Dick Allen

After seeing how Rios and Manny worked out, JR has probably ban KW from claiming anyone making more than minimum on waivers.

Beckham is the most likely IMO. Rios may turn it around for a partial season. I don't think he has the competitiveness to keep at it for 6 months. Dunn is an issue. He does have a nice track record, but he's been historically bad this year. IMO, if this is mental, the pressure to be good is only going to go higher. The Sox can't market him because people will only laugh. If there is nothing physical causing this collapse besides aging, I'm sure they have tried every adjustment to be made, and he's getting blown away by guys he used to own, while he may be better next year, it really isn't saying much. He can improve greatly and still be terrible. Beckham still has the carrot of a big payday in front of his nose.

QUOTE (Whitewashed in '05 @ Aug 26, 2011 -> 03:22 PM) Hmm.. so is this going to happen or not? No

I know a lot of people think this is all mental and because of that, Dunn should be back to what he was next year. I don't understand how anyone could come to that conclusion. What is sitting around all winter going to do to rectify that? If anything, I'd rather it be something physical, then healing would come into play. I do think that is the spin the Sox will use, something like he came back from his apendecomy too soon or something else and that he fought through some pain.......you know the drill. If they do, it will be a bigger indictment on the organization seeing they had someone ready to go in his place.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 25, 2011 -> 06:22 AM) Latest update, looks like Quentin will miss entire Seattle series too....yet, in their all-knowing competence, the White Sox never DL'ed him in order to bring up Viciedo because "Ozzie already has 5 DH's." Meanwhile, Dunn lost track of outs in an inning and "doesn't believe in scoreboard watching yet (until September)" when we're playing the Tigers... http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,5648781.story Dunn saying he knew how many outs there were just was going to throw a scuffed ball out. Why would you do that when you're on defense? His explaination is yet another whiff.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 05:32 PM) Not release waivers, trade waivers. If the Yankees claim him (and they will) and the Sox don't pull him back, the Yankees are on the hook for his salary for the rest of the season, and with the Sox out of contention, there's no good reason not to save that money. Yes there is. Draft pick compensation.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 07:49 PM) Use how? Do people really think the Sox are still in it? This season is ova. I'm thinking going forward, but he's a free agent, Viciedo is coming, the Sox are stuck with Dunn and Rios, De Aza probably gets Pierre's spot. Quentin will probably be back. I don't think they would be willing to pay Kubel what some team will pay him.

QUOTE (JoshPR @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 06:09 PM) So why is olney saying we might claim Jason kubel? Kubel is a guy I think the White Sox could use, but finding a spot for him and a contract for him after this year could be tough.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 08:25 AM) Thornton's a left-handed setup guy who will give you 60 IP. I'll take my chances with those 60 innings being pitched by Reed/Santiago. KW tried that approach in 2007, it not only didn't work it wound up costing him even more money.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 01:30 AM) I believe there was over a $10M difference in pay from his last season with the Sox then on to the Twins. It wouldn't look good for the organization to cut his pay that much. Thome was willing to sign a very cheap contract with the Sox last year. There were no issues with money at all. It would be silly to bring him back now. If the Sox were 6 1/2 games out a month ago, they would have surrendered. This season is ova.

QUOTE (Sockin @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 10:39 PM) http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...home-again.html Its the typical Guillen trait. Forget what he did last year, Ozzie had nothing to do with Thome leaving. Oney did the same thing. Last year when Kotsay hit his second homer and it helped the Sox win, Thome was riding pine in Minnesota and had 2 homers. Oney tweeted that it was obvious the "skipper" which is what he calls his dad, made the right choice. Oney also tweeted that although Thome was a nice guy, he really wasn't a winner. When "the choice" was clearly wrong, it went from 100 percent Ozzie Guillen's decision to Ozzie had nothing to do with it, blame Kenny Williams. Looks like Ozzie is going the same way.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:38 PM) I find that award is more about offense than defense. A good publicity tour can win it. Its voted on by managers and coaches and they can't vote for their own. I think they vote more who they would want in their line up at SS than who they thought had the best year fielding.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:30 PM) The central might finally be evolving again. Indians have some nice young players and if the Royals ever put it together... I think Cleveland got a ton of breaks with a lot of come from behind victories this year and are still at the Sox level with the Sox playing most of the year with basically a guy hitting like a pitcher in the clean up spot. KC has some heralded players, but they have to do it at the major league level before I believe. Detroit could be a problem because the get Maggs off the books, will probably have some playoff cash this year and Illich will probably spend on pitching. Minnesota has huge question marks.

We don't know the roster for 2012. They may be average, they may be outstanding. The division is still going to suck so they won't have to be all that great to have a good year. I wouldn't assume Dunn is going to snap out of it next year. I bet Seattle fans thought Chone Figgins would have improved on his 2010 this year. If he does perform like he did before this year, that will be a huge bump, if he's like he is this year, hopefully Ozzie or whoever is making out the line up card isn't afraid to keep him out of the line up.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:25 PM) At least Minny is losing big. (remember when that used to mean something?) I have the feeling they are going to be bad for many years.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:24 PM) none of this would've happened if dunn could field for s***. Or if the SS with a cannon for an arm could throw the ball to first. No question a decent defensive first baseman probably scoops it, but high school SS make thost throws routinely.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:23 PM) Poor Mark getting hosed by the defense. Buerhle has had troubles pitching around errors for years.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 09:19 PM) And that's what I'm saying, any metric that shows he's an above-average defensive SS to me seems flawed. The pop flies that he screws up without an error, the alligator arms he gets on some throws with the runners close to the bag getting teammates errors, his setting up way in front of 2B eliminating chances of throwing runners out all slides, the amount of times Paulie has to save his ass an error all work in his favor saber-wise. He could be outstanding but he gets real lazy and sometimes scared.

Alexei could win the GG every year but plays like that stay in the voters minds. Get your f***ing head in the f***ing game. You would think a guy with his background would really appreciate what he has now.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 23, 2011 -> 07:45 PM) You're overvaluing Thornton's 60 innings pitched. No, he's still one of the best in the league. Dumping him basically to save money, and not getting back value would be a huge mistake.

So people want Sale in the rotation and Thornton on another team. If you want Sale in the rotation Thornton has to stay. If you want Thornton gone, you better find another decent lefty for the bullpen or it will be a long year next year.

Too bad Manny isn't available.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 20, 2011 -> 08:57 PM) My whacked out theory is Reinsdorf and Kenny want Walker gone more than Ozzie. They only way the get rid of Walker is to get rid of Ozzie. This may be the reason why we haven't seen Viciedo up. They might be afraid Viciedo could be the next flash in a pan rookie under the Walker era. The story earlier was KW wanted to make a coach or coaches sacrificial lambs, but JR wouldn't let him. I'm not really sure KW had much conviction. I think he viewed it as a move just to make a move, which could be why JR rejected it. I can guarantee they don't think Walker will ruin Viciedo. The did call him up last season and he did pretty well.

What will be great is once Walker is gone, and I'd say its most likely he's in his final month or so as a White Sox coach, there will be no reason to make any personnel changes. Rios will be a monster, Dunn will instantly go back to being what he was, and there will be no reason Beckham won't hit .320 with 20 homers next year. Who is everyone going to blame when it doesn't happen?

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Aug 20, 2011 -> 12:49 PM) Rios, Dunn, Beckham, Morel, Teahen (essentially half the team) all reached career worsts as professional hitters under Walker's watch this year. Others, Q and Lexi, are trending slightly downward, IMO. ONLY Paulie has improved steadily over time. I can't really see how you can continue to stick up for the guy, DA, other than the "hitting coach makes no difference anyway" argument. The Cubs broke the bank for Rudy Jaramillo. Aren't they the worst in the league with RISP? Wasn't he going to make Soriano worth his contract? How's Soto doing? If you really think Rios and Dunn and Beckham we will leave Morel the rookie out of this and Teahen sample size and he's not doing better in Toronto, would be doing much better with another hitting coach, good for you. I disagree.