Dick Allen

Back to back doubles

Leadoff double

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 07:18 PM) What did Keppinger do? Grounder to him, he had the lead runner between him and first base and instead of tagging him or forcing him out, he threw to first. The runner took second and scored on a single.

Watching Keppinger play 2nd, has to make even Beckham's biggest detractors appreciate him more.

I think the Dodgers would trade Ethier. I wouldn't want him.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 02:13 PM) So, I guess we're just screwed. If the Sox have a shot, they will find something. I was really surprised Hahn didn't put his stamp on the team this past winter. He probably wishes he did now, but it's hard to make trades for significant players this early. Teams don't want their fanbases to think they are giving up on the season 20 games in.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 09:52 AM) Just FYI because it gives context: league average BABIP is pretty much always around .300. So, you would expect nearly all hitters to be +/- 15 points from there in a given season. Yes, but league average is well over a .179 batting average, which is what Adam is sporting in a White Sox uniform.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 11:33 AM) The reason Mark Buehrle has had a successful career is that he's got the mind of a child? Hmm, I bet there's some advanced metrics out there that could better explain why Buehrle is effective with an 86 MPH fastball. The first part of Hawk's quote was left off when he said the use of all the data is turning some players into robots. While it sounds silly, attitude does play a huge role in how you perform just about anything. Buerhle is not out on the mound worry about his K rate or his WHIP. He's out there to win a game. I think that is what Hawk means. I don't know how many players are actually turning robotic like Hawk suggests, but I'm sure there are several. After all, in the end, it's all about getting paid.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 09:38 AM) Of course, you're right, and I admit that it won't be easy. However, even if Dunn starts to hit, I don't think it's realistic to expect him to improve upon last year. Waiting for that to happen isn't a viable option, because even if it materializes, it's not a solution. Even last year's Dunn would not represent a good enough bat to hit clean up, not with all of the strike outs, and the .200 average. The Sox may have an extra starter to trade if, and when Danks comes back. If he can return to form, they would have 4 viable candidates for left handed starters; Sale, Danks, Quintana and Santiago. It's hard to imagine that some team wouldn't be interested in acquiring a left handed starter in exchange for a decent left handed hitter. Wouldn't the Dodgers be interested in acquiring someone like Danks to fill the void created by some of their injured starters? He could be a nice piece for their regular rotation, even after the injured arms return. They have Puig waiting to take a roster spot, and might be willing to swap Ethier's contract for Danks. He has always hit RHP really well. I'd take that deal, would you? It's just seems like such a waste to have such a good pitching staff, and not be able to field a better offense. If Dunn returns to his 2012 form and a couple guys get back from injuries, the offense should be good enough to win. They were 4th in the AL in runs last season. I do agree, I don't know why Dunn is batting 3rd, 4th or 5th. I didn't understand it in 2011 or 2012. I guess the thinking is trying to have as many on base as possible when he bats in the event he doesn't strike out. When he doesn't strike out, Dunn is a .307 hitter during his White Sox career.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 12:22 AM) How many times in the history of baseball has a slugging, low contact/high K DH type totally changed his approach as everyone is suggesting and become Wade Boggs/Tony Gwynn/Ichiro? We've seen pitchers adjust to pitching without their fastballs later in their careers or after injuries, but Adam Dunn bunting and going to the opposite field or trying to hit the ball on the ground? Never will that happen in a million years. Dunn has never had more than 9 singles in any month he has been a White Sox. He has 3 so far this month.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 09:40 PM) All things being equal, Tekotte has a bit more speed and Danks a bit more power, but it's not like there's a CLEAR difference. Both are mid 20's candidates for 4th outfielder (bad teams) or the final spot on the roster (good teams). Maybe some Sox fans WANT Danks to succeed more or hype him because of his brother, but he hasn't done much (yeah, he had one game winning homer last year) to warrant the hype...if he existed alone in isolation and there was no John Danks we were on the hook for $50 million or whatever, he wouldn't matter so much or be such a hot topic of discussion/debate. I agree with this. If the White sox need either player to be successful in order for the team to be successful, they are in a lot more trouble than even the biggest pessimists think.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 06:45 PM) Wow, you just tried using career minor league averages to prove one player is better than another. Talk about fun with numbers. Why don't you look at their AAA numbers and adjust them for league differences? Oh wait, that would support my point! You told me to check their minor league numbers to determine who is better. Not that minor league numbers determine who is better, but you would think someone mentioning minor league numbers as the proof one player is better than another would have at least looked at their minor league numbers before making that claim. I just did what you said. Sorry. At least the Sox were able to overcome Jordan Danks sitting on the bench today.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 01:02 PM) What? http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft...0&type=team 2011 Randall Cobb was pick 64 (late 2nd). They drafted Jordy Nelson pick 36, early 2nd round in 2008 James Jones 2007 round 3 Greg Jennings 2006 round 3 Since 2006 the Packers have drafted 0 WRs in the first round. How do the Bears pass? Simply supply and demand. If you can get a substantially better talent at one position now, and you get roughly equal talent later, it doesnt matter if they are 1 or 5. It matters the separation in talent. And WR is a position where there is a ridiculous pool of taleny. When your QB is Favre or Rodgers, your receivers can be 3rd round talents. How would Calvin Johnson be stopped if Rodgers was throwing him the ball? I am not so sure Cutler falls into that category. That said, I think it is highly unlikely they take a WR in round one, but if they did, he wouldn't have to be too productive to be one of their finest first round picks in years.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 01:23 PM) It's not that Danks is so good, it's that Tekotte is so bad. Look at their minor league numbers and tell me who is better. Career minor league numbers: Danks ..268/.355/.426 steals about 15 bases a year Tekotte .268/.355/.444 steals about 30 bases a year.

Quintana has only around runs in one inning this season.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 01:05 PM) First, Danks is ahead of Tekotte on the depth chart. Second, Danks is way better than Tekotte. Third, Tekotte has like three ABs this year and he should not be trying to find his rhythem at the major league level. He may hit four HRs today but the decision to play him makes no sense. I hope he makes me look stupid but I find it extremely unlikely. Danks is way better? What is it about Jordan Danks that makes people think he is so good? What has he accomplished other than nice numbers his 3rd or 4th try in AAA? A lot of not so good players do that. I find it extremely unlikely he hits 4 homers today, and that includes batting practice, if they took it. I'm not high on Tekotte, but I am certainly not going to be upset he took Jordan Danks spot in the line up. If Jordan Danks is someone who needs to be in the line up, I think the beef shouldn't be with the manager. It should be with the guy who makes the roster.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 12:54 PM) Please tell me you aren't arguing that playing Tekotte makes sense. I would have Wise in the line up myself. Maybe he's sick or something. If Wise were in the line up people would complain maybe even louder. Tekotte isn't any good, but it's not like Danks is any better at this stage. The legend of Jordan Danks around here is beyond incredible.

QUOTE (Cali @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 12:50 PM) It's funny that people are mad at Tekotte. He was on second base, that's scoring position, like those people ever move. All he did was get them out of the inning a few mins early but with the same amount of runs scored. Reliever comes in with runners on first and second and nobody out. 2 pitches later, he was out of the inning. You can't get through a half an inning that fast in strat o matic.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 12:46 PM) All line drives in the box score. It's contact and getting on base which is more than I can say for the majority of the lineup. And limited sample size ,I know, but I want a string of wins with some runs. Danks has also fanned 3 times in 7 AB. He's really not the answer. Maybe a good 4th or 5th OF some day, and really playing sporatically is something he will probably have to learn to do anyway. Odds are really against him being a regular player.

Does anyone have a list of teams who have bottomed out and then attained "sustained success" in a few seasons?

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 12:27 PM) Danks and Wise and Tekotte. Danks goes 2 for 4 since call up, Wise on opening day roster . Tekotte kills a rally with base running blunder. So yea of course he's starting. Keep in mind one of Danks' "hits" was a pop up to the pitcher.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 12:25 PM) Baseball Prospectus has a new series going where one of their prospect guys (Adam Sobsey) does reports from Triple A leagues east of the Mississippi http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=20347 Yes, I know it's behind a paywall, but he had a good write up of a Jake Odorizzi start against Charlotte. But he discussed Jared Mitchell and his problems. I'm not going to post the entire 3 paragraphs (BP is wonderful and worth the money) but I thought this paragraph was good: Mitchell’s at-bats tend to run deep counts. He’s not just up there hacking, and he doesn't mind taking ball four. His 15.4 percent walk rate so far in 2013 is 21st in the league, and he has a history of getting on base via free passes. That would seem to indicate, perhaps, a mechanical problem, as though Mitchell knows what he wants to swing at but then can’t hit it when he gets it. But his manager, Joel Skinner, had a different take on it: “People key on the strikeout [pitch], but sometimes it’s the pitch before that he’s not playing. If he’s not playing that one, all of a sudden you’re later in the count.” As a consequence, Mitchell finds his plate appearances growing more fraught as he fails to take advantage of a better pitch to hit early in the count. This seems to be the same thing the White Sox have been stressing with Dunn.

QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 11:39 AM) Yes, now that someone said the Bears would draft a WR, I have heard everything. Might as well take Matt Barkley Actually, they could use a burner.

What is funny to me is some of the same people who think Dunn should bat 9th or not play or think Ventura is stupid for batting him 4th, are some of the same people who always tried to make a case for him batting 3rd last year when he hit .191 the last 4 months. I think when some were giving out "grades" at the All Star break last year, Dunn was hitting .205 and someone graded him a B,and he was ripped to shreads saying Dunn deserved an A. Keep in mind, Adam is only 2 homers off his April total of last year. The guy certainly is no all star, but he cannot be as bad as he's been. He is somewhere in between. For those of us that want the White Sox to win, he is going to have to produce, there really is nothing else. For those who want to rebuild and want the White Sox to lose, instead of complaining when he strikes out 3 times and goes 0 fer, you should be doing cartwheels.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 10:18 AM) Well, I should be more specific. By "bad pitches" I don't mean balls vs. strikes, but rather including breaking balls that (at least) start out in the zone as opposed to exclusively fastballs in the zone. This philosophy strikes me as intuitively dumb, considering that pitchers throw breaking balls in the zone for the sole purpose of tricking hitters into swinging at them. Dunn is getting blown away by fastballs in the zone. He's really not getting killed swinging at breaking pitches. Hopefully it is correctable to the point where he can be useful.