Dick Allen

QUOTE (LDF @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 01:35 PM) while i respect yours and caulifield opnions, i have to say 1 major point. Semien really didn't get a fair look, even when given spot time. the main player at that position was Beckham and for some ungodly reasoning that he will still have a chance to put it together. this he did in a matter of 1 month and then failed. i am confident in saying the sox FO still did not want to give up on Beckham until they needed to trade him and open the door to his position. now what i wrote, i do not know if i helped anyone, probably just dug a deeper hole for myself. i can live with that. Once again, the facts say you are wrong. Beckham started the year on the DL, and Semien played all but 6 games in the 2 months before he was sent down. He was recalled in September when Sanchez was playing 2B, and Beckham was in California. Here's the thread when he was optioned on June 1, no one was saying he didn't have a fair shot, even Caulfield. He just figured he could blame Robin and Beckham now and gets some mileage out of it. http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92227

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 12:57 PM) And that was enough time in a rebuilding year to make a completely negative assessment on a player and give up on him? I still think you need to give a player 3 months, if not 4. It's one of the many reasons guys like Rowand, Crede, Borchard, Fields, Anderson, etc., have had trouble breaking into the line-up and staying there (lack of patience/we have to win now mentality...major league results >>> development). I'm almost 100% sure that Chris Getz (who's arguably much less capable and lower upside) was given a lot more playing time his rookie season than Marcus Semien. Where is it stated the White Sox had a negative assessment of Marcus Semien? They traded him for a guy they want to give over $100 million. Quit making things up. He was on the major league roster about 3 months and played regularly those 3 months. He was struggling striking out and fielding so they sent him down. It pretty much happens with every team. Even your Royals. Chris Getz did play more games than Marcus Semien his rookie year. He also hit better, got on base more often, stole more bases, fielded his position better, fanned less, and his OPS was only .003 lower. He also was a year older. But you did state Semien did not get 2 or 3 months of consistent playing time , now spinning other names and BS to get away from your lie. Then you used the Ventura and Beckham buzzwords so people would hop on your bandwagon. Nice try. Your claim was totally and completely innaccurate. Wouldn't you at least have to admit it would be hard for Robin to give him consistent playing time when Marcus is in Charlotte? He played him pretty regularly when he was on the roster. But you just can't admit it.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 12:30 PM) Anyone know where the 21 game schedule is? I cant seem to find it anymore. We have tickets for this week, right? I'm pretty sure you have tickets to every home game except May 23rd.

QUOTE (Butter Parque @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 12:19 PM) Good that its Guerra and not Putnam. Putnam pitched well last year and has rebounded in his last 2 outings. He deserves more time. Guerra doesn't deserve the same. I think Guerra is legitimately injured. Maybe it was a hoax to get Rodon up after his start in Charlotte and after his service time wasn't an issue, as he would have been unavailable against Detroit anyway. It is funny how injuries got Bryant and Rodon up just after their deadline. But I think if he wasn't hurt they would have had him pitch an inning or so in one of the blowouts.

The bullpen should be pretty stacked now, probably better than it's been since the White Sox won it all. Now if the starters can step up, and the offense can get it going, this team should be cooking with gas.

Is J4L involved: http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/438/...e/p2p-83340807/

Drabek is 27, doesn't throw hard and has zero control. If another team wants him, I doubt it costs the White Sox a pennant.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 10:47 AM) Typically the team sends out the guys they just used to that they have fresh guys in the pen. Drabek seems to be #1 since he pitched 4 innings over the last two days. Albers and Putnam seem to the next guys. I'm thinking there is a reason he hasn't pitched in a week, and has tallied less than 2 innings this season. I don't think Albers and Putnam aren't fresh. Each has appeared in 1 game since April 15th.

Javy Guerra hasn't pitched in a week. I'm guessing he is the one going on the DL.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Is Petricka actually coming up today? Someone posted he was flying to Chicago yesterday, so I take that as a yes, unless it was to see a doctor.

Robin said a couple of days ago, Rodon wouldn't be called up unless there was a need. I am thinking with Danks and Noesi starting, you probably can't expect long outings, and the need is another lefty, since Jennings isn't really a LOOGY and Duke seems to have the 8th inning, vs. Cleveland and KC.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 09:39 AM) Is Putnam injured or are you guessing a "phantom" DL stint? Putnam has had issues with his shoulder before. In fact he didn't pitch the final month of last season. I have no idea how they will get to the 25 man limit but Drabek outrighted and a DL stint by someone seems most likely.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 09:32 AM) I'll guess Drabek DFA (the easy one), and Putnam DL. Seems reasonable. Pretty much any reliever could go on the DL. I just hope there are no 80 game suspensions.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 08:11 AM) Or, for another argument, let's look at what the White Sox/Ventura did with Marcus Semien last year. Sort of the same thing we're arguing about between Johnson and Sanchez right now...which is a demotion or sitting him on the bench for significant periods of time. In the end, Marcus really didn't have that 2-3 month extended look he really deserved, and should have received, in what turned out (and was expected/predicted to be) another long rebuilding season. A lot of those AB's ended up going to Beckham, which got us where exactly? Bonifacio would have been the perfect final addition to a team that was already in playoff contention, but he's actually one sort of "semi-big" contract that serves as an added obstacle for players like Sanchez, Saladino and even Leury Garcia. And I'm starting to get the same feeling about Gordon Beckham as well. Ultimately, we're not the Oakland A's and haven't mastered the art of platooning players effectively or optimizing their results. There's no guarantee that Marcus Semien will end up as a long-term answer for the A's at SS, but he certainly wasn't provided a full opportunity in Chicago after he struggled and was overwhelmed early with the high K totals and just making enough contact in general. I know Robin bashing is a way to get popular on this board, but why don't you at least look at the facts. Semien started 33 of the first 35 games last season, and played 58 out of 64, when Rick Hahn sent him back to Charlotte, and recalled in September. And before you go into the ...but Beckham, or the ...but Ventura crap again, or mention Ubaldo Jimenez, just look it up, you are wrong.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 06:21 AM) Of course, he is not going to hit .400. However, he is hitting as well as anyone in the organization, and doing it in the 2 hole. Right now, the Sox are not getting many base runners, in front of Abreu and the rest of the middle of the order. Just what would they be losing, by demoting Johnson? What has he done to block Sanchez? So if you swapped out Johnson for Sanchez and 10 games from now, Micah is hitting .400 in AAA and Sanchez .200 with the White Sox, do you swap them again? The Sox made their decision and have to give Micah a legitimate shot. I did wonder about this before the season started as it is not unusual for a rookie to struggle, and the team is trying to win, but you have to give him at least 25 to 30 games. You swap him out after 11, your minor leaguers are going to notice and think they have to make an immediate impact when they get called up or they will get sent back down. It's hard enough as a rookie, but even harder when you think you have to have all star numbers right away.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 04:50 AM) What kind of pitcher he was last year is irrelevant, or the year before, for that matter. He has lost around 5 mph on his fastball. I'm convinced that he is not throwing strikes, because he knows that his 89 mph fastball is going to get hit hard, if he throws it in the zone. I will be shocked if he replaces Noesi in the rotation. Noesi is still throwing as well as he did last year, or better. Quintana is the guy that they are worried about, because he is the one guy who has mysteriously lost his stuff. Quintana'a problems seem to have begun, at the latest, with his last start in Spring Training. In that game on April 2ND, he went just 2 innings, gave up 8 hits and 6 earned runs. His next start was 6 days later vs the Royals. He gave up 5 earned runs, on 9 hits, in just 5 innings. Then on April 14TH against the Indians, he pitched well enough to get the win; 6 innings, just 3 hits and only 1 unearned run. The problem is that his velocity was not there. And then yesterday, we all saw what the Tiger hitters could see. He had no velocity, and they were sitting on his breaking ball, which he threw a lot, probably out of necessity. He hsn't lost 5 MPH off his fastball, and he was coming off a good start in Cleveland. 2 bad starts and the alarm bells go off.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 20, 2015 -> 04:55 AM) The reason to make the change is based more on the way Sanchez is performing, than it is on Johnson's slow start. I'm especially intrigued by the idea of having Carlos hit second, which is a much more valuable spot in the lineup, than 9TH. They are certainly not going to move Melky down for Carlos Sanchez. While Sanchez is raking, keep in mind players generally don't hit .400. He is due to make some outs.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 07:58 PM) There are two types of Whit Sox posters on this site. Those who live in the Chicago area and those who live thoughout the world. I have been a fan since the late 50's while always following from a distance. I was totally confused and bulls*** over the MLB Comcast feed I saw last Friday here in Florida. While watching the Hawk/Stone feed of a great pitching duel, I was stunned to see the feed switch to the Cubs game to see Bryant's at bats during his ML debut. Is Chicago baseball in that bad a state??? I was thrilled to see him strike out but doing this was bussh league. If between innings they showed updates, fine. Will they be interrupting Bulls or Blackhawk games to cut away to see Bryant or Rodon live next week??? I assume Hahn called Rodon up based on a plan and not in response to the Bryant BS on display Friday. I will admit I have no clue how Comcast fits in to Sox/Cubs TV rights. That was an MLB Network deal. The White Sox Comcast telecast didn't go to Bryant's ABs.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 07:52 PM) What qualifies Levine to make the assertion that Ventura isn't responsible at all? Hasn't he (Bruce) been watching the same team/organization repeat the same exact pattern of mistakes since September of 2012? Why would any sane baseball observer expect it to change? What's Balta's trademarked quote again? Explain he Dodgers in 2013. Mattingly needed to be fired. The watch was on. Then they got ridiculously hot. If they made the change a week before the streak, everyone would have concluded that would never have happened with Mattingly. I see now you are trying to become Balta's yes man, but Balta's theories don't make any sense. Balta thinks if you orepare the exact same way in sorimg trainiing, the results should be exactly the same. Any sane baseball observer would know that is not true. This team has some talent. The last 2 did not. The defense is going to be shaky at best no matter who is making out the line up card. The offense, as Levine pointed out, has to get going. You don't win many games scoring 1 run.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 06:50 PM) And that statistic about starting the season off 0-4 is relevant exactly how to the 2015 White Sox at 4-7 with two teams at 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 games ahead of them??? What was Detroit's record last year after 12 games? I'm pretty sure it wasn't anywhere close to 10-2. What's the point? That they will still make the playoffs at 15-30 like the Houston Astros did in 2005? I'll make you a bet. The White Sox will not make the playoffs this season with Robin Ventura as the manager. If you they do, I will never post at SoxTalk again. If you lose (again), you can never mention Don Cooper's name while he's still employed as pitching coach for this organization. Deal? They White Sox have made they playoffs 7 or 8 times iin 100 years. It would be silly of me to take that bet. But here is a bet. You started a thread which stated the White Sox had a 2.54 % chance to make the playoffs. That is a little more than 39:1. I will give you a deal and bet you $100 and all you have to give me is 20:1 Take that one,. Speaking of Cooper, how do you explain his zero trips to the mound today?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 06:53 PM) Is he a scientist that can just isolate "run production" and say that it's 82.6% of the reason for the slow start? C'mon! Use some common sense that it's simply the local media protecting a "favorite son" and that's about it. LOL. You make up percentages all the time. Robin isn't a quote maxhine. The media doesn't need to protect him.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 06:45 PM) White Sox lack of run production not Ventura cause for slow start . Take away 12 run game they have averaged 2.6 runs per . (3,45 overall ) Honestly, I think he should replace Haber as Asst. GM if Levine can diagnose what's wrong with the team/organization so easily and remedy the situation. How in the world could anyone rip someone for saying run production is a problem.? I know you want to keep the rip Robin bandwagon rolling, but use some common sense.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 06:24 PM) No, I love teams that play baseball the right way, with energy/excitement and enthusiasm...imposing their will with speed, solid fundamentals and great defense. Basically, the opposite of the White Sox since 2008/10/12. Remember how the Twins were the small market "underdogs" (they were even rumored to be leaving the Twin Cities in 2001)...well, the Royals simply inherited that role vis a vis the White Sox and Tigers. Of course, I have a LITTLE bias deep down because I lived in Kansas City from 1996-2007...and watched many a White Sox team absolutely throttle the Royals, even felt sorry for their fans (like the time Ascencio threw 16 consecutive balls to walk in a run). I will always root for the White Sox first, but the Royals 2nd (when not playing the Sox), as well as the Dodgers, Cardinals and Rangers now (because I know their manager). Heck, it's going to be a VERY long baseball season if the only thing to keep me interested in the season is Carlos Rodon after a mere two weeks. We all have our rooting interests. You love to support Ventura/Beckham/Danks against the world and pick on Don Cooper. Fine. Enojoy yourself. Have at it. Remember, I predicted Beckham would hit under .240 last season and over .270 this year and I'll have been right both times. Not that anyone will care about Gordon by the end of this year, anyway. You are not going to believe this but look it up. The White Sox, the team you said had aboit a 1 in 300 chance of making the playoffs with 159 left on the schedule,, as bad as they have played, have exactly the same record through 11 games as your beloved Royals in 2014.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 06:10 PM) A rookie lefty in the bullpen is not going to "Stable the ship" He actually could make a pretty big immediate impact as a lot of Cleveland and KC hitters are left handed.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2015 -> 05:45 PM) Because Kazmir threw at Cain early in the game and nothing happened to him or Melvin. I'd love to see this type of spirit and enthusiasm on the White Sox. The home crowd basically won that game for the Royals...you just had the feeling there was no way they weren't going to at least come back and tie it. Escobar is their brother. Ventura and Herrera have his back. Simple. All the Hispanic players on that team are bonded together, with Sal Perez as the father/mentor/advisor despite his young age, the AL equivalent of Yadier Molina. The Royals are simply showing they're not going to be pushed around by anyone in baseball anymore (plus, nobody except his teammates can stand Lawrie). LaRussa did the same thing for years and years and people called him a master tactician/hardass. So be it. You should change your name to Kap. You are the David Kaplan of Soxtalk, only he loves the Cubs and you love the Royals.