Dick Allen

QUOTE (everafan @ Feb 21, 2011 -> 04:18 PM) I hope that AJ has a basketball under his shirt. Because if he doesn't he is a fat tub of goo. I think he has his catcher's gear on underneath.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 20, 2011 -> 07:01 PM) If you'll remember though...there was a period at the end of 2006 when the White Sox's medical advice to Crede was to go for back surgery, while Boras's team's advice was rehab. Joe tried the rehab and wound up having the surgery before the end of 2007, costing him most of that season. Listening to Boras's doctors might not have killed his career, but there was another reason why the Sox fans were mad at him. I had a back problem about 15 years ago and one doctor I saw told me no matter what, don't let anyone ever operate on your back. In retrospect, Boras' advise wasn't incorrect as far as Crede's playing career. He was doomed either way.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 21, 2011 -> 03:49 PM) When the voice of the organization, Hawk, does the same then of course it's tolerated by most fans. The entire organization's perception of the Minnesota Twins has to change. No one will ever convince me they haven't lost series in Minneapolis the last several years before one pitch was thrown.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Feb 21, 2011 -> 03:12 PM) This team needs to have a kickass mentality this year. They need to convince themselves that the Twins are s*** and they are THE s***. No more friendly talk about the Twins and how they're this well-runned organization. When you embrace your rival that much, something is wrong. You don't hear the same stuff from the Twins about the Sox. If Lovie Smith ever went on and on about how well run the Packers were, even 1/100th of how much Ozzie strokes the Twins, it would be considered a fireable offense by 99.99% of Bears fans. For some reason White Sox fans have tolerated the White Sox stroking of the Minnesota organization for years. 2011 needs to be the year it stops.

Good. Hopefully the entire team will embrace this thought especially when traveling to Minneapolis.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Feb 20, 2011 -> 04:29 PM) I remember reading that Nancy Faust would be getting replaced. Any word on if this happened? I kinda have this feeling it won't, and it'll just be sound effects and loud noises going forward. They haven't announced anything but the word has been for several months its the Blackhawks organist's job if he wants it.

Its too bad. Crede appeared to have figured it out in 2006. Then in September he gets hurt, and really never was the same. Coming into Sept. 2006 he had 28 homers 86 rbi hitting .300 and GG like at 3B. He's supposed to be a real good guy as well.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Feb 19, 2011 -> 07:30 AM) I'd almost be willing to bet you that he doesn't win 10 games in a Sox uniform this year. Let's bet. Buehrle's game has never been about "stuff". Its not about other teams "figuring him out", although if I were an opponent, I would make sure to interrupt his rythm by taking my time getting in the batter's box and stepping out a lot more than is being done now. Buehrle is all about location. If he's even slightly off, he tends to get pounded. As long as he can throw it were he wants, he'll be an effective pitcher.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 05:32 PM) Why would you give two s*** about what the national media, "experts" or dumbass pundits think? Its always nice when they praise your team and talk in depth about it, but you are right, what Mitch Williams thinks or Harold Reynolds or anyone at ESPN or Ozzie and KW, it really doesn't matter. What matters starts April 1st.

QUOTE (flavum @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 09:55 AM) Rod Allen is a Tigers broadcaster. They were heavy on the Tigers last week on MLBN. I try not to care about "Sox Love" from the national media. I go with a "Who cares? Just win, baby." attitude. He also was a White Sox draft pick and minor leaguer who was part of the deal to Seattle that brought Wimpy to the Sox. As far as national coverage, it seems to me the more national guys drool over the Sox the more dissappointing they become. Its better that they hop on the bandwagon in July and act like they knew they would be good all along.

BP has pegged the Sox 80-82.

Considering the outrage on this board when Toby Hall was injured playing first base in a spring training game, why would moving Mauer from behind the plate be different? Also all the grief Hawk still gets whenever his tenure as a GM is mentioned trying to move Fisk to LF. There was always talk about Piazza moving to another position but it didn't happen until he DH'd his final year. I imagine Mauer will fight moving as well, considering he's a far better defensive player than Piazza and probably better defensively than Fisk. I think guys that have caught all their lives would have trouble moving. Its a totally different deal not being involved with every pitch. I think the only way Mauer moves is if he gets hurt first.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 04:46 PM) I've got to imagine he is looking for a better chance that what we will have to offer. I look at Bonderman's career numbers and it always seemed to me he was a much better pitcher than he's actually been. He's had a big park to pitch in, yet nothing ever eye popping about his numbers. If all it took were a minor league contract, I'd give him a shot, but I think his reputation even with the injuries has far exceded his results. The one guy assuming he was anything near healthy I was hoping the Sox might bring in was Justin Duscherer. I think he's one guy that could have fit into the bullpen after a 3 or 4 or 5 start stint.

QUOTE (since56 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 04:24 PM) Is Millwood still available? He wants at least $4 million I believe. I personally agree and think the Sox should at least think about bringing in another starter, unless they are absolutely sure Peavy will only miss a couple of starts. If you wind up having an extra one, he'd be pretty easy to find a home. The problem is, its pretty slim pickins right now. Millwood is a guy who could give you innings, but his ERA is going to be around 5.00 most likely. If they were inclined to give $4 million for that, I would imagine Freddy Garcia would have been brought back.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 03:46 PM) 2009 April .760 May .750 June .733 July .748 Aug .769 Sept. .741 Once again...April in 2009, 2nd worst month for pitching. Only month worse was August. If 2007 and 2008 show the same thing I will apologize and call that ample proof April is the month you want to hit in. By the way have you ever played baseball? I don't know of anyone that would rather hit when its 40 degrees vs. 80 degrees.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 03:36 PM) The fact that April had the highest average OPS out of any month last season (despite the usual complaints about April weather), and the OPS's went down at the end of the season? That was 2010. I suppose you didn't look at other seasons like 2007 and 2008 when the league OPS in April was 20 points lower than the overall. How do you explain that? If Phil Humber has to start a game or games for the White Sox, I think most people would rather he start them in April than in September assuming the Sox are in contention and hope its a 38 degree night.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 03:25 PM) Of course, rather than stating anecdotes, some might want to apply data to the question. League OPS by month. April: .736 May: .731 June: .733 July: .736 August: .723 Sept: .714 Regardless of what they might say...there's zero evidence of "pitchers being ahead of hitters" in April/May last year, and reasonable evidence that the claim is wrong. Exactly where is the evidence the majority of pitchers have dead arms?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 12:31 PM) Pitchers feel strong in April? I've heard lots more complaints about how they're just getting over their late-spring dead-arm periods in april. They are over their dead arm period. Spring training is 6 weeks for fans and pitchers. They wouldn't start the season with dead arms. If the majority of pitchers had dead arms or were still fighting them, the length of spring training and the pitcher's workouts would be altered. Ask anyone associated with MLB and they will tell you at the beginning of the season, pitchers are ahead of hitters, especially if the weather isn't ideal.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 02:16 PM) Come on man, you know better than this. It's not that they're going up, it's that they're going to go dramatically down this year, before going dramatically back up next year. That's a much different beast from the fact that his innings have been going up the last few years. Not really. He's preparing as he's going to be a starter. He'll be doing a lot of throwing this year. It will just be for 6 months that his routine will be altered. It was altered 3 or 4 months last year. Guys take seasons off often and come back fine. If Sale gets injured, while some on message boards will find it convenient to blame his becoming a reliever, its his mechanics that will concern the professionals. Its not like he'll suddenly stop throwing. 60 IP relieving doesn't equal 60 IP as a starter.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2011 -> 03:40 PM) I buy into the Sox theory of putting the team before the fans. It might lead to unpopular decisions, like letting Frank Thomas walk away, but in the long run if you want to be a viable (non-Yankees) franchise, you have to make them. As Bobby Knight once said, "If you listen to the fans, you wind up sitting next to them."

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 12:38 PM) Mark Teahen is more than capable of playing LF and RF off the bench. I've pointed this out to you. Lillibridge is more than capable in CF, which I think is a well understood point. Wasn't the big argument against anyone who said Teahen wasn't very good coming into last season, "yes, but that's because they had him playing all over the field. Here, he'll be in one place, 3b." He is a horrible defensive player, no matter where you put him. Lillibridge has looked decent in the OF, but he has only 100 innings under his belt in the major leagues at that position. He also hits like a pitcher, so I don't know if capable is the proper term.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 01:33 PM) You gotta worry about it...because going from 70 innings this year to 150 next year could be murder on his arm. His innings have been going up for the last 3 years. If its a problem, he's already screwed.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 12:30 PM) The other side of it though...if Vizquel ever retires, he's a solid, cheap, 2-3 year option as a backup utility infielder who can cover all 3 positions and backup CF as well...and his competition is De Aza and Milledge, which means there's not exactly anything likely to look amazing that he's blocking. The other side of it is Lillibridge is soon to be 27 and finding someone who can do what he does, only better, shouldn't be a hard task. He's brutal.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 10:31 AM) Your choices pretty much are throw away a few games on a bad AAA pitcher, burn up the pen, or burn up the starters in April. I go with throwing a Marquez/Harrell, or someone like that and wasting just a few games instead off burning up vital pitchers at the start of the season. I agree. Plus in April, the pitchers are feeling strong, the weather might not be condusive to hitting, hitters might lose a little mental sharpness because of the name. If a mediocre minor leaguer is ever going to slide by other than meaningless September games, its then.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 12:17 PM) I think it will take an awful lot for the Sox to let Lillibridge walk. I think you are wrong. They know he sucks and is a back up at best for his career. His star has lost a lot of shine. He fans way too much. I believe the only way Lillibridge makes the team is with a big spring and/or an injury to Vizquel, or Morel showing he needs to go back to AAA. That is barring any trades. He's basically fighting for his baseball life IMO. Guys like him are a dime a dozen and they really don't have to keep him to hope to show something fromt the Vazquez trade now that Javy has moved on to yet another team.