Dick Allen

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Oct 7, 2010 -> 06:18 PM) Has Crawford ever even played RF? His arm isn't very well suited for it and I seem to remember years ago he was reluctant to play CF. Even if the Sox felt he could play RF despite his arm I'm not sure if Crawford would be that receptive to doing it. If they acquired Crawford, and I believe that is a gigantic longshot, the Sox have not given another team's FA more than $20 million total in 14 years, I think he would play LF, Pierre CF and Rios RF, assuming that didn't mean the end of Alex Rios with the White Sox. Oney hinted in his tweets the White Sox may get what he termed a "real" CF. I thought Rios was fine, but apparently Ozzie projects him more as a RF.

Twins/Yankees is the same as White Sox/Twins, only the Twins switch roles.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 5, 2010 -> 10:04 PM) And for those reasons Danks would fetch a s***load more than Floyd. If you can recognize that, it is obvious to the rest of MLB as well. And Albert Pujols would fetch a lot more than anyone else but St. Louis isn't trading him. Trading Danks would be a mistake. Trading Floyd may be a mistake or it could be perfect timing.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 5, 2010 -> 01:28 PM) I have been saying for a while I wouldn't be surprised if John Danks has thrown his last pitch on the southside. I wouldn't be surprised if Kenny went to John and Edwin to see about extensions, and then dealt the one of them that he felt least secure about keeping. Danks especially could bring a kings ransom to help rebuild this team on the fly, and if Peavy is on schedule, he would be easily replaced in the rotation, with Chris Sale still to spare. I think he's too much of a bulldog and too talented to trade. I do think the Sox will at least consider trading Floyd. He's still probably a guy some team will think could be the guy he is in June and July the last couple of years , for a whole season. That would fetch a lot. If he had another year like the last 2, he probably would just be considered a guy with about a .500 record and and ERA around 4.00. You run the risk of him be outstanding all the time, but you get talent back for that. He's kind of like a younger Javy Vazquez. At the end of the day, the numbers usually don't match the talent. His 2 months in the middle of the season make you wonder how he ends up around .500 with an ERA of 4.00.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 5, 2010 -> 08:39 AM) So the reason Jenks blew a 3-run lead in Minnesota is because he respects the Twins and doesnt hate them? And Matt Thornton wouldn't have grooved a pitch to Thome in the 10th if he just held a little more anger towards him & the Twins. Maybe then instead of working with Gavin on how to pitch more consistently, we should spend time every day making him dislike the Twins more and more, then he won't s*** the bed against them 3 teams in a month. As intense as the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is, I really don't think the players hate each other, and I'm sure there is a lot of mutual respect between the two teams. Let's not forget that those are two of the most talented teams in the league year in and year out, so every year they are competing to be the best in a super tough division or they are playing in the playoffs, which increases the intensity of every matchup. Maybe if the Twins didn't feel as if the Sox would lay down for them all the time, they would have had less confidence and not destroyed Jenks, or Thome may have gotten under the Thornton pitch and popped it up. Who knows? I do know the attitude the Sox take when playing this team in recent years isn't working and isn't going to ever work. The Red Sox and Yankees might not hate each other all the time, but when they are playing each other, they hate the opposition. The Sox were 5-13 against Minnesota this year. They are brutal against them every year. Do the Twins have that much more talent? There is more hate on this board for Minnesota than there is at USCF. The next non compliment you hear out of the home clubhouse at USCF concerning them will be the first in a long while. Torii Hunter went way out of his way to cheapshot a White Sox catcher. Our manager praised his style of play. Delmon Young goes out of his way to hit a White Sox catcher in the face. What happens to him? There were numerous HBP, and I understand not all of them, if any were on purpose, but you must send a message. If you dare pitch in on a White Sox hitter and make a mistake and hit him, its going to cost one of your teammates a lot of pain. The Sox finally did something when their captain was plunked in the face. They gave a Twin an 82 MPH fastball to the bicep. Not one disparaging comment, nothing. The Twins owned the White Sox, even when the Sox had more talent. They will continue to own them until the White Sox change their attitude. You can say the Twins were a better team and the 5-13 mark would indicate that, but then how could you explain the Sox having a better record the other 144 games? They are psyched out. As it turned out, if the Sox, and this is taking a lot of crap for granted after the race was decided, were 8-10 against Minnesota and everything else remained the same, there would have been a game 163 again.

I read a long time ago, the Sox switched to canned music, not because it was more popular with fans, but because their players wanted it. It makes sense given Ozzie's comments about Nancy a couple of weeks ago and how she was used the games she did work. Only the top half of the inning. I will miss her, but I've missed her for years during night games. The canned music is the same in every park. I wonder why that doesn't bother Ozzie.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 5, 2010 -> 11:18 AM) Although the Mets have a lot of resources, their ownership situation hasn't exactly been of the sort that leaves one riddled with confidence lately. If I recall correctly, they got hammered in the housing bust. I think they were Madoffed. As for Hahn, this is a typical Chicago back up QB thread. They have always been, until this year, one of the most popular players on the team. We really have no idea how he would fare as a GM. As for his chances with the Mets, I read where they aren't going to be spending much on players so they want to make a splash with potential season ticketholders with the GM and Manager. He probably isn't a big enough name. I would imagine if KW quit tonight, he would be the heir apparent, but Oney had some not so flattering things to say about him, and Oney get most of his thoughts from Ozzie, so I really wonder if that might be worse than the KW/OG spat. Dan Fabian supposedly would take Hahn's place if he left and he's the king of saber in the White Sox organization. When the Sox negotiate the real huge contracts, JR steps in anyway. He's the Sox top negotiator. I'm not saying Hahn wouldn't be a loss. He's obviously pretty valuable, but the Sox have pieces to cover for him in case he leaves. If there is an opportunity to be a GM out there with a team that is committed to winning, unless he's satisfied being an assitant, he has to jump at it. He's a smart guy. He passed on Pittsburgh. He knows that is just hanging himself.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Oct 3, 2010 -> 09:35 PM) Boyer is currently working on hiring a new organist Rumor is the Hawks organist is going to get the job.

Even if the Sox don't bring back AJ or Konerko or Jenks, you have to figure at least one will be replaced with someone pretty good. As crazy as this might seem, I think the Sox are sitting pretty for 2011. The AL Central has 2 awful teams, another team that will have more holes to fill than the Sox, and just may be awful as well, and yet another team that you have to figure may come back to the pack a little. I don't see Carl Pavano duplicating 2010. Even if Nathan and Morneau come back at full strength, I think their pitching is going to feel the effects of a long season. I think the Sox have to quit kissing Minnesota's ass and go out and beat them. Its time for the Sox to hate them. Make it like NY/Bos. If the Sox ever figure that out, they should dominate the division and they will be in the playoffs 6 out of 9 years.

KW: “We certainly have to get a left-handed hitter in here who can do some damage.” Gonzales twitter Jim Thome

QUOTE (Shamrock4Life @ Oct 3, 2010 -> 08:39 AM) The State of Illinois should sell it. The Sox shouldn't offer to buy it, unless a third party gets involved to buy it. The article made mention that the Sox paid $2.7 million in 2009, so I am guessing thats the rent. Whether its dynamic (per seat sold) or not, I don't know. When its time for a new staduim, they should keep it in the city and probably just put it where the old one was. When they build the new one, they should have moved it north to the South Loop when land values weren't through the roof. I did like the concept of a new stadium being built on Northerly Island though that somebody posted a little while ago. Never on Northernly Island. The public transportation there and driving there would be a nightmare. Its OK for the Bears when you have 10 dates. If you wanted to make it an 81 day event, you season ticket base would dwindle because its just not worth the trouble. There is still a parcel on the south side of Roosevelt Rd. by Clark that could be used. The north side of that now has a Target and a ICON theater. That could have been ideal. It would have been easily accessable for the after work crowd, open to the skyline. A couple of blocks from the Redine, greenl ine and orange line. I just don't see unless its the White Sox and the state is almost giving it away, who would want to buy it. The Sox have all the say so in the property, and its not like that area is ever really going to be a hot area for re development if the Sox ever leave.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Oct 2, 2010 -> 06:25 PM) Does Viciedo get an RBI there? No

I'm one of Paulie's biggest backers but giving him a 3 year contract at over $10 million a year isn't prudent. 6 months ago 95% of Soxtalk wanted the Sox to pay him to play for another team. I read a study and it seems in the post steroid, greenie era, the age players are most likely to hit a big wall is 35. Paulie is 35 next year. The get better on and off the field quote is pretty vague. It could mean several things. Maybe he's sick of the KW/Ozzie show. Paulie says almost every year how there is always something going on so the players are used to dealing with distractions. Maybe he's sick of those distractions. Maybe Thome is playing a part, although Thome has to be pretty happy where he is at. If I'm Paulie and I'm close with Thome, it would at least make me scratch my head when Ozzie keeps saying he made the correct choice with Thome and even took a mini rip at him when the Twins were in town, then says he would love to have Manny back. Really? As for on the field personnel, Paulie has been quoted many times over the years the Sox didn't need any in season help, so he really shouldn't complain about that. I don't take these quotes as a he's leaving for sure type of thing. I think he needs to know who wants him and what they will pay for his services. He wants to win. If he thinks the Sox are lagging behind, he'll go someplace else. He says he may take less money, but I'm sure there's a limit as to how much less.

Considering the White Sox sweetheart deal, they have great terms and all the power, I just wonder who would want to buy it. Why would buying it really appeal to anyone except maybe the White Sox if it were for pennies on the dollar.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2010 -> 05:09 PM) Frankly...I'm sick of this side show. If he's coming back...he needs to cut out the 2010 crap. The 2004-2009 distractions I can take. This year has been a whole nother level. The side show is part of the act. Its never going away.

QUOTE (hitlesswonder @ Sep 25, 2010 -> 11:13 PM) I would take the Nets offer as well. The Bulls would have to go with Deng, Noah, Gibson, the CHA first and a first of their own...and even then that's a pretty poor haul. Really, for all the optimism about the Bulls being a top 4 team in the East next season, their roster is actually pretty depressing. The don't have a player outside of Rose that really has any significant trade value. Pretty much every team after their top 2 or 3 is pretty depressing.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 11:37 AM) That Cubs job has gotten the best of many better managers than Ozzie. Ozzie would crash and burn within three years of taking that job. Anyway, Ozzie is still under contract to the Sox next year so he should keep his big stupid mouth shut. I really wish the Sox would fire his ass already. If I'm KW, immediately after this season ends I would call him in my office and remind him that he is under contract for next year and the team holds an option for 2012. I'd tell him we expect him to honor his contract for next year and then depending on how well he performs we will re-evaluate the situation after the season to decide wheteher or not we will bring him back for 2012 and beyond. Tell him there will be no extension considered until after the 2011 season. If he isn't happy with this he can resign and forfeit his salary but then he still cannot take another job in MLB until the 2011 season is over. I also think the Sox would be in a position to get compensation if a team really wanted Ozzie, ala Lou Piniella to Tampa. That said, the more Ozzie pops off, the more it would appear he's close to the end of the line, which actually probably increases the chances he returns next season. I really think the Sox will cave and pick up his 2012 option and let him explore other teams if he wishes. Let him go to the Cubs. The only problem is they would never hire him. Ozzie spews his White Sox passion, yet pops off about going to the Cubs with the Sox stilling having 2 years of control over his services, how is he suddenly going to sell the Cubs on his Cubs passion?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 09:49 AM) I know. You mention this every single time that a pitcher fails on the Sox. Hence why it looks like you hate the guy. Not every time. Just for balance, when the Walker haters come out.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 01:45 AM) Matt Murton's always been a pretty good ball player. He plays good D, gets on base, has a bit of power. Thing is, the Cubs totally screwed him up. He's never been a good defensive player. I don't think the Cubs screwed him up. He hit pretty well with them. When they traded him, he did nothing but hit his way to Japan. I don't know how many games they have left, but don't they usually hold the foreign guys out if they can if they are about to break a Japanese player's record?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 09:32 AM) You really hate Don Cooper. No. In fact, I've never really been serious about firing Cooper once. Its more of my defense for Greg Walker. I just find it odd that no one ever mentions Cooper when the pitching falls apart, but if guys don't hit, its always on Walker. When the pitching is great, Cooper is the greatest. When the hitting is great, it has nothing to do with Walker. Just last week, Walker was being blamed for Morel, a rookie, swinging at pitches in the dirt. Almost like Walker told him to go up there and swing at everything, and Morel like a robot listening. The only hitter I can remember having a lot more success after he left the White Sox than he did while a White Sox is Swisher, and he didn't work with Walker at all. Hudson looks like a HOFer right now.

QUOTE (since56 @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 08:25 AM) Reinsdorf lets his general manager hire and fire managers. Larussa was fired when Hawk Harrelson was a one year GM. It broke Reinsdorf's heart but he let Hawk have his way. He would love to get Larussa back, there has been talk of it before as the two remain close. Larussa has peaked in St. Louis and does not want to wait out a rebuild there. He is near the end and I think would love to finish up right where he started it all. I'm not predicting it, but it is not "beyond slim". I'm just relaying some info I received that was sourced from someone who would know a lot better than any of us on this board. Up until then, I thought just like you, although I don't think that much of LaRussa as a manager.

It seemed obvious when Hudson was a White Sox that if he could throw strikes he'd be a pretty good pitcher. He's only walked 3 more hitters in AZ than he did in 15 innings with the White Sox. There was a radio interview with him and he said they do things in AZ they don't do in Chicago. I do know if he was a hitter who struggled with the White Sox but had 1/3 of a season with this kind of success with another team, Greg Walker would be to blame. Why no Cooper bashing? As to the trade, Jackson has been pretty good. It really didn't make a difference this year. Next year will be key. If Hudson can be anywhere near as effective as he's been thus far, he'll win the Cy Young.

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 26, 2010 -> 07:36 AM) What do you mean? Because the season is over next week? The Oz/KW drama will stretch into next year if Cowley's on the beat. Cowley is done as a White Sox beat writer when the season ends. He's going to be moving on to something else with the Sun Times. Since beat writers typically take off the weekends when the team is at home, its possible we are only 5 days away from being free of Oney's, I mean Cowley's propaganda concerning the White Sox, perhaps forever. Hopefully they won't give him a column. I heard he's going to college sports.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 25, 2010 -> 06:41 PM) Media and fan scrutiny would be the #1 reason that St Louis is better than Chicago. A player can't fart without Joe Cowley tweeting about it. Cowley is now one week away from being an ex-White Sox beat writer. Its good for us, good for the player, good for White Sox management. The only one its not so good for is Oney. He'll need a new lackey to get his stuff in the paper.

There are a lot of teams that would welcome the circus Ozzie would bring with him. I really don't think Hendry and the Cubs are one of them, but it would be interesting seeing Ozzie's views change on Wrigley Field. He also said once, and I think this might have been on "The Club" that he would never manage the Cubs as long as JR was alive, so I guess now he has changed his mind while still under contract for perhaps 2 years with the White Sox. Wow. Gardenhire has never had longer than a 2 year contract. I wonder why he never is all over the place crying for more. Ozzie is obviously brighter than your average 6th grade dropout, but the stuff he's saying now is showing the lack of education IMO. He still is obligated to the Sox for 2 years. KW said this week he thought Ozzie was the man for the job but isn't going to talk extension with those 2 years still on the table. Now Ozzie says he would go to the Cubs because the White Sox would be divorcing him. No Ozzie, that's really not correct. You would be leaving them. You have a contract already. Maybe it isn't as long as you would like. Maybe Oney flying around to all his parties is costing you more than you imagined and it isn't for as much as you liked. But you have a contract. If they don't fire you and you leave, its on you. From the Tribune: "The respect I have for the media and the media has for me, that's unique. The love and respect I have for the fans, that's very special. I don't have anything to regret. But if I'm going to go, then my job is to win a championship somewhere else. Where it's going to be? I don't know. I don't have any regrets." The comment about the fans is laughable. Isn't this the same guy who said if you disagreed with anything he did you should watch another team?