Dick Allen

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 10, 2010 -> 01:02 PM) Do you mean like dozens of players wearing his number? http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/artic...sp&c_id=sea Its a little different. How come no one takes it out of the mothballs for a full season as a "tribute"? Unretire all the numbers, then every player who ever had a number retired can have someone wear "his" number as a tribute. It will be great, after all, its apparently more of an honor to have someone wear your number instead of having it in mothballs. My point is its silly to retire numbers if you are going to unretire them. Does anyone really think a back-up 43 year old infielder is really going to raise the awareness of Luis Aparicio a guy who, its getting at least close to the point that the majority of people in the USCF stands never saw play in a White Sox uniform? Even if it does, will it be long lasting and will JimH's buddies in their board shorts and hats on backwards even care?

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 9, 2010 -> 09:03 PM) And you said you didn't want to argue. Working pretty damn hard to prove me wrong for a guy who isn't arguing. Again you're the one arguing. A post like what you made shows that. I'm just stating facts, besides even if it was 30 below it would be that way for both teams.

QUOTE (JoeBatterz @ Feb 9, 2010 -> 03:09 PM) This is one of those headline grabbing stories that seems like a big deal until you see that Aparicio himself was personally asked by Vizquel and that he endorsed it warmly. That is the only person who's view matters in this and I fully support Aparicio's decision. The fact that Vizquel asked him first and that it is meant to honor the #11, makes me fully endorse it even more. I know in the end its probably no big deal. I just think a retired number is a retired number, and the ultimate respect anyone could show Aparicio was to keep it retired, not "I've been honoring Dave Concepcion for over 20 years, but his number is not available. I know yours technically isn't either, but do you mind if I wear it?" Maybe Aparicio endorses it wholeheartedly, maybe he doesn't. He really wasn't in a postion to say anything but what he said without catching grief. He shouldn't be put in that situation. If there are exceptions to be made, don't retire any numbers, just honor the names.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 9, 2010 -> 10:47 AM) That's because they're comparing average high (daytime) temperatures... not average low (nighttime) temperatures. The low is consistently lower in Minneapolis. And when they play night games outside, that's what they're going to be dealing with. For example... this week the high temperature in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis is projected to be pretty similar... all in the mid-20's. The lows? Much different. The low in Milwaukee tonight... 18. The low in Chicago tonight... 20 The low in Minneapolis tonight... 3. So... no, the facts are not lies. But this is a great example of how facts (like using data on average temperatures) can be misleading. The low temperature on Feb 8 isn't relevant. Minneapolis does have colder winters, but games aren't played then. Here are the average low temps city apr may june july aug sep oct Min 36 48 58 63 61 51 39 Cle 38 48 58 62 61 54 44 Mil 37 47 57 63 63 54 43 Chi 40 51 61 66 65 57 45 Add in Minnesota will only play 3 home night games in April and won't start their home schedule until April 12, the chances are they won't even have the lowest gametime average temperatures in their division.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 10:17 PM) I'm from Chicago. I went to college in Milwaukee. Minneapolis in April is colder. Hands down. If you want to argue this point, are you doing it from personal experience... or do you just feel like arguing? I'm not arguing. Just stating facts. You are arguing, telling me the facts are lies because you say so. Go to weather.com and get the average temperatures in April. Of the 3, Chicago is the warmest on average by 2 degrees over Minneapolis, and Minneapolis is warmer by 2 degrees over Milwaukee. In fact, Minneapolis is virtually the same with Cleveland. I've lived in Chicago most of my life although I went to school in a place that was colder, Iowa. Have been to Milwaukee and Minneapolis quite a bit. Personally, I don't think they should be playing many home games in these cities in April, except Milwaukee with its dome. Someone did a study on these cities over 50 years to determine miserable baseball days in April. Cleveland was at 6.5%. Chicago 4.1%. They said Minneapolis was 7.1%. The study determined if they didn't play at home before April 10, the miserable baseball days index goes down 80% in Cleveland and Chicago. 70% in Minneapolis. The Twins home opener is April 12, so that would take it down to approx. 2%.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 09:50 PM) I don't know what their average temperatures are. But I do alot of work in Minneapolis and I know I freeze my a** off up there in April. And you freeze your ass off in Chicago in April, and in Detroit and Cleveland and Boston, and New York.

Cleveland and Minneapolis have the same average temperatures in April. Chicago and Detroit average about 2 degrees warmer. Milwaukee actually averages 2 degrees colder, but they have a dome. I think though, that may surprise people. I'm sure there will be some weather related problems in Minnesota in at least some Aprils, but to think they will be shoveling out 2 feet of snow until June is wrong.

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 06:51 PM) Who is he going to get his money back from? Did a political consulting firm guarantee that he wasn't an unelectable jerk? He's hoping for some party fundraisers so he can re coup at least part of his "loan". I would think he's got some deal for something for dropping out. He could have held the entire Dem party in IL hostage.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 07:47 PM) The Sox will play Kotsay/Jones interchangeably one a time. The Twins are counting on Hudson as a starting 2B and Pavano as a starting pitcher. Big difference. Hudson made the All Star team last year. You make him out to be a bum. He's not as good as Andruw Jones, a guy who strikes out all the time and has hit .207 the last 3 years or Mark Kotsay a guy who was DFA'd by Boston last year, but is loved because he had several meaningless hits for the White Sox last September? I agree, the Twins are crazy if they are counting on Pavano, but you could probably say the same thing about Freddy Garcia. I think it will be a tight race, I just hope the Sox get some more offense. They only won 8 times last year scoring less than 4 runs.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 07:43 PM) I live in Chicago, but work out of Minnesota several weeks a year. If you think a city that is 410 miles north is not a lot more frigid, you are seriously crazy. I think the Twins will suffer the adjustment of losing their home advantage. I also think that the fact that they are a poor road team will also factor into a weak record next season. MIN no longer has an extreme home field advantage with the turf, the blind ceiling and the noise factor. A team whose home indoor stadium that gave them that edge will suffer an adjustment period to both the outdoor climate and the new stadium itself. How the Sox and Tigers played on the road has nothing to do with the fact that the Twins consistently struggled away from the advantages of the Dome they no longer have. They no longer have the comfort of home that other teams have to offset the road struggles the way they have in the past. Not having at least 20 games with a controlled a climate when other rivals couldn't in April/May also should factor into a slow start. From the Weather channel AVG high temps. city apr may june july aug sep oct min 57 70 79 83 80 71 58 chi 59 70 80 84 83 76 64 Its a little chillier, but not the Arctic in January. If the Twins win more games on the road than the other teams, which they have, they don't have to win as many at home, but if the weather is as big of factor as you say it is (it isn't) then they would have an advantage there as well. BTW, Minneapolis is not 410 miles N of Chicago. It may be 410 miles away but its pretty far west.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 06:33 PM) You have GOT to admit moving out of a dome and into an open ball park in what is the climate of Canada is gonna have an effect on a team. "Seasoned Pros" is another name for old and declining which Thome, Hudson and Pavano are. Nick Punto is the starting 3B. If it's not him it's Harris, who is even worse. We love a team that appears to be going with an Andruw Jones/Mark Kotsay tandem DH. Giving another roster grief for depending on declining players would be like Cub fans laughing at guys in pink polos with their collars up.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 06:34 PM) "BTW they were better on the road than the White Sox in 2006,2007 and 2009. They were 1/2 game worse than the White Sox in 2008." So? You said they were a horrible road team. They won more road games than any other AL Central team last year. As a matter of fact, over the past 4 years only the Tigers have won more road games in the AL Central than Minnesota. As long as you have Mauer and Morneau in their primes, you have a pretty decent shot, especially considering they have other talent. If the Sox had another legit starter who could hit, I would give them a slight nod. As for Minneapolis being like Canada, its really not much different from Chicago from April through October, and if it is an ice box, like you suggest, wouldn't playing in it regularly give you an advantage over those who don't?

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 06:23 PM) You can't disagree with fact. The Twins have been a terrible road team for years. The Twins dome advantage is obvious and well established. Ask Detroit about that Game 163. But that doesn't mean Target Field is a road game for them. Most teams are more successful at home. Its not always the park. I think adding seasoned pros and limiting playing time for guys like Punto will only help them on the road and in their new park. BTW they were better on the road than the White Sox in 2006,2007 and 2009. They were 1/2 game worse than the White Sox in 2008.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 06:11 PM) The Twins have been a terrible road team the past few years. Their new park is essentially gonna be a road park for them for at least next season or two. That is a huge factor not enough people are considering here... I disagree. They have changed their team. It isn't Nick Punto beating you with a bunt that somehow plates 2 and gets him to third anymore. There isn't one game in the Metrodome last year you could say the reason the Sox lost was because of the strangeness of the stadium. You probably could say they were defeated before the game started several times, hopefully that will change. Who knows what will happen with Target Field. They seem to be stacking up LH power hitters, so they probably know something. The Sox don't have many of those. It may be a disadvantage.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 09:24 AM) I loved his kids crying. They looked like they were 12. WTF are they crying about? Do they even know what's going on? And did they do the presser at a bar? I really thought that was a sad commentary on him as a parent using his crying kid for sympathy. He's a pathetic person, and I'm not a republican. If I was, I sure would have loved him not to step down. He's looking to get some of his money back. Maybe he can pay off the rest of his delinquent taxes or his child support or his water bill when if he gets any back. What you have to love is he has a fiance. I'm sure her family and friends are so happy for her.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 03:53 PM) Unless this was Louie's idea from the start, I think it sucks big time. If OV initiated it, it's even worse. Total lack of respect. It was Vizquel's idea, from the espn.com story when he signed: One thing that will likely change is his number. Familiar No. 13 belongs to Guillen. "That's going to be a hard thing. I don't think Ozzie is going to give up his number," Vizquel said. He said he might ask countryman Luis Aparicio if can wear his retired No. 11 as a tribute. Or maybe the No. 17 that was worn by another Venezuelan shortstop who played for the White Sox, Chico Carrasquel. Guillen said nothing has been decided but he would be reluctant to part with his number, one he wore for so many years with the White Sox. He suggested that Vizquel try No. 23 -- just one digit removed -- because it's such a big number in Chicago, the one most notably worn by Michael Jordan.

I don't think signing Damon would be to negate anything Minnesota does. It makes the White Sox a better team.

QUOTE (earthshiner @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 03:53 PM) Since Aparicio gave his blessing I guess its not really un-retired. Its like BJ Armstrong wearing Bob Love's #10 after it was retired But BJ was wearing #10 at the time it was retired, and when he had his second tour of duty with the Bulls, he wore 11. I think it makes no sense to retire numbers if you are willing to unretire them for 43 year old back ups, especially guys who have never worn that number before. I understand Vizquel is a HOFer himself, but that makes no difference IMO. It may be one thing if Vizquel wore 11 as a tribute to Aparicio his entire career, or at least SOME of it, but he was a Concepcion guy and the only reason he isn't 13 is Ozzie won't give it to him. What's next? Ramon Castro gets some pointers from Carlton Fisk and wants to wear 72 with Pudge's blessing? The best players in the game today, the finest human beings, the greatest humanitarians, could ask Bud Selig if they could "un-retire" 42 for a season, to pay tribute to Jackie Robinson. The answer would be no. A retired number is a retired number. The only person who should wear 11 in a White Sox uniform is Luis Aparicio.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 7, 2010 -> 01:28 PM) The big problem with D2 is that D1 still made a sacrifice, switching agents away from Boras, when we drafted D2. Thus, trading D2 could easily have a huge impact on the ability of the team to hold onto D1. And we still have no idea what they might have said behind the scenes as well. I think that is BS. If Jordan Danks being a White Sox was that important, why didn't the Sox select him in an earlier round? Also, if trading away Jordan Danks and getting Adrian Gonzalez back pisses John Danks off so much he wouldn't re-sign, he obviously would not have his priorities in order. I don't buy there being any hesitation trading Jordan because John may not like it. If it improves the team, John should love it, and his younger brother still gets an opportunity. Maybe even a better one.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 7, 2010 -> 07:26 AM) Duane Shaffer really sucked. Just look at the past 3 #1's compared to Shaffers. Shaffers: Ruffcorn, Pearson, Christman, Johnson, Liefer, Seay, Dellaero, Wells, Stumm, Ginter, Borchard, Ring, Anderson, Fields, Broadway, McCulloch. Brian Anderson is the most productive of all those picks. Then Fields. Post Shaffer: Poreda, Beckham, Mitchell There's 3 guys that all project to be worlds better than the monstrosity of our 1991-2006 drafts. Borchard was thought of a lot more highly than Poreda and Mitchell, and the White Sox gave him more than double the bonus they gave Beckham, so while he didn't amount to much at least Poreda and Mitchell have a long way to go in order to prove they were worthy of their bonuses. The Sox can blame Shaffer all they want, but if its all on him, how was he allowed to continue as long as he did? And what about the Dave Wilder fiasco? What was the deal with that? He was actually given promotions. What were they based on? Certainly not performance.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 6, 2010 -> 06:17 PM) Whether Jerry is being a hypocrite or not (I actually think he is being one, personally) is beside the point. I still fail to see how this is relevant to what the Cubs are trying to do right now... because Jerry arm-twisted his way into getting a new stadium with public money 20 years ago (as if this was uncommon), some Cubs fans think that the Cubs should be given a pass to make fans of other teams pay for their stadium? Really? What the hell? I mean, I love the Sox and all, but if Jerry was trying to do the same thing to other fans I'd be with the "crying foul" crowd. Jerry moved to Glendale last year after they financed a $200 million complex. They were hoping to do some building in the area and make this all work with taxes from that. The economic downturn has put a damper on that project. It may never get done, and if it does, there are questions as to whether or not it can generate enough tax to keep Glendale from big trouble. How fair is that to a non baseball fan living in the community? JR has every right to be opposed. I would be if I were him, but as far as public handouts, he has been on the receiving end of some beauties. The opposition needs a different spokesman. I wonder how much the surcharge is, and if it would do much to spring training ticket sales.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 6, 2010 -> 05:33 PM) I saw some Cubs fans complaining about how New Comiskey was financed with public money and how Jerry is being a hypocrite, honestly I fail to see how that's the same thing. Yeah, it pissed a lot of people off at the time, but that investment's probably paid for itself a couple of times over by now, and plus it's an ACTUAL stadium, not a spring training facility. They're just b****ing for the sake of finding fault. While I agree he should be opposed to this suggested surcharge, considering his team has spring training in a $200 million publicly financed facility where there is growing question how much this may bury the Glendale community, and a publicly financed stadium during the regular season financed by a tax on hotel rooms, where I cannnot see how that is fair to the hotel industry or their patrons, he is being a bit hypocritical. Is it fair the Mets pay a tax towards USCF when they come to town to play the Cubs? Or the Vikings do the same when they play the Bears? When publicly financed structures get built for private businesses, there are usually more than a few people who can say its unfair.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 6, 2010 -> 11:33 AM) you are speaking of modern day u.s. cellular field, we are talking about spring training facilities. The Sox didn't pay for that either. JR did pay for half the United Center.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Feb 6, 2010 -> 10:53 AM) Darn right. Jerry as far as I know, paid for his own stadium. Me thinks Ricketts should not have bought the team. He's trying to get everyone else to pay for them and will be cutting payroll two years in a row. They won't fire Hendry, even though he doesn't fit in with that philosophy because it would cost more money to do so and replace him. Jerry didn't pay for his stadium in Phoenix, but other teams fans didn't have to foot the bill either.

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 6, 2010 -> 01:23 PM) I blocked it on my computer because I like staying employed. There's a video going around. Its a guy being interviewed at a brokerage firm on a business channel. Someone in the room behind him eventually starts looking at pictures of topless women on his computer when the guy is speaking and its on camera. That guy didn't stay employed from what I was told.