Personal awards? Sox could care less

[greasywheels121]

Fun article. Nice to see some quotes from Aaron and the guys.

 

http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

 

Personal awards? Sox could care less

Players not bothered by lack of individual recognition

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- When the White Sox unwrapped their gifts during the past holiday season or counted down the last few minutes before 2006 started, most of them did so without any individual recognition for their historic accomplishment as a team in 2005.

 

Sure, Ozzie Guillen deservedly won the American League Manager of the Year award, one prize among a trio of postseason managerial honors. And Neal Cotts was voted by the fans as the Setup Man of the Year in MLB.com's This Year in Baseball awards.

 

But there was no Cy Young award for Mark Buehrle or Jon Garland. Paul Konerko was somewhere off in the distance among the final Most Valuable Player balloting, and even Tadahito Iguchi's stellar debut effort rated no better than fourth in the Rookie of the Year competition.

 

The most inexplicable and inconceivable sleight was bestowed upon general manager Kenny Williams, who lost out on Executive of the Year to Cleveland's Mark Shapiro. The architect of the Indians' resurgence certainly was more than worthy of the recognition, but if Williams didn't win for his master craftsmanship in 2005, the award probably should be disbanded.

 

No Gold Gloves came the way of Aaron Rowand, Joe Crede, or Buehrle, and there was a dearth of Silver Sluggers for anyone in the lineup. But in the long run, nobody within the White Sox family gave the lack of individual honors a first, second or even third thought.

 

This was a team, in every sense of the word, from the beginning of Spring Training in February. It was a team effort that built up a 15-game lead in the American League Central in August, and it was team cohesiveness that helped fight off what could have been the biggest collapse in baseball history.

 

Most importantly, it was a team that celebrated in Houston the franchise's first World Series title since 1917, finishing the season with 16 wins in its final 17 games. That trophy always was the only one that mattered. Just ask the somewhat overlooked players, who have maintained the team-first approach throughout the offseason.

 

"I was in Reed Johnson's wedding [earlier this offseason]. Actually, [Toronto's] Vernon Wells and I were both in the wedding," explained Rowand, who since has been traded to the Phillies for Jim Thome. "I told Vernon, 'You can have the Gold Glove any day of the week.' I have my ring."

 

Wells, Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Minnesota's Torii Hunter won Gold Gloves over Rowand, who arguably played as spectacular a center field as anyone in the AL. Oakland's Eric Chavez got the nod over Crede, while Texas' Kenny Rogers beat out Buehrle's sharp glove work.

 

Enough about the individual baseball awards, though, because this White Sox crew certainly received its share of regional notoriety. Neither David Letterman, Jay Leno nor Conan O'Brien featured a guest from the World Series champions, but a large group did appear on Oprah Winfrey's show.

 

There also were significant hometown parades for Crede in his hometown of Westphalia, Mo.,  and Willie Harris in his hometown of Cairo, Georgia. Rowand served as the grand marshal of the Christmas parade in Glendora, Calif., a much greater honor, in his opinion, than the small gathering for his close friend in Westphalia.

 

"There are over 200,000 in my city, and he has only 300," said Rowand with a laugh. "I've been wearing him out about it since it happened."

 

Crede corrected Rowand, telling him there were close to 1,000 people at the parade in his honor. It started with a call from his mother, to inform him of the city's desire to celebrate his vast accomplishments, and culminated with a bunch of floats featuring his name, a few horse-drawn carriages and even a couple of tractors.

 

"I got the key to the city, and I didn't know there was a key," said Crede with a laugh. "I was the first recipient, and that definitely was a neat thing.

 

"It was a true country parade," added Crede, who mentioned he knew just about every person on the Westphalia parade route, as opposed to the millions of people who turned out for the White Sox party in Chicago.

 

Harris not only received the key to Cairo, where he played high school baseball, and a 30-minute parade down Jackie Robinson Memorial Drive with his daughter and his mom, but also had his No. 6 jersey retired at Cairo High School. Harris went to the high school that day and talked to the kids at a pep rally for that night's playoff football game.

 

The street where Harris grew up was renamed Willie Harris Street, and every Nov. 4 going forward will be known as "Willie Harris Day" in Cairo. There was even recognition in the Georgia House of Representatives in regard to Harris scoring the only run in Game 4 of the World Series.

 

"It was unbelievable," said Harris, who much like Rowand will be playing for another team in 2006. "They showed me they appreciated what I did.

 

"We really don't go out to do things to get things like that. But it's great for us, for the experience and the moment. You will never forget those things."

 

Just as reserve catcher Chris Widger won't forget going back to Pennsville, N.J., and seeing his family's house decorated in black and white colors after the White Sox World Series victory. Just as A.J. Pierzynski won't forget his foray into pro wrestling, as the manager for Dale Torborg, in a six-man tag team at a TNA pay-per-view event in Orlando.

 

Sure, Pierzynski already had the perfect personality to be behind the microphone on wrestling shows, and it didn't hurt having a former pro wrestler such as Torborg involved in the operation. But the media attention drawn by Pierzynski during the playoffs made him a natural fit.

 

Even pitching coach Don Cooper saw an attendance spike in his offseason pitching clinics, run with Kevin Hickey in Chicago's suburbs. Cooper had "eight guys" for last year's sessions, and averaged close to 50 this year. Then again, who doesn't want to learn from the leader of baseball's best starting rotation.

 

It was a casual offseason walk down Ontario Street for Cooper, his wife and daughter that truly showed him how much the title meant to the city. Even bundled in winter clothes, people not only recognized Cooper but took the time to congratulate him.

 

Ultimately, that sort of personal prize has far more staying power than any sort of trophy or plaque.

 

"People were rolling down their windows, shaking my hand and wishing us a Merry Christmas," Cooper said. "I had people break down in tears, and wives thanking me for their husbands.

 

"We really are winning over more and more fans, and it's great to see so many still so geeked. It hasn't worn off at all."

[santo=dorf]

Son of a b****. I hate it when they get it wrong.

 

If they could care less, why don't they? The title implies they care, but the story says otherwise.

 

 

Now I know why they are hiring a new writer for the Sox.

[RME JICO]

Son of a b****.  I hate it when they get it wrong. 

 

If they could care less, why don't they?  The title implies they care, but the story says otherwise.

Now I know why they are hiring a new writer for the Sox.

It is a cliche. It used to be "I could not care less" and at some point it was shortened to "I could care less". It is a very common mistake.

 

At least the article reflects the character of the team as being team-oriented and driven.

Edited January 9, 2006 by RME JICO