Dick Allen

He's right. It usually stays pretty slow except for the Marlins dumping payroll, until the free agents find their spots. The Winter Meetings usually are a dissappointment trades-wise. They always say "this year will be different", and hopefully it will, but usually it's not.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Nov 24, 2012 -> 07:35 PM) Dave Wischnowsky ‏ @ wischlist Have now heard from more than one connected person that there are indications Tim Beckman won't return to # Illini in 2013. We shall see. This guy posted his comment before DB. What does his recruiting class look like? If it is bad, they are probably going to fire him in a year or two anyway, so cutting their losses makes sense. But if they do that, shouldn't the AD go with him? Common sense would seem to indicate you wouldn't want the guy responsible for this hire be responsible for the next.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Nov 24, 2012 -> 06:10 PM) https://twitter.com/dan_bernstein My # Illinois source can't yet confirm Beckman firing rumors, but does say there's a "good chance" it happens. PLease be true! There's Bernstein and his sources again, always playing the middle of the road, just like someone without any sources who wants to appear to have some. Can't confirm it will happen, but there's a good chance. Thanks for the info Dan.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 23, 2012 -> 10:00 AM) Dick, do you have kids? Every friendship is deep to young kids. Plus they lose 100% of their friends when they move. You are a dog owner and understand that, I moved four times as a kid and moved my kids twice so I understand that. There is a huge difference between you moving and Buehrle spending the summer in a different city. Instead of moving, just say you father took a different job in the summer, and you would go live where he worked during the summer. Is it that huge of a deal he would be in Miami one summer and Toronto the next? Any of these deep friendships the Buehrle's 3 and 4 year olds made in Miami, are 5 or 6 months old. Making new friends isn't as big of a deal when you 3 or 4 years old. They have a unique life. Winter friends and summer friends. These are NOT permanent moves. He lives in Missouri. His kids will always have those friends. They just "summer" in a different city. It's probably a nice cultural experience for them. By the time they are 8 or 9 years old, Buerhle will be retired, sitting on another $35 million or so after taxes. If it is such a horrible thing, you should take the Buehrles to task for being horrible parents by having their kids go through all of this so he can play a game and make millions, not feeling sorry for them, after all, they did chase the money when they left Chicago. Unlike typical families, Buehrle should have the financial security at his young age to make a choice. If this is bad for his kids, he doesn't have to play baseball. He doesn't need to make any more money. Put it this way, his kids just take a long summer vacation every year. For the first few years of their lives, it was in Burr Ridge. Last year it was in Miami. Now it will be in Toronto.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 22, 2012 -> 11:21 AM) Does anyone disagree with this: Bottom line, I believe good parents want to be with their kids, I believe most children want to be with their parents. I have empathy for parents (regardless of what they do for a living) and especially children, when that can't happen. I don't believe you can buy your way out of that. I don't believe money can replace being there as a parent. "Sorry I missed out on most all the important moments in your life, here's a car"! And honestly, I don't believe YASNY believes that a car really replaces anything. Is not being there and then buying kids things really how anyone wants to raise their children? And I agree Mark's situation is better than some truck driver struggling to pay bills who can't pay off his kids later with new cars. He has the resources to fly his family to him on off days. But imagine being the kid who is leaving your new best friend because your dad gets traded. Are you going to swap your best friend for a new bike? Swap your school for a the latest gaming console and be happy? I have empathy for the kids and adults in that position. Not sympathy, empathy. But maybe money can buy happiness. If you were a friend of an athlete who is sitting in your living room and says I'm really bummed, I have to move again. The kids are just getting settled in, they have new friends, are comfortable with the school, and now we have to move. If they stay with me we have to get rid of their dog. What would you say? Just buy them a car when they turn 16 and they will forget about it? It's your choice, you could quit. You are playing baseball for a living, your kids just have to deal with it? I would say with empathy, man that is tough. Have you thought about some ways to help out the kids? Maybe have a couple of their friends come up north this summer? That is also what I think YASNY and NSS would say. Which is why I'm confused they are disagreeing with me here. Anyhow, unless someone quotes me directly, I'm not certain what more I can say. It seems like some of you are saying f*** it. they are rich and don't have feelings like the rest of us. Or because he is blessed to play a game for a living his kids don't need him at home every night. If I am misreading that. I apologize. I think you are misreading the point. First off, in the case of Buehrle, I don't think his kids are old enough to be really forming deep friendships and their in season home is different from their offseason home anyway. Mark Buehrle didn't move his family to Florida for the entire year. Just the baseball season, and if being with his family full time is needed, he has made plenty of money BEFORE he ever went to the Marlins, to walk away from baseball, be with his family every day, and lead a far more comfortable life than the average person. In fact, he has talked about retiring for a couple of years, but the money seemingly was too hard to pass up. His kids will be in Toronto. A world class city. They can make new friends, and have new experiences. Sometimes broadening their experiences could be a positive. They will see their father just as much as before, and the trip from Missouri to Toronto is 400 miles closer than it was to Miami. His dog on the other hand is out of luck, and as a dog owner, I know that probably hurts Buehrle more than most non pet owners would ever know.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Nov 22, 2012 -> 09:42 AM) Anderson bats left-handed, so this may be the guy who takes some of the at-bats against right-handed pitchers from Flowers (assuming no AJ). Was once a highly thought of prospect. Maybe he finds himself and does what you are saying, but I really doubt the Sox are counting on him to do anything but catch in Charlotte.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 22, 2012 -> 08:55 AM) I don't believe when you become a professional athlete you stop being human. Leaving your kids for months at a time should be difficult no matter what you do for a living or how much you are compensated. So whether we are discussing soldiers getting paid $, business people getting paid $$, off shore oil workers getting paid $$$, or athletes getting paid $$$$$, I have empathy for anyone who wants to be with his kids and have a choice in where they are living. Do you really think when you are walking out the door saying goodbye to your son, telling him you will see him in a month he really cares how much you make or what you do for a living? Daddy, will you be at my kindergarten graduation? No, I have to be in Cleveland. Daddy will you be able to see me in my first game like the other dads? No, those dads only make a little money, your daddy makes millions, so I will not be there. But you should be happy I make so much money, you can have anything you want, except a dad at graduation and your first game. I teach so many kids whose parents aren't around. Some voluntary, some involuntary. Bottom line, the parents aren't there and it sucks for the kids. I appreciate the point that they make a lot of money, and they get to play a game for a living. They travel first class, and have all the accouterments of luxury. Their financial futures are secure. But they are still human, their kids are still human. To think that somehow your kids won't miss you because you are a baseball player earning millions isn't right. To think you won't miss them because of your bank account balance isn't right. I don't believe there is much comfort in money and applause when it comes to the bonds of a parent and their children. Are kids banned in Canada? How is Buehrle's family situation any different than it has been the rest of his career? The beautiful thing about it, is if being away is too much, he has mad enough money in his early 30s to stay home the rest of his life and never work again.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 12:50 PM) With Wise, Danks, and Tekotte all being LH hitting OF's, I think De Aza is gone. Alejandro will be getting a raise and doesn't feel as comfortable in CF. I don't necessarily agree that it would be the best move but I think the writing is definitely on the wall. The White Sox need a leadoff hitter. De Aza is that guy. They really have no other option on their roster. Unless they are signing one or trading for one, De Aza won't be going anwhere. Tekotte and Wise being signed doesn't signal De Aza's exit.

For 2013, Wise is a better bet to outperform Jordan Danks. Chances are neither of them will be playing in the major leagues 2 or 3 years from now.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 12:14 PM) Are you suggesting that baseball players should not care where their kids are living or if they are with them or not? I don't believe athletes should give up being good fathers and mothers simply because they are athletes. Sure it's easy to say someone can just switch careers, but that isn't reality for many people. Good and bad come with every job. Can't I have empathy for fireman who have to be away from their families for 48 hours at a time? Or business people who have to travel? Doctors who have to be on call? Maybe you have a family and don't mind being away, but most people do. In Mark's case he accepted a position with a company in a place of his choosing but now is forced to change. Most people aren't forced to relocated without any influence on the decision. He knows he can be traded at any time. If that is a problem, they can get a normal job. He is away from his family most of the time anyway, especially if his kids are in school because he doesn't live where he plays in the offseason, and he won't yank his kids out of school to hang with him for spring training. Plus he's on the road for 81 games every year and usually families don't travel with the team. He didn't pack up the family and move them to Miami, just like Chicago wasn't his permanent home. Why is Toronto any different than being "away" when he played for the Sox or the Marlins? Canada isn't a 3rd world country located at the other end of the planet. It will be the same situation as before, except for his dog, who will probably have to stay with family members while he and/or his immediate family is away. Buehrle and his family live in Missouri. In fact, it's closer to Toronto from Buehrle's permanent home than it is to Miami. Where has it been reported or rumored Buehrle wants no part of Toronto?

Toronto is actually a pretty nice place.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 08:46 AM) For minimum wage, he wouldn't be a bad guy to buy low on. For the minimum, he's definitely worth a shot. He can play a million positions, and be used as a pinch runner. Not bad for the bench if he could at least hit a little bit.

2005 Sox were a 99 win team. Added Thome, added Vazquez, yet lost in 2006 to a team that finished 28 games behind them in 2005. Put a good team together and anything can happen. You can blame the WS run for wearing down the pitching, but guess who just had the same run, except they didn't win?

Against everyone else except the White Sox, Guthrie was pretty bad last year. If the White Sox ever find a way to hit him, that contract will be laughed at.

A part-pitbull had my dog's head in his mouth once without being provoked. My guy was minding his own business. I was down on the ground trying to pry his mouth apart. The other owner was screaming "baby, baby", I guess that is the code for him to back down. I was as horrified as I have ever been in my life. No one will convince me pitbulls won't turn on you at the drop of a hat, not their fault per se, but the breeding IMO has made them unpredictable. My dog is a 16 lb. Cavalier King Charles who never bothers anyone. My dog was alright, a few wounds. It was really quick. He does bark at pitbulls when he sees them on the street now, and I don't go within 30 feet of them when I'm with him.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 08:48 AM) As someone who relocated with young kids I do have empathy for athletes who are force to live in areas they might not have selected on their own. It is tough on the kids and the rest of the family. Plus, having to get accustomed to a different country. No amount of money reallly helps the kids getting use to a new school, new friends, and all that. They can always pick a different profession. Buehrle isn't going to re-locate his family to Toronto. If his kids are old enough for school, I'm sure they will be attending in Missouri. The majority of the baseball season falls outside of the school year, and he's only "home" half the time anyway. It is a pain I'm sure, but not nearly as difficult as moving a family permanently. It's really no different than him being in Chicago or Miami. Those weren't permanent residences either. Up until now, Buerhle has made $90 million. If it were that much of an issue, he could always walk away and lead a rather comfortable life.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 19, 2012 -> 03:20 PM) Led the AL in WAR in 1994 (7.3), 75.4 batting runs created. Depends whose WAR you are looking at. The Baseball Reference has his WAR 3rd behind Lofton and Griffey, and Frank's offensive season if you pro rate it out, is better than Cabrera's 2012 and it's really not close.

I'm pretty sure if the MVP were voted based entirely on sabermetrics, Frank Thomas would have won zero MVPs.

I doubt Buehrle wants anyone to feel sorry for him. JR told him to take the money and he did. Good for the Buehrles IMO.

Cabrera hit 17 homers 7th inning or later. He also had a .720 slugging pct. with 2 outs and RISP. As Hawk says, don't tell me what you hit, tell me when you hit it. This guy came up big in key situations. Trout had a great year and most of the time would win an MVP for the season he had, and was deserving this year. I can't stand the guy, but Cabrera's win is more than justified.

I'm sure this doesn't mean anything because wins and losses apparently are an overrated stat, but the Sox won a higher percentage of their games when AJP caught vs. games Flowers caught.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Nov 18, 2012 -> 11:43 AM) 2 Top 100 guys and Adeiny Hechavarria is a pretty good prospect himself, finishing 2011 in AAA with a .389/.431/.537 in 25 games then following that up .312/.363/.424 all while being rated the best defensive SS in the Eastern League in '11 and PCL '12. Add in those 3 guys with Yunel Escobar who has a very valuable contract and they got a pretty good deal for the future. I thin it is a safe bet not one of those guys will ever be as good as Jose Reyes. It is a good trade if you are rebuilding and have to free up,some money, but that is not what it was. It was a trade to free up some money for Loria to put in his own bank account. He probably has lost any chance for fans now. I would think with Reyes, Stanton, Bonafacio, maybe Logan Morrision comes back, Johaon, Buehrle, Nolasco, you had a team with a couple of pieces that could easily be considered a playoff contender. Pulling the plug shows they have no commitment. The park is built, lease is signed, Miami got played. I can understand how Selig cannot reject the trade, but for him not to put pressure on Loria to get out would be sad. I hope this is the end of public money going into ballparks. The guy has a $20 million payroll now. BTW, Escobar is a cancer. They couldn't wait to get rid of him in Atlanta, they couldn't wait to get rid of him in Toronto, and it will be the same any other place he goes.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 17, 2012 -> 05:43 PM) From a strictly baseball standpoint, it definitely sets them up way better for the future. The problem is that all the other stuff overshadows the baseball side of it. How does it set them up way better in the future? The fallout alone from this trade is going to cost them. Stanton will leave because there is no way he is going to sign with them. If these players pan out and they want to supplement them down the road with a major free agent, good luck with that. It's not like these prospects are can't miss. I think 1 is a top 100. If the goal is medicrity and yearly profits, then yes, it has set them up way better in the future. I just think if you get that much in public funds to enhance your private business, you owe the community a lot more than what Loria is doing. MLB should be horrified by this, and Bud should tell Loria it's time he left.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 12:59 PM) Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son! Mr. Youkilis....0.0

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 09:45 AM) I know Barbie once said, "Math is hard," but . . . 2012 "Kids Day" Sunday bleacher cost 7/8/12 (me and 2 kids) $38 + $1 + $1 = $ 40 2013 Family Sunday bleacher cost (me and 2 kids) $15 + $15 + $15 = $45 $40 If you drive or bring your wife, it is cheaper, or if you have family that doesn't qualify for the $1 kids ticket, its cheaper.