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Saturday, September 06, 2008

Morrissey: Quentin has only himself to blame

Maladjusted, maladjusted…

The fact that this happened in September, in the late stages of a pennant race, makes Quentin’s actions egregious. His aggressiveness wasn’t being used in a positive way. It was being used to express his anger publicly over not hitting a Lee pitch.

A hitter can’t afford to be reckless with his hands. And with this guy’s long history of injuries? Insanity.

In a twisted way, there’s something almost right about it, or at least inevitable. The Sox have talked with Quentin about his excessive levels of intensity, trying to get him to open up a little bit, especially with the media.

...While the White Sox set Quentin up with doctors, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to get him together with a sports psychologist. Considering the best hitters fail seven out of every 10 at-bats, it would do him a world of good to get it inside his head that he’s not going to be perfect every time.

Repoz Posted: September 06, 2008 at 04:30 AM | 10 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: white sox

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   1. frannyzoo Posted: September 06, 2008 at 04:46 AM (#2930948)
Panic on the streets of Chi-Town
Panic on West 35th street...
....Hang the CQ, Hang the CQ, Hang the CQ
   2. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L) Posted: September 06, 2008 at 04:50 AM (#2930951)
...While the White Sox set Quentin up with doctors, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to get him together with a sports psychologist. Considering the best hitters fail seven out of every 10 at-bats, it would do him a world of good to get it inside his head that he’s not going to be perfect every time.


Well, like I wrote here a long time ago:

The other thing about Quentin was that AZ coaches had no clue what to do with him. And they tried. They could see the talent he had, they could see the minor league track record, they could see the athleticism, the power... but they could also see his struggles, and there was nothing they could do to help him adjust, because Quentin was just lost in his world. I think at the end the Dbacks coaches just gave up on him. I've spoken with a couple of people who've seen him in person, and Quentin is his worst enemy in his struggles. When he's not doing well, he takes it so personally, he's so hard on himself, that it's throwing him into a vicious cycle of self-doubt and panic and struggle and futility. More than anything, Quentin needs a team where he will be guaranteed a starting spot and playing time, no matter what, so he can fight his own demons. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen in Arizona...



A good friend of mine told me that if there was one player in the game whose mind could destroy his baseball talent, it was Quentin. It's a real shame to see his season end like this. A really idiotic self-inflicted end to what could've been an MVP campaign. And maybe Morrissey is right; maybe besides protein shakes, Quentin needs a good shrink
   3. Sox Machine Posted: September 06, 2008 at 05:17 AM (#2930955)
And maybe Morrissey is right; maybe besides protein shakes, Quentin needs a good shrink

He did begin seeing one in the offseason:

Quentin’s reputation as a player who is hard on himself might be overblown, he said, although he does not deny an intensity such that he considers “mental coaching” part of his overall conditioning program.

“I’ve taken steps in the past to alleviate any internal stress that the game creates,” said Quentin, whose counseling sessions caught the attention of scouts here who speculated it hurt his trade value.

Don't know if he still goes, or what.
   4. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L) Posted: September 06, 2008 at 05:27 AM (#2930960)
said Quentin, whose counseling sessions caught the attention of scouts here who speculated it hurt his trade value.
Yet another proof that scouts suck at their job
   5. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: September 06, 2008 at 05:50 AM (#2930963)
A good friend of mine told me that if there was one player in the game whose mind could destroy his baseball talent, it was Quentin. It's a real shame to see his season end like this. A really idiotic self-inflicted end to what could've been an MVP campaign. And maybe Morrissey is right; maybe besides protein shakes, Quentin needs a good shrink


He's been really good since the first time he put on a Chicago uniform, but he's finally a White Sox.
   6. TomH Posted: September 06, 2008 at 05:55 AM (#2930966)
Ted Williams, as told through John Underwood's bio of him, did some stupid stuff early in his career, and he claimed later he was VERY fortunate he didn't do major damage to his wrists/hands by smashing coolers, etc.
   7. Maholm Shuffle Posted: September 06, 2008 at 07:04 AM (#2930985)
Al Kaline, who seems like a mild-mannered guy, punched a bat rack in 1967 and missed a lot of time - and the Tigers lost out on the last day of the season.
   8. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: September 06, 2008 at 09:54 AM (#2931000)
We hate it when our friend become successful/
And if it's Quentin that makes it even worse/
And if we can destroy him/
You bet your life we will destroy him/
And if we can hurt him/
Well we may as well!
   9. Walt Davis Posted: September 06, 2008 at 10:45 AM (#2931007)
trying to get him to open up a little bit, especially with the media.

Yes, Quentin's hurt because he wasn't friendly with the media ... I knew it!
   10. Eraser-X is emphatically dominating teh site!!! Posted: September 06, 2008 at 01:30 PM (#2931035)
Yes, Quentin's hurt because he wasn't friendly with the media ... I knew it!

Ouch, I hurt my hand punching Rick Morrissey's byline!

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