Dick Allen

I think the people who were really upset about Ventura where just putting way too much into it. It's not like he's trying to split an atom or perform delicate brain surgery. He's been around baseball his entire life. It pretty much was his life for many years. Running a game shouldn't be difficult. He had Cooper around to help him know the pitching personnel if he hadn't already. Players were sick of either the Ozzie/KW dynamic or Ozzie himself, and if you're sick of Ozzie, Robin is the perfect replacement. The only other major thing is getting respect in the clubhouse. He was a good player with a terrific reputation. He has an even keel personality. It wasn't hard to figure he was going to command respect in the clubhouse. Someday, however, just like everyone else, the Sox will lose a lot more than they win, and he will become an idiot.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2012 -> 04:36 PM) BMAC was such a fan favorite, it was understandable. I was really happy for him this year. I hated that trade myself. It didn't make sense to me. I did become a big Danks fan and hope he fully recovers. I still think he's a lot better than some think.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 2, 2012 -> 02:33 PM) I feel like everyone is giving Robin too much of the benefit of the doubt already in this thread. His team responded to him and done well so far, but in no way am I ready to call him a great manager. He still makes plenty of WTF decisions. This team went through a carnival the last two years, so just have a quiet calming presence in the dugout would lead to a turnaround in performance. This team also hasn't faced major adversity yet, so he hasn't had to deal with that. I'm not trying to hate on Robin, and I think he could be a good one over time. But I don't think that four months proves that everyone's original opinion was 100% wrong. If that was automatic, there would have been zero negative posts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 2, 2012 -> 02:59 PM) With Houston paying all of his contract. Does that money go with, or does Florida keep it? The Marlins keep it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2012 -> 02:55 PM) His contract ends this year and his OPS is 105 points better than James Loney, for a single example. Same reason the Marlins traded for him in the first place. One big difference, the Astros are paying the Marlins. If you claim Lee, you have to pay him his entire contract. The Marlins were trying to trade him and wanted teams to eat $2.5 million even though they essentially are paying him the minimum.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Aug 2, 2012 -> 12:41 PM) There's few people that were spot on, including fathom. 'Real' should disable his account yesterday. Was Real the one who said with all due respect, anyone who likes this hire doesn't know s*** about baseball? That was my favorite post. We all have zero experience coaching and managing in the major leagues, yet we all always point out the correct way to manage and coach. It seems crazy to think if a run of the mill message board poster knows all that needs to be known about managing, a guy with 2000 games played wouldn't know the first thing about it. I could see if he had a personality that clashed, things like that, but experience was the reason the hire was panned. He had plenty of baseball experience.

I might get in trouble for bumping this thread, but a few people owe Robin an apology.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 04:14 PM) Abreu would be a nice LH bat off the bench. He's not a fit since he can't play defense.

Reed gets a 4 out save.

QUOTE (nhsamtmcspnut @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 02:50 PM) why would they put john danks in left field? He can't pitch, so they want him to earn his $65 million somehow.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 02:39 PM) Exactly. 2B defense can be filled with whomever the utility infielder is. In a pinch (due to injury) you can always stick Morel there and morel is a nice upgrade at 3rd late in games (since youk isn't a gold glover). The big thing is pinch running for Paulie, moves Youkilis to first (where he was a GG), Morel to 3rd.

If you eradicated all the posts with scores and scoring plays, if one were to go through Soxtalk gamethreads, there is no way you would think this team wasn't on a pace to lose at least 120 games.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 02:35 PM) He really is awful. He can't even play SS, so I really don't get the big point in having him on the roster. I think the club should pick Font up as the super utility guy and then bring Morel up if he gets his swing back. If he's healthy, I'm sure Morel is up if only for late inning defense in September.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 02:26 PM) We need to stop riding Jake so hard every time out. When's the last time he threw under 100 pitches in a start? Seems to be doing pretty well.

It wasn't pretty but the job was done.

QUOTE (Caesar @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 02:02 PM) Ive been pleasnatly surprised with Dunn at 1st I think his weight loss has helped him. He's really trimmed down. I bet he's at least 10-15 lbs. lighter than he was on opening day and he had lost a lot then.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:55 PM) so unlike the marlins,did the twins just need a new stadium for fans to start going or is it the whole "new stadium" thing that lasts 3-5 years? I think they really like being outdoors. Its a nice place and the location is fantastic. I don't think they will keep up with their current attendance figures if they keep losing, but I think good crowds are there to stay.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:49 PM) Why are things changing in a clutch situation? Because someone has been clutch in big moments in the past? Would you rather have Craig Counsell or Joe Mauer up bottom of the ninth two outs down one with runners on? Konerko is hitting .325 THIS YEAR, with an OBP over .400.

QUOTE (Caesar @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:49 PM) I'm talking this year. I'll still take Paulie. As Frank Thomas would say, "bottom line, no doubt about it."

I know one thing, if Gordon Beckham was hitting second and struck out after a lead off double, he would have been skewered on this board. Youkilis does it, and not a peep. 5 out his last 40.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:46 PM) late and close, .159 avg for paulie Sample size. He has the greatest late and close result in franchise history.

QUOTE (Caesar @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:44 PM) This year? Rios, without a doubt. I'd still take Paulie. He has a higher average this year and a better OBP.

QUOTE (zirc @ Aug 1, 2012 -> 01:41 PM) Well if there's one guy you want up there in this situation it's...uh...well, the next guy. If the Sox ever really needed a hit, Paulie is the guy I'd want up there.

Adam's throw was a little better than the one he threw to the plate the other night.

The Sox get stuck playing 16 of 19 on the road, get swept in Detroit, and if you go down the roster, except for Rios, just about everyone has struggled mightily at some point recently, yet they still are in first place. It's truly amazing.