Trying To Repeat
There will be lots of talk throughout the spring about the pressure to repeat this year. Times have changed. I don't really see any negatives. Back in my day, the thing you had to worry about coming off a pennant-winning year was guys coming into camp overweight, but that's no longer an issue. I got the chance to talk with Jim Thome at the Sox Convention and told him we're stronger right now at this point than we were after the fourth game of the World Series. I know just how pumped up he is and I can't wait because he has always been one of my favorite players. I don't think there's a negative to coming back as a champion. I know there have been changes, but we have five great starters who now know how good they are and can be. The only thing you have to worry about as always is injuries, but who doesn't? Not only do we have some guys who can do some great things on that mound out there, but we've got a manager who will let them do it. Everyone talks about the four complete games in the ALCS last year, but name me another manager who would allowed that. I love Lou Piniella, but he wouldn't have. There's not another manager in baseball who would go that route. In 2004, I think Ozzie was hamstrung. He wanted to do some things and had a direction in mind for his managing, then came over to the Sox who had a set club with Mags, Frank, Carlos - a group that hit 242 home runs and almost finished third. He couldn't manage his game, only watch it and take responsibility for the pitchers. Then, you see Kenny Williams go out and get other players and I think it thrilled him. You picked up a leadoff hitter who could steal bases, a second baseman who would give himself up, and had a club where there was no doubt that he was the leader of the team. You don't see that very often in such a positive way. This club took his personality. The secret to winning in the big leagues is winning close ballgames. You see a lot of managers who get tight in close games and it reflects on their team. Ozzie changed the mindset to the point where every time we got in a close ballgame, I thought we were going to win it and most of the time we did. Buehrle set the tone on Opening Day last year when we won 1-0, then right before the All-Star break we win 1-0, and of course the last game of the season we won the championship in a 1-0 game. That epitomized the season because one- and two-run games were what made this team. Hawk