Ask Mark Gonzales

8:42 PM CDT, June 26, 2007

The Tribune's White Sox beat writer answers reader questions throughout the season. This week, a whole lot of doom and gloom and a Jethro Tull reference.

Mark, for many years now the White Sox have struggled against young pitchers they haven't seen before. Also, the Sox's farm system has not produced many home-grown major leaguers. I seem to remember the Sox cutting their scouting down in the 90's. Is this why the Sox have problems in these areas? Do the Sox have considerably fewer scouts than other teams? --Ron, Palos Heights

The Sox are well-staffed in the scouting department. Jerry Reinsdorf has a great appreciation for scouts, and the Sox are well-represented at the annual dinner to help scouts with families in need. I think the next area of scrutiny is player development because too many players are stagnating at the upper levels. I'm not blaming this all on the instruction, but something is wrong here.

Mark, any chance the Sox are still interested in the Devil Rays' Carl Crawford? We need someone who can ignite at the top of the order. I'm really not impressed with Pods, he's like a lame thoroughbred. --Amedeo Ferruccio, Silver City, N.M.

I think they'd love to have a Crawford-type player, but he's probably not available. It's too bad Rocco Badelli gets hurt too often.

Is the Sox 5-18 record since they imperially forced May 26 Saturday night rainout ticket holders into an August 27 Monday afternoon game (after school has begun for many families) a coincidence? Of course it is! Still, it's nice to see a bully suffer. Really nice. --Lydell, Chicago

I was wondering if you could tell me about how the tickets are working for the Twins day-night doublehearder. I was wondering if one ticket was going to get admission to both games. If you could fill me in, it would be greatly appreciated. --Eric G., Ft. Wayne, Ind.

According to the Sox, fans who had tickets and parking passes for the April 6 game can use those tickets for the re-scheduled 1:05 p.m. game on July 6.

Why don't the Sox consider trying to get Aaron Boone from the Marlins? --Curtis, Chicago

I liked Aaron Boone about six years ago but I don't think he's a fit for this team.

If Ozzie is so disappointed with the bullpen, why does he take out his starting pitchers in close games? He did it again by taking out Jon Garland and—boom—another loss. How about letting his starting pitchers go further in the games? --Al Cohen, Buffalo Grove

Mark, the White Sox are the worst team in baseball at allowing runs to score on starting pitchers after they've left the game (inherited runners-scored.) The Sox are also last in the league in batting around. Both of these point to Ozzie Guillen failing miserably as a manager. Kenny Williams gets him the players, Ozzie has been poorly using them. When will he be dismissed? --JJ, Wood Dale

Kenny nearly bit off the head of a radio reporter who kept asking Kenny to clarify Ozzie's status. And Kenny's job is safe as well.

I would love to see the Sox retool by trading Contreras, signing Buehrle to a long-term deal, trading or letting Dye go and taking a run at Ichiro this winter. If Vazquez, Thome or Konkero had to go to clear salary that would be okay with me. Just want to see a team that can run the bases and not rely on the long ball. --Dale S., Oak Creek, Wis.

Even the power is gone, so they've taken small ball to a new low.

You touched on small ball in your June 19 column. I've always thought that an increased emphasis on small ball can help break a team out of a hitting slump. --Allan C., Solon, Ohio

Striking out 15 times as they did Monday makes it tough to even play small ball.

What saddens me most after a White Sox loss is the reaction of White Sox "fans." A loyal Sox fan knows you can't control players slumps or injuries or minor leaquers adjusting to the big leaques. --Dave Carroll, Round Lake Beach

Ozzie expressed his appreciation for the fans on Monday and understands the frustration.

Mark, I have truly enjoyed your column a great deal over the last few seasons. Right now, it is becoming harder to read, because my fellow Sox fans are really surprising me with their negativity. I see an awful lot of white flags in the air with demands for the firing of Ozzie, and criticism of the Rowand/Thome trade (among many other things). Come on guys...we haven't even hit the All-Star break and you're giving in now? Look at the run Minnesota made last year. We thought we had them licked and they ended up in the playoffs. --Tyson Shroyer, Peoria

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