Dick Allen

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:51 AM) I like the 11am games so I can wake up and watch them (well not so much anymore) but the fanbase at the game suffers and so does conference exposure. Many of the new coaches are pushing hard for night games and it appears to be paying off. Of course you need to have lights to get it done. ILL vs OSU is a primetime night game this year. The stadiums that don't have permanent lights have been using the temporaries for 30 years. They are fine. After all, late in the season, the 2:30 games need lights in the second half.

Apparently in Tampa last night, the umpires lost track of the count. They took it to the replay guys who got it wrong. Escobar walked, but then struck out.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:34 AM) You don't need to win your bet every time. If you go to Vegas and put $100k on a 5 to 1 option and win 4 out of 6 times, you'd be pretty happy. Put your money where your mouth is and do it. Put my money where my mouth is, go to Vegas bet $100k? Wow.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:32 AM) And then, De Aza being consigned to the bench because of early struggles would be a terrible result as well because that would make it even harder to trade him. Your defense is a terrible option as well! Not really, because then De Aza would have eventually received another opportunity. Injuries and slumps happen all the time. If you perform, the opportunities eventually come.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:31 AM) I gave you 5 to 1 because Marcus Semien was, at the time, hitting below .200, so expecting him to win successfully 4 out of 6 times is a pretty low chance, but it seems like it's one you'd take. But the alternatives weren't batting 1.000, making your math a bit off. The bottom line is, the results are in, dumb Robin was right.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) Marcus Semien vs. LHP including that game (so he was much worse beforehand): .259/.286/.407/.693. If all 4 of his hits came against the lefty that day, he came into that game hitting no better than .143 against lefties. Better than Gillaspie. Again how do you come up with 5 to 1? Just explain that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:20 AM) So is your game just to never advocate for anything and just criticize when other people take a firm position or do you actually think Jordan Danks is a good leadoff hitter and we'd be better off with Viciedo as a platoon only player? For a guy who seems to know so much about my thoughts, you really should realize I have been one of Viciedo's biggest backers. You were freaking out because he wasn't in the line up the first couple games of the season. As I told you back then, he will get his chance, and an injury got him a chance. If Garcia doesn't go down, De Aza's struggles would have given him an opportunity. I also think Jordan Danks is a stiff, but for a game or two, he can get on base a couple times. There aren't a lot of candidates vs. RHP if Eaton goes down.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:14 AM) No, I actually listed everyone in the lineup other than Jordan Danks as a candidate to lead off. Thanks for the easy to shoot down lie. Jordan Danks, of course, then led off the next day. So you did list Conor Gillaspie? I asked you specifically who should lead off, and Gillaspie was the first name on your reply. The line up management was so terrible that day the Sox only scored 16. Robin needs to listen to you more often.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:04 AM) So because it worked, it was ok to do something silly and you think that's something you can brag about. Like I said, $100k on a 5 to 1 game a few times. Same setup and you can brag to me about the millions you bring home. After all, there's no downside to silly moves. Again, you are picking out odds randomly that even Caulfield couldn't come up with. They were facing a left handed pitcher. You wanted Gillaspie to lead off. Versus a left handed pitcher, how do you come up with 5 to 1 odds against that Semien would outperform Gillaspie? Conor Gillaspie vs. LHP .235/.263/.498. Sounds like the guy who wants to bet 100k on a 5 to 1 game a few times is you.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:57 AM) So you don't believe your own crap? Not willing to stick by your statements that .200 hitters batting leadoff is always a good thing? On that night, with the other options and short term, it was fine. It wasn't a permanent thing, and Semien was up to the task. Besides, you wanted Gillaspie leading off. I don't know how you can say it's 5 to 1 Gillaspie would perform better any particular game than Semien. Please explain.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:53 AM) Be a Spring Training instructor and then do the ambassador role and then he'll eventually begin to take on more responsibilities and maybe within 3-4 years of retiring, he's on the bench full time in some capacity. I definitely see him with a spring training role since he lives out there, but even he said coaching is something he would probably do with his kids for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't think he would be a full-time major league coach or manager for a decade or so, if ever.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:49 AM) Tell you what, I think you should continue showing how strongly you believe in your defenses of moves that are poorly planned and really shouldn't work. There's a real simple technique, go to Vegas and bet $100k on the underdog in a bunch of games where the odds are 5 to 1 against. then tell me how spectacularly it works out for you. Nice comeback. Now go back to managing on the internet, and continue to get out managed by the guy you complain about.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:41 AM) I know, I mean, all I wanted was for Viciedo to get playing time, and now that he's gotten it look how awful he's been. Clearly he belonged on the bench that first week of the year. He's useless. Yeah you are a genius. You complained Paulie wasn't in the opening day line up after complaining after he signed that he would play TOO MUCH. You complained De Aza was playing on opening day when he it 2 homers. You complained Semien led off the other day when he had 4 hits. You really don't know as much as you think, but keep patting yourself on the back.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:25 AM) That is all fine and dandy, but how much medical experience does that guy have and what access does he have to Sale's medical files? That's the thing. If it truly is a flexor strain, maybe it a week or two thing. And perhaps the other example of a flexor strain, like Gavin Floyd in 2013, really wasn't a flexor strain.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:24 AM) 2+ years ago I wasn't looking forward to the "Konerko as manager" talk when it comes around. Now? Can't be worse. Wonder if we'll get Thome first. It could be a lot worse. Robin could have actually listened to your complaints and suggestions.

Is flexor strain used as a description for any type of pain or swelling in that area? In other words, are all flexor strains similar? I remember Rick Sutcliffe once saying that when you were told you have tendonitis, it really meant they didn't know what the problem was. Floyd was out with a flexor strain in 2012. He came back and was really good. Then he sucked in 2013 hitting the DL with another "flexor strain" until it was determined it was much worse. I'm probably way off, but I just think just because it is called a flexor strain, doesn't mean it is a flexor strain. Maybe flexor strains are as curable as the White Sox and Sale seem to think, and that is what Sale's injury is, while other things called the same thing ultimately weren't flexor strains and resulted in a more serious injury. All things considered, if Chris Sale was ultimately going to have TJ surgery at some point, now is probably the best time for it to happen anyway. Not when you are paying him more, and expecting more from your team.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 10:07 PM) Yeah, I was just checking in to witness the outrage over Webb being used in a meaningless game, but his name wasn't even mentioned. So, when he's truly needed in a couple days from now, Ventura will rest him. The White Sox brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th. What exactly is your definition of meaningless game vs. games where Webb is truly needed?

QUOTE (SoxnGiants @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 07:41 AM) DV's swing seems quieter to me lately. Less body movement through to contact. I'd still like to see him get even quieter but this has been a positive step imo. Still seems to struggle laying off breaking pitches low and outside but I missed about ha;f the games so perhaps I don't have the full picture. He is a talented guy. He will undoubtedly go into a stretch where it will look like he has no clue at some point. The key is to keep that as brief as possible. He does seem to be at least a little more selective at the plate. If Dayan Viciedo can limit himself to swinging at pitches he can hit hard, like he is doing now, he will put up crazy numbers. That is easier said than done.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 07:29 AM) What's new about Flowers's approach? He's walking and striking out pretty much exactly the same amount as he was last year. He is taking the ball the other way a lot more. Not trying to hit every ball 700 feet. He is striking out a ton, and obviously has hit in some good luck, which should go back closer to the mean, but no way would he give himself a chance to be this lucky with his old approach.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 11:35 PM) No s***. Ventura is f***ing clueless. Webb comes out throwing 96, this is our "long man". Meanwhile he won't just let leesman eat it, he's gotta go to the pen early. Dude has no fugging clue when you call it a day and when you fight, none, zip, zero, zilch. If you watched the game and listened to Stone, they used him as the long man out of necessity. They are going to try to get him used to pitching one inning at a time. He had not pitched in almost a week and threw one inning. If that kills Webb for 3 or 4 days, he obviously can't be a closer. It is rather ironic you are calling someone clueless.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 08:00 PM) Downs just a waste of 4 mil plus Konerko wasted money. His signing was very popular here. It must be Ventura's fault he sucks.

Downs walked a guy. Shocking.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 07:16 PM) The world's greatest pitching depth isn't coming through I have always wondered why some call pitchers who cannot get anyone out depth.

Abreu is huge but he looks like a midget when he is next to Dunn.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Then he should go win a title. Phil Jackson won 11 titles. He was coach of the year once, just like Thibs. The Bulls had to win 72 games for that honor.