Dick Allen

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 02:54 PM) No Harrelson, not when the temperature has gone from nearly 70 in the morning to below 50. Floyd got lucky, actually, because he had another ball that should have gone out, forgot who hit it. Floyd is always pretty bad in April and May, then outstanding a couple of months before he usually limps to the finish line. Getting lit up his first 8-10 starts should not shock anyone.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 02:54 PM) 9 of 13 outs via strike outs. How in the hell is a team with very few power hitters striking out so much? Somehow I'm sure its Greg Walker's fault.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 02:47 PM) What an awful pitch. My first disagreement with Robin. With firstbase open, why pitch to Jones when an automatic out is on deck?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 11:15 PM) At first, I was like what are Jennifer Garner and Bradley Cooper going to tell us? The architect of the Titanic (you'd have to watch the show with Victor Garber to get that)? Elias Sports Bureau Alias and Dunn are actually quite similar. They were both consistently good, then suddenly became historically bad.

QUOTE (Andrew @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 11:13 PM) Well, one thing we can agree on is we all hope he'll start to hit. Really, I don't think his shape (or his son; which you didn't even bring up) has anything to do with his issues - I just don't think he's a very valuable hitter and never have. Having said - I hope Robin isn't like Ozzie and WILL bench him. You can't expect a team to win with someone performing to (f***ing recording breaking lows!) in your lineup. This isn't little league - f*** egos. I really hope to see Robin be a stand out and make these kind of tough choices with these s*** pieces he has... Then we can talk about KW... No way he goes as long as Ozzie did, but you do have to give him more than 10 games. The Sox are 5-5. There isn't a team in baseball that won't have a worse 10 game stretch at some point during the season. Losing 2 at home to Baltimore is depressing, but a couple of wins and people will be optimistic again. I don't know if the son story is true, and his shape, I'll agee somewhat. He did put up big numbers being a fat slob for years. He was no fatter last year than his previous years in Washington. But players carrying extra weight eventually almost always pay for it one way or another, that's one reason why I think Prince Fielder is going to fall apart when he gets to be 31.32.33.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 11:09 PM) Good post. The thing about confidence? Who cares? Last year should have destroyed his confidence, what does it matter now? It's like worrying about offending Rios. I mean if we had a team leader who cared (maybe no team has a true leader anymore) somebody should ream Rios' ass for getting picked off on that Little League play. I mean alias should tell us ... when is the last time somebody got picked off on that play????? Yeah, but I think as long as you have a little hope he can still be a force, you go with it. If you move him down now, you'll probably wind up releasing him soon after and eating more money than JR can stomach.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 11:07 PM) I think attendance will speak volumes. Our fans don't want to see Dunn and Rios play baseball. It's just not worth it. If we could dump those two I think it'd be easier to embrace this team. Why go to a game and be put into such a bad/sad mood by those two? The broadcasters are making an effort to keep fans away from buying on stubhub and going "directly to the source". I think they realize walk up sales won't be astronomical this season if they aren't winning. Its only 10 games and they are .500. There's still some hope for a fun season.

QUOTE (Andrew @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 11:01 PM) Lilli and Walker have what to do with each other? I don't think people miss Walker at all. What they did miss is thinking a new hitting coach would produce a very different result offensively.

QUOTE (Andrew @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:59 PM) Sorry for the hijack - I just can't hate on Dunn enough. You won't find a single post from me happy about getting him. NL Central s*** ass; maintained on a 5th place team... He's the Javier Vazquez of DH candidates. If he was the DH for Minnesota, or KC, or Oakland...he's probably be "great". He's a saber-head's reality check, really. There really was no evidence the guy would become historically awful. You could make a case he was due to slip. His second half of 2010 was bad. He's a big guy and the bigger the guy, it seems the earlier they start to decline. He really didn't want to be a DH. He was switching leagues, but no way you could have possibly pegged him with the total he has right now in a White Sox uniform. The Sox didn't contend last year, he was crap. Nothing is expected this year, and he's been pretty bad. He's obviously in a little better shape this year, but it may be a case of too little too late. I guess we just have to hope its one of those things and he's going to start hitting again soon, but it sure looks like deja vu. This thing is about to mushroom.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:57 PM) That was before Greg Walker fixed him, lol. Although the sample size is small, I think people are starting to see Greg Walker really wasn't the problem.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:51 PM) You know Robin is no dummy. He realizes Dunn has to bat 7th against lefties or 8th. But will he make the move? Prolly not for the same reasons Ozzie didn't. It makes the GM look bad; it makes Dunn the highly paid whiff machine look bad. It's easier to plant him third or fifth and watch him whiff and say, 'oh well.' Ozzie didn't want to move him down to make the GM look bad, his ghost writer admitted that. I think Robin doesn't want to move him down because it could destroy any confidence he has. This situation is going to be a mess if he can't get it going soon, and there's really no reason to think he will, although he always has been pretty streaky.

QUOTE (Andrew @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:50 PM) I cheer for the laundry, but Dunn and Rios are HORSEs*** wearing it. See one: Swisher, Nick. Sometimes the team isn't a fit - these guys aren't, and I don't think Rios would fit in ANYWHERE (just personal opinion). Rios just gets into the just here to collect a check mode a lot, and Dunn may be done, at least as a full time player. Let him flail away against RHP, but against LHP, we almost all have just as good of a chance.

Back to Beckham, he's obviously struggling but at least he's hit a few hard lately.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:39 PM) You just had a feeling when you saw bases loaded and Morel and two outs that a hit was pretty unlikely to pull off the comeback. Last night's blown 4-1 lead in the 8th/9th hurt about 10X as this one, because you knew from the get-go it would be a struggle against a soft-tossing left who we've never seen before and who resembles Bruce Chen in more ways than simply his last name. Having two chances to time the game with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs, what else is new? At least Fukudome hit the ball as hard as he did and took a good swing....Alexei continues his trend from 2011 in failiing in these situations when he was Mr. Clutch in his rookie campaign. Just always seem anxious with a runner on 3rd and a chance to drive him in....gets himself out a lot by swinging at pitcher's pitches and being too aggressive. Then there was the bonehead baserunning move that pretty much negated any positive to be derived from his 2 hits tonight. Rios goes 2-3 with a walk, yet he makes 3 outs. A DP ball and the boneheaded baserunning move. Even when he's good he's bad. Maybe a few hits will clear the cobwebs, but he's so hard to enjoy watching. All that talent is constantly wasted.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 10:39 PM) Soxtalk HATED Uribe when he was here. Soxtalk hated AJP, Soxtalk hated Konerko from 2007-2009, Soxtalk hated Contreras for half of 2005. Cheer for the Soxtalk punching bags, usually they turn out to be OK.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 02:56 PM) he is striking out at a worse rate than last year. i dont think he will ever be productive again I still think he'll be better than last year, but apparently not much. The Sox might as well have me hit 3rd against LHP. Dunn has zero chance against them. Its really hard to believe he's this bad, but he must be. He's back to last year. I wonder how long they stick with it. The boo birds are about to become brutal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 08:58 PM) I can't believe he didn't stop at least to see if AJP could score. He's not exactly Einstein when it comes to baseball. His head has been up his ass since the all star break in 2010. I really wonder why he can't concentrate for an employer that pays him so well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 08:57 PM) I think the last time I saw that work was Black Jack. He did it multiple times. Other than that, it doesn't work in little league.

Alex Rios is a talented but horrible baseball player.

QUOTE (mcgrad70 @ Apr 16, 2012 -> 11:17 PM) Wow I knew this team was not very good but c'mon... Most of Reinsdorf's teasers usually make to the first week of Bears training camp - not this one. You won't know this team by then. The only thing that will cut short this upcoming decade of mediocrity to come is the Mayans. If it really bothers you as much as it seems, you really should spend the couple of hours a day you spend watching the White Sox, doing something else. You'll be much happier.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 16, 2012 -> 11:12 PM) We are surely going to hear strong pleas to be patient and not to panic. However, given last year's disaster with Rios, Dunn, Beckham and Morel, you have to wonder how long this team can keep running those guys out there. What possible excuse and justification could they offer for not making some changes. The fact is, they blew a 3 run 8th inning lead or they would be 6-3 and everyone here would be a lot happier. Santiago as the closer is going to be a rollercoaster ride. He's going to look awesome at times and will throw meat like he did tonight several times as well. Robin has been trying to get him some lay up saves to build confidence, but I think he's now given up 3 homers. You don't get away with throw the ball right down the middle in the major leagues.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 16, 2012 -> 11:02 PM) First things first. Beckham should be sent down and let Lilly play second for a month. And Zach must be sent down. No time to panic on DeAza or Morel yet. I would drop Dunn to seventh and leave him there the rest of the year as well. The man is finished. One homer, three ribbies? That's about right. Lillibridge can't hit RHP. For some reason, I still think Beckham is going to hit. Stewart was awful, but he's hardly pitched. I wouldn't panic on De Aza, and its still too early to panic about Morel, but it does make you wonder. You throw out September, and Morel's numbers scream defensive replacement, and one thing I agree with Ozzie about, unless you're in a pennant race, 2 things not to believe are spring training and September phenoms. I agree about Dunn. He shouldn't hit third. I think he's better than last year, but he can be a lot better than last year and still be bad. Move him down. If he starts hitting like a 3 or 4 hitter, move him up. I know there really isn't much to move to the 3 hole, but Dunn shouldn't be there. He's been historically bad for over a year now.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 16, 2012 -> 10:52 PM) Couch made a mistake. Fred Brzozowski is deceased. The article is about 7 or 8 years old.

What a difference a day makes. What a difference 2 innings make.

Fire Jeff Manto. Lift and pull.