Buehrle>Wood Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 (edited) The road to Rios: Maybe the White Sox outfoxed the world on Alex Rios. Maybe he's going to wake up and earn every nickel of the $61.6 million they now have to pay him through 2014. But the tales we've heard from ex-teammates, and people who watched him coast through life in Toronto, make you wonder.Rios is guaranteed $12 million to $12.5 million every year from 2011 to 2014. And that's star money. But is he magically going to turn back into a star just because he's playing for Ozzie Guillen, in a hitters' paradise? Not if these reviews from ex-teammates are accurate: • "He's not a winning-type player. He's a guy who just doesn't have that burning desire to win, or be great." • "He was a guy who just didn't go after it. He'd be sleeping in his locker 10 minutes before he had to go out on the field. And not just once." • "He wasn't the same player after he got that [seven-year] contract. It sure seemed like he was a lot more motivated when he was looking for a contract than he was since he got the contract." Meanwhile, scouts we surveyed seemed dubious, too. "This guy should be a perennial 30-30 [hr-SB] guy," said one. "But to me, he's a classic underachiever. If Ozzie takes the wrong approach, he's going to lose him. He's a guy you've got to go real slow with. But whether Ozzie has that kind of patience, boy, I don't know." http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...rumblings090813 Edited August 13, 2009 by Buehrle>Wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Dye Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 (edited) Well hopefully soon he can start working for that new contract It's also worth pointing out that this sort thing is far from an anomaly. That's the current athlete. We wish they'd all motivate themselves to the highest level, but we have plenty of guys here who dont explode out of the batters box, who dont go that extra mile. That type of guy who busts it 24/7 is now the exception not the norm. Edited August 13, 2009 by Princess Dye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 He's got a clean slate with me right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 If thats the case, hopefully we have a manager that can get him to succeed cause if he doesn't play the game the right way Ozzie will run him out very quickly. We shall see and as far as I'm concerned I have a very open mind about Rios because of all the tools he possesses and the type of holes he can fill in Chicago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Dye Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 (edited) To be as highly regarded a defensive player as he is.....he must hustle to some extent.. Also clubhouses can be catty. Griffey had all these negative stories surrounding him but was loved here. You just cant tell what a fresh start will be. Edited August 13, 2009 by Princess Dye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son of a rude Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 It seems like everybody loves playing for the white sox and ozzie once they get here. Hopefully it will change his attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 02:54 PM) It seems like everybody loves playing for the white sox and ozzie once they get here. Hopefully it will change his attitude. And the reality is playing baseball in Toronto is completely different. Chicago is going to be a major change and we can only hope that it helps revive his baseball career cause he's got all kinds of tools and I'll be fine if we get the guy to play at his 3 year averages but the reality is it would be better if we could get him to do even better (he has the ability). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 (edited) Edited August 13, 2009 by nitetrain8601 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky Mark Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 05:08 PM) The vid was pretty dark. That could have been any Alex. My money's on Trabek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Why should he hustle? He's set with that contract. He has a reputation as a lazy player. We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Hates Prospects Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Rios deserves the benefit of the doubt here. Toronto is kind of a s***ty place to be, not only because of the dome and turf, but because that team can play very, very well - well enough to win other divisions in baseball - and still fail to make the playoffs because of New York, Boston, and Tampa Bay. In Chicago, Rios will go into each and every ST with not only playoff expectations but also a realistic shot at making them. If we make the playoffs this year, it will be 3 division titles and a World Championship within a 5-year period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DABearSoX Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 10:21 PM) Rios deserves the benefit of the doubt here. Toronto is kind of a s***ty place to be, not only because of the dome and turf, but because that team can play very, very well - well enough to win other divisions in baseball - and still fail to make the playoffs because of New York, Boston, and Tampa Bay. In Chicago, Rios will go into each and every ST with not only playoff expectations but also a realistic shot at making them. If we make the playoffs this year, it will be 3 division titles and a World Championship within a 5-year period. I hope you are right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I sleep ten minutes before work, and I still wash the f*** out of the dishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wise Master Buehrle Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Let's just hope that Rios is aware that if he pulls that kind of stuff here, he will not have many friends in Chicago for the duration of his contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Hates Prospects Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (Wise Master Buehrle @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 05:32 PM) Let's just hope that Rios is aware that if he pulls that kind of stuff here, he will not have many friends in Chicago for the duration of his contract. We should also remember we're talking about a team that was not long ago managed by a guy who would challenge his players to fist fights to resolve everyday disputes. Something tells me between that and the constant 3rd or 4th-place finishes, Toronto didn't exactly have the most cohesive clubhouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Let's hope if he does pull any of that stuff here Ozzie or some of the vets will set him straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 FWIW, the Giants said the same stuff about AJ. How'd that turn out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (Wise Master Buehrle @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 11:32 PM) Let's just hope that Rios is aware that if he pulls that kind of stuff here, he will not have many friends in Chicago for the duration of his contract. Not only that but he will be gone period. But, I think just as has been said here earlier that Rios has a clean slate right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanne Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 05:04 PM) FWIW, the Giants said the same stuff about AJ. How'd that turn out? ^^^^^^^ that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash73 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) I sleep ten minutes before work, and I still wash the f*** out of the dishes. LMAO. That is the best post I have ever read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letsgoarow Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 QUOTE (Crash73 @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 12:39 AM) LMAO. That is the best post I have ever read. Awesome!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SockMe Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 "He was a guy who just didn't go after it. He'd be sleeping in his locker 10 minutes before he had to go out on the field. And not just once." I especially didn't like this quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G&T Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 07:04 PM) FWIW, the Giants said the same stuff about AJ. How'd that turn out? I don't think anyone called AJ lazy. A cancer? Yes. Lazy? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Rios and Ramirez can have a "Slack-off" contest. Who's going to piss off Ozzie the quickest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 QUOTE (G&T @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 06:43 PM) I don't think anyone called AJ lazy. A cancer? Yes. Lazy? No. There were the stories of him not preparing before games, sitting in the San Fran locker room and watching Twins games rather than going over tape of the hitters they'd be about to face, not talking to the pitchers, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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