Everyone says that Ozzie is a player's manager, and his supposed best attribute is being able to motivate his players and take the pressure off of them. I don't think even greg775 would say Ozzie is a superior in-game manager. With that said, if the players are tuning him out and/or not enjoying playing for him, then something needs to be done. Sometimes relationships just end, and it seems like it's happening here.

True, but you don't often see teams actually make the postseason and have such severe chemistry issues as that team did (ie: Swisher complaining about being benched in the postseason).

Well, it's not like there was some great run they made all year that was really going to build any great chemistry. The postseason was in doubt til the minute they actually clinched it. Then all the sudden you wake up and go play in Tampa and before you know it, you're at home sitting on your couch. I'm sure if you asked, many of those will tell you those last 2-3 weeks were a complete blur to them.

I'm looking forward to a clubhouse led by guys like Peavy/Beckham/Rios/Thornton. I think things will improve greatly.

 

 

The tide has finally shifted from Dye/Thome/Konerko/Buehrle/Crede/Rowand/AJ....

 

The question is whether players like Rios (seemingly Jon Garland's twin personality-wise), Quentin, Ramirez...your most talented players, what kind of leadership do you get out of them, if anything?

 

Danks would be one I'd look to emerging in this area big-time, Floyd, not so much. Teahen's a very good clubhouse guy, but how can you lead anyone if you basically suck as a player?

 

That's why the personalities of Flowers, Viciedo and Hudson will be critically important to their being "accepted" or rejected by the veterans...particularly Tyler and the pitching staff.

 

 

Everyone says that Ozzie is a player's manager, and his supposed best attribute is being able to motivate his players and take the pressure off of them. I don't think even greg775 would say Ozzie is a superior in-game manager. With that said, if the players are tuning him out and/or not enjoying playing for him, then something needs to be done. Sometimes relationships just end, and it seems like it's happening here.

I don't know Fathom.

 

I see guys like Mark and Jim Thome adoring Ozzie, and it makes it a hell of a lot more difficult for me to believe what guys like Nick Swisher have to say about him.

 

 

I think Danks is too laid-back to take the reigns of the team. The team is Beckham's if he steps up and takes it.

I see guys like Mark and Jim Thome adoring Ozzie, and it makes it a hell of a lot more difficult for me to believe what guys like Nick Swisher have to say about him.

 

I don't think there's a single manager those two guys wouldn't like. They are both just outstanding human beings and better teammates.

I don't think there's a single manager those two guys wouldn't like. They are both just outstanding human beings and better teammates.

I agree, but I also think that if Ozzie was some huge A-hole to play for that Jimmy wouldn't have been hugging the guy after every home run he hit. People that are great human beings usually are outstanding judges of character.

I think Ozzie is fantastic to "his guys", but Ozzie is clearly one to play favorites, and once you get into his dog house (and you can get in there for any reason), it's practically impossible to get out.

People that are great human beings usually are outstanding judges of character.

 

Meh.. that can go either way in either case. I personally think guys who are just good human beings/people more or less have a good heart. Hell I consider myself a good person, but one of my closest friends is the nicest, good hearted dude I've ever met and he has some friends who are pretty much assholes (alot of times to him). But he just has a good heart to look past some of that scrutiny, and his friends love him even if they mess with him.

Meh.. that can go either way in either case. I personally think guys who are just good human beings/people more or less have a good heart. Hell I consider myself a good person, but one of my closest friends is the nicest, good hearted dude I've ever met and he has some friends who are pretty much assholes (alot of times to him). But he just has a good heart to look past some of that scrutiny, and his friends love him even if they mess with him.

Who asked you anyways? I kid.

 

Regardless, Ozzie needs to create an atmosphere in which his players have a chance to succeed. If he does that well, then the team has a fighting chance. I tend to think he does that, by the way he handles the pitching staff, takes heat off the players, and creates a fun atmosphere. Whether or not they actually perform well-enough is on them, in the end.

 

But that's just my lone opinion.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-sp...0,388531.column

 

These stories are becoming a lot more common lately.

Get rid of them both. Let the Rick Hahn era begin!

I think Hahn will be the GM very soon with Williams moving up to a president type of role. I think Kenny can't continue to deal with the high strung lifestyle, etc.

 

Ozzie will probably go ballistic shortly. Its just a matter of time.

I think Hahn will be the GM very soon with Williams moving up to a president type of role. I think Kenny can't continue to deal with the high strung lifestyle, etc.

 

Ozzie will probably go ballistic shortly. Its just a matter of time.

I'd agree - I bet KW slides to Team President, Hahn to full time GM, within a year. And that Ozzie lasts no longer than this season.

 

I'd agree - I bet KW slides to Team President, Hahn to full time GM, within a year. And that Ozzie lasts no longer than this season.

I think right now a lot of Sox fans are hoping for that scenario to occur.

 

For it to happen though, I think we'd need to win about 70 games this season, which is still a possibility mind you, but then again the likes of Peavy, Floyd etc. can pitch a lot better while the likes of Beckham and Quentin you'd expect to hit better going thru the season.

 

So I'd put that scenario at 50:50 right now, and I'm probably more pessimistic in saying it won't happen.

I think Hahn will be the GM very soon with Williams moving up to a president type of role. I think Kenny can't continue to deal with the high strung lifestyle, etc.

What do you base this on? Nothing tells me anything other than he seems to absolutely love it.

 

I think Hahn will be the GM very soon with Williams moving up to a president type of role. I think Kenny can't continue to deal with the high strung lifestyle, etc.

 

Ozzie will probably go ballistic shortly. Its just a matter of time.

 

I was thinking for the first time in as long as I can remember, Kenny has really taken a step back. Everything he has said and done has been way less high strung than he has been in the past.

What do you base this on? Nothing tells me anything other than he seems to absolutely love it.

I think the writing has been on the wall based upon my gut feelings from what I read/hear. I won't guarantee anything but I think Hahn will get his chance. It won't be KEnny getting fired or anything, he's a great GM, more that I think he is tired of the constant day to days of being a baseball GM, especially the way he handles being a GM.

 

Like I said, just my 2 cents.

 

And regarding Ozzie, the players started zoning him out last year so now that he has another year of more guys zoning him out, I think he'll end up going somewhere else. HE just doesn't have a style that leads to a long shelf life.

It will be nice to have a GM that understands the sabermetrics side of the game that is for sure.

It will be nice to have a GM that understands the sabermetrics side of the game that is for sure.

You think Kenny doesn't understand it?

It'd be nice to have a GM who doesn't rush into things and only focuses on bringing in good, solid ball players. No matter what your viewpoint is, sabermetrics or traditional, it doesn't matter as long as you do your homework and bring in the best players possible. That is what I want to see out of our GM.

It'd be nice to have a GM who doesn't rush into things and only focuses on bringing in good, solid ball players. No matter what your viewpoint is, sabermetrics or traditional, it doesn't matter as long as you do your homework and bring in the best players possible. That is what I want to see out of our GM.

Who did he not do his homework on?

Who did he not do his homework on?

Nick Swisher and Todd Ritchie are the two that come to mind right away.

My thought is Williams is letting Guillen do his thing as he is moving on to an executive role like PAxson and Hahn as been told that he will get he GM job at such a point.

 

I also think guillen will be given a year to work with Hahn and see how they go.

 

 

You think Kenny doesn't understand it?

 

I think he understands it, but just chooses to ignore it. Which is beyond unfortunate.