22. The three other Central teams have losing records against the division. ''These are the teams we have to beat to win the division,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. The Sox are 7-3 against the Twins this season, but just 1-2 at home. Though the pitching matchups are first-class for this series, the Sox have the edge. Mark Buehrle, backed by the best run support in baseball, should get plenty of help tonight against Brad Radke. The current group of Sox has thrived against the right-hander, notably Rowand (7-for-16), Crede (10-for-28) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (16-for-48, four home runs). In fact, the Sox are hitting .301 or better against each of the three starters the Twins are rolling out for this series: Radke (.301), Johan Santana (.304) and Carlos Silva (.389). So even without Ordonez and Thomas, the Sox have the firepower to knock off the Twins. In previous matchups against the Minnesota this season, the Sox were preoccupied with sending a message to their biggest rivals. This time, they need to send a message to themselves -- they can survive without Thomas and Ordonez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xero Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 He is right Good find Greasy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DABearSoX Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 must have read my post before he wrote this.....i am so smart http://www.soxtalk.com/index.php?showtopic=22747 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASHWOUND Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hmm, I wonder what "heart" is batting with RISP. And hope "heart" can replace 60 HR and 200 rbis we're losin from Frank and Maggs.. Sorta jokin, but we gotta have HEARTS the size of moutains cause we're gonna need them that size.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Great article by Chris De Luca from the Sun-Times.... We gotta go out there and show we deserve to be division winners. Just having talent isin't gonna get it done, we need to actually show up and play to win a division. Great article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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