Dick Allen

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) To call Conor Gillaspie's glove "awful" is quite a stretch. I'd say "solid" or "adequate" or "a tick above Keppinger." He was having an excellent year until a weird, De Aza-esque run of errors late in the season Not a stretch. It was awful the last 3 or 4 months of last year, which is exactly what his reports said he was before he was acquired. Look at the 2013 BP.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) What is it about Paul Konerko's .669 OPS and awful glove that makes people excited to watch him play? Track record. Reduced role. Even in a down year an over .900 OPS vs. LHP, which also keeps Adam Dunn out of the line up vs. the same LHP. Captain. Good influence on others. I heard him talking, saying playing less will allow him to help these guys more. Besides, if you want Gillaspie on the team, he plays 3B and 1B and would be taking ABs away from Davidson and Abreu. I thought that was a no no in your book.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:43 PM) So they're going to keep the right hand hitting backup who plays a poor 3b because he makes $10 million over the next 2 years and release the much younger, left handed hitting guy who fits the roster much better. Well that's a relief. What is it about Conor Gillaspie's .695 OPS and awful glove that makes you excited to watch him play? Besides if Gillaspie is 1/10th as good as you think, there is no reason to release him, teams will be lining up to acquire him.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) I disagree. If Konerko isn't on the roster it is possible (not ideal) that Gillaspie, Davidson & Keppinger all make the opening day roster. In fact, I think as the team currently is assembled (minus PK) that would be the most likely scenario. With Konerko, it is impossible. I don't see how a lineup with De Aza & Viciedo in the corners with Abreu at 1st and PK as the designated hitter isn't possible? If PK isn't on the team it allows Viciedo to DH... but I understand that is a stretch and would only cost Garcia a few appearances but it was worth pointing out. Unless one of the kids flat out has a horrible spring and just cannot be started at the major league level, I don't see how PK won't take at-bats from one of them. If the White Sox biggest problem in 2014 is Paul Konerko on the roster, everyone should get season tickets. The playoffs are a lock.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) I don't know why we should have to release 2 players and pay $10 million for the privileged in order to keep a backup DH on the roster if Davidson does earn the spot. Who are they releasing that will cost them $10 million? Keppinger isn't getting released. Why do you make things up just to complain?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:29 PM) Right now, if he and Gillaspie both put up similar numbers in spring training, he'd miss the roster because we'd want to keep the guy who was out of options and there's no room for both of them. That could be the case no matter how good their numbers are. There could have been room for Gillaspie, Davidson, Keppinger, and a backup OF on the roster if Konerko were not there. The roster will take care of itself. I don't know why you think Davidson absolutely shouldn't start the year in AAA. Someone will probably get traded. Someone will probably suck, someone will probably get hurt. It happens every year, although for a guy who constantly cries about a team that lost 99 games, you sure do seem to think they have a lot of guys who just need to play. Gillaspie, Jordan Danks....these guys aren't difference makers. They ride pine and play for second division teams. The goal is to be better than that. If they go somewhere else...........who cares?

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:20 PM) I think there is a real chance that Davidson doesn't break with the big club because of Konerko's place on the roster. Also, I think it is possible Viciedo could have plate appearances at DH taken away by PK. It could stream all the way down to Avisail sitting for PK as well. Finally, the most obvious is Abreu. So, there are 4 players that are crucial to the future of this ballclub that will be directly effected by your opportunity to chant "Paulie, Paulie".... from your couch at home because no one goes to the..... If Davidson is not on the opening day roster, it isn't because of Konerko. It would be because of Davidson. Why would Garcia sit for Konerko? That makes zero sense. Abreu might get a break, but the White Sox gave him $68 million. He is going to play. The guy who will have his time cut is Adam Dunn vs. LHP. I don't think anyone is opposed to that. All other complaining, is complaining to complain. It really is ridiculous. If the Sox win 85 games, they should have lost more so they would get a better draft pick. If they have Konerko on the bench, it's going to really hurt them because a guy who most likely should be in AAA anyway isn't going to be on the roster. Give it a rest. Konerko on the roster hampers Ventura a little bit, but not enough to make the difference between going to the playoffs and having a miserable season.

I've been to several cold games but my limit is now 40 degrees. A playoff game, I would probably go lower, but my couch is way too comfortable and my TV way too nice to be that cold. I love going to games when it is comfortable.

It's OK to be "selfish" in baseball as long as you perform. Pete Rose was considered all about Pete Rose, but that didn't stop him from winning. Frank Thomas was always concerned about Frank Thomas' stats, but that didn't matter. It only matters when you suck and your team sucks. I would imagine Eaton is going to rub some of his new teammates the wrong way, just like most guys, but they really won't care as long as he puts up the numbers and helps them win.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:17 AM) I mean every game where he gets the honor of starting against a lefty, he gets to pop out weakly when they put a righty reliever in against him in the 7th inning. Or they go to Adam Dunn and he gets to hit against the righty. But keep moaning about a bench player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:08 AM) I can't find the joy in watching a guy who can't contribute. He is going to DH vs. LHP. What did he do against LHP last season which would indicate he cannot contribute?

While I believe Cutler hasn't lived up to the hype since he was acquired,(there was talk of an immediate Super Bowl, even by Peter King) and I'm a little different from most of his fans as I think the definition of franchise QB is one that overcomes obstacles like poor lines and shaky receivers and still has success, rather than blame all failures on other team shortcomings which would make him IMO a little short of that tag, I can understand holding on to someone of his talent. Especially a franchise that has had a ridiculously hard time acquiring competent QBs.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 10:33 AM) Jesus Christ is that a s***-ton of money. How much did they think he'd get in FA? It must be structured in a way where the cap hit is far less.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) I think they can still draft a heir apparent and stash him behind Jay for a few years like the Packers did with Rodgers. It may not be this season, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was. Who knows, maybe they make a late play on Murray or Mecklenburger because of their injury issues and let them come up slow And there is always a chance McCown could walk away so they would need a back up.

The Bears telegraphed what was up like a Rick Mirer pass when they sat the hot McCown, and showed everyone Jay was their guy. Getting it done and out of the way quickly ends the speculation, but using any kind of logic, this was a done deal unless something really bad happened to Cutler like a career threatening injury. For all the speculation about what was on the line in his last start, most likely, unless he got hurt severely, he could have thrown 4 pick 6's and been brought back.

How many players have ever gone on record ripping AJP?

Someone posted something on here when he was acquired that basically said the same thing. All that matters is if he can play or not. If he plays like a scrub he will be an annoying asshole. If he plays spectacularly, he is just a focused individual.

Jesse Crain to Houston. They don't seem so sure he will be ready by Opening Day.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 11:48 AM) When I say Davidson "doesn't have much left to prove in AAA," I'm saying you can't put him there and justify it as a developmental need. You can put him there because you have a "logjam" at 3B, but you'll be doing it at the expense of Davidson's development. The guy had a decent year in a hitter's paradise while fanning a lot of times. There is a very real chance he isn't ready for the major leagues, at the very least, defensively. I don't know how it is at the expense of someone's development that they go play and have success in AAA vs. getting buried in the major leagues. It's not like this guy has been in AAA for several years. He's either ready or he's not. It isn't going to be a "logjam" issue. His play will determine where he plays.

QUOTE (Tannerfan @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 11:43 AM) The sad thing is the re-signing of Konerko is what's messing up the versatility of having both Conner and Keppinger on the roster. No room on the roster for Keppinger and Gillaspie? There goes the World Series.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 10:32 AM) That could all be posturing by Hahn to not collapse the value of Connor. The one thing all these young guys acquired have that they really didn't have much of before, is opportunity. They really aren't blocked by anyone. They perform, they play in the major leagues. The Sox are expecting them to be key contributors for years. It should give them some confidence. They have talent. It's a question of putting it together. Most likely not all will. Hopefully more do than do not.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 10:06 AM) I actually hadn't realized Morel was that high - a bit of a surprise. And while I agree with your overall point about prospects, I stand by what I said earlier - he's the starting 3B barring an unusual set of events occurring. Hahn did mention the possibility of Charlotte. I don't think the Sox would trade their cheap closer for a guy they thought needed much time in AAA, but we will see. It's all up to him.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 08:07 AM) On the bolded, only half true. Brent Morel was never regarded as nearly the prospect Matt Davidson has been. Not even close. Fields was a T100 name at one time, that is true. I'd be surprised if Davidson wasn't the starting 3B on the Sox on Opening Day. Only was he isn't is if the Sox are unable to move an infielder before then, AND if he looks terrible in ST. Possible sure, but not likely. Pre-2011, Morel was the BA #85 prospect. Davidson has never been that high. Fields was #95 in 2005, and #45 in 2007. Borchard was top 20 at one time. Brian Anderson was top 50. Simon Castro was top 60. Prospects are still suspects until they actually succeed.

Davidson is far from a sure thing. Josh Fields and Brent Morel were both at one time ranked higher as prospects. Time in Charlotte is a definite possibility.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 02:25 PM) He's not the perfect 4th outfielder, particularly given his issues with "keeping focused" that we saw last year. We have a pretty darn ideal one in Jordan Danks. De Aza is a solid 3rd/corner OF on a team that needs one and has other guys who carry most of the load. In what world is De Aza not perfect, but Jordan Danks "pretty darn ideal"? I seem to recall Jordan having his own baserunning problems in the past, and he is not nearly the offensive player De Aza is. He is much better with the glove, I will give you that, but Danks is no kid. He is older than Beckham.