Dick Allen

QUOTE (59th street @ May 17, 2012 -> 09:15 AM) This is why inter-league play needs to end. It is grossly unfair to AL teams when playing in NL parks. I know it puts $ in owners pockets but it destroys the integrity of the game. I wish the owners would create a position in MLB senior management that could look out for big picture issues like this and resolve them responsibly........ (hello Bud Selig...FIX THIS!!). While a blanket inclusion or elimination of the DH is probably too much to expect; I will never understand why MLB simply does not allow the AL teams to utilize the DH in NL parks. The NL teams all have no problem switching to the use of a DH when playing in an AL park. This is a simple and IMMEDIATE solution to a significant issue of competitive fairness. Why the AL owners/GM's do not demand that this occur has always mystified me. Its usually unfair to NL teams in AL parks as they wind up with a reserve player DHing.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 17, 2012 -> 08:34 AM) Unless the Sox are willing to make the decision that Morel isn't going to be a part of the organization in the future, he should play. Once they decide he isn't a part of the rebuilding, then move on. I agree. Brent Morel Sept. 140 AB 34 hits 11 HR 26 RBI .242 AvG Brent Morel all other months 449 AB 101 hits 2 HR 27 RBI .225 AVG. It would be interesting to see the no spin opinion of the organization in regards to Brent. Obviously, he has teased, but his bad as gone on for a while and its not like he's a 22 year old.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 17, 2012 -> 08:27 AM) The 2nd best option is a 31 year old who is a 3rd baseman but he hasn't sniffed the Mendoza line since 2006. Seriously, it doesn't look like this is going to be the year the Sox hoist another flag, Dan Johnson or not. They might as well stick with Morel to see if he, like Beckham and Viciedo, can make something of themselves.

You know its sad when a popular option is to bring up a 32 year old playing out of position who hasn't sniffed the Mendoza line in the major leagues since 2007.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 17, 2012 -> 07:46 AM) You don't want Dunn trying to play RF at Wrigley. He did last season with at least 25 additional pounds. You don't want them hitting anything to him no matter where he plays, but you may get lucky and have a game where everything his way is routine.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 16, 2012 -> 05:36 PM) I haven't met any White Sox players, Dick. No, I'm wondering which White Sox players you actually enjoy as players. I'm guessing Konerko has a shot because KW had nothing to do with his aquisition, but other than that.................

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 16, 2012 -> 05:26 PM) I guess concerns over Danks and Humber's performances and Sale's elbow are just musings. Who do you like on the White Sox?

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 16, 2012 -> 01:57 PM) I think I'll become a good White Sox fan again the day Alex Rios is finally an ex-Sox. You just have to hope he plays out of his mind and someone is dumb enough to take him off JR's hands.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 16, 2012 -> 01:36 PM) What about the possiblity that Ohman just isn't as good as he was 5 years ago, and his stuff is getting a lot more hittable for righties? 3 homers allowed in 21 at bats against righties so far this year. That's why I asked about his velocity so far this year. That's possible, but then he shouldn't be on the team. He can't be batting practice against RH hitters because no matter how hard you try, he's going to be facing them. He really has never been very good.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ May 16, 2012 -> 01:12 PM) With that in mind, is anyone on this site qualified to criticize, well, anything? The line of reasoning that it takes experience to comment on experience invalidates virtually all conversation here. Ventura has no experience managing and had made some seemingly big errors thus far. Using Ohman against righties at all when others seem available seems to be a glaring one. Does it seem that way to you, or not? Perhaps now we could get to the actual discussion? Criticizing is fine, but calling out his "lack of experience" when you don't have anywhere near his experience and acting like you have all the answers, is like the guy who never goes to games but complains about the attendance. As I pointed out earlier, Ventura has used Ohman vs. RH hitters at a smaller or equal clip than any manager Ohman has ever had. He's at a 59.25% vs LH hitters this year. It would be a career high. Torre used him for the exact same percentage and number of hitters faced (54) in 2009. There are also things we do not know. There may have been relievers you think were available or should have been available, that were not. The bottom line is if Will Ohman can't get a RH hitter out, he shouldn't be in the major leagues.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 16, 2012 -> 12:33 PM) Interesting article here, if nothing else for the fact that Spiegal pretty clearly states that Cooper manages the pitchers, and Ventura has no say at all. I remember that being stated early in the Guillen tenure. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/spi...ie-we-expected/ If this is 100% true, I fully expect Robin to resign at the end of the season.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ May 16, 2012 -> 12:18 PM) I never said that, straw man, but I can definitely tell when a manager brutally mishandles a baseball game with an extremely dumb decision, and then makes an even dumber rationalization. So you know exactly how every guy in the bullpen was feeling yesterday, and who was available, and if he went to others how they would have shut the door. I'd rather they beat Detroit than the Angels, but if it could screw up the bullpen for mulitple games, sometimes you can't be afraid to lose. Nothing was guaranteed no matter who he put in. Just about everyone in the bullpen has been knocked around lately. I don't like Ohman on the roster, but it is what it is. I just don't understand playing the lack of experience card when you yourself have less.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ May 16, 2012 -> 11:59 AM) I don't know. You're looking at one stat. Granted, it's a good measurement of a player's ability to get on base and his power, but that doesn't tell the whole story. He's on pace (based on the same number of PA as last year) for 19 doubles, 12 triples (very unlikely), 4 HRs (low), 55 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 39 walks...with a .275 BA. Last year he had 22 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HRs, 44 RBIs, 11 solten bases, and 27 walks...with a .227 BA. Granted his projected numbers aren't all star caliber, but they are a significant improvement over last year. There's no question he's better than last year, but he's still not good.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ May 16, 2012 -> 11:38 AM) I had a big problem with Ventura saying after the game that "you don't try to win them all" (or whatever he said) Listen, first-year-manager-at-any-level, a division game against the presumptive best team where you have a lead at home - I'm sorry but that's one you are going to try to win if it means you have no one left in the pen for tomorrow. This underscores my entire problem with the philosophy this season from the general manager down. It makes zero sense to have Ventura learn on-the-job while we are doing this in-between semi-competing semi-retooling bulls***. Kenny has set him up to fail miserably in big-game situations like this because he has zero experience. On topic, f*** a bunch of Will Ohman. Yet, as far as anyone can tell, you've never been a coach or a manager in professional baseball and you seem to know exactly how to run the bullpen.

I think they knew it was coming. Cooper had 99 on his hat and they had his jersey hanging in the dugout. RIP.

QUOTE (Wedge @ May 16, 2012 -> 10:10 AM) So basically the issue is simply that Ohman is a s***ty relief pitcher. Seems like Ventura is running into similar problems that Guillen ran into: a half full bullpen and two or three holes in the lineup. Tough for anyone to manage around that. That's the problem every manager has with loogys. There are more RH hitters than LH, and if they are using them with the game on the line, usually a manager has a replacement for an average or poor LH hitter. The only way Ohman faces 90% LH hitters is if he's facing guys like Fielder or Ichiro or Hamilton, so he's going to have to get RH hitters out at least somewhat. His career numbers indicate he is exactly what you described.

2011 Adam Dunn, let him bunt. 2012 Adam Dunn, let him try to hit one in the seats. There's a decent chance he'll get on base anyway.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 16, 2012 -> 10:05 AM) Phil is still touting the possible trade between the Sox teams. Now he has added Crain as a possible compensation for Youklis plus the Bosox have to pick up lots of Youk's salary. I still question why we would want to do that? I don't understand Rogers' logic. If he believes the thinking on this is straight, I don't know how he blasts KW for Peavy, Dunn, Rios, Manny, etc. like he does over and over again and rightfully so, at least in a couple cases.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 16, 2012 -> 09:49 AM) Megabust Gordon Beckham 2011 OPS .633 Megabust Gordon Beckham 2012 OPS .576 Juan Pierre 2012 OPS .740. As much as people want to say Rios has turned the corner, he really hasn't.

In 2009 with the Dodgers and Joe Torre, he has the exact same breakdown as this season, 54 batters faced 32 LH,and his results are the same. So apparently Ohman has been misused his entire career. I do suppose you can make an argument that if you put him in a game, he's being misused. But the fact is no other manager in his career has him facing a larger percentage of LH hitters than Ventura.

Another Will Ohman fact. 59% of the batters he's faced this season have been LH. Last year it was 49 %. His best year, 2008 with the genius Bobby Cox, 46%. So Ventura has him face a smaller percentage of RH hitters than any manager.

Ohman has faced more RH hitters than LH hitters during his career. The one problem with LOOGYS is when they are in with the game on the line, they are either going to face a real good LH hitter or the opposing manager will pinch hit so he's going to have to get out a RH hitter. If there was a line up stacked with LH hitters and Ohman came in when the game was pretty much out of reach, he'd look like an All Star.

Megabust Gordon Beckham career OPS .694. The new and improved Alex Rios current 2012 OPS .713.

QUOTE (mcgrad70 @ May 15, 2012 -> 06:12 PM) The only GM crazy enough to trade Youk for Thornton is Kenny Williams. So, that won't be happening.... The more I researched Youkilis, the worse he looked. He's probably an upgrade offensively over Morel, at least until September, but not much of one.