Dick Allen

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.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) They got in at an awful time with the collapse in real estate and the economy, plus the Cubs falling apart on the field. If the actual worth of the franchise has doubled since they bought, they probably got in at a great time, although now I am reading they are looking at $300 million for 20% of the franchise. This will help them finance the rehab, and the rehab will help them pay down their debt. They still aren't at paying players.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 08:11 AM) Very much related. http://www.hardballtimes.com/learning-the-...-the-clubhouse/ They were immature jerks without a doubt. The writer also was incredibly unprepared. You memorize their groundball rates, their walk rates, at least study who the heck they are. I still have never heard or read an interview with a player where they are discussing these types of things. It would be interesting to see how many players think much about it. There have been stories that front office guys have said sabermetrics have really changed how some players operate, it would be interesting to read.

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 07:00 AM) I've never handled firearms, but wouldn't you clean it empty? It's Jose Canseco. I believe that tells you all you need to know.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 03:30 AM) Bill James is THE BEST. He'll eat the Sabes people alive cause he is THE expert on real Sabes. I've met him and love the guy. He will not tolerate stupidity and recognizes ability. I like that he says even most of the crap he came up with is BS. Everything is. There is no formula. As much as people want to laugh and rip at Hawk for his anti-SABER stuff and his will to win, they should also laugh at Brian Kenney who works for MLB Network and still can't tell you if a player is any good even if he has seen him play 1000 times without consulting Fangraphs. As is the case when there are 2 sides to a story, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

Jake sucked. It didn't matter because the Giants never scored.

Speaking of douches,Jose Canseco bleww the middle finger of his left hand off today cleaning a gun.