Dick Allen

What would the realistic expection for improvement be if Walker were to be replaced? I just find some of the argument laughable. Yesterday someone said Walker tells them to take fastballs down the middle, then said it was Walker's fault when they "just miss" cookies. If a guy can't hit a "cookie" no one is going to make him a major league hitter. Go through the line up. AJ is hitting about .290 with limited power. Who will get him to improve. Konerko having a MVP type season. A new hitting coach makes him Albert Pujols? Beckham-struggling. His swing has to get shorter, and I think it will, but many of the same people who will blame Walker for his struggles are already calling him a bust and want to dump him. Ramirez, doing what he always does which was a lot better than most scouts thought when the Sox signed him. Morel-no power, doesn't get on base, but a rookie, may improve. Pierre, nearing the end of the line. Always streaky, a new hitting coach will make him better? Rios- total headcase. Toronto happily dumped him. Sucked for the Sox except for first half of 2010 when he was outstanding. Seems to not care. Is pinning his lack of success on Walker fair? Quentin-doing a lot better than a lot of people calling for Walker's head thought he would do. Dunn-easily the worst power hitter in baseball so far this season. Thought he may be out of it with a single that I'm sure if you asked the RF, he would have told you he should have caught, and an obviously wind aided HR Monday night. He's back to looking horrible. Does a new voice turn him around? I don't see how a hitting coach could have that much negative effect on a player, especially if he's well liked and respected like Walker is. I just look at the teams that people mention fire coaches and don't see a huge jump in performance afterward. I think we should be concentrating the blame on the players rather than a hitting coach.

If KW got Beachy for Juan Pierre, he would deserve a lifetime contract. That is not going to happen.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 04:49 PM) I'm in complete agreement. It's been a chore watching/following the games this season. Even when we win it's barely satisfying. They have been a pretty boring team to watch. Hopefully that changes soon.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 05:22 PM) http://mlb.mlblogs.com/2011/07/06/white-so...antas-pitchers/ Mark Bowman of mlb.com seems to think the Sox are definitely scouting Atlanta's pitching but he hints that the Braves would be more interested in Pierre than Quentin. What? God I hope it's Rios that they are interested in. The Sox couldn't give Alex Rios away. I hear the Chairman is actually one of Alex Rios' biggest critics. I wonder if that's why Ozzie chose to bench him when he loafed for the 10,000th time while giving all the other loafers a pass.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jul 5, 2011 -> 05:53 PM) I hope you are suggesting they are trying to find a creative way to get Viciedo on this team, and not that they would trade him, because I would scream like a child. KW gets stiffer wood looking at Viciedo than any other White Sox property. He wants him in Chicago. If he can get a great return for Quentin, I think he would it. It will save him money next year and using the old CLee trade formula, the trade would actually be whatever they get for Quentin plus Viciedo. I also think other factors would have to be involved like Dunn and some others picking it up a bit so not all the pressure to improve the offense is put on Viciedo with CQ gone. CQ is a weird guy. Who knows, maybe it wears on the clubhouse. I wouldn't give him away though. He can still hit, and he's playing a lot better in RF.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 5, 2011 -> 08:19 AM) Wow. There must be something behind the scenes we don't know about. Dayan Viciedo

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jul 5, 2011 -> 12:41 PM) Firing Greg Walker would not be the sign of a panicked team. It would be a sign of a team that is tired of whatever institutional group-think that goes on to have our guys always watching first pitch fastball right down the middle for strike one, then swing and some out-of-the-zone garbage pitch for strike two. The same sort of thinking that seems to have our hitters rarely blasting on that 'cookie' that all pitchers throw once in a while. So tired of hearing 'Dang gummit, he got a cookie and just got under it'. I don't know that Greg has done ANYTHING good, but there sure are a lot of bad things going on. So you are saying they don't swing at first pitch fastballs so that's a problem, but can't handle cookies? LMAO. Most of the time when a pitching or hitting coach get replaced, the results remain the same at least as long as the players remain the same. One exception was Cleveland when they fired Eddie Murray, but Tribe players hated him. Another would be when the Sox fired Gary Ward, another players hated. The results improves almost immediately when Greg Walker took his place. Blaming a hitting coach because a major leaguer doesn't blast a hanger is laughable, especially if you also blame him for players taking pitches. BTW, Alex Rios isn't letting many first pitches go lately.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 09:50 PM) The only reason I know what was called is because of what Hawk and Stone pointed out. It was really a slight move, I watched the replay and still thought it was iffy. One of those that if the opposition does it, Hawk sees its clearly a balk, but if it were a White Sox pitcher, he'd think its BS? Something did seem off when it happened. It was academic. Dunn would have drove home AJ anyway.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 09:44 PM) he leaned forward like he was going into his set, then stepped off Whatever he did, try trying to explain a balk to your wife. I think I'd rather go to the ballet with her.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 09:07 PM) With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber, it is a balk[2] when the pitcher: switches his pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber; while on the rubber, makes a motion associated with his pitch and does not complete the delivery; when pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch; throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base; throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent; steps or feints from the rubber to first base without completing the throw; delivers a quick return, a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard; drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line; while intentionally walking a batter, releases a pitch while the catcher is out of his box with one or both feet (rarely enforced); unnecessarily delays the game (rarely enforced); pitches while facing away from the batter; after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw; stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball; or throws to first when the first baseman, because of his distance from the base, is unable to make a play on the runner there. I was at the game and when I saw him go to the full wind up something seemed wrong, then the home plate umpire started jumping up and down pointing. It didn't look like he stepped off when he switched. Was that what he called?

Dunn tipping his cap after the single was classic. Rios sucks. Viciedo in LF and RF and DH. Lillibridge in CF, work everyone else in except let Alex rot on the bench.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 03:20 PM) Is this game really at 6 p.m.? If Mark works fast and Francis mows us down, this game could be over by 8:15 which would mean a long wait for fireworks. There was a regular Saturday night fireworks game about this time of year several years ago where Buehrle had it done in less than 2 hours. They started the fireworks show while it was light out. In fact it still was light when the show was over. Vendors do not like Mark Buehrle.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 02:52 PM) ROYALS (34-50, 11-26 away) Maier - LF .311 Cabrera - CF .283 Butler - DH .298 Francoeur - RF .262 Hosmer - 1B .274 Pena - C .248 Moustakas - 3B .290 Escobar - SS .253 Getz - 2B .263 Francis - LHP (3-9, 4.79 ERA) SOX (42-43, 19-20 home) Lillibridge - LF .257 Morel - 3B .253 Dunn - DH .165 Konerko - 1B .317 Quentin - RF .253 Ramirez - SS .275 Rios - CF .218 Castro - C .222 Beckham - 2B .241 Buehrle - LHP (6-5, 3.65 ERA) Why the hell is Dunn in the lineup batting 3rd against a LHP?! Ozzie's the f***ing manayer, he make out the f***ing line up.,if you don't like how he make out the line up go root for another f***ing team, motherf***er. I'm quoting how I believe Ozzie would respond to your question. It makes little sense, but if Dunn has a big game, Ozzie will be considered a genius.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 01:22 PM) There are more variables than just Dunn. Last year 2/5 of the starting pitchers were the worst in the league for about 2 months. Yes, but the point remains one guy can make a difference.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 11:38 AM) I fundamentally disagree with this mentality, sorry. Of course, one guy can't plug 4-5 black holes in a lineup, but incrementally, one player CAN make the difference between a few close losses and a few close wins. This division figures to be CLOSE, and those few games may well make the difference. Rongey tried to sell the point that one player wouldn't make a difference. Really Chris? What was his reaction when the Sox signed Adam Dunn? I doubt its only one player he really can't make a difference. People who think one player won't make a difference need to ask themselves if the Sox would be any better off now if Adam Dunn were producing at his normal clip. If the answer is yes or probably, its proof one hitter can make a difference.

QUOTE (WHITESOXRANDY @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 06:42 PM) I'm not saying that I agree with everything Cowley has written however I will say this: 1. I think that since the end of the 2007 season until now Kenny Williams has been the worst general manager in baseball. 2. Viciedo would not make a difference on the Sox right now unless he was replacing Dunn which the Sox cannot do for obvious reasons (KW's screwup). 3. The Sox have no one in the minor leagues that would help the team - pathetic. Their system is a joke. There isn't anyone there that is going to be a star. This is on KW. 4. Ozzie is an excellent manager that would have many job offers. I don't believe that KW would be offered another GM job ever. 5. This franchise will continue to go down hill as long as KW is the GM. Viciedo would not make difference over Juan Pierre? Please don't give me that "who would leadoff" crap because somehow the Sox are 4-1 when Pierre doesn't play. Ozzie wouldn't have a lot of managerial offers. Florida wants him but not because of his baseball acumen. Its because of the box office. Why is the Sox plight all on KW? Again, KW was apparently wrong to sign Adam Dunn, but after 80 games or so of hitting like a pitcher, why is the genius Ozzie batting him 3rd in the line up? The reality is if there is a fool here, there are at least two. If Jerry Manuel was managing the White Sox or Terry Bevington, as Cowley thinks Sox fans deserve, if Dunn hit 3rd for them, he and the rest of the world would be all over the manager for making that happen. Its funny Cowley mentioned Bevington, but really except for 2005 what's the difference? Bevington was above .500 as the White Sox manager and finished in second place the 2 full seasons he managed. The Indians were stacked back then, so there's a built in excuse not to win. He went to the mound to change pitchers with nobody warming up, Ozzie has a guy who hasn't hit for a year bat 3rd, Seems similar to me. If you believe Cowley, and his source is his Twitter buddy Oney, there still remains a lot of tension between OG and KW. Is it beyond Ozzie who seems pretty childish to me to bat Dunn 3rd just to throw KW under the bus?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 06:33 PM) 1.) To win one of the 2 games with 2 runs total ... a miracle. 2 runs in Wrigley Field in two days, one scoring on a wild pitch. My god. Fire Walker now! We need a scapegoat. 2.) Dunn has to be put on the DL. Viciedo needs to take ALL his at bats for a few weeks. Pierre is not going to be replaced and there's nowhere else to put Viciedo. It would be nice to also put Rios on the DL for a few weeks. Let Lilli patrol center. 3.) This is not a good sign. The way we're going I do not expect us to win the KC series. The Royals can hit the ball and we can't hit no matter who takes the mound. KC is bound to score four or more each game. They only needed 4 off Rodrigo Lopez today for the sweep. The Sox have had a tough time with the 3rd game of series where they won the first 2 the last couple of years. Its really hard to believe Dunn could possibly be this bad, and Rios seems like an automatic out again. I would imagine this team will eventually hit, just pray by then the pitchers aren't too worn out with the lack of run support and run out of gas.

QUOTE (WHITESOXRANDY @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 06:47 PM) Well, considering that he is basically hitting the same as De Aza and De Aza plays better defense and can steal bases, right now De Aza would help the Sox more. Viciedo is likely to be a pretty good DH. He'll never make an all-star team. That's my prediction. A good hitter, not a great one. Maybe, he will last in the outfield for a while before he gets moved to DH. For comparison, I will go with Jose Guillen. Check the slugging pct. and the age.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 04:26 PM) Pathetic offensive performance today. I can't believe we benched our best player twice in last four games just to get Dunn at bats. Dunn is killing us this season! I understand getting Dunn in the line up. He's not going to come out of it sitting on the bench. But does he have to hit 3rd? With him in the 3 hole, Rios in the 6 hole and the pitcher, that's 3 just about automatic outs spread out perfectly in your offense for minimal run production.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 10:11 AM) Cowley is the go to guy for Sox coverage in this town and it isn't even close. It's nice to have someone call out KW there are enough who call out Guillen. I have no problem having someone call out KW. I do it as well, but you have to be fair. Cowley is Oney Guillen's ghost writer. Show me one thing where he doesn't praise Ozzie or said Ozzie made a mistake the last 3 or 4 years? He's afraid of Oney. If Ozzie was the mad genius he's made out to be by Cowley and knows what buttons to push and when to push them all the time, how come the team gets into the binds they are in almost every season? According to Cowley/Oney, when things go right, its because Ozzie is a genius. When things go wrong, its because of KW. Mark Gonzales is by far a better writer, and easily the best baseball beat writer in Chicago. Adam Dunn is batting 3rd today. If he does well, Ozzie was a genius for batting him 3rd. He knew he would snap out of it. If he goes 0-4 with 4 ks, KW was the moron who gave him that contract and Ozzie is stuck with him. I can see where some would like Cowley's White Sox stuff. Its for the same reason they like reading the National Equirer and Star Magazine for all their movie star news.

Rodrigo Lopez has lead both the AL and NL in earned runs allowed and losses in a season.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 09:55 AM) Pierre LF, Ramirez SS, Dunn 1B, Quentin RF, Pierzynski C, Rios CF, Teahen 3B, Beckham 2B, Floyd P. This is the day Adam Dunn does something.(one day I will be correct) If he and Rios wake up, the Sox will be able to set their playoff rotation pretty far in advance.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 09:47 AM) I want your estimation of the percentage of Cubs and Sox fans in attendance when you get back later tonite I'm guessing right now there will be more Sox fans than ever at one of these games at Wrigley. Cubs fans are pulling a France and surrendering.

Its obvious Cowley has submitted his membership application to the Guillen family, as he likes to rip KW every chance he gets, yet won't give him any credit for something positive like the claiming of Humber. Cowley said that was all Rick Hahn. I guess KW was out of the loop. Considering all the schooling and dues on the job Cowley paid, I wonder if he finds it kind of disgusting he's now strapped at the waist with Oney Guillen, a guy he's clearly afraid to offend, and aims to please every White Sox piece he writes, even though Oney has the IQ of a grape.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 3, 2011 -> 02:15 AM) Humber's performance today was really really impressive. Is this guy for real?? Man he's a great great story this year. He's real so far. Might as well ride him as long as you can. He's Estaban Loaisa II. He may totally suck next year, but this year he's one of the best in baseball.