The Baseball Column: Juan Gone?
UPDATED: 2:45 pm EDT June 2, 2005
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Rant One: Juan's Hall Chances Gone?
A collective chortle emanated from the Metrodome press box following the top of the first inning on May 31 when Casey Blake ran out to right field as a replacement for Juan Gonzalez, who had re-aggravated his hamstring while "running" to first after his first at bat of the season -- a chopper to third. Gonzalez meanwhile, went back on the DL. Some believe that is exactly where he wants to be.
The two time MVP has not played in more than 82 games in a season since 2001 and currently sits at 434 career homeruns. Unless he shows the ability to stay healthy in the very near future, the 35-year-old won’t get the 66 homers he needs to reach 500 and legitimize his Hall of Fame candidacy. Remember, Gonzalez was one of the players Jose Canseco accused of using steroids. He, like most of the others, has not gone out of his way to refute the claims.
Rant Two: A Big Pain
Speaking of slugs, the White Sox Frank Thomas doesn't seem all that eager to start earning his $8 million salary. Although he’s not back on the DL (yet), Thomas is concerned about "overcompensating" to protect his surgically repaired left ankle. Unable to run or play in the field, the former MVP will be a non-factor when Interleague play resumes next week in National League parks.
With the Thomas-less White Sox rolling through the first two months of the season compiling baseball’s best record, manager Ozzie Guillen must be tempted to send "The Big Hurt," a notorious malcontent, home for the summer. It sure seems like that’s where he’d rather be anyway.
Rant Three: Experience, Not Competency, Required
According to ESPN.com, one of the requirements needed by candidates for the recently-filled Kansas City Royals managerial vacancy was previous experience in that position at the major league level. I guess that means you didn’t have to be particularly good at the job. The man they chose, Buddy Bell, had a career record of 345-462 at the time of the hire. His best season was an 82-80 finish with the Colorado Rockies in 2000. Aim high Kansas City!
A collective chortle emanated from the Metrodome press box following the top of the first inning on May 31 when Casey Blake ran out to right field as a replacement for Juan Gonzalez, who had re-aggravated his hamstring while "running" to first after his first at bat of the season -- a chopper to third. Gonzalez meanwhile, went back on the DL. Some believe that is exactly where he wants to be.
The two time MVP has not played in more than 82 games in a season since 2001 and currently sits at 434 career homeruns. Unless he shows the ability to stay healthy in the very near future, the 35-year-old won’t get the 66 homers he needs to reach 500 and legitimize his Hall of Fame candidacy. Remember, Gonzalez was one of the players Jose Canseco accused of using steroids. He, like most of the others, has not gone out of his way to refute the claims.
Rant Two: A Big Pain
Speaking of slugs, the White Sox Frank Thomas doesn't seem all that eager to start earning his $8 million salary. Although he’s not back on the DL (yet), Thomas is concerned about "overcompensating" to protect his surgically repaired left ankle. Unable to run or play in the field, the former MVP will be a non-factor when Interleague play resumes next week in National League parks.
With the Thomas-less White Sox rolling through the first two months of the season compiling baseball’s best record, manager Ozzie Guillen must be tempted to send "The Big Hurt," a notorious malcontent, home for the summer. It sure seems like that’s where he’d rather be anyway.
Rant Three: Experience, Not Competency, Required
According to ESPN.com, one of the requirements needed by candidates for the recently-filled Kansas City Royals managerial vacancy was previous experience in that position at the major league level. I guess that means you didn’t have to be particularly good at the job. The man they chose, Buddy Bell, had a career record of 345-462 at the time of the hire. His best season was an 82-80 finish with the Colorado Rockies in 2000. Aim high Kansas City!
Previous Columns:
- May 27, 2005: The Baseball Column: D.C. Silliness
- May 20, 2005: The Baseball Column: Taking Stock Of Bonds
- May 13, 2005: The Baseball Column: Brian Cashman's Headaches
- May 6, 2005: The Baseball Column: Barry, Stay Away
- April 27, 2005: The Baseball Column: Griffey's Power Outage
- April 21, 2005: The Baseball Column: The Sheffield Shuffle
- April 12, 2005: The Baseball Column: Rough Start In Minny
- April 6, 2005: The Baseball Column: Scrubs Take Steroids Hit
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