Here we go again.
For a change of pace, the White Sox are starting over. New game plan. New ideas. New optimism. New everything.
Heard it before? Sure. Wasn`t it just last year that the fellow with the cowboy hat was going to put baseball on its ear? Ho hum, turn the page.
In 1986, the year of the Hawk turned into the year of disaster. Instead of taking the Sox to the Promised Land, Ken Harrelson took the troops straight into chaos. The Chicago Board of Trade seemed more organized at times.
So exit Hawk, and enter Larry Himes. Will he be the savior? Here we go again?
Think for a minute; in 1987, the Sox will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their last World Series championship. It seems inconceivable that two, maybe three generations of Sox followers have passed since the team won it all in 1917. Seventy years!
During that time, there must have been countless master planners who thought they had the vision to turn the Sox into winners. Will Himes be any better? He certainly couldn`t do much worse.
The Himes era begins with the organization at one of its lowest points in recent years. Ticket sales are down, and in general, there doesn`t seem to be much interest in the team on the South Side. Finishing 72-90 and fifth in the American League West, as the Sox did last year, has that effect on people. But of course, the new man is optimistic. Perhaps rightfully so. After all, Himes` Sox haven`t lost a game yet.
”There`s some stability in the organization now,” Himes says.
”There`s a feeling that the organization has changed. There`s a feeling that new management is in place. A new attitude has been established. I see a lot of positives around here.”
But there might not be enough positives to prevent the situation from getting worse before it gets better. The Sox are a team full of ifs and question marks in 1987. They have inexperience at key positions, and unproven players at other spots.
On paper, the Sox, with manager Jim Fregosi, have the look of being a fifth- or sixth-place team again. But Himes remembers what he read in the papers last year.
”Last year, the Red Sox were picked for fourth, and the Angels were picked for fourth or fifth,” Himes says. ”If I remember correctly, both of those clubs won division titles. I`m glad the experts pick us that low. I think our team feels we`re better than that. I think we`re better than that.” Himes sees the Sox pitching as perhaps being the great equalizer within the division. After Fregosi and pitching coach Dick Bosman took over last June, the staff compiled a 3.51 earned run average over the final 96 games. They posted a 3.93 ERA overall, third best in the league.
If the Sox pitchers are for real, and not just a second-half fantasy, the team won`t be out of many games.
”You`d have to say pitching is the strength of this team,” Himes says. ”I think we can get even better.”
Everyone is counting on the continued improvement of Richard Dotson
(10-17, 5.48). Dotson had to experience an adjustment year in 1986. The pitcher, who won 22 games in 1983, had to fight through the psychological and physical effects of chest muscle surgery in 1985.
Dotson struggled at first, but showed signs of being his old self late in the season. He`s looked impressive this spring, which has the Sox depending on him to be the anchor of the staff.
The rest of the rotation has potential. Floyd Bannister (10-14, 3.54)
relied more on finesse than power late in the season, and had the look of being a more complete pitcher.
Harrelson acquisitions Neil Allen (7-2, 3.82) and Jose DeLeon (4-5, 2.96) were dusted off from the scrap heap, showing they might be diamonds again.
If big Bob James (5.25, 14 saves) can return to 1985 form, the Sox think they`ll have quite a tandem along with rookie Bobby Thigpen (2-0, 1.77) in the bullpen.
But to have save opportunities, a team must have the lead. That requires runs, a rare commodity for the Sox offense last year.
The Sox were last in virtually every offensive category in 1986. The exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park was more like a dormant volcano.
Himes sees potential problems again, but he thinks the offense will be improved.
”If we can stay healthy, we`ll score some runs,” Himes says.
Greg Walker (.277, 13 homers, 51 runs batted in) didn`t stay healthy last year, playing in only 78 games. His loss definitely hurt Harold Baines
(.296, 21, 88), who also experienced knee problems at the end of the season.
Injuries and ailments also plagued Carlton Fisk (.221, 14, 63), who had the worst season of his career. Fisk, though, appears healthy this spring, and the combination of him and Ron Hassey (.353 in 49 games with the Sox) at designated hitter could bolster a weak link in the lineup.
Ex-Oakland Athletic Donnie Hill (.283) will add more punch at second base. Reserve Fred Manrique, formerly of St. Louis, will spell shortstop Ozzie Guillen (.250) against tough left-handers.
”I think that`s going to help Ozzie a lot,” Himes says. ”I`m looking to get .280 from our short-second combination.”
The three biggest question marks revolve around center-fielder Daryl Boston, left-fielder Ivan Calderon and catcher Ron Karkovice. The Sox are so impressed with Karkovice`s defense, they figure whatever he does at the plate is a plus. He looked good this spring.
The Sox, though, can`t afford to have Boston and Calderon fail at the plate. Boston (.266 in 56 games with the Sox) is running out of time to live up to his vast potential. He`s been given several shots before, but the Sox feel he is ready this year.
Calderon, acquired from Seattle last year, always has had the tools. The knock on him is how bad he wants it. He seemed to have the desire in spring training.
The acquisition of Gary Redus will help. He`ll lead off, play a little center and a little left, and DH once in a while.
Himes isn`t predicting a pennant. But he does think the Sox can be competitive in the West.
”I look at the West and see the Angels being the team to beat. They`re the repeater,” he says. ”But I`ll match up our club offensively and defensively with any in the division. Our pitching is better than most. We`ll get some offensive production. If our frontline players stay healthy, we`ll be around in September.”
Heard it before? Sure. But look at it this way; one of these years it`s bound to come true.
