Get ready for not
one, not
two, but
three stories about Scott Podsednik. From Joe Cowley's version:
Podsednik admitted he brought his poor at-bats onto the field with him and failed to get the job done defensively. At one point, hitting coach Greg Walker said he never had seen a player who beat himself up as much as Podsednik.
The Sox knew something had to be done -- ''Dr. Phil stuff,'' as Walker called it.
Which brings me to throw this question: Can you think of a more high-maintenance player in recent Sox history than Pods? Obviously Frank Thomas comes to mind, but the guy hit as long as he could swing. I'm thinking more along the lines of the amount of work and discipline that goes into making a guy merely adequate and barely healthy.
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While chewing on that, more Dr. Phil stuff, courtesy of
Chris De Luca's Brandon McCarthy piece:
"The second Jon Daniels called me, it was just a different attitude
right off the bat,'' McCarthy said. ''[With the Sox] I was constantly
hearing, 'This is what we don't like. This is what we think you are
doing wrong. This is what's bad, this is bad.' It always seemed to be
focused on the negative. Here, it's just, 'Here is your spot, and we
expect you to do well and we think the world of you. Let's see you go
do it.'
''And that has made it a lot more comfortable. To finally have that
support, instead of wondering, 'What's going to happen next?' in terms
of something negative.''
I'm sure the attitude in Texas is downright jubilant now that William Nathaniel Showalter is no longer stalking the dugout wearing a jacket in every kind of weather. But mostly, McCarthy's going from a team that demands the most out of its starting pitching to a team that's had little pitching to speak of since Nolan Ryan retired.
Something that should help his transition: Neither team has received much from trading talented Chris Youngs.
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Jermaine Dye is cool with everything,
Joe Cowley reports:
"You guys know me -- I'm laid-back,'' Dye said. ''If you are a
younger player, I'm sure it would be tougher. But I've been around the
game long enough to know that I've played through a lot of stuff.
''I've played through injuries, family issues with my dad or whatever,
and I've been through stuff that something like this won't bother me.
I've already made enough money to take care of my family.''
If he has a year anywhere near his 2006, I'd gladly pay him Carlos Lee-like money, though not for more than four years. Watching his skills decline in right make me wonder if his hitting would eventually see a similar downward trajectory.
Then again, if Kenny Williams were to overpay/extend him, I can't see myself getting mad. He's been money, so I don't see why he doesn't deserve it.
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Did you realize Joe Crede was second in games played last year? I didn't:
He noted that he was second on the club to Paul Konerko (152) in games
played. The fact that he missed only 12 games convinced Dossett that
Crede didn't need surgery.
Crede would've been better off
missing more of the last month when something was visibly awry, but the point is still a strong one. I'll still be holding my breath until October, though.
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See a "best shape" story? Let The Reader know. So far, Mark Buehrle is the only Sox on the list:
[Mark Buehrle] is excited
about an offseason workout program that he believes has him in the best
shape of his career. He's pumped about his last throwing session off
the mound, in which he felt he had ''no-hit stuff.'' (
Feb. 17, Chicago Sun-Times)
ought to be up there as well.