Dick Allen

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 11:13 AM) Rios most likely would get a very similar contract this off season. He was never a FA, so his contract actually may be below market value. Gary Matthews Jr is being paid about $10mil, because he had one good season. Buster Olney polled some GMs a month or so ago and the consensus was he'd be lucky to get half of what he is signed for. Of course, they could be full of it, because when push comes to shove, some incredibly high contracts get signed. The days of GM Jr. type one year wonders getting all that money, although its less than what Rios is owed, is over for a while IMO. Rios has had a couple of solid years, but has slid backwards. Hopefully its not permanent and he can play up to his talent level. He's extremely athletic.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 10:34 PM) 23 games in, 5 years left on his contract. Are we really having this thread already? He hasn't been good since the trade, but he isn't this bad, we have 5 and a half seasons worth of data to prove that and since he's only 28 there's no reason to think he's in decline. Maybe he'll never be an .850+ OPS player again but there's no reason to think he won't chip in a few .800+ OPS years with great defense. As I asked when he was acquired, if Rios was a FA after this year would he get a 5 year $60 million contract?. I didn't think so, but a lot of people think he would even get more. Who knows. I do know he's better than he's played, and will be better than all of the junk KW has trotted into CF in the KW era, included, most likely, Aaron Rowand. But considering how often we hear the I can't spend $1 if all I have is $.50,talk, $60 million for Alex Rios is extremely expensive. I know the Sox have money coming off the books, but that is still $60 million that can be spent in other ways.

The grounds crew painted the C in the middle of the field in the wrong spot for that last exibition game. Its time for Field Turf or for the Park District to farm out management of the field.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 10, 2009 -> 07:28 PM) It's not a question of accepting anything. It's a question of being realistic. We can all clamor for one of the top 5 leadoff men in the game, but given our starting rotation, some of our expensive players, it's unrealistic and naive to demand we get one of those guys. KW is one of the most proactive GM's (if the not most proactive) in the game. He hasn't been able to fix this problem for years. Don't you think there is a reason for that? I can sit here and demand a brand new 5000 sq foot house on a golf course too, but that doesn't mean it's in the cards. Sometimes you have to be realistic and do the best you can. For the money, Scottie is probably the best we can do. If its a question of being realistic, wouldn't being realistic mean thinking Scott Podsednik can match his output of this season next season, a pipedream? Considering Abreu received $5 million, Hudson was only guaranteed $3 million this past offseason, guaranteeing Pods anything near that for next year is crazy.

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 10, 2009 -> 06:51 PM) Certainly Torres isn't ready...for the majors. Be weary of almost 27 year olds mowing down AAA hitters. He's not a starter, maybe a guy to be used in garbage time. At least he pitched well against the Cubs with the wind blowing in just like Nick Masset.

What is it about Randy Williams that makes me want to grab a bat?

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 8, 2009 -> 09:07 PM) Maybe its just that the good teams that play us also struggle against bad teams. touche

QUOTE (chisoxt @ Sep 8, 2009 -> 09:04 PM) True, but I don't want to count on him next year..Needs more seasoning... Starting him off in the bullpen would be a great idea. Let him get some experience. There's a reason why its not a good idea to give a 16 year old an expensive sports car right when they get their license. Its pretty much the same idea with how the Sox usually break in their young pitchers.

Williams in. Ozzie must have Oakland in the 13 run pool.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Sep 8, 2009 -> 08:55 PM) The talent differential between Sox and A's is no small amount in my view. Thats not to say i'm putting tons on Ozzie, but I think we're considerably more talented than them...albeit not w/ our starting pitcher today. My personal view is that we have an incomplete roster with respect to all the components you want on a team, but lots of pure talent on the roster nonetheless. Hawk and Stone always mention how the Sox play to the level of their competition and how they make stupid play after stupid play. I would imagine if Jerry Manuel were still managing the Sox, Hawk would think it was on him and tell us all about it after Jerry was gone. I know one thing, if they bring back the same players next year, the same stupid plays and concentration level against lesser opponents will still be there.

Did someone steal the White Sox pinstripe uniforms and road grays? It seems they wear the black exclusively now.

Anorexei needs to be pulled, and sat for a while even if it means Lillibridge has to play. Something needs to happen to get it into his mind that he must keep his head in the game. I don't know what's going on with him, but if he isn't capable of of staying awake each game, he cannot be the White Sox SS.

When are the White Sox going to do something about the stupid baseball they play day in day out from year to year to year? A little leaguer knows that ball has to get through, not Jayson Nix.

Nix is heady.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 8, 2009 -> 07:57 PM) If we're out of the race more officially by that point, why not give Torres another few shots? Worst that happens is we lose another game. Big deal. Performance during meaningless games in September mean crap. I wouldn't mind him starting if it means giving other guys breaks, but as an audition for 2010, it would be a mistake.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Sep 8, 2009 -> 12:07 AM) If we were to offer Dotel arbitration, and he accepted for say 4.4M would you then; Try and trade Dotel for a spect or 2 OR Keep him at that price? Why would he "accept" for $4.4 million. Dotel would submit his figure and the arbitor would decide. How they work is they split the difference between the 2 figures, so lets say the Sox offered $4.4 million and Dotel countered with $6 million. $5.2 million is the center. If the arbitor feels he's worth $5,199,999, the Sox would win. If he or she feels he's worth $5,200,001, Dotel would get $6 million. Considering that would be a pretty big cut and he's still considered type A compension, Dotel would definitely win. There's a good chance the Sox would wind up paying him $7 million. Considering no team apparently was interested in paying Dotel his current salary for a month, trading him a year older with just as big of contract most likely isn't a reality, unless you pick up some of it, and that wouldn't be very wise.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2009 -> 06:31 PM) Good counterarguments. If Peavy is healthy and a true No. 1 next year, it certainly will be a major plus. We need a Verlander type if we want to take the next step to greatness instead of mediocrity. I hope he's dominant. The rotation should be Peavy, Mark, Floyd, Danks and Freddy, with a good mix of lefty/righty. BTW, my guy Uribe lit Richard up today. A homer and a triple.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Sep 7, 2009 -> 12:25 PM) Exactly, pusing Hudson past 200 is a natural progression for the kid. Given his minor league pedigree he deserves to have a shot at the #5 spot. Name some rookie pitchers who throw 200 innings. Then tell me in all seriousness that Hudson is in their category. Its fine to love prospects, but good God man, get real. Hudson seems to be a nice prospect. But 200 innings in the major leagues next year? Brandon Allen is down to .200 with 21k in 50 AB. Maybe he's never was the answer at 1B for the White Sox for the next 10 years.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2009 -> 03:58 PM) He's actually had 2 good outings in a row I think. I didn't get to see either on TV so I can't comment on how he looked. How did he look aside from the good results?? According to the scoreboard, his last 20 outings, he has an ERA of 2.50.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2009 -> 01:28 AM) Richard is 4-1 for the Pods? Me thinks we could have used him on the road trip from hell which only ended our season while Peavy was rehabbing. Richard certainly isn't the difference between third and first place. If the Sox waited until the offseason, there was a pretty good chance Peavy would have had more suitors. Its a great trade. Peavy is an ace. He's better than any White Sox pitcher.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Sep 7, 2009 -> 02:56 PM) we signed him for 4 years? what happens after the 4 yrs are up, is he a FA? After the 4 years, he will have 2 years of arb-eligible status. The Sox still have 6 year rights on him and Ramirez per Rick Hahn.

I really don't understand the fascination people have with moving Quentin to RF. There is nothing to indicate he would be anything less than a bad RF. The argument seems to be that he used to play RF. Well, Carlos Lee used to play 3B. Paul Konerko used to catch and play 3B.

Figgins is a good player who is playing his ass off and playing every game, something he hasn't done in a couple of years during a contract year. He's over 30 and his legs are the big part of his game. He allegedly is a bad clubhouse guy. Many red lights are going off in my head. While he's better than Pods, and I do not want Pods back, signing him to a big contract, IMO, is a mistake. The Cubs are supposedly interested. Let them dole out yet another bad contract.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Sep 6, 2009 -> 05:22 PM) I don't think Freddy's history has any place in the discussion, we need to orient ourselves toward the future. Dan Hudson is that guy. He's clearly major league ready, clearly has better stuff then Garcia, and would stand to benefit from being in the same rotation as Peavy, Buehrle, Floyd, and Danks. I said this before and i'll say it again. This organization stands to benefit a lot more from Hudson experience sucess at the major league level then it does Fat Freddy. I like Freddy, he has a place here next year, but to give him a spot becasue of some misplaced piece of affection or tribute would be a flawed way of running a team. Does he have better stuff than Phil Hughes or Homer Bailey? . Its best for Hudson to work him in slowly. He rose a lot this season. You love those guys. The major leagues is a bigger jump than Hudson has taken yet. Throwing him in the fire usually doesn't work right away. See Danks, John. See Floyd, Gavin. Working them in through the bullpen is smart. See Buerhle, Mark. If Freddy is healthy, he's one of the most dependable 5th starters around for a very cheap price. That is as long as they are trying to win, which I assume is the goal. If it was a rebuilding season, I would agree with you.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 6, 2009 -> 03:59 PM) win tomorrow, take 3 of 4 It will be tough against Beckett, but wouldn't everyone have been satisfied if before the disaterous roadtrip we were told the Sox would split the 8 games vs. Boston? Detroit is winning like crazy right now.