Dick Allen

Don Cooper said pitch count guys "are idiots".

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 02:15 PM) FanGraphs had an interesting article up the other day about the Astros apparently pitching "away" from a shift. It showed a infield shifted very far to the left (no 2B) with the pitcher working away from Jose Bautista. The theory behind it is Bautista is a rather extreme pull hitter, especially with offspeed stuff, so he's more likely to pull into that shift no matter where you're throwing the breaking balls. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/why-would-a...inst-the-shift/ Shifting is really quite interesting to think and read about. Considering all the information you ever needed has been there for ages and you are also paying scouts to follow opponents, it is really surprising shifts haven't been used all that much at this point. There usually has been something in the OF, but the infield rarely moved much at all. It also is a very effect way to help an infield without much range. Detroit the past couple of years for example.

It will be interesting to see what effect shifts have on defensive metrics moving forward. Your infielders won't require as much range, I think sure-handedness will become a premium. I was watching ESPN last night and the White Sox are 4th in baseball right now using shifts. Houston is far and away #1. I do think, at least defensively, the eye test is much better than UZR. Jeter's name gets thrown out there, but the only people who have thought he was elite defensively are those voting for GG, and we all know offense has come into play for that award. 3 years for results? Do we not yet know if Viciedo is a good OF or not?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 12:24 PM) In the two best hitters parks in baseball Considering last year they could have been playing in Williamsport and not scoring many runs, I'll take it. I don't think they have a top offense by any means, and while 2 explosions can really distort totals at this point, it is also nice to know this team has weathered some outages. Abreu, Semien, De Aza. If they pitch better, they should at least be fun to watch.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) Reads this, remembers that he was the annointed closer out of spring training, droops head. Why don't the White Sox just listen to you?You knew Semien had no business leading off yesterday. You knew De Aza had no reason to be in the starting line up opening day.

And if defensive metrics need 3 seasons to be accurate, doesn't that mean that WAR ultimately may not be accurate?

Aren't eyes used for defensive metrics?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 05:21 PM) Not a huge deal, just a continuation of the poor bullpen management. Leading by 14 in the bottom of the 9th, you shouldn't be running out your closer. It ought to be a perfect situation for Cleto, a chance to see what he can do and to work on his approach at the big-league level without any impact on our record. Maybe Lindstrom needed the work. He threw 8 pitches and will be available tomorrow night. Had Semien leading off Doesn't teach calling for pop ups Yanked Johnson after 87 pitches Put Rienzo in the game Put Lindsrom in for the 9th. Some of the RV complaints today. Sox win 16-2. Yeesh. Why can't people just enjoy the game?

What a dumbf*** Ventura was for having Semien lead off. Only 4 hits.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 05:10 PM) I don't care who he puts in right now. Just curious about Rienzo and why he took out Erik. But oh well. I think he took him out because it was a real long half inning when the White Sox batted.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 05:06 PM) @scottmerkin: White Sox could start four lefties against the Tigers this week So Leesman. He was getting better results in Charlotte.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 05:06 PM) He's going to put Lindstrom in with an 8+ run lead isn't he White Sox fans are the only fans who nitpick the manager during a game they are winning by 10.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 04:56 PM) Who is gona start though? Who knows. Maybe it is Rienzo and he was supposed to throw today anyway so they decided to get his feet wet.or maybe they called him up to pitch out of the pen until Wed. then send him down and call up Leesman or someone else.

Is it at least possible Rienzo wasn't called up to he in the rotation?

Got a little too cute walking Danks. Semien crushed it. Good thing Balta wasn't managing again because Semien wouldn't have been leading off.

De Aza has been rung up 4 or 5 times this year when he clearly didn't swing.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) I guess I'm missing something. The ball clearly hit SOMETHING. So even if he swung it would have to be a foul ball, would it not? Under what interpretation of a rule can a ball hit something and be a swing-and-miss? The ball hit him but he swung is what they are calling.

I think they were looking to see if the ball hit the bat. Then it would be foul. There is no way he swung although that appears to be what was called.

I watched Mike MacDougal and Rob Dibble pitch in White Sox uniforms. That was the wildest wild pitch I have ever seen.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) Fielder should've done a Miggy when he was on the Marlins Didn't some college player recently put one on the board in a similar circumstance?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) How long do dead arm periods usually last? Depends. Axelrod's is probably going to last the rest of his life.

Flowers auditioning for a role in the bullpen with that throw to 2nd.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) I'm not sure what has to happen to prevent that miscommunication. I'm sure they know to call it, but maybe bench someone if it happens again ? Conor seems pretty quiet. Whether he was calling for it or not I have no idea. They might both have been calling for it, but I think it is on Johnson to make sure Flowers knows to back off. He seemed to have his head down running toward the plate. But if that is something we all know, to think major league players have to be told is ludicrous.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 02:58 PM) When you see it happen so often the last two years with a variety of players, it makes you wonder what in the hell is going on. So you think major league players have to be told daily to call for pop ups? There was a failure there without a doubt, but this one is on the players. Gillaspie and/or Johnson. It was clearly Gillaspie's play.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 20, 2014 -> 02:56 PM) Why isn't someone telling Conor or flowers who has the catch??? Conor needed to say something, but usually the pitcher is saying something too, especially when you can see a disaster about to happn.