Dick Allen

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 09:35 AM) Come on, athletes are horrible with accepting their best days are behind them. He has the right to make that call, but so do the White Sox. If Hahn thinks Konerko is done, then loyalty should have nothing to do with it. Making bad baseball decisions for the sake of being loyal is a real bad way to run a baseball team. If Jerry wants to reward Paulie for his years of service then give him some token job in the organization that doesn't affect the 25 man roster. Even taking a 2013 Konerko, it isn't a bad baseball decision having him play against LHP. His batting average was over .300. His OBP was almost .400. His OPS was over .900.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 08:53 AM) What's the point of bringing him back though? His only value at this point comes as the weak half of a DH platoon. Is that really worth a roster spot? And what if Robin decides to give Konerko more starts than that and ends up cutting into Abreu's playing time? Unfortunately, I could totally see that happening and IMO that would be bad for Abreu's development. Also, we can all try to minimize the percieved value of the 25th man, but there is a reason even contenders take advantage of expanded rosters come September. The value of having an extra arm in your pen goes well beyond the WAR he provides. When Santiago has one of his 5 inning starts or the team goes into extras, it's real nice to have a pitcher that can simply eat innings and protect the rest of the staff. IMO, it's much harder to have a designated long-guy with a six man pen. If your starters can go consistently deep then maybe it's not a problem, but I don't think we're there yet. The point being the White Sox treat their guys with dignity and respect. Maybe it means nothing, but it certainly doesn't hurt their reputation, which could come back to them someday, and Paulie has earned the right to make the call, and I don't think he would come back unless he thought he had something left in the tank. If Konerko came back, I don't think it would be at the expense of a pitcher, I think it would mean a guy like L. Garcia, who can play both infield and outfield makes the roster. A guy like Jordan Danks is who it costs a job. No big deal.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 07:16 AM) I'd be perfectly happy platooning Dunn, but whose spot on the roster are you giving up to bring back Konerko? Honestly, I think Keppinger would have to go if we bring back Paulie. And quite frankly, I'd much rather have Keppinger on my bench than Paulie. Both would play primarily against LHP, but Keppinger can technically play mutliple positions which is important with a four man bench. I'll always love Paulie for what he's done for us, but giving him a farewell tour doesn't make much baseball sense. It's the 25th man on the roster spot. For the saberguys, that's generally a replacement level player anyway. A young player would be better off playing every day in Charlotte.It will tie Ventura's hands a little bit, but in the grand scheme of things, it won't cost the Sox wins. If Paulie wants to play for the Sox, it's the right thing to do. I still think he isn't coming back.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 07:18 AM) He did actually have a .973 OPS against LH starters while putting up a .717 OPS against RH starters. However, he had only 110 plate appearances against LH starters compared to 497 PA against RH starters. It's hard to say what his OPS would have been against LH starters if he had more plate appearances, but I would guess it would be lower. Interesting stat, though. You are wrong. Look at the numbers more closely. He had a .973 OPS in games he played where a LH started. Not a .973 OPS vs. LH starters.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 06:38 AM) I've posted it before, but I'll post it again. Dunn had a .973 OPS off left handed starters last year and for his career his OPS is higher off of left handed starters than it is right handed starters. If you sit him against lefties to start Konerko you are hurting the lineup. You are misinterpreting his numbers last season. He did have a .973 OPS in games the opposition started a LHP. He did not hit lefties very well . He cleaned up on RH relievers. Konerko was the opposite. If he comes back, Konerko can hit against the lefties and Dunn would be available if they switched. Granted, it's not a great solution, but playable, especially if you don't think the Sox really can win next year.

I don't think he comes back, but it is a bench spot, and would mean the end of watching Adam Dunn trying to hit LH pitching. Not ideal, but not the end of the world, especially if you don't believe the Sox can contend in 2014.

QUOTE (Baron @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 08:20 PM) http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...r-catching-plan Basically stating that the White Sox could bring in a vet on a short term contract(1-2 year deal) and platoon with one of the catchers on our roster. Opens up a few possibilities. Which makes sense if they don't want to max out on losses in 2014, and what they are looking for isn't available at a orice they want to pay.

I think the Sox were more interested when he didn't cost a draft pick. Besides hitting homers, i think they thought of him as a nice veteran influence on the younger players. His "value" was going to be more than his numbers indicate, but with Abreu signing and Curtis getting a QO it doesn't appear to be in the cards.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 06:06 PM) It is November 12. No reason for him not to shop around and see if he could get more. It's also negotiation. There is a great chance that offer from a mystery team does not exist.and if Ruiz was really offered that, he should take it before the team offering it comes to their senses.

Hahn says probably no more free agents, so that means no more free agents. Ruiz's agent says he has a 2 year $20 million offer, so that means it is true? I think if he had that offer he would be signed by now.

They have wanted Granderson since when he was a Tiger. Supposedly they had identified some flaw in his swing. Considering they cannot correct the flaws in the swings they do employ, I don't know if that really means anything. I don't think he is coming, but KW usually gets his man. Eventually.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 12:44 PM) I'd be balls deep into trying to get Castro if he were available. Q would no doubt be the starting point and then you let it flow from there. Max Stassi did just put up an .863 ops in AAA as a 22 year old. Astros could conceivable move to him were they to trade Castro. I think you have to be real careful trading catchers that actually show they can hit in the majors. Tyler Flowers put up a .993 OPS as a 23 year old in AA, but it was in Birmingham, notoriously a pitcher's park. It's going to take a ton to get Castro, if he's even available.

QUOTE (dayan024 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 01:58 PM) Nick Cafardo ‏@nickcafardo 34m AJ Pierzynski and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf enjoyed breakfast at the GM Meetings. But don't read anything into a White Sox reunion. This isn't true. Everyone hates AJ. No one would go to breakfast with him without it being for a reason, and there is no way JR enjoyed it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 10:09 AM) http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/print...ws&c_id=cws Flowers confident heading into 2014.... I have no doubt Flowers could one year put up a Brent Lillibridge 2011 offensive line, and just like when Lillibridge did it, some will think he turned a corner, but reality then sets in. IMO he is a back up.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 10:00 AM) I don't think Dayan is allowed to make less money than he did before in arbitration, so he will earn more than the average arb. player with a track record like his I think they can give him a 20% cut. Depending on what his number is, the arbitrator then looks at both numbers and decides which is closer to his worth and they win if it goes that far.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 09:23 AM) Ha! Did my math wrong. Just corrected it. Still, 8M left if they go to arb with all four, AND don't trade anyone - which I doubt they do. I'd be surprised if they didn't cut a few million or more somewhere, which puts 10M+ in play. That is enough to go get Salty, in theory. But I also don't see them making any significant moves beyond that. There is no reason to panic and no reason to think we really have any idea exactly what they can and will spend in 2014. Why would Hahn throw out a number that can't be changed? Saying you have room to take on money doesn't help you negotiating in trades or free agency.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 09:52 AM) Depends on how many of them are hit to RF down the line versus the area in RCF where it really juts back out...you have that Pesky Pole, what is it, like 308-309 or 314? Obviously, the Green Monster saves a lot of homers and doubles and turns them into singles...but, just like old Tiger Stadium, you can hit a fly ball/pop up over the wall and it would be an easy out at Safeco or in Minnesota, for example. I'd love to see the hit chart for where most of his doubles were hit....were they pulled down the line, to RCF or to the opposite gap or down the 3B line? Salty's doubles were pretty much split evenly at home and on the road. He hit 9 homers at home, 5 on the road. He also had a .372 BABIP. I doubt he can sustain that. He is in for a letdown offensively.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 09:17 AM) Uribe was not underappreciated. Uribe was completely unreliable, struggled badly for several years, and contributed mightily to the years when the White Sox underperformed. He provided solid defense on the world series team and a stellar 2004 campaign. Whatever. He was a solid defender who hit home runs. He also helped the team playing 3B in 2008 when Crede went down and Josh Fields wasn't the stud many thought. I got ripped plenty of times for defending him. That is just a fact. Now 5 years later, some want to bring him back. It's almost as funny as a thread where people want Greg Walker back.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 09:05 AM) Keppinger would be a UT for them to back up Frazier, Phillips, and Votto and be a solid PH off the bench. It would really be a swap of back ups. There is speculation now that the Reds are preparing for a big trade, sending out Mesoraco instead of Hannigan. Considering no one wanted to give Keppinger the contract the Sox gave him last offseason except the Sox, and considering his 2013 performance, I think there is a good chance Kep is a White Sox in 2014.

Uribe was very underappreciated when he did play here. Remember "snacks and cakes"? Now, 5 years later, the thought of bringing him back is overappreciating him. I always like Juan, and know he is capable of good things, but he always seems to do better when playing for a contract. I think Semien is going to play 3B for the 2014 White Sox unless they bring in an at least close to stud 3B.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 04:59 PM) If a suburb offered to build them a new stadium and mostly pay for that stadium on its own? Yeah, I'd do that too Even if it would hurt your already questionable attendance? Money is the motivation. They obviously feel they will make mor money in the suburbs.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 04:54 PM) I know little of the area but NSS did say this: Atlanta isn't a big public transportation town. Do you really think the Braves would spend some of their own money, a bunch of public funds, just to build something that will be harder to get to for the majority of their fans? They really aren't dumb.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 04:33 PM) You can move a stadium closer to your ticketholders and make it harder for them to get there at the same time if the transit options aren't there. I don't think that is true in this case.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 04:12 PM) Than AJP, yes. Because if he bounces back, he's young enough to actually help our team. But if AJ plays like he has the last 2 seasons, he helps the team. Suzuki would have to not only bounce back for one season, but several. Odds of that happening IMO are smaller than AJ being a regular catcher at 38 or 39. Plus the sox want to be better next year. AJ buys them a year to find a more permanent solution.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 01:41 PM) It's just that it delays the inevitable. We aren't going to find all our 2016 White Sox this year, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be searching for all of them. I'd rather snatch a reclamation project like Kurt Suzuki or something than AJ. Kurt Suzuki? Really?