Dick Allen

It would be nice if the Sox somehow get Giambi's glove involved in this game.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:56 PM) DA, Over the last 9 games is when he changed his swing... Which is why Im pointing out the ridiculousness of wanting him to change his swing again, at least give him another 2 weeks or so to see what happens with it. As for the second statement, hes still the best CF on the team and will continue to be until the Sox add another CF. There is no one on the team or system who is better, so its cutting your nose to spite your face. I don't care what kind of swing he has, I just want him to hit the ball like a guy making half his money hits the ball. As for his defense, it has slipped dramatically since the first half of last season.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:51 PM) Ozzie picked a whipping boy in Rios last night, and it was one of the worst decisions (imo) that he could have made. All sitting Rios will do, is make Rios even less motivated. It did nothing to send a message to the team. Im not crusading for Rios, I think his stats speak for themselves. But if you are going to say that his new swing is wrong, it just doesnt statistically stand up. I guess the point is that you can only hope that he figures it out and does better. Hes been better over the last 2 weeks or so, so why would you want him to change at this point? I honestly think Rios is dogging it more tonight than last night, but his type of personality will revolt against a manager, which is why benching was silly. It does stand up. You're cherry-picking stats about his last 9 games. He's not hitting with any power. He is also 0 for his last 9. If he continues to dog it, he will eventually spend more time on the bench which is good for all of us as his current effort isn't helping the team very much.

Buerhle is going to look like Wilbur Wood in 5 years.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:42 PM) You guys know over the last 9 games or so Rios has been hitting really well, I think his average is over 300 (atleast thats what the stat said earlier in the game) Kudos for your Alex Rios crusade, I've had a few with others in the past, but Rios has been awful this year and got singled out on a team that looks like it goes through the motions pretty often for going through the motions by his manager. He's terrible and the Sox still owe him over $50 million.

QUOTE (iguchi=dank @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:42 PM) i can't believe its more than 2 years left.. feels like it should be next year or 2.. but god damn if he just gave a crap.. The Lee comparison was a good one, carlos seems like an energizer bunny compared to rios Is it 4 after this one? The one hope is that he's still physically capable that last year, because then he may put up some numbers looking for another contract.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:40 PM) Rios is 10X better coming in on the ball. Well, you can say that for 90% of outfielders, but that was a nice play preventing an XB hit. Yet the guys who can go back on the ball and thus play a lot more shallow might not make as spectacular of plays, but save a lot more runs.

That was a nice play.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 08:34 PM) I think Alex needs to reinvent a new batting stance. I wish he would retire, or at least officially announce his retirement.

Its about time Rios hit something with some authority.

How bad would the Sox be had Konerko signed with AZ and KW inked DLee? AJ has been hitting pretty well lately.

Good thing Pierre wasn't CS a second time.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 07:46 PM) We both got clowned/owned with the suggestion he even consider running again. Yeah. The season is half over after tonight. Its very apparent Juan's legs aren't getting any better from here.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 07:42 PM) Pierre's actually been hitting a lot better the past week. But it doesn't do much good if he can't steal anymore. He's just quit trying to be aggressive....like what happened to Pods after his injury, he got tentative. Pierre is very streaky. He may hit .500 the next 2 weeks. Hopefully, he can start running.

If the Sox win tonight and Rios has a couple of hits, will Ozzie be considered a Mad Genius again?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 01:11 PM) Ozzie is so hypocritical on this issue, thats why no one respects it. After they pulled Rios, half the team dogged it to first on pop outs, fly outs etc. That means the benching made 0 impact. Even worse, the player who replaced Rios didnt even give 100% on a live ball in extra innings. If you are going to bench guys for not running to first base, you have to bench AJ, Konerko, Q, Ramirez and every other player who doesnt give 100% on a pop up. If you want to bench Rios because he hasnt been performing, just say it. But all Ozzie did was create a double standard. My guess is that he has completely lost the team. I just get a terrible vibe from the entire team right now. Of course he is, but he has to start somewhere. I don't know how long you have been following the Sox but if you were around for the last few seasons of Ozzie's White Sox career, you would know he's also being hypocritical because he used to jog to first base on routine grounders. Hawk of all people once called him out on it. I couldn't believe my ears. He said something like "I hate when he does that. He needs to run those out". Mild, but he did call him out. But really you can't argue against pulling a guy not giving max effort.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 29, 2011 -> 12:24 AM) “"We played like (bleep), you go home like (bleep),"” said manager Ozzie Guillen, who pulled center fielder Alex Rios in the bottom of the seventh inning for not running hard. “"What else you guys want to know?"” “"I don't think we should feel bad because we earned it to lose this game,"” Guillen said. “"We deserved to lose. I think the way we played from the first inning, I don't think we should have won this game at all. We had opportunities. The only thing about this game, we pitched well. Everything else was pretty bad." “"I don't know why those guys hang their heads over there when they played like that. Usually they get dressed and leave right away because I don't think we, for one second, deserved to win this game. The game finished the way it started, very bad. It’s nobody's fault. If they're going to blame anybody, they should blame everyone counting myself.” As for Rios, "(he) don't run the bases,"” Guillen said. “"That's why I got him out of the game. It's not the (first time) its happened." "They don't run the bases, they don't want to play or tired or hurt, that reputation comes with me and I have a great reputation in this (bleeping) game to do (the right) way," Guillen said. "They don't run the bases, they're out of the game. I don't give a (bleep) if it’s (Paul) Konerko or Adam Dunn or anyone." "If you don't play the game right, you're out of the game." chicagotribune.com/sports (Mark Gonzales) THis should draw some amusing and somewhat hyperbolic commentary. I'm giving Ozzie a standing O for this one.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 28, 2011 -> 11:31 PM) Bloop single fell in front of Lillibridge he took his sweet asstime, rockies coach sent runner lilly throw late and offline.........SOX LOSE! I'm not a Lillibridge guy, but he never has struck me as a guy with an effort problem. I will blame this on lack of experience and taking something for granted. Its still bad, and apparently typical for this team. I am dying to see if Ozzie really pulled Rios for lack of effort.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 28, 2011 -> 11:29 PM) Can someone explain what happened to out of towners? Man on first, bloop hit to CF, Lillibridge either thought the game was over or something, took his sweet time getting to the ball, runner scores from first.

Lillibridge better stay away from AJ in the clubhouse.

A walk there isn't the worst thing.

It probably is just frustration, but Sox hitters don't seem to battle as much as hitters from other teams. It seems like they make it way too easy on the opposition way too often. Too many "that didn't take long" innings.

If he is benched for lack of effort, kudos to Ozzie. I just think its most likely something else. Rios didn't look very interested tonight, but you could say that about several White Sox several times over the years with zero consequences.

Now just score a run and bring in your closer.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 28, 2011 -> 11:09 PM) I agree we had to go with Santos. Extra innings as the road team is when you could still use your closer to close. If you use Santos now and eventually take the lead, you are going to have someone you don't want closing, closing.