I've been watching the handling of Gordon Beckham since his recent call-up while shaking my head.
First off, it seems manager Ozzie Guillen is not a big fan of Beckham's. Every time the kid's name has been mentioned throughout the year, Ozzie has never uttered a positive word publicly about him.
His only observation seems to be that everyone else in the baseball world had him overrated and if he is called up, the White Sox will be in trouble. Hate to break the news, but the White Sox ARE in trouble.
White Sox Beckham needs to just play
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I'll admit that Gordon Beckham hasn't exactly set the world on fire
since being inserted into the lineup, but that's just the way it goes.
I understand that Guillen wants production, and he NEEDS production
now. But the fact of the matter is that Beckham should be left in the
lineup for an extended period of time so that the comfort level can
sink in.
Josh Fields is NOT going to be the difference maker in the Sox lineup. He hasn't been predicted to be and he has never been that player. Beckham is predicted and eventually will be expected to be more of an impact player. Once he was called up, his butt should have stayed in that lineup until the season was over.
Any kid that comes into the big leagues doubts his place in that clubhouse. No matter how confident or cocky a player is, walking into your first big league clubhouse is a joke! You'll get to walk past the lockers of many players who's baseball cards you collected when you were younger.
Then you'll put on the same uniform as the future Hall-Of-Famer who's locker is two stalls down from yours. Add to that you'll be facing the other team which offers more of the same. The only difference is that the guys in the other uniforms want to bury you!
Josh Fields is NOT going to be the difference maker in the Sox lineup. He hasn't been predicted to be and he has never been that player. Beckham is predicted and eventually will be expected to be more of an impact player. Once he was called up, his butt should have stayed in that lineup until the season was over.
Then you'll put on the same uniform as the future Hall-Of-Famer who's locker is two stalls down from yours. Add to that you'll be facing the other team which offers more of the same. The only difference is that the guys in the other uniforms want to bury you!
Some players will get off to decent starts, some won't. It's is not a precursor to future results. Once a kid like Beckham gets called up, that's that! Any Sox fan remember a prospect named Robin Ventura going through an 0 for 41 slump in 1990?
Well I do because I was rooming with him. I struggled at .500 the first half of the season that year. We mockingly called ourselves "the misery brothers" during that stretch. Well, we were allowed to grow and ended up having solid years that catapulted us to the next level.
Well I do because I was rooming with him. I struggled at .500 the first half of the season that year. We mockingly called ourselves "the misery brothers" during that stretch. Well, we were allowed to grow and ended up having solid years that catapulted us to the next level.
The White Sox season is teetering on the brink right now. One player will not make the difference between collapse and hanging around. But for the future, Beckham needs to stay put and be the man.
54 Comments
BDSCPA68 said:
I respectfully disagree with your stance. The division is up for grabs. You have a chance to win it with a few moves and Kenny is not shy to pull the trigger to get the players in. With one or two moves, the Sox can overtake the Tigers and you never know what is going to happen in the playoffs.
Right now, Beckham is not helping the club. Fields is a proven hitter while Beckham has "potential." The difference in 1990 is you guys were not going to win anything that year (sorry for being blunt) so you could afford to be patient. Given the success over the past few years, the Sox cannot afford to wait since fans will simply not show up... we are not cub fans always looking toward next year.
Put Beckham into Triple A and make a trade for a solid defensive 3B who can hit .260. This will give the Sox a better chance to win this year AND next year.
Jack McDowell said:
The division is up for grabs if Quentin was healthy. The division is up for grabs if the Sox weren't the worst hitting team in the game for the past three months. And being a career .233 hitter, as Fields is, does not make ANY player proven. What has Beckham been there for 7 games? I truly don't see any difference in the two and the ceiling for Beckham is much higher. Fields May 7th-May 22...2 for 31, Fields June 1st - June 11th 4 for 24. Your argument doesn't hold water. Which third baseman would you like to trade for that hits .260? I'd be surprised if Beckham wasn't hitting at least .260 by years end if they leave him in there. I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
JimH said:
Jack,
I agree that Beckham will be fine. When Cal Ripken came up his rookie year he was awful for the first month and ended up winning the ROY and the MVP the following year. Beyond the media pressure of a big city Beckham's playng out of position. I think he's a good enough baseball player to make that transition, but juggling the demands of a new position, learning to hit pitchers he's never faced, and learning umpires strike zones is pretty darn hard.
I've been impressed by his plate presence unlike Fields or Brian Anderson. I've probably seen 75% of Beckhams AB's and can only remember 3 or 4 where he looked overmatched. Anderson was constantly overmatched in 2006 flailing at balls out of the strike zone and Fields has that wrist cock that will never allow him to excel in the majors. Anderson has improved somewhat, but I wonder what you think of him long term with Jordan Danks in the wings?
Love the Blog. I'm orginally from Chicago and live in Carlsbad with a couple kids at LCC High School. What school are you coaching at?
Jack McDowell said:
I'm coaching at San Dieguito
BDSCPA68 said:
That is what makes this forum great! Keep up the great work... I enjoy reading your work.
punkedgepc said:
Blackjack,
You advocate Beckham playing out the rest of the season at third base, but do you think this is the position he should be playing long term? I prefer to see him at shortstop, where we already have Alexei (who's starting to hit more). I am not a Josh Fields fan but I think it is best for the organization to see what Fields can do over a full season to make a judgment on him. Let Beckham play shortstop every day in AAA and next season give him a shot to start there. We can always put Alexei back at second base if Getz doesn't show much or there is even some talk of putting Alexei at centerfield. What do you think?
Love the blog! Go Sox!
Pankaj
Jack McDowell said:
I doubt they'd move Alexi to centerfield. He's a real good infielder wherever they put him. And I haven't seen enough of Beckham to make a call at where he will end up in the big leagues. Fields has gotten a great chance to show his worth. He had a solid season in '07. The bottom line to me is this: bringing Beckham up isn't giving up the season! This kid is expected to be an offensive threat. The White Sox offense has stunk and been inconsistent. Give him a shot and maybe they get a spark out of it. It will NOT be a step down offensively wherever they play him right now.
FrankinPanama said:
BlackJack is absolutely correct! Unfortunately, Fields has not worked out and we need to finally come to terms with that. 2007 was a decent year for him, but he hasn't been able to sustain it. We waited all last year for the guy and Fields did very little in the minors, let alone when he was called up late in the year. Plus Field's defense is mediocre at best. I say keep Beckham in the lineup (just like we did with Ventura) to get him acclimated to the big leagues ASAP. At least it will add some excitement this year!
pancakes said:
Exactly! Let's just admit that Fields was a mistake when we drafted him. I'm not sure where Beckham will end up playing but if he can play third base, so much the better. He is already an improvement. It's not like we're replacing ARod at third with some unknown rookie. It's JOSH FIELDS. Explain to me how this guy has proven himself.
Jack, why do you think Ozzie has been so uninspired publicly with Beckham? Do you think he's just trying to keep the kid from getting a big head after hearing nothing but praise from everywhere?
Jack McDowell said:
First off, I won't throw Fields under the bus just yet! My point is when you call up a guy like Beckham, he's gotta play! As far as Ozzie being uninspired by Beckham...no idea. maybe he's taking the opposite approach of Sparky Anderson who always tagged his rookies as future Hall-Of Famers as soon as they stepped on the field.
AzureJazzMan said:
Hey Black Jack,
Since Ozzie likes to take heat off of his guys on a regular basis (unless they tick him off), by making controversial comments and/or giving "quotes" to the press to run with...
Would you say it's possible, knowing the type of manager Ozzie has been, that his treatment of Beckham is all a ruse?
Murph said:
I think the quotes from Ozzie take the pressure away from the fans and media. If Ozzie was spouting off that Beckham was the second coming and he was failing, the Chicago fans and media can be brutal. If he gets everyone to expect less, the kid can get the playing time he needs without the mental abuse he would otherwise get.
Jack McDowell said:
yeah, I can see him downplaying him...but he's seemed to almost go out of his way to bring him down.
Connor MacLeod said:
Jack, Did you ever see a manager have obvious favorites in the clubhouse that effected playing time?
Jack McDowell said:
I think managers will have favorites. That is all part of the human experience. I know that I have my own favorites on my High School team that I coach...but let's get something straight, if they don't perform on the field, they don't play! When you put on the uniform it's about winning. Maybe a favorite would get the nod over the less favored player on the front end of a close position battle. But the numbers won't lie!
DRTD13 said:
Love the blog Black Jack! Your perspective and candor are most refreshing. Along the lines of your point here about Beckham, what do you think of the Aaron Poreda call-up, and how do you think Ozzie should handle him? Did you spend any time in the bullpen early in your career or were you a starter from the get-go? I'd like Poreda to be in the rotation, but not if he's just going to get knocked around and take a serious blow to his confidence. Do you think working out of the bullpen can stunt his development as a high-level starter?
Jack McDowell said:
Don't know what the Sox are gonna do with Poreda, but if you can pitch, you can pitch. I didn't get my first bullpen appearance until the 1995 playoffs with the Yankees. But as I've always said, if i were a MLB coach/manager, and I had a reliever tell me "I don't know what my role is," (as they often do), I'd gently remind him that his role is to get the damn guy out who we ask you to get out whenever we ask you to do it! And let's get something straight, if a guy is gonna lose his confidence from getting his butt kicked or getting dominated...he's not going to last in this game. Baseball is a game of failure, adjustments and bouncing back on a daily basis. Don't be overly concerned with the confidence factor.
pancakes said:
Thanks Jack. i always thought that sometimes players get babied a little too much about hurting their confidence. Put 'em out there and see what they can do. if they're not ready because they need more time in the minors, that's one thing.
So, what's you're opinion on guys recently saying they are suffering from anxiety and couldn't perform..e.g., Grienke, now Khalil Green
Jack McDowell said:
The anxiety thing has cracked me up! I don't know exactly what that means but it seems to be the "injury" of the year. If you haven't torn your hip labrum, you must have anxiety. I've never seen someone go on the DL because they're scared!!! Classic. This whole generation, baseball aside has been duped by the world of psychology. Let's talk about our feelings! All we are doing is producing a generation of people who think it's all about THEM and they are entitled to "be heard." Ridiculous.
soxmania06 said:
Blackjack,
I agree with your view on Beckham playing every day. Why bring him up if they're not going to give him consistent playing time? And Buddy Bell isn't going to recommend bringing him up if he's not ready in Bell's analysis. The more Beckham plays the better he'll get, and he appears to already be a solid defensive player.
I enjoyed watching you, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez, Thomas, Ventura, and the others when you were with the Sox. You guys were fun to watch.
soxmania06
Connor MacLeod said:
Great to hear from you Jack. Awesome Blog, always been a big fan. I'd love to hear your opinions on Brian Anderson in a future article. He's always fighting for playing time in a situation where, in my eyes, he's the best choice because of his defense and how it helps out the pitchers.
Thanks for the insight into the Beckham situation.
Orestes said:
No question Beckham needs to play everyday. He will improve more at this level, than going back to Trip A.
He's better than Fields, period.
9 games on the road - let's see where he is after that.
Ozzie has his own way of publicly posturing for his players psyche.
blackhawks30 said:
Jack, I love the blog and the fact you respond to the questions on here. You bring up the fact that the Sox offense stinks (which I agree with 100%) and it's been that way most of the year. We've had stretches in the past where the offense collectively goes in the tank and for as long as I can remember they have had trouble with pitchers they see for the first time. In your opinion do you think this is a problem with the hitting coach and philosophy/approach or does it reflect more on the type of hitters we have on this team right now?
Thanks for providing your insight and a great read!
Jack McDowell said:
First off, there are no coaches who are responsible for slumps etc. These players have had success their whole life and know how to get the job done. A coach is there to remind you of things, work with you when you need it, and keep everything even keel mentally. There are NO "magic" hitting philosophies. Much like parenting, everybody does it their way with what they've learned WORKS FOR THEM! If there was a magic hitting technique or the ONLY way to parent children, everybody would know about it and that would be the end of that. Any coach who has a single "philosophy" for every hitter/pitcher/player is just wrong. And Greg Walker doesn't fall into that category in the least. He is all of the above for what a coach SHOULD be.
blackhawks30 said:
I agree with your assessment. I've never been a fan of the one size fits all mentality but I don't have any behind the scenes knowledge of how coaches work with players. I personally like Greg Walker from what I have heard of him. It's just baffling how they all seem to go in a hitting slump at the same time and can never seem to hit pitchers they have never seen. Do you think maybe some of that hype has gotten into their heads a bit and people are trying too hard to do too much to overcome it? Sometimes those things take on a life of their own (see Cubs 100+ years of not winning a championship). Keep up the great work with this column!
Jack McDowell said:
I think you're on to something. The fact that they keep struggling against "new" pitchers DOES have a life of its own. Three days before a new kid throws or they see a guy for the first time, the media, fans, bloggers etc. start in on the topic! It has to get into a team's psyche. But winning teams have to break through those types of things.
TheBrit said:
Great Blog Blackjack and I couldn't agree more.
I do have a feeling that fields could turn into a really good ball player, I just think he might be suited better outside of the Sox organization and preferably not in the central. We have a 4 million dollar man in the minors that we just signed that will be coming up once his defense is up to snuff and he will probably be the 3rd baseman.
I see next year potentially being Dayan Viciedo at 3rd, Beckham at short, Ramirez back at 2nd with Getz backing up.
I would like to go back in time and ask you for your thoughts on a certain player the sox parted company with after many phenomenal years and personally one of my absolute all time favorite white sox players.
Frank Thomas.
It was fantastic seeing him back at Comiskey (Sorry, no u.s cellular field here) this week and Just seeing him bought back so many fantastic memories and I instantly wished he was wearing a white sox uniform.
I don't care what the press has wrote about him and how he may have come across to some people, he is one of the greatest white sox players to ever wear the uniform in my mind.
I was wondering what your thoughts / feelings are towards Big Frank.
Best Regards.
The Brit.
Mr. Bob said:
How about Fields at 3rd, Beckham at SS, and Ramirez back to 2nd? Fields will regain his power (he's the one who needs regular play with the pressure being taken off of him!), Beckham will be at his natural position, and Ramirez's bat will pick up once he's no longer burdened by having to anchor an infield between two rookies.
Jack McDowell said:
That is also a possibility. But remember, Ramirez was a shortstop in Cuba...and a centerfielder. They need to project where exactly Beckham is going to fit in and leave him there. I do not have an opinion one way or another...haven't seen the kid enough.
SCSoxFan1 said:
What appears to me to be somewhat lost in these posts is Chris Getz. Of the many question marks the Sox had at the start of the season, he seems to be performing pretty well considering his injuries. He's been solid defensively and he has shown decent bat control. If it were me, I'd leave him where he is, figure out the long-term plan for Beckham and put him there (and he needs to play every day) and Ramirez gets the other spot. With that alignment, the infield could be set for an extended period with solid, capable players. Oh, and I'd start grooming Viciedo in LF as was done with Carlos Lee many years (and RBI's) ago...
jdog360 said:
Jack,
First off, I was a big fan and great to see you're still tied into Chicago.
Second, I too remember the struggles of Robin Ventura and of another Chicago infielder who started out with a clip of about 0-31 - Ryne Sandberg. You need to stick with the kid! Give Beckham a legitimate shot.
The fact is I have and never will be a fan of Ozzie. I'd hope that he's different inside the clubhouse than how he's portrayed within the media - but I doubt it.
I'll start watching the Sox again when Hawk Harrelson is gone and Ozzie is shown the street.
Jack McDowell said:
First off, Hawk will be there until HE wants to leave and Ozzie will have to go sub .500 for a number of years ...or quit. So, don't punish yourself over two disagreements! It seems you don't like the flamboyant personalities of those two. But the team is the team. Watch it!
Jason said:
Great blog Black Jack! I wonder if people read into Ozzie's comments too much, for instance, when he is asked about Gordon Beckham and such. It seems to me, that Ozzie treats all the young players the same. If you are a young player on his team, he isn't going to respect you until you show him you belong on his team by producing results.
I think in some ways, the Chicago media and White Sox fan base have treated Beckham as the Golden Boy and in truth, Gordon has been the Golden Boy most of his baseball career. He really was the heart and soul of the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team in college.
Ozzie is going to make Gordon earn his respect just like any other youngin' called up from the minors. Whether Gordon is the savior or not.
Anyhoo, that's my two cents on the situation. Love the blog!
Jack McDowell said:
The thing that rubs me the wrong way is that Ozzie calls things out in the media more than say, I would in the same position. Take for instance last year's ripping Javier Vasquez in the papers. Bottom line is, everyone knew his M.O. from years past...great stuff-underachiever. Some guys win games, some guys have great stuff. I'd have to say the same about Nolan Ryan. How do you have that kind of stuff and lose 300 games??? Randy Johnson was the same kind of pitcher as Ryan was early in his career. He was .500 with a ton of strikeouts. He took no-hitter stuff to every game. But then Randy learned how to win and he has been ridiculously dominant after that. I think that busting on players/rookies/underachievers is better done inside the clubhouse behind closed doors. Players take enough crap these days from the media and don't need another source of grief.
Polargarr said:
I would love to quote the "great" Jerry Manuel and assure everyone that "there's a whole lot of baseball left" but going back to an earlier blog by Black Jack this team exhibits absolutely no passion... no fire. They sit and wait for the 3 run homer and if it doesn't happen... oh well. There are still smiles a plenty on the bench and a "maybe tomorrow" attitude. These guys are supposed to be professional hitters and yet our R.I.S.P is abysmal and we can't even get a bunt down.
If we have an unsuccessful road trip which it looks like we're off to accomplishing I expect a firesale and even though I think you should always put a winning team on the field I wouldn't be too upset or surprised to see it. It would give you a chance to play Beckham everyday (problem solved), Dye would be traded which would put Anderson in the outfield full time and you could bring up Flowers and maybe Viciedo who I project at first to replace Konerko although I don't think he's close to ready.
I realize that it's easy to play GM especially when the extent of my baseball experience is trying to imitate Black Jack's high leg kick by pitching against imaginary players in front of a brick wall but I think that Kenny needs to focus less on the numbers and more on the hearts of the players when he trades or drafts. We need guys who are hungry to win NOW and who's hungrier than a minor leaguer who likes charter planes more than minor league buses. I just don't see that with my beloved Sox this year... or maybe we just need to start slipping happy pills into the cold cuts and hope they find their "swagger".
Jimmymac120912 said:
Thank you, for saying what nobody else had the stones to say. Guillen just does not like Beckham because Beckham is stealing a lot of his thunder from the media. I know the kid is 2 for 28, but he has hit the ball on the screws right at somebody quite a few times. Kenny is shoving Gordon right down Guillens throat, just like what he did with Anderson. I hope Guillen does not play a psyche game with Beckham cause you can see the talent he has. Blackjack I really enjoyed this post, and enjoyed watching you as a player when I was younger.
Jimmymac120912 said:
Blackjack,
Do you think if Kenny becomes a seller (which he should) that he also may look to a different manager to teach? It just seems that Guillen does not adapt or warm up to young talented white caucasian players very well, especially high draft picks. Maybe my assesment is a little too strong, but Guillens history dealing with those type of players does not prove me wrong.
Jack McDowell said:
Now we're getting into the political correctness zone! Not sure if I'd go that far in an assessment, but for all the Ozzie haters, he has actually done a pretty decent job since he's been here. Managers have different qualities. Lou Pinella is historically probably the least tolerant of young players among today's managers. And I broke in with one of the worst managers for a young player...Jim Fregosi. he absolutely hated me and some things he said to me during my rookie year we're not helpful!!!! As far as the caucasian thing...at least we haven't turned into the Mets or Angles yet. You'd have a legitimate argument there
Jimmymac120912 said:
Blackjack,
What do you think about Hawk Harrelson calling you out during the 2nd innning of the Brewers vs Sox game today? He went on one of his usual rants becuase you had questioned Guillen and his treating of Beckham. However, this is not suprising because Hawk has never disagreed with Ozzie or Kenny his entire time with the organization. Hawk then went on to say that you will not be in the booth with him the next time Stone takes a series off. Boo hoo, I hope you continue writing whats on your mind, because you were just saying what every hardcore white sox fan was thinking and saying anyways.
Jack McDowell said:
Wow, I got fired on TV??? Doesn't take a lot these days. I've always gotten good reviews when I've done color in the past. I wonder what hawk thinks I actually said???
cher23 said:
actually, if people were closely paying attention, hawk AND steve stone (after all folks, steve was agreeing w/ what hawk was saying) they were implying that when steve goes away for a few games, you (Black Jack) probably wouldn't want to be in the broadcast booth.
Jack McDowell said:
Why, was he implying he'd beat me up? Or that I have suddenly turned against the Sox?
Jimmymac120912 said:
Can anyone question anything about the White Sox organization with Hawk attacking that person? I enjoy listening to Hawk, but he needs to take it easy on the umpires and start being more hard on the Sox players and their inablility to execute this season. Thats one think I enjoy about Ozzie is he holds the players responsible, which he should.
cipherdom said:
So does Harrelson really have the unilateral power to banish former Sox greats from the organization's good graces? Or is he speaking for Reinsdorf, Williams, Guillen, et al.? The fact that he waited three days before addressing it makes me think it's the latter, though a third possibility is that Hawk doesn't spend much time on the internets.
I'm pro-Ozzie, but putting down young players is not an enviable part of his reputation. After the Anderson and Fields experiences, people will (probably unfairly) blame Ozzie if Beckham fizzles long-term. Fortunately that's not going to happen. He already shows better plate instincts and intelligence than the other two ever did.
The Pud said:
Hey Blackjack, I just had to sign up to talk to about Hawk calling you "dumb" in this game today. I was a big Hawk fan untill the last couple of years. Who or what gives him the right to blast you on the air??? I can't believe he can get away with this!!! I am fed up with his blasting of the umpires each and every game he calls, talking about how many years hes been in the game of baseball, and his golf game!!! I thought your opinion on Beckham was spot on... and like I said its your opinion! Too me why Beckham is there is for, to light a fire under Feilds and also to get Beckham feet wet, not to take over full-time yet.. Is there somewhere I can log a complaint to Hawk Harrelson? Thats how peeved I am!!! Keep up the good work, your one of mine favorite pitchers ever to wear a Sox uniform
Jack McDowell said:
Hey guys, I just responded in another blog. Not worried about Ozzie and Hawk getting on me. They haven't read anything I've written but were prodded by the beat writers to start this back and forth! It's not the first time and won't be the last. Hawk and Ozzie are "personalities." Much like I am. Anyone who is outspoken, non-vanilla, opinionated and not afraid to show it will bat heads at times.
Jack McDowell said:
Well, what gives him the right to bash me on the air is that he's got the microphone in front of me and the audience out there. Much the same as I do now that I'm writing again. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Schawb25 said:
I'm not sure which call up you've been watching, but Beckham has only missed two games since being called up earler in the month. Josh Fields has been told 3B is no longer his, so I don't know what else you want. Did you research this before you posted it?
Jack McDowell said:
Yeah, I'm aware of Beckham's playing time. You'll find that I am pretty much up on whatever I'm gonna throw out there. I'm not just a BS opinion guy who rattles on and doesn't have to be accountable for his words. my whole point in the Beckham blog was for everyone to just relax and let the kid play, leave him in the lineup and let it fall where it falls. If you read the blog, it was more of a call for people to wait and see, not a complaint for playing time???!!!
MK said:
Hey Jack, long-time fan. And what I remember about 1990 is that it was a great run, you guys won more than 90 games, had a real chance, but in the West (back then) you had the great A's team (and the PED-Bash brothers) in front of you. (BTW, did you suspect them back then?) But that was one of the most enjoyable years as a fan--because we were watching great young players, and it was obvious the Sox would be good for a good while. And they were.
Anyway, I agree with much of what you say and whether I do or not, keep saying it. It's not vanilla. And that's one of the reasons I like Guillen, too. One thing about Ozzie I believe is you have to really listen to him carefully for a long time. Partly because he does do some things very deliberately to put the heat on himself and take it off others. Sometimes he puts heat on--like Vazquez--but I think that comes only when every other tactic has not worked.
Moreover, I honestly think that, though he's fine and getting better with the language--some of the more subtle stuff really gets lost in translation. For example, when he said the Sox would be in big trouble if they needed Beckham, I don't think it had much to do with Beckham. It was a simple statement that if the Sox needed Beckham to come up and perform at veteran/star levels, than the team was in trouble. It had more to do with the state of the team.
Heave the Hawk said:
Black Jack,
Always respected you as a player and as a Chicago White Sox ambassador. I love how Hawk set the team back as GM and fired Tony LaRussa...and then has the nerve to call you dumb on the air. You oughta tell the people what a true jerk Harrelson is.
Heave the Hawk!!!
JTG said:
Wow, how cool is this? Black Jack actually responds to us little people. I agree 100% with the column. I think Ozzie has worn out his welcome. I guarantee he and AJ Pierzynski make players, like Jake Peavy, think twice about coming to the South Side. It's time for the Sox to put both AJ and Ozzie in their rear view mirror. We need a manager who will support our #1 prospects. Gordon is the best White Sox prospect that I can remember and he is a difference maker. He has 4 RBI's with his past 2 hits, he has great speed, he has everything you want. Beckham must start every day. I think Kenny should move Fields ASAP. I'm sure we can get some decent prospects by moving guys like A.J. Pierzynski and Josh Fields. Fields admitted (On MouthPieceSports.com) that Beckham makes things "akward." It's time to move Fields.
Jack McDowell said:
A.J. has been a great player for the White Sox. He is exactly the type of guy you need to win, a dependable player with consistent production. He's also a veteran catcher who plays all the time. Those are holes that are hard to fill. Ozzie and A.J. are NOT even close to the reason Peavy didn't want to come here. He was never going anywhere! Ozzie is fine. He has that attitude that can rub people the wrong way and is very colorful in the media (to make it mild) which gives the media sparks to set a fire on a slow news day. Don't buy into it!
Deepdrive said:
Black Jack,
First off, I loved having you in the booth those few times in the past, and I wish they'd get you back up there, and I wish we could all yell a collective "HE GONE!" about Hawk. He is the most pompous, arrogant, self-absorbed, egotistical, company man B.S.er I have ever had the displeasure of listening to. He's full of himself, he makes up stories, whines and the umpires constantly, and God forbid he ever say one negative thing about the White Sox. Yeah, in third place in a weak division, under .500, but it's all sunshine and puppies for the Sox, right? Wrong! They're in trouble.
Second, what Hawk said on the air about you is absolutely ridiculous and wrong. He had no business "firing" you from ever being in the booth again. I don't know how you could stand sitting in a booth with him and his gibberish all game long anyway, with the made up stories, self-absorption, and complaining about the umpires. For what it's worth, I agree with what you said and noticed it myself as well. Ozzie Guillen hasn't said one positive thing about Beckham. He said he wants production. Funny how that works, yet a guy like Dewayne Wise (who on Mouthpiece Sports, I believe, publically said he doesn't care what the fans think) gets a free pass. Beckham NEEDS to play every day. The Sox NEED him to play every day. He's a potential star in the making with loads of talent. And to top it off, like you said, he's still probably the best option at 3B anyway! It's not like we're benching Mike Schmidt here!
Heave The Hawk...your website is excellent!
Heave the Hawk!
Jack, keep up the good work and don't back down! You are right here, and Hawk is wrong.
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