Jurr
05-11-2003, 09:24 PM
“I don’t have any answers today,” said Manuel with a smile, as reporters approached after his team finished its first West Coast trip at 2-4. “I’m done. I have no answers for you. We were brutal. We can’t swing.
“The guys are working hard. I'm not saying they're not working hard. But I don't want them to start looking other places when you have to look at yourself. That's just where we are right now. We feel we put a good team together. Hey, they have to start taking some responsibility
Lack of hitting has disheartened the pitching staff to the point they're pressing. Buehrle doesn't have his stuff. The bullpen is okay (though Rick White needs to be dumped and replaced by Garland).......Stewart or Rauch need to come back up to start.
This isn't a manager problem, per say. I would say that the players need to get their stuff together mentally, so they expect to get hits and put good innings together. Having a manager pump you up doesn't help....it actually hurt me or anybody I've ever played ball with. When we got jacked up for an AB, we'd usually overswing and dig a nice 0-2 hole, then you're screwed.
When you're calm and focused, you have fun and see the ball well. That's what the Sox need right now. They need to relax, stop pressing, and enjoy going to the park. Maybe they can get a hold of the Orioles, get some wins and get going. It's not the manager or the hitting coach that makes Konerko's mechanics screwy. Haven't you ever played a sport such as basketball, baseball, pool, etc...one that takes some concentration? And, if you think about your shot a bunch...you screw up and it doesn't drop? I know that when I'm playing b-ball, I shoot my best when I get out there and play. I've put up enough shots in my life that I can hit my shot without doing a whole bunch of thinking about it. When I do begin to try and adjust my shot because I'm missing a few, I totally screw everything up, and I'm better off shooting blindfolded. It's a mental thing. These guys get the right idea, just try and see the ball without putting too much thought into it. Getting a new hitting coach screwing with their mechanics may worsen the problem. I would say....let this team work their way out of this funk..let's see how much talent was really assembled, and if at the end of the year, we are sitting at or below .500, make changes across the board. If this team is good and just slumping, they will come out of the slump, regardless of who's coaching them. IF THEY DON'T, THEN THEY AREN'T TALENTED ENOUGH, AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ROSTER TOP TO BOTTOM. Let's see just how good Jerry Manuel, Kenny Williams, and co. really are. Who cares if this season goes to s**t. If it does, then firing people needs to happen. If this team was as talented as we thought they were, they're not going to let this season go.
“The guys are working hard. I'm not saying they're not working hard. But I don't want them to start looking other places when you have to look at yourself. That's just where we are right now. We feel we put a good team together. Hey, they have to start taking some responsibility
Lack of hitting has disheartened the pitching staff to the point they're pressing. Buehrle doesn't have his stuff. The bullpen is okay (though Rick White needs to be dumped and replaced by Garland).......Stewart or Rauch need to come back up to start.
This isn't a manager problem, per say. I would say that the players need to get their stuff together mentally, so they expect to get hits and put good innings together. Having a manager pump you up doesn't help....it actually hurt me or anybody I've ever played ball with. When we got jacked up for an AB, we'd usually overswing and dig a nice 0-2 hole, then you're screwed.
When you're calm and focused, you have fun and see the ball well. That's what the Sox need right now. They need to relax, stop pressing, and enjoy going to the park. Maybe they can get a hold of the Orioles, get some wins and get going. It's not the manager or the hitting coach that makes Konerko's mechanics screwy. Haven't you ever played a sport such as basketball, baseball, pool, etc...one that takes some concentration? And, if you think about your shot a bunch...you screw up and it doesn't drop? I know that when I'm playing b-ball, I shoot my best when I get out there and play. I've put up enough shots in my life that I can hit my shot without doing a whole bunch of thinking about it. When I do begin to try and adjust my shot because I'm missing a few, I totally screw everything up, and I'm better off shooting blindfolded. It's a mental thing. These guys get the right idea, just try and see the ball without putting too much thought into it. Getting a new hitting coach screwing with their mechanics may worsen the problem. I would say....let this team work their way out of this funk..let's see how much talent was really assembled, and if at the end of the year, we are sitting at or below .500, make changes across the board. If this team is good and just slumping, they will come out of the slump, regardless of who's coaching them. IF THEY DON'T, THEN THEY AREN'T TALENTED ENOUGH, AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ROSTER TOP TO BOTTOM. Let's see just how good Jerry Manuel, Kenny Williams, and co. really are. Who cares if this season goes to s**t. If it does, then firing people needs to happen. If this team was as talented as we thought they were, they're not going to let this season go.