Mammoo
05-22-2003, 03:06 PM
When Captain Edward Smith surveyed the damaged Titanic after his famous encounter with the iceberg, he ordered the lifeboats to be lowered, correctly surmising that his ship had met its match. Contrary to the popular joke, he did not order all deck chairs to be rearranged.
Finding himself in similar circumstances to poor captain Smith, Sox GM Kenny Williams is doing just that. In the wake of his teams three game embarrassment at the hands of the Twins, he fired hitting coach Gary Ward.
"We felt the need for a change and a different voice in an effort to get our offense jump-started," said Captain Williams. "We continue to think very highly of Gary Ward and hope he has a major-league job again soon."
There’s no question that the White Sox are majorly disappointing at the dish but they are equally inept in the field and when toeing the rubber. If not for the superb season being turned in by Esteban Loaiza, this team wouldn’t be within squinting distance of the lead. Furthermore, the list of batting coaches utilized has reached comical proportions; Ron Jackson, Von Joshua, Bill Buckner, Walt Hriniak, Gary Ward and now Greg Walker. The one constant through this parade of hitting gurus is Kenny Williams and Jerry Manuel. These are the deck chairs that need serious rearranging.
For his part, former Sox first baseman Walker isn’t predicting a quick turnaround to the teams hitting problems.
''There's a lot of hard work to be put in; we have to spend a lot of hours in the cage. That's where a hitting coach gets to know the players, and you have to know them to be able to talk to them. That's where relationships are built, when they know me and I know them.''
Showing poorly in all phases of the game, the White Sox have amassed a miserable record against winning teams. A bumbling defense and ineffective relief pitching are just as culpable as wayward batsmen. It’s going to take a lot more than the addition of Greg Walker to salvage this sinking ship.
Finding himself in similar circumstances to poor captain Smith, Sox GM Kenny Williams is doing just that. In the wake of his teams three game embarrassment at the hands of the Twins, he fired hitting coach Gary Ward.
"We felt the need for a change and a different voice in an effort to get our offense jump-started," said Captain Williams. "We continue to think very highly of Gary Ward and hope he has a major-league job again soon."
There’s no question that the White Sox are majorly disappointing at the dish but they are equally inept in the field and when toeing the rubber. If not for the superb season being turned in by Esteban Loaiza, this team wouldn’t be within squinting distance of the lead. Furthermore, the list of batting coaches utilized has reached comical proportions; Ron Jackson, Von Joshua, Bill Buckner, Walt Hriniak, Gary Ward and now Greg Walker. The one constant through this parade of hitting gurus is Kenny Williams and Jerry Manuel. These are the deck chairs that need serious rearranging.
For his part, former Sox first baseman Walker isn’t predicting a quick turnaround to the teams hitting problems.
''There's a lot of hard work to be put in; we have to spend a lot of hours in the cage. That's where a hitting coach gets to know the players, and you have to know them to be able to talk to them. That's where relationships are built, when they know me and I know them.''
Showing poorly in all phases of the game, the White Sox have amassed a miserable record against winning teams. A bumbling defense and ineffective relief pitching are just as culpable as wayward batsmen. It’s going to take a lot more than the addition of Greg Walker to salvage this sinking ship.