Is there a team that more often sticks it to critics and naysayers as much as the white sox this past decade. Every year they are left for dead (including by me this year) and they are right in the thick of things. Going for 7 wins in a row right now and lead Grienke and the Royals 4-0. They are the hottest team in baseball right now. Not sure where all the credit should go, but with each passing year the more I realize Ozzie really is one of the best managers in baseball.

He won a world series, and always out does the pythagorean theorem expected win totals. Just because he says obnoxious things, doesn't mean he's been a bad manager. It should be pretty obvious he's good at his job and has been for a long time. A 7 game win streak shouldn't tell you that, even teams like the Pirates get on hot stretches as the Sox are now.

(07-03-2009 09:32 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  He won a world series, and always out does the pythagorean theorem expected win totals. Just because he says obnoxious things, doesn't mean he's been a bad manager. It should be pretty obvious he's good at his job and has been for a long time. A 7 game win streak shouldn't tell you that, even teams like the Pirates get on hot stretches as the Sox are now.

It is not the 7 game win streak that is telling me that, it is the fact he has his team right in the middle of things year in and year out despite very low expectations.

10 of their last 12 and most of those on the road. Sox are in solid shape to challenge Detroit for the Central Title. Floyd and Danks have been almost flawless their last 6 starts.

(07-03-2009 09:04 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Is there a team that more often sticks it to critics and naysayers as much as the white sox this past decade. Every year they are left for dead (including by me this year) and they are right in the thick of things. Going for 7 wins in a row right now and lead Grienke and the Royals 4-0. They are the hottest team in baseball right now. Not sure where all the credit should go, but with each passing year the more I realize Ozzie really is one of the best managers in baseball.

I heard on the radio that in a survey among MLB players on which managers they would most and least like to play for. I don't remember who they said the favorite among the players was, but the least favorite was Lou Pinella of the Cubs. The second least favorite by a very small margin was Ozzie from the Sox. So I guess there aren't too many players who really want to play in Chicago.

(07-04-2009 12:23 PM)NIUGAHuskie Wrote:  

(07-03-2009 09:04 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Is there a team that more often sticks it to critics and naysayers as much as the white sox this past decade. Every year they are left for dead (including by me this year) and they are right in the thick of things. Going for 7 wins in a row right now and lead Grienke and the Royals 4-0. They are the hottest team in baseball right now. Not sure where all the credit should go, but with each passing year the more I realize Ozzie really is one of the best managers in baseball.

I heard on the radio that in a survey among MLB players on which managers they would most and least like to play for. I don't remember who they said the favorite among the players was, but the least favorite was Lou Pinella of the Cubs. The second least favorite by a very small margin was Ozzie from the Sox. So I guess there aren't too many players who really want to play in Chicago.

I was quite surprised that Piniella was top of that list. But he does have some bad track records with players over his managerial career. LaRussa was 3rd on that last.
I think Torre was the favorite.

Kinda find it funny that all those managers are considered some of the top in the game today and all have won Managers of the Year during their career

They are all the most famous and well known. These guys are taking long surveys where they were asked a ton of questions. I really doubt they put much thought into it, the top 4 managers happened to be 4 of the most well known and outspoken managers in baseball. Not a coincidence. Plenty of big name guys have taken lesser deals (Dye, Konerko, Buehrle) to stay with the Sox, so clearly Ozzie isn't that bad to play for.

All of those managers LaRussa, Piniella, Joe Torre (who was 4th), and Ozzie have been very successful in this league. I wouldn't be too worried about what the poll says.