Dick Allen

If this is true, why wouldn't Broadway have been arrested?

I just read this, in 3 of the past 4 seasons, the Twins have either won or lost the AL Central division title by 1 game.

Law doesn't know too much about Hudson. That was obvious in his chat. Saying a minor leaguer who doesn't throw 95 mph doesn't have a high ceiling and projects out to a #4 or #5 starter at best is just playing it very conservatively. Chances are Hudson will never be a Cy Young candidate, odds are he will be a #4 or #5 starter someday, especially with the Sox current rotation. Any of us can go through his top 100 list and say each player will suck in the major leagues. We'll be correct most of the time.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 31, 2010 -> 12:21 PM) Damon turned down a $6 million deal from the Yankees that he talked them into offering before they gave up on him and signed Winn. I think he may well wind up retired. He's not going to retire. Half of that $6 million was deferred.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jan 28, 2010 -> 07:42 AM) If SD had the same impression about the Sox prospects as Keith Law, there would have pretty much been zero chance Jake Peavy would have ever become a White Sox. Not true. They wanted financial relief. Gonzalez makes $5 million a year the next 2 seasons. They want premium prospects. There's no question in my mind Law has some grudge against KW and/or the White Sox organization in some way, and despite his Harvard education, and his baseball acumen, at least the acumen he professes to own, there's probably several good reasons why he's writing a blog instead of running a team. What I do find troubling, however, is many other scouts seem to share his opinion on guys like Viciedo and Jordan Danks. It really means crap just like a scout calling them future HOFers means crap at this time. It just makes you wonder, and you do know one thing, if Big Papi is struggling, the Red Sox are going to go hard after Gonzalez, and the SD GM knows their system very well. If it comes down to a prospect bidding war for his services, chances are the wrong color Sox will win.

I'm a big Buerhle guy, but face it, at this stage Peavy is the ace. Why throw your rotation in a mess just so Buerhle gets the opening day nod? Haven't they made a big deal about the name on front of the jersey being more important than the name on the back?

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 30, 2010 -> 05:27 PM) Come on DA.. can't you just feel the Damon-Pierre-Jones outfield on Sundays (or another day or two out the week) with Ozzie? For sure, but it wouldn't happen everyday. Rios has to play CF regularly, not RF. If not, it made absolutely no sense to claim him.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jan 30, 2010 -> 04:50 PM) most high school girls softball teams would have better throwing outfields than one with pierre and damon....im all for bringing damon in as DH though They wouldn't be out there together all the time. A game here a game there wouldn't be so bad. The Sox used to have Raines and One Dog next to each other every game for years. They also threw flyballs back to the infield.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Jan 30, 2010 -> 10:07 AM) I'm not too familiar with Downs. Can someone please summarize his stuff beyond just his stat line? Damon fits in far too well with what Ozzie and Kenny have talked about re a "flexible DH" for the Sox to ever actually sign him, but I've been hoping they do. He's a 2 time former Cub. A failed starter, was actually released by Montreal in 2004. Toronto signed him and had him start for a while and relieve some. The last 3 seasons he's been a reliever exclusively and has been pretty good. He is 33 or 34, so he's really no spring chicken, but he's an asset. I just don't know if you want to spend $4 million on the second lefty in the bullpen. I'm all for spending cash, but I think the Sox need to spend on a bat. If they want to do both fine with me. If they pass on the bat and do this instead, it still should improve the bullpen, which should lead to more wins. Another quality reliever isn't going to hurt.

Damon would sell some tickets. If KW was saying with a straight face when he offered Torii Hunter all that cheddar that they were stretching the budget but Hunter t-shirt and jersey sales along with the expected increase in ticket sales would cover the deficit, then Damon is in the same boat although he wouldn't have to sell as many. Its not a long term committment. Its nothing that would be a burden for seasons to come. Maybe they are secretly negotiating with him. Maybe Boras is throwing out all these other teams in order to create a fake market. It just seems right now no team is going to offer Damon a big contract. I have wanted Damon from day 1 and in the back of my mind, I always thought the Yankees would be the biggest threat to screw it up if the White Sox did go after him. They have to be out now. I really doubt Damon wants to go to Oakland. He had a bad year in that park when he was in his prime. If it happened again, he probably would be done. He might take less to play near home in Tampa, but how much are they going to really offer him? Detroit? I think you give him a contract he can save some face on and Boras could spin into a good situation, he can be had.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jan 30, 2010 -> 08:48 AM) If Damon was playing for the Sox in '10 what do you guys think his stats would be? You do have to take into to account that new Yankee stadium was perfect for him, and he is also getting older, at 36 years old, and was also just in a contract year. ...Then again he could bring back a certain bead.... I'd assume if healthy, he'd bring in around 10 HR, 60 RBIs, .350 OBP, and 15 SB. That's not too bad, and is definitely better than the floating KotJones DH, but that doesn't make him a miracle worker. Would you guys be happy with that stat line? Would project him pretty differently? I think he'd hit between 12-18 homers, score a lot of runs. Steal at least 20 because Ozzie wants to run. His SB were down last year he says because he didn't run in front of Texiera. He was 12-12 stealing. He can replace Getz' production there. Who knows, maybe when it gets serious, someone is willing to step up and pay him, but if he signs for $5-6 million total and the White Sox don't get involved, I think they would have made a mistake.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 30, 2010 -> 07:40 AM) Come on, you are telling me the 72-10 bulls didnt pull that off? Or any of the teams that cleared 60 wins? That seems kind of out there They probably didn't play 5 straight road games against teams with winning records. There is a catch, but its still quite an accomplishment. Too bad the Bullies played like crap against the easier portion of this trip. It could have been epic.

According to Joel Sherman, Damon would be willing to play for $7 million with part of that being deferred, so I would imagine since he hasn't signed, the $7 million he turned down, if he did get an offer, is not available anymore. Supposedly the Yankees were willing to give him 2 years $14 million if they didn't sign Nick Johnson, but they did. Then supposedly before they signed Winn, the offered him one year $6 million with half of it being deferred, he said no. The A's were interested, but they just spent $10 million on Sheets. I doubt they would go $7 million for Damon. I think $4-5 million with another $1-2 million in incentives could get it done right now, maybe even cheaper if you wait a while but run the risk of losing him. Johnny Damon is this year's Bobby Abreu, and the Sox do have a spot for him. If you're willing to spend $4 million on Downs, a guy who will pitch about 50 innings, I can't see why you wouldn't go after Damon at his current price tag.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jan 28, 2010 -> 02:08 AM) Not sure why we're bothering with what ifs at this point. If SD has the same impression about the Sox prospects as Keith Law, there pretty much is zero chance Adrian Gonzalez ever becomes a White Sox.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 27, 2010 -> 06:57 PM) I don't think Ozzie ever really consider the option of having Thome all offseason because he assumed he would sign elsewhere. When given the option of having Thome back at like $1-2 mill a year to be a dangerous bat for the Sox and take playing time away from someone like Mark Kotsay, Ozzie chose to go with Kotsay over Thome because he would have to give too many bats to Thome, which would take away from his ability to use everyone and anyone at the DH position, and when it boiled down to that, he declined. It isn't because they think Thome's a bad player, it's simply because he's not good enough to overturn the direction the White Sox are going with their rotating DH. I disagree with their decision, but I'm sitting behind a computer while Ozzie gets to put on a uniform and make decisions for the team on the field while Williams gets to put on a suit and tie and call other GMs and make trades and sign people, so there's not much I can do about it. I imagine if the Nationals offered Adam Dunn plus $$$ for CJ Retherford right now, the Sox would take it and Kotsay would sit on his ass quite a bit throughout the entirety of the season. I'm starting to believe the White Sox knew all along they wouldn't bring Thome back. Then word on the eve of Soxfest hits that he's close to signing with Minnesota, basically their biggest rival. Instead of Soxfest becoming the "how could you let Thome go to Minnesota"fest, they decided to make it seem as they still were considering him. Ozzie talked to Thome Sunday night, right after Soxfest had ended and he wouldn't be hounded with questions about it. If my theory is correct, I don't blame them for doing it that way, although if they really don't think they are a bat short at this time, I think they are very wrong.

In 1990 or 1991, the Royals had the highest payroll in baseball.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 26, 2010 -> 08:06 PM) Do you think there is any chance we could ever get Johnny Damon on a one year deal, notwithstanding his agent? That would be awesome, I realize it's a pipe dream so criticize me accordingly. I think it could happen, but I think one of the biggest problems is the Sox signed Andruw Jones, also a Boras guy and Damon would take ABs away from him, but if the Sox money is right, and from what I'm reading Mark Teahan 2010 money is either the top bid or very close, I think Damon would sign with the Sox. I do know KW inquired earlier in the offseason when his price tag was much higher. I don't know if the Sox have any interest. After all, you wouldn't want Johnny Damon taking ABs away from Jones, Kotsay or Vizquel.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 26, 2010 -> 07:32 PM) Thome as a full time DH isnt the answer for this team. He showed signs of breaking down last year and the organization knows that. For the first time in years he put up a sub .800 OPS in the second half of the season and is almsot 40 years old with a bad back and high maintenance swing. I think they easily could have penciled Thome is for the DH ABs vs RHP. I just don't think there is any chance the White Sox don't have injury issues with Kotsay/Jones/Quentin, even Vizquel if he plays very often. After all, he's 43. I think this was a cheap way to effectively improve the offense. They passed, but they will eventually have to do something about it. I just hope they do something about it before it costs them games.

The Cubs signed Chad Tracy to a minor league deal. He'll make 900k if he makes the team.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jan 26, 2010 -> 07:04 PM) Can't sign somebody you didn't offer arbitration until either May 1st or 15th. Can't remember which date it is. They did away with that rule.

I don't know if this is technically a Chicago thing, but Ricobene's breaded steak sandwich is one of the worst things I have ever tasted.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2010 -> 09:23 PM) LOL @ JimH trying to drag people into fights on the chicagonow board. "Im right here, Im not hiding...." I wonder if he even realizes the irony in the garbage he spews. He claims he knows Mrs. fathom. My condolences to her.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Jan 25, 2010 -> 08:48 PM) Yes, the Twins have capable starters, but I wouldn't say they're nearly as good as the front 4 the Sox will send out there. The Sox should also have a good bullpen, especially combined with a really strong rotation. They have the two most talented players in the division in Morneau and Mauer, but the Sox have some pretty good talent too. As I have said 1000 times, I have concerns about the DH. But when people bring up Kotsay/Jones/Vizquel/Nix, it's almost as if they're thinking all four of those guys will be in the lineup together at the same time. This is one spot out of 9 we're talking about. And while I share the same concerns on that one spot in the lineup, I think we're drastically overstating the impact it's going to have. They would probably be better with a sure bat in that spot, but it is not going to mean everything. I will say this now, and you can tell me I'm wrong if it doesn't work out, but I think this lineup will do a much better job than people realize. And I say that because I think Quentin and Rios get back to where they need to be. This offense will live and die by what those two contribute. I believe that when we look back on the season in September, if it is an offensive failure (or success), it will be mainly because of those two guys or because of what Konerko does or doesn't do. It won't be because of who the DH isn't. If I'm wrong about that, I'll wear it. Its one spot that can be fixed cheaply right now. Why wait for the failure? Andruw Jones is a bum. Mark Kotsay is no good either. If Quentin and Rios get back to where they were great, but why, if you can make your team better and can easily afford it do you pass? And why as fans of the team should anyone accept the BS? Why just try to be a little better than the teams in your division? Why not try to be the best you can possibly be? If KW and JR left this entirely up to Ozzie and still think he is wrong, and didn't use their authority, shame on them. I'm hoping they have another move because if they are seriously going with the current plan, its going to work out as well as Erstad and Alomar and Colon part II (although I endorsed that one) and Griffey and Wise as a leadoff man every day CF. Its dumb.

Thome has supposedly been told the White Sox will pass. Hopefully they have something else up their sleeves or they will be in the market for hitting during the season.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jan 25, 2010 -> 06:43 PM) I suppose the argument would be that those stats fail to include a bunch of playing time for guys who were not there on Opening Day. And then you have Teahan to factor in as well. Teahan hasn't equaled what Pods put up for a slugging pct. last season since 2006.