Dick Allen

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 11:37 AM) What does everyone think the chances are that AJ was cheating? There was an article where some of his teammates (who supposedly hate him) said there was zero chance AJ was on the juice. Supposedly, he is afraid to take any supplements. AJ is a big strong guy. He altered his approach. A little less contact, more home runs.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 11:23 AM) You often turn it to be about the messenger as if you're above the fray. Anyway, the Sox don't have the talent level to contend and rebuild at the same time. Missing the playoffs again because of Viciedo not being able to produce against right-handers isn't worth the time spent to develop him. Your posts are the most predictable posts. What should the White Sox do Marty? Try to contend or rebuild? Or would you just like to stay out of it so you can moan either way? And why are you taking what Viciedo did his first full year against RHP as what he will do forever. Granted he was 19, but look what Trout did against RHP in 2011. Then check out 2012. Viciedo is not Trout, but young hitters do get better.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 10:52 AM) Are the Sox contenders or rebuilders? If they are contenders I want the plan to be Viciedo sitting against RH'ers next year. If they are rebuilding move him to RF and see if he can handle it while you wait for his bat. Developing players means you have to play them and take the pain that learning curves bring. It is what makes them better. Robin Ventura sucked offensively his first year. Viciedo had a better overall offensive season than Magglio Ordonez had his first full year. Just remember, you are one guy that wants the Sox to totally rebuild, yet you can't take any growing pains without constantly complaining about it.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 10:32 AM) Playing Viciedo against right-handers the second-half of the season was the biggest problem (and easiest to correct) with the offense last year. I don't think it's a good idea to put a 24 y.o. who has not proven he can hit in LF. He should be put in RF until it becomes clear that he can't handle the position defensively and his bat develops in order to get max value out of him. What about playing some other guys who weren't hitting when the team collapsed in September? The only way Viciedo is going to start hitting RHP is to play against RHP. He was bad, but he did hit 16 homers with his .221 average. Since he hardly walks, if he hits .221 is OBP isn't going to be very good. I don't understand why Viciedo needs to be platooned if he's a LF but it is OK to develop him offensively if he's in RF. The Sox got some production in RF in 2012, and as much as you think Viciedo is trash, he did OK defensively and hit 25 homers.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 05:35 AM) You would think that but the economics of baseball is becoming more insane. With his buyout, Youk basically got his option picked up.

According to Forbes, the Tigers had $3 million more in operating income than the White Sox in 2011.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Dec 19, 2012 -> 03:11 PM) AJ/Fisk is an apt comparison. Both were anchors for the team a long time, and management has sought to replace/supplement both over that tenure. Not to mention, with the White Sox, their offensive numbers aren't all that different. The Sox wanted to dump Fisk when he was AJ's age in 1983. He did pretty well until he was 43 or 44.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 19, 2012 -> 12:28 PM) Its funny that people want the Sox to load up on prospects, but don't want to let them get more than 15 minutes before they are busts. Well in 2 threads we basically have it all. If you haven't put up HOF numbers your first season, you will never amount to anything, and if you have put up good numbers your first full season, just remember Mark Fidrych. There is no doubt in my mind if Viciedo and De Aza had the exact same performance with another team, they would be far more highly regarded around here.

If you are used to playing one or the other, it might be a little more difficult to play the one you are not used to due to the different angle. Other than that, the throws are much harder in RF. You don't want a weak throwing RF. A good arm in LF is nice to have. A good arm in RF is a must.

According to Phil Rogers, the Sox are offering AJ one year $4 million. They obviously don't particularly care if he comes back.

There was a story about this the other day. Oak Park took them up on their offer and a few parents are all pissed off about it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 04:49 PM) wat Swisher went to Ohio State, so it makes some sense. He also had messages from Matta and Meyer, so it's probably not as pathetic as when Jerry Krause greeted free agents at O'Hare with Benny the Bull, the Lovabulls and a hug.

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 03:13 PM) Yeah he would, cuz they wouldn't have re-signed Konerko if they had Adrian Gonzalez. That's not the point anyway...the point was that no player can be ACCURATELY judged based on his first year as a starter. Mike Trout is obviously not a REAL leadoff hitter. Thanks for the knowledge.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 02:15 PM) The White Sox won't be a beneficiary of any new local TV money for a long time, their contract runs through 2019 (although the team ownership group is also a part owner of CSN, so the owners will pocket a fairly large sum). They will be in the game for the extra national TV contract revenue, but then so will every team. It actually behooves the White Sox always remain competitive because they are part owners of their station. The White Sox are actually hurt by the Blackhawks not playing, and DRose being out, as studies have shown when the teams are playing well, not only does that increase the ratings and the cost to advertise their games, but that also spills over to the station's other programming. And the additional $25 million a year beginning in 2014 will increase payrolls around the league, including the White Sox.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:58 PM) The great case to stay away from him that you didn't note is his contract. True but it isn't THAT crazy of a contract considering what others are being paid, and new TV money is coming. But you would have to wonder why the Dodgers would trade him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:46 PM) Indications are that he isn't being shopped, but teams are asking about him. Yeah it's a longshot, but he wanted some sort of rumor, so why not?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:40 PM) As I said a couple of weeks ago, he's the guy I want. He kills right handed pitching, and he's not a one dimensional player. He gives you high average and OBP, plays good defense, and most importantly, he is that left handed bat that could be the number 3 hitter. I just can't accept Dunn in that spot. As it stands now, the 6, 7, 8 and 9 hitters are all coming of a season in which they had a sub .300 OBP vs. RHP. That is not going to cut it, and Dunn's .211 average in the middle of the order, even against RHP, doesn't help, despite all of the homers. The line up actually looks pretty good against lefties, but that is over shadowed by the lower half of the line up vs. righties, which is what you face most of the time. I wonder how much better Ethier's home run production would be at the Cell. That's all part of the positive/negative with him. He doesn't hit lefthanders at all. His defense really isn't that good, although it has improved some, and Dodgers Stadium is a pitcher's park but his career splits are far better at home than on the road. You could really make a great case to trade for him and make a great case to stay away.

Even if Gonzalez was offered for Beckham, which seems rather unlikely, Gonzalez wouldn't be a White Sox anymore anyway. He makes over $20 million a year.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:22 PM) Schueler sucked. Period. He actually was pretty good until he got ultra conservative after the strike. He was really aggressive his first few years.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:10 PM) All I want for Christmas is a good juicy trade rumor. I don't care if it is real or not. Anything plausible that has a uncertain source like Gavin's cousin's husband or Rich Hahn's cable guy. Anything for Soxtalk to discuss and start thinking about even if we all know it only has a small chance of happening. I miss KW already. Something big was always possible at any time with KW so the Sox could always be the mystery team in all of the rumors. Besides, this would be a good time to notice my sig. Andre Ethier is supposedly available. The problem with him is for every positive there is a negative, although he probably would be pretty productive for a few years.

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 10:39 AM) Bourn has been a full time starter since 2007, whereas DeAza has been a full time starter since 2012. Thus, it's easier (more logical) to predict Bourn's future numbers than it is to predict DeAza's since you have a larger "sample size" with which to use. De Aza was good with the Sox for a short stint in 2011. What is the cutoff for becoming REAL?

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 10:24 AM) I didn't mean to be condescending or disrespectful. I was trying to make the point that NOBODY can predict what a player will do in the future, especially one with such as small "sample size" like DeAza. I apologize if I offended anyone, and will be more careful in the future. Wasn't that exactly what you were doing when you called Bourn a REAL lead off hitter, and implying De Aza was not?

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 09:04 AM) Which is exactly why I picked Buehrle. Dude has thrown over 200+ innings for 12 straight seasons now, every full season he has been in the league. But at some point, that will have to end. I would think he will throw 200 innings, but you never know what may happen. Remember in Spring Training 2005 when he supposedly broke his foot?

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 17, 2012 -> 03:25 PM) He did that ONE TIME! Beckham had a damn good rookie season too, look at him now. Nice argument.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 17, 2012 -> 02:50 PM) People consider accidents with guns all the time. That's why you practice gun safety. You act as though people with guns are irresponsible or something, like anyone with a gun eventually shoots someone by accident. No, but the problem is an accident usually isn't a real small problem. I bet average a law abiding gun owning citizen shoots someone or themselves by accident more often than they shoot someone invading their home. I would also bet far more people have been killed by people shooting guns that were purchased to "protect" homes and family, who were absolutely no threat to someone's home or family.