greasywheels121 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-doug17.html Wunsch gets chance to keep his word BY DOUG PADILLA STAFF REPORTER Kelly Wunsch returns to U.S. Cellular Field this weekend with the opportunity to make good on a promise to the White Sox coaching staff. According to a source close to the situation, when Wunsch walked out of the clubhouse for the last time last year, he promised at least one Sox coach he would come back to haunt the team. Wunsch, who now pitches out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen, had a less-than-pleasant final season with the Sox. He was slowed in spring training by an injury but seemed well enough to break camp with the team. The Sox instead elected to put him on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. He earned $800,000 with the Sox last season but made only three big-league appearances. He had 27 outings at Class AAA Charlotte, going 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA. He was 10-5 with a 3.64 ERA in 212 appearances in five years with the Sox. Making $550,000 with the Dodgers, Wunsch is among National League leaders in appearances with 36. He is 1-0 with a 4.42 ERA for a team that recently learned closer Eric Gagne might be lost for the season. ''Wunsch, unfortunately, he didn't play good for me,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''I didn't have a chance to really see this kid pitch. He had pretty good years with the White Sox in the past, but he didn't do it for me. The reason he didn't do it for me was because he was hurt in spring training. ''We called him up for a few days, and he didn't do the job. I think right now he's helping the Dodgers, but I'd rather they have Wunsch than Gagne. I'm glad Gagne's not there. I don't worry about Wunsch.'' CLIFF NOTES: The Sox have yet to find work for closer Dustin Hermanson since he blew his first save of the season Saturday at San Diego. Cliff Politte, however, not only has been working hard, but also performing at a high level. Fifteen of Politte's last 16 appearances have been scoreless, and opponents are batting .135 against him this season. The improvement has come about through suggestions from pitching coach Don Cooper and Guillen. ''Coop and Ozzie have talked to me about slowing things down [mentally], and I think things are under control when I'm out there,'' Politte said. ''I'm not trying to do too much, and just the main thing is throwing strikes.'' DEEP THOUGHTS: Frank Thomas hit his fourth home run Wednesday in only 21 at-bats. If Thomas could stay healthy enough to get a conservative 250 at-bats, he is on an improbable pace of 47 homers for a half-season. Thomas was removed from Monday's game after suffering a cramp in his left leg and came out of Wednesday's game late when he appeared to be favoring his surgically repaired left ankle. Trainer Herm Schneider said Wednesday that Thomas had not suffered any setback in his recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayitaintso Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I liked Kelly while he was here, but i do understand his agressiveness to try and haunt us. The keyword is try though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 He should have that attitude. I wish him luck. I always liked him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(mreye @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 08:59 AM) He should have that attitude. I wish him luck. I always liked him. Ditto. BTW.. you coming out for a few tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sox4lifeinPA Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 yeah, Kelly's an Aggie, so I like him. He and his wife had a kid last year I believe born in College Station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:03 AM) yeah, Kelly's an Aggie, so I like him. He and his wife had a kid last year I believe born in College Station. Yep PA. Reese.. and she's a cutie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 It had been suggested that Kelly somehow got into someone's dog house and after reading the quotes by Ozzie, I believe it might be true. "He didn't play good for me......I didn't get to see this kid pitch". Huh? IIRC, Kelly came back briefly and did struggle, but not to the point where they should've given up om him so soon. Something doesn't add up, for me. Oh well, he gawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 08:02 AM) Ditto. BTW.. you coming out for a few tonight? No. I really wish I could. Weekdays are tough. The wife goes to work when I get home. Have a few for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 02:09 PM) It had been suggested that Kelly somehow got into someone's dog house and after reading the quotes by Ozzie, I believe it might be true. "He didn't play good for me......I didn't get to see this kid pitch". Huh? IIRC, Kelly came back briefly and did struggle, but not to the point where they should've given up om him so soon. Something doesn't add up, for me. Oh well, he gawn. I hear you... After Ozzie sticking by others who "struggle" until he goes to his grave, it makes me wonder what really happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:09 AM) It had been suggested that Kelly somehow got into someone's dog house and after reading the quotes by Ozzie, I believe it might be true. "He didn't play good for me......I didn't get to see this kid pitch". Huh? IIRC, Kelly came back briefly and did struggle, but not to the point where they should've given up om him so soon. Something doesn't add up, for me. Oh well, he gawn. Sounded like he was still not healthy when he was up here. He was throwing in the low 80's at the time. That might be what Oz meant when he said he didn't get to see him pitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:11 AM) I hear you... After Ozzie sticking by others who "struggle" until he goes to his grave, it makes me wonder what really happened. Maybe it had something to do with his arm hurting.. Ozz and Kelly barely even know eachother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Wunsch in the last month and a half; May - 6.48 ERA June - 5.40 ERA He was great early for them, but he's been hit hard lately. He does have a 2.53 ERA away from home though. He was always one of my favorite relievers. IIRC back in 2003, he had a big scoreless streak to start of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 One other thing, a lot of us may have thought when KW said Neal Cotts was a better pitcher than Wunsch at SoxFest that he was dead wrong. Doesn't look so bad in hindsight now does it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 07:30 AM) http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-doug17.html I know this is an article about Kelly and I agree that's the attitude Kelly should've had but look at the blurb about Frank. Good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjm676 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Didn't Wunsch only play 3 games for the Sox last season? How can Ozzie judge him on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 11:30 AM) Didn't Wunsch only play 3 games for the Sox last season? How can Ozzie judge him on that? Yea.. I kinda don't get the first part of this quote either.. "He didn't play good for me......I didn't get to see this kid pitch". It's a bit contradictory.. Oh well. That's Ozzie for ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Yawn. I liked the guy but didn't care one way or the other on seeing him go. I wish him luck against every team but us. I guess it was something to write on a slow sports day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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