Ozzie vs. Kenny?

Ozzie's got the finger pointed in the wrong place. This offense was supposed to be solid, but guys are underperforming like mad. He has no one to blame but his players. As much as it pains me to say it, Nick Swisher is the primary culprit. Swish was pegged for 31 homers and an OBP in the high .300s. He was supposed to be the 2nd best offensive player on the team after Thome. I don't know what's wrong with Nick Swisher, but having him bounce back is probably the most important thing for the team right now, especially given Gavin Floyd's inevitable regression (.196 BABIP, 0.88 GB/FB).

Chill, Oz. Chill.

Find a bottle of mezcal and eat the worm. You'll feel a lot better -- in about five days.

Honestly, what's the complaining all about? You're in first. Ozzie has had plenty of time to send messages, but hasn't -- at least not with anyone who's counted. Sit Konerko. Sit Thome. Bring up Fields and play him at first. Play Anderson some more and sit Swisher. He needs to take a breath. No one is going anywhere soon in the AL Central, so why the diatribe?

This is just a blip, hearing the comments on the tv I did not think he threw Kenny under the bus, in fact, he seemed more mad at certain players, and wanted them removed from the team(IMHO).

They will be okay, the offense will heat up in June with a nice home schedule, these problems started on the road, and should be left on the road.

Of course, I could be totally wrong, and the team tunes Ozzie out after this idiotic rant, but I hope not.

yawn...Ozzie's sky is falling act is more than old.
First off, was it Kenny's decision to sit our best hitter when we're trying to even the series?
Ozzie's paid to make tough lineup decisions and tell the GM (privately) what he needs. So wake up Ozzie and:
- bring up Fields to DH and play some 3rd...and actually hit the other way when needed; maybe play 1B if we can get anyone to take Konerko
- sit Thome and Swisher against lefties; play Anderson and Fields possibly
- don't dare think about getting Uribe back in the lineup

I know what's wrong with Nick Swisher. He has no chemistry with the other players.

Bring up Jerry Owens.

Noles?

Thought you were comparing Ozzie Osborne to Kenny Rogers. I am happy to see that Ryan Briscoe finished well in Milwaukee, though.

I dont think Ozzie was throwing Kenny under the bus. Kenny needs to quit acting sensitive and start getting rid of some of these bad players. Where is Frank Thomas when you need him? Yes he was a big baby and complained too much but at least he hit every once in while. Paul Konerko has gotten a free pass since being with the Sox. Yes he is a good guy but he is not a leader and almost needs to be sent down to triple A. He is a total waste of money and I dont see him gettin any better. Uribe BUM!!! Thome washed up!!! Swisher BUM!!! Dye INCONSISTENT!!! PLAY THE KIDS AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

Mike:

Your comments on Konerko are right on the mark.

He's being paid big money to be a good defensive first baseman, an offensive threat, and a team leader. (one out of three?)

Year after year he struggles through at least the first half of the season, and eventually raises his run production and average after it's already too late.

Spring training is the time to hone your skills, and find your stroke.

It's too late in June or July; but unfortunately that's when Paulie usually figures things out.

I like the guy, but I'd rather see production from a total tool whom I detest, than zilch from a guy that I admire.

It's all about winning, and people who argue that there's virtue in being a noble loser are just lying to themselves.

Hit or get off the pot!

"He's being paid big money to be a good defensive first baseman, an offensive threat, and a team leader. (one out of three?)"

Still trying to figure out which one you're conceding...team leader? can't be...he gives the same monotone responses each game. The guy's wound tighter than...well u get the picture.
Defense..the next time he stretches for a throw at first will be the first time.
Offensive threat? 0 for 3 - just like his game..

Not sure if this is best place to put this but since sounds like Bulls will hire Collins, and Rose is likely pick, then who gets traded and who would you want to add to the team. If they get Rose then both Gordon and Hinrich could go and If they trade for a wing or a frontline player, then maybe Deng, Thomas, or Gooden could go for good measure. Not sure who is available that matches up with contract dollars, maybe Brand, or Anthony would be good.

If heat get Beasly, with Wade and Marbury, they will be tough for the bulls to beat for the foreseable future, not to mention detroit and Boston. Could be a few years until bulls get past first round of playoffs.

Not sure if this is best place to put this but since sounds like Bulls will hire Collins, and Rose is likely pick, then who gets traded and who would you want to add to the team. If they get Rose then both Gordon and Hinrich could go and If they trade for a wing or a frontline player, then maybe Deng, Thomas, or Gooden could go for good measure. Not sure who is available that matches up with contract dollars, maybe Brand, or Anthony would be good.

If heat get Beasly, with Wade and Marbury, they will be tough for the bulls to beat for the foreseable future, not to mention detroit and Boston. Could be a few years until bulls get past first round of playoffs.

Ozzie said what everybody else is saying. Changes need to be made to the lineup. If not by Kenny by him. Simple as that. I haven't read Mariotti since 2006. Same BS: Greenberg, Kornheiser, Showalter, who cares, their all soft. All three of them, as well as, Jay's collegues at Red Sox Network belong in Wrigleyville, maybe that's their demographic.

Jay's dream of Chicago losing it's image of Hog Butcher of World, the City of Big Shoulder's will never come true. Too many people grew up the South, West and Northwest Sides of the City, as well as, working class towns and suburbs. People like Jay remind me of a typical Simpleton who would just be laughed at in the neighborhood and hide in their apartment ashmed to be seen on the street. No Jay we haven't become Naperville, Lincoln Park or Lakeview and never will, regardless of ones income, regardless of your politcally correct columns reviewed by Carol. Jay's a wanna be with a chip on his shoulder. Still knows nothing about Chicago or Sports.

What's getting older...Ozzie's "the boy who cried lobo", or mariotti's weekly "fire Ozzie" column?

Sox are loyal to those 05ers and rightfully so. But Kornerko has been swinging a piece of ice ever since. He has to replace two of these guys in the lineup. We are squandering GREAT pitching performances, and I agree with OZZIE a message has to be sent! We should have brought Frank Back when we had to chance. Last year showed you cannot have too much lumber. Now we need to seriously consider picking up Bonds. I dont care about allegations! Until he is indicted, let him swing! He would be a great distraction that the Sox need, and he would surely fill the seats.

I'm not going to criticize Kenny for not trading Thome to beef up the farm & signing Thomas after 2006 after Thomas finished 4th in MVP. Thomas no doubt would have signed a Reinsdorfian contract that benefited the Sox.

I'm going to criticize Kenny for not bringing Owens up. I don't care what he's doing in AAA. Owens avg'd .280BA/.350OBP after the 1st inning w the Sox in 2007. That was against the tough pitching of the ALC. In his 1st AB in games he avg'd .200BA/.250OBP.

You chalk such a disparity up to inexperience. There's no way that could continue throughout his career.

He hit .340 in the month of Sept.

How much more evidence does Kenny need to see that like Quentin, Walker works for Owens?

"It's one thing for Guillen to make a mockery of a ballclub and the bosses who have enabled his clown act. It's quite another for Guillen to become a piece of crude, negative imagery when people think of our town ... As you may have noticed through the years, I am the Blizzard's only critic in the Chicago media, mostly because my soft colleagues either fear Guillen's wrath, enjoy how he rips me, work for one of the Reinsdorf-controlled broadcast outlets or are afraid of getting on the chairman's bad side. I ignore what they write and say about Guillen, and I'd advise any reasonable person to do the same."

it's one thing for me to claim Mariotti is a pompous boob and another for him to prove it. in the same column in which he chastises Ozzie Guillen for his Sunday tirade aimed at his team and management, Mariotti calls his fellow Sun Times staffers (and basically all chicago media) soft. that's the pot calling the kettle black. would anybody like to donate to a fund to send him back to whatever dank cave he crawled out of in the first place?

i agree with what Ozzie said. yes the team is shockingly in first place. yes i am pleased. but i am also a realist, and for how long do you think the indians, tigers and twins are going to underperform? for how long do you think the sox pitching staff is going to be able to continue at this clip? the sox are going to have to win some 11-9 ball games this summer and that ain't gonna happen when you have a multitude of underachievers clogging the 4-8 spots in the lineup.

however, i also agree with ken williams when he says there is no possible way a trade gets made now. no one trades before july. and what exactly would the be trading away? all those hot prospects?

Just heard Ozzie's lineup messages - what a SHOCK..only changes are that Konerko and Thome are hitting higher in the lineup.

Can someone officially tell Ozzie to shut up?

A novel idea: DL Koney. He's got a bad thumb.

Platoon Thome/Swisher at 1B.
Platoon Thome/Dye at DH.
Platoon Dye/Anderson at RF.
Platoon Owens/Anderson at CF.

If that doesn't revive Thome then give him his walking players & check out retired/inactive sluggers. Bonds?

Roman responds: Here's today's lineup:
I

Here's the lineup:

Cabrera ss; AJ c; Quentin lf; Konerko 1b; Thome DH; Dye rf; Swisher cf; Crede 3b; Ramirez 2b

i don't like the sox but i like ozzie. the sox needs some hitters they need to dumps off those gerryhatticks bums they got. konerko is like 72 followed by a 73 year old prezniskis. peoples say they start late thats a load of crap. maybe if they playef in florida theyd be ok. they way the sox are playin maybe ozie should suit up and nock a few balls around, you know swap the balls for the beer. i knowa there in 1st but do you think the picters can really bail out those mooks all the time?

Juan: That's quite a bit of platooning. How does that help? You are basically playing everybody every day except Owens and Swisher, so why move them around? Have you noticed that players who are constantly moved from position to position don't hit as well as when they have one set position? These guys aren't hitting now, when they play one (or two for Swisher), so how is this platoon system any better?

I've seen a few people lately demanding that Fields be brought up and played at first base. Seeing that he has played all of 2 games in AA at first base, and the trouble he had playing his regular position at 3rd, is it a good idea to play him at a brand new position? How did that go last year, with the move to left field?

Ozzie is the MAN! Swept those twinkies YEAH!!!!!!