Dick Allen

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 10:35 AM) Sports scores are the ultimate spoilers. People just don't watch games that are on the dvr. Advertisers want people to watch their commercials. And live sports means there is a better chance to get viewer that can't or won't "touch that dial" That is a great point. People don't in general DVR games, at least to watch them the first time.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 22, 2015 -> 10:38 PM) It's been an accurate representation of the entire season. Awful offenses, bad refs and a lack of star players. You would think with shot clocks and a relatively favorable 3 point line, 65 points wouldn't be that much to score in a game. Now it seems if a team gets 80 they have been on fire. I have a theory that the 3 point line has hurt fast breaks. Offenses already have 2 or 3 guys back on defense.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 10:08 AM) First, Cleto might get claimed but honestly the guy can't maintain control for more than a couple appearances anyway. So put him through waivers. Then there's Brantly who has options left, so I think he can come off without waivers. Kottaras probably has an out. One of the two will be out of the org. Then there's Leury Garcia, who I think they'll trade or release soon. I think they want to keep both Smith and Nieto around, and I bet Nieto goes to AA, though technically right now he's in AAA. Jones to 60-day opens a slot too. Finally, I think Surkamp likely gets next to nothing in trade, but that's OK. I don't see him as being a particularly good lefty reliever anyway, and as a starter he'd be behind a good 4 or 5 guys in Charlotte. Leury has options left, why would they release him?

QUOTE (shysocks @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Because of a mechanical change. Guys don't triple their K-rates at age 31 for literally no reason. If you've already read this column and are still pushing this argument, then I've got nothing. I don't think it is that simple or sustainable. If it was, he would have struck someone out this spring I would think. You are paying him for 2015, 2016, and 2017, not 2014. I think Hahn got ahead of himself on this one.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 09:41 AM) Surkamp's all right, I think I like him more than most. He can do some things. And he's really no more of a question mark than Dan Jennings. I'd be hesitant to move him before some other guys on the 40. As for Duke, I'm not too interested in going down that rabbit hole with you, but here's my attempt to explain. You often cite his poor second half - I'm assuming as a reason not to believe in the effects of the well-documented changes he made to his throwing mechanics - but I'd encourage you to take a closer look at the peripherals, because a poor ERA does not mean he pitched poorly. He still only allowed a .655 OPS after the break, for example. Out of the 477 guys who pitched at least 20 innings - I picked that cutoff because that's Duke's second half - that would be 167th. I think you'd agree that doesn't mesh with a 4.79 ERA, which would be 381st. Other than his walk rate, nothing changed in the second half, and when you combine it with an elite first half you still get a pitcher worth $5 million. He's a lefty who dominantly handled both sides of the plate, struck guys out, and got ground balls. That is literally everything you want out of a reliever. The drawback is that he hasn't developed a long track record of success. It's a slight gamble but it's not some mystifying deal. You can argue with the validity of trusting in one season but these are the reasons they signed him. The guy tripled his k-rate. I don't put much in spring training stats, especially pitchers who have no chance of not making the team, but his next strikeout will be his first. I think there is little chance he ever has stats that match his 2014, which is the basis of what they are paying him.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 09:09 AM) That's fine but Guerra and Albers won't both make the team. Unless they send Webb down. They can only keep so many relievers. I think Webb is going to Charlotte. I think he'll be back when he shows he can go a couple of outings without walking people and throwing wild pitches.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 09:02 AM) I disagree about Saladino and Smith. I think Smith and Brantly will be the catchers at Charlotte. Saladino will be the starting SS at Charlotte with Leury as the Utility guy down there. Didn't Nieto get sent to Charlotte? I do agree, I think Brantly goes to AAA with the loser of the Kottaras/Soto competion with another organization or with Jake from State Farm.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 09:00 AM) If they have to add 4 guys, my guess would be that it's Jones to 60 day DL, Surkamp traded. I would imagine that Cleto will be one of the subtractions as well. If Albers does indeed make the team, I would assume that Guerra wouldn't then. He's out of options, correct? He would need to be DFA creating the other spot. Stone said on the broadcast Saturday that Cooper "loved" Guerra. It would be shocking to see him let go for nothing.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 22, 2015 -> 09:39 PM) Tangentially related -- the Rockies just released Jhoulys Chacin because they didn't want to pay him $5m. I wouldn't mind if the White Sox picked him up for less. Nothing like guys with bad shoulders.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 22, 2015 -> 09:20 PM) I try not to talk about Mr. Beckham very much here. If I do so, it's about David or Victoria and their brood. Yet you mention the baseball player with that name as much as anyone. You need to try a little harder.

Call me crazy, but I'd rather have Surkamp at what he's making than Zach Duke with his contract. I still don't understand that contract.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 22, 2015 -> 03:30 PM) Jhoulys Chacin just got dumped by the Rockies. Add him to the list. Did he pitch against us last year at Coors, the series Abreu just went off with the power display? Mark Trumbo might be traded by the Dbacks to free up OF space for Tomas (if they don't send him to the minors). All or nothing hitter, put up HUGE numbers in 2013 for the Angels. What, if anything, would you give up for him....and it wouldn't be a starting position, back-up 1B/DH. Has he ever played 3B recently? That would seem to be a disaster waiting to happen, though. You aren't going to mention every piece of crap available are you?

Studies have shown that the big trade deadline acquistion rarely pays off. I just hope there isn't White Sox pitching available.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 03:03 PM) Gutierrez was more the main idea....defensively He did't play last year, and got hurt on March 7th and hasn't returned.

Alford's son is pretty good.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) All you have to do is look at the Jacoby Ellsbury and Hunter PEnce deals to understand why. Granted he doesn't have as much power, but at the same time, contracts are only going up from here. By the time Eaton were to hit FA in 2018, $20 million a year probably won't be out of line for a guy of his skill set. We are getting his entire contract of 7 years for $43 milion, including two free agent years covered for under $20 million if exercised. $1.5 million if not. That"s the thing. They get 5 years minimun of Eaton for what one season costs for Jon Lester. And you get 2 club options, and 6 or 7 years from now $10 million a year is going to be less than what it is now. There is a bit of a gamble here for the White Sox, but they hardly are way out there.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 09:33 AM) What if they don't think they can win a title with Thibodeau as head coach? If that's the case, then they will get rid of him. Regardless of what we think, management thinks that he is one of the reasons why guys are always injured. I like Thibs but I've never understood why he's some deity that can't be criticized. The man has never won anything but it's looked at as blasphemy if he's ever criticized. To criticize him for something that is not his fault is silly. Rose and Noah had upper management imposed minutes restrictions. They still miss a ton of games. Gibson's ankles are not Thibs fault. Butler injuries have had nothing to do with excessive minutes. The Bulls have a roster full of injury prone guys. They could be totally healthy going into the playoffs, but that wouldn't last more than a game or two. Tthey get hurt more often than Chicago Bears.

Brady Aiken isn't hurt. He just has a small ligament.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 03:53 PM) How come you make so much sense in some posts but so little in others????? I always make sense. Jose Abreu will effect games more than Micah Johnson even if Micah turns into the player Hawk thinks he is. Of course, I am assuming health.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 03:48 PM) But what he's getting at is speed is always there vs waiting for a home runs. Look at Kansas City. They didn't have as much home runs but they used their speed through the playoffs. I understand that, but the KC model wouldn't be as en vogue if Lester hadn't blown a 4 run lead in the 8th inning of the WC game. If Abreu hits 40 homers this year, I don't think anyone will mind his SB totals aren't stellar. He effects the game more than any other White Sox offensively.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 03:45 PM) Just noticed that cubs are having Travis wood hit but sox ate using dh It's the handicap for Maddon vs. Ventura.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 03:35 PM) From what I've seen Micah hangs in there pretty well against LHP. Seems to have an opposite field approach. God, Hawk ranting already, just said a fast runner changes the game more than a HR. And Micah gets picked off, lol. I love Hawk, but don't understand that one. Seems to me, no matter how fast you are, the best youre going to do vs. a HR is a tie..

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 03:02 PM) As much as I rag on him, it feels good to hear Hawk's voice right now. Yes. Today will be the first time I have heard someone say "equidistant" since September.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 02:53 PM) Did This guy watch Schmidt play? Bryant doesn't appear to handle 3rd base nearly as well. I think he meant with the bat. IIRC, Schmidt was a bit of a butcher when he first came up. I am not saying Bryant will turn into a wizard defensively, most likely not, but 3B does seem like one position where many of the great ones were really bad in the minors or when they first came up.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 02:13 PM) Yes. Realistically, it's June at the very earliest probably closer to july. They still need to throw painfree, throw in a game then progress to back to back painfree games. Still not really sure what the injury was but someone reported it was biceps. The typical surgeries involving the biceps would be a labral tear or a bicep subluxation. both can be very tricky for a pitcher. It was some sort of biceps surgery.