Dick Allen

QUOTE (Boogua @ Dec 22, 2014 -> 08:19 AM) Yes, in this particular crappy offense the difference in QB isn't a big deal. Bad QB game managers do fine under Trestman although they still lose games (like losses by the great Josh McCown to powerhouse teams St. Louis and Minnesota last year). In a standard offense the difference between Cutler and players like McCown or Clausen would be huge (look how McCown is doing in Tampa). The crappiness yesterday was the drops. Who knows if the Lions defensive intensity didn't take a hit facing a back up QB that has hardly played in 4 years, but if the receivers actually caught the ball yesterday, there would have been a lot more points on the board, and talk radio would have really had a field day. Kyle Long would have been nice to have in the line up as well.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 21, 2014 -> 04:25 PM) Clausen QB rating vs Detroit: 77.0 Cutler QB rating vs Detroit : 76.7 Under 20 points both times He didn't have Marshall and the rest of the receivers had a hard time catching the ball. Clausen isn't the answer, but it does show how far Cutler has fallen.

QUOTE (shipps @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) What is maddening about Emery is that he is sooooo obsessed with finding the diamond in the rough that he doesn't have any interest in making the logical and obvious moves...ever. He did it with the coach and most of his draft picks. I think you have to be able to make the predictable move at times because its the most beneficial for the team. I am pretty sure you still get credit for those moves that pan out to. I agree with this. Sometimes guys try to think too far out of the box when the answers are in the box. I don't know if he wants to look smarter or what, but at this point, he's made enough bad decisions to where most teams wouldn't want him making decisions anymore.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) That's a robbery for Padres. Could we have traded Brantly for Middlebrooks? Hannigan is better than Brantly.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) And yet they'll have the 10th most cap space next year and can get out of Jays contract for just a 3 mill cap hit the following year. Yes, but the holes are enormous.

QUOTE (shipps @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 04:33 PM) In a way I can see this but in the Bears situation they are going to be hurt by the Cutler money for the next couple years no matter what happens. If Emery is the guy in charge still making decisions I have zero faith that he will have the homerun type drafts that this team will so desperately need in order to even compete in the near future. If Emery is fired that's a hell of a lot of pressure for the next guy (who will be brought in by Ted Phillips I might add ) to hit on nearly every draft pick and none of which will be a QB to set this team up in the future. There arent any Andrew Luck quality QB coming out of college next year. Yes. I read the cash value of Cutler's contract is $3 million more than the contracts of Rodgers, Newton, Luck, Sanchez and Wilson combined. In a salary cap league, that's a bit of a problem.

Matt Davidson shouldn't even come into the conversation at this point. He needs to go back to AAA and show he can actually hit and catch a ball.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 11:43 AM) I just want to say THANK YOU to Jerry for that. If his kids can pull together the money to buy it from him, great, but I hate when sports fans are held hostage by the 2nd and 3rd generation kids whose entire identity is the team and if they fail there is no way out. His son is running the Bulls, and really would love to run the Sox. Whether that happens or not, who knows. I do think Michael Reinsdorf would be far more competent than the McCaskeys.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 12:05 PM) Could be, but what makes you sure? Some players defense, certainly including 3B's, improve over their first few years in the majors. Conor has plenty of arm for the position and his glove work is passable. The footwork, which has resulting in throwing problems, is a pretty good candidate for being fixable. His arm as always been an issue and as Wimpy would say in a Lawrence Welk voice, "he has a funky motion". When that happens, you will have periods where you are "off" as we have seen. It plagued him in the minor leagues. I am sure Robin has worked with him, so we will see. I just hope he can get to average.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) Cutler deserves a ton of blame this year but I'm kind of expecting him to light it up with some other team next season. Just seems like something that would happen to the Bears. I think 2013 was pretty much peak performance. Where is he going to have those types of weapons?

I am all for giving talents a lot of chances see me and Beckham, Gordon. That said, this is so toxic it is time Emery, Trestman, every coach, and Cutler hit the road. Start anew. It's pretty apparent Cutty isn't going to lead you to the promised land, and 2015 is already screaming the new offense etc. excuse for a performance that will at times be brilliant, and at times look like he should be a back up in Junior College. Although this is a clown show, it is starting to get pretty entertaining.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) Every time Jeff Samarjdza, David Robertson, Adam LaRoche, and the rest of our new acquisitions come up on my screen - I can't seem to reflect back ten years. I've said it before and I'll say it again now... this off season feels like 2004. Let's take a deeper look and see what the landscape looked like. 2004 Offseason: December 9, 2004: Jermaine Dye was signed as a free agent December 9, 2004: Dustin Hermanson was signed as a free agent December 13, 2004: Carlos Lee was traded by the White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaíno. December 17, 2004: Bobby Jenks was claimed off waivers January 3, 2005: Orlando Hernández was signed as a free agent January 6, 2005: A. J. Pierzynski was signed as a free agent January 27, 2005: Tadahito Iguchi was signed as a free agent That's 8 new players moving from 04 => 05. 2014 Offseason: November 18, 2014: Zach Duke was signed as a free agent November 20, 2014: Onelki Garcia was claimed off waivers November 25, 2014: Adam LaRoche was signed as a free agent November 28, 2014: Tony Campana was signed as a free agent December 8, 2014: Rob Brantly was claimed off waivers December 9, 2014: Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa were traded to the White Sox by the Oakland Athletics for infielder Marcus Semien, righty Chris Bassitt, Josh Phegley and Rangel Ravelo December 10, 2014: David Robertson was signed as a free agent December 11, 2014: Dan Jennings was traded to the White Sox by the Miami Marlins for Andre Rienzo. December 14, 2014: Melky Cabrera was signed as a free agent December 16, 2014: Brad Penny was signed as a free agent That's 11 new players moving from 14 => 15 I think it's likely that 7 or 8 of those players stick. About to land on an airplane - so you guys can beat this topic up... and I'll circle back another time when I've got nothing to do again. Landing on an airplane has to hurt. I hope you are OK.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 11:45 AM) Bucket is a pretty good source of information so unless he comes on here and tells us that there was even the slightest negotiation with Boston over Sale, I'm not buying it. LOL

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 11:02 AM) Welcome to SoxTalk! I agree on the exaggeration, and that Gillaspie has been pretty bad over there. But want to add two things... 1. Since his major issues, in my view, are with footwork... I think there is a decent chance he can improve. 2. I'd like to suggest a player already in the system - Tyler Saladino. He has played all the infield positions and is good enough arm and glove-wise to play them all competently, he's a RHB who tore up LHP last year in Charlotte, he's cheap and versatile. He's also got a little speed, and he's a guy Ventura said he really liked a couple years ago. Assuming he's healthy for ST, which supposedly he will be, he's a decent option to be Gillaspie's foil vs LHP and a general utility guy. Conor's throwing will always be an issue.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Dec 17, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) If we're emptying the farm, I'd do it for Longoria over Myers. I really doubt Longoria is available. Myers is.

If the Sox are going to burn prospects in a trade, why not make a bid for Myers? He is a stud controlled for 5 more seasons. It's a core piece you could only hope guys like Anderson and for that matter A. Garcia turn out to be.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 06:48 PM) I love you measure context by citing linear weights. Not all outs are created equal, which is you're completely ignoring. An out right in front of Jose Abreu is much more costly than an out by #7 hitter all else being equal. But hey, all outs = -.299 runs. Regardless, Leury Garcia posted a .067 OBP in the leadoff spot last year. Alexei's career average in the leadoff spot is .339. So in just those 30 at-bats, Alexei could have reached base 8 more times. I'm not going to argue the significance of that, but that's a better estimate of the opportunity cost than the one you provided. You can't put the worst hitter in baseball in a high pressure spot and expect the same exact outcome. My main point all along was that Robin makes numerous decisions that go against all available information. I cited a specific example that I find particularly mind-boggling and you basically said it's ok because "it doesn't matter". I'm not even sure why I'm wasting my time arguing this. Whether you think that particular decision was material or not, there's no denying it was a stupid decision. Managers should be evaluated by their decision-making process and somehow Robin Ventura thought the worst hitter in baseball was the best alternative for the leadoff spot on multiple occasions. 4 games. He started as a leadoff hitter 4 times. Joe the genius Maddon had Desmond Jennings leading off most of the year. .301 OBP as a leadoff man.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) ‏@dan_bernstein Source: #Bears ownership met last night. Trestman likely fired at season's end, Emery's fate still undecided. Bernstein's insiders are simply awesome. Why can't he just admit he has none?

Is it SOP to carry around a bottle of Aquafina if you are working in MLB?

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) I don't live in Chicago(Columbus, Ohio actually), but usually go to a game at USCF at least once a year and have a question. Why haven't the Sox, or the city of Chicago been able to renovate the area around the stadium to make it more desirable? Cleveland's stadium(s) were in bad neighborhoods but they've made the areas nice with restaurants and bars to frequent before and after the games. They did the same here in Columbus when they built their new AAA park. I'm sure it happens all over the place. How come it hasn't happened for the Sox? Because the people that live in the neighborhood don't want that. They don't want Wrigleyville. Can't say I blame them. I don't know if anyone read about Goose Island Wrigleyville closing. Apparently their lease ended and the owner of the property wanted them to go month to month. They wouldn't do it because these bars only make money during baseball season, and if the landlord wanted to end the least in March or April, they would lose their shirt. There is a ton of turnover around there.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 01:00 PM) "Jay Cutler is an elite Quarterback" His hands are the dirtiest of them all and for him to be acting as if he's disappointed is quite laughable. He had the final say in all decisions, from Trestman's hiring to Cuttys contract, Emery should be the first one gone. He based in on winning percentage. I think currently, Rex Grossman has a better career winning percentage, and a Super Bowl appearance. He must be HOF material. You are right, they have to clean house. If it takes 2 more weeks of being totally embarrassed, fine. It needs to be done. Move Phillips to the business side, hire a Polian or someone of his ilk, and let him start off clean with Emery and the coaches, every one of them taking a walk.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 12:24 PM) Depth Depth is people you could actually use. I don't think there is anyone with the White Sox counting on this guy to be anything than spring training meat or a Charlotte Knight. It's no harm unless they somehow convince themselves he can actually help them win real games.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 11:54 AM) I wonder if Penny has a place in Charlotte? He probably lives near Phoenix and just needs something to do in March.

He was good in 2007. Which is nice.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 15, 2014 -> 05:09 PM) It's always fun when these threads get brought up to see what kind of crazy jersey's everyone has. My Damaso one is pretty awesome. Gregory Infante game worn $20 at a season ticket holder party. Career ERA...0.00. Thread.