Dick Allen

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.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 02:06 PM) Jesse Crain experiencing a little more than normal soreness. Light catch today. Will try catch again in next few days. Takes OD off table. https://twitter.com/CSNHayes/status/578989755553075200 Opening Day was never on the table. If it is the middle of March and the best you have done in 20 months is throw in a simulated game or BP, there is no way you are going to be ready for opening day.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 12:50 PM) Yep he is. A good chunk of his WAR comes from his outstanding defense at 1B. I don't think KB will be a plus defender anywhere, but time will tell. His OPS was over .900. The only players higher were Victor, Abreu, McCutchen,Stanton,Trout and Joey Bats. The Cubs are going to have a really good offense. It's whether they get the pitching is the question IMO.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 12:30 PM) Yep, he should be outstanding, but the tiny sample size and not-truly-competitive ST numbers aren't really a part of it for me. I don't think he'll be at 3B for too long, and he's not Schmidt defensively, even if he unexpectedly sticks. Could be every bit of him offensively, or even Jimmy Foxx-good. But maybe not. The hype machine says yes, but the hype machine always says yes. And, ya know, just few years ago, Anthony Rizzo was actually better than Bryant in a similar Iowa stint. They're completely different players, and Rizzo is very good. But, probably not great. Anthony Rizzo is pretty good. Put up a 5.6 WAR last year as a 24 year old.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) sometimes things happen, that is why there is word called upsets. There is but if you are removing Thibs, it can't be because of his regular season record. And if it is about playing time, this year he has been stuck with minutes limits for a lot of players, so they can't get him for killing the players. The only thing they can use as a reason is lack of playoff success. Moving on from him and hiring a guy whose 3 seed team lost to a 14 seed in the round of 64, and using that excuse, would be sort of insane. Of course I am assuming Hoiberg would be the coach, and there are those that probably know more than me that think he wouldn't leave Ames. But if a lack of postseason success is the reason they use to move on from Thibs, since GarPax has pretty much been denying any rift even though the entire world knows, they are going to have to hire someone with a track record of postseason success to at least look a little truthful at the press conference. For once, I hope Cowley is right. Losing Thibs over pettiness and/or ego would be a huge mistake.