Guillen: We’re better than the ’05 team

[Rick]

Just wanted to get your thoughts on this Sox fans...

There is a reason why manager Ozzie Guillen, among others, is so baffled by the White Sox this season.

While again admitting he has no idea how the Sox are going to perform from day to day, Guillen said the 2011 White Sox have more talent than his 2005 club that won the World Series.

“I think we have a better ballclub right now than in ’05, talking about man to man,” Guillen said. “In ’05 we had a lot of ifs. If (Scott) Podsednik can play, if (Tadahito) Iguchi comes back and plays good (from) Japan, if (Juan) Uribe could play every day, (Jon) Garland never pitched more than seven innings.

“We had a lot of ifs. We had three closers. A.J. (Pierzynski) was a guy nobody wanted; we got him. We got a guy (Chris Widger) playing softball a year before; he’s our backup catcher. (Cliff) Politte never was good in his career before that. We were just playing well.”

The 2005 White Sox played well enough to win the AL Central with a wire-to-wire effort and they really turned it on in the postseason, going 11-1 en route to winning the World Series.

This year the Sox haven’t been in first place since April 7, when they were 4-2.

No wonder general manager Kenny Williams threatened to turn over the roster before Monday night’s win over the Tigers.

Williams and Guillen met Monday and again during batting practice on Tuesday.

“What can I say when you’re not seeing anything going forward?” Guillen said. “I’m not going to lie to Kenny in his face and say, ‘Wow, look, we’re going to do this and that.’ I’m just honest with him. Listen, I love this ballclub but I’m 50-50. I don’t know which one I am going to get.

“I’m 50-50 with them, but I believe in what we have. I think the quality of the ballplayers out there ... and I told him these three, four, five, six, seven games will dictate to you what we have.”

Bad news for Pena:

On the disabled list since May 28, White Sox relief pitcher Tony Pena reinjured his elbow during his latest rehab stint with Class AAA Charlotte.

Pena said he has ligament damage and likely is facing Tommy John surgery.

Last Wednesday, he threw four pitches for Charlotte and exited the game.

“Oh my God, it hurt,” Pena said.

The reliever said he’ll visit with Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles next week but is preparing for surgery.

“I had tendinitis before in ’05 and I pitched with that,” Pena said. “This is a ligament. It feels like (bleep).”

The finale:

John Danks gets the start this afternoon as the Sox close out their three-game series against the first-place Tigers.

Fully healed from the strained right oblique that kept him on the disabled list from June 26-July 20, Danks is 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA in his last three starts.

In his first 11 starts, the left-hander was 0-8 with a 5.25 ERA.

“We’ve been working hard,” Danks said. “We haven’t really changed a whole lot in terms of our preparation in between starts whatever. Results are there. I’m making more quality pitches more consistently and you know, I mean, getting outs. It seems like even hard-hit balls, there’s a chance they will get caught. For a little bit, it felt like there wasn’t any of them getting caught.”

Source: Daily Herald

 

[Uman85]

I was reading this earlier. He does make some good points, but at the end of the day if this team doesn't win the division and live up to its potential it means nothing. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it doesn't produce it doesn't mean jack.

 

[AE23]

I agree with him that the 05 squad had a lot of ifs, and am liking that he said it, but, No. Granted this teams similar, with the young arms, which along with timely hitting is what got us the WS title. In hindsight Id say the 05 squad is better. The bullpen with Politte, Marte, Takatsu, Cotts, Jenks etc, goddamn we were loaded. This bullpens been better as of late, but NO. On paper, the lineup, 1-9 also, No, that 05 OF was balanced as hell.

 

[DMelt36]

I agree with him that the 05 squad had a lot of ifs, and am liking that he said it, but, No. Granted this teams similar, with the young arms, which along with timely hitting is what got us the WS title. In hindsight Id say the 05 squad is better. The bullpen with Politte, Marte, Takatsu, Cotts, Jenks etc, goddamn we were loaded. This bullpens been better as of late, but NO. On paper, the lineup, 1-9 also, No, that 05 OF was balanced as hell.

Cotts and Politte, in particular, were disgustingly good that season. I think both of their ERAs were under 2.00 in the regular season.

 

[Captain Iago]

I don't want to hear it and I don't like that he said it.

:talktohand:

 

[HawkyTalky]

"Mr. Guillen, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent diatribe were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this thread is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul"

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Just wanted to get your thoughts on this Sox fans...




Source: Daily Herald

All this is saying is that the 2005 team had more heart and desire to actually win. And it also says that Kenny Williams doens't have to sign big stars to win. If he takes chances with players that nobody else wants, maybe they can win. I see a lot of similarities between the 2010 Giants and the 2005 White Sox.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

talent wise, i agree..but uman made a great point..that means nothing if you cant put it together and win games

winning and talent dont always correlate

he's probably doing it as another movitational tactic....idk...

 

[Uman85]

All this is saying is that the 2005 team had more heart and desire to actually win. And it also says that Kenny Williams doens't have to sign big stars to win. If he takes chances with players that nobody else wants, maybe they can win. I see a lot of similarities between the 2010 Giants and the 2005 White Sox.

Aaron Rowand? Lol

You're right though. They have similarities. Solid pitching that shut down opposing lineups in the postseason. Good first post in the Sox forum.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Aaron Rowand? Lol

You're right though. They have similarities. Solid pitching that shut down opposing lineups in the postseason. Good first post in the Sox forum.

Yes, Aaron Rowand. And Juan Uribe. But they both weren't expected to win the division. My favorite thing about the 2005 White Sox was that they were picked to be 4th in the division. Both the Giants and White Sox were the iffy teams that in the end had the best pitching and an offense that slowly scored runs.

 

[ChiSportsRich]

Yes, Aaron Rowand. And Juan Uribe. But they both weren't expected to win the division. My favorite thing about the 2005 White Sox was that they were picked to be 4th in the division. Both the Giants and White Sox were the iffy teams that in the end had the best pitching and an offense that slowly scored runs.

I totally agree, but we gotta win the Division first

 

[BigP50]

On paper maybe but you gotta produce.

 

[Uman85]

Ozzie can compare them all he wants, but I don't think anything should be said until the season is over. If this team doesn't win the World Series, them being "better" is a moot point because they didn't do what the '05 team did.