Jose Abreu Speaks His Mind on Sox' Poor Play -- a 1st?

[chitownsportsfan]

So this was brought up in the game thread (thanks to whoever mentioned it) but I wanted to explore it a little deeper. Here's some snippets from Jose pregame:

 

I think we have to make some changes probably in the way we are approaching the game

 

We still have over 100 games left,” Abreu said. “We just have to keep working. Maybe at some point have a meeting and think about what we have been doing or what we need to be executing. But I think that we are OK. I hope so. I am very confident that we will be OK at the end of the season.”

 

Does anyone remember anything from last year where he was as blunt about the team's play needing to change? It's hard to get a gander through his interpreter at what he expressed in Carib style Spanish, he wasn't that direct imo but I don't remember anything similar prior. And of course the great thing about Jose is that he produces on the field on a day he decided to say a little something. Leads by example and maybe now a bit more through words?

 

I'm sure he's a leader for the Latin guys already maybe he can take over from Kong as the team leader.

 

A bit more at the link, anyone got a video of the interview?

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/jose-a...y-approach-game

Edited April 23, 2015 by chitownsportsfan

[caulfield12]

Let's not forget Alexei's pretty direct questioning of the decision not to review the Castellanos tag play...

 

And perhaps they can figure out a way, while they're at it, to keep Jose Quintana from being in the bottom 10 in MLB WHIP.

[chitownsportsfan]

Let's not forget Alexei's pretty direct questioning of the decision not to review the Castellanos tag play...

 

And perhaps they can figure out a way, while they're at it, to keep Jose Quintana from being in the bottom 10 in MLB WHIP.

 

they don't have Viciedo to take their frustration out on anymore! Now it's the whole team lol. Good, I prefer fiery players, good fiery players that is.

Edited April 23, 2015 by chitownsportsfan

[caulfield12]

Nor DeAza as a punching bag.

 

Hopefully, Geo Soto's a stabilizing presence there, as well.

Edited April 23, 2015 by caulfield12

[LDF]

 

in my simple mind, maybe, just maybe this team needed the leader to step forward. that one person who will be the face, the voice the personality of this team to step up.

 

i like it. it was always understood, who that leader is, but it is reassuring that Jose A step forward and took the reins.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

Good. They've played like s*** as a team. I can't stand Robin, but wake the f*** up and reward the front office and ownership for their hard work. This isn't a 6-8 team. They can play a lot better and will.

[greg775]

Very very glad Jose spoke up.

[LDF]

to me, this team was like a lost ship without any rudder wondering around.

 

it needed a leader.

Edited April 23, 2015 by LDF

[southsider2k5]

The funny thing is while everyone attacks Robin after this, if you read or watch the interview, he defends Robin in the very next set of comments, and said he isn't the problem.

[Dick Allen]

And perhaps they can figure out a way, while they're at it, to keep Jose Quintana from being in the bottom 10 in MLB WHIP.

Yeah, that's on Robin. Can't blame Coop. He's only the pitching coach, and the self proclaimed, "manager of the pitchers".

[LDF]

The funny thing is while everyone attacks Robin after this, if you read or watch the interview, he defends Robin in the very next set of comments, and said he isn't the problem.

 

yeah, i think they, the players and other coaches hear and see the venom being spewed toward RV and know, most of this is not his fault.

[Balta1701]

Yeah, that's on Robin. Can't blame Coop. He's only the pitching coach, and the self proclaimed, "manager of the pitchers".

I agree. Don Cooper should have everything that has happened to Jose Quintana in his career credited to him.

[pettie4sox]

Q had a bad outing. Look at what Anibal Sanchez is doing today. 6IP 1ER.

[southsider2k5]

It amazes me that people are giving more credence to 3 starts versus the first 3 years of his career.

[Balta1701]

It amazes me that people are giving more credence to 3 starts versus the first 3 years of his career.

I think part of the problem with Jose is that we've been in awe of what he's done the last 2+ years so we're all kind of worried that something will go wrong with that incredible "out of nowhere" job he's done.

[chw42]

It amazes me that people are giving more credence to 3 starts versus the first 3 years of his career.

 

I'm worried he's hurt. His velocity's been subpar.

[southsider2k5]

I think part of the problem with Jose is that we've been in awe of what he's done the last 2+ years so we're all kind of worried that something will go wrong with that incredible "out of nowhere" job he's done.

 

I gave that up last year. The dude is for real. Barring injury, you have one heck of a bargain and good pitcher in your rotation for the next five years.

[shysocks]

I'm worried he's hurt. His velocity's been subpar.

Seems like this premise has gained traction here but it's just not true, at least if you believe in PITCHf/x at all. His velocity is down 1 MPH here and there, which is consistent with April trends that we've been aware of for years.

[Dick Allen]

The other thing is Q has not had 3 bad starts. He did have a good one in the middle.

[chitownsportsfan]

Seems like this premise has gained traction here but it's just not true, at least if you believe in PITCHf/x at all. His velocity is down 1 MPH here and there, which is consistent with April trends that we've been aware of for years.

 

I think his fastball command has been poor and at 90-92 mph he needs to be very sharp with it. I think part of the "disbelief" about Q is that he works with very small margins thanks to his velocity and it all seems a little too good to be true that a guy with a solid but unspectacular 3 pitch arsenal really is a top 15 MLB starter.

 

Thing is, without pinpoint command he's probably not. We'll see how it goes but I'm not that worried about him. If he regresses to a solid 3rd starter whatever pick it up elsewhere his contract is still an asset.

[LDF]

Seems like this premise has gained traction here but it's just not true, at least if you believe in PITCHf/x at all. His velocity is down 1 MPH here and there, which is consistent with April trends that we've been aware of for years.

 

excellent point, there are 2 factors, 1 or which was mention with the old Harry Carey and his sidekick, the one that got fired.

 

he said, the cold wx affects the pitchers differently and esp coming from spring training. i remember he even mention at one time that they should extend spring training an extra week, with that week being in there home town.

[LDF]

I think his fastball command has been poor and at 90-92 mph he needs to be very sharp with it. I think part of the "disbelief" about Q is that he works with very small margins thanks to his velocity and it all seems a little too good to be true that a guy with a solid but unspectacular 3 pitch arsenal really is a top 15 MLB starter.

 

Thing is, without pinpoint command he's probably not. We'll see how it goes but I'm not that worried about him. If he regresses to a solid 3rd starter whatever pick it up elsewhere his contract is still an asset.

 

well i for one would like to see how he does when it gets warmer. that is all this team needs, a pitcher who is not up to par. this system, the same group of players that the sox went and then stop acquiring, will be short of extra viable pitchers.

 

that mean, that Beck and Johnson, let alone Danks will not have a margin of error to play with, if Q is hurt.

[chitownsportsfan]

I'd love to hear your rationale here.

 

Don Cooper's reputation has reached ridiculous levels. If Cooper told the Sox he thought Q had potential and that he was undervalued -- great. But to credit him with all of Q's success is absurd. Cooper has failed dozens of times with reclamation projects, does he take the blame for those? Of course not. He's just a coach. A good one, but a coach.

[caulfield12]

excellent point, there are 2 factors, 1 or which was mention with the old Harry Carey and his sidekick, the one that got fired.

 

he said, the cold wx affects the pitchers differently and esp coming from spring training. i remember he even mention at one time that they should extend spring training an extra week, with that week being in there home town.

 

Jimmy Piersall....my second White Sox autograph, following Claudell Washington...although I never saw him as a player, just knew the whole "Fear Strikes Out" story.

Edited April 23, 2015 by caulfield12

[LDF]

Jimmy Piersall....my second White Sox autograph, following Claudell Washington...although I never saw him as a player, just knew the whole "Fear Strikes Out" story.

 

yeah, i remember listening to him and all the old time stories. but what i also loved what the educational part he would chime in about. like that little tidbit about the cold wx.