Spring Training Article

[DBAHO]

A good read here, from Carlos Lee's favorite writer;

 

Last season was quite a learning experience for then-rookie manager Ozzie Guillen.

Some of the lessons the White Sox skipper learned weren't exactly what he'd had in mind.

 

"I know how to swear in a few more languages," a grinning Guillen said at the close of the 2004 season. "Japanese, obviously Spanish and English I knew, and then whatever language (shortstop) Juan Uribe thinks he's speaking."

 

Those language lessons will come in handy for Guillen when the Sox convene for spring training in Tucson, Ariz., beginning this coming week. Not only has the team undergone a complete change in on-field philosophy this offseason, it's also had a major facelift in player personnel.

 

The Sox could have five new position players as regulars this season — outfielders Scott Podsendik and Jermaine Dye, second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, shortstop Juan Uribe (who played only 38 games at short last season) and catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Pitchers added to the roster include starter Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and relievers Dustin Hermanson and Luis Vizcaino.

 

Guillen and his coaching staff will have only the six weeks of spring training to get to know the new faces, as well as get the new-look Sox up and running.

 

Gone is the feast-or-famine team that resembled a Sunday morning softball team that would show up to the ballpark focused on the home run ball. Gone are the household names of Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee and Jose Valentin.

 

It's now about pitching on the South Side — and an offense that's more concerned with putting pressure on the opposition with singles and stolen bases rather than the long ball. It's about little-known players such as Podsednik and Japanese import Iguchi. And it's about the assimilation of bigger-name newcomers Dye, Pierzynski and Hernandez into the mix.

 

That's why, with Opening Day scheduled for April 4, there's no time to lose in camp.

 

"The sooner we get to know these guys, the sooner we can learn their makeup and mechanics," hitting coach Greg Walker said. "That way, the sooner we can tweak those mechanics if need be. If you wait until the regular season to have to make those changes … that's not the best time.

 

"This is going to be as challenging a spring as we've had here in quite some time. We all know that's going to be key going into this thing."

 

And we know there are plenty of keys to the Sox's spring training camp. But here are five urgent questions that spring to mind:

 

1. Can we be Frank?

 

Will he or won't he? It's been asked all offseason about veteran slugger Frank Thomas. All indications are that Thomas won't be — ready, that is.

 

The surgery Thomas underwent in October to repair a stress fracture in his left foot did not heal at the pace the Sox had hoped it would. So instead of the Big Hurt being ready for Opening Day, he might not be ready to play until several months into the season.

 

"I don't think we'll see him until June," Guillen said recently. "That's just my opinion."

 

Guillen is preparing for life without Thomas in spring training. He has penciled in Jermaine Dye as his No. 3 hitter and Carl Everett as his designated hitter.

 

But until Thomas — who has made a habit of making himself scarcely seen in the offseason — shows up at camp, the Sox won't have a clear answer.

 

Thomas' presence changes the entire lineup. It not only impacts the batting order, it also determines to a large extent how much playing time Everett will get.

 

At age 36, Thomas may not be the feared slugger of years past. But he still can be a powerful force in a Sox lineup that has lost some of its pop.

 

2. Is it a hot or cold corner?

 

General manager Ken Williams stressed late in the 2004 season that he wouldn't go shopping for a new third baseman this offseason. That means the Sox are counting on Joe Crede to rebound from his poor 2004 campaign (.239 average, 21 homers, 69 RBI in 144 games).

 

Walker met with Crede for several days in November to make sure the swing flaw Crede finally let Walker correct in late September was still corrected.

 

"This spring is big for him," Walker said. "When you make changes, you want them to become natural. If he's not up and running with that swing at the start of spring, we've got six weeks to get him going. You don't want him making those changes when the lights come on."

 

Crede had a batting cage built at his home in the offseason, and he's been talking to Walker on a regular basis and sending videotape of his swing to his coach.

 

3. Can A.J. be A-OK with his teammates?

 

Pierzynski and his new teammates have been saying all the right things since the Sox signed the controversial free agent. But the fact remains that Pierzynski was one of the more hated opposing players in the Sox clubhouse during his tenure with Minnesota.

 

The past has to be put in the past, however, if the Sox are to finally leapfrog the Twins in the American League Central Division race. A strength for the Twins in their recent dominance over the South Siders has been their togetherness. The Sox have been striving to match that bunker mentality, but they've come up short in recent years.

 

Pierzynski has a history of rubbing his own teammates the wrong way, but a fresh start with the Sox might change that.

 

4. Will they be off and running?

 

The hope is that Podsednik and Iguchi will become sparkplugs at the top of the order. Podsednik will be given every opportunity to win the leadoff spot. The Sox haven't had a true leadoff hitter and base-stealing threat in the last decade. Williams hopes Iguchi can fill the No. 2 spot in the order and be another threat on the basepaths.

 

"I can see them combining to steal 100 bases," Williams said last month.

 

But those two Sox newcomers have plenty to prove — especially Iguchi, who hasn't even had a major league at-bat.

 

5. Will 'El Duque' go the distance?

 

Pitching coach Don Cooper is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to work with free-agent acquisition Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, but "Coop" is prepared to take a cautious approach.

 

All reports say Hernandez is completely healed from a shoulder injury he suffered two seasons ago, but Cooper wants to pace the former Yankees right-hander.

 

"The goal is to have him running toward the post in August and September," Cooper said.

 

The Sox are counting on an improved starting rotation, one that also features Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland.

 

A strong season from Hernandez, who has a career record of 61-40 in the majors, could go a long way in making the Sox rotation one of the league's best.

 

"The first thing is we have to find out what he wants to do and what he doesn't want to do," Cooper said. "We're here for whatever he wants to do."

[JUGGERNAUT]

I'm glad to hear that Cooper is still advocating pacing Hernandez. Depending on how effective Garland & Contreras are in ST I still believe they will use the off-days to skip Duque starts & stretch his rest. Cooper has said that earlier & hopes it will leave Duque at his best in Aug & Sep.

 

From what we heard from Rowand & knowing that this is Thomas' negotiation year (he'll never leave the Sox) I think Thomas will be in the lineup before June. Everett might surprise all of us in April & take away more Dye AB's than Thomas ones.