What's with AJ?

[29andPoplar]

I'm usually not one who advocates change just for changes sake, but you have to go back a full calender year to the last time the Sox offense was actually resectable.

 

Very fair point and it's something they have to at least consider. Judging by Guillen's comments it doesn't appear any coaching changes will occur. But that's not to say it won't happen, one of them may decide to step down or a better offer might arise from another organization. Although it's hard to see how White Sox coaches can be hot properties right now. Nonetheless both Cora and Shines are viewed around baseball as potential major league managers.

[LVSoxFan]

Interesting story today: Houston fired their GM and manager.

 

After not getting the NL in '04 and losing the WS in '05 and last year, the owner had had enough.

 

When will our owner have had enough?

[Harry Chappas]

Interesting story today: Houston fired their GM and manager.

 

After not getting the NL in '04 and losing the WS in '05 and last year, the owner had had enough.

 

When will our owner have had enough?

 

When his GM spends $100M on a player not worth it and trades for a pitcher that does nothing and has an organization resting nicely out of one of the easist divisions to win in baseball histoty. You can not compare the Houston situation to the Sox at all. The Cincinnati Reds are in the race to a degree because of the schedule, Houston should be as well and with how their bullpen is working now they should be walking away with this division. Although I think the Sox should be over .500 they were probably the fourth best team in that division. The Tigers have a good team now becasue they sucked for so long. If the Sox get a Justin Verlander or Joe Mauer next June this season will be a success for me and better than going 84-78. Now if Erstad and Pods are batting 1 & 2 next year and they draft a player based on signability, you will have an argument.

[LVSoxFan]

So we'll give it one more year before heads roll?

 

I guess I could go along with that.

[Balta1701]

So we'll give it one more year before heads roll?

 

I guess I could go along with that.

I think that's a logical thing to think.

 

One thing people tend to underestimate in all sports, IMO, when calling for heads to roll in a front office is that as systems stay in place, if they are quality...they often improve with time. It may take time to overcome specific issues, and decisions and personnel choices may not always work instantly, but if you have a good system, you should gradually see improvement.

 

Another 70 win season next year, and I think everyone will admit that at least the lower level figures need shuffled.

[Gregory Pratt]

The AJ-Walker story's kind of weird:

 

Manager Ozzie Guillen provided some broad stroke details of the incident. Pierzynski grounded out against Manny Delcarmen to lead off the seventh, and according to Guillen, came back to the dugout and said that he didn't know Delcarmen threw a cutter. The groundout was Pierzynski's third career hitless at-bat against the Boston reliever. Guillen explained how the comment bothered Walker because it suggested his hitters weren't prepared and it was made in front of the team's manager. Guillen sided with Walker in this dugout issue, and Pierzynski said what he said was misunderstood by Walker.

 

then

 

"I don't throw a cutter," Delcarmen said yesterday. "[Jason Varitek] said that pitch [Pierzynski] was talking about was as straight as can be. I saw afterward that he was talking a lot to somebody, and then there was a lot of commotion. Sometimes my pitch moves a little, but I don't throw a cutter."

 

then

 

Said Guillen: "That's the 20th time we faced Delcarmen since I've been managing. If he doesn't know what he throws, don't make an excuse. That's a bad excuse. You put the coach on the spot to listen to that.

 

oooooookay.