White Sox say it best when it comes to first-half woes
It’s a new season, and the quotes also have changed.
At the all-star break last year, we got out of the analyst’s chair and let the first-place White Sox talk about what happened.
Let’s give it another go … with this year’s last-place Sox. At 37-55, it’s their worst record at the break since 1989. What in the name of Fred Manrique happened in the first half?
Sit back and review the good and (mostly) bad:
“I hope we get more than 1 run every game.”
— Catcher Tyler Flowers on April 1 after deciding the outcome with a solo home run in a 1-0 opening-day win over the Kansas City Royals.
“Sometimes you’re going to score runs with homers. We’re here to score runs any way you can.”
— Right fielder Alex Rios on April 7 after the White Sox improved to 4-2 with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. In their first six games, 15 of the Sox’ 22 runs came on homers.
“On the 2-1 pitch is when I felt it. I knew something was wrong. I stepped out and took a swing, and I kind of realized it wasn’t going to be a good swing.”
— Second baseman Gordon Beckham on April 9 after fracturing the hamate bone in his left wrist at Washington. He missed nearly two months.
“We can’t play any worse than what we’re playing now. Obviously, we’re getting good pitching, but other than that, terrible. I don’t know how far back we are, but the reassuring thing is we’re playing our worst baseball of the season, and if you’re going to play bad baseball, you might as well do it now.”
— DH/first baseman Adam Dunn on April 22 before the White Sox went out and lost to the Cleveland Indians to drop to 7-12.
“TWTW, the will to win. You can’t put numbers on those things.”
— TV announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson on April 25, explaining his latest catchphrase.
“We’ll wait until the last doctor so I can think about it, pray about it and take it from there. You just look at everything and make the best decision you can.”
— Starting pitcher Gavin Floyd on May 3, before having season-ending Tommy John surgery.
“You can tell it’s not smooth. It’s not the norm for him. But he has a track record and you expect that to come out. You just have to stay with it.”
— Manager Robin Ventura on May 5, regarding slumping infielder Jeff Keppinger and his .186 batting average with no walks in 97 at-bats.
“Everybody has good nights. Sometimes they have phenomenal nights.”
— Los Angeles Angels right fielder Josh Hamilton on May 12 after Chris Sale beat Los Angeles 3-0. Sale pitched a 1-hitter and had 7 strikeouts.
“You get their attention and they realize the things that you consider unacceptable. There are consequences to everything that goes on.”
— Ventura on May 14 after putting the sloppy White Sox through afternoon defensive drills before playing the Minnesota Twins that night.
“He recognizes that he may be in the fourth quarter, but as he said, he’s playing for triple overtime.”
— A statement released on May 21 after 77-year-old chairman Jerry Reinsdorf reportedly recommended his sons eventually keep the Bulls but sell their interest in the White Sox.
“All and all it was great; a great first time out. As the game went on, I started to hope for more.”
— Starter John Danks on May 24 after returning from a yearlong absence following shoulder surgery and defeating the Miami Marlins.
“Things are starting to click, and everybody is coming through.”
— Closer Addison Reed on May 26 after the Sox won for the ninth time in 12 games to reach .500 at 24-24.
“It’s just unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that something crazy like this comes about.”
— Starter Jake Peavy on June 5 after landing on the disabled list with a fractured rib.
“For one reason or another, there’s a whisper that because it’s going like this I’m not going to come back. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. I’m in it for as long as I’m in it, and then you go from there.”
— Ventura on June 8 addressing rumors he was getting ready to bail on the 25-34 White Sox.
“It’s tough to put your finger on. It’s the same team that spent almost 120 days in first place last year.”
— Peavy on June 16 after the Sox (28-38) lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
“I see what the coaches do. I see how we handle it, and that’s what I go by. We’ve done steps necessary to be ready and be prepared.”
— Ventura on June 25.
“I’m glad we won. I didn’t cost us the game, but it’s a stupid play and I’m an idiot.”
— Beckham on June 25 after dropping an infield popup for an error before the White Sox pulled out a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets.
“Obviously, we’ve seen everything you’ve seen. We’ve felt the frustration that the fans have felt. The players have felt the disgust that the fans have felt at times, and we’re very cognizant of how we’ve played. So if that (winning) does not happen, you will see some changes.”
— General manager Rick Hahn on June 30, addressing the state of the 32-47 Sox.
“I think Jim Thome someday will manage a major-league team. I think he has that ability. He can be a batting coach; he’d be a great batting coach. But someday he’ll be a manager.”
— Reinsdorf on July 2 after Jim Thome was hired as special assistant to Hahn.
“By the end of the game it was not only painful, but not functional.”
— First baseman/DH Paul Konerko on July 4, discussing his sore lower back that put him on the DL.
“It’s exciting. I don’t think the brunt of it will really hit me until I get in the box or behind the plate. I’m just trying to stay calm. It’s the same game, so I’ll go out and play hard.”
— Catcher Josh Phegley on July 5 after being called up from Class AAA Charlotte.
“You are going to compete in this league with the pitching, and we do feel we have the nucleus under control for a while going forward that is going to help us compete. The bulk of our struggles this year have been on the offensive side. That’s something we are going to have to improve.”
— Hahn on July 9.
“We remain active on a number of fronts, and we’re going to keep talking and see where it leads over the coming weeks.”
— Hahn on July 12 after trading veteran relief pitcher Matt Thornton to the Boston Red Sox for minor-league outfielder Brandon Jacobs.
“The record speaks for itself. Nobody is happy.”
— Ventura on July 14 after the White Sox lost at Philadelphia and hit the all-star break at 37-55.
sgregor@dailyherald.com