A Scary Thought

[AddisonStSox]

Watching the World Series, and I suppose the playoffs as a whole, did anyone else think that if the White Sox were ever to make the playoffs with this current manager and current roster we would be laughed out in the first round?

 

I'm starting to think so...and it is such a bummer.

 

These playoff contenders all have a few things in common

 

1) Chemistry. Say what you will, but team chimistry plays a large role in a team's success. I know there have been teams that absoultely despised eachother that went on to greatness (IIRC, the Vikings and A's of old), but for the most part, its the teams that would take a bullet for eachother that win championships. Watching Schilling, I could not help but get the feeling that he meant everything he said. He truly believed that without the STRONG team chemistry that the Red Sox had, they would never have been able to accomplish what they did. Guys like Wakefield, Varitek, and Schilling, as well as guys like Pedro, Manny, and Ortiz are crucial in developing a team's personality.

 

2) Money. Ouch. I'm not going to go on and on about this...but look at the playoff teams. Spending money on pitching PAYS OFF.

 

3) Manager. I really, really think that if the Sox were to have won the division, Ozzie would have gotten out-managed in the ALDS. He's WAY too inexpierenced and I think that would come back to bite us in the ass. Guys like Torre, LaRussa, hell, even Garner are able to set the table and rally their guys. Could you see Ozzie out-manage Torre? Holding up a World Series Trophy? Wrapping his arm around a Series MVP? Try as I might...I don't think I can.

 

So, where do we go? What do the Sox need to do to get there?

 

I wish I knew the answer. I just have a BAD feeling about this current roster and I think unless some serious personel changes are made, we are still years away from a Pennant. Maybe a guy like Johnson can come in and rejuvinate the Sox like Beltran did for the Astros. Maybe the front office will finally decide to spend more money. Hell, maybe our fans will come out to supprot their troops

 

I'm actually pretty down on the future of the Sox...I think we will be able to field a team capable of winning the mighty AL Central, but anything after that seems like a long shot.

[Sox1422]

1) Chemistry.  Say what you will, but team chimistry plays a large role in a team's success.  I know there have been teams that absoultely despised eachother that went on to greatness (IIRC, the Vikings and A's of old), but for the most part, its the teams that would take a bullet for eachother that win championships.  Watching Schilling, I could not help but get the feeling that he meant everything he said.  He truly believed that without the STRONG team chemistry that the Red Sox had, they would never have been able to accomplish what they did.  Guys like Wakefield, Varitek, and Schilling, as well as guys like Pedro, Manny, and Ortiz are crucial in developing a team's personality.

Honestly, I think any team that wins will develop some kind of chemistry. When you keep losing, people get in moods and start blaming and pointing fingers. Winning is the best way to develop good chemistry.

 

Best way to win is to put players on the field capable of winning.

[Flash Tizzle]

Team Chemistry, opposed to anything Paul Konerko may suggest, depends ideally on the teams position in the standings. With Ozzie at the helms, inflating one's ego will not be tolerated.

 

Take Sosa: Cub's win the division and his selfish comments about Dusty Baker never occur, as well as abandoning his teammates on the last game of the season. While his arrogance and Sam-me personality wouldn't have changed, it would have been easier to accept had the Cubs not choked.

 

Many players on many championship teams (as you've mentioned) learn to play aside each other when the club is winning. Johnson and Schilling disliked each other in 2001; didn't effect them one bit.

 

And I wouldn't exactly agree our future is dismal. When 3/5 of the starting rotation is locked up through 06' the opportunity to win is there. My concerns are the remaining holes a 65 million dollar payroll may not fill, as well as the progression of our minor league prospects.

[jackie hayes]

Watching the World Series, and I suppose the playoffs as a whole, did anyone else think that if the White Sox were ever to make the playoffs with this current manager and current roster we would be laughed out in the first round?

 

I'm starting to think so...and it is such a bummer.

 

These playoff contenders all have a few things in common

 

1) Chemistry.  Say what you will, but team chimistry plays a large role in a team's success.  I know there have been teams that absoultely despised eachother that went on to greatness (IIRC, the Vikings and A's of old), but for the most part, its the teams that would take a bullet for eachother that win championships.  Watching Schilling, I could not help but get the feeling that he meant everything he said.  He truly believed that without the STRONG team chemistry that the Red Sox had, they would never have been able to accomplish what they did.  Guys like Wakefield, Varitek, and Schilling, as well as guys like Pedro, Manny, and Ortiz are crucial in developing a team's personality.

 

2) Money.  Ouch.  I'm not going to go on and on about this...but look at the playoff teams.  Spending money on pitching PAYS OFF.

 

3) Manager.  I really, really think that if the Sox were to have won the division, Ozzie would have gotten out-managed in the ALDS.  He's WAY too inexpierenced and I think that would come back to bite us in the ass.  Guys like Torre, LaRussa, hell, even Garner are able to set the table and rally their guys.  Could you see Ozzie out-manage Torre?  Holding up a World Series Trophy?  Wrapping his arm around a Series MVP?  Try as I might...I don't think I can.

 

So, where do we go?  What do the Sox need to do to get there? 

 

I wish I knew the answer.  I just have a BAD feeling about this current roster and I think unless some serious personel changes are made, we are still years away from a Pennant.  Maybe a guy like Johnson can come in and rejuvinate the Sox like Beltran did for the Astros.  Maybe the front office will finally decide to spend more money.  Hell, maybe our fans will come out to supprot their troops

 

I'm actually pretty down on the future of the Sox...I think we will be able to field a team capable of winning the mighty AL Central, but anything after that seems like a long shot.

I think this is a little too negative. In the short term, solidifying the pitching staff will help the Sox dramatically. Not only was that the #1 reason we missed the playoffs this year, but I think our starting pitching could hold its own in the playoffs. It's not as good as Boston's, but add a good starter (Perez or Lowe, hopefully, not necessarily pipedreams RJ or Pavano) and I think we're better than NY's end-of-the-year staff, as well as the Cardinals'. That still leaves a bullpen deficit, which might take some work. I'm not saying the Sox would be a better team, but I think we could compete. And in a 7 game series, that's enough to give you a good chance at winning.

 

In the long run, the key is developing players better than we've done in the last few years.

 

Obviously money gives you a better shot at winning, but smart low-cost pickups can go a long way: Think how important Bellhorn, Ortiz, and Mueller have been to the Red Sox, and consider how well the smaller-market Twins competed w/ the Yanks (they lost, but it wouldn't have taken much for it to go the other way).

 

Managing, it's an issue, but if it turns out to be a problem next year, it'll only be a short-term one.

 

Chemistry has been an issue w/ the Sox for a long time. It's funny that you mention both managing and chemistry as problems, since the new manager was brought in largely to fix the chemistry problem, but it's not clear that we're much better on either count. I don't know how it can be fixed -- I've read that the Twins' players believe it helps when players progressed through the minors together. Maybe it'd help. Although, lack of it didn't hurt the Red Sox.

[Flash Tizzle]

Honestly, I think any team that wins will develop some kind of chemistry.  When you keep losing, people get in moods and start blaming and pointing fingers.  Winning is the best way to develop good chemistry.

 

Best way to win is to put players on the field capable of winning.

 

It's really this simple. I'd rather sign a player with great numbers and a terrible attitude (ex. Guillen) then Timo Perez or Jose Valentin.

[AddisonStSox]

I think this is a little too negative.  In the short term, solidifying the pitching staff will help the Sox dramatically.  Not only was that the #1 reason we missed the playoffs this year, but I think our starting pitching could hold its own in the playoffs.  It's not as good as Boston's, but add a good starter (Perez or Lowe, hopefully, not necessarily pipedreams RJ or Pavano) and I think we're better than NY's end-of-the-year staff, as well as the Cardinals'.  That still leaves a bullpen deficit, which might take some work.  I'm not saying the Sox would be a better team, but I think we could compete.  And in a 7 game series, that's enough to give you a good chance at winning.

 

In the long run, the key is developing players better than we've done in the last few years.

 

Obviously money gives you a better shot at winning, but smart low-cost pickups can go a long way:  Think how important Bellhorn, Ortiz, and Mueller have been to the Red Sox, and consider how well the smaller-market Twins competed w/ the Yanks (they lost, but it wouldn't have taken much for it to go the other way).

 

Managing, it's an issue, but if it turns out to be a problem next year, it'll only be a short-term one.

 

Chemistry has been an issue w/ the Sox for a long time.  It's funny that you mention both managing and chemistry as problems, since the new manager was brought in largely to fix the chemistry problem, but it's not clear that we're much better on either count.  I don't know how it can be fixed -- I've read that the Twins' players believe it helps when players progressed through the minors together.  Maybe it'd help.  Although, lack of it didn't hurt the Red Sox.

Good thoughts JH. I know its a little negative...I think I'm just feeling the post-season sting right now. I'm just sensing a long road ahead of us. I PRAY that I'm wrong.

[witesoxfan]

Team Chemistry, opposed to anything Paul Konerko may suggest, depends ideally on the teams position in the standings.  With Ozzie at the helms, inflating one's ego will not be tolerated. 

 

Take Sosa: Cub's win the division and his selfish comments about Dusty Baker never occur, as well as abandoning his teammates on the last game of the season.  While his arrogance and Sam-me personality wouldn't have changed, it would have been easier to accept had the Cubs not choked. 

 

Many players on many championship teams (as you've mentioned) learn to play aside each other when the club is winning.  Johnson and Schilling disliked each other in 2001; didn't effect them one bit. 

 

And I wouldn't exactly agree our future is dismal.  When 3/5 of the starting rotation is locked up through 06' the opportunity to win is there. My concerns are the remaining holes a 65 million dollar payroll may not fill, as well as the progression of our minor league prospects.

This post sums everything up for me.

 

Another example was the 2002 season when Bonds and Kent were at each other's throats and were about to kill each other, and ended the season losing the World Series(a World Series they were 6 outs away from winning).

 

If you make it to the series, you have to be a good team.