Dick Allen

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:37 AM) You're really going to compare that Reds' team with this White Sox team? Now who's the one who is drinking? Molina, Stewart, Hernandez, Santiago etc., have been either in our system for less than one full season or starters for barely more time than that. But what Greg Walker couldn't manage to change in a decade can be undone in a matter of days and weeks by Cooper, that's not a completely impossible standard. And it helps to have guys with major league TALENT and ABILITY to develop. And since when is PHT the Slam Section? I voted for Obama, but I bet I could find 100 times since he has been president that he's flip-flopped his position. Bill Clinton was famous for it. And, what have I changed my position on exactly? For the whole offseason, I consistently supported Kenny Williams against the likes of Marty34. You will see no wavering, go through every single thread if you'd like. Now, I have thrown in the towel. As opposed to Romney, if Obama came out for protecting the American flag from being burned by protestors, Romney would come out for flag burning the next day. I think you might have lost your mind. Ripping Greg Walker again. Check out the Braves offense.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:32 AM) Danny Wright 1-7, 6.15 ERA Josh Stewart 1-2, 5.96 ERA Mike Porzio, 1-1, 6.43 ERA Neal Cotts, 1-1, 8.10 ERA 4-11 So, you're going to tell me that Dylan Axelrod, Stults, Simon Castro, Pedro Hernandez, Santiago and Nestor Molina are going to be a significant improvement there?? I think they are capable of putting up the same numbers El Duque put up in 2005. If Keith Foulke was the Sox closer in 2003, I think they would have won the division.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:24 AM) The point ALSO is that having an ELITE/SUPERSTAR/NASTY BOYS/WORLD-BEATING bullpen does you absolutely no good with a so-so starting rotation on a rebuilding team. What, is Mel Allen going to give us bonus points from the grave for leading the Rolaids Relief Team Bullpen stat in 2012? That's kind of like the Cubs' "attendance trophy" every season. Then keep Sale in the rotation, let him blow out his elbow and watch what caulfield aka Mitt Romney complains about then. Also, the nasty boys won a WS and we have Don Cooper to develop a #5 starter. Shouldn't be too tough, the 2005 #5 starter had a 5.12 ERA

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:21 AM) How many times did the White Sox go the playoffs from 2001-2004 when they had no credible 5th starter? Why should there be any reason to believe that would change now? You're telling me our hitting on this team is significantly better than those years? I think not. So why would there be any reason (other than sheer blind luck) for a White Sox historical pattern to reverse itself in the next 12-24 months? They had a great shot in 2003 if they had a better closer than Billy Koch, the actually were in 1st place the middle of September,and btw, their 5th starter at the begining of 2003 that year was the All Star game starter. 2004, they were right there, at least for a playoff berth, but did lose Maggs and the Big Hurt. 2005 their 5th starter was El Duque who was lucky to even make the postseason roster. Not exactly reliable.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:18 AM) The White Sox have $95 million in commitments to their rotation. The Rangers are committed to JUST $45 million for Feldman, Lewis, N. Feliz, Harrison and Holland. EFFICIENCY. Plus, with all the money pouring in, they just had $108 million sitting around in their coffers to throw at Darvish. We are talking about the bullpen. Get a grip. The argument is bullpens are a dime a dozen, that you shouldn't waste pitchers with talent by putting them in the bullpen. Does anyone not get Sale can't handle the rotation physically?

I guarantee if none of this news came out and Sale continued to pitch in the rotation and blew out his elbow, at least 95% of the people crying about his move to the bullpen would be up in arms at the White Sox for allowing his injury to occur. That includes the people who think right now he should continue to start until his elbow blows up.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:14 AM) Just smart spending, Dick Allen. Nathan=$14.75 million for 2 years Matt Thornton=$12 million for 2 years (considering they're getting a closer and we're getting a set-up guy, seems they're getting the better deal) Total money invested into Feldman, Darvish, Harrison, Holland, Colby Lewis and N. Feliz=$153 million (2/3rd's to Yu Darvish, roughly) That's really scraping together a bullpen with dime a dozen pitchers.

Would people rather have a lockdown closer or today's version of Francisco Liriano? Liriano is a starter so I guess he's far more valuable if you know baseball according to some.

QUOTE (Reddy @ May 7, 2012 -> 10:01 AM) but dude, we've had elite 7-8-9 guys for YEARS and you know what? they're always DIFFERENT GUYS because they're good one year or 2 years and then flame out after that. relievers are a dime a dozen. I promise you this. beyond Mo, Hoffman, .... and that's it... name me a closer who DIDN'T lose his job as closer at some point in his career. Those two guys are the exception to the very, very clear RULE that closers are NOT WORTH THE MONEY they get paid. and yes, I'll point you to Tampa and Texas as two teams with great scrapped together bullpens. JUST LIKE WE WERE IN 2005! Which of those guys is still a MLB pitcher? Texas spent a ton of cash for Joe Nathan.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 7, 2012 -> 09:51 AM) You've got the elites: Mariano, Joe Nathan from '04 through '09, Billy Wagner, Eric Gagne for a couple years, etc. But putting together a competent bullpen is by far the easiest component to piecemeal together for a franchise. The Rays have done it for like 5 years now. It also can fail miserably and then you are totally screwed. You can have a great offense and great starters, if you're bullpen is bad, you're in a lot of trouble. As Gonzo wrote this morning, Sale and Reed could be Gossage and Forster part II. Not bad, especially considering how important a good bullpen is these days.

QUOTE (Reddy @ May 7, 2012 -> 08:30 AM) i'm glad someone understands baseball. Good releivers are not a dime a dozen, and if you don't understand that, you don't understand baseball. How many games have the Sox blown so far this short season without having a true closer? Ask Boston fans about dime a dozen relief pitchers. There aren't a lot of perrenial good ones, but Sale and Reed look like they could be.

QUOTE (Reddy @ May 7, 2012 -> 08:31 AM) lol it wasn't doing that in spring training. it moved like a beast back then. The only movement its been getting since the games started counting is its moving into the bleachers.

QUOTE (Reddy @ May 6, 2012 -> 07:08 PM) he should be starting, and learning not to tip his screwball. if he does that, he'll be fine. He should be working on his screwball trying to get it to do something, or scrap it all together. It is not tipping the screwball, its what the ball is actually doing and that is nothing except getting hit hard.

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ May 6, 2012 -> 05:48 PM) Stults for the start, Quintana for the pen: http://www.southsidesox.com/2012/5/6/30035...ck-to-charlotte Another lefty for the pen? When will Crain be ready to go?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 6, 2012 -> 05:30 PM) The thing that bothers me is this: when has a pitcher ever been fixed/healed by being sent to the pen? To me, this is like Rose and his knee. If his elbow is going to blow, it is going to blow. Babying him isn't going to help it. I would rather him take a few weeks off and come back to the rotation and see if the pain comes back. If it comes back, aggressive treatment and a doctor andrews visit. Going to the pen to me is just silly. Its being assumed that there is nothing that needs fixing now, but if they continue on the same path, something real bad will happen. He might still get hurt, but its probably safe to assume his chances of avoiding the knife is best served coming out of the bullpen. The White Sox have more information than we have. They also would rather have Sale as a starter than reliever. They didn't make this decision on a whim.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2012 -> 04:56 PM) You're honestly telling me with this post that you feel Nestor Molina is ready to face a major league line-up? Maybe the Twins, sure. You can even start Zach Stewart against them these days and get a victory. I mean REAL line-ups. No, but you make the Cleveland Indians out to be the '27 Yankees. They beat Yu Darvish..............why bother showing up?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2012 -> 04:46 PM) Molina against the Indians' LH hitters? Haha. They just tore up Yu Darvish. I don't understand why the Sox are even bothering going to Cleveland. Take the forfeits and move on. Any team featuring Shelley Duncan is really too scary to play.

With as much s*** guys like Beckham and Morel get, its amazing the free pass Alexei Ramirez gets on this board. I do realize he is a notoriously slow starter, and have noted this year's start is hardly any different from all his others, but these games do count. The guy has a .217 OBP. Its time Alexei does something differently in the offseason in an attempt to actually start hitting before the season is 20% over.

Swung at ball 4.

Hawk knowing his personnel reminding Stone the SB keeps them out of the ground ball DP

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 6, 2012 -> 03:03 PM) I think he tips that screwball. He may be but even if he isn't, its pretty straight.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 6, 2012 -> 03:01 PM) He just needs to be a starting pitcher. We have no need for him in our bullpen anymore. Before he's ruined as a prospect, get him ready to be a starter I don't see how that is going to make him tougher to hit. He wasn't considered much of a prospect before a nice spring training. He's showing everyone why.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 6, 2012 -> 02:59 PM) Please let this be it for the Santiago in the majors experiment. Not sure what else anyone needs to see. I don't get it either. When he gets hit, which is often, he gets hit hard.

QUOTE (Reddy @ May 6, 2012 -> 02:25 PM) they don't feel he can without risking injury. my feeling is that if you have to build up arm strength by risking injury, then so be it. if you lose a year Chris Sale to TJ surgery with the benefit having 10 more years of dominant post-TJ pitching, you take it. Every time. I don't know where you get your information that TJ surgery is no big deal and everyone comes back stronger for it and isn't subject to the same injury occurring again. See Liriano, Francisco for one. If it were true, teams would have pitchers undergo the surgery the day they were signed.

Beckham is 2 feet and a 15 mph breeze yesterday from having as many HR as Pujols and Fielder combined.