Dick Allen

Also isn't Beltre's agent one Scott Boras?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 21, 2009 -> 10:26 AM) It's another one of those "we have had our eye on him years." Anyway he is still good with the glove KW was waiting until he had just enough seasoning.

QUOTE (1977 sox fan @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 11:07 PM) You would think that being a professional baseball player and being that is your career you wouldn't have to tell them to be in shape . i spent 23yrs in the U.S NAVY as a SEAL and i know i was in better shape then most major league baseball players and never did anybody have to tell me and i was making much less money then these guys make . I agree with you. This is their job and they can make more money than they ever dreamed of making. To think you would still have to push someone to be in shape seems ludicrous. Most are done playing by the time they are 40, then they can let themselves go, but give it your best effort while under contract. I know guys will point out successful players like Tony Gwynn or now CC Sabathia where fitness didn't seem to matter, but who knows, if Gwynn had a 34 inch waist instead of 42, maybe he even would have been better. Who knows how long CC lasts. People will mention Babe Ruth, but if anything, these guys are the exception, not the rule. Most guys with weight issues are done playing far sooner than they probably planned. It eventually will catch up to you if you're not an athlete. It catches up to you more quickly if you are one competing with people who do keep in shape.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 09:50 PM) Playing a bit deeper on the mentor card- it struck me that Alexei was one of those who Kenny was unhappy with at the end of this season. I could see this as a "straighten out your s***" move directed at Alexei. He now has a resource in Vizquel, and will hopefully take advantage of that to improve his defensive game. If that's a motivation for the signing its a slap in the face to your manager and bench coach.

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 09:49 PM) I dunno, Franklin Gutierrez doesn't have much of a bat. Look at Mark Belanger's lifetime stats. He hit over .228 3 times. A lifetime slugging pct. of .280. He was an awful hitter. God bless him,he played 18 seasons because of his glove, but he wouldn't play 18 seasons the way they play today.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 09:35 PM) All the metrics say Vizquel is still a damn good fielder so if the Sox aren't going to have a good defensive infield they better have at least one late inning replacement who can field. Baseball has changed of course but defense should still be a priority in the late innings when you need to protect a one run lead. They aren't going to lift Alexei in the late innings or Beckham. Maybe Teahan. What I'm concerned about is the once or twice a week starts Vizquel gets. Want to bet he leads off occassionally?

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 09:29 PM) It makes plenty of sense if you value defense. The position of SS has really changed from what it used to be. Even a Manager like Earl Weaver who loved the 3-run homer and was not much of a believer in "small ball" saw a need for someone like Mark Belanger who makes Omar Vizquel look like Albert Pujols. Belanger was a slick fielding no hit ( and seriously no hit to the tune of a lifetime BA/OBP/SLG/OPS of .228/.300/.280/.580 ) SS who managed to play 18 years in the majors for some very very good Baltimore teams in the late 60's and 70's. You can bet your arse that the vaunted Oriole starters of that time like Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson and Milt Pappas loved having him out there every day. A few years Belanger even got some MVP votes probably from Baltimore writers. Good defense makes a helluv difference when you've got golden arms out there pitching for you. The current infield of the Sox is going to be torture to our staff. Alexei Ramirez is the White Sox SS. Vizquel will see very little time there and he is 43 years old. You think Jermaine Dye is old. This guy is 7 years older than him. And the game has changed. You can't get away with a guy who hit like Belanger anymore. At least in the AL.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 01:07 PM) It's just his talent that's intriguing. On a terrible team he can be an adequate 5th OF/pinch runner for a year, then he'd be back in the minors again to continue developing. I don't think anyone would consider giving him much playing time right now. But then you have a guy wasting a year and he'll be 25 back in the minors. I don't think many teams want to spend $400k to keep him around all year just so they can send him to AAA the following season. They are going to want him to be able to contribute something. Nothing in 2009 seems to indicate he's ready to do that.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 07:33 PM) According to Klapisch's column, Matsui will land with our White Sox. Doesn't jive with other recent statements, but, it would make sense. Supposedly most if not all and then some of what Matsui would get in a contract could be covered by money made off his popularity in Japan. Some article in Japan said they Yankees would lose $15 million if they let him go. Plus his agent is Arn Tellum, one of JR's favorites. I don't think it will happen, but it wouldn't shock me.

Before the renovation the Sox were playing the Cubs on a Sunday night and me and my friend were in the front row of the RC field bleachers back when there were bleachers in RF. There was still the mote in front of us and we had a rather large lady flashing us her brains for 7 innings. It really wasn't a pretty sight, and I'm not gay.

Here's what I think: I really don't think there is any way the Sox non tender Jenks. I also don't think teams will want to pay him his arb figure and/or give up anything to acquire him. I think the Sox go to arb, get the non guaranteed contract, and if Jenks comes to spring training looking like a slob throwing 91 and not doing the job, seeing him get released or if he's in decent shape throwing well, he'll be worth the check.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 06:50 PM) Yeah. Vizquel's bat has been absent. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a mentor to Ramirez at SS like he was with Andrus last season. I've heard this argument about Vizquel a lot. First off Andrus was a pretty top notch prospect.I don't know if its fair Vizquel gets credit for his success. Also, Ozzie Guillen was a GG SS. If he and Joey Cora can't get through to Alexei, I don't see how anyone can think its probable Vizquel could get through to him. Its not like Omar is in a different generation as the other 2. They are practically the same age. Again, not a horrific signing, but IMO a waste of money.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 03:55 PM) I'm in the camp saying that I'd lke to know what else that $1M could have gone towards. Nonetheless, we dont know for sure that JR is unwilling to spend. So just like Rios, you cant knock it til you see the final product they have for us. And, much like that move, you cant argue with a move aimed at shaving some brutality off our 2010 late inning defense. I thought the Teahan trade was supposed to cover the bad defense. Vizquel isn't going to play SS in the 9th for Ramirez. He isn't going to play 2B for Beckham, he may occassionally come in to play 3rd, it isn't a brutal signing, but for a team always apparently strapped for cash, a very curious one. Offensively, he's done. He basically can be used as a pinch bunter. What I don't understand is, the White Sox have already begun the money is tight campaign, yet they have spent $4.5 million more with Teahan and Vizquel than with Getz and a guy like Lillibridge. I know Lillibridge sucks, but was it wise to spend $4.5 million for what to me is a slight upgrade at best? Considering guys like Abreu got $5 million last year and this year's market is supposed to be flooded with non tenders and bargains, not only can I not understand going after Teahan, I don't know why you spend $1 million on a 43 year old defensive replacement who can go at any time. He's not going to win you games. This signing won't hamstring the team most likely and hopefully they won't fall $1 million or so short of a target than can actually help them win, but Omar Vizquel in 2010? I think its silly.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Nov 19, 2009 -> 09:33 PM) There's always time for adjustments in the majors. You know that. Just because someone puts up a bad stat line in 100 AB's doesn't mean they suck. Overbay is a perfect insurance policy guy if Allen were to struggle. I'm sure that's why they were looking at him, especially if all they had to give up was Chris Snyder. There was a scout on ESPN about a month ago talking about Allen. He didn't believe Allen was anywhere near ready to be a regular in the majors and questioned if he ever would be, of course scouts have been wrong like everyone else, but there are more signs that Allen isn't ready to contribute than there are signs he is. As for the 100 ABs, if he had the 100 ABs with the White Sox and did the same thing, it would be because of Greg Walker, at least on this board.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Nov 19, 2009 -> 08:23 PM) I don't mean to bring up a subject everyone already beat to death last season, but I'll be honest, I wish we still had Brandon Allen. Lets just assume that the Adrian Gonzalez rumor will never happen... we could've simply traded Konerko this offseason for a grab-bag of 2 or 3 relievers and then start the 2010 season with Brandon Allen at 1st base. It just seems like Brandon Allen would've served us well as a lefty first baseman if we cannot get Adrian Gonzalez, and that Konerko could've gotten us better relievers than Tony Pena, not to mention more than one reliever that could've pretty much plugged up our bullpen. Brandon fanned 40 times in just over 100 AB in the major leagues in 2009. He hit below .200 in the AZ fall league. The D-Backs were close to acquiring Lyle Overbay to play 1B in 2010. Allen is far from ready to help a major league team win anything worthwhile.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 19, 2009 -> 07:01 PM) The Rangers got hosed. How come Gonzalez didn't hit anywhere near like he hit in SD under Rudy Jaramillo? I thought all he does is makes hitters better?

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 18, 2009 -> 06:26 PM) With our park and our defense, Floyd is a little less valuable here than he might be somewhere else. With our park, we can stretch our dollars more when we go out and get cheap free agent power guys that do actually matter. I guess I just see it as....with our current situation we badly need a guy who will get people out with the bat on their shoulder. Obviously no one is going to argue with me on that being a good thing, but I guess you're all arguing with me on how necessary that is for our team specifically to have a championship hope. If you put the Doc/Peavy staff out there, all you would need to go right is the team HR total going back up...which i think is doable with 5-8M somehow freed up for a cheap power guy. I only say this because I think there's no way we get a high OBP team together for next year....... but in 05 we had a great staff and a steady group of power guys...and it was just enough. I'm not exactly Floyd's biggest fan, but he's a heck of a lot better at home than on the road. Split W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP SO/9 SO/BB Home 6 3 .667 2.47 13 13 0 0 0 0 91.0 70 30 25 8 23 3 89 1 0 366 1.022 8.8 3.87 Away 5 8 .385 5.47 17 17 0 1 0 0 102.0 108 63 62 13 36 1 74 1 0 431 1.412 6.5 2.06 The ballpark factor is no factor. The guy was a HOFer at home and a AAA pitcher on the road in 2009. If the White Sox have the kind of money they would need to upgrade to Halladay from Floyd, not only in 2009 but moving forward, they would be better off using that money fixing the bullpen and other holes.

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 07:46 PM) im sorry to say writting e-mail to cowley isnt going to much begin with. cowley said it all in his twitter and I even knew before that he was jackass. just ignore the twit and keep doing good work ya do here. You're right, the only thing its going to do is give him something he will stick in your face if the trades never occur. I do know Cowley used to post occassionally on whitesoxinteractive but got into a fight and was banned. It would shock me if he isn't reading this thread laughing at what his big mouth has caused, thinking how wonderful he is. IMO, the guy has a screw loose. OTOH, if the trades did go down, do you think his bosses at the ST would be livid he didn't have the scoop and popped off like he did? He probably would be re-assigned to High School hockey.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) Funny you mention this, my unofficial broadcast career started last Friday doing play-by-play for the GVSU Hockey team. Remember that PM you sent me a while back? That was reassuring. :lol" Oh, and my favorite line from the reponse he sent you: "so don’t tell me how you can do my job. You can’t. You don’t have the training, the access or the staying power." There are many comments we all could make about Cowley's "training" but they all are suspension-worthy.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 07:20 PM) Jason did so in an email he sent earlier this evening. Cowley basically scoffed at the notion and told Jason he was "out of his lane" in reporting these rumors because he doesn't have the access or knowledge to do so. You would think a guy who beat cancer and gets paid to do what he does would be wound a little less tightly. I could understand how a guy writing for a paper would really despise any and all bloggers, but if the information is wrong, why would it upset him so much? The only way Cowley is going to look bad is if he gets scooped by a blogger. If anything he just made a lot more people read the blog. He really is a loser. He thinks he's a writer, comedian, talk show host, but all he really is is an insecure hack.

Someone needs to point out several moves reported on this board while Cowley was busy flexing in front of his bathroom mirror telling himself how great he was. There have been plenty.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 05:57 PM) Tyler Flowers should get more seasoning at AAA next year so this, or any back up catcher, makes sense That's the rub. Flowers needs to catch to get better. With AJP behind the plate, unless he gets hurt, and he's never been on the DL, he's going to catch 120-130 games. That would pretty much be a wasted year for Flowers if the Sox view him as a catcher down the road. Its a pretty rough decision, but if AJP were to go down, Flowers would leapfrog Blanco. I was hoping Blanco signed last year. He may have one more year left in him.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 04:53 PM) And what does it say that a bunch of Sox fans who cover the team AS A HOBBY scoop Cowley on stories? Isn't Cowley the guy who said Uribe was going to be released several times--------never happened. Said the Sox were going to go hard after Orlando Hudson------------------never happened. Said Chone Figgins was going to be the target this offseason earlier in the year---------------------not going to happen. Who is this hack questioning anyone? I wouldn't care what the Sox gave up, just to make him look like a fool it would awesome if they got Gonzalez and somehow sent Paulie to the Angels. As far as the rip on training, I would assume Cowley was a journalism major. What kind of training did he have to be on the radio? He's a Hineybird wantabe, and he can't even hang with him.

Even if they couldn't get Gonzalez, if the Angels want to give the Sox a good prospect for Paulie and take his contract, I say, as much as I like Paulie, send him west. There are going to be bargains galore this winter.

Keith Law had Beckham at #5. I'm fairly certain if Albert Pujols was traded to the Sox, Law would come to the conclusion he was terrible. KW must have pissed him off somehow.