White Sox Quote of the Day: Ozzie Guillen

by The Wizard on Aug 9, 2006 1:07 PM CDT in White Sox News

Ozzie on BMac joining the rotation or replacing Mark Buehrle (not sure how that question was asked):

"If [starting McCarthy] went through my mind, we would have done it already. Everyone talks about McCarthy. Last year we threw McCarthy, and he wasn't too good either. OK? Check the records. Thank you. Everyone thinks McCarthy is [blank]-damn Cy Young. I don't think McCarthy has the stuff and experience right now. I don't start McCarthy in front of those guys yet. In the future? Yes. But right now? No, I don't think he should."

Doesn't have the stuff? What stuff? 83mph fastballs?

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Oz

Ozzie is exactly right. I will still take Buehrle over McCarthy any day of the week.

-- Jeffman "We'll see you all again, sleep tight"

by jeffman4426 on Aug 9, 2006 1:10 PM CDT reply actions

And...

was Brandon McCarthy's season over when the Germans decided to put him in the bullpen? Hell no!

by defensive indifference on Aug 9, 2006 1:26 PM CDT reply actions

haha

Looks like you're having fun with your newly discovered Animal House quote.

by brookswashere on Aug 9, 2006 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

That made my afternoon

I feel like a proud father. Next maybe we'll start working on some Blazing Saddles routines.

Ron Karkovice Fan Club ronkarkovicefanclub.blogspot.com A Chicago Sports Blog

by Criminal Appeal on Aug 9, 2006 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Now there's a movie I've seen recently!

Here's one I can see being made into a Pale Hose Six strip:

Taggart: [shouting] We'll head them off at the pass!
Hedley Lamarr: Head them off at the pass? I hate that cliché.

by defensive indifference on Aug 9, 2006 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Any update on Uribe?

by stanchar on Aug 9, 2006 1:32 PM CDT reply actions

here's one

[MLB.com]

The status of injured shortstop Juan Uribe seems to change by the day. Uribe did not start for the third straight game Tuesday because of a stiff lower back, but he took part in pregame drills. Guillen said after Monday's loss to the Angels that he thought Uribe was showing signs of improvement and might be ready for Wednesday's game. Uribe said that his return was more likely targeted for Thursday's series finale against New York. But Guillen reiterated Tuesday that if a prolonged absence is in store for Uribe, a corresponding move needs to be made. "If Uribe's not ready, we're going to have to do something," Guillen said. "I don't want to push him, but we need somebody to help us."

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Aug 9, 2006 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

dancing!

[Nathaniel Whalen]

On his way back? Juan Uribe (sore lower back) took ground balls before Tuesday's game for the first time in three days. He was grimacing while fielding some balls and his throws to first were short, but -- after dancing in the clubhouse before the game -- Uribe said he can probably play Thursday. Guillen isn't so sure."If Uribe's not ready, we're going to have to do something," Guillen said, hinting at a stint on the disabled list. "I don't want to push him, but we need somebody to help us."

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Aug 9, 2006 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

he's getting ready for season 3

of ABC's hit show.

by longdrive on Aug 9, 2006 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of the DL

Liriano was placed on the 15-day variety.

by the wolf on Aug 9, 2006 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

wasn't too good last season?

hmmm.

by larry on Aug 9, 2006 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

either ozzie is delusional

or i am. cause i remember mccarthy's starts last year fondly. better than 0-6 with an ERA over 9, i'm quite sure of it.

by longdrive on Aug 9, 2006 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

As usual, the Oz hole is delusional. His memory

of the past is shaky and bizarre, whether that be concerning a player's performance or his comments to or about others in baseball. It's strange. He should keep a diary.

As well, I doubt he reads stats and then incorporates them into his baseball experiences and intuition to get a full picture and plan of how a game was played, should have been played, or will be played. In sum, he's an impulsive guy with a few notions about how to manage and play the game. Right now, his strategizing, if that's what it is, ain't working.

I know I'll get call outs on how great or adequate Ozzie is, but I just don't see him performing very well and that hurts the team. And the team's performance is the bottom line as goes without saying.

by southsidefan on Aug 9, 2006 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

McCarthy in 2005

Was not good before heading down to AAA (although, he wasn't worse than Buehrle during the June/July implosion I don't think).

McCarthy was very good when he returned from AAA. He won in Texas while Buehrle and Garland got shelled. And I think he beat Schilling in Boston. The Sox might not have made the playoffs without him.

It's moronic to pretend that McCarthy's overall numbers from 2005 indicate what kind of pitcher he looked like at the end of the season. Even in his bullpen doldrums this year, he looks like he could post at least a 5 ERA as starter.

Ozzie could have just said "we're sticking with current starting rotation". But no, he has to go and say "we're sticking with the current starting rotation because McCarthy blows and anyone who doesn't think he blows is an idiot".

Ok, that's paraphrasing, but that's what it sounds like to me.

by hitlesswonder on Aug 9, 2006 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Lack of perception

That's nowhere near what he said, man, but thanks for playing.

by Gregory Pratt @ South Side Sox on Aug 9, 2006 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Credit where credit is due

I jump on Ozzie when I think he's being an idiot, so I should give him credit when he deserves it too. Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA function projected McCarthy to have an ERA around 4.41 as a starter this year. It projected Buehrle to have an ERA around 4.08. Historically, even this late in the season, guys are much more likely to perform around their PECOTA projections than as they have thus far that year. Did that make sense? Probably not. Anyway, my point is, I think we'll get more out of Buehrle as a starter down the stretch than we would from McCarthy.

Ron Karkovice Fan Club ronkarkovicefanclub.blogspot.com A Chicago Sports Blog

by Criminal Appeal on Aug 9, 2006 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

Is the PECOTA thing really true?

It's like throwing out 3 months of evidence that Buehrle and Garcia aren't throwing like they did in 2004 & 2005.

That being said, at this point I'm not sure that McCarthy would be an improvement on those two. He couldn't be expected to pitch better than Garcia last night. I think keeping McCarthy out of the rotation is still a eminently defensible position at this point. I just don't like the Ozzie essentially telling McCarthy he didn'pitch well last year and he's not ready now.

by hitlesswonder on Aug 9, 2006 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree that the tone sounds "deaf"

But sometimes I wonder how reporters actually transcribe OG's comments. Did he say something outrageous but with a smile or laugh? Perhaps the quote is accurate but doesn't reflect the context. For example, when you read Cowley's whole article you see that Ozzie is defending his starting 5 more than he's ripping BMac.
Anyway, count me among those who'd rather see Brandon ready to bail out Sweaty or Five and Dive.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Aug 9, 2006 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed about media...

Even when relatively accurate, quotes are edited to get a certain slant, and questions are asked specifically in hopes of getting a response that can be spun as "controversial".

So, who knows what was really said.

And I have to apologize to Ozzie a little bit, since I just saw a Phil Rogers column in which he compared McCarthy to Liriano. That is idiotic. Maybe beyond idiotic.

by hitlesswonder on Aug 9, 2006 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Do you really think Ozzie looks at PECOTA

stats?

by southsidefan on Aug 9, 2006 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

No

I'm not suggesting Ozzie is into advanced statistical performance analysis (although I do think Kenny Williams has far more tricks up his sleeve than he ever lets on). Whatever his reasons, I just think Ozzie happens to be right this time that Buehrle is a better option as a starting pitcher for the next month than McCarthy.

Ron Karkovice Fan Club ronkarkovicefanclub.blogspot.com A Chicago Sports Blog

by Criminal Appeal on Aug 9, 2006 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions

No...

but Freddy does.

Oh, wait, I'm thinking of PEYOTE.

Nevermind.

by tailgater on Aug 9, 2006 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting...

Brandon had "the stuff" last August and September and he was outstanding.

I think Ozzie just doesn't want any of our starters to lose confidence. He figures that he will need these guys in the future and Brandon has no choice but to wait his turn.

This is one reason why guys like playing for Ozzie. Although I have little doubt that McCarthy would be one of our best starters, I'm not sure who I would take out at this point ?

You can't take out Buehrle.

by White Sox Randy on Aug 9, 2006 2:28 PM CDT reply actions

McCarthy's another story though

He didn't want his starters to feel bad, but McCarthy has to feel shitty now after being blasted by Oz.

-Jeeves Chi-Sox Blog

by jeeves on Aug 9, 2006 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Garcia

Bill James had this idea of coding pitchers. Anyways, it would be interesting to code Garcia circa 01, 05 and now. The problem is I don't have a very firm understanding of pitching and I didn't watch him in 01. So I'd need someone elses knowledge.

AIM: shaftr01

XBL: TheMattressMan

by shaftr on Aug 9, 2006 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

in '01

he threw 95.

He's always been chided for throwing too many breaking balls, but I think he's reached a new level this season.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Aug 9, 2006 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions

His best years were in Seattle.

ozzie claims that he is getting "older".

by ckimcircles on Aug 9, 2006 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Yesterday

As you said, Cheat, he actually looked better when he went exclusively with all of his "junk", rather than mixing in his fastball.

I think that's the way he's going to have to "wing" it the rest of the year. For all that I bitch about him, he does a pretty good job of mixing up his breaking pitches. As I noted yesterday, he throws his junk anywhere from 69-82, and it looked like he had a couple of guys off balance.

Unfortunately for us, you have to get through those first few innings with Freddy where his fastball is a "blazing" 87 MPH, and where he doesn't have a feel for his breaking balls.

by CWSKeith on Aug 9, 2006 3:39 PM CDT reply actions