Dick Allen

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 07:11 PM) Technically no, he did his time for the steroid usage, but he didn't do any time for the lying. Ryan Braun lied and got extra time. Cabrera lied and got no extra time. So "he did his time" also seems weak. LOL. Braun lied, got off, ruined an innocent person's reputation, and made MLB look foolish when his name re-appeared on a list. That is worth the extra 15 games.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 07:05 PM) I could see Hawkins being a center piece, actually. I'm talking with an Astros writer right now and he's said they are looking at SS, 3B, OF, and SP. Possibly a Hawkins and mid level pitcher package for Castro gets it done? Not many OF prospects will have much of a chance within the next 3 seasons with the recent signings. The Sox brought in 2 lefty relievers. I bet Surkhamp could be a throw in. He was pretty good eventually in the bullpen, and the Astros still can use the help there.

I wonder if Flowers would be the back up. It would need to be a RH hitter. Castro can't hit lefties.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 07:04 PM) And that's your idea of an excuse? He was told to go along with a coverup and did so while lying to people and everything should be forgotten because he didn't know better than to lie to investigators? You're not helping me become more comfortable with this. Whatever. He did his time. These are uneducated guys in a foreign country. They tend to listen to their representation during moments their source of income is threatened.. I really don't care if you are comfortable with it or not, but I think you do know you have been fine with people who have done the same thing this guy did, the only difference was they were smart enough not to get caught.

.651 OPS with over 150 strikeouts. I hope whatever they give up, it isn't much.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 06:57 PM) But he also willingly went along with the scheme, not only funding it but citing it while lying to investigators. Do you really think that was his idea? These guys do what they are told.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 06:37 PM) The whole "Spending $10k to create a fake supplement website so that he could say he bought them from the supplement website and it was a tainted supplement from that website and he was innocent because website" cover up is pretty rotten on top of it and that didn't get any extra punishment as far as I can tell. He didn't create it. His agent had someone do it. I believe said agent has been decertified.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 04:40 PM) Just like in those Mormon commercials. "Americans for a better life." "I touched the ball last coach. It's their ball." Exactly. If it was golf, he would have.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) When I say drop off, I am referring to Balta's concern. He should be a better option right out of the gate, but for how long? Is risking him wearing down, down the stretch a good option? If he is capable of 165-175 innings, that should be more than fine. There were a total of 34 pitchers who threw 200 innings in 2014 .

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 04:03 PM) That wasn't Dye intentionally cheating. That was the umpire being wrong. different scenarios The umpire was wrong, but JD sold it. If he didn't want to cheat, he could have just told the umpire the truth.

QUOTE (lvjeremylv @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) Framing pitches is cheating? LOL Trying to get a ball called a strike by how you catch a ball? I would say it is technically cheating.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) Something that has been on my mind (and I assume more than just mine), is how much of a drop off, if any does going from Danks to Rodon, if we can unload Danks? I know Danks is expensive but it's also worth thinking about next year, too. He's due even more money next year and could really end up blocking Rodon, mainly because I doubt this team goes with 4 lefties in the rotation. IF Hahn can trade Danks and get a prospect or two for him, while offsetting the cost of what Melky costs (after trading Viciedo, which accounts for around $4M), would you do it and "risk" Rodon as the 5th starter this year? Rodon is a future potential ace. He has been compared to David Price in the past. He probabky needs a little seasoning , also that will help the Sox gain an extra season of control with him. It remains to be seen what kind of innings total he could safely put up in 2015, and most rookies have their troubled moments. I doubt it will be 2015, but there is a chance Rodon is a better pitcher than anyone not named Sale on the White Sox staff in the near future. As for Danks, I don't think he will get traded. I think Viciedo is a goner.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:40 PM) I was complaining about tendering Viciedo a contract a couple of days ago but with the ability to cut him and only take on 750k or whatever, there was really no point in not tendering him a contract. It would really be surprising if it went that far. I am pretty sure they knew they could trade him. $4 million isn't all that much, and despite what a lot want to think, this guy is still pretty young and has a lot of power.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) How would the Sox get that high of a comp pick for him? There are 2 rounds of competitve balance picks. After the first round and after round 2. So depending who they traded with, they either in essence will replace the 2nd rounder they gave up for Robertson or the 3rd rounder the gave up for Melky. I still think there is a chance someone will give up a player for Viciedo's potential, but a pick wouldn't be bad. If you get one after the second round, you basically traded Viciedo for Melky and move up in the draft maybe 10 picks or so , while adding about $10 million to your 2015 payroll.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) Maybe I'm being ignorant here but why tender Viciedo if they no intent on keeping him. Now there is talk about settling for a comp pick? Just seems dumb to me, I suppose. I would have rather had Ichiro vs another year of Viciedo. A comp pick is far better than nothing. IIRC, that pick will be before the pick the Sox gave up for Robertson.

White Sox #2 hitters had a .279 OBP in 2014. Abreu still drove in 100.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) Chuck Garfien ‏@ChuckGarfien 10m10 minutes ago Hawk Harrelson with some bold predictions. And says #WhiteSox aren't done making moves. http://bit.ly/1yR3lVi ” Hawk hinting at a couple more moves? Interesting lol. I'm thinking Castro. Hawk does not need Viagra at the moment.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) I won'ot go that far. If Jetty Sandusky was a pitching coach for the White Sox and all that went into protecting him at Penn St similarly had happened in the Sox hypothetical I would have a lot of trouble supporting the team until everyone involved (ownership on down) was gone. Brett Myers acquisition really chapped my ass. I used to try to rationalize the busted vs the not busted by thinking the guys not busted may be clean. But it is pretty obvious there were plenty using not caught, so really what is the difference between thm and a guy who did his time? If Melky gets caught again, the Sox won't have to pay him for that time.

Right before Paulie hit his WS grand slam, Jermaine Dye was HBP. The problem was, the ball hit his bat ,not him. He took first base. Later, he was named MVP of the WS. Was anyone here sickened when this cheater was applauded through the streets of Chicago? But to each his own. Everyone has a reason to like or dislike a player. As Rock said, cheer for the name on the front. As long as wife beaters ,child molestors etc. aren't on the team, it's pretty easy to separate the two.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) So if they release him and another team signs him, what is the salary? The negotiated deal or some portion of the 4.4 million? The portion. Arb contracts don't become fully guaranteed until a week or two before the regular season begins.

I used to be an anti steroids guy myself and would have a hard time cheering for a known cheater. But I realized many of the people I did root for cheated in the same way but just didn't get caught. The sport has embraced cheating since the beginning. We don't call out a guy who traps a ball but makes it look like he caught it and getting the call (before replay) as a cheater. It's a smart play. Isn't pitch framing basically cheating?

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 09:35 AM) He's not talking about TOR he's talking about OAK including him with Samardjiza. Trade was happening at about same time. Yes, and it still may not have been possible. Beane may think the Toronto guys are awesome and the package I am proposing is awful. In any event, the team is much better now than it was the day the season ended.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) He was traded to Toronto, wasn't he? Yes, but not for all that much. Lawrie is a nice player, but Donaldson currently is a star, if I were the GM, he is one guy I would give Anderson + for. Anderson, Gillaspie and whatever for an offensive and defensive huge upgrade. And he is controlled for a while.

Cervelli would have been a good target, and I wonder if What it would have taken to expand the Oakland trade to include Donaldson. This team would have really been stacked.

QUOTE (sammy esposito @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 08:48 AM) Don't forget that we will have Jennings and hopefully a fully healed Nate Jones who was gone most of last year. Maybe we'll have even more action to come. Jones will be a while. Another reliever, and work on the bench. Who knows, maybe Hahn will get Castro to catch. BTW, Leuri is hitting .338 in the Dominican League.