Dick Allen

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 12:02 PM) You may be right on that last point, but also keep in mind that he's here to fill a role this organization lacks. We dont have LH hitting catchers and he's going to be here, doing that, on the days that is called for. Sure, it wont be a straight platoon but it still will be a role he's filling once a week. What catcher OPSes does he have to be an improvement on from last year? .600 for Flowers, .500 for Phegley. Not tall timber. Just because he bats left handed and the Sox apparently need a LH hitting catcher as long as his name is not AJ, doesn't mean he can hit. The guy has not played above A ball. Chances are, he will be no better vs. RHP than either Flowers or Phegley or some guy the Sox could have claimed on waivers.

QUOTE (joeynach @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 12:08 PM) Either way they obviously figured out how to not only survive, but thrive with proverbial low attendance. With revenue sharing, before they moved into their new place, the Marlins could lock the gates, not sell one ticket and make a profit.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) Semien and Nieto are supposed to be the future here, Flowers is more than likely playing for a contract elsewhere. Back up catchers get plenty of time, especially since the Sox don't have a workhorse behind the plate. If Flowers leash was 2 bad games, they shouldn't have given him one to begin with because everyone on the team will have 2 bad games in a row this year, several times. Nieto will play, but I think people will realize he probably is in over his head fairly quickly. The fact is, if Nieto didn't have to be returned if the Sox wanted to send him to the minors, he wouldn't be here.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 11:07 AM) Can anyone comment as to whether they will open the lower deck to everyone? Or would I need to buy a LD ticket to be in the lower deck? You never know with these games. Unless it's a season ticket, you are going to need a lower deck seat for access unless you use your imagination and get by the person checking tickets.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 10:55 AM) Would love to hear one good reason why Tyler Flowers is starting again. Also, happy Ventura isn't overreacting and moving Semien out of the 2 spot. It's where he belongs. So moving Semien out of the 2 spot would be overreacting, but starting Flowers 3 games in a row because he hasn't played well the first 2 shouldn't happen?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 10:39 AM) Why are these opening series games always all day games? Are they worried about colder temps at night? Even if the night is chillier, I would imagine you still would get better attendance. Who the hell is gonna skip work for a 38 degree non-Opening Day game? It was a lot more pleasant yesterday afternoon than last night. It was ridiculously cold and windy. If anyone wants to fill the stands on April 12th a Saturday afternoon tilt vs. Cleveland, use ACADEMY as the code, bleachers and upper box are $14, lower reserved $16, and lower box $29.

The radar seems to indicate the rain should be gone by gametime. Maybe a slight delay to get the field ready.

This was also a game the 2 partial season ticket plans didn't include. There is no doubt a drop in season tickets, the team lost 99 games, but freezing with a threat of rain or ice, against the Twins with school in session isn't going to draw flies, and many people with tickets aren't going to bother. To try to make anything of it is silly. The White Sox know what is up and were prepared to spend a ton of money this offseason. I don't think their situation is as dire as one would think, even if attendance dips for the 8th straight year.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Apr 3, 2014 -> 07:57 AM) Only a 30% of rain from 1-6. They can get it in if they want to. If they play it the actual attendance may rival a game I went to against Tampa Bay circa 1999. They played a twi-night DH, the first game was a make up and it was cold. We walked in during the top of the 1st, one step into the concourse we could actually hear McKay Christensen calling for a ball in CF. There couldn't have been 100 people in the stands. There was some fill in by the time the 2nd game started which was around the regularly scheduled game time.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 08:07 PM) Ramirez has shown throughout his career that he's a more productive hitter when he's towards the bottom of the order. I'm not going to extrapolate anything from 2 April games against one of the least talented teams we'll face, ever. The Twins are going to be all time bad imo. In positions he has had significant ABs, unless he is hitting 8th or 9th, 2nd has been his most productive position.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) Hahn was already looking with that in mind. He wasn't looking for a 1 or 2 year guy. There is no point for what they cost. He said a little while ago the leash will be short and if there is no improvement, the short term options will be in play. 2 games is a little too short of a leash.

QUOTE (BaconOnAStick @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 02:44 PM) Frustratingly dicking around the strike zone racking up his pitch count. But his stuff has looked good and one of those runs in unearned. He's finished strong and doesn't look too bad. I mean can't be too upset with one ER in 5 innings, of course you would hope he could go deeper. Had a hard hit ball in the first that could go out on some days. Keep in mind he is facing one of the worst teams in baseball in very ideal pitching conditions. He was a good bet to put up decent numbers if he kept his walks down.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 02:42 PM) 3-2 count batter after batter. It's the El Duque school of pitching.

TFlo has to pick up the pace. During his epic season last year, he had 2 HR after 2 games.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) Konerko started his career as a catcher. I say let him end it that way. Catching usually costs you some speed. I don't think that would be a good idea.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) I love seeing this team sustain innings instead of depending on the homer. So far that is 7 runs in 9.1 innings of offense, without a single home run. There is this guy who has been playing LF........................

If they give Leury a sac on that play, he may have to service one after the game.

Flowers has a batting average.

0 earned runs correct? When it's cold and windy, throw some strikes and let them hit it. The balls aren't wound as tight as they were a few years ago.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 01:37 PM) What kind of pitch selection is that?? Get him 0-2 and throw 4 breaking balls to the number 9 hitter? Jesus I'm blaming AJ

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) Paulino looks like a reliever to me. The problem is, when he has relieved in his career, calling him a gas can is giving him way too much credit.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 12:41 PM) Because most people don't even know what trolling means, but throw around the stigma anyway to discredit someone. I know what trolling means, and stand by my post

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) I'm thinking Paulino has a real solid game today. I'll ahead and throw out a line... 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5K. Pitch count will remove him from the game early. The cold should help him as long as he doesn't walk too many.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 12:42 PM) Its the 2nd game of the damn season, nobody can make assumptions based off of 2 line ups.. Would you bench a guy who hit 2 home runs the previous game no matter what the circumstance is? I know I wouldn't. I have a suspicion if Viciedo played in these 2 games the complaint would have been why is De Aza on the roster if he isn't going to play against RHP?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 12:29 PM) You still have to pay bench players, and he's making about $3 million which is not a lot of money. De Aza is just over $4 million. That's $7 million to improve value or increase versatility or get production out of LF or however you want to look at it. If those two combine for 2 WAR, the Sox are getting a discount, or however you want to look at it. Trading a guy just because you don't have a lot of playing time for him and taking whatever you can get is really poor business practice. Releasing said player when they are in a very good, cost controlled situation is even worse. And things happen during the season. When Alexei Ramirez joined the Sox, he played the first couple games in CF. He then didn't play a full game for almost 2 weeks. He still got over 500 plate appearances. Juan Uribe in 2004 had over 550 plate appearances. The first 6 games, he had a total of 5.