Dick Allen

Useless trivia, but Wimpy has a brother who has a career 1.000 MLB batting average. 3 for 3 with 2 walks and 4 runs scored.

Steve Stone the first named mentioned in Bobby Cox's speech.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 27, 2014 -> 09:48 AM) The bigger the numbers he put up, the more Thomas was consumed by being recognized as the best hitter in the game. He often was seen poring over stat sheets in the clubhouse and at his locker, and he always seemed to know his exact numbers. Thomas doesn't deny that but wonders why it became such an issue with the media. "Yeah, I did, but that was part of the game," Thomas said. "I did that because I wanted to be great, man. I wanted to know what other guys were doing, the guys who were in that elite level. "I wanted to challenge them every day, and I knew if I played at that level, we were going to win a lot of ballgames. And if I didn't play at that level, we were going to lose a lot of ballgames. So I took it upon myself to do that. It wasn't that I was selfish. It was about wanting to be great." But other hitters passed Thomas' numbers, leading him to feel overlooked and underpaid. He signed a seven-year deal at the end of the 1997 season that was worth $85 million if the two option years were picked up, but it also included a "diminished-ability" clause that allowed the Sox to terminate the contract if he failed to be an All-Star starter or finish in the top 10 in the MVP voting from 1999 to 2001. Thomas staged a brief walkout in the spring of 2000 to protest the contract and still feels like he was underpaid. "That was b.s.," he said. "But that's OK. I've prospered. Take the high road, keep that smile on my face and be happy. That's what I've done. Treat people like we're equal because that's part of me. I came from a small, humble place, and I continue to be that person. Whatever has happened to me has been unimaginable for where I'm from." There are no regrets for Thomas, who said he's happy as a TV analyst for Fox and Comcast SportsNet and working for Genworth, a long-term-care planning company. He always spoke his mind, a trait he got from his dad, who will be there in spirit. "I'm going to miss my dad at the Hall of Fame (induction)," he said. "That's one part of the speech I have to get past. I'm worried about getting choked up on that part because I know what he'd be like Sunday." Guess it wouldn't be the Trib/Sullivan if he didn't go negative on a Sox player. Thank God Sosa or Grace never got in, and they can only "half-claim" Maddux. Palmeiro making it would have been hilarious as well, but... http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-07...s-steroid-users Another article on how he's not going to go negative or attack the PED's users in his HOF induction speech. Paul Sullivan is a White Sox fan. He was at Disco Demolition as a kid, and I have seen him at Sox games a few times when he had time off as a Cubs beat writer.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 27, 2014 -> 12:49 PM) I'm talkin Wild Card here. Certainly seems next to impossible but hell a month ago Tampa was 10.5 games back with 10 teams ahead of them, now they're 3.5 back with 5. And except for TB, the Sox still play every team ahead of them. If they get on a roll, they can pass teams pretty quickly. The odds are long.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 27, 2014 -> 08:52 AM) Yea and if they moved Alexei, "we traded an all -star when only 3 games out of the playoffs." Hahn may not care, but those who must approve his trades will. Unless you know what exactly is offered for Alexei, you cannot specifically say he needs go be traded. And I don't see the urgency trading Alexei. Who is going to play short next year, or should we be happy when they lose then also?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jul 27, 2014 -> 06:53 AM) I wanted Sale to win, but I wouldn't cry if Scott Carroll got shelled today and the offence had a good effort that fell just short. I don't want Hahn to even hesitate thinking about the fan reaction when faced with decent offers for Danks et al, and being at or near .500 might give him pause for thought. If the White Sox had an offer they would consider appropriate for Danks, they would trade him. Hahn doesn't make moves based on fan reaction. To think otherwise is really saying he probably has no clue about his job. He is far more in tune with his team than you or me.

Thiggy is doing a helluva job as the pitching coach.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 07:54 PM) It does create a bit of a dilemma about dumping DeAza or Viciedo to free up at-bats for Garcia. Don't think they will contemplate that kind of move while within 5 games of the WC. If they have a good shot, Rodon may be a call up depending on where he is at. H should be pretty strong near the end of August.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 07:49 PM) Does anyone realistically expect this to continue when we're NOT playing a Twins' team without Mauer and Willingham/Dozier struggling a bit? Still can't imagine Rick Hahn make a desperation move to address the bullpen unless it's someone...not, still can't believe he would pull the trigger on a Papelbon. He isn't trading anyone of good value unless he gets someone of value. He isn't trading for Papelbon.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 07:44 PM) I'll take it. They're either actually helping or quite the coincidence. Obviously he will struggle again, but maybe putting them on did some work psych-wise for him.

Who knew all Flowers needed was a pair of glasses to become a HOFer?

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 07:25 PM) I hope you are wrong. I know we are playing like one of the best teams in baseball right now, but it would still be nice to add a player or two before the deadline. Robin's incompetence has put us in a hole we have to dig out of, but the talent on this team is capable of winning a World Series if Robin lets the right players decide the outcome of games. Yep, this is a World Series team except for the manager. Will you be at Zanie's anytime soon?

QUOTE (Brian26 @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 06:41 PM) The third structure was going to be on the 37th Street side? I'm trying to picture where that would be. By the school? I am not sure. I knew it was the other side. I would imagine like on the 3rd base side, the ramp would have been knocked down(I have read the shelf life on those ramps isn't very long) and it would be in there just like the bar on the other side.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 26, 2014 -> 02:09 PM) I think Avi can be a 25 HR guy consistently given how big and strong he is. Once he starts getting into more hitters counts and starts looking to drive the ball more he will really blossom . He has a very strong hit tool. He needs to learn how to hit the ball in the air.

The effect of the steroid era: Back when Soxtalk went through the home runs are a bad thing phase, Jim Thome used to get skewered on this board, yet his first 2 seasons with the White Sox finished with a higher OPS than Abreu currently sports, and Abreu has been pretty awesome.

Reinsdorf's heirs acquire his control. There was a big Tribune story about it last year. JR wants them to sell when he is gone. I know for a fact that Michael Reinsdorf would love to run the White Sox. I do have an inside source for this. It is a fact I posted in 2005 about blueprints for 3 structures in the parking lots. JR was balking. Michael wanted them built. 2 have been built. The bar and grill and the store. There were plans for a bar on the other side of the park as well.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 09:53 PM) ...Or Wimpy is just a fun guy... Wimpy seems like he would be hard not to like.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 09:43 PM) So Wimpy has subbed for Stone earlier and now he's subbed for Hawk. Both times the announcers were having fun, joking around. Evidence is coming out thru their performances that indeed Hawk and Stoney probably do hate each other. I'm thinking it's Hawk's fault. I'm thinking his ego is bigger than Stoney's. Ever heard of pitching with a big lead? Geez. The Danks hate is annoying to me. I like his style. I like his stuff. I am a John Danks fan! If you ever run into Stone or Hawk and say hello, your current thought about their egos will turn 180 degrees. Hawk is very nice. He is the type of guy who says hi to you even though he doesn't know you walking down the sidewalk. Apparently when people ask Stone for an autograph, he still thinks people are trying to make huge money on it. I'm not surprised.

How come they don't serve good burgers at ballparks?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 01:12 PM) Right but what are the chances that they all continue to choke? For us to get in, an entire series of very specific events must occur, all of them individually plausible but not particularly likely: Sox go on winning streak Team 1 collapses Team 2 collapses Team 3 collapses Team 4 collapses Team 5 collapses Team 6 collapses If even one of those things doesn't happen, we're not in. Even if you give each one 50/50 odds, the chance that all occur is 1.5%. That's super rough math, of course, but I use it just to illustrate how important the number of teams ahead are. Each team ahead of us essentially halves our chances another time over. The actual projections you can find online take ROS season projections into account to be more accurate, and paint us around 3% or so, also accounting for the nonzero chance we'll win the division. They don't have to collapse is what I'm saying. If the Sox had one of those 25-5 streaks in them they had in 2010, they probably are in. The 2010 team was like this team except for that streak. They were 6 under without that streak. The problem is, the Sox don't have a roster where you can anticipate a real hot run even for 12-15 games, and really don't have pieces that are worth trading for an upgrade that probably still doesn't get them there. I don't think leapfrogging 6 or 8 teams if there is a 5 game difference right now, that big of a deal. The problem is, at least so far on the field and on paper, the Sox roster is probably worse than the teams it would have to jump over, and upgrading the bullpen is going to be tough, unless they are willing to do something that is probably stupid.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 12:54 PM) The play-in game might as well be 50/50. Jumping 6-8 teams to get there? Nope. Not with this bullpen, but only 4 teams in baseball have done better than 6-4 their last 10 games. If you go on a streak, you can leapfrog several teams quickly. I don't think the Sox have the horses for a big streak, but maybe beating the crap out of the Twins 4 times can start something.

QUOTE (TRU @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) IIRC, the law he broke was a pretty serious law in New York. I dont remember hearing about him having any previous issues. Some concealed weapon zero tolerance thing. Spending time in jail because you shot yourself is pretty hysterical.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 25, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) Stephen A Smith comments on how women need to do more to avoid provoking men into violence. His words. (used word "provocation" repeatedly). It amazes me that a college educated person would go on television and actually say that.

No prior history shouldn't come into play with some offenses. Wife beating is one. I guess it works that way in multiple sports. Chuck Knoblauch had to beat up 2 wives before the Twins pulled the plug on his Twins HOF ceremony. Beating one was OK.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 24, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) I doubt anyone would know about it if you were just Kyle and not a professional athlete. No, but if you wind up on the front page or on the news with video of you dragging your beat until put to sleep wife across a hall by her hair, your employment status has a good chance of changing.