Dick Allen

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 12:36 PM) He only had one stop where he was anything other than bad offensively and that was fueled by BABIP. He's also on pace for nearly 200 PA this year. That's not barely playing. Saladino is the better option next year once he's back and it's not even close. He has had 112 PA in 109 games. That is barely 1 a game and a 166 plate appearance pace for a 162 game season. That's barely playing. Tossing Saladino? Really?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 12:05 PM) They very well might struggle, but there's that and there's producing what Leury has at the plate. Anyway, it sounds like that with both our arguments he's better off in the minors. You think he's in a situation where it's really difficult for him to improve, I think he's a liability at the major league level and for any slight chance of him making it should be in the minors, so don't we think the same thing? And Saladino should be back in around mid-April. Regular ABs would help him. To judge him based on what he's done and point out no improvement is just not fair. He was a decent offensive little player in AA and AAA, and the scouting report said he could develop into a wizard defensively. It's hard to place judgement on young players in the major leagues. It's harder to judge them if they barely play.

The Sox have lost 6 games when leading in the 9th inning. They have won 3 games when trailing in the 9th. Make that a .500 record, and they are contending for a playoff birth.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) The Sox are 7 games behind the Tigers and 6.5 behind the Blue Jays. They also have more teams to jump in the Wild Card, so that 6.5 game deficit may as well be 10 games. No, I don't think for a second that they'd be in the Wild Card hunt. Just because there have been some failures doesn't mean that the bullpen wouldn't have failed even if it was "better." It may have just failed in other games. Bullpens are fickle and when you play close games like that, you are going to lose some of them. Frankly, I think a better bullpen gets 2 more wins. Better production out of LF, RF, and 2B would be much more likely to contribute to the team being contenders in either race. By definition, if the bullpen is better, there are fewer failures.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 11:57 AM) You don't think with a better pen the Sox compete for the WC? He didn't say contending for a title, or even the central, just the WC. Definitely they could have been at least 2 or 3 games better. That's being conservative. That puts them right in the hunt. And leapfrogs a couple of teams. It is amazing the White Sox are near .500 even though: their catcher sucks, their #3, #4, and #5 starters suck, their bullpen sucks, their 2B sucks, their SS needs to be traded, their DH sucks, their back up DH is a mascot, their bench sucks, their LF sucks, their RF sucks, and they are managed by perhaps the worst manager in the history of baseball.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 11:49 AM) He has had over 220 PA and literally hit like a pitcher. He's not progressing, he's been even worse than last year. He's 23 and a half now. He didn't hit in the minors. Why does he get the job, over say, Tyler Saladino? He is 3 days older than Trace Thompson. He is younger than Marcus Semien. He is a few days older than Matt Davidson. Put those guys in Leury's position and ask yourself how they would be progressing offensively. It's hard to improve when you don't play or play very little. As to Saladino, he's 2 years older than Leury, and just had Tommy John.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) Shocked at the amount of people happy to put Leury Garcia back on the bench. What would he have to hit before the fact he can play a few positions and pinch-run is outweighed? The guy is a kid who hardly plays. He hasn't hit, but what metric says you are what you are at his age and experience? There are tools there to be used off the bench. He can play several positions. he has a great arm and can really run. I am sorry, you cannot possibly know a baseball player and what his future holds simply by reading his fangraphs page.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 10:00 AM) Is this recent or is this dating back to last season or something? Or is this over the "recruiting" nonsense? Or is this related to him participating in the team USA stuff? Cowley said the Bulls FO was really upset about Rose not going to dinner with Anthony when they were recruiting him. It supposedly goes back to his torn ACL. Cowley also mentioned Reggie Rose (who by all accounts is a real ass, and a supposed BJ Armstrong/ John Paxson rift. JR says there is no problem. Rose said he has heard there was a problem but has never witnessed one. I'm guessing there may have been issues, but it's not nearly as bad as Joe made it out to be.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 09:55 AM) That's not going to happen for another 2-3 weeks, not while the White Sox are within 5-6 games of the WC. Where are you planning to play Carlos Sanchez, in Alexei's position? You can't have Semien and Carlos playing at the same time, unless you stick Semien in LF/RF, which probably isn't the time for on-the-job outfield training...granted, Viciedo's been a disaster, but it's not the best idea to have on-the-job outfield training in the middle of a pennant race. Same thing with Saladino...the White Sox are stuck with 4-5 "gamers" in Leury, Sanchez, Saladino and Semien and MAYBE Semien becomes an everyday player and the other the utility guy. But the betting money's still on Micah Johnson over Semien at 2B, at least at this exact moment in time. Miguel Cabrera played exactly 3 games as a professional in the OF when he was called up to the Marlins and played the OF in a pennant race. I know, not everyone is Miguel Cabrera, but defensively, most major leaguers are. "On the job training" is something every rookie is going through whether playing a position they have played since being 6 years old or playing something they just picked up a week ago.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 09:37 AM) What was Cowley lying about? What are Rose's quotes in reference to? I must be ignorant. About a rift between the Rose "camp" and the Bulls front office.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 09:06 AM) Bradley and Craig are both well down into the 600's for OPS, although Bradley makes up for quite a bit of that with his stellar defense. I guess it also depends if you prefer Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Bradley, Vazquez/Swihart, Middlebrooks, Rubby, Workman, Ranaudo, etc. They definitely have more pitching depth at the AA/AAA level. Cespedes>LF Eaton would have to have the advantage over Bradley, but not by a huge amount Craig and Garcia is a wash right now, who knows Gillaspie and Bogaerts/Middlebrooks...well, do you really think Conor's worth more if they were both put on the trade market today? Ramirez has the advantage over Marrero Pedroia vs anyone, not even close Abreu over Napoli Ortiz over Dunn/Konerko/??? Red Sox catching over White Sox Red Sox have 4 White Sox have 4 Garcia/Craig a wash I wonder how close they were to trading Uehara, and what offers were on the table, if he actually was made available in the last week or so....? The White Sox are better at the most important position, especially now. You can be better at C,1B,2B,SS,3B,LF,CF,RF and DH, if you pitcher isn't as good, you could be in trouble.

So JR came out with a statement stating Joe Cowley Guillen-Rose is spreading lies again.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 08:50 AM) Bill Veeck had the fans manage for a game. They were given signs and were allowed to vote for options. Brooks Boyer used to try to get together a Patio Party for the White Sox message board groups. Core of the core or something he called it. He should have a promotion and let Soxtalk manage a game. It's a guaranteed win.

I think the Sox were given a tremendous advantage being put in the AL Central. They have advantages other teams do not. Hopefully, they can build a team like Cleveland did when they were in the playoffs all the time, or Minnesota did when they were constantly contending, or be in the position of Detroit where getting guys like Price is almost expected. So, I'm not surprised they did nothing. Their inventory of players to trade isn't all that appealing. It wasn't like they were going to pick up some hot prospect or a quality major leaguer. I am dissappointed, because I wish they were in a position to make their team look unbeatable and have other teams' message boards have posts conceding not only this season but future seasons as well. Hopefully, that will come soon. The free agent market doesn't look too spectacular this coming offseason. Hahn is going to have to pick the right cheapies.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 08:39 AM) Hot/cold streaks aren't predictive at all. You need the coaching staff to evaluate whether or not a guy needs work or has nothing left to learn. When guys are hot at the plate, there is a far better chance they will have some success when they get called up than guys who are presently struggling. This, because hitting is not just physical, can lead to an increase in confidence which can traslate to success. Guys struggle at first and have big careers. Guys start out on fire and fizzle. I get that. But I would rather have a guy seeing the ball really well at the time of his promotion. BTW, if Marcus Semien has nothing left to learn, he is going to be a HOFer.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 1, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) That also shows how limited a sample size 10 games is, and on top of it, he's been hitting for power too. You didn't mention that he's got a .486 slugging percentage thanks to two doubles, a triple, and two homers. And in July, he's hitting .290/.384/.570/.954. He's hitting the ball really well right now. If you have to wait for a 10 game sample of when a guy is hitting well as opposed to just calling guys up when they're ready, you may miss it. I don't think the Sox will do it, but I'd really like them to get Semien every day playing time right now. Frankly, I'm wondering if the Sox aren't keeping him in AAA to retain trade value. If 10 games is really limited, why fret about keeping him in Charlotte 27 more games? You never know, Beckham may get hot and someone may give up at least something for him. And again, you made my point. He WAS hot. He really isn't right now. Call him up when he's on a roll.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 11:08 PM) My thing is this: if this is in fact a rebuilding year, which, for all intents and purposes, it is, then you want guys who will be contributing in the future working towards that right now. Gordon Beckham is not. Marcus Semien is (or Carlos Sanchez or Micah Johnson. I personally like Semien, but I'm not in the front office nor do I have the scouting capabilities to know how well any of them will do in the majors). My qualm is that the Sox believe there is still something there with Beckham - it's hard for me to say that the talent isn't there, but we havent seen it. And then, how is 2 months going to change 4 and a half years of ineptitude? Why not just move on and see if we have something in the next guy? I personally think Semien is that next guy, but given the way the organization has handled Semien, they obviously feel he can be [hopefully] an ultra sub, where he plays every day but maybe in a different position. I don't know. I'm drunk and like my Semien and don't like Beckham and don't see much incentive in keeping him around, and I'm not alone, but I don't make decisions. In his last 10 games in a league Jordan Danks rakes, he's hitting under .220 with an OBP under .320. Why call him up when he's going bad? Wait until he's on a bit of a role. It's sort of a pet peeve of mine. A couple of years ago, the Sox needed a bat and Viciedo was on fire in Charlotte. They eventually called him up when he was struggling. Facing better pitchers usually doesn't turn that around. Call him up when he's hot, maybe he stays on a roll and gains some confidence. If he doesn't get hot, call him up in September. Marcus Semien staying in Charlotte the next 27 games isn't going to hurt his development. People complain the Sox rush prospects, yet anyone that looks decent in Charlotte needs to replace someone in Chicago all the time. Semien was already rushed.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 09:52 PM) The number you gave earlier was essentially 10 games. Don't backtrack and minimize now. It isn't 10 but I bet it is significant. People were using losing Jones and Lindstrom as a crutch, how about Reed? Using his ERA is silly, but if it needs to be done, what is the Sox team ERA in closing situations? I don't understand the logic when people want to say Reed sucks but can't just admit if that is true the guy the got for him sucks more.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 06:00 PM) Do you think something is going to dramatically change with Gordon in a month? Most likely nothing dramatic, but a bounce back to me is probable, and what is the rush to call up Semien when his results are a mixed bag. IMO, there really is no reason to call up Semien unless he is on a roll or rosters expand.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 05:44 PM) I dont blame Hahn for any of this since it takes another team to take players. To no surprise teams didnt feel like giving up anything for the players we had available. There really isnt a reason to keep Gordon though. Just release him and let him find a new home. If Semien were tearing up AAA, I would agree even though I am a Beckham fan. He's not, and he showed earlier despite some huge hits, he needed more seasoning. If something comes along in the next month where you can get something for Beckham, fine. If not, wait until rosters expand and get him some time. Things change in 30 days sometimes.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) This team is so weird. It seems like whenever I'm watching or paying attention, they are putting together a nice run or a win streak and they're in every game, yet they're 3 games below .500. Again, it's weird, but this team feels like it should be 5-7 games over .500 right now instead. They can't go on a run. I think their longest winning streak is 4.

Remember when Joba was good? That was awesome

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) Same question goes for why should the fans bother. Then don't. Regardless of what is written on this board, if the Sox gave away Beckham, Dunn, Danks, Viciedo and De Aza today, it doesn't make them a better team. Besides, the minor leaguers you want to see, could all use some more time in the minor leagues.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 03:04 PM) It is the same s*** every year 100 threads about Sox trading at deadline and very seldom do they even make a trade. They usually do something. It's just their inventory of players to trade aren't game or team changers and there really is no urgency to trade them without exposing them to waivers. Who knows , these guys might play a little better and make themselves more attractive to teams in a week or 2. But right now, salary relief is probably the best you could expect, so why should the Sox bother?

If Jack Z. got Austin Jackson for Nick Franklin, I think he crafted himself a pretty nice deal.