Dick Allen

Meanwhile, White Sox still lead.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 08:48 PM) You at least let him give up a run...the guy on second was there because of a ground ball, then he retires the next two guys...he's just clueless. That isn't what you said when they left him in the game against the Angels.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 08:07 PM) 2nd ball Flowers hit well tonight. Bradley had to make the play of his life to catch the other one. The first ome was hit well. This one was a pop up. But he is evened out.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 06:27 PM) Sheridan says it's done. Lebron to Cavs. So Sheridan has been saying the announcement with be on lebronjames.com. I wonder what kind of deal he has for the clicks that site will be getting

I don't buy the clubhouse chemistry thing. First off, the team is about 40 under .500 since he left. If getting him off the team helped the chemistry, I hope they go back to the bad where they actually won a World Series. Secondly, if he was as hated as the people who have never been in the clubhouse on game day seem to think, I doubt the White Sox would have signed him to the 3 or 4 contracts they signed him to, and kept him around 8 seasons. That said, if the Sox are ready to pull the plug on Flowers, at this point, they need to see if there is any hope with Phegley before they bring back AJ.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 03:26 PM) I have no problem with someone going for the money just come out and f***in say it. Exactly. I would applaud if during Melo's press conference someone asked him why he really came back and he said he gets guaranteed and extra year and what $35 million more, and then look at the person asking him the question and say what would you do? I don't know why so many athletes think saying it's not about the money when it clearly is, is something that endears them to fans. We all pretty much know the truth.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) I don't blame him for checking things out. If you've never had the ability to look into other teams, how do you know if your team is the right choice? Yes, but his team doesn't meet the criteria he himself laid out for what he was looking for. The one thing they offer the other teams could not was something he said didn't matter. Again, I don't blame him for taking the money. I probably would do the same thing. What I do object to is his insistance when this began money will not be an issue, and I'm sure he will say the same thing during his press conference, yet magically he will wind up selecting the team least likely to win, but able to pay the most.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) He had to make it seem legit that he was looking to leave to force the Knicks to offer the max. Perhaps, but he insisted money would have NOTHING to do with it. And if he loves NY and believes in Phil, why not take less than max? If the report is accurate, it was always about the money.

I still don't understand. If he believes in Phil what was the purpose of his free agency? It's funny how believable Phil became when the Knicks offer became the max, and how that appears to influence a decision Melo himself said had nothing to do with money. I wouldn't mind being at the United Center when Melo comes to town. I think the hazing should be supreme. JR should send him the dinner bill.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) He'd be 32 years old as well. The one good thing about Melo, his lack of long playoff runs will make him a young 32 for a player of his ilk.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:49 PM) I sure as hell hope not. I'd rather call up Phegley I love AJ, but I kind of agree with you. If they did, it wouldn't bother me, but I don't think they should. If the Sox were in contention, it's a no brainer, but unless he is bringing a few pitchers with him, it would be nothing but a publicity stunt IMO, and AJ is not exactly playing well. Father time is catching up

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) I think Lebron stays in Miami on a 2 year deal with a one year opt out, Melo stays in New York, and Lebron joins him in 2015-2016. I mean come on people, we're Chicago fans. None of this crap ever works out the way we want it to. But..........Ben Wallace.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) Without really going out and meeting other teams, he couldn't know that for certain. Can't blame him for looking, however, I think the time he's taken to make the decision tells you he is at least considering other options, otherwise he would have quickly decided, imo. Which is fine. But if he goes back to the Knicks, it is all about the money, which I would applaud if he admitted it. I don't think anyone has a problem with people changing jobs if they can make a lot more money elsewhere, or not leaving a place because they payyou more, even if it isn't a totally perfect fit. It just bothers me when they say it's not about the money when it obviously is. But I guess it's a two way street. Many slammed ARod as greedy when he took the extra $100 million and signed with Texas. I'm sure I would have taken the extra money too. If it were only a couple million, maybe I play where I want, but that much? That's why Melo taking the money is fine with me. Just don't say money had nothing to do with it, like is prettty standard in these situations.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:08 PM) If Melo goes back to NY this will all be a huge waste of time If he does, I guarantee he will say it wasn't about the money but all about Phil Jackson's vision and championship rings. And if that were totally true, there would have been no reason for the dog and pony show in which he took part.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) let's just take a quick moment to laugh at this: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/07/10/k...e-for-bargnani/ Was Dolan using Isaiah as a consultant?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) We all saw this coming. Earlier in the year, everything he made contact with found a hole. He had like a .700 BABIP. It fell, like it always falls for every player ever, and now it's at .348 and he's a 59 wRC+ hitter who will be non-tendered and given a minor league contract somewhere. Yeah, that's the problem. Even when he finally does start making contact again, he's bound for some more bad luck. This slump, considering the total lack of contact, has to be one of the worst in White Sox history.

You're still blaming Walker? Last year, the offense was horrible under Manto who supposedly was a godsend compared to Walker. Then Steverson shows up and he is the new guru. How much better are the Sox offensively if you take away the additions of Abreu and Eaton? This is Tyler's 3 major league hitting instructor, and there is no improvement. I think there is a lot of evidence to show Greg Walker more than likely wasn't the reason the White Sox couldn't hit when he was coaching and is even less likely the reason those same players aren't hitting now.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) George Kottaras is available. At least he can take a walk. Which is weird. In the minors, Flowers walked a ton. His walk rate is about half what it was. Maybe they just figured out they really didn't have to be too careful with him.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) I am in the minority but I think a 23 year old Lance Stephenson at the 2, to go with Dougie McBuckets and the top euro player (along with bringing back DJ) would still be pretty good and would be a team that could win it all. Favored to make finals, depends on what happens with Lebron, but that is a very very good team. I can see where a team that won 48 games basically adds 2 lottery players in a draft considered strong, and a former MVP who is still only about 25 would be considered exceptional. (Think if Hahn was able to add the baseball equivalent to an 87 win team). But I do think if they whiff on the big names, at least one of Gar/Pax has to go. It might not be their fault, but it is too many whiffs. You have to bring someone here who can get guys to say yes.

Did anyone see the article where Fran Fraschilla said Mirotic, if he was in this draft, would have gone top 4? Said he is as NBA ready as Parker. He also said he isn't Nowitzki, at least not yet, but right now he is a young Turkoglu.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 11:01 AM) You should write a correction request to the Seattle Times, then. Although I think informing Heyman that Danks had a shoulder/rotator cuff surgery and not TJ would be a more worthwhile use of time. Really? They put damn you Ventura in their story? Tank was lifted for a pinch runner.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) If you noticed on Saturday, he was pinch hit for against a righty reliever (damn you, Ventura!!!). But the Mariners need a guy who can hit lefties. Wrong.

A NY writer said all the James to Cleveland hype is being generated by the Cavs to save face for losing him in 2010. I don't really buy that, but if it is true and it basically shames LeBron to come back, it's a genius move.

Flowers has to be better than was he has been doing. There is no way he is this bad. He's bad, just not Bartolo Colon bad offensively. I know he is very popular in the organization. He works hard and is a good guy. That gets you a longer rope. I still think he would be a fine back up. Playing catcher regularly isn't like other positions. The beating, and just the wearing of the equipment on hot days, let alone other catcher responsibilities wears on you. It's another reason why a guy like AJP was more valuable than his numbers. They kept the below replacement off the field. If Nieto started catching 5 or 6 days a week at the major league level, he would most likely start looking ridiculous at this point in his career. I do think though, there is a point when they have to say enough is enough. Maybe they are hoping Flowers can put something together at least good enough so he can keep his job until the roster expand. I think if they could send Nieto down, we would be seeing Phegley get a lot of time right now.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 08:06 AM) There's a good chance we lose Friday & Saturday for no other reason than I am traveling to Cleveland for the weekend and will be at the games. I swear the Sox are something like 2-10 in games I've attended Saturday is probably a given just because it's Saturday. But a loss on Friday is totally on you.