posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 9:44 PM
by
Jim
The good news
Chris Widger was handed his walking papers today, as the Sox designated him for free agency shortly after today's 5-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.
There's an interesting contrast between the departures of Widger and Politte, who were just about equally capable of handling their respective duties this year. Politte took his about as well as one could be expected to, per
this Scott Merkin article:
"You've got to perform at this level. It's unfortunate, but like
I said, you have to perform at this level and be consistent and I had
not been that this year. It's a great place to play and I was treated very well. They kept
running me out there in situations for me to succeed and it didn't
happen. For some reason, it didn't. I feel bad. I let these guys down."
Widger could have used the same words, but instead the former backup catcher responded rather brusquely to the terminology used as the reason for his departure -- "lack of game preparation." Here's a quote again from a Merkin article:
"If you want to tell me I'm a bad ballplayer, not good enough for your
team, you aren't producing enough, I could take it," an emotional
Widger said after being informed of the roster move. "But to tell me
that I'm not trying, it's tough.
"I come in here after a game and all of a sudden I'm lazy? I just don't get it. Nothing was said about it before today."
When Williams told Widger of the reason questioned by the
catcher, he also told Widger to talk to both pitching coach Don Cooper
and hitting coach Greg Walker. Widger told the media that Cooper's lone
complaint was that he was tough to find for a meeting or two they have
at the beginning of each series, while Walker's problem, again
according to Widger, was that he followed a different philosophy in
preparing offensively for each game.
Widger admitted that he didn't take pregame flips in the cage,
instead choosing to hit off a tee when everyone had cleared out. Widger
said that he had heard a few comments along the way about not taking
flips, but he also said that his approach was no different than last
season, when he hit .241 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 141
at-bats.
"Last year was good and this year, it's not," Widger said.
"That's what happens when there's a difference between being 10 games
up and being in second place. When you are not in first place, all
those little things aren't overlooked anymore."
And from the AP notes:
"I thought this was home. I thought I
did a good job for these guys. It's the first time I've ever been
released (for reasons) I don't get."
The reasons are rather easy to understand, and I already listed them all a couple of days ago. The difference in batting practice rituals is new to me, but the coaches may have a point that has nothing to do with how hard Widger works.
If Walker and Cooper are seeing no discernable effort to change things in the middle of a massive, soul-sucking slump with both the bat and the glove, that could easily be identified as a lack of preparation. Preparation is partly work ethic, but it's about working smart, not working hard. Widger could practice yoga for five hours instead of taking batting practice if it would help him hit better, but if the ends don't justify the means beyond the realm of a typical slump, then a change needs to be made.
The Sox made a change, maybe because they felt Widger wouldn't. The on-field results seem to side with the Sox on this one.
I guess what confuses me the most about Widger's indignance is that last quote, coming from a guy who had played for five different teams in his last five MLB seasons. Catchers who can't hit and can't field are as interchangeable as LOOGYs. If somebody feels like he's secured his spot with a season of .241/.296/.383 while throwing out 7 percent of all runners, then it could be construed that that person has been delusional about a bunch of other things.