July 29, 200421 yr The adjustment for Guillen has been what to do with the struggling Juan Uribe. The early-season sensation has dropped all the way down to .266, going 13-for-93 in his last 26 games, after hitting .393 in April. Uribe is hitting .277 in the leadoff spot and .274 in the second spot. Chicago fans were spoiled by the great start from Uribe, who was basically envisioned as a utility player when acquired in the off-season from Colorado for Aaron Miles. In that same sense, Guillen and the White Sox were just as spoiled by his early success, making the combination of Harris and Uribe at the top a no-brainer. "That's why we expect him to do more," Guillen said of Uribe's early hitting prowess. "He's always been a .250 to .260 hitter and the way he approaches the plate, he'll always be that. I was playing Uribe once in a while, and (the media) pushed me to put him in the lineup. You don't remember that, and I said, 'Uribe just came here to be a utility player.' "I hope he hits .270. The thing I care about is if he hits .240. That's the problem. When you have two more months, you can go to .240 or .270. But I'm pleased with the way this kid plays for us." Sounds like Ozzie figures he cant fix Uribe's pull only step in the bucket mentality. In May I thought this guy was going to be in the AllStar game with his level swing and hitting to all fields. Then he fell into the pull only mentality. Kind of sad, so much talent but no head.
July 29, 200421 yr I was reading that article too. I loved Uribe at the beginning of the year but he is worthless now. He's great defensively but hitting he is a lost cause. We need a leadoff man!
July 29, 200421 yr "That's why we expect him to do more," Guillen said of Uribe's early hitting prowess. "He's always been a .250 to .260 hitter and the way he approaches the plate, he'll always be that. I was playing Uribe once in a while, and (the media) pushed me to put him in the lineup. You don't remember that, and I said, 'Uribe just came here to be a utility player." So what he’s saying is that he put Uribe on the everyday lineup just because of the media?
July 29, 200421 yr Author "I hope he hits .270. The thing I care about is if he hits .240. That's the problem. When you have two more months, you can go to .240 or .270. But I'm pleased with the way this kid plays for us." Maybe he should care about Valentin then, he is hitting below 240.
July 29, 200421 yr All I can say is that it's about time... When it comes right down to it when I see Willie Harris come up then I see him working the count and looking at pitches. He may not have the power but at least when you have Willie up you know that he doesn't have to drive the ball. All he has to do is just get it on the ground and he has a shot. However I think Ozzie got down on him because there was alot of pressure on him to be an agressive base stealer and he couldn't live up to the hype put on him. However even without him stealing bases I still feel alot about better seeing Willie come to the plate because at least I know we're seeing a guy who is not afraid to just go for a basehit instead of a guy who went from a being a rising superstar to a disappointment in the matter of 3 months all because he wanted to have himself become some kind of a power hitter.
July 29, 200421 yr Oz is sick of seeing him suck. Jose V. has produced big time in some clutch situations, so he's not a front runner regarding Jose who has proven he can play the game. I want Uribe to succeed, but it looks like he is what Oz says he is ... utility.
July 29, 200421 yr Oz is sick of seeing him suck. Jose V. has produced big time in some clutch situations, so he's not a front runner regarding Jose who has proven he can play the game. I want Uribe to succeed, but it looks like he is what Oz says he is ... utility. As I said a month ago (and got hammered for it) this was another bad KW move. Failing to recognize the potential of Aaron Miles and trading him for Uribe was a mistake. Alot of posters said that the fact that Uribe could play 3 positions made this a good move, but if the guy can't hit, I don't care if he can pitch and catch at the same time. I'd much rather have Miles at 2nd and leading off full time right now than Uribe on the bench.
July 29, 200421 yr Good point airdale! We should be developing players. We trade Miles and he looks good. We know Olivo is good. We keep Joe B and we better hope he develops. Too bad Uribe is flopping. Can you imagine if he'd stayed about .320 all year and produced like an all-star? We coulda used it.
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