Mailbag: South Side rumblings

11/21/2005
During the very few slow moments in a period that used to be called baseball's offseason, I've found it useful to clean out the thousands of old e-mails currently taking up space in my inbox.
That process has turned up a handful of e-mails from former classmates at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, which I failed to answer. Yes, I am the same Scott Merkin from the Class of 1983.
There also were a number of missed chances to make millions by wiring my bank account to the family member of a deposed foreign leader, hiding loads of cash in a secret location. I even turned up one e-mail offering me the chance to become an ordained minister.
But the most interesting discovery I made were the hundreds of unused questions from this same timeframe, one year ago. Needless to say, the tenor of those comments was slightly harsher and a bit more direct than the glowing reviews coming in currently.
Fans worried about Magglio Ordonez's return. Others warned against the trade of Carlos Lee. Then, there were the few who thought Paul Konerko didn't fit into Ozzie Guillen's new "small ball" style of baseball and suggested the powerful first baseman might play better somewhere else. One fan even questioned Guillen's ability to run a team.
As I open this week's edition of the mailbag, there are probably no more popular figures in Chicago than Guillen and Konerko. Of course, the only thing White Sox supporters want more than Konerko's return is a second World Series title.
After reading one of your columns, it was brought to light about the White Sox not getting any respect from the North Siders. My question is when will the New York media, or that area of the country, give the Chicago White Sox some respect? It seems to me they all were disappointed the White Sox turned out so good. Their feat was unreal, but expected, from us true fans. I've been one since 1944! -- Ken, Lake Wales, Fla.
Ken, I'm not sure if I ever stated that the North Siders weren't giving the White Sox their deserved props. I saw an interview with Kerry Wood recently, with the right-hander talking about how Cubs fans he bumped into were imploring him to win the title in 2006 because they had been hearing a great deal of "pride" coming from the White Sox fans since Bobby Jenks closed out the four-game sweep of Houston. That statement might more accurately sum up Cubs fans' feelings, although even the most ardent North Side supporter should have tremendous appreciation for what the White Sox accomplished.
And you know what? White Sox fans should revel in every minute of this historic victory. As for the media doubters around the country, it might continue into Spring Training and throughout 2006. It doesn't matter. They will doubt the defending world champs.
How about Cliff Politte, Damaso Marte and Timo Perez for Manny Ramirez? -- Samuel B., Mobile, Ala.
Hmmm... Even with the Red Sox operating without a clear-cut general manager at this point, I just don't think Boston will go for that move. Sure, Politte and Marte would help the beleaguered Boston bullpen immensely, but I think they would need a little bigger return for one of the best hitters in the game. Perez has 25 career home runs. Ramirez hits that target in two months.
Don't look for Ramirez to end up on the South Side, if the Red Sox end up moving their superstar slugger. Guillen wants players who will fit his team-first system and not big-time players who will light up the stadium marquee. Despite his offensive prowess, Ramirez would not really work smoothly into the White Sox plans.
Are the White Sox going to get Chris Widger back? -- Sam, Chicago
Sam, you must still be caught up in the post-World Series celebration and missed the news online or in the Chicago newspapers. Widger, 34, signed a one-year, $650,000 contract to return to the White Sox for 2006. It actually happened the same November day the White Sox bought out Frank Thomas' contract.
Widger was one of the most unsung additions by general manager Ken Williams for the 2005 champions, handling the pitchers with great skill, despite taking one year off from organized baseball. He's a player whose knowledge of the game and eloquence speaking about the game has him destined for managerial or coaching duties in the not-too-distant future.
The White Sox wanted Widger to return, and Widger wanted to come back. So, it was a fairly simple process.
I am a humongous fan of Joe Crede's since I'm from his hometown. I was wondering if you think he will return to the White Sox for the 2006 season and if he does, about how much do you think he could make and how long of a contract would the White Sox be willing to give him? -- Tom M., Westphalia, Mo.
Crede will return to the White Sox in 2006, anchoring third base, and, in my opinion, taking that next step toward baseball's elite level. Crede began that particular climb during the final weeks of the regular season and continued moving onward and upward throughout the postseason.
It's a safe bet that Crede will be offered arbitration for 2006, especially with 2004 first-round draft pick Josh Fields waiting in the wings at third base, and the White Sox still waiting to see if Crede can continue his high level of offensive production throughout the course of an entire campaign. He probably will earn somewhere in the $2-2.5 million range through arbitration.
By the way, Crede officially is the most decorated White Sox player of the postseason. Sure, Scott Podsednik made an appearance on Saturday Night Live, but the town of Westphalia actually threw Crede a parade in which he was the guest of honor. I'm not sure if you attended, Tom, but the motorcade went down Main St., of course, and Crede and his family basically seemed to be the only car of that said motorcade traveling amongst 1,000 well-wishers.
What are the chances that the Sox will get the whole team back together for the 2006 season -- with Big Frank at designated hitter, Konerko at first base and everyone healthy and ready to go for another World Series victory? -- Bato M., Chicago
There is no chance the whole team will be back together in 2006, with World Series hero Geoff Blum already having signed with San Diego. I also don't expect third-string catcher Raul Casanova, a free agent, to return.
In all seriousness, Williams is not a man to ever stand pat. It would seem to make sense to keep a dominant team such as the White Sox together at the core, after winning 110 total games in 2005 and capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1917. But Williams is striving to make this team even stronger in its quest to defend the crown.
I believe Konerko will be back at first base. I also think the White Sox will add some left-handed power to the lineup and try to bring a more natural speed player into the second spot of the order, with Tadahito Iguchi moving down to sixth or seventh, as Guillen stated after his Manager of the Year press conference. Those changes could mean one of the starting pitchers being dealt or even one of the White Sox outfielders moving, especially with the abundance of young talent they have at this position in the Minor Leagues. This group will return as strong as it was in 2005, though. That's a certainty.
As a lifelong Yankees fan, I would like to commend Guillen on the courageous and classy way he finished the season. He could have rolled over and rested his stars against the Indians, but he didn't. The rest is history, sweeping the Indians and later the Astros. It was God's way of smiling down on Ozzie. Congratulations and buena suerte, amigo. We'll be back next year. -- George, Stony Point, N.Y.
Many White Sox players point to the American League Central clinching victory in Detroit as the freeing experience that sent them shooting to the playoffs. I still believe that closing sweep of Cleveland at Jacobs Field not only returned them to the style of successful baseball featured most of the season, but also exorcised the Indians' demons they had been hearing about for the previous month. The rest, as they say, was an 11-1 postseason.
True story. My wife bought a black and silver mini schnauzer on April 4, 2005 (Opening Day) while I was deployed. All of his feet have white fur. She named him Oscar White Sox. When I came home, she surprised me with the AKC certificate with his name.
She knows how much I love the Sox. The team was awesome and lucky as well. During the playoffs, I often rubbed his feet for luck. It sure did pay off! World Series champs!!!!! -- Michael M., Chicago
Michael, I'll forward this e-mail along to the White Sox and maybe they can honor your puppy during the 2006 regular season. In all seriousness, that's a very entertaining story and one of many that I've heard about little quirky good luck charms or regular locales to watch the game or special shirts worn by countless White Sox fans to ensure a victory.
I'm sure it all made a cosmic difference, and more importantly, it helped White Sox fans such as you make an even greater connection to this special team.
Do you think A.J. Pierzynski should have won a Gold Glove? He only made one error and Boston's Jason Varitek made eight. It seems he does not get enough credit for his defensive play. -- Michael, Valparaiso, Ind.
Michael, I don't think Pierzynski should have won the Gold Glove. I haven't watched Varitek enough to say he does or doesn't deserve it, but the Angels' Bengie Molina was the best defensive catcher I viewed. Pierzynski was nearly flawless behind the plate, but the judgment isn't always based on raw statistical totals.
Pierzynski added more important intangibles to this team such as a grittiness and attitude that wasn't previously present. He also did a masterful job handling the pitching staff, a thought seconded by pitchers and management alike. I've said it countless times before, but I still believe Pierzynski was the most important offseason addition Williams made last year.
As for individual awards, check out this quote from Pierzynski after the deciding fourth game in Houston as to his thoughts on what truly was personally important.
"This means I'm a world champion and nobody can ever take that away from me," Pierzynski said. "Whatever anyone ever says about me, and I've been called a lot of things, but now I'm a World Series champion with the best group of guys I've ever played with."
Tell me again how teams passed on a player like Pierzynski.

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/