Good Read for Sox Fans

[The Ginger Kid]

Some good points about expectations:

 

Linky

 

CHICAGO -- Only Ozzie Guillen can sit on a dugout bench several hours before the start of a crucial three-game series and greet newly-acquired New York Yankees right fielder Bobby Abreu with a playful middle-finger salute.

 

Only Guillen can mock the suddenly popular theory that his Chicago White Sox are in need of mouth-to-mouth, especially with the AL East-leading Yankees in town, followed by a visit from the AL Central-leading and totally unconscious Detroit Tigers.

 

And only Guillen can remind everyone, again, that he's not afraid to lose his job -- even though nobody is suggesting he should.

 

Give a warm round of applause to your defending World Series champions, who are about as dull as a police car chase.

 

Nine months ago, the White Sox were picking ticker tape out of their hair and wiping victory cigar ashes off their suit lapels. Their deltoids hurt from hoisting the World Series trophy.

 

Now you hear the occasional boo at U.S. Cellular Field. A certain unrest prevails. White Sox followers are, well, nervous.

 

Never mind that Guillen's team is 21 games over .500. Or that the White Sox still have arguably the best middle of the lineup in baseball. Or that 51 games remain in the season. Instead, fingernail chewing has become as popular on the South Side as drinking a postgame brew at Jimbo's.

 

"... Now everybody expects us to win every single game," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "And when we don't win a game -- we lose two in a row -- it's like the end of the world. If we hadn't won it last year, it wouldn't be like that. But that's the expectations on you when you win."

 

With Tuesday evening's 6-5, 11-inning win against the Yankees, the White Sox moved into single digits (nine) behind the Tigers, who apparently chugged an entire bottle of 1927 Yankees pills. They hold a half-game lead in the AL wild-card standings. Regardless of what you've heard, they're fine.

 

"I think we're playing good," said Guillen, who later hugged Abreu near the batting cage. "I don't say we're playing great. I'll say this: The White Sox are playing good, the Detroit Tigers are unbelievable. I think that sounds better. Overall, we have the second-, third-[best] record in baseball and we're treated a different way."

 

This is what happens when you win a World Series. Visiting Yankees professor Joe Torre, who has four Series championship rings, can provide the details.

 

"First of all, you don't catch anyone by surprise anymore," Torre said. "Even though the White Sox were a very good team all last year, the fact of the matter is they won, and when you get up there on that mountain, everybody's trying to take a shot at you. [Opponents] always seem to save their best pitcher for you, and a lot of things like that."

 

Torre led the Yankees to three consecutive World Series titles, and would have won a fourth had the usually automatic Mariano Rivera been able to hold a ninth-inning lead in Game 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, New York loses, "and all of a sudden the talk around is how disappointing we are," Torre said. "So you realize at that point in time that the expectations are high and that's what you basically have to deal with. You don't complain about it, you just deal with it."

 

Guillen is dealing with it as only he can. He doesn't invent excuses. That isn't his -- or his team's -- style. And anyway, Guillen is responsible for some of the 2006 White Sox strangeness, beginning with his dugout meltdown after a rookie reliever failed to hit an opposing batter, and followed about a week later by his infamous tirade against a Chicago sports columnist.

 

Instead, Guillen remains as brash and honest as ever. He looked genuinely perplexed when someone semi-suggested the Yankees were to be feared.

 

"They Yankees -- they got a worse record than we do?" Guillen said before the game.

 

"Better," said a writer.

 

"By one game," Guillen said.

 

"Two," he was told.

 

"Yeah, wow!" said Guillen, unimpressed.

 

Guillen did give Torre's team props for winning without injured outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui in the lineup. But no-brainer-better than his White Sox? Please. The White Sox still have a formidable starting rotation (though, Mark Buehrle hasn't won since June 27). Still have a respectable bullpen and a hellacious closer. Still hit lots of home runs.

 

A year ago on Aug. 8, the White Sox lost to the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run, just like he did Tuesday night. But back then the White Sox were 33 games above .500, 12½ games ahead of Cleveland, 15½ games ahead of Minnesota and 19 games ahead of the afterthought Tigers. Now there's a chance they could go from World Series title to playoff no-show.

 

"I'm tired of people saying there's time," Pierzynski said. "There's not time. You got to go out and do it."

 

The White Sox are in the early stages of a brutal 24-day, 24-game schedule. Between Tuesday evening's game and Aug. 27, they'll play the Yankees three times, the Tigers seven times and the Minnesota Twins six times. And September isn't any easier, with 18 of 29 games on the road.

 

"If we win 30 games out of -- how many games we got left? -- that's 95 wins," Guillen said. "If you don't go to the playoffs with 95 wins, go home and bang your head in the wall. That's it. That's all you have to do."

 

The walls are safe. The White Sox will squirm into the postseason.

 

Don't believe me? Go talk to Guillen's finger.

 

Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at [email protected].

[GoRowand33]

similar article in the tribune today

[fathom]

"I'm tired of people saying there's time," Pierzynski said. "There's not time. You got to go out and do it."

 

This is the best quote I've seen out of the White Sox organization all season

[Milkman delivers]

"I'm tired of people saying there's time," Pierzynski said. "There's not time. You got to go out and do it."

 

This is the best quote I've seen out of the White Sox organization all season

 

And it's really not surprising who it came from.

[jasonxctf]

"I'm tired of people saying there's time," Pierzynski said. "There's not time. You got to go out and do it."

 

This is the best quote I've seen out of the White Sox organization all season

 

 

i wish more people on this board took this to heart as well.

[Kalapse]

"I'm tired of people saying there's time," Pierzynski said. "There's not time. You got to go out and do it."

 

This is the best quote I've seen out of the White Sox organization all season

That's pretty funny that within the past few days we've had IMO the best and worst quotes of the season from a person in the White Sox organization. The AJ quote is beyond perfect, there should be a serious sense of urgency right now for this team and I can't say that I've seen it from them but this quote shows me that atleast one guy in the Clubhouse knows what the current situation is. The worst quote, was from Guillen talking about McCarthy, Brandon went out there last September and put together 5 starts that the Sox desperately needed, HE was the best pitcher in baseball last September picking up 3 victories and posting a 1.69 ERA/0.91 WHIP on a team that was circling the drain, I'm not sure the Sox even make the playoffs last season if he doesn't step it up in the final month. For Guillen to speak ill of him like that was just sickening.

[fathom]

That's pretty funny that within the past few days we've had IMO the best and worst quotes of the season from a person in the White Sox organization. The AJ quote is beyond perfect, there should be a serious sense of urgency right now for this team and I can't say that I've seen it from them but this quote shows me that atleast one guy in the Clubhouse knows what the current situation is. The worst quote, was from Guillen talking about McCarthy, Brandon went out there last September and put together 5 starts that the Sox desperately needed, HE was the best pitcher in baseball last September picking up 3 victories and posting a 1.69 ERA/0.91 WHIP on a team that was circling the drain, I'm not sure the Sox even make the playoffs last season if he doesn't step it up in the final month. For Guillen to speak ill of him like that was just sickening.

 

BTW, was Mariotti accurate when he wrote that Ozzie Guillen said that the reason Joe Crede is good is because of Ozzie Guillen?

[Kalapse]

BTW, was Mariotti accurate when he wrote that Ozzie Guillen said that the reason Joe Crede is good is because of Ozzie Guillen?

God I hope not.

[fathom]

God I hope not.

 

Yesterday's Sun Times had the quote. If someone can find it and post it, I'd appreciate it.

[The Ginger Kid]

For Guillen to speak ill of him like that was just sickening.

 

one step back in the sensitivity training

[Kalapse]

Yesterday's Sun Times had the quote. If someone can find it and post it, I'd appreciate it.

Dear lord I hope this is a misquote.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay08.html

''Joe Crede has had the season he's had because Ozzie Guillen is the manager,'' said the Blizzard of Oz. ''Two years ago, this kid is out of baseball, and last year, nobody wanted him here. What I see from this guy ... he can have a lot of better years than Robin Ventura.''

[Rowand44]

Dear lord I hope this is a misquote.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay08.html

Wow.

[greasywheels121]

Well Crede wouldn't be here if the majority of ST had control of what was taking place in the Sox organization.

[Wanne]

Dear lord I hope this is a misquote.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay08.html

 

 

You almost have to consider the source on this. Plus...if it has come to the point where Ozzie is referring to himself in the third person context....that's a little disturbing.

[tealeafreaderii]

Dear lord I hope this is a misquote.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay08.html

 

Everyone in the media (and possibly the organization) was ready to give up on him...

 

maybe Ozzie fought to keep him here... and thats what he means

[TitoMB345]

Dear lord I hope this is a misquote.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay08.html

I don't think that quote is that bad. I think its partially true. Some managers might have given up on Crede already, and maybe he'd be a bench player/spot starter. Who knows?

 

 

Everyone in the media (and possibly the organization) was ready to give up on him...

 

maybe Ozzie fought to keep him here... and thats what he means

Thats what I think too..

[Kalapse]

Well Crede wouldn't be here if the majority of ST had control of what was taking place in the Sox organization.

That's why Organizations aren't run by large groups of fans. I do belive Ozzie is completely off his rocker.

[greasywheels121]

That's why Organizations aren't run by large groups of fans. I do belive Ozzie is completely off his rocker.

 

I agree with Ozzie on this one. He's always done a great job giving players a chance to prove themselves, whether they deserve the chance or not.

[Kalapse]

I don't think that quote is that bad. I think its partially true. Some managers might have given up on Crede already, and maybe he'd be a bench player/spot starter. Who knows?

Thats what I think too..

2005 was Joe Crede's 3rd full season in the big leagues, he showed some nice progression at the plate in pitch selection early on in the year as opposed to the year before. Joe was showing flashes of brilliance that were overshadowed by month to month inconsistencies and back problems all this while playing elite defense at a VERY important position. I really don't think Joe Crede's spot on the roster was in as much jeopardy as some people may think. Guillen loves talking about the fans in his pressers and how their opinions are often wrong, I'd say he's likely addressing them with that quote.

[greasywheels121]

2005 was Joe Crede's 3rd full season in the big leagues, he showed some nice progression at the plate in pitch selection early on in the year as opposed to the year before. Joe was showing flashes of brilliance that were overshadowed by month to month inconsistencies all this while playing elite defense at a VERY important position. I really don't think Joe Crede's spot on the roster was in as much jeopardy as some people may think. Guillen loves talking about the fans in his pressers and how their opinions are often wrong, I'd say he's likely addressing them with that quote.

 

That's how I interpreted it, and I don't see how that makes Ozzie off his rocker or anything.

[Kalapse]

That's how I interpreted it, and I don't see how that makes Ozzie off his rocker or anything.

The McCarthy quote is what got me more than anything, he's telling people to "check the record" when it seems he needs to do it himself. He can deflect questions involving McCarthy to the rotation without making s*** up and downplaying what his rookie pitcher did for him the year before.

 

When you put together the 2 quotes as well as some of his recent actions, he's really been acting strange lately.

[TitoMB345]

The McCarthy quote is what got me more than anything, he's telling people to "check the record" when it seems he needs to do it himself. He can deflect questions involving McCarthy to the rotation without making s*** up and downplaying what his rookie pitcher did for him the year before.

 

When you put together the 2 quotes as well as some of his recent actions, he's really been acting strange lately.

Yes, the McCarthy quote I think we can all agree is complete bulls***. In no WAY was McCarthy bad or even "not good" he was purely dominate. It was a very stupid thing for Ozzie to say.

[kapkomet]

Yes, the McCarthy quote I think we can all agree is complete bulls***. In no WAY was McCarthy bad or even "not good" he was purely dominate. It was a very stupid thing for Ozzie to say.

someone link me or quote me what he said about B-Mac, because I missed it.

[Rowand44]

someone link me or quote me what he said about B-Mac, because I missed it.

'If [starting McCarthy] went through my mind, we would have done it already,'' Guillen said. ''I think those five guys we bring -- put it this way, if we throw those five guys from my starting rotation in the air, they won't land. Somebody would pick them up.

 

''Everyone talks about McCarthy. Last year we threw McCarthy, and he wasn't too good either. OK? Check the records. Thank you. Everyone thinks McCarthy is [blank]-damn Cy Young.''

[tealeafreaderii]

When you put together the 2 quotes as well as some of his recent actions, he's really been acting strange lately.

 

The last time Ozzie started acting really crazy (like near bipolar) the Sox put their collective nose to the grind stone and beat off the Indians...

 

perhaps this is a good sign

 

"who put this thing together? Me, thats who. Who do I trust? Me, thats who."

-Ozzie Guillen (while taking bubble bath and smoking a fine Cuban cigar)

Edited August 9, 2006 by tealeafreaderii