Secret to Sox 'success'

[santo=dorf]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/509/4979531.html

 

Copy the Mets.

 

Pursue big names who are past their prime. You've acquired Everett (twice), Alomar (twice), Freddy Garcia, Wells, Contreras...

 

:dips***

Well Everett was an All-star last year, Wells has pitched well even after his departure from the Sox, Contreras is only in his second year in the bigs, and Garcia is past his prime?

:fyou

[YASNY]

Funny, but I didn't see a word about season ending injuries to the two best hitters on the team. I guess that wasn't a factor in the Sox collapse.

[santo=dorf]

All of the sudden it requires you to register. Use the "bselig" as the username and password. but here is the article.

 

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Secret to Sox 'success'

Jim Souhan

September 14, 2004 INSI0914

 

 

 

DETROIT -- Last time the White Sox came to the Metrodome, they swept the Twins and took a two-game lead in the AL Central.

 

A few Twins told me privately after that series, "Just wait -- they'll fall apart."

 

They were right.

 

The second-to-last time the Sox came to the Metrodome, they took three of four from the Twins, and I praised Chicago as deeper, smarter and more versatile than their previous editions.

 

I was wrong.

 

For years, local baseball fans yearned for the Twins to again evoke the rattle and hum of a pennant race. For the past three years, the Twins have done their part, only to look around in mid-September and realize they were dancing by themselves.

 

So, for the third consecutive season, the Sox will spend much of September wondering what went wrong.

 

The White Sox would not have been able to attain this kind of consistency without a blueprint. Now the Star Tribune has those secret plans. We have clandestinely obtained intra-office memos from 333 West 35th St., on the South Side of Chicago. (Dan Rather was involved; that's all I'll say.)

 

Here's how the White Sox built yet another team fully capable of securing second place in the awesomely deep AL Central:

 

From the desk of Ken Williams.

 

Memo to self:

 

1. Get rid of Carl Everett. Why? Because if you don't, then you can't ...

 

2. Trade for Carl Everett. You dealt for him in 2003. You dealt for him in 2004. One of these years, it's got to work.

 

3. Get rid of Roberto Alomar. Why? Because if you don't, then you can't ...

 

4. Trade for Roberto Alomar. You traded for him in 2003. You traded for him in 2004. One of these years, it's got to work.

 

5. Acquire a pitcher whose belly is the approximate shape and consistency of a Big Mac.

 

In 2001, you signed David Wells, who will never do endorsements for the Abdominizer. In 2002, you signed Bartolo Colon, who has a better chance of doing endorsements for the Food Network than ESPN. In 2004, you traded Esteban Loiaza (great idea) for Jose Contreras (iffy idea), who lacks the sheer girth of Wells and Colon but fits the role of big ol' underachiever.

 

Check to see if Mickey Lolich is available.

 

6. Fire the manager. Until the Twins swept you in Chicago in late July, your team looked dangerous.

 

It has now become clear that you have the wrong personality type in the manager's office. Ozzie Guillen is too fiery, too close to his players, too emotional. It's obvious that you need someone with a more understated approach.

 

Is Jerry Manuel available?

 

7. If you're going to win a championship, you must emulate the franchise from New York, the one that makes splashy moves to win back-page tabloid headlines.

 

Don't do like the other big-money teams and emulate the Yankees. Think outside the box.

 

Copy the Mets.

 

Pursue big names who are past their prime. You've acquired Everett (twice), Alomar (twice), Freddy Garcia, Wells, Contreras...

 

Try to be even more like the Mets. Is Cliff Floyd available?

 

8. Help Frank Thomas maintain his status as the public focal point of the team.

 

He's one of the greatest hitters of his era -- and proof of how little one hitter (with the notable exception of Barry Bonds) can do for his team.

 

And how a selfish personality can disrupt, or at least distract, a clubhouse. I don't know if Frank's a bad guy, but an underachieving team doesn't need self-centered stars. (See: Kansas City and Juan Gonzalez.)

 

9. In a decisive September game, have one of your imports (Everett) tell the Twins' first baseman (Doug Mientkiewicz, last year) that "It's over." During the game. While leading off first base.

 

It's that kind of competitive spirit, that kind of confidence, that the White Sox have imbued in their players.

 

Don't worry about the future, White Sox fans. Players like Alomar and Everett can bring you four or five competitive months of baseball every year.

 

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This asshole called Frank "self-centered" yet he doesn't know if he's a bad guy.

:fyou

[Gene Honda Civic]

Funny, but I didn't see a word about season ending injuries to the two best hitters on the team.  I guess that wasn't a factor in the Sox collapse. 

He's kinda like a Jay Mariotti for the Twin-cities-- Only this time he's on the Tiwns nuts --

 

I wonder where Minnesota would be without Johann Santana and Brad Radke?

[BobDylan]

It has now become clear that you have the wrong personality type in the manager's office. Ozzie Guillen is too fiery, too close to his players, too emotional. It's obvious that you need someone with a more understated approach.

 

What? Was that supposed to be sarcasm? This guy makes remarks and backs them up with very little.

[SoIL]

This is a s***ty article full of cheap shots. Unfortunately there is some truth to it. The Sox have failed to come through the last three or so years when it really counts. They have consistently shot themselves in the foot by "falling apart". Until we finally beat the Twins and win the division, we will be the brunt of articles like this.

[witesoxfan]

He's kinda like a Jay Mariotti for the Twin-cities-- Only this time he's on the Tiwns nuts --

 

I wonder where Minnesota would be without Johann Santana and Brad Radke?

Let them keep Radke.

 

I would like to see them survive without Santana. I bet they wouldn't.

 

And, to me atleast, losing the Cy Young winner(to be...he will win) is very close to being as bad as losing two hitters as good as Frank and Maggs.

 

If the Twins hadn't had Santana, due to injury, for the past 4 months, I can almost guarantee you that we are in first place, even with all of our injuries.

[SoxAce]

He makes Jay Mariotti look like a genius.

[soxman352000]

f*** off star tribune. Your paper is crap. We are forced to read that whenever we go up to vist our relatives (twins fans). Worst sack of s*** to ever reacha damn printing press. My Uncle calls it the star and sickle. To the writer of the Star Tribue how about you come to the cell so all of us can kick your ass you son of a b****. People who make smart ass comments like that are so f***ing annoying. f***er doesn't even know that contreras is only in his second year. So finally f*** off you jackass you nothing about the sport, so go to your damn twins games and watch f***ing scumbags like Hunter, and Jackass Jones. f*** THE TWINS. :fyou Star Tribune

[SoxAce]

f*** off star tribune. Your paper is crap. We are forced to read that whenever we go up to vist our relatives (twins fans). Worst sack of s*** to ever reacha damn printing press. My Uncle calls it the star and sickle. To the writer of the Star Tribue how about you come to the cell so all of us can kick your ass you son of a b****. People who make smart ass comments like that are so f***ing annoying. f***er doesn't even know that contreras is only in his second year. So finally f*** off you jackass you nothing about the sport, so go to your damn twins games and watch f***ing scumbags like Hunter, and Jackass Jones. f*** THE TWINS.  :fyou Star Tribune

The classic line... "Tell us how you really feel"...

[soxman352000]

The classic line... "Tell us how you really feel"...

[greg775]

I thought it was a good article except of course for the

fact he doesn't recognize the loss of Frank and Maggs

killed us.

 

I agree about the Everett/Alomar thing.

I'm glad he called us out on that bulls***.

[MurcieOne]

The truth hurts doesn't it?

 

He was wrong on a few things.... but ouch.. he called us out and he was right.

[MurcieOne]

The truth hurts doesn't it?

 

He was wrong on a few things.... but ouch.. he called us out and he was right.

That being said.......

 

Lets go out and kick the living s*** out of these hillbilly motherf***ers tonight tomorrow and thursday.

 

SOX PRIDE!

[soxman352000]

Lets go out and kick the living s*** out of these hillbilly motherf***ers tonight tomorrow and thursday.

 

SOX PRIDE!

The Twins and Torri need Lets kick the s*** out od that f***er Johan. We beat that b**** before

[YASNY]

This guy sounds like the Twins version of a Cub fan. Oh wait ... someone already mentioned moriatti.

[Yossarian]

The truth hurts doesn't it?

 

He was wrong on a few things.... but ouch.. he called us out and he was right.

Yes he was wrong on a few things but right on many others. The truth is the Sox have known among their competitors as a team that will "fall apart" at crunch time. At this point it's time for managment to take a good hard luck and do what is necessary to keep this team competitive. The Sox can't afford to be weak sisters for a bunch of seasons in a row. Not with cubbie love reaching a fever pitch.

[WilliamTell]

Yeah the article made sense but he should have talked about Frank and Maggs out. That hurt this team in more ways than just 2 bats outta the lineup.

[witesoxfan]

Don't worry about the future, White Sox fans. Players like Alomar and Everett can bring you four or five competitive months of baseball every year.

 

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This asshole called Frank "self-centered" yet he doesn't know if he's a bad guy.

:fyou

I never actually took the time to actually read the article. Now that I have, let me rip it to shreds.

 

For the past three years, the Twins have done their part, only to look around in mid-September and realize they were dancing by themselves.

 

Just curious...anyone remember who was in first place on September 10 of 2003?

 

There goes that argument dumbass.

 

Now, had he said 2 of the last 3 years, he'd be right. But he's not. So he loses.

 

So, for the third consecutive season, the Sox will spend much of September wondering what went wrong.

 

No, we figured out what was wrong in July and August, dumbass. You lose Maggs and Frank, two of the league's best hitters, and you'll lose. If the Twins lost Johan Santana, they wouldn't be anywhere close to where they are now.

 

And...FWIW...we only spent about 2 weeks "wondering" what went wrong in September last year.

 

Trade for Carl Everett. You dealt for him in 2003. You dealt for him in 2004. One of these years, it's got to work.

 

So I'm to assume that .301 10 41 .850 is not worth 3 marginal prospects? I mean, he was only like a huge part of why we did what we did in the second half of last year. :rolly

 

In 2002, you signed Bartolo Colon, who has a better chance of doing endorsements for the Food Network than ESPN.

 

Aw, so that's how they do it up in Minnesota. Instead of actually complimenting Kenny Williams on what a good trade it was to get Bartolo Colon, a workhorse, for a bag of balls, you take a shot at Colon's weight. Real mature.

 

Augie Ojeda is on your team. Now THAT'S funny!

 

In 2004, you traded Esteban Loiaza (great idea) for Jose Contreras (iffy idea)

 

You know what Jim...Jose has been bad with the Sox...well, he has been bad over his last few starts. However, he did start out hotter then hell. His line...4-4, 6.33 ERA .274 BAA 1.66 WHIP...not very good.

 

Then you look at Esteban with New York. One would wonder why in the blue hell you would trade a 21-game winner for a bum who never has been and is a potential never will be. Maybe Esteban's 0-2, 8.51, .360 BAA, 2.12 WHIP, removed from the rotation line will help make that trade look a little better. Jose Contreras may actually have a future...and Esteban Loaiza's best days may be behind him(and that's not a real good thing).

 

So, tell me again...which idea was better? I forget.

 

Fire the manager. Until the Twins swept you in Chicago in late July, your team looked dangerous.

 

That had more to do with Torii Hunter taking a cheap shot at Jamie Burke and the Sox not having Maggs and Frank then it did us being managed very poorly.

 

And, quite frankly, that team in late July was not very dangerous.

 

Ozzie made rookie mistakes...all rookie managers will. Big deal.

 

It has now become clear that you have the wrong personality type in the manager's office. Ozzie Guillen is too fiery, too close to his players, too emotional. It's obvious that you need someone with a more understated approach.

 

Is Jerry Manuel available?

 

Ha, you are almost funny Jim. Except that that was a lame attempt at a joke. With you having made such absurd comments throughout the article, it's hard to tell what is truthful and what is said in jest.

 

He's one of the greatest hitters of his era

 

You should have just left it at that.

 

and proof of how little one hitter (with the notable exception of Barry Bonds) can do for his team.

 

Frank Thomas, in his 14 year career, has watched the Sox have 2 sub-.500 teams. The White Sox have not always had a good supporting cast around him.

 

There goes that argument.

 

And how a selfish personality can disrupt, or at least distract, a clubhouse. I don't know if Frank's a bad guy, but an underachieving team doesn't need self-centered stars. (See: Kansas City and Juan Gonzalez.)

 

 

(See: Chicago and Frank Thomas, 1993, 1994, 2000...see Rickey Henderson and damn near every team he ever played on...see Atlanta, New York, Florida, LA and Gary Sheffield).

 

Point being, if you want to win, you'll win, regardless of what you think about that black or white guy sitting next to you.

 

In a decisive September game, have one of your imports (Everett) tell the Twins' first baseman (Doug Mientkiewicz, last year) that "It's over." During the game. While leading off first base.

 

It was obvious to most fans at the time that it was over too. It is not the kind of attitude one should have on the baseball field...but the season was over after the Twins took the first two in Minnesota last year. It was not that hard to see.

 

It's that kind of competitive spirit, that kind of confidence, that the White Sox have imbued in their players.

 

Take another shot at the organization...real mature. That's about the 25th time you've done that in the article. Grow some balls Jim. I dare you to read this article in the White Sox lockerroom after a tough loss. I mean, they may go Frankie Francisco on your ass, but that is to be expected.

 

Don't worry about the future, White Sox fans. Players like Alomar and Everett can bring you four or five competitive months of baseball every year.

 

What do you think the Contreras trade was for? What do you think the Garcia trade was for? This year? Ha.

 

 

 

After tearing this thing apart...I realized this whole thing was a big f***ing joke. It took potshots at the organization...but he wrote the article to appeal to Twins fans, not for us to be taken seriously.

 

So basically, I just wasted a good half hour. Oh well, it was fun.