Dick Allen

Viciedo isn't going to be a 3rd baseman for the White Sox, there's a chance he may fill in there from time to time, but he's destined for a different position.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Oct 24, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) Should have just said he was only 5'10 in the first place, would have been more amusing. Gordon was 5'10 with shoes on according to collins i'm sure? Shoes off? Doug collins may be the only person in the world to make such a claim (which i have never seen or heard... but i will take your word for it). No league in the world tacks on five inches to a players actual height, for any sport. Three inches is already highly stretching it. Things like 3-5 inches in height differential seems like it would be slightly more noticeable to everyone other than yourself, well, and of course good ol' doug. You go right ahead and believe in your tippy toe theory, because after all it's only logical. I didn't say he was 5'10", thats Collins, I said he was under 6 feet. Sam Smith believes he about 6 feet tall. The pre draft measurement was 6'1". So I'm saying he's a little more than an inch shorter than that measurement. Its not a lot, but it is a heck of a lot closer than the 6'3" he is listed at. Sorry to bother you. You should put me on ignore.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 07:14 PM) So, the deal as written fills one of our OF and leadoff holes and does so cheaply, it cuts salary in the bullpen and gets us another LHP arm, and what it costs us is a weakened IF. Move Beckham to SS again, we're back open at 3b. Joshua Fields Forever? Pretty much we're filling 2 holes while opening one at 3b. But we also have people on the way up who eventually might be able to handle it. Run Fields out there and try to salvage something for a year or at least a few months, and maybe it's Viciedo time. While I think moving Ramirez to another team shouldn't happen, unless Boston wanted to do what Olney suggested, if he was traded, what would you rather have, a SS for the next 10 years or a 3B for the next ten years? That's a no brainer. I think Fields time is up. He gone. I think eventually Beckham is going to be the man and the captain of the White Sox. While Alexei is physically gifted as a defender, I question the mental approach. Its not just having his head in the clouds during certain situations. SS also have to communicate a lot of information to other players. It appears he wasn't very good at that in 2009. I don't know if that's something he can improve, but Beckham at SS with the status he will bring would be a better dynamic IMO. Again, I wouldn't trade Ramirez even though he frustrates me a lot due to his sweet contract and he does have a lot of ability, unless it brought back something similar and Ellsbury and Bard would definitely fit that description. That said, there's probably a 99% chance Ramirez is at SS and Beckham at 3B on April 5,2010 if they both are healthy.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Oct 24, 2009 -> 09:27 AM) Everyone in the nba is measured with their shoes on unlike the euroleague, australia, and the olympics. The average shoe will increase a players height by no more than 2 inches. Generally, shoes add anywhere from 1.25-1.75 inches... this would be according to pre-draft measurements which date back quite aways. There is no chance gordon is under 6 feet. Zero. If there was a way we could get him in for a measurement, I would bet you everything I have he isn't 6 feet tall with no shoes on and heels on the ground. Even Doug Collins said he wasn't a centimeter over 5'10". His pre draft measurement was 6'1", and he was probably on his toes.

QUOTE (G&T @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 08:47 PM) Newsday This makes a little more sense. If Chapman got $40-60 million while Strasburg "had" to sign for $15 million, b****ing about Boras anymore would be a joke. I still think the economy is going to play a huge role in the offseason. I think most teams will not have cash. In the NBA, I read something where someone with some inside knowledge thinks something major is going to happen by the end of the season, like 1-3 teams disbanding. Of course the NBA has priced many people out of their games.

Listed height doesn't mean he really is that tall. I can tell you Jose Contreras isn't 6'4". I also think if you had a guy on the street who says he's 6'2" and walked up next to Buerhle, he would be a little taller than him. Not 3 inches but an inch or so. Ben Gordon, and of course the NBA stretches it a lot, isn't 6 feet and he's listed at 6'3". I have no idea how tall CJ is, but little guys are fun to have around.

The Bulls are in NBA no man's land. Good enough to make the playoffs. Not good enough to win. Not bad enough to add impact players through the draft. Unless something crazy happens and Gar Foreman and Paxson can pull a Danny Ainge, they are pretty much screwed.

He's Michael Jordan's kid. He isn't going to wear Adidas. I'm sure whoever recruited him told him that wouldn't be an issue. If I'm Michael Jordan's kid how in the world could I wear Adidas shoes? I think the university saw the benefit of adding a Jordan and lied through their teeth about the shoes.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 07:37 PM) If they're going to give him that kind of money...then in a couple years, we can trade for him after he busts because they're expecting the impossible from a rookie and turn his career around/turn him into a W.S. winning pitcher. Something says giving this guy all that money, having him pitch in New York or Boston with all that pressure, isn't going to work out well. Then if he doesn't blow out his arm, pick him up for a has been and have them eat money. Jose Contreras Jr.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 01:06 PM) I see Kenny doing business with Theo this offseason..........Involving Alexi and Jenks for Pappalebon and maybe Buckholtz.....Not saying thats the exact trade but those would be the principels. As much as he pisses me off sometimes, trading Ramirez would be dumb. You're not going to get his production at the rate they are paying him anywhere. You just have to live with his head up his ass occassionally, at least until he starts getting paid when he hits arb when this contract runs out. Its too much production for little money and with the Sox always on a tight budget, the contract is even more valuable.

I'm sure the Sox have interest, but if they have interest at $15 million let alone $40-60 million, I would be shocked. He shouldn't get more money that Strasburg, but he probably will.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 07:09 PM) The connection not being made here is that BABIP itself will correlate to average, but the predictor is batted ball data. If a guy has a high line drive rate and a low batting average, you could say he will bounce back next year. 13%. I'm thinking that's not so good. Getz was 19.2%.

I don't understand the "luck" issue on BABIP either. If a guy throws me a slider away and I turn it over and ground out to short I'm unlucky, but if I take it the other way and double into the right center field gap, I'm lucky. It seems to me players do that a lot when they are slumping and I have never heard anyone call what Jermaine Dye went through the second half of the season as unlucky. I haven't looked, but as players get old and their skills erode, I would imagine their BABIP goes down as well. Wise and Lillibridge most likely have well below average BABIP. Does their "luck" have to change? As for Jayson Nix, he can't hit right handers and he hit .175 at USCF no doubt trying to jack everything into the bullpen. Anyone who thinks more exposure to RHP would be anything but a disaster has blinders on.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 11:58 AM) I guess some guys just have problems turning down an obvious sure thing, looks and consequences be damned. She sounds like a total psycho, so she probably stalked him for nookie before going on to stalk his family. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't go after her, but just couldn't say no when she threw herself at him. He seems like a dude who's ego is a lot bigger than his johnson. I always thought he was an idiot, but he usually spoke well of the White Sox. I think if we had a professional in this area posting, Phillips ways aren't about looks, and probably most guys who have his problem aren't cheating on their hot wives with hotter women. He has issues.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 09:16 AM) Wow. You would think an ESPN gig would get you a little more of a selection Supposedly his wife is really hot.

I think they will throw it out if you use the speedometer might be off. It depends on the judge. A few years ago, my sister rear ended a car at a stop light on a rainy day. They gave her a driving too fast for conditions ticket. She pled quilty in court, but the judge was pissed off at the prosecution that day and told her to change her plea. She did and they threw it out.

QUOTE (SoxFanForever @ Oct 18, 2009 -> 10:36 PM) How many games will Huet have to blow before we pull the plug on him? If he continues to struggle, the Hawks will acquire another goalie and Huet will be in Rockford. Rocky knows a Stanley Cup appearance and/or win is worth a lot more than what he would have to eat of Huet's contract. They are a lock for the playoffs, but will try to salvage Huet. I would expect 30,40 maybe 50 games into the season, if he's still struggling, he gone. They are going for it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 19, 2009 -> 10:57 AM) I don't know if there is anything to stop teams from negotiating, but yes, there would not be anything getting out at this point. The Sox signed Jayson Nix during the WS last year and it was reported. It sent shockwaves throughout baseball. If there was any validity to this rumor the KC GM needs to be relieved of his duties.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 02:33 PM) Mazzone agreed to become the pitching coach for Baltimore because he was very good friends with Sam Perlozzo, the Orioles' manager at the time. When Perlozzo was fired, his successor, Dave Trembley, let go of Mazzone as well. I find it somewhat difficult to pin that on Mazzone, as his theories and instruction seem to be more developmental than minor tweaks and adjustments. Perhaps had Perlozzo worked out and Mazzone been given a chance to work with the system as a whole for several years, his influence might have been more readily recognized... I wouldn't pin the struggles on him either, but he was known as the guru just like Jaramillo and give him crap to work with, look what happens. He went from the standard to a guy lobbying for work. Considering the White Sox want to concentrate on OBP from here on out, Jaramillo the guru, who only had 1 player with 160 AB in 2009 with an OBP higher than .340. The Rangers led the league in homers and struck out 200 times more than the White Sox. Let the Cubs pay him big bucks. If they have the same players, their offensive results will be the same. I heard how he will help Soriano. Soriano had his lowest OPS numbers under Rudy than he had under anyone since 2002 until this season.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) I think it’s very interesting to look at Milton Bradley’s performance and behavioral history under the mangers that he’s played under. An interesting trend starts to emerge. Bradley had decent, poor, to serviceable years under: Alou, Manuel, Wedge, Mancha, Piniella, Black Bradley had great years under: Tracy, Washington The conclusion while not perfect seems to suggest that Bradley performs best in a more open clubhouse, with less authoritarian managers. Manual, Alou and Manuel are famous for running very tight ships, Mancha, was an organizational figurehead at the beck and call of the front office, while Black is a slightly mellower version of Mancha. I think this dichotomy is due to Bradley’s temperament. He accepts people who try to work with him on his level. From the beginning a lot of Bradley’s managers have attempted to intimidate him publically (something that Bradley HATES), or have simply disagreed with the player that is Milton Bradley at a molecular level (Alou, Sweet Lou), instead, Bradley’s greatest season seems to come with managers who run a clubhouse that allows for the free expression of ideas a clear communication between player-manager-Front Office. Bradley is not without his faults. He can be irrational, he’s short tempered, he threw a freaking chair at Billy Beane, but he is a great hitter, he is a switch-hitter, and he does get on base. And he can be had for VERY little. This is not a perfect study; I just think that a manager like Ozzie would agree with Bradley. Charlie Manuel famous for running a tight ship? Its not just the manager. Lou let Bradley be an ass for several months before it came to a head. He had altercations with Billy Beane and Eric Wedge. Chicago with its media and expectations isn't the town for Milton Bradley. While the White Sox might be a more comfortable home for him than the Cubs, his history has shown he cannot remain out of trouble very long. He doesn't want to be held accountable when he fails. He doesn't like to play with the slightest of injuries. Paul Sullivan was saying he was taking himself out of the line up this year when he was fine during batting practice, and he admitted he took himself out of the line up in Texas when he was hurt because it could cost him money down the road. If you just want to be around .500 and say you had a nice season at the end of the year, Bradley at near minimum could be for you. If you want to win, this isn't a guy you want to count on. He will let you down.

If someone wanted to take Linebrink's contract, I wouldn't hesitate to dump it. If someone wanted to give his trash for him basically a wash financially, that's something I wouldn't do. He was awful the second half of 2008 and 2009, but his first halves indicate to me he still has something left.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 19, 2009 -> 11:38 PM) Can I ask how you know we'd have to trade a big contract in order to add one? I really don't have too much insight about the Sox's projected payroll for 2010. I just keep reading people's posts saying we're pretty much maxed out. I'm curious if people have heard something I haven't. They raised ticket prices after 2008 and lowered payroll. Thats after a higher attendance figure plus 3 extra gates. They also had an excellent season ticketholder renewal rate basically locked it. Attendance down, no extra gate, ticket prices remain the same no guarantee on the renewal and some lost advertising revenue. Considering they said they were beyond their limit in 2009, I think its rather safe to assume the payroll isn't going up and probably not remaining the same.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Oct 19, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) It wouldnt be the only time Cubs fans and media have made a player out to be something that they arent, or have taken it to the extreme though. Montreal, Cleveland, LA Dodgers, SD, Tex, Oakland. Its not just the Cubs that have had a problem with this guy. Whoever doesn't think this guy is a shelfish prick hasn't been paying attention. Didn't he attack Eric Wedge?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 18, 2009 -> 04:23 PM) That was in Cleveland. I don't blame him for not wanting to be in Cleveland. Honestly, you can say he was disliked in Cleveland, but I can point to situations in Texas and San Diego where his teammates were fine with him. Again, I don't know how many times I can repeat this. HE IS NOT AN ANGEL. NOR IS HE THE PERFECT TEAMMATE. What I can say is that he has a lifetime .371 OBP and is a career .820 OPS player. Even in his disasterous season this year with the Cubs, in which he posted his lowest batting average since 2002, he still put up a .376 OBP. Texas doesn't want him back after he let it be known he sat out with minor injuries in his season there because he thought playing hurt might be detrimental to his stats and cost him some cash. He is not a guy you want on a team if you plan on winning. You hear guys give their support to ex-teammates all the time. The fact is, as much as I want them to lose every day, the Cubs have some pretty good guys on there team. Dempster is supposed to be a great guy as is Derrick Lee. There wasn't too much complementary when they discussed Milton Bradley in Hardball Times. Milton Bradley said he wanted to play for the Cubs for the longest time, yet his demons continue to haunt him. There is nothing to suggest it would be any better with the Sox. Here are some of his present teammates quotes about this cancer: Ryan Dempster said it was “unfortunate,” but that Bradley brought it on himself. Aramis Ramirez said Jim Hendry made the right call, and Derrek Lee called on Bradley to apologize for his actions. “At the end of the day, he was provided a great opportunity to be part of a really great organization with a lot of really good guys,” Dempster said. “It just didn’t seem to make him happy- anything. Hopefully this is a little bit of a wake-up call for him and he’ll realize how good of a gig you have. It probably became one of those things where you start saying things that you’re putting the blame on everybody else. “Sometimes you’ve just got to look in the mirror and realize that maybe the biggest part of the problem is yourself and (not) wanting to be here and play every day, and (not) wanting to have some fun. It didn’t seem like he wanted to have some fun, even from spring training. “Hopefully this is something that can be good for his career and good for him as a person.” Hardball. The reacting didn’t end there. “If you’re serious about wanting to continue your career- you don’t want to finish the season suspended,” [Derrek Lee] said. “My advice would be to talk to the people you need to talk to and maybe apologize if that’s what you need to do, or interpret what was going on for the situation that got you suspended.” Lee called Bradley after Bradley got into a confrontation with Lou Piniella at the Cell and was sent home from a game in June. But he doesn’t expect to call him about the suspension. “I had no problems with Milton personally,” he said. “If he called me, I’d answer the phone. This is a different situation. I would let him reach out to me on this one. He’s suspended for the season. There’s not much I can do to help him on that one. I think if he needed to talk, I’d talk to him.” [Aramis] Ramirez was surprised, but defended Hendry for making the right decision. “I’ve never seen that before,” Ramirez said. “I’ve never seen a GM suspend a player for something he’s been doing or something he said in the paper. But Jim (Hendry) has a point. if you don’t want to be here, send him home.” …Reed Johnson, whom Bradley said gave him sound advice early in the season, appeared to have washed his hands of the outfielder. Johnson said it was a privilege to play at Wrigley Field, and most players understand that. “You had guys like Eric Karros and Jason Kendall say if you play major league baseball over a long career, you should spend at least one year with the Chicago Cubs,” Johnson said. “All of us are really surprised that a player could come here and not have the time of his life…. In a way, I feel sorry for him. He can’t enjoy the same things the rest of us enjoy.” Bradley told the Tribune in June he felt “isolated” in the clubhouse. Johnson, Dempster and others disputed that comment. “From our standpoint, nobody was making an effort to isolate him from groups,” Johnson said. “For the most part, that was his choice.” (lots more at that link above; worth a look) And say what you want about "having the time of your life" playing at Wrigley. Every player should realize how lucky they are and have the time of their life playing on any team. Its mindboggling a guy who has played on 7 teams can still blind people into believing there won't be anything but problems if he plays for their team. The White Sox organization I sure is very glad they don't have to depend on Milton Bradley.