Chicago White Sox: Ozzie Guillen Challenges Javier Vazquez
by Sean Kane
”What you see is what you get, Javy is going to be Javy.†That’s what Ozzie told the press on Monday in conjunction with a challenge to the struggling pitcher. According to ESPN.com and the Chicago Sun-Times, Ozzie put Javier Vazquez on the spot saying, “I just want him to be aggressive, throw the ball over the plate and knock somebody on their [butt]. That’s a big three games for us. You have to be mean. Go out there and show them we show up to play, show up to kick your guys’ [butts]. And believe me, that will take care of itself.”
Putting Javy on the spot is the least he could do. Frankly, with the way he has been playing this year, Sox fans want to put him on the bench. He’s been as inconsistent as Broadway Brett. In his last start against the Yanks, he went 3 innings and gave up 6 hits, 7 runs. A week earlier he pitched 7 shutout innings against the Tigers. Clearly, Javy still has something left in the tank it’s just a matter of getting up for a game. With Javy’s comments on Saturday, though, you wonder how much he really cares.
He told the Sun-Times, ‘You know what? It’s not going to [change a lot of opinions] because I’m really the type of guy that when I retire, I’m going to be home in Puerto Rico with my family. I’m not looking to have to change minds if people feel that way,†(I wonder how they really feel, Javy?) Vazquez said.
“I won’t be paying attention to that. If I do well or if I don’t, I’ll still go home at the end of my career and be the same person.”
What kind of attitude is that for a professional to have while his teammates are battling to get into the postseason? I’m sure he felt personally attacked, I’m sure he was frustrated with his play, I know that Sox fans and media don’t cut too many guys slack, but you’re not Donovan McNabb. No one is coming after you every day, you haven’t performed and you haven’t been booed at the Cell, that badly.
What I’m saying is this – when you’re team is battling and you have a starting position in the rotation, handle the pressure. You’ve been in the league for 11 years and played some major games, with more pressure in New York than you feel here. The last thing that your up-and-down team needs to hear you tell a reporter is “I don’t care what people thinkâ€. Talk to another vet, talk to Ozzie about it, tell your wife about it. Don’t make it a sound bite, while the fans sit here waiting for you to start off the biggest series of the year.
It may work out brilliantly. Ozzie battles fire with fire. He doesn’t like the way his pitcher talks to the media, so he calls him out, through the media. It might backfire and Javy might curl up and die in the Metrodome, or maybe he’ll put some balls over the plate and give us 7 decent innings. That’s realistically all we need. Keep the middle relievers out of the game, and put a couple souvenirs in the outfield, which is definitely possible facing Twins pitcher Scott Baker. OC has batted .444 career against Scotty, PK, Swish, Thome and AJ have all gone yard on him. He’s a tough pitcher, but it’s not unreasonable to think that if Javy gets worked up that the Sox could squeak out game one and be on their way to clinching the division by Thursday.
Champagne tastes best after it’s been on the floor of the Metrodome.
[tags]mlb, baseball, chicago, white sox, ozzie guillen, javier vazquez, playoffs[/tags]
Tags: AL Central, Chicago White Sox, Javier Vazquez, minnesota twins, MLB, ozzie guillen
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I wholeheartedly agree with Ozzie’s strategy here. Honestly, I think he is trying to see exactly what he has in Javier Vazquez. He knows that Mark Buerhle has the stones to pitch in big games. Same thing with Bobby Jenks. Obviously John Danks and Gavin Floyd we won’t really know for sure about until we see them in the playoffs…but Danks’ start on Sunday has me impressed.
But what about Javy? How does Ozzie know he can count on him? The guy tanked in NY in the playoffs and has not stepped up in key moments while he’s been on the White Sox. Ozzie has to make tough decisions regarding his pitching rotation and he needs to know how Vazquez will respond. Putting extra pressure on him now, before the playoffs, when we have the cushion of a 2-1/2 game lead is brilliant. If he tanks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ozzie do everything he can not to have to start him in the postseason. We’ll see. Obviously I hope Javy steps up big tomorrow…and in the playoffs.
I have to say, the playoffs is where we will really miss Jose Contreras. He’s pitched big innings and really would have given us a solid, experienced, playoff savvy 1-2 punch with Buerhle. We miss you Jose.
I still think the Sox drop two, win game 3 behind Buerhle, and then close out the AL Central at home against Cleveland. I hope I’m wrong and we sweep…and that would mean that Javy steps up to Ozzie’s challenge. Go Sox!
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