Post by Fish Troll on Mar 30, 2007 14:14:13 GMT -5
Sox keep Sisco, Aardsma to cap roster
Floyd, Logan sent down as Guillen hopes for more from team
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The date of March 28, 2007, won't exactly be one Ozzie Guillen circles on his calendar and remembers fondly.
Wednesday began with the White Sox manager getting a phone call regarding the 14-year prison term handed down in Venezuela to Ugueth Urbina, a close friend of Guillen and his family. It transitioned into Guillen's crew losing its 21st Cactus League game in 30 starts, dropping an 8-0 decision to Arizona, and came to a close when Guillen informed pitchers Gavin Floyd and Boone Logan that they had been reassigned to Triple-A Charlotte.
But Guillen's mood apparently won't get much better if his team's rough play during this current seven-game spring losing streak carries over into the 2007 regular season. In Guillen's mind, the players on the 25-man active roster have one game in Birmingham and two in Atlanta this weekend to sharpen their focus for upcoming play in possibly baseball's toughest division.
"Today's game was terrible, and I want the team to go out there and throw the switch on right now," Guillen said. "Don't wait until we practice Sunday back at Cellular Field, because nobody is that good in baseball to throw the switch on and off in one second.
"The expectation is real high this year, higher than last year. I think we have a good ballclub, we have the ammunition and the bullets. We just have to shoot it the right way. It's all about the team."
In an effort to give Guillen the best possible weapons at his disposal, the White Sox opted to keep left-hander Andrew Sisco and right-hander David Aardsma to complete their 11-man pitching staff. The roster sits at 26, with catcher Toby Hall to be placed on the disabled list to start the season, and Gustavo Molina to be added.
Logan had the strongest argument to stick with the big-league team, allowing four hits and striking 10 over 11 scoreless innings this spring. The left-hander walked five in his last two outings, though, which ultimately might have punched his ticket to Charlotte as the Knights' potential closer.
To Logan's credit, the more mature and Major League secure 22-year-old took the demotion pretty much in stride. He simply is ready to get on with the season.
"They said I couldn't have had a better spring, but that's beside the point," Logan said. "They said they wanted to go with only two lefties, and I was not one of them.
"Coming into spring, I knew that it was going to be pretty tough to make the club. We traded for some guys, and you're not going to trade for guys and then send them to Triple-A. So, that already put me in a hole before I got to spring camp. I didn't let it bother me, though.
"When my time comes to get called up, I'll be ready to go," Logan added.
Floyd's present days with the White Sox appeared to be numbered when John Danks was named as the team's fifth starter, although the right-hander did pitch twice out of the bullpen. But Guillen didn't really consider Floyd a reliever, and will instead give him a chance to stretch out and start every fifth day with the Knights.
Although he was a frontrunner for the final rotation spot coming into camp, Floyd will not be leaving Tucson with a sense of disappointment.
"It hasn't been disappointing at all," Floyd said. "Disappointing as far as where I'm at, but as far as where I've come along; I'm really happy with the way things have gone.
"They didn't see me as a bullpen guy, and it takes a little change of mentality and recovery time. I'll go down there and work on throwing strikes and getting ahead and make them swing. Hopefully, that will help me get back here."
Both Aardsma and Sisco could be used with rookie Nick Masset in long relief, while also being employed by Guillen in specific game situations. All three were acquired in offseason trades, a reference made by Logan as part of his theory for demotion. Aardsma admitted that coming in, he thought he might have a leg up on a bullpen spot because the White Sox sought him out from another team.
After Aardsma struggled from the start during Cactus League action, he quickly realized the only way to make the squad was through improved performances on the mound. Guillen understands Logan's complaint, quickly adding that any player who doesn't make a big-league roster should feel the same way.
"If you aren't disappointed being sent down to the Minors, it means you don't care about this game," Guillen explained. "You mad at somebody? I don't blame you, either.
"This kid [Logan] throw the ball well enough to be on the ballclub. That's why I kept telling you guys the last two weeks that I can't make my decision that fast because we might miss something we think we need. If those guys are disappointed, I tip my hat to them because they should be. I told them it was not easy to make the decision."
With Floyd and Gio Gonzalez both starting the season in the Minors, it was pointed out to Guillen that the White Sox don't have anyone on the big-league roster who came over from the Phillies in the Freddy Garcia trade. Guillen held his tongue as to what he really wanted to say in response, knowing the television cameras were rolling.
Interview segments being sent back to Chicago didn't stop Guillen from forcefully making two very salient points. The offseason trades pulled off by general manager Ken Williams have presented the White Sox with a number of talented options to mull over at the Minor League level.
If the pitchers or position players selected to fill out the 25-man squad do not perform as expected, a change is certain to happen sooner than later. Guillen impressed that point upon the two pitchers sent down, and Aardsma.
He was unable to deliver the message in person to Sisco, since the left-hander had exited the Kino Sports Complex before talking with Guillen. But Sisco and the rest of his teammates are certain to take heed of Guillen's warning.
"I wouldn't have expected anything else," Aardsma said. "He wants to win and we want to win. I'm not to going to sit back and expect to be there all year if I'm doing terrible. I'm going to be working my butt off like everybody else."
"That's why I was looking for Sisco, to let him know he didn't pitch that well to [take for granted] he made the ballclub," Guillen added. "This year, I have people to grab in the Minor Leagues. I can let them know that 'Yes, we are happy you made the ballclub and I think you did a tremendous job.' But in the meanwhile, it's all about winning, not development."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Floyd, Logan sent down as Guillen hopes for more from team
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The date of March 28, 2007, won't exactly be one Ozzie Guillen circles on his calendar and remembers fondly.
Wednesday began with the White Sox manager getting a phone call regarding the 14-year prison term handed down in Venezuela to Ugueth Urbina, a close friend of Guillen and his family. It transitioned into Guillen's crew losing its 21st Cactus League game in 30 starts, dropping an 8-0 decision to Arizona, and came to a close when Guillen informed pitchers Gavin Floyd and Boone Logan that they had been reassigned to Triple-A Charlotte.
But Guillen's mood apparently won't get much better if his team's rough play during this current seven-game spring losing streak carries over into the 2007 regular season. In Guillen's mind, the players on the 25-man active roster have one game in Birmingham and two in Atlanta this weekend to sharpen their focus for upcoming play in possibly baseball's toughest division.
"Today's game was terrible, and I want the team to go out there and throw the switch on right now," Guillen said. "Don't wait until we practice Sunday back at Cellular Field, because nobody is that good in baseball to throw the switch on and off in one second.
"The expectation is real high this year, higher than last year. I think we have a good ballclub, we have the ammunition and the bullets. We just have to shoot it the right way. It's all about the team."
In an effort to give Guillen the best possible weapons at his disposal, the White Sox opted to keep left-hander Andrew Sisco and right-hander David Aardsma to complete their 11-man pitching staff. The roster sits at 26, with catcher Toby Hall to be placed on the disabled list to start the season, and Gustavo Molina to be added.
Logan had the strongest argument to stick with the big-league team, allowing four hits and striking 10 over 11 scoreless innings this spring. The left-hander walked five in his last two outings, though, which ultimately might have punched his ticket to Charlotte as the Knights' potential closer.
To Logan's credit, the more mature and Major League secure 22-year-old took the demotion pretty much in stride. He simply is ready to get on with the season.
"They said I couldn't have had a better spring, but that's beside the point," Logan said. "They said they wanted to go with only two lefties, and I was not one of them.
"Coming into spring, I knew that it was going to be pretty tough to make the club. We traded for some guys, and you're not going to trade for guys and then send them to Triple-A. So, that already put me in a hole before I got to spring camp. I didn't let it bother me, though.
"When my time comes to get called up, I'll be ready to go," Logan added.
Floyd's present days with the White Sox appeared to be numbered when John Danks was named as the team's fifth starter, although the right-hander did pitch twice out of the bullpen. But Guillen didn't really consider Floyd a reliever, and will instead give him a chance to stretch out and start every fifth day with the Knights.
Although he was a frontrunner for the final rotation spot coming into camp, Floyd will not be leaving Tucson with a sense of disappointment.
"It hasn't been disappointing at all," Floyd said. "Disappointing as far as where I'm at, but as far as where I've come along; I'm really happy with the way things have gone.
"They didn't see me as a bullpen guy, and it takes a little change of mentality and recovery time. I'll go down there and work on throwing strikes and getting ahead and make them swing. Hopefully, that will help me get back here."
Both Aardsma and Sisco could be used with rookie Nick Masset in long relief, while also being employed by Guillen in specific game situations. All three were acquired in offseason trades, a reference made by Logan as part of his theory for demotion. Aardsma admitted that coming in, he thought he might have a leg up on a bullpen spot because the White Sox sought him out from another team.
After Aardsma struggled from the start during Cactus League action, he quickly realized the only way to make the squad was through improved performances on the mound. Guillen understands Logan's complaint, quickly adding that any player who doesn't make a big-league roster should feel the same way.
"If you aren't disappointed being sent down to the Minors, it means you don't care about this game," Guillen explained. "You mad at somebody? I don't blame you, either.
"This kid [Logan] throw the ball well enough to be on the ballclub. That's why I kept telling you guys the last two weeks that I can't make my decision that fast because we might miss something we think we need. If those guys are disappointed, I tip my hat to them because they should be. I told them it was not easy to make the decision."
With Floyd and Gio Gonzalez both starting the season in the Minors, it was pointed out to Guillen that the White Sox don't have anyone on the big-league roster who came over from the Phillies in the Freddy Garcia trade. Guillen held his tongue as to what he really wanted to say in response, knowing the television cameras were rolling.
Interview segments being sent back to Chicago didn't stop Guillen from forcefully making two very salient points. The offseason trades pulled off by general manager Ken Williams have presented the White Sox with a number of talented options to mull over at the Minor League level.
If the pitchers or position players selected to fill out the 25-man squad do not perform as expected, a change is certain to happen sooner than later. Guillen impressed that point upon the two pitchers sent down, and Aardsma.
He was unable to deliver the message in person to Sisco, since the left-hander had exited the Kino Sports Complex before talking with Guillen. But Sisco and the rest of his teammates are certain to take heed of Guillen's warning.
"I wouldn't have expected anything else," Aardsma said. "He wants to win and we want to win. I'm not to going to sit back and expect to be there all year if I'm doing terrible. I'm going to be working my butt off like everybody else."
"That's why I was looking for Sisco, to let him know he didn't pitch that well to [take for granted] he made the ballclub," Guillen added. "This year, I have people to grab in the Minor Leagues. I can let them know that 'Yes, we are happy you made the ballclub and I think you did a tremendous job.' But in the meanwhile, it's all about winning, not development."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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