Dick Allen

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 21, 2013 -> 12:08 PM) We have the 3rd worst record in baseball. Tweaking isn't going to solve our problems. You can keep avoiding this hard truth all you want, but thank god Rick Hahn doesn't share your optimism. Change is coming in the next 10 days and it is much needed. Having said that, we have a championship caliber rotation in place, even if we move Peavy. That's a great starting point and provides us with an opportunity to become competitive again much sooner than some people realize. However, for that to happen, Hahn needs to cash in on some assets at the deadline and acquire a couple of young bats that can be part of the core going forward. If Hahn can accomplish that and acquire a couple bats in free agency over the next two years, I think 2015 is realistic to be legit playoff contenders again. Again, the key here is acquiring two young bats that we can develop in 2014 along with Beckham, Viciedo, Phegley, & possibly Gillaspie. The sooner we have some young, cost-controlled hitters in the lineup that we can actually count on the sooner we will be competitive. Have you talked to Rick? Publicly he has been far more optimistic about the White Sox immediate future than anyone. Pitching is there, they need offense. The 1976 White Sox were one of the worst White Sox teams ever, the next year they were the Southside Hitmen. This year has been quite simialr to 2007, when for a decent part of the season, the Sox had the worst record in baseball. 2008, they were in the playoffs.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jul 21, 2013 -> 11:33 AM) I for one hope we do have Rios after the trade deadline and into next year. I think he is as good an OF'er and hitter with speed as anyone we have on the team and in our system. He is in demand, but the one that we should be discussing is Viciedo. What is up with that guy? He has an above average arm and it's exciting to see him throw out baserunners but where is his hitting? Where are the homers we saw in 2012? I sure don't want to see us give up Rios for some AA prospect and then throw in cash at the same time, if in fact he is traded. Rios offensively has contributed to the Sox in a positive manner. I don't see this team in a must trade situation where we tear everything down to rebuild. Tweaking works just fine for me I agree with you. Plus Rios is essentially playing for a contract next year, which should give him some extra incentive. If they are getting crappy offers for him, and wanting the Sox to pick up cash, keep him.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 21, 2013 -> 08:21 AM) I think you completely misunderstood Rosenthal's point. He's not saying we can't move Rios, which is what your "take him off their hands" comment seems to imply. He's trying to say for the Sox to get what they want, which is near major league ready position prospects, they would have to throw in money or even some lower level prospects. A team won't take on his full salary and give us that type of return. Again, that doesn't mean Rosenthal thinks we can't move him or that Rios doesn't have value. I think we all take these little twitter updates for way more than they're worth anyways. Who is leaking all this information to these writers in the first place? GMs and other front office personal with a motive to increase the demand for or hide their interest in certain players. Every one of these updates should be taken with a grain of salt, because they're all mostly bulls*** to begin with. Rather, it's better to look at supply & demand and historical deadline trends to set expectations. As I stated before, his value is not anywhere near what some think. The report that the Pirates wanted him and Alexei was great, the only problem is when have they ever picked up that kind of money, and why would the Sox send enough money to make the Pirates really interested? He isn't bringing the Sox a top of the line prospect. He isn't or at least wasn't "about to be traded" when he was correctly told to sit down the other night. Anyone who wants to put any blame on Ventura for Rios' " trade value" simply doesn't have any idea what they are talking about. There is a better chance Rios is a White Sox on 8/1 than not. Of course Rios can be traded if the Sox eat enough money, that's not unique.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 10:02 PM) Rios is gone after 2014. If the team really wants to rebuild, there is no reason for them to keep Rios. Rios' trade value isn't affected by Ventura sitting him. It is affected by Rios dogging it. My point is Rios' is probably as close to being traded as more than half the White Sox. The reports were the Sox were dissappointed in what was being discussed. Rosenthal even speculated the Sox would have to throw cash and/or a prospect to take him off their hands.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 04:29 PM) The organization shouldn't really care if the team wins for the rest of the year or not. Rios not running out a ground ball that cost the Sox 1 run in a more or less meaningless game isn't a huge deal. What is a big deal is Robin Ventura telling everyone he benched Rios because he didn't run out a ball hard. Now you might be stuck with Rios because nobody else wants him. How does that help the future of this team? Ventura blew up a non-issue. If you're Robin Ventura, you probably shouldn't care about what kind of baseball player Alex Rios is at this point. He's going to get traded. But it's so f***ing stupid to degrade the guy's value right before he's going to get traded. You're not seeing the big picture here Greg. Losing one run during a game in a lost season is meaningless. Losing out on a better prospect who can help the team in the long run is meaningful. I know you hate Alex Rios, but that doesn't mean you have to hate what he's going to get traded for too. Again, it is no secret Rios dogged it. He even admitted it. Ventura did nothing wrong. He held Rios accountable and put the White Sox, not Rios' feelings, first. Maybe it woke Rios up a little bit. Big picture is the White Sox future. Chances are, Rios is going to be around for a while.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 11:21 AM) He isn't exactly getting a lot of pitches to drive. He isn't exactly walking every other AB. The fact is he is slumping, and has been for a while, just like he was when the Sox acquired him and I was resonding to his post that his performance back when Toronto couldn't get anything for him was far different than what he is doing now. The fact is, it is almost identical.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 01:05 PM) Why have we consistently paid more and received less in trades for the last decade? Looking forward to your snarky response. Why do you constantly make up things to whine about. You have never let facts or common sense play a role in what you post. At least you gave yourself an appropriate name.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 11:07 AM) Peavy has to go this year given his injury history. I hope the Sox learned a lesson keeping Quentin too long. Garza was hurt last year and this. Peavy's injury wasn't arm-related.

No need to settle for anything with Peavy. He will be in the same situation Garza is now, next year.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 10:41 AM) Changes in context, like length of remaining contract and performance, are important. Surely even you know this? Entering his prime while making less on average per year than he is making now. You also realize Rios has 1 homer in his last 54 games and his total numbers are getting pretty average don't you? And if team A would give every other team a B prospect for Rios, why wouldn't they give it to the White Sox? Just total foolishness.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 20, 2013 -> 06:30 AM) Rios is owed about $20 million through 2014. Sox executive vice president Ken Williams has become more involved in potential acquisitions and has scouted the minor leagues, according to a source. I have said this earlier Hahn is not being given full reigns and KW would make final decisions. KW pulling rank is wrong let Hahn do his job. If that is what is happening, and I take from the statement the same thing you do, I agree. Besides, trading veterans for prospects was never a KW strength.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:30 PM) So with the stunt Rios pulled tonight? How much does this affect his trade value? Optimistic, he's still a very good player. And honestly, we know a lot of hitters dog it to first. Pessimistic, Hahn will get low ball offers still, we'll be with him for another season. It certainly didn't help his value, and I don't mean the benching, I mean the loafing, but he is one guy where the reports are the offers are weak, so for them to improve, he is going to have to be really good the next 10 days. Maybe he realizes he let his teammates down tonight with his lack of effort and comes out tomorrow on fire.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:32 PM) Who knows what other conversations and consequences have gone on behind closed doors that led to this. Viciedo was sat down for some curious play. To not sit Rios when it was so blatant, in a tie game, I don't think Ventura even had a choice.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:17 PM) Yep. Any other organization could get a decent, grade B prospect for him, but not our pathetic front office. What did Toronto get for him?

Anyone complaining about Rios being pulled who ever complains about accountability ever again is totally full of s***. This isn't just about Rios, it sends a message to the other 24 players.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:14 PM) He picked a helluva time to make a point. Great managing. So let me get this straight, the scouts in attendance didn't see him loaf, and had he remained in the game, the one AB he missed would have been so spectacular teams that really had little imterest would have started offering Hahn his choice of their prospects for Alex's services.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:17 PM) Yeah now someone may finally notice that Rios doesn't try hard 100% of the time. A lot of players dog it down the line, but that was way too blatant to let slide.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:10 PM) If he's benched, it's a dumb move when you are trying to build a player's value. It's not that complicated. I've never had the "no one is held accountable" stance. This is a bad team. It's a talent problem, not a motivation problem. How does playing an unmotivated player build his trade value? I guarantee you, if the reports that no team was offering much for him up until now are true, his dogging it again hurt his trade value. The Sox would have been better off sitting him the entire game. Who wants a guy that costs your team a run in a tie game because he didn't try?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:11 PM) Here's a tweet from a guy named Ken Laird: "MLB Network talking about Alex Rios, analyst mentions Ozzie Guillen pulled him from multiple games in past for not running hard to 1st" I did not know that. I know he did at least once, and that is when Rios and KW almost came to blows. Ozzie benching Rios was tough because they are good buddies. It could be because KW was a common enemy.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:00 PM) I can't believe ventura would bench rios right now. Yeesh. It may get him to play harder. The BS move not running is a lot more hurtful to his tradeability than some think. Anyone that trades for him needs him to hit the ground running, not acting all disinterested and costing your team at least one run by not even half assing it.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 10:00 PM) Why you say that? Pottsburgh beat writers say no Rios to the Pirates.

Maybe getting pulled will get him to play a little harder.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 09:56 PM) I see good on base percentage. What is so great bout him, though? A 5-foot-11 shortstop? Not blasting him. Stats don't indicate special-ness. Greg your guy Ozzie was a tiny, skinny SS.

If he was traded, it wasn't to Pittsburgh.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jul 19, 2013 -> 09:40 PM) Like 50% of players? Tie game runners on the corners, groundball to SS its bobbled yet Rios is out at first by 2 steps for the DP.He was loafing, and is most likely not playing right now because of it.