Ozzie Guillen Released from Contract

[Balta1701]

The sad part is that from the sounds of it, he has his best CF playing 2B.

Unless you're referring to Uribe, Alexei didn't look like he deserved a second of playing time until May, when Uribe got hurt. I can still remember how stunned I was that the guy who looked like he belonged in single-A in April came out in May and started hitting everything in sight.

[southsider2k5]

Alexei Ramirez was the opening day CF for the White Sox in 2008.

 

Exactly. In Cuba that was supposed to be his best position. Instead he stuck Swisher out there.

[Quin]

Alexei Ramirez was the opening day CF for the White Sox in 2008.

 

I know, I'm trying to explain his logic even though I've pointed Alexei was the opening day CF like 193891 times.

[southsider2k5]

I know, I'm trying to explain his logic even though I've pointed Alexei was the opening day CF like 193891 times.

 

Did you hear Kenny fired Joey by text after telling him he was the interim guy?

[Quin]

Did you hear Kenny fired Joey by text after telling him he was the interim guy?

 

f*** it, the CF and LF thing is going in the Misconception thread.

 

[Milkman delivers]

As much as you hate me, this is why I hate your posts sometimes.

That's just insane reasoning.

The manager has to try to get something out of a bum like Rios?

History of sports on all levels show that a turd is a turd. Polish it all you want it's a turd.

You hate Ozzie, fine.

But to put Rios on Ozzie is unfair and in my opinion, totally unfounded.

What's Oz supposed to do to fire him up? Put $10,000 in his locker and say he can keep it if he hits .280 and actually hustles?

 

You get on me for not posting stats or things to back up my arguments that are based on theory. This theory of yours blaming Ozzie for Rios is so off base. Do you stand by this post of yours??

Good luck to the next manager in "getting the most" out of Rios.

It's a miracle a manager can get Rios to show up to the park every day. Oh wait ... Rios wouldn't get paid if he didn't show up and might get suspended which would affect his pocketbook. So he shows up.

 

Rios had a good season in 2010. I don't know how Ozzie's supposed to get him to play harder. I'm not a manager. But I do know that it's his f***ing job to get his players to play hard. If they don't, it's on the manager and he will be let go.

[Leonard Zelig]

I know, I'm trying to explain his logic even though I've pointed Alexei was the opening day CF like 193891 times.

I see, wasn't sure what you meant by that.

[Marty34]

Exactly. In Cuba that was supposed to be his best position. Instead he stuck Swisher out there.

 

Where were you going to play Swisher with Quentin in left and Dye in right?

[greg775]

Rios had a good season in 2010. I don't know how Ozzie's supposed to get him to play harder. I'm not a manager. But I do know that it's his f***ing job to get his players to play hard. If they don't, it's on the manager and he will be let go.

 

The only way to get Rios to play hard is with money.

If it's a contract year, look for him to perk up.

[Milkman delivers]

The only way to get Rios to play hard is with money.

If it's a contract year, look for him to perk up.

 

I didn't realize that 2010 was a contract year.

[Balta1701]

I didn't realize that 2010 was a contract year.

It wasn't.

[Balta1701]

Where were you going to play Swisher with Quentin in left and Dye in right?

God I hate having to do this. I really do. Marty's right.

Swisher's patience could be an important addition to the White Sox, who were last in the majors in 2007 with a .318 on-base percentage.

 

Swisher, whose father Steve was a first-round draft pick of the White Sox and played for the Chicago Cubs, said he was surprised by news of the trade.

 

"Oakland was a great spot for me. I have no hard feelings," Nick Swisher said. "Billy Beane gave me my shot and he's a genius. He knows what he's doing. ... He's got a game plan and going to stick to that."

 

Swisher's 80 career home runs were a franchise record by a switch-hitter, and he also set his highs for batting average, walks and doubles (36) in 2007.

 

Swisher said he's looking forward to playing an aggressive style under colorful White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

 

"I hope the walls are padded over there in Chicago," Swisher said.

General manager Ken Williams said Chicago's initial plan is to play Swisher mostly in center field, unless Jerry Owens -- who had the job at the end of last season -- has an impressive spring. That would mean Swisher seeing more time in left field. He can also spell Paul Konerko at first.

 

Swisher's outgoing personality, grind-it-out style and high on-base percentage is just what the White Sox were looking for.

 

"Everything that I've heard about Nick from a variety of sources, whether it be on the field or off the field, is that this guy fits in and fits in perfectly with what we are trying to do," Williams said.

The USA Today

"We're going to worry about winning a championship in '08," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said, "instead of waiting to win a championship in 2010, 2011. He's the perfect complement to what we believe is needed."

 

...

The 27-year-old Swisher, a switch-hitter and a popular presence in the clubhouse because of his high-energy, playful nature, had been one of few constants for Oakland in recent seasons — playing in the outfield and at first base while the team dealt with injuries at most every position.

 

The White Sox plan to play Swisher in center field.

 

"I have no hard feelings," Swisher said. "It's a great step for me, joining a team that wants to win right now."

Passan

After whiffing on Torii Hunter, Kosuke Fukudome and Aaron Rowand, the White Sox needed a power-hitting center fielder. Swisher’s name surfaced, and general manager Ken Williams sent the A’s his two best prospects, pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Fautino De los Santos, along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

 

Chicago had its center fielder, at least when he trimmed 15 pounds. And it also inherited a new leadoff hitter, seemingly a bizarre position for Swisher, who for his whole life had batted in the middle of lineups and could threaten 40 home runs at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field.

 

And yet the rationale makes sense: Manager Ozzie Guillen wants to load the top of his lineup with players who get on base, and Swisher walked 100 times last season and posted an on-base percentage of .381. This year he’s been even better, a .460 on-base percentage and 11 runs in 12 games.

 

“When the team gets hot, I think this guy is going to carry this ballclub,” Guillen said.

 

First he’s got to get used to the whole leading-off thing, particularly at home, which Swisher still doesn’t exactly take well. After the third out in the top of the first, Swisher runs to the bench from center field, which seems like a mile compared to his other position, first base, takes off his hat, places it on the bench with his glove, walks across the dugout, grabs his bat in the tunnel, puts on his helmet, attaches his shin guard, steps into the on-deck circle, smears pine tar on his bat, takes one, two, three swings and steps in.

 

All within less than two minutes.

 

“This has been beautiful,” Swisher said. “I have no hard feelings at all. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys. Hey, they’re playing well, we’re playing well.”

The fact that Alexei was there in CF on opening day was anqother of Ozzie's classic lineup experiments, like Jerry Owens in LF and Carlos Quentin on the bench.

Gonzo

There might be a perception that the Sox's farm system isn't that deep. It's partly true, but they've had enough talent that has attracted other teams to make deals such as the moves for Javier Vazquez, Jim Thome, Nick Swisher, Mark Teahen, Jake Peavy and Juan Pierre. I thought the trade to acquire Swisher hurt, mostly because Swisher was asked to bat leadoff and play center field ? two areas he wasn't totally equipped to perform successfully. And what they received in return from the Yankees for Nick was just as bad.

[Quin]

It wasn't.

 

Sarcasm.

[Quin]

God I hate having to do this. I really do. Marty's right.

 

The USA Today

 

Passan

The fact that Alexei was there in CF on opening day was anqother of Ozzie's classic lineup experiments, like Jerry Owens in LF and Carlos Quentin on the bench.

 

Goddamnit Balta.

 

[greg775]

I didn't realize that 2010 was a contract year.

 

You got me there, but Rios' career stats scream "average player" to me.

21 homers, 88 rbi's last year, good slugging percentage, nice year especially for him.

 

17, 71 the year before

14, 62 the year before

15, 79 theyear before

24, 85 in 2007. His other "good year."

 

I guess conceivably he could bounce back next year at the age of 31.

I don't think it'll have anything to do with the manager. It'll have everything to do with what's in that guy's head.

I wonder if he has performance bonuses in his contract. He's the guy who needs some.

[Balta1701]

You got me there, but Rios' career stats scream "average player" to me.

21 homers, 88 rbi's last year, good slugging percentage, nice year especially for him.

 

17, 71 the year before

14, 62 the year before

15, 79 theyear before

24, 85 in 2007. His other "good year."

 

I guess conceivably he could bounce back next year at the age of 31.

I don't think it'll have anything to do with the manager. It'll have everything to do with what's in that guy's head.

I wonder if he has performance bonuses in his contract. He's the guy who needs some.

If Alex Rios was an "Average player" with the bat and played a good CF while running the bases effectively, he'd be very very valuable. CF Defense is hard to come by. We learned this repeatedly. Moderate production from CF would be stellar.

 

I think if anything gets through to him, it happens in the offseason. He was dumped unceremoniously by the Blue Jays and spent the next offseason working hard with Walker to get back into a groove. He then had a solid year and spent the offseason and spring training partying with no one to push him the whole time.

[southsider2k5]

It wasn't.

 

That was the point.

[Marty34]

God I hate having to do this. I really do. Marty's right.

 

I know how difficult this must have been and truly appreciate the effort on your part.

[NorthSideSox72]

I have to agree with Chisoxfn... Dunn was neither Kenny nor Ozzie's fault, no one saw this coming for him. Peavy had one injury, and ankle injury unrelated to pitching, so I don't fault him for that either. Swisher was questionable defensively, that's on Kenny but not a big deal. Kenny's biggest misses were Rios and the Hudson trade, he outright blundered those.

 

[Balta1701]

I have to agree with Chisoxfn... Dunn was neither Kenny nor Ozzie's fault, no one saw this coming for him. Peavy had one injury, and ankle injury unrelated to pitching, so I don't fault him for that either. Swisher was questionable defensively, that's on Kenny but not a big deal. Kenny's biggest misses were Rios and the Hudson trade, he outright blundered those.

Again, with Peavy, this really isn't true. He hasn't had anything "Major" before of the sort that would require surgery, but he has had elbow problems in the past, including in 2008, the year before the Sox traded for him.

 

The San Diego Padres have been hit with some devastating news. Star pitcher Jake Peavy has experienced elbow soreness in 3 of his past 4 starts, and has been scratched from his Monday start. The latest of elbow pains came Wednesday, when Peavy had his shortest outing of the season, pitching only 4 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, and having no command of his fastball. The start before that, it was all fastball and no breaking ball. “Obviously I haven’t been sharp,” Peavy said. “And the discomfort hasn’t been improving.” Jake will now undergo an MRI Monday.

 

Pending the results of the MRI, you could possibly see Peavy wind up on the disabled list. “It’s not normal soreness, which is why we’re going to have it looked at,” Peavy said. “It’s been about for three or four starts now that I’ve felt a little something. It’s sore all the time.” The pains gotten so bad that, the elbow bothers him on almost every pitch he makes. After taking the MRI, Peavy will then be examined by team physicians either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

 

The Padres, Peavy, team fans and fantasy owners can only hope this injury is relatively minor. But whenever you hear elbow soreness, especially from a power pitcher, it is never a good sign. This also is not the first time, Jake has had problems with his elbow. In 2004, he missed a few starts with a “flexor mass”, since then he’s been lights out and also starting over 30 games a season. “Anytime that you’re told you are going to miss a start and have an MRI, you are concerned,” said Peavy.

He didn't actually pop anything, but he was a power pitcher with mechanical and elbow issues before he ever came to the Sox. There was a reasonable chance he was going to get hurt.

ESPN version added.

San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy will come off the disabled list and face the Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Peavy reacted well to his four-inning simulated start Saturday with no physical setbacks to his strained right elbow.

 

"We didn't feel there was any need to either take more time or move him up," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We thought the time was right to slot him in Thursday."

 

Peavy had no doubt that he is ready to go.

 

"Like I said the other day, I'm chomping at the bit," he said. "I'm as ready as I will ever be. I feel good and this is the right time to do it."

 

Peavy's last start was on May 14 at the Chicago Cubs. But the club shut him down when a lingering pain in his elbow continued after that start. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 20, retroactive to May 15.

[NorthSideSox72]

Again, with Peavy, this really isn't true. He hasn't had anything "Major" before of the sort that would require surgery, but he has had elbow problems in the past, including in 2008, the year before the Sox traded for him.

 

He didn't actually pop anything, but he was a power pitcher with mechanical and elbow issues before he ever came to the Sox. There was a reasonable chance he was going to get hurt.

ESPN version added.

A short term stint for a sore elbow? Most pitchers have that sort of thing come up. Not what I'd consider a warning flag. Really the only significant indicator of risk I saw with him was mechanical, and that is a roll of the dice. I just don't see blaming Kenny on this one. Plenty of other moves to blame him for.

 

[Balta1701]

A short term stint for a sore elbow? Most pitchers have that sort of thing come up. Not what I'd consider a warning flag. Really the only significant indicator of risk I saw with him was mechanical, and that is a roll of the dice. I just don't see blaming Kenny on this one. Plenty of other moves to blame him for.

A short term DL stint for a problem associated with his mechanics? Come on man. This is like Stras blowing his elbow out. Yeah, it was sad to have it happen, but you had to know it was possible.

[Steve9347]

Kenny traded for Swisher to play CF. Another mistake in talent evaluation on his part.

While I agree that KW has made many, many mistakes, he had no intention on Swisher playing CF that season.

[Balta1701]

While I agree that KW has made many, many mistakes, he had no intention on Swisher playing CF that season.

Unless you believe Kenny Williams.

[Steve9347]

Unless you believe Kenny Williams.

Yeah, I just finally got to that quote you posted.

 

Jesus Christ. KW. WTF buddy.

 

I really wish we'd just have cleaned house.