Dick Allen

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 12, 2015 -> 01:04 PM) No Butler, no Hinrich (not that it matters that much), I predict a 103-94 loss. No Love for Cleveland.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 12, 2015 -> 02:59 PM) There are so many layers though. There are a lot of kids affected by this, not just JRW. like the teams that got smoked by JRW on the way to the LLWS. Bottom line is these kids did not qualify to play on this team based on the boundary rules that they circumvented. They are not eligible to play on this team. That's what I think the defenders like Jesse, and Father Pflager and KW, and Rahm are missing. I do think these kids are victims. It's hard to imagine 12-13 year olds could carry this out on their own. The fact is, they couldn't. But there are far more victims, the kids you mentioned who didn't get parades, and recognition and $200k donated to their league. They seem to forget about that.

QUOTE (SexiAlexei @ Feb 12, 2015 -> 02:28 PM) So JRW's lawyer just had a press conference. Why can't the people who knowingly cheated step up to the plate and accept responsibility? Instead, they hire a lawyer to lawyer their way out of this... I assume the lawyer was also hired because they will be facing lawsuits against them, but that's not what I got out of that press conference. Think of the bright side, if you bought any yellow t-shirts, you just paid a little for this guy . It amazes me. NOT ONE PERSON involved with JRW is putting any blame on the coaches and the league. When I was that age, I was actually on a team that used a pitcher 1 too many innings and when we were to play for our town's championship, we were called into a meeting where our coach , in tears, told us he screwed up and we had to forfeit. It was a little heartbreaking, but we got over it fast. These kids got all the perks that went with winning. They just have to give their titles and trophy back. So what they got the experience. I wonder how they would feel if they played the thing legit and the Indiana team was cheating and took everything away from them. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be what they are doing now. The Little League Pledge: Pledge I trust in God I love my country And will respect its laws I will play fair And strive to win But win or lose I will always do my best

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 12, 2015 -> 10:21 AM) My view is this...the players accomplishments and what they did on the field happened and the players should feel proud about what they did. They weren't aware of the rules, etc, and the view to me is they played their guts out and earned what they did. However, the rules are the rules and everyone needs to play by the rules. The parents need to step up, take blame and responsibility, and show the kids how adults handle things, but nobody should be blaming these kids or taking anything away from their actual performances on the field. The wins were forfeited but in their eyes they know what they did and should feel proud of what they did on the field, imo, but should also learn a valuable lesson as to why you shouldn't cut corners and how you should handle yourself if you do. Instead it seem like too many are blaming everyone else instead of the parents and the league which was responsible for this mess and throwing out all kinds of excuses, etc, which makes the kids actually feel like they were robbed of something, which they weren't. I agree with this, that is why it is so deplorable the adults responsible for the cheating have run and hid. Horrible examples. Wouldn't be surprised if more stuff gets uncovered. Step up and show your faces coaches and league adminstrators. Tell everyone how you screwed up and not the kids, and tell all of the others who are claiming racism or something else, you did wrong and the punishment is justified.

Why doesn't one or all of the adults responsible step up to the plate, accept responsibility, take the heat off the kids, and show the kids what you do when you screw up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 12:42 PM) I'd probably agree with that but then add the caveat that LaRoche seems like a greater "falling off a cliff" risk, mostly due to injury/age. Considering Lind has a history of back trouble, I don't think LaRoche is a greater risk.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 02:11 PM) Did you hear the press conference? Both Father Pfleger and Jesse Jackson OPENLY ADMITTED to not knowing much about everything thats happening, but both claimed racism. They were both asked direct questions about the boundaries and they immediately started saying we need to clean these kids records because it looks like they are getting criminal records, and then they talked about the college money pipeline. That press conference pretty much closed the book on this issue. OMG.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 01:58 PM) Well, Jesse Jackson just made everything all better I wonder when some of these JRW families will start to even question the people responsible for the cheating. I would like some parent or community leader, say yeah, these adults were playing games and the team was stacked unfairly, perhaps costing other 12 year olds a shot at what our kids got anyway. But it seems like they are almost all saying, cheating? So what? Too late to do anything about it now. What a terrible example for the kids.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) http://www.houstonsportstalk.net/2014/03/1...hind-analytics/ http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/ast...64963d413b47#/0 One of these links SHOULD work. Building something like this is what I'm talking about...and it's interesting that Houston has become the epicenter of the debate, with the Astros, Rockets, Brady Aiken last year, NASA, haha. I guess it's also cool a Quad-Cities/Augustana graduate is so heavily-involved. Surely the White Sox could find a Sox fan from Northwestern, Univ of Illinois, Univ of Chicago, etc., to do something similar. As far as the White Sox go, in all the articles you read, the mentions you get about computer analysis are more in the area of contract negotiation/s, but it could be they're deliberately tight-lipped on orders of Hahn. Hahn did say they rely on recent trends rather than overall when getting ready for a series. The example he used was you don't use information for a 28 year old Paul Konerko to get him out at 37. So how they pitch guys, position their defense, is based on information compiled the previous couple of weeks vs. couple of months or even years.

Tark the Shark died today at 84.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 11:56 AM) It was earlier in the off season that the Sox did almost acquire Adam Lind, but was stated that the price was too high. Given what we know now, would you have traded for Adam Lind or sign Adam LaRoche to a 2 year/25 million deal? It doesn't look like it would have taken a top guy to get Lind, but one thing Hahn really like about LaRoche in addition to production, is make up, something Lind has had some problems with. At Soxfest, Hahn said when he was checking up on LaRoche, the comparables teammate-wise were Sean Casey, Mike Sweeney, and Jim Thome. With a team that probably could use a leader, (Sale could be one, Abreu not bad, but language issues still) LaRoche seems like a good choice to me.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 11:48 AM) http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12308938...ets-stats-idiot Later this can be merged with the "advanced stats" discussion or put elsewhere on the site...we should all be waiting for Hawk Harrelson to come out in support, or at least Ozzie Guillen. The thing is, though, until a team wins a championship with this "new" approach, and I don't mean the Red Sox...but a team like the Astros, Rays or A's, then you're not going to see the majority of coaching personnel buy into it. The battle is seemingly 50% won. I know from personal experience that the "old school" guys were disdainful of these statistical discussions twenty years ago. But they evolved. Jeff Bannister was as traditional as you get and yet he was heavily involved in the Pirates shifting their organizational philosophy throughout the organization to the advanced metrics/shifts approach, as well as pitchers pitching to infield contact and not being as concerned with elevating their K totals. Clint Hurdle, same type, very traditional guy who's evolved and adapted with the changing times. One can only hope Robin Ventura and Cooper can start to come on board even more in the next 2-3 seasons. There's not a whole lot of supporting/anecdotal evidence out there supporting the White Sox as being a team that relies more than 25% on technology in their decision-making. Final note: I know Greg's taken some flak for using the term "nerds" or "Sabes," but his viewpoint isn't very different at all from that being expressed here, it's the view of most athletes who came of age in the 70's and 80's, or earlier What would "coming on board" entail. The White Sox used more shifts than most last year. They bunt fewer times than most. Hasn't Cooper been one to preach lowering pitch counts by getting guys early in the count even though he isn't a pitch count guy?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 10:57 AM) I always just assumed that all of these teams were taking players from everywhere. Someone had to inform me that Little League/Travel are two different things. While it is justified to punish the JRW team for cheating, it is really hard to be up in arms over something that I would bet goes on all the time. I assumed that as well. They weren't hiding the fact some of these kids were attending suburban schools. The people behind it didn't just make an innocent mistake., I would figure no one is going to sleep better tonight because "justice" was served. The bad part IMO is the kids getting connected to this. They have nothing to be embarrassed about, but several adults do.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 09:38 AM) What about all the MLB donations, mostly from African-American players? Any claw backs? Or the money's already disappeared? If you bought the t-shirts, you're supporting Saudi Arabia and beheadings through the transitive theory of Kevin Bacon. I wonder how much of that money actually went to the Little League they claimed it was going to, and how much of it wound up in the pockets of those involved with this scam. The parents need to stop taking out their anger or humiliation on the Little League, and need to hold the proper people responsible. It's not the kids fault, I'll buy that, but it also isn't right cheating is rewarded especially for youngsters. The people behind this are creeps trying to get a little glory off of 12 year olds.

The kids still received all the experiences from winning. Maybe this will be a good lesson for them. I am assuming they are innocent, so I do feel bad for them. Will Dick's be taking refunds on the shirts they sold? Also sad is a parent hinting this decision was racially motivated.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Feb 11, 2015 -> 08:55 AM) Taking Castro over Ramirez at short equals taking Mark Grace over Frank Thomas. Castro can't carry Ramirez jockstrap defensively. The writer is obviously just another Cubs fan. The Cubs will move Castro off their team in a heartbeat if they get a decent offer. When the day comes when Castro is moved, I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved to another position. I think Castro may have some character issues. He seems to be around trouble a little too much, but as a player, I'd be pretty happy if the White Sox had the equivalent. If Tim Anderson turns out to be as good as him, we are all going to be happy.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Feb 10, 2015 -> 06:21 PM) For some reason I couldn't find the SoxFest thread, so I'll just make a new one for this. A comedian from Chicago hosted a panel with Avi, Flowers, Petricka, and Eaton and it was really quite funny. It's nice to get to know these players on a lighter note and more personally than just the technical questions that seem phoned in some times. http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/video/topic/...favorite-things I particularly loved when the host was making jokes about Jake's big screen TV, and all the jokes about Avi's translator. Good stuff. I was at that one. The guy told Eaton whose wife was also on the stage, how he didn't need her. Eaton looked confused, then the guy asked him what his nickname was.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 10, 2015 -> 04:20 PM) Schoenfield sure doesn't think highly of the Sox. Tampa higher than the Sox is quite puzzling to me. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...24-through-19-2 I always love articles that say the team is going to be bad, but on the other hand he wouldn't be surprised if they won 90 games. He will count himself correct in October no matter what happens.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 10, 2015 -> 04:08 PM) Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 7h7 hours ago James Shields wanted six years. Then it was five for $125M. He landed at four for $75M. Column on a botched strategy: http://yhoo.it/1IFoLKD It is what makes other sports that have caps free agent periods so quick and awesome. You have to sign before the cash isn't available anymore. The good news for Shields is while he didn't max out money wise, he still gets to play close to home and most likely signed a contract that will pay him some money he will never spend.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 10, 2015 -> 03:10 PM) Were Eddie & Jobo not available? Weren't those idiots supposed to come back to some station but Jobo didn't want the grind anymore? You would think he needs the money. He definitely needs to upgrade his rug.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 03:34 PM) This is exactly where there is an old Comiskey and a new one. Sean Gentille ‏@seangentille 3h3 hours ago Wrigley renovations cost $575 million. PNC was $216 million total. Crazy. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/sports/b...sports&_r=0 … View summary 0 replies 10 retweets 10 favorites I am guessing building a brand new Wrigley would cost pretty close to what they are paying to renovate. What seems to always happen is the building budget will be broken and costs will skyrocket. I wouldn't be surprised if this costs Ricketts a lot more than the current price estimate.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 10, 2015 -> 07:55 AM) Padres are going to be fun to watch next season. I think so as well. Either that, or they will be a total trainwreck.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 9, 2015 -> 03:04 PM) Truth. Testosterone. You're still drawing false equivalencies. What happens for one player means nothing in regard to another. What was your point with Colon? That he was "bad" before roids made him "good" again? How do you explain his performance after coming back from his suspension when he's no longer roiding? The T and stem cells helped him recover to the point where he could pitch up to his historical norms again. They didn't make him a better pitcher, they helped him recover so that he could pitch the way he had always been able to. You really think he is no longer cheating? And you keep contradicting yourself. How could something not make him pitch better, but help him recover, so he will what? Pitch better? I'm done, get the last word.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 9, 2015 -> 02:55 PM) He used stem cell therapy. Different. He didn't get suspended 50 games for stem cell therapy.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 9, 2015 -> 02:48 PM) 1) Bonds' knees fell apart. 2) You don't know that. Pure conjecture. 3) Because statistically that has never happened yet, as far as I'm aware. Bartolo Colon was pretty bad when he had a resurgence at age 39 and wound up on the same list as ARod.