Dick Allen

This core though to me is nowhere near the core they had in the early 90s with Thomas, Ventura, Guillen, One Dog, Raines, Cora, Karko, McDowell, Fernandez, Alvarez , Roberto Hernandez. Then they would sign rentals like Franco, DJ, Burks, even Tartabull was good his one season. Before he got ultra-conservate, even though that seemed to work out, Schueler did put up an impressive piece of work. Granted he started with a pretty nice core, but his additions, until he sent Black Jack packing, where usually really good.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 11:52 AM) There was no way to know what Abreu was going to sign for in October. The Sox got a deal on him, but he could have received something much closer to what Tanaka received and that would have kept the Sox out of the bidding. They cleared the payroll space that they needed to make a run at Tanaka and Abreu, and if not for some contractual shenanigans by the Yanks, I think they certainly could have pulled in both. If they would have, your rebuild is virtually over. You can't fault the plan, it didn't work, but they did every thing they could to get it to work. You don't see me complaining about trading Rios for basically utility player. I actually think Leury does bring some things to the table. But even if they had not traded Rios, unless he totally fell apart, they could have signed Abreu and Tanaka, and traded Rios afterward. The Sox were going to bid on Abreu. That is just a fact. If it got into 9 figures, whether they cleared even more payroll, they probably wouldn't have signed him, but the perfect storm of teams that jack up prices not having a need for a firstbaseman/ DH helped keep the price reasonable. I doubt they would have been willing to go where they were willing to go with Tanaka regarding Abreu, although at this moment, it seems it would have at least been close to reasonable. Being lucky isn't an insult. The Sox were lucky back in 2005 that Kaz Matsui was such a bust that they were able to sign Iguchi. Had Matsui been anywhere near what he was hyped, Iguchi probably doesn't fit into the budget and maybe the Sox don't win. He did have a very key HR in the first round of the playoffs. Not having the Yankees or Angels or Cubs going to crazy levels with Abreu when the Sox clearly had a need for this particular player was a break as well. It's not an insult. They got the players signed. Under different circumstances, they probably sign elsewhere and no one gives a second thought.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) OK fine, they should have drafted better, nobody disagrees with that, but that doesn't change the reality that in July 2013, dumping Rios for Garcia was the best move because it allowed the Sox to get Abreu. I don't understand how this could be a conclusion. The Sox would have been in on Abreu regardless. I really don't care Rios is gone, and the return was meh, but that is what a guy with Rios' reputation and contract bring. Besides, if A. Garcia didn't get hurt, where would he play? But, the Sox offered real money to Tanaka. If Rios meant they couldn't sign anyone else, I don't know how they could have bid on him. There was always going to be money for Abreu.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) We didn't have those metrics around 15 years ago when Jose Valentin was SS, but he was always known for having great range (and the arm strength) despite some ugly error totals (2000 in particular, which led to the Clayton disaster from KW). At that time, the only thing we really had to go off, and it wasn't scientific in the least, was total chances...and we always had that running debate back and forth about how many balls Clayton didn't get to. He made the routine plays, sure, but his lack of range kept him from getting to a ton of balls that Valentin could get to, and a lot of baserunners reached because Clayton didn't have a gun like Valentin or Uribe and they would beat out a lot of throws as well. It would be interesting to revisit that debate again, with modern analytical tools available. How scientific is range using today's tools vs. back then? A couple inches here where you are positioned makes a big difference. A ball hit with 1 or 2 mph more or less velocity can make a big difference. The infield you play on makes a big difference. Total chances is kind of BS too. Wouldn't your pitchers have a lot to do with that? If you shouldn't judge pitchers by number of wins, you shouldn't judge range by total chances.

Are there any Illini fans here who think the Redskins name has to go but where pretty upset when they dumped the Chief? That was a controversy, but apparently the Chief offended some. My thing is if the Redskins name really does offend, and it does seem to do just that, just change it. What really is gained by keeping it? The Washington DC NFL team isn't going to be any less popular. I think the only problem is where do you draw the line? People will be offended by everything, especially if they know being offended will get some change. I think Redskins and Chief Wahoo are far enough on the wrong side of that line to go away. They are far more offensive IMO than Illinois' Chief or Marquette calling their teams Warriors.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 08:15 AM) And there's now an "anti-Prince Fielder" bug catching in the Detroit media after the comments he's made, both after last season's disappointing playoffs and this year before the two teams (Rangers and Tigers) played recently and there was a possibility Prince might play at that time still. It's quite convenient to blame everything on a Fielder/Bonds/A-Rod type villain. Even more convenient when that player is no longer playing for the local team.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 4, 2014 -> 07:37 AM) Well, one writer with the Detroit Free Press is apparently blaming their playoff problems on two specific positions in the batting order...not pitching, not shaky bullpen or fielding issues. The Tigers are 27th in the majors in OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) from the fifth spot in the batting order. Their RBI production ranks 18th overall in the majors. They rank 28th in RBI production and OPS from the sixth spot. That’s the biggest problem with this team. That’s why they lost Tuesday. It’s why they’ve failed in the playoffs the past two years. As great as the Prince Fielder trade was for the Tigers in unloading a bad contract — as well as acquiring Ian Kinsler — it created another hole in a batting order that already was challenged at providing run production. Victor Martinez has performed at an All-Star level replacing Fielder in the cleanup spot behind Miguel Cabrera. But it created another hole in the lineup that Austin Jackson and others haven’t adequately filled. Blaming the bullpen for the Tigers’ recent inconsistencies might make the panicked feel a little better, but it doesn’t address the real issues facing this team if they’re indeed a serious championship contender. Drew Sharp (freep.com/sports) He is saying the failed in the playoffs because of the 5th and 6th spot in the order? Or is he saying the line up is too weak? Just looking at the stats from the ALCS where the Tigers were eliminated last year, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta were batting in those spots. Victor put up an .841 OPS in the series, Peralta around .750.

White Sox players can have beards, they just have to keep them neatly groomed. JR has a no headband rule for the Bulls, and I think corn rows where forbidden at least for a while. Sale doesn't seem offended. I don't know why anyone here would be offended.

I didn't think his beard was that out of control, but he is one of the bigger faces of the franchise. They don't want him looking like he goes home to Lower Wacker after the games. The Sox let you have beards, but you have to keep them in shape.

They are winning by getting on base, hitting homers and having a pitching staff with a team ERA under 3.00. Beane has definitely picked his roster well, but I wouldn't say he has reinvented the wheel in regards to how and why they win. Josh Donaldson busts out into one of the better players in the game as a 27 year old. Kudos to Beane for sticking with him and having him the organization, but there is also a little luck there as well.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 2, 2014 -> 09:24 PM) 1st and 2nd innings have been a issue lately. Maybe he has issues early in the game but Frank said count. I think that is why you see guys hacking early. It is the plan.

During the pregame the Big Hurt said you have to get Kershaw early in the count.

Verducci's article stats the length of game has increased 29 minutes the last 10 years even though scoring is down. The Dodgers and Mets had a 1-2-3 half inning that took 22 minutes.

I would think if Johnson was hurt, the Sox wouldn't keep trotting him out there.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 1, 2014 -> 11:52 AM) http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/tracy-...p;vkey=news_mlb Didn't realize the White Sox were one of five teams offering him a six-year contract (originally). Seems like the Sox have been in on nearly every Cuban who has made an impact, with the exception of Soler, who it was always a foregone conclusion was going to the Cubs. What would you give to him as a FA offer (assuming he plays the same or better the next 1 1/2 seasons)? Years/dollars? Is there such a thing as "too many Cubans" on one MLB team? Or would you consider bidding for a FA RH outfielder entering years 30-33 in his career (a little bit beyond his prime) too risky? Is he too similar to Avisail Garcia? Or the perfect complement to surround Eaton (assuming he's still around) with? Also, would anyone be interested in Billy Butler in USCF for 81 games if he became available on the cheap, despite his non left-handedness? Or too worried about his weight and age and downtrending performance curve? Or Colby Rasmus, since bringing in Melky Cabrera or Victor Martinez would be overpaying/buying too high based on their 2014 performance levels? Seth Smith? Adam Lind? LaRoche? The Sox according to Gammons bid between $25-30 million for Solar.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 31, 2014 -> 06:08 PM) I guess DeAza had yet another bad/questionable fielding play in the early innings, not cutting off a ball that got past him. He really looks like toast. Not trying to defend him, but I was at the game, that was a double even if he cut it off. It really was no big deal.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 31, 2014 -> 12:29 AM) As in trade to the Cubs? I'm thinking SD. That would have been just across the field.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 31, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) I cannot even name another team marching a .172 hitting OF out there on a daily basis near June 1st. Headley was hitting .196 until that bloop and is batting clean up

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ May 30, 2014 -> 11:19 PM) I also recall an article in which Jack discussed warm up pitches both before a game and between innings. He always used less there and commented that no one counts those. He has a valid point. If you are exerting max or near max effort it doesn't matter if a batter is there. He talked of using 2-3 less per inning warming up than allowed, he was pitching in the day of complete games so 18-27 less "pitches" warming up meant 1-2 more innings. I was at the game the night Peavy detached his lat. if anyone ever watches Jake Peavy warm up between innings, he basically lobs about 8 balls to the catcher and then is ready to go. But the thing that night that was odd was his pre-game warm up. Usually you see them playing catch in the OF and stretching out the distance. Then they go in the bullpen and seem to throw about 50 pitches, but that night Peavy did not do the long toss, and really threw about 15 pitches in the bullpen. I doubt it had anything to do with causing what happened, other than maybe he was hurting so much because it was probably at least partially detached at that point that he didn't want the extra work, but we both thought is was really odd.

QUOTE (Lillian @ May 31, 2014 -> 04:54 AM) If he were clearly the best player in the draft, I would agree. However, that does not appear to be the case, by all of the various mock draft projections. If only it were that simple. I just happen to prefer Kolek, and a little better balance, in respect to "handedness", is something about which I have often expressed my wishes. The only major draw back is that he is just 18, and therefore so far away from being able to contribute. And please, it's not "Dude". it's Lillian, or Ma'am. Thank you. Chances are the teams picking ahead make the decision for you. Personally, Rodon would be my top choice, and if the White Sox ever passed on a pitcher because he was too similar to Chris Sale, the person who made that decision, really shouldn't be allowed to make decisions ever again.

Kane is a magician.with the puck.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 30, 2014 -> 08:38 PM) Hawks 1st PP no shots on goal. Too bad they can't decline the penalty.

I would have to question the motivation of a man who makes his money performing surgeries, coming up with ways to prevent theses surgeries.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ May 30, 2014 -> 12:19 PM) Only if it is an NCAA drug test. The schools have their own policies on that when it is a drug test administrated by the school that the player fails. Still seems silly.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 14, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) Sounds like it was a lot more than that. If you test positive for weed, I think you get a one year ban.