October 13, 200421 yr The final words on the Sox By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter October 5, 2004 Hitters Jamie Burke Didn't seem like the same player after being run over by Torii Hunter. Still an effective role player. Kelly Dransfeldt Had a brief stint as a utility infielder before being sent down to Triple-A Charlotte early in the season. Ross Gload Made the most of his first full season and will play a bigger role next season. Aaron Rowand Finally given the chance to play every day, Rowand seized it with a breakout season. Carlos Lee After a slow power start, ended with 31 home runs and didn't make an error in left field all season. Magglio Ordonez Season-ending knee surgery, followed by a possible fall follow-up surgery, isn't the way to head into free agency. Juan Uribe Despite an awful June and July, still finished with career highs in homers and RBIs. Paul Konerko Rebounded nicely from a tough 2003 season with career high in homers and RBIs. Frank Thomas The smiles in spring training soon turned into the familiar scowls before a season-ending ankle injury. Carl Everett Has an option for next season he will exercise. Likely fourth outfielder/pinch-hitter if contract isn't bought out. Willie Harris Not a bad 1st full season, although the Sox would have liked a little more consistency. Timo Perez Filled in admirably when Ordonez went down. Hit .397 with runners in scoring position. Sandy Alomar Perhaps the end of the line for the classy veteran. Managing somewhere next year? Joe Crede Never got himself going at plate but did deliver some clutch hits late in games. Was solid defensively all season. Wilson Valdez Manager Ozzie Guillen is high on middle-infield prospect acquired in trade for Billy Koch. Jose Valentin Had his usual power numbers but batting average continues to free fall. Won't be back in 2005. Ben Davis Hit everything when he arrived, then tailed off. Not counted on to provide offense; seems respected defensively. Roberto Alomar Nagging injuries made him a non-factor. May join his brother in retirement. Joe Borchard Shows flashes of being the next Rob Deer. Sox hope not. Pitchers Shingo Takatsu One of the bright spots of the season, but can he close for a whole season at this level? Damaso Marte Didn't have the overpowering stuff of 2003. Never really recovered from bad opener. Freddy Garcia Wasn't really the stopper Sox had hoped. Still expect him to be at top of rotation next season. Mark Buehrle Led AL in innings pitched and finished with solid stats despite some rough patches in the middle of the season. Cliff Politte Has to be used as a set-up man in order to be effective. Doesn't have the mind-set to close games. Jon Adkins Had trouble keeping the ball in the park, but GM Williams pleased with progress. Jon Garland 1st winning season in majors, but expectations were higher. Perhaps expectations now need to be lowered. Jose Contreras 1 inning brilliant, 1 inning clueless. Product of too many expectations; when in command is nearly unhittable. Scott Schoeneweis Started off strong, then injuries sidelined him. May not be back in 2005. Neal Cotts Same as Adkins, which makes sense since the two are roommates. Felix Diaz Struggled as a starter, may find a home in the bullpen. Jason Grilli A favorite of manager Ozzie Guillen's will get every chance to claim rotation spot next season. Danny Wright On the shelf early in the year with career-threatening elbow injury. Arnie Munoz Shelled in Montreal in June and still recovering. Jeff Bajenaru Given a late-season look and was knocked around. Josh Stewart Another of the failed fifth-starter candidates.
October 14, 200421 yr I cringe every time I see something about Grilli having a chance of earning a spot in the rotation next year.
October 14, 200421 yr Frank Thomas The smiles in spring training soon turned into the familiar scowls before a season-ending ankle injury. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see any scowls. Only except for the media trying to portray Frank as a me-first player.
October 14, 200421 yr I gotta say.......or ask......how much intelligence does it take to write an article like that.? Why is it posted here? How do these guys get their jobs? What does that guy do at night after he writes that small-minded crap? He can't possibly tell his wife or significant other how smart he is, can he? I feel dumber when I read stuff like that.
October 14, 200421 yr I cringe every time I see something about Grilli having a chance of earning a spot in the rotation next year. As do i, as do i.
October 14, 200421 yr I gotta say.......or ask......how much intelligence does it take to write an article like that.? Why is it posted here? How do these guys get their jobs? What does that guy do at night after he writes that small-minded crap? He can't possibly tell his wife or significant other how smart he is, can he? I feel dumber when I read stuff like that. Seriously...what the hell. His rough draft was probably in crayon. I could write that s***.
October 14, 200421 yr Seriously...what the hell. His rough draft was probably in crayon. I could write that s***. I did write that s***... Oh wait, mine had some(not alot) substance.
October 14, 200421 yr I think thats a pretty accurate assessment of the whole situation. Gee, why am I not surprised? :rolly
October 14, 200421 yr Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see any scowls. Only except for the media trying to portray Frank as a me-first player. Ditto. If the scowls meant he absolutely dominating the AL - being one of the most feared hitters yet again - then I guess that's true. But somehow, someway, I don't think that's what he meant. Bastards always gotta take their shots at Frank... Those asswipes can honestly go f*** off. (Sorry for the explicits.)
October 14, 200421 yr The shot at Frank was grossly unfair. You'd have scowls too if you were trying to hit while on a broken ankle!
October 14, 200421 yr I did write that s***... Oh wait, mine had some(not alot) substance. Yours was actually a good read, with some substance.
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