2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
TechnographSosa goes 2-for-3; Rangers fall to Sox
By The Associated Press
Posted: 3/14/07 Section: Baseball
SURPRISE, Ariz. - Sammy Sosa feels like a rookie again after sitting out last season.
Sosa went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Texas Rangers in a 12-8 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
"I haven't taken a year off in 17 years since I started playing," said Sosa, who batted .221 with 14 homers in 102 games for Baltimore in 2005. "I feel hungry again."
In nine spring training games, Sosa is hitting .464 (13-for-28) with two doubles, a triple, two homers and six RBIs.
"Don't tell me this is spring training," Sosa said. "I came here to prove. I came here to play, and I've been playing good. Spring training or not, it doesn't matter to me. I could be playing in Mexico and it would be the same thing."
Sosa, the 1998 NL MVP, is 12 homers shy of becoming the fifth player in major league history to hit 600.
"I never surprise myself. I'm a good player. I may surprise other people, but I never surprise myself. I know I was out for a year, but give me some credit. You're talking to me like I've never hit before," he said. "I'm a positive thinker. I never think negative. If I show up for spring training it's for a reason - because I know I can make it. I'm not here for the money. I've got money. I'm not here because I'm struggling. I'm a gamer."
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Sosa's work ethic and the time he's spent with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo left little doubt in his mind about the former slugger's chance for success.
"I said from the beginning that I thought he was going to do what he's doing," Washington said. "He's got too much knowledge and Rudy has too much knowledge for him not to do what he's doing. When you find a guy like him with the work ethic he has, you trust him until he proves you wrong. And he hasn't proven me wrong yet."
Sosa went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Texas Rangers in a 12-8 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
"I haven't taken a year off in 17 years since I started playing," said Sosa, who batted .221 with 14 homers in 102 games for Baltimore in 2005. "I feel hungry again."
In nine spring training games, Sosa is hitting .464 (13-for-28) with two doubles, a triple, two homers and six RBIs.
"Don't tell me this is spring training," Sosa said. "I came here to prove. I came here to play, and I've been playing good. Spring training or not, it doesn't matter to me. I could be playing in Mexico and it would be the same thing."
Sosa, the 1998 NL MVP, is 12 homers shy of becoming the fifth player in major league history to hit 600.
"I never surprise myself. I'm a good player. I may surprise other people, but I never surprise myself. I know I was out for a year, but give me some credit. You're talking to me like I've never hit before," he said. "I'm a positive thinker. I never think negative. If I show up for spring training it's for a reason - because I know I can make it. I'm not here for the money. I've got money. I'm not here because I'm struggling. I'm a gamer."
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Sosa's work ethic and the time he's spent with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo left little doubt in his mind about the former slugger's chance for success.
"I said from the beginning that I thought he was going to do what he's doing," Washington said. "He's got too much knowledge and Rudy has too much knowledge for him not to do what he's doing. When you find a guy like him with the work ethic he has, you trust him until he proves you wrong. And he hasn't proven me wrong yet."
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.
Be the first to comment on this story