Dick Allen

Sale is still in.

Semien fans. I think the wind cost him a homer earlier.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 05:00 PM) Strike out number 3 in inning. Sale going to pitch 8th or is he done? Activity in the bullpen. I would guess he is done.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 04:53 PM) Every time I see Nieto at the plate, I keep thinking he's Josh Hamilton. He's got a very similar stance/swing. Semiens stance reminds me of Jeters.

Balta must have been sluffing off during spring training. The guys he was complaining about have come up huge.

Argument for Gillaspie hitting 3rd: http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/3/31/5566...ning-day-lineup

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 01:07 PM) I have no idea what a versatile hitter is but I'd prefer the #3 slot to be a good hitter. Unfortunately, that is an area the White Sox are severely lacking.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) i dont think it would dissected at all if that were the case. I mean come on, De Aza or Viciedo. Who cares. Similar numbers, one is a little older, neither seem to be in long term plans. And crying about roster construction right now is silly anyway. Injuries, non performance, trades...the roster will look different in a month, let alone the entire season. If De Aza and/or Tank show they should be playing every day, they will be playing every day, either with the White Sox or somewhere else.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:20 PM) Just to make this connection...this lineup is a really good example of why I disliked this roster construction so much. We're playing the "win now" guy in LF and benching the guy we need to develop because of RH/LH matchups. We're spending a roster spot on a guy to give him his last hurrah and he's not playing on opening day. We're playing 2 "win now", lefty-righty matchup guys to try to win the game, and then throwing out a completely inadequate #3 hitter who has his replacement already procured. We constructed a roster full of starters who need time to develop and a long-time tribute guy, then threw in a couple "win this game today" platoon guys and suddenly we're playing the win-now guys because gotta win the game. Just a great example of why I complained so much about the roster construction. You also complained when Konerko came back saying he would play too much and take ABs away from Abreu. Now you are complaining the 25th man on the roster isn't in the Opening Day line up. Obviously complaining is your hobby, but make up your mind what you are going to complain about.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:27 PM) Its possible they are trying to sub-lease the rights to another group and pull a profit from it. I don't think they can do that per the contract.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 11:23 AM) Jeter is a first ballot HOFer. THAT SAID: There are two reasons that I don't think he is as "classy" as everyone gives him credit for: 1. His refusal to move off of SS as he aged. If the team needs you to move, a "classy" guy moves. 2. The public hissy fit he put up about his last contract. No one owes you money for your past. He was coming off a garbage season and was offered a better deal from the NYY than any other team. So I tend to play a strong devil's advocate role when he comes up, not because I think he's a bad guy, but because I'm not seeing this whole "greatest ambassador of teh game evarr" crap. Guys like Jim Thome deserve that, not Jeter. He never refused to move. He was never asked. "The idea's never come up from anyone in the organization," Jeter said at a retirement news conference Wednesday that he refused to call, you know, a retirement news conference. Actually, Jeter himself brought up a position change seven years ago in a trainer's room conversation with Gene Michael, telling the longtime executive that he wanted to play another 10 seasons and would be willing to switch to first base or designated hitter to do it. Michael was among the team officials in attendance at the news conference and among the many in Yankeedom thrilled that Jeter, 39, would finish his career right where it started, right where he always belonged. And the contract he signed seems fairly reasonable. I am assuming it was the one signed previously. e's guaranteed $15 million in 2011, $16 million in 2012, and $17 million in 2013. In each of those three seasons, the Yankees will hold back $2 million in interest free money. In the 2014 season, his income depends on his achievements the first three years, and the 2014 season. In 2014, his base salary is $8 million, of which $6 million is the deferred money from the 2011-2013 seasons. He can earn extra based on the following incentives:

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:31 AM) I'd rather see both sides agree to void the deal, and the Sox find a new sponsor who pays assloads more to put their name on the walls. I think this is what ultimately happens. I would imagine the White Sox are waiting for an improved team with improved attendance and exposure maximizing what they could get in naming rights.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) Spot-on "yes." Considering the entire package (keep it clean, boys), Jeter has been a "one of the very best of his generation" style players. Would have loved him to be the 20+ year heart, soul, captain, and SS on my team in a heartbeat. I think the so-called "hatred" starts because people tire of the unflagging NY bias of NY fans, exacerbated by the infuriating overall East Coast bias of ESPN. As great as Jeter is, no player, he included, is without warts. For example, despite "The Play," all those Gold Gloves and pretending that he's much more than a competent defensive SS is just silly. Treating him like some sort of God rather than simply what he is -- a great player -- can get tiresome for those who don't drink that particular kool-aid. Paulie Konerko? Our #14? One of the franchise's best overall players, a really good hitter for a really long time, and an incredible asset for our beloved team. I love the guy. But his overall situation, nationally and within the history of baseball, is very different from Jeter. I just think people should look beyond the ESPN bias and realize he was a great player for a long time on perhaps the most difficult stage. He also came up big when it mattered, and didn't let any of it go to his head. He always called Joe Torre, Mr. Torre. He is a credit to the game. If he were a White Sox, we would all be proud he was one. Same with every fanbase of every team.

Derek Jeter is a first ballot HOFer who has multiple WS rings and was the captain of the Yankees for years. He has conducted himself with nothing but class. The hatred he gets is beyond confusing to me. He is exactly what you would want your sports heroes to be.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 08:39 AM) If Beckham is out for 6 weeks and Semien tears it up, fine, I'll count that, but we're still talking like a week of time at the most right? If he goes 15/20 on the week, is that a sign that he's ready? I can use the Josh Phegley example here, 10 for his first 36 with 3 HR, then 15 for his next 86 with a .386 OPS. I think Beckham is supposed to return Saturday or Sunday. If Semien is hot, I would have no problem keeping him around until he cools off, but the Sox aren't going to bench Beckham, and it makes little sense to have Semien riding pine when AAA experience is something he has very little. Maybe something else happens, but like you said you can't judge ready in 3 or 4 games. You can judge not ready in that time.

BPs latest projections have the Sox finishing 4th. 10 behind Detroit but only 2 behind KC and Cleveland.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 01:56 PM) The traditionalist in me hopes they just go back to Comiskey Park. I not a fan of corporate names on stadiums. I agree, but with what they pay to put their names on the places, they need to take the money, especially if it is a pubicly funded place.

I think the bigger story is they lost sponsorship of both the former Bacardi at the Park and Gold Coast Tickets Club. Considering US Cellular is no longer available in the area, I don't think they really need any signage, but like you mentioned, perhaps the name is going to change. Also there is a little space between 11 and 16. Are they going to retire Ozzie's number? NM, that is for Konerko's 14.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 08:17 AM) Maybe they're making the mistake of touting every Friedman move these days as genius. Obviously, they themselves have been about as bad with catchers recently as the White Sox with 3B or developing hitters in the minors. However, that's one position where a more veteran leader really could have helped the White Sox...as well as buying more time for youngsters to develop or simply finding the right "younger" franchise type of catcher Hahn surely is looking to build around. The White Sox rotation is basically in place to win, if not now, at least in 2015. The White Sox can't afford to have the worst catcher in baseball again that season if they realistically hope to compete. I agree with this. If a long term solution wasn't available, a short term, to me, would have made sense. I am not familiar with Hanigan, but some here were when it was public he was the odd man out, and thought the Sox should inquire. I do know if he is half as good as the spring training fluff for the next couple seasons, and Hahn doesn't have a solution to the catching problem, it would have been a big mistake waiting for the home run, when a single or a double would have been just fine.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) Well, since most are written in Spanish...Bjorkman would probably have some insight. And someone writing a negative article about baseball factories in Latin America isn't exactly going to receive a warm reception from the folks down there. I'll give you an example from basketball, though. The Chinese national team/government absolutely killed Yao Ming. Basketball is much different than baseball and humans 7 feet 6 inches tall wind up with physical problems often. Cuba isn't trying to develop players to sign multi-million dollar contracts in the US. Besides if it was so abusive and Cubans age faster, how do you explain El Duque and Contreras, who both pitched until they were about 40 and some insiders swear 50 years old?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 07:46 AM) They're not pushed from the age of 14-16 like those kids in the "baseball factories" in Latin America. And those kids play all day long, after pretty much being forced to drop out of school. It is their job, and the future of their family, at stake. Do you have any links showing the abuse 13 year old baseball players take in Cuba? Baseball isn't a grueling sport anyway. When I was a kid I played everyday of every summer from 9 AM until my mom called me in for dinner, and then went out and played until it was dark. I am sure there are many here that did the same thing, let's not get so dramatic and say playing baseball at 13 all day makes Alexei and old 31. The only thing that would make him an old 31 is if he, like some other Cubans, is actually older than advertised. I would think verifying a Cuban's age is pretty difficult. And if you don't think American kids are pushed by adults trying to live the dream, you aren't paying attention.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 07:58 AM) The catcher It's very possible that the most important catcher to change teams this winter wasn't Brian McCann or A.J. Pierzynski. It might very well have been Hanigan -- picked up from the Reds in a three-team deal that included the Diamondbacks, then locked up to a three-year, $10.75-million contract. "They've been looking for a catcher forever," said one scout. "And this guy might be the best catcher they've ever had." Hanigan's selling points: Big-time defensive skills across the board. A lifetime 40-percent caught-stealing rate. A .786 career OPS against left-handed pitching. More career walks than strikeouts. And a reputation as a superior leader of staffs. "Getting a guy like that, that's huge," says Maddon. "I mean, why is he huge? Talk to him, for like five minutes. And then watch him play, for like one inning. And you know the impact this guy can have on your team, because he's skillfully good, and then he's just totally dripping with intangibles that you want out of a catcher." Jayson Stark with ESPN.com uses Hanigan as one of his primary reasons for the Rays to reach the World Series and win it all. Is he being grossly overrated, based on the comments of one or two scouts? Did the White Sox simply pass...not have the right talent match to make the deal...are we missing something here? Just curious what everyone thinks, since his name didn't come up very much as an option...of course, he wasn't a FA, but as a back-up catcher a lot of teams were after, I suppose. Mostly, we talked about McCann and Saltalamacchia. And his contract is MORE than affordable, it's less than we're paying Keppinger. He has been a back up most of his career. Hit under .200 last year and is 33 years old. I think he would fall under short term at best upgrade that Hahn wasn't interested in this past offseason.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 29, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) You don't think players who play year round in the Dominican, Cuba, Venezuela, etc., don't take more physical abuse, especially speed-based players like a Pods or Chone Figgins who take even more hits to their bodies from all those stolen base attempts and diving on the ground in the infield (as opposed to outfielders)? Or a catcher (or running back), whose career timeline is almost always 2-3 years shorter than the average player. It's the exact same idea as those arguing against Tanaka or Dice K because of the extremely high pitch counts they've been exposed to since they were younger...the number of pitches thrown in-between starts because of the rigorous Japanese training regimen, etc. Yes, I'll argue that Tanaka is more like a 28-30 year old pitcher, if not older, and that he's definitely going to break down in the first four years of his deal and have to undergo surgery. Also, he relies more on torque/movement than having elite velocity (like Darvish), so there's another red flag to consider. Kids in warm weather in the USA play all year as opposed to those in cold weather climates who don't play half the year. It doesn't make them an old 31.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 29, 2014 -> 09:42 AM) The good news is, the White Sox have an overwhelmingly LH hitting lineup, so a RH pinch hitting option is going to be desperately needed. As I stated months ago, the odd man out with Konerko coming back is Jordan Danks. Is Jordan Danks better off playing every day in Charlotte or being the 5th OF in Chicago? Konerko and his .900+OPS takes Dunn's spot vs. LHP. Whine all you want about it, but it isn't weakening the team.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 10:45 PM) But those are actually the kind of versatile veteran bench players we need. I'd rather have him than Keppinger, at least. And he would make the minumum salary. A major league team needs players like Alex Liddi? Try again. He has one tool, power. Strikes out more frequently than Adam Dunn. Doesn't walk and defensively, although you can put him in at several positions, he doesn't play them well. I have seen guys have hard ons for some mediocre players, but to think Liddi has even in the slightest way shown he belongs on a major league roster or taking it farther and saying he is the type of player the team needs is about as ridiculous as your claim Alexei is an old 31 because of what he was doing when he was 13.