He spent too much time with the young guys:
"We screwed it up. The whole organization screwed it up, and we know it. Now we're going to try and fix it. I know this is going to sound stupid, but I'm already looking forward to next spring training. As a coaching staff and as a manager, part of our strength is the passion that we have for this organization. And the fact that we did so badly this year, you can either quit and go home, or you can do something about it. We made some mistakes, going back to last spring - hell, going back to last winter. We know some things that we missed on this year. Just looking back on last spring, I spent a lot of time with the young guys - Josh Fields and guys like that, Jerry Owens - but ultimately, they didn't have a chance to make our team at the start of the year. Next spring, me and Mike Gellinger will spend a majority of the time with our guys, the big boys. Just little things like that. We have a deep passion here to get this thing right."
Paulie doesn't agree:
"I know what 'Walk' is saying, but we did the same exact things in the World Series year. I'm always going to come back to that on any of those points."
Ozzie says:
"You have to have the right people. If you talk with Jim Thome, Jermaine [Dye], [Paul] Konerko about hitting and running, then we are wasting time."
As southsideirish71 pointed out, Walker was singing a different tune 2 weeks ago.
- Can Jose's daughters call their dad and ask for better performances more often next year?
- Phil Rogers says don't be surprised if the Sox trade for a shortstop like Baltimore's Miguel Tejada, Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson and perhaps Washington's Felipe Lopez this offseason.
- Ozzie isn't sure all the Sox coaches that aren't under contract for next year will return.
- Meet Seattle's new scout: Duane Shaffer (same link).
- Only $99? Cheat, does SSS get any free samples?
- mlbtraderumors.com says the Rangers are the early favorite to sign Torii Hunter. And their chances get better if A-Rod opts out of his contract.
- Jonathan Mayo looks at the 2008 draft class.
- Ozzie's AL Rookie of the Year? Brian Bannister.
UPDATE: Here's the latest Palehose 7 strip: 500 Club. And checkout Carl's Bears cartoon Smells Like Mascot too!