Dick Allen

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 17, 2010 -> 11:01 PM) I'm not even going to blame Ozzie for that final inning, he really doesn't have any good options right now, anything he does could have blown up in his face there. I am still going to blame him for not having a real f***in dh though and no I wont ever get over that bulls***. The Sox did get some DH production tonight, however, if they had signed Thome, the Twins wouldn't have him, and maybe this game is a different story. Maybe a lot of things are different. All I know is the Sox better start winning quickly or their nice comeback will be long forgotten with tumbleweeds returning to USCF in September.

QUOTE (J.Reedfan8 @ Aug 17, 2010 -> 10:59 PM) I agree with you except this part which is false. Other than Badger, few of the posters were surprised that Thornton was back out there for that inning in the game thread. Not saying I didn't agree with it or did (other than Matt's low velocity I thought they still would have pitched Thome better and BTW we have poorly scouted Jim whom we should know his weaknesses that game) but just throwing that out there. High fastball, Thome doesn't touch. Low fastball, Thome touches. Simple. The Sox know Thome's weaknesses as well as or better than every team. Just because you want to throw a high fastball doesn't mean you will, especially if you may be a bit gassed.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 17, 2010 -> 10:55 PM) I don’t have a problem with Thornton being in the game. I have a problem with him throwing Thome’s kind of pitch in Thome’s wheelhouse. That’s a troubling piece of pitch sequencing. He was probably in too long, and you lose some command and some stuff, but the other options were just as ugly.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Aug 17, 2010 -> 10:53 PM) That bomb put Thome in a tie for first on the all-time walk-off HR list. He's so unclutch. I really can't understand why the Sox don't dominate the Twins. Gardenhire is so handcuffed. His DH can't play the field. I wonder if the show "The Club" gets Thome's blood moving a little quicker. It always has the JR quote "It doesn't matter what we feel about him, its about winning" in the into. They were talking about him. It is a must the Sox get at least one of the next two.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 16, 2010 -> 07:45 PM) I know for a fact that some small market teams have claimed some guys you would not expect them to have claimed... There is more money out there than you think. The White Sox spend every dime they have. They found extra money in the drop ceiling of Uncle Jerry's office last season to bring in Peavy and Rios. The thing is, with guys like Scott, its not big money being moved. I didn't think any team would claim Manny, but now I believe the Red Sox will. They have nothing to lose. Manny won't go back there and it prevents their competition from acquiring him.

The Sox have to win at least one of these. 4 games back is far better than 6. Of course, being tied at 10 pm on Thursday would be optimal.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 15, 2010 -> 02:27 AM) Caulfield, I was just going by the analysis of Hawk and Stoney who, even as homers, crucified AJ on the play. Said on ball four it was inexcusable to throw the ball. Stoney said AJ "knew" that ball was high. I love AJP, I'm just going by our announcers. Curious as to why you see this one differently from those two. Remember it was ball four. We should have a separate thread on Soxtalk's feelings about AJ. I sense some growing disgust with him this year. I still like him, just don't understand his batting stance sometimes. I think AJ lost the count on that play. He turned around and was talking to the umpire after the play.I hope he comes back if Tyler Flowers is the answer as a replacement. AJ has been pretty brutal offensively this year, but has had a real good defensive season. Castro is a nice back up. He was very popular in NY as a back up, fans always wanting him to have the regular job. When he plays more frequently he tends to show why he is a back up, which is fine. I think the Sox have a cheap option on him next year.

Infrequent ABs for 21 year olds in the major leagues spells struggles. He needs to play, and Ozzie really doesn't appear to like to play him, so going back to Charlotte is probably for the best. He obviously is going to have to learn how to take a walk once in a while to keep pitchers honest. To me, Viciedo is going to be a star or bust, no in between.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 09:40 PM) Well, Gardenhire pulled Liriano before Ramirez batted, while Ozzie let Floyd stayed in. Right or wrong, Gardenhire is the huge winner in the managerial game tonight. I like the match-ups vs the Tigers, but would be nice to see Teahen called up for Viciedo with those 3 righties on the mound. I've always been big on a quick hook, but Ozzie does have his bullpen in better shape for the stretch. The only other bullpens used less than the White Sox are Philadelphia and Seattle, and Seattle was only about an inning more.

QUOTE (Allsox @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 09:37 PM) He struck out the other two guys with them, what can one do? Normally I can see your point, but a hot humid night, more pitches than he usually throws, he's been laboring for a good portion of the game, a huge situation with a lefty ready to go against Kubel, its easy to say now obviously, but you have to make a move in a 3-1 game. If you're going to yank him if he gives up a homer, why leave him in?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 09:33 PM) I think he'll be fine...he's doing a great job as a lefty reliever brought in to face righties. I just see that motion and think he's going to know surgeons quite well.

Is it just me..........the more I see Sale, the shorter I think his career is going to be.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 09:29 PM) Wow Ozzie, you deserve all sorts of bashing for that move. Gavin was hanging every pitch he threw this inning. One batter too late. Mercy. Stone called it too.

QUOTE (Chisoxfaninminny @ Aug 10, 2010 -> 03:59 PM) whats the feeling from the chicago perspective. Most twins fans are predicting twins win at least 2 outta 3. They arent throwing out great pitchers, what is the chicago take on the 3 games The Chicago take is the Twins board their charter after the series in second place 3 games out of first.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Aug 9, 2010 -> 09:01 AM) I think this "clubhouse chemistry" thing is so overrated. These are grown ass men, not little girl scouts. You know what boosts clubhouse chemistry? WINNING! You could have a team full of Jim Thomes and Paul Konerkos, and if they're losing, the chemistry wouldn't be the greatest. Exactly. This team was 9.5 games out with the same cast of characters. No one was talking about the great chemistry then. They have proven they can be great with this roster and they can be awful with this roster. Hopefully, KW can get another bat, but it certainly doesn't look good. They just lost 3 of 4 to Baltimore and still are in first place, so not all is bad.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 9, 2010 -> 09:00 PM) I really hope Carlos didn't just hurt himself. He was out of control. He really is nuts.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 9, 2010 -> 08:55 PM) It didn't seem unusual to me. At the end he held his arm low almost looked like a cramp, then tried shaking something out of it.

I just replayed it 3 times, Thornton definitely tweaked something in his arm or elbow that last pitch.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Aug 7, 2010 -> 11:13 PM) Block on the Giants? They don't really have the space for him, do they? They know they won't give Dunn away now, so it was an easy block.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 8, 2010 -> 02:18 PM) Guthrie's move is too good. On his stolen base, a decent throw and he was out. The chances of Jake Fox making a decent throw are very slim. I hate when a team shuts down the running game because they are down 2 runs.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 8, 2010 -> 02:16 PM) Because we need 2 here and not 1, probably. Since its almost automatic that he'd be safe and with Vizquel, pretty much a singles hitter at bat, it doesn't hurt to take them when you can get them. One run is better than none.

Why Pierre doesn't run on the first pitch with Jake Fox behind the plate is beyond me.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 8, 2010 -> 02:05 PM) Hawk b****ing about the zone. Based on what I have seen, I have no issues with the strike zone. You should know by now if the Sox are losing the umpiring is an issue according to the White Sox TV booth. If they are winning, the umpires are doing a great job.

QUOTE (Real @ Aug 7, 2010 -> 03:37 PM) He said the rule had recently changed, and also I dont think Rios had any NTC let alone a full one He had full protection last year and this and limited protection the duration of his contract.

QUOTE (Real @ Aug 7, 2010 -> 01:12 PM) They had Steve Philips on the score this morning, he said players with NTC cant be claimed on the waiver wire, they can only be traded if they pass through unclaimed. If a team claims a player with a NTC on the waiver wire, they are immediately pulled off as a block. So if this is the case, obviously the twins would put a claim on Manny to block us from getting him Alex Rios had full no trade protection in 2009. Phillips continues to show why he is an ex-GM.