Dick Allen

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) I wasnt alive back then. But youre arguing that no team has ever made a bad decision, no team has ever stupidly fallen in love with a player. So, sorry, unless you are actually Rod Thorn, you are just speculating. And its a waste of time to speculate, because it involves things outside of your control. Like you dont know if the Lakers would have picked Larry or Magic. But yes I get that in 2014 its easy to say what would have happened. Just like we can all say that there is no way the Blazers would ever select Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan or that Greg Oden would be picked over Durant. Oh wait. (edit) Now Im just confused. The Bulls did select Greenwood #2, they could have had Moncrief or Kelser, but picked Greenwood. Are you actually now arguing that the Bulls wouldnt have selected the player they actually selected at #2????? This is really confusing. No. I was confused by your post and thought you were saying there was a possibilty they wouldn't have had Magic or Greenwood. Believe what you want to believe, but Bird would have been a "top" pick in 1979, and if it were guaranteed he would have not gone back to school, more than likely he goes before #6 in 1978.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) You cant definitely say they would have drafted them. Someone passed on MJ with Bowie, someone passed on Durant for Oden. So while you can say "The Bulls could have had Bird", theres nothing to guarantee it. Not to mention: http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-05/sports/sp-83_1_lakers Had the Lakers selected Larry, the Bulls would have gotten neither. So its pointless to speculate. You weren't alive back then. No offense, but Bird and Magic were college basketball, and even if Rod Thorn thought Greenwood would turn out better, there is zero chance he passes on Bird. And if they got neither, they probably wind up with Magic's MSU buddy Kelser or Sidney Moncrief. I doubt they take Cartwright with Artis Gilmore around. It's not like David Greenwood was Mr. Athleticism either.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:59 AM) How can you be so sure? The year before 5 players were picked in front of Bird, none of them were considered as good of prospects as Magic or David Greenwood. So you cant just say "Oh the Bulls would have definitely drafted Bird." I was alive back then. I can definitely say the Bulls would have drafted Bird. Bird and Magic were clearly the best 2 players in college basketball. I don't know how anyone can conclude a team would give up a 6th pick to draft someone they had a definite chance not to sign, and think he isn't top pick material. Just ask anyone who watched college basketball back then if there is any chance the Bulls would have passed on Bird to draft Greenwood. 5 players who signed and played were drafted before him. None that went back to college for a year.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:48 AM) I wasnt alive but allegedly Greenwood was pretty highly regarded and some believed as good (if not better) than Magic. So its impossible to say. There is no way the Bulls would have passed on Bird.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:42 AM) I don't think that's disputing anything I said there. I think going #6 when you aren't leaving school is a top pick. Do you really think the Bulls would have still taken David Greenwood at #2 if Bird were available?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:38 AM) Rose likely can be serviceable. If not the entire ship is sunk because you cant have that huge contract and not even get average production. If he can stay healthy, he will be more than serviceable. He was starting to round into form when he went down with the meniscus. This latest injury isn't nearly the problem an ACL tear is as far as getting back to previous levels. He is still quite young. My fear is more injuries. As long as he's healthy, and gets the rust off, he'll be good to go.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:33 AM) ? He went 6th overall after his junior year despite the Celtics not being sure whether he was going to go pro or stay in college for his senior year (he stayed in school and the Celtics retained his right). And had he been drafted the next season, he would certainly have gone #2.........to the Bulls.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:09 AM) He doesn't have the athleticism to be a top 5 pick in this draft. I don't see it. If that is a killer, neither would Larry Bird.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 09:53 AM) You guys hear Sager's report last night that Boozer was supposedly told by Garpax that he would not be traded "for sure" before the deadline and his contract would not be bought out next year unless it was to bring in a superstar? I wonder (1) if that's true and (2) why Boozer is getting mouthy all of a sudden. He's been so good the last few years of being quiet and playing his game. Why the sudden need to talk to the media? The reason they won't trade him is because they can't. The Knicks are over the cap if Melo walks. Taking Boozer's $16 million next year is $16 million + luxury tax penalty. And the penalties become much more severe next year. What cost the Lakers $29 million this year would cost $75 million next. He can't be amnestied by any team other than the Bulls. Any trade rumor that includes Carlos Boozer is totally made up. Lance Stevenson and/or Danny Granger. Those are guys who realistically might be Bulls next year. And his contract can't be bought out. It is guaranteed. If the Bulls amnesty him, he still gets paid, it just doesn't count against the Bulls cap. I think how it works is they have some sort of auction and the Bulls pay the difference between the high bid and his contract figure.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 08:41 AM) I just hate it when parents say stuff along the lines of "where WE are going to school." You're not going anywhere, buddy. Your kid is. Don't forget it. When that happens, it does give the impression the parent(s) are looking for a little something for themselves.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 08:17 AM) He really is destroying that league. Isnt he going for his third straight MVP, at 22 years old? Nothing for that guy to prove over there, only money to make. And unfortunately, that seems to be the key in the Bulls negotiations He gets compared to Nowitzki, and it is easy to see why in footage. To think he will be as successful is probably a reach, but stranger things have happened. Their offensive games seem very similar.

Watching video of Morotic should get Bulls fans excited. The guy is going to be really good if not great. I wouldn't be surprised if his NBA career is on par with the top 5 guys in this draft. BTW, for the Bulls to get a top 5 pick, they would have to be really awful and really lucky. It wasn't going to happen without a miracle.

Was traded by the Angels for Nolan Ryan. Was hired by Hawk to manage the White Sox.

The Bulls best chance is if Morotic becomes a star. Melo isn't going to be a Bull. Let's be real here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:45 AM) It depends on a couple things...how good you really think Neito is and how much you think it would hurt him to sit on the bench. I think he's a wild card even if treated 100% correctly, so that leaves me in a position of being willing to risk the damage to his development, because I don't see a major downside (and frankly, having him up potentially helps us develop Phegley by getting him regular AB's at Charlotte too). IMO, rule 5 guys are fringy prospects to begin with. If you think Phegley can't and won't hit, I don't know by looking at their numbers how anyone could conclude Nieto would be better. Fringy prospects who miss a year of development isn't a guy trajectory to me. Pitchers I can see, but is there any precedence a rule 5 position player basically be stashed on the major league roster who then ultimately becomes a useful piece? You can have Phegley at AAA, Nieto at AA and let Gimenez be the back up catcher if winning means nothing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:26 AM) IMO, Flowers is already going to get plenty of development time...and I'm not sure he's earned it anyway. Right now he's still the starting catcher unless he's released after ST. And Phegley...phrankly, after his big league performance last season even a good spring training wouldn't convince me that he belongs on the big league team right now. Charlotte for a couple months at the very least seems like a good reaction to how he performed in the big leagues last year. If the White Sox find something of really tiny utility that they'd be willing to give up for Nieto, fine. I'm not even sure I'd give up Jared Mitchell for him right now since all we have to do is keep him on the big league roster. I don't understand your argument. If you think he can be good in the future but isn't right now, keeping him and playing him can make him better. If he isn't ready to play, he is going to get broken on the major league level. Having him up if he isn't near ready serves zero purpose. He doesn't get better, gets little experience and may even go backwards. Playing at AA or AAA he may be ready to help you next year. Sitting on the bench and being overmatched won't help him and can ultimately hurt him. People in the past have complained the White Sox rush their prospects. This is the ultimate rush if you put him on the major league roster. A catcher cannot be hidden. If you think Nieto is a decent enough prospect to keep on the major league roster, wouldn't he at least be worth Jared Mitchell to be able to send to AA or AAA and actually have an opportunity to develop?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) Who is he taking valuable development time away from? Flowers, Phegley. Why are their odds longer than a guy I am assuming you had never heard of or have seen play before the Sox selected him? And you lose development time, so why would 2015 be any better for him than 2014? Stashing mediocre players who aren't reade for a year just to keep them is a waste of a roster spot and money. Especially a catcher who is going to have to play a significant amount no matter what. A pitcher you can use in garbage time. I would really doubt the Nats need a significant return if the Sox want to keep him, so I am guessing Birmingham or Charlotte.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:10 AM) Correct...and I have no problem with that given that otherwise he wouldn't be developing from us at all. IMO, that isn't worth keeping him on the roster. It isn't like he is Ivan Rodriquez.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 09:50 AM) I'd complain more if I felt like he was clearly blocking someone who earned a shot at the major league roster but that just isn't the case with our catcher's spot. I'd also complain more if he was a guy we already had the rights to who was being promoted from A-ball to the big leagues. But quite simply, even if he's an utter failure on the major league roster because he's not ready...having him on the big league roster only improves the chances of the Sox having the catcher's spot filled long term. It adds a warm body to the catching rotation that wasn't there beforehand and does so with no cost in big league playing time to anyone who clearly deserves it. Maybe come July I'll be singing a different tune if Phegley's putting up a 1.500 OPS at Charlotte again, but until then, heck with it. If having him in the big leagues hurts his development...what's the harm to this team? He is 24 years old and hasn't played above A ball. He was a Rule 5 pick up. If he sticks, he will struggle and be a back up, so his development will fall a little more. This isn't like you are getting a first round talent. Unless he shocks the world and shows he is ready to play at least half the time on the major league team, the best case scenerio for the White Sox is they see something they like and can work something out to have him play every day in Birmingham or Charlotte. Having him on the roster just to have him on the roster, and not getting enough playing time to get better, defeats any purpose. It would basically be losing a year of development.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 09:37 AM) If all we did is pick up a free lottery ticket...who cares what the Nats thought? Free lottery ticket. Where that would come in is if you want this guy but don't want him on the major league roster. If he isn't ready to play at the MLB level, you will have an overmatched guy picking up playing time and not progressing. It isn't like he is 21 years old. The clock is ticking. If the Nats liked him very much, they would be less likely to let the Sox have him for what he is probably worth.

A look at the recent history of Rule 5 pick ups would lead one to believe, it probably doesn't matter if the Nats really want Nieto back or not, and in the long run, it probably won't matter if he stays with the White Sox or not., and 2 years from now we will all forget he even existed. But if he was a prospect the Nats really thought that highly of, they probably don't expose him to the rule 5.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 08:51 PM) Disagree with you. I think if you were to ask the offensive coaches in that situation, they'd much rather have a timeout to try to run something. Scrambles with college kids usually don't end up going too well. The offense is the one who has to make a play, giving them more time to create said play usually isn't a good idea. I agree. If you watch an NBA game, the players have no problem with the shot clock running down towards zero. In college, the clock hits 5 and panic sets in. Not setting up a play more often than not will lead to a wild shot especially with the clock winding down.

QUOTE (flavum @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 01:24 PM) Jeter and Konerko retiring after this year. Let me guess...the Yankee will get the victory tour. Considering how many people are actually mad Paulie is coming back, that shouldn't be an issue. Jeter is a first ballot HOFer. Paulie is not. Except for a couple of Gold Gloves, Jeter has earned his accolades in a place a lot of players wilt. If he wants one, he deserves a nice send off.

BP really likes Danks to have a decent year. His HR rate was really high. If he can get it back to near normal, they think he's golden.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 11, 2014 -> 01:06 PM) My mother-in-law wants to get me a birthday present. I want White Sox tickets. My birthday is 4 days prior to single-game tickets going on sale. The White Sox website says to purchase them at Dominick's. That is LOL. Whichever one of you elite gentlemen (or women) helps out gets a cookie. I saw them at either Jewel or CVS.