Inside the White Sox

Wilder is out

2008-05-17T02:38:20Z

SAN FRANCISCO – The Sox announced before the game with the Giants on Friday that they terminated the employment of three members of the club’s Latin American scouting staff, including Senior Director of Player Personnel, David Wilder.
Full-time scout Victor Mateo and part-time scout Domingo Toribio were dismissed for actions in Latin America that were violations of club policy and standards.
The terminations resulted from findings of a two-month investigation conducted by MLB’s Department of Investigations. The investigation has now been turned over to Federal authorities.

A.J. vs. San Francisco

2008-05-16T05:00:03Z

ANAHEIM, Calif. – White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski sat down and talked with the Chicago beat writers on Thursday about his return to San Francisco for this weekend’s three-game series.
What you need to know is Pierzynski’s one-year there was a miserable one, and that will be detailed in the main story. Here’s what didn’t get in, however.

]]> When did you know it wasn’t a good fit?

“The first time I met with the owner (Peter Magowan) and the general manager (Brian Sabean). We’re having a meeting, and the owner asked me if I knew how to play first base. I looked at him and said, ‘I played in the minor leagues.’ He said, ‘we like our players to be able to play more than one position, so you probably will get a lot of games at first base. That’s when I knew it was probably not going to work out there.”

What still ticks you off the most?

“Just a lot of the stories that came out weren’t true, more than anything. The story where I supposedly kicked the trainer in the nuts. I think if I would have done that in Scottsdale Stadium in front of 15,000 people, it would have come out before I was gone.
“The story about me playing cards and not going over the hitters is not true. I told them I’d be there in two minutes, and I came over there two minutes later.
“The story about me telling hitters what (pitches) were coming. Anyone who knows me or sees me at all knows I’m not ever going to do that. I’m the last (person) to ever do that. So just the fact no one wants to hear the real stories. They just want to hear about (stories) because it makes for better newspapers, it makes for better radio, better TV. There’s dissension.
“The other thing is that we had a good year when I was there.. We won 91 games and statistically, I had a good year. It just wasn’t meant to be and I knew that from the start.”

Did you ask for a trade?

“No, No. I never asked for a trade. You are where you are. And I was on a pretty good team. We were doing pretty well. You don’t want to leave a good team because who knows where you’re going to end up.”

Any satisfaction you won a ring immediately and their GM has run that that organization into the ground since you left – besides the Aaron Rowand signing of course?

“You get satisfaction from the fact that I won a World Series. Leaving there and coming here the next year, coming out of there where they said I didn’t know how to handle pitchers and to see the way our pitchers pitched the next year, especially in the playoffs was satisfying.
“I was in the World Series and I see Ned Colletti, their assistant GM (now with LA Dodgers) in the mall. He looks at me in Houston and said, ‘don’t blow it like we did.’ I said, ‘don’t worry, we won’t.’ That was kind of satisfying to see the look on his face. One of those things where it worked out great for me. It worked out great for the Twins. They made a great move to get rid of me and get the guys they got. It worked out perfect for everyone.’’

Well, almost everyone. Nice job, Sabean.

Misery

2008-05-14T06:27:30Z

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ozzie Guillen didn’t know what Wednesday would bring for yet another new-look lineup, but at this point he might as well pick names out of a hat.

]]> The offensive struggles have now become an epidemic, with seemingly no cure. This team is all of a sudden very painful to watch and has 2007 written all over it.
The way it stands right now, if I was Ozzie I would lead off with Carlos Quentin (.399 on-base percentage - a team high), followed by A.J. Pierzynski and then Jermaine Dye. After that, throw in a little Joe Crede in the cleanup spot, followed by Jim Thome and then Paul Konerko. Nick Swisher would hit seventh, Juan Uribe eighth and Orlando Cabrera ninth, with the hope he can get on base for the top of the order.

Garland on the media

2008-05-13T04:10:28Z

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Former Sox pitcher Jon Garland has never been a big fan of the media, so when he found out about “Dollgate’’ last week, and the fact that it was reported that the White Sox had two blow-up dolls set up in the Toronto visiting clubhouse, well, it was just another opportunity for him to speak his mind.

]]> “I think it was a big deal,’’ Garland said Monday. “I personally felt nobody needed to write about it. This is our home, our clubhouse. I feel the job of you guys is to report on the game. I don’t think anything seen or heard in the clubhouse needs to be written about. And if you have a problem that’s going on in here, you don’t have to walk through the doors. You don’t have to see it. You have to understand when you walk through those doors, you’re coming into our office. It is what it is.
“I feel privacy has been taken away from us.’’

Fade to pink

2008-05-11T04:08:20Z

SEATTLE - In attempt to do something nice for charity, as well as honor Breast Cancer Awareness day on Sunday, Bobby Jenks, John Danks, Toby Hall and Nick Swisher had their facial hair dyed pink at home last week.

]]> Well, whatever dye was used has burnt the hair off everyone except Danks.
Hall’s chin landing strip is patchy, while Jenks looks like an old billy goat. The four have a new pink dye that washes off, and will use that before Sunday’s game, but for Hall and Jenks it’s back to the drawing board come Anaheim.
Hall said he has to do a complete shave and let it grow back in, while Jenks wasn’t sure how he was going to repair his look.

Dead men walking?

2008-05-06T03:56:54Z

The feeling after Monday’s 1-0 heartbreaker was that changes were coming for at least one roster spot, possibly two, by the time the team takes the field for Tuesday’s game with the Twins. This could be the end for Juan Uribe.

What was that?

2008-05-04T19:00:39Z

TORONTO – I would like to fully describe to you the latest slump-busting attempt by the White Sox players, but I’m still not quite sure what I saw.

]]> It was like some bizarre shrine from “Apocalypse Now,’’ minus Brando of course. Now, earmuff-time kids. There were two blow-up dolls with at least 30 bats fanned out all around them in some sort of homage. Of course a few of the bats were doing naughty things, but you get the picture.
Whoever did it tried to frame Toby Hall by placing his hat on one of the dolls, but both Hall and several witnesses exonerated the reserve catcher.
As for manager Ozzie Guillen, he got a big kick out of it.
“Well, whoever did it spent a lot of money,’’ Guillen said. “That’s the type of guys we have. The clubhouse has been quiet the last couple days and I don’t like to see that. We have to stay at the same level of enthusiasm, no matter what happens. Because you worry about the game during the game. before and after, you can’t do anything about it. I know it’s not easy to enjoy yourself when you’re losing, but I expect the guys to stay with the same attitude no matter the results of the game.’’
I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

No one is getting fired

2008-05-03T22:53:52Z

TORONTO – The final word in any - and all - coaching changes belongs to manager Ozzie Guillen. And the fifth-year skipper made it very clear on Saturday that the villagers should put down the torches and go back to their homes, because hitting coach Greg Walker’s job security is alive and well.

]]> “That's not going to happen,’’ Guillen said of a possible coaching change to try and remedy the slumping offense. “To be honest with you, I don't think we need coaches. Look at the lineup. Everyone is a veteran, everyone knows what they're doing, everyone has experience, everyone went through it. I think you can ask the players. I'm not going to blame Walker about it. Greg is not a babysitter.
“Greg gives the best information and works hard, works harder than anybody and ‘Walk’ sometimes takes this game too deeply, too serious. I bet you one guy who is sick to his stomach now is him. It's not easy to be a hitting coach, it's not easy.’’
Guillen said that if the Sox lineup was loaded with a bunch of “kids’’ who were not progressing, then he would look at a change. That’s just not the case, however.
The .190 batting average and six runs scored through the first four games of this current six-game road trip falls on the players, according to their manager.
“[Nick] Swisher, [Orlando] Cabrera, Konerko, [Jim] Thome, [Jermaine] Dye, A.J. [Pierzynski] and [Joe] Crede, they don't need coaches,’’ Guillen said. “They need to get their heads out of their asses and start hitting. It's easy when the team is not hitting, it's the coaches' job on the line. When the team isn't pitching or the team isn't playing as a unit, it's the manager's job on the line. I don't think Walker has a problem. I have faith in him. That's part of the game.
“Greg Walker was the best hitting coach in April. Now he's the worst hitting coach in May. That's our job, take the heat for the bad things and we never get credit for the good things. But just get people to be patient. Whoever does their thing there, if they think they can do a better job than Greg Walker make sure and let me know. I'll hire him. People out there say we should do that, tell them to talk to me and I'll tell Kenny Williams and we'll hire him. Hopefully, help us to get out of this.’’

It’s Jerry Owens time!!

2008-05-03T04:29:04Z

TORONTO – No one is saying that outfielder Jerry Owens can play savior, but he does bring a certain energy and swagger to the top of the lineup. Two things that have left the White Sox the last few weeks.

]]> Right now, they look like a basketball team with five spot-up shooters, and not one that can create his own shot. Owens is a make-things-happen type of player.
I’m not saying he should be starting every day, but why not bring him up and when someone needs a rest, throw the speedster in the leadoff spot? With Paul Konerko on the shelf the last few days, that would have been a great opportunity to let Owens loose.
This thing is slipping away the first week of May already, and wasted in it are stellar pitching performances for a team that should have 20 wins.
With Mark Buehrle throwing a complete game in Friday’s 2-0 loss, Sox pitching has now allowed three runs or less in 14 of its 28 games, and Buehrle’s effort was the 18th quality start by the staff this season.
What do they have to show for it?
A slipping grasp on first place in a division that has run them down.

Konerko out on Wednesday

2008-04-30T04:27:46Z

After Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Minnesota, manager Ozzie Guillen said that he would sit Paul Konerko in Wednesday afternoon’s game, as the slumping first baseman is also battling with a dinged up hand.
Nick swisher will start at first, while Brian Anderson gets the nod in center field.
The only other change planned is Toby Hall for A.J. Pierzynski behind the plate.

Update from “Cave’’

2008-04-30T02:49:35Z

Art Kusnyer will undergo yet another eye surgery on Wednesday afternoon, but the news may finally start getting better from the long-time Sox bullpen coach.

]]> Kusnyer – known as “Cave’’ – said on Tuesday that if all goes well with the surgery on his left eye, he could be fitted for a lens that would give him most of his vision back. The right eye is still a big question mark at this point.
“Cave’’ has been dealing with torn retinas in each eye since last season.

Breaking Sox news

2008-04-29T22:58:29Z

Jermaine Dye is back in the starting lineup, after missing four games with a strained left groin, and the club announced on Tuesday that completion of Monday’s suspended game with Baltimore will be played on Aug. 25, in Camden Yards.

Updates from a rainy night

2008-04-25T05:05:10Z

--Jim Thome’s fifth-inning solo home run was the 513th of his career, moving him solely into 18th place on the all-time homer list, passing up Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews. Next in his sites? Frank Thomas at 516.

--Jermaine Dye left the game in the seventh inning with what is being called a strained left groin.

--The Sox bullpen is starting to get that “Oh no’’ look to them, again blowing a lead as May approaches. Can you say 2007?

Rain delay over

2008-04-25T01:48:16Z

Rain delay was 34 minutes … Game on!

Rain Delay

2008-04-25T01:07:00Z

Thursday’s game between the Sox and Yankees is in a rain delay, with the Sox hoping to get the tarp off at about 7:45 p.m. and have the first pitch ready to go by 8:30 p.m.