Just heard Nick Swisher's sound clip ripping the media for writing how bad the Sox offense has been. News flash: it wasn't the media, it was your manager.
I love when people rip the media for being negative. I'll grant you, there are those among us who are overly negative, but there are fans who are way more negative than any writer. Go to a game and listen to what is yelled at players.
So, as expected, not much happened in terms of a shakeup yesterday with the Sox. But judging from what Joe Cowley wrote and what Bruce Levine said, my perception is this was more significant than other Ozzie rants.
I get the sense Ozzie's really thinking of walking away after the season. I know he's done it before, but unlike what Jerry Reinsdorf said on "Waddle and Silvy" about how Ozzie just tweaks us with his rants, I sense there was more to it. It will depend on how the rest of the season plays out.
Ozzie aint going nowhere. Just a shakeup. Lou does the same thing.
Roman responds: All Lou said is this is his last job. He doesn't keep talking about quitting.
Roman, White Sox Fan here. Leave our dirty laundry alone, we will pick it up and
clean it when needed. NOW BACK TO YOUR early season CUBBIE-LUCK . REMEMBER, this
is a marathon not a sprint, so don't be gloating on the other side.
Just enjoy it, the collapse is inevitable.
Chicago White Sox Nation!! (this part is for Seedy Blackslasher) :~)
Always the media...that's why Hillary lost right? The media and the pundits.
I guess this is the start of "us against them" for the Sox. If it makes them score 9 a game (or 12 when Buehrle starts), so be it.
If you were Moronitti's boss you'd be constantly saying "you're killing me Jay. Killing me." Ozzie said something like that about his club last yr. Every time he talks about walking away that's really what he means.
You're right about one thing though. He won't stay with a losing team. If they finish with a losing record this yr he will probably walk away.
With this pitching staff a losing record seems very unlikely.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/986059,CST-SPT-deluca04.article
De Luca was too kind. He said critics. I checked the Herald, the Southtown, the Trib, & the Times. No one defended Moronitti's position. Most like De Luca countered it.
Maybe Jay does have value in this city. He seems to unify people against him.
I agree whole-heartedly with what De Luca said. Ozzie is a great motivator in a day in which professional sports athlete's act like spoiled brats.
Would Francona have won in 2005 with the talent on the Sox roster? I don't think so. Would Ozzie have won WS from 2004-2007 with Red Sox talent on this team like Manny, Ortiz, & Beckett? Maybe.
Someone tell Nick that maybe it's time to be less of a goof...it's one thing to be the class clown on a team, but generally it helps if you're hitting over .225.
I believe Ozzie's nuts.
I also believe that he's a man of his word; and not the type who makes veiled threats. I doubt that he'd back down from a fight with an MMA Champion. He'd get his butt kicked, but he wouldn't run away.
I don't know if the rest of his team takes him all that seriously, but I can guarantee you that he takes himself VERY seriously.
If ever there was a man who would cut off his own nose just to spite his face, it's Ozzie.
So if I were JR, Kenny Williams, a player on his team, or even the bat boy, I'd sure as Hell be paying attention.
I agree with Carl. A guy like Nick the Swish, while a refreshing personality on this team, can come across as lacking in a genuine inner seriousness if he keeps up the circus act while hitting around the Mendoza Line.
Nick, you're at an age and ballpark where you ought to be improving terrifically--not regressing to the depths of disgrace. It doesn't send anyone a very good message about you. In this scenario, you come off like a foolish court jester.
Roman, my problem with the media is each pundit has an opinion on every topic (whether they are knowledgeable or not, much like this blog.), and at times take themselves to seriously. People like little Jay Jay have this inflated opinion of themselves. Swisher is a decent player, give him time, he'll be fine in this park on this team.
Ozzie Guillen will do as he always does -- exactly what he thinks is best for Ozzie. To compare him to Lou Piniella, who basically comes to the park to try to help his team win ballgames, is ridiculous. The Ozzie thing worked in 2005 but has not since. He keeps talking, always loaded with gutter language, but he never every says antything of value.
Roman it's time. Let's see the ST keep track of homer's by Thome & Koney since Oz's last tirade.
The most important thing in an Oz tirade is to get the attention of his player's. He seems to have done that especially with the two who needed to hear it the most.
I think that Ozzie blows up in the media on purpose - that it is a strategic move of his.
He does it for one of two reasons - one, to protect his players, and/or two, to motivate his players.
Ozzie is all about taking the heat off of his players, he always talks about how he has their back. When things start getting bad, and the press starts setting in on our players, he does something crazy - and the press leave the team alone for a few days. It is a bit of a 'vacation' for them while the whole country rips Ozzie a new one. If you think back over the past few seasons, his blow ups usually take place when player(s) on our team are getting beat up in the press for their play.
The other reason, to motivate his players - is pretty obvious. I think all managers/coaches in every sport say things in the press to light a fire under their players.
So far, it looks like it is working.
WTF?
Why does everyone give credit to Ozzie for how his players played in '05? They got exremely hot. If you want to give credit to Ozzie for how his pitchers pitched by all means look like a 'tard. Players play and a lot of the playoffs involves luck, who is hot, who is not, etc...Looking at a team for a month and saying they are the best is foolish (ie the Rockies last year)...Ever since then (the long run) the Sox have played like the team that they truly are, mediocre.
On today's topic
Roman you are right. It's Ozzie and not the Media.
In his defense, Ozzie is doing what most good managers do, try to address flaws to imporve on when the team is winning. Spirits are up and the players are more open to critisism when the mood is good (ie Deroucher (Todays Trib) or Piniella (June Vine Line)). However, Ozzie does it the wrong way through the media and not to his players.
When loosing, the only time a manager needs to call out his team is when they get complacent. Again, Ozzie faulters. He bashes his team even when they are playing hard for him and his negativety pushes them even farther down when he should be building thier confidence (ie last season).
that swisher guys a bum. i saw him all up on the trubune program with that stupid barttender eatin up all the media attentions. hes all fickle like some kind of broad. if those bums were hittin theyd be a lot better.
if i were ozzie i'd washs my hands of the hole stinkin thing. drinkin some margritas with some mamasitas and forget out it.
Typical Sox whining. Is there ever a day when you don't hear complaints about the media, Chicago fans, Wrigley Field, etc.? If Sox nation wasn't a bunch of crybabies maybe you would have more fans. It wouldn't hurt if you didn't have a ignorant, foul-mouthed manager either.
Ozzie and Sox fans should be disappointed becuase three of their top hopes for offense currently have batting averages less than their body weight. How long should anyone wait until they start hitting? First the aweful production was blamed on the cold spring weather. Now it is in the 80's almost every day, and I doubt their batting averages are 5 points higher than they were before. I do not know how to remedy the situation. How can you trade a 38 year old guy making 10 million a year and batting .219?