Sox' Lack of Focus "Unacceptable"

[LVSoxFan]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/slezak/8125...carol26.article

 

Interesting. Obviously the team last year completely sucked but you had your pick of things that went wrong: the bullpen, Contreras, the horrible hitting, etc.

 

This is the first I've heard of this sort of thing (although I believe Steff has hinted at it). The one person left out, though, is Ozzie. If I were running this club and I saw this kind of thing, I'd rip them a new one, or get a new club.

 

I wonder who the "leader" will be this year seeing that there wasn't one last year. My money's on Swisher, although he's already been chewed out by KW for not running it out to first base, LOL.

 

Thoughts?

[Dick Allen]

After Nick Swisher led off with a single, Williams yelled down to his new player, ''We run hard to first base in Chicago!''

 

 

Williams then paused, turned to the coaching staff and said, ''Make sure he [bleeping] hears what I said.''

 

It appears they aren't screwing around this year. Not even in intrasquad games.

Edited February 26, 2008 by Dick Allen

[Gregory Pratt]

I really did, and do, get tired of seeing players dog it, so it'll be nice if they don't.

[Harry Chappas]

Anyone think Brett Tomko may have been right.

[LVSoxFan]

Can you explain that reference?

[witesoxfan]

It's not the lack of focus that was unacceptable last year. It was the number of s***ty players on the team that was unacceptable.

[Gregory Pratt]

There have been, to my eyes at least, players half-assing it since late 2006, though. But that's just how it looks to me and that, good or bad a player may be, is unacceptable.

[LVSoxFan]

I have to agree with Greg.

 

If there are players who can't even get motivated to do what they're paid obscene money to do, I find that appalling.

 

Let's hope this is indeed a "new" year; I would hate to go through 2007 ever again. That was embarassing.

[ScottyDo]

Seems like a LOOOOT of speculation to me, and probably some context-switching on Konerko but what do I know? Might be an issue, might not, but either way this roster is so different from last year's, I feel like it might just work itself out.

[fathom]

What a stupid article. It was more about talent than anything else last year. Did anyone really expect a starting lineup with Pods and Erstad in the 1/2 spot to win a very tough division? Is extra motivation and preparation really going to add velocity back to the pitches thrown by Contreras? I'm not even going to start on how effective Ozzie can motivate this core anymore, but these type of excuses for a miserable season are foolish.

Edited February 26, 2008 by fathom

[LVSoxFan]

Certainly those were problems but can you really deny that the team last year; with its talented players and those less talented, was absolutely without edge? Lifeless? Without emotion?

 

I certainly don't have to think too hard to remember games I was at where you were HOPING they'd put in the benchers--anybody, anybody to play with some emotion.

 

I specfically recall being at a Friday doubleheader where we got shelled--and I mean shelled--not once but twice by the Twins.

 

And I also remember saying more than once--of course you can't win 'em all but could you guys at least TRY?

 

Hopefully this is now a thing of the past if KW's p.o.'d and Konerko's acknowledging this sort of thing did exist.

[NorthSideSox72]

What a stupid article. It was more about talent than anything else last year. Did anyone really expect a starting lineup with Pods and Erstad in the 1/2 spot to win a very tough division? Is extra motivation and preparation really going to add velocity back to the pitches thrown by Contreras? I'm not even going to start on how effective Ozzie can motivate this core anymore, but these type of excuses for a miserable season are foolish.

A lack of effort of focus was certainly not reason number 1 for a lousy 2007. Probably not in the top 5.

 

But still, I think there is plenty of mental conditioning at play in the game, and I am glad to see things like what Williams said (and DA quoted). Hustle, focus and gamesmanship can be key parts.

 

[fathom]

A lack of effort of focus was certainly not reason number 1 for a lousy 2007. Probably not in the top 5.

 

But still, I think there is plenty of mental conditioning at play in the game, and I am glad to see things like what Williams said (and DA quoted). Hustle, focus and gamesmanship can be key parts.

 

I definitely agree that the players need to hustle more. Cabrera and Swisher should help with this. However, I'm not sure how hustling's going to improve our percentages against tough lefties.

[NorthSideSox72]

I definitely agree that the players need to hustle more. Cabrera and Swisher should help with this. However, I'm not sure how hustling's going to improve our percentages against tough lefties.

It won't. It could be a difference maker, here and there, in aspects of the game.

 

The article seems to overstate the importance of those factors, but they are not irrelevant either.

 

[Dick Allen]

The White Sox have been notorious for jogging to first base on routine grounders. I read an article in 2004 where a scout was quoted as saying they could never get correct times of White Sox players because none of them went all out on routine balls. As far as last year, Andy Gonzalez led off occassionally. That's really all you need to know about the offense, and the bullpen was pitiful. Maybe they could have won a few more games if everyone had a Pete Rose attitude, but they were just a bad team.

[Gregory Pratt]

I would advise All not to overlook the fact that this team has been playing without anything resembling heart or effort since late 2006. Not everyone but plenty of players. And jogging to first has been a problem since 2004, as DA notes. Talent is a problem with this team, but so are the mental and emotional aspects of the game.

[kapkomet]

I would advise All not to overlook the fact that this team has been playing without anything resembling heart or effort since late 2006. Not everyone but plenty of players. And jogging to first has been a problem since 2004, as DA notes. Talent is a problem with this team, but so are the mental and emotional aspects of the game.

For once, I agree with you. What is this world coming to?

 

[TheBigHurt]

My first impression of that article is that I don't quite think that anything Konerko said in that article was wrong.

[Wanne]

I liken last year's Sox team to this year's Illini basketball team. Just not an over-abundance of talent...and when the losses started piling up...their heart and desire seemed to fade. As much as I'd like to see Paulie be a more vocal leader...I'm just not sure he has it in him...nor Thome. Hopefully some youthful exuberance will spark this squad.

[YASNY]

I liken last year's Sox team to this year's Illini basketball team. Just not an over-abundance of talent...and when the losses started piling up...their heart and desire seemed to fade. As much as I'd like to see Paulie be a more vocal leader...I'm just not sure he has it in him...nor Thome. Hopefully some youthful exuberance will spark this squad.

 

I think the failures of the bullpen took the wind out of the sails of the team, which in turn prolonged the lack of hitting. That being said, if somebody like Paulie would have spoken up things might have been much different.

[CanOfCorn]

Intangibles can push a good team over the top. The 2007 Sox were not a good team. They may have won a few more games last year, but they wouldn't have gotten to the playoffs. Now, if they get a good start this year, playing with a chip on their shoulder might, just MIGHT get them to the playoffs as a wild card. But, either way, it's going to be tough.

 

If anything, the Sox will be more fun to watch this year.

[WCSox]

I would advise All not to overlook the fact that this team has been playing without anything resembling heart or effort since late 2006. Not everyone but plenty of players. And jogging to first has been a problem since 2004, as DA notes. Talent is a problem with this team, but so are the mental and emotional aspects of the game.

 

I think the failures of the bullpen took the wind out of the sails of the team, which in turn prolonged the lack of hitting. That being said, if somebody like Paulie would have spoken up things might have been much different.

 

The Sox clearly lost their mojo in the second half of '06 and looked like they were sleepwalking for most of last season. That said, players tend to feel a bit more motivated when they can score runs, their bullpen doesn't get consistently shelled, and when they aren't mired in fourth place. It's difficult to motivate an employee to work his/her ass off at ANY job when they don't feel like they're in a position to succeed.

Edited February 26, 2008 by WCSox

[WilliamTell]

I will also agree that the lack of effort has been shown since late 2006. It seems they came to spring training last year with the same attitude and it was a miricale that the Sox were about .500 after the first two months of the season. I hope this team is coming to spring training with more intensity and passion just like the 2005 season. I know many of you didn't like Podsednik, and granted, I don't get to see a lot of games so my thinking could be off a bit, but I never saw him jog out ground balls, his hustle was there.

[fathom]

I will also agree that the lack of effort has been shown since late 2006. It seems they came to spring training last year with the same attitude and it was a miricale that the Sox were about .500 after the first two months of the season. I hope this team is coming to spring training with more intensity and passion just like the 2005 season. I know many of you didn't like Podsednik, and granted, I don't get to see a lot of games so my thinking could be off a bit, but I never saw him jog out ground balls, his hustle was there.

 

I thought Pods was the biggest culprit of this lack of hustle. Erstad was great at hustling, and as much as we disliked how much playing time he got, the team was better with him healthy than when he was out.

[elrockinMT]

I really did, and do, get tired of seeing players dog it, so it'll be nice if they don't.

 

 

Why did it take management a full season to figure that "we run hard in Chicago?" It all sounds good, but we will see how it translates into wins and a championship first.