Dick Allen

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) Reality just called and mentioned that no one is able to store a bunch of extra major league ready pitchers in the minors. There are plenty of pitchers the White Sox have they think will be major league pitchers. If you want to use reality, reality says if Dylan Axelrod pitches in the major leagues for your team, he is going to get hit hard. If you need an emergency pitcher for a game or 2, I would rather have it be someone with decent stuff and a 5.00 ERA in Charlotte who teams haven't seen before than Dylan Axelrod at this point. Once he went around the league and teams had seen him, he truly was throwing glorified BP.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) I think it's more for the rookies so they aren't making him go. When we've ran this camp before though some of the non invited would show up anyways so hopefully he did. That makes sense, and hopefully he did is right. 3 1/2 months removed from the 2013 nightmare, you sometimes forget how awful a lot of these guys were last season.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:25 AM) Where Bassitt goes depends on what they think his role is going forward. If he is still a starter, he'll likely start the season in B-Ham, then go up to Charlotte if he does well and a slot opens up. If he is a reliever long-term (which he may be, and which he actually prefers doing), I could see him going to Charlotte to start the season and being a mid-season call-up to Chicago if he does well there. Axelrod does have value, in the role he's set for. Basically, would you rather have Axelrod (who dominated AAA and was borderline to bad in the majors), or a guy like Nick McCully or Tony Pena Jr or the like (who dominates AA or maybe does OK in AAA but hasn't seen the majors)? Neither are real starters in the majors, but I'd rather have Axe as my 7/8 guy. As the season goes on, if a real SP prospect comes along and needs the AAA slot, you can send Axe packing. Axe has value as long as he is not taking the mound for the White Sox. Other than that, I really don't see how McCully or Pena would be worse. For the first 2 months last year, Dylan wasn't bad, but then the league caught up to him and surpassed him significantly. He was hit hard and often.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:50 AM) Dodgers are trying to extend Kershaw this week. That would be great if he got 300+ and it hopefully takes them out of Tanaka knowing they have to lock up Hanley too. You would think eventually the Dodgers have to start caring about money, but wouldn't it be awesome if JR was able to throw around money like that, and the Sox would be in on everyone all the time?

Is Flowers participating in this hitting camp? I haven't seen his name mentioned. Pretty ominous if Nieto and Phegley are participating. I think Tyler may be getting dealt. Who knows, maybe Flowers eventually gets sent to WAS to let the Sox keep Nieto.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:52 AM) He had a fusion surgery. Peyton Manning had a fusion surgery on his neck in May of 2011, had to have additional surgery after that in September, and wasn't able to even begin doing any work whatsoever until December. He wasn't 100% until probably 18 months after the surgery (and really, he's probably never going to be a full 100%). The issue is not fully resolved yet. I still have no problem if the Sox sign him to a minor league deal. They can then control his rehab and maybe get him some late season work in the minors with the hopes that he might be able to get back some sort of effectiveness by 2015. Plus he hasn't thrown in 2 years, and will probably be closer to 3 or even more when or if he is ready. No one is going to sign him, so if the Sox decide to throw him the bone, they can wait until he is ready to actually throw.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:29 AM) I don't get this post. First, I think it WOULD help him potentially move on with his new life - if we are caring about that. Second, when is a minor league deal some big time-consumer? Have a scout watch him work out, if he can sorta pitch, sign a contract and send him to the farm (probably A ball at first, then AAA when/if he's up to speed). Third, the affiliates would LOVE to have a guy like that around. Fourth, really, look at who pitched in the Charlotte pen last year. A few are actual prospects... most are not. He's not going to get in anyone's way. I'm surprised anyone could see this as a bad thing. Because baseball is not the real world. He is done as a baseball player. Why don't the Sox just sign 1000 guys to minor league contracts? Bobby made $26 million, now he needs to make sure his life is straight and make sure his kids lives are OK. Didn't he mention he needed to be a better father? How does spending 6 months away living a pipe dream accomplish that? Plus, I think he is a shaky influence at best to the younger players in the organization. Bobby wasn't always the most mature guy around. I once saw an interview where he blew his nose into his jersey right on camera. Some may think that is hysterical, but it showed a lack of several things.

Bobby's last year with the Sox wasn't so good. His only year with Boston wasn't so good. He hasn't played the last 2 seasons, and probably won't be able to pitch this season. That would make next season 6 years removed from being good , with several back surgeries, one that almost lead to death, a rehab stint and not having thrown for 3 years. It would be a waste of time signing him to a minor league deal. And for what? The White Sox owe Bobby nothing. Throwing him bones doesn't help him. He needs to move on to reality and make sure he has his life straightened out. 1 in a zillion pipe dreams of being effective in the major leagues doesn't do that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:57 AM) Being able to have your AAA team include guys who have been in AAA before, have had a stint in the show, maybe even have friends in the show, have heard suggestions from the major league pitching coach, and can help your AAA team actually win games and have a shot to go to the playoffs...all those are good things. That still doesn't explain why Axelrod would be considered "depth". I have no problem with him in Charlotte, but if he is on the White Sox, it is going to be another long summer.

I have always wondered why having someone around you hope you never have to use and if he's used he will most likely be terrible is considered "depth". My definition of depth would only include useful players.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 07:28 PM) We've had worse in camp. Considering he has fusion surgery in October and will need up to a year to recover, and hasn't pitched in a couple of years anyway, I don't think this is true.

Looks like he will be rehabbing most of this year. I think at this point, if he has his life together, that is the most important thing.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) Has this been done before? Three days is odd. Must be intense or the Sox are trying to teach these guys a different approach. It makes some sense. They will be working out on their own until Spring Training, might as well see where they are at and what you want them to work on.

A lot is being thrown out there and chances are 99% of it is bunk.

Omogrosso is back as well. Hahn is putting the band back together.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) I think everyone realizes he's not major league material but as another poster pointed out, he's not the worst fill in, in the world if he's like the 8th option. If he's the 8th option, he is pretty close to the worst fill in. I think this signing was more doing Dylan a solid, letting him keep pitching and maybe getting another team interested in his services so he can continue his career with someone else or spend the summer in Charlotte.

If Axe is on the major league roster and starting, something went terribly wrong. Look at his splits. He actually pitched better at home. On the road hitters hit .377/.425/1.002 against him. Good filler for Charlotte, but anyone who thinks there is something there is dreaming. It's luck if he gets through games relatively unscathed.

The Dylan Axelrod Experience is not necessarily over for White Sox fans.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 10:39 PM) http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-los-angel...00213--mlb.html A lot of the same reasons for the Angels not signing Tanaka would seem to apply to the White Sox at this point as well...both teams are at least one year away from being in a realistic position to take on a contract like that with all the other weaknesses both teams have across the board in terms of being "playoff worthy" teams. Even though they have been reported as a finalist, the Angels never met with Tanaka and I don't see why they would. They can't afford him. They still have to pay Trout.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) I kept seeing that pop up on yelp, I'll have to check it out. If you are in Rogers Park, you should hit the Evanston location and get a charburger which is made on a grill I believe. It's thicker and you have it prepared like you wish. If you are looking to gain a few pounds, their fries are outstanding and come several ways, although one order is good for mulitple people. Their shakes are awesome as well. They don't have charburgers at Lincoln Park, just griddle burgers which are 5 guys, Steak and Shake style. The Evanston shop is a couple blocks from the Davis stop on the Purple line.

Edzo's Burgers. I loved 5 Guys until I hit this place. It makes 5 Guys seem like Mickey D's. The original is in Evanston. The newer one is at Lincoln and Webster.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 12:10 PM) It is inconsistent. And it is that way because MLB wanted it that way. This is true. If the steroid thing didn't blow up with Balco and Biogenesis, 50 homers a year wouldn't be considered spectacular right now. MLB would still be looking the other way. There is no doubt ARod was hung out to dry here, although it looks like he cheated, they are getting this info from a guy who told a different under oath. He said in the arbritration hearing he didn't have a masking program, but couldn't get off it during the 60 minutes witchhunt. I wonder exactly what his penalty would have been if he still was playing at a level worthy of his contract. I bet he wouldn't have received more than 50 games.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) All I'm saying is that it's horribly inconsistent. Why wasn't Gaylord Perry banned from baseball for life? I do agree that at least some cheating has always been embraced by baseball. Old timers still laugh about guys corking bats, throwing spitballs, scuffing balls etc. Even now, catchers are being praised for framing pitches. Making balls appear to be strikes. Isn't that technically cheating? . Guys have been popping pills for decades. I guess the answer is you have to draw the line somewhere, but it is no doubt inconsistent.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 09:57 AM) And that's about when Chicago Sportswriters/talkers started calling him fat and saying that's why his numbers were dropping off. ? He gained 40 pounds and won back to back MVPs. Look at him in 1990 vs. 1993.

Teams with probable lottery picks this year aren't trading them. The only way to get one is to get really, really bad. The Bulls won't be able to get bad enough.