Dick Allen

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) I don't think this is entirely true. Find me examples of people in the media that actually think that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon. I think it improves their chances. I think that Maddon is great at handling young players and making the pieces fit. I think the Cubs have enough young talent to compete starting in 2016. If the Cubs win divisions and get into the playoffs on a consistent basis, they have as good of a chance as the other teams. They might win one soon. Joe Maddon would have something to do with it if so but no he wouldn't be the "sole reason" why it happened. Watch CSN Sports Talk Live. Watch the sports segments on the local stations. Even Gordon W. the Sun Times Cubs beat writer is hopping on the Maddon bandwagon. He was the one who kept saying the Cubs were toast. The Sun Times had him on the front page of their paper on Saturday when he opted out, before he ever came to the Cubs. If you read and/or watch and/or listen to Chicago media, you wouldn't think there is the slightest possibility Joe Maddon could have managed a team that lost 85 games in 2014. MLB manager is the most overrated head position in professional sports. Maddon's really good, but he's not the difference between winning 90+ and 75.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 12:46 PM) I don't think there's really much of an argument for Minnie, at least in terms of his onfield performance. Dick Allen, though, has a real shot. He's a classic borderline guy -- but if Jim Rice is in, Dick Allen should be a no brainer. There really is no reason why I am not in. I'll let caulfield introduce me. It will leave me about 30 seconds for my speech.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) Well if you think Robin Ventura is a better manager than Joe Maddon, I have some s*** to sell you. I never said he'd win the World Series. I just said it was an excellent hire. Little bit over the top here I think. The Joe Maddon walks on water is over the top and TV and radio in Chicago are all over it. McFail, Dusty,Lou, Rudy Jaramillo, Theo and now Maddon. The same crap after each hire. So far, nothing, and until they actually sign better players and their prospects actually prove they can play in the major leagues, it still will be nothing. Joe Maddon averaged 97 or 98 losses his first 2 years with Tampa. Listening to "experts" its hard to believe he couldn't take 25 random Soxtalk posters and not win 90 games. The players are what really matters. Jose Abreu was a far bigger signing than Joe Maddon, and even though it got a lot of play, especially for a White Sox move, it will be nothing compared to what is going to happen when this becomes official. Silly I say.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:21 AM) Except it's really NOT THAT EASY, especially when you're looking for a LF who can hit AND field and is not on the wrong side of 30 and declining. For example, LF and DH. Once you get past the headliners in Martinez/Ramirez/Sandoval, then you enter the abyss of guys like Markakis, Cabrera, Rasmus, Morse, Butler, Kendrys Morales, Lind, LaRoche, etc. It's a complete crapshoot....predicting what any of them will do. Who really has a clue how Flowers, or Gillapsie, or Avisail will do in 2015, or if Eaton can even stay healthy? If it was easy to find those offensive pieces, then the Mariners would have been in the playoffs last season. There's a very good chance that Viciedo has a better season than half the guys on that list...but does it for another team. It's pretty hopeless.

Ventura had a 4.76 ERA against the White Sox this season. Therefore, he must suck.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:55 AM) They would use it as an excuse to not buy tickets, that is for sure. "Well they haven't won multiple years in a row!" If the White Sox ever do put together a run of domination, the next excuse, whatever it will be, will be entertaining.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) Cain and Lincecum are definitely showing some wear and tear...but it's still a lot better than the Strasburg Strategy. Exactly. It sucks they are hurt, or have dropped but there is always a chance they would have been hurt or fallen off anyway. Take the titles and run.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:40 AM) And what happens if Bumgarner goes down to TJ surgery early next season? I guess most Giants fans will still probably agree it was worth it, as long as it's not a shoulder or labrum. Winning a World Series vs. trying to protect someone so maybe you can win one in the future.. That decision is pretty easy. If any Giants fan thinks it wasn't worth it, they probably really aren't Giants fans. Only White Sox fans would complain about overuse when that overuse led to a World Championship.

2014 Joe Maddon 77 wins--Baseball genius. Should make Cubs multiple World Series winners. Robin Ventura-73 wins--Biggest dope ever.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) And since Ventura just beat a juggernaut TWICE in the span of a week, and Quintana's better...then the White Sox should have the best pitching staff in the American League. Well................Don Cooper.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 08:50 AM) Probably the bullpen will regress simply because bullpens regress. They have had a solid bullpen for a few years. Some of the names have changed, but if they ever get to the point Frankie Francisco has to be given a shot, they will be in a lot of trouble.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 11:29 PM) It ain't that easy to replace 227 innings of 3.27 ERA starting pitching. Especially when you only won 89 games and your unhittable bullpen is due for natural baseball regression. Shields has been a better Buehrle since 2007, while his age is worrisome, he's not that easily replaceable This. The Royals were the Wild Card and they are most likely losing this performance. It is pretty laughable anyone really thinks making the WS propels them to perrenial greatness. It will be interesting to see if this postseason takes a toll on their bullpen next season. Of course, many here posted 2015 was over when the Tigers traded for David Price.

I sense a broken bat hit and extra innings

I would have yanked him now.

I wonder who the MVP is.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:11 PM) Madison is a big time pitcher, can't see the Royals doing any damage in the 9th. This is the team that got to Lester and then came back later in the game. It doesn't appear anyone would be able to hit this guy, but you never know.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:08 PM) I don't mind the Giants at all, but I really want the Royals to win. Come on KC! For a team on the verge of their 3rd title in 5 years, the Giants really don't get a lot of pub.

QUOTE (Baron @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:06 PM) Yep so would I...interesting decision though If there is a runner in after those 3, then I think you pull him.

QUOTE (Baron @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:04 PM) Madison or Casilla in the 9th? 2 out of 3 lefties. I would leave him in.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 05:13 PM) Nice. Way to take care of your guy Renteria. Hopefully, he was aware of and agreed to accept the possibility of this happening before signing on for the job in the first place. The Sox did the same thing with Leyland when Bevington was the manager. I know Bevington is Bevington, but still it is the same thing. Leyland went elsewhere. I also remember the press tracking down Hawk meeting with Billy Martin when LaRussa was still the manager and Hawk the GM. What I do not understand is how they think in today's world, they could have kept this from getting out.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 04:41 PM) If their young talent plays to their potential, Ned Yost or Ozzie Guillen could lead them to the postseason. The main thing the Maddon hire will do is create even more buzz for their future, which was pretty high heading into the offseason. I also expect them to spend a ton this offseason, as they are huge favorites to sign Lester. Hopefully the Dodgers continue to field an All-Star team, while the Pirates and Cardinals continue to put competitive teams out on the field. The arrow is definitely pointing up, but they will never ever live up to the hype even if they somehow managed to win it all once or twice.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 04:44 PM) Ha. Someone doesn't want to get charged with tampering... View 5 new Tweets Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan 3m3 minutes ago Cubs' source calls Maddon report "inaccurate." No word from Cubs or Maddon's agent. I think they don't want to compound their potential future troubles by having this news break 2 hours before game 7 of the World Series.

Why do people hate Gordon Beckham but like Rasmus?

Jimmy will come back when he feels 110%.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) He should read the Lucas Mann book about the Clinton LumberKings season about 3-4 years ago and the way Nick Franklin treated him as a "geeky" writer who didn't really know much about the game and how to approach a conversation about it. With the explosion of sabremetrics, there's just a ton of non-athletes who think they understand the sport but just can't speak the lingo and try to be clever/cool. Hosmer and Moustakas have had so much pressure on them since the time they were drafted, and they haven't lived up to that pressure for the most part, with a few exceptions (Hosmer's rookie season, a Gold Glove, Moustakas had one pretty good season and this year was abysmal). You're already going to be wary of "armchair QB's" who think they've figured you out from reading numbers on a data sheet but couldn't hit a BP fastball if you gave them 100 swings. Part of the mistake was not doing his homework and being able to tell the difference between Hosmer and Moustakas...and until he understood it or it was explained to him (the Greek joke), Hosmer probably had no clue what the writer was talking about and thought he was trying to be too cute/glib. Hosmer and Moustakas have been a LOT more media friendly this post-season, they've matured a lot and have become much more personable and better interviews. They will never rival White, Brett, Saberhagen....or even Alex Gordon, but Hosmer's really well-liked by kids. Moustakas is a bit touchier, harder to approach, he's been carrying around a lot of expectations since the time he was drafted, and he hasn't lived up to them (not unlike Gordon Beckham, not unlike Alex Gordon until he vacated George Brett's position). Every player reacts differently. But that kind of "fraternity brother" reaction happens in every clubhouse/locker room in America to writers who aren't exactly sure how to talk to professional athletes but find themselves with a media credential. Immaturity, whatever it was, there really is no reason to treat a guy like that, I thought describing it as bullying is very accurate, but he obviously comes in there with all these questions yet it appears he's never even watched any of them play. He didn't appear to know who anyone was. If you are going to get credentials to access these players, and are willing to study Fangraphs in an attempt to "understand" their playing ability, why not watch a few games? To me, that is just as inexcusable.