Dick Allen

Why did Ventura use a Sunday line up? Horrible.

Why can't the Sox hit bad pitchers?

Why doesn't he use LF more often?

I don't like him, but I can't deny, Rios has been playing like a superstar the past few weeks.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 27, 2012 -> 10:00 AM) WTF is Robin doing? Danks, Escobar, & Hudson in one lineup? It's Wednesday not Sunday! Just throwing away a game because his players are tired? Awful!!! He clearly doesn't know what he's doing. First place? This team is supposed to lose 95 games.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 08:16 PM) The rumour i keep hearing is Rocky Wirtz. Aside the fact that is is a sox fan, the word is that John McDonough woul run the club and go 3 for 3 in marketing rebuild successes. Also, the whispers are that no one in Camp Jerry wants to take over when Jerry retires/dies. So even if the ownership groups stays mostly intact(there are still investors from the Veeck days), new leadership may not come from the reinsdorfs or even the einhorns( Eddie's daughter is an mlb exec and MAY come on, but who knows how much she wants to leave nyc) Michael Reinsdorf would love to have his father's job no matter what you may hear.

QUOTE (hawksox13 @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) If Beckham is so weak in the head that he can't handle being moved from 2nd to 9th in the lineup then he'll likely never meet the potential that we all initially thought he had. See the ball, hit the ball, regardless of your spot in the lineup. Frank Thomas thought he'd get tougher pitches to hit batting 9th. He disagreed with the move. One thing Gordon Beckham is not is a diva. The guy has an awesome attitude.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 03:07 PM) How many other times has Dunn hit 23 homers in his first 73 games? Quite a few times actually. He did hit 21 homers the second half of 2004 when he hit a career high 46. In 2005 he hit 17 second half homers. In 2003 he had very similar stats in the first half to the stats now. 25 homers 100 strikeouts. He hit 2 in about 117 plate appearances the second half. Probably got hurt. But normally he hits between 14-16 second half homers when he was consistently hitting 40 a year. Will that mean even more strikeouts and an even lower batting average and OBP?

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 03:06 PM) I can see both sides of the argument regarding strikeouts. However, someone hit it on the head when they said strikeouts are empty outs. Granted, one has a chance to create two outs with a groundball when there are runners on, but putting the ball into play is better than letting it land in the catcher's glove at the umpire rings him up. A flyball can score a guy from third. A strikeout cannot. A groundball to the right side can score a guy from third. A strikeout cannot. A groundball could be...a hit! A strikeout cannot. That being said, we know Adam Dunn is going to strikeout a lot. But being on pace for more than 250? He needs to make an adjustment. He's strong enough to swing at outside pitches and poke them to left field. Imagine if he could do that more often. It would eliminate the shift, or at a minimum reduce the dramatic shift. He's in a major slump right now, and we're more concerned than we might be over another player because of 2011. If he doesn't get a few hits soon and reduce the strikeouts a bit, he could be below .200...and soon. And Dunn didn't hit into many DPs even when he was "only" striking out 175 times a year. The shift helps him with that.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 03:02 PM) I wasn't the one who originally said he was going to hit 55 homers. I think Dunn will hit about 45 homers. Which he's done once in his career. 8 years ago. So pretty unlikely.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 02:57 PM) If Dunn hits 55 homers, 99% of people, including baseball analysts, don't care how much he strikes out. I'm sorry that that's unacceptable to you, but most people do not share your opinion. He will not continue at his season worst 3 week clip for this season. 2011 wasn't his entire career, and these three weeks will not make for a season. This thread ought to be pretty hilarious when he hits like 5 jacks in a week soon. You laugh at the thread, but you should also laugh at anyone who really thinks Dunn will hit 55 homers. You want to look at his career numbers for everything else, you should probably look at them in the HR column as well. Also, 2011 did happen.

The point being 2011 will always be on a lot of fans' minds when Dunn starts struggling. And when you're making history with a lack of contact, its pretty fair to wonder............

White Sox #3 hole OPS is 12th in baseball, not bad, but not $15 million a year good.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) Who cares, If he strikeouts/groundouts/ flyouts.............outs are outs. His HR's, Rbi's, Runs scored and walks more than make up for the K's The point being, these extra ks are extra outs. Your batting average for balls not put into play is .000. He puts the ball in play 60 more times, he's looking at a .240-260 average with more likely more homers and more RBI. Its not normal for someone to add 60 strikeouts to his typical year, especially since his typical year is close to 200. Its what makes me fear he's really not that far away from falling into a 2011 abyss. Last time he struggled like this, he got very hot. I hope it happens again. I do think the Mendoza line could be a very significant psychological number for him. He drops below it, perhaps flashback time.

What's the deal with Michael Phelps and his mom? Seems a little odd to me.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 12:38 PM) On pace for 264 K's. The record is 223. Dunn's high is 199. I think if he could maintain a 199 k pace, he'd hit for close to the same average he'd been hitting before he became a White Sox. Adding another 60 or so to a really high total to begin with hints there is a skill deterioration IMO. Its too many times for a #3 hitter to leave a man on third.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 11:49 AM) He never was signed for his batting average. He also wasn't signed to strikeout 260 times in a season and hit .215. I understand the homers, I love homers, I understand the walks. If he could just strikeout 200 times, it would probably boost his avg. to an acceptable level while boosting his numbers across the board. I really don't think he should be batting 3rd. Especially against LHP.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2012 -> 10:09 AM) He seemed to be most dangerous this year when he would take an occasional swing the other way on a pitch on the outside corner. The guy is so strong he has power to all fields, so it isn't like it would hurt his power numbers in any real way. That's what I think. If he put 50-75 more balls in play, I think he'd hit more homers, not less. As much as I love watching a bomb, the balls that clear the wall by an inch count the same on the scoreboard.

The Sox are now 1 game behind their 2010 pace after 73 games. To get there 2 years ago, they were currently on an 11 game winning streak.

QUOTE (soxmaniac! @ Jun 25, 2012 -> 10:28 PM) I knew this would be coming once the sox starting hitting badly The hitting coach doesnt have much effect on the team Its up to the players to hit. It wasn't Walkers fault that bums like Dunn and Rios could not hit the ball. Its 2012, no matter what, its always someone else's fault.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jun 25, 2012 -> 10:25 PM) Are you just joshing me? We just hired the guy we're not gonna fire him. And I'm not suggesting we do, I'm just asking what Manto is telling these guys. To be honest I'm not seeing a lot of patience up there. I see it sometimes but its not consistent. Whatever he's telling them, it isn't working. Next.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jun 25, 2012 -> 10:21 PM) Whats jeff manto's batting philosophy, does anyone know? Is he a proponent of being patient at the plate and taking walks? Do our guys listen to him? He needs to be fired immediately. Rudy Jaramillo is available.

In 4 of the last 6 and 5 out of the last 8 games the Sox have scored 1 run or less. 3 of those games went extra innings. BBGW.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 25, 2012 -> 09:59 PM) He looks so heavy out there. He's Ozzie's new Jenks.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 25, 2012 -> 09:58 PM) It sounds like it is...rumors a few weeks ago is he wants another veteran bullpen arm. I bet Heath Bell is available.