Dick Allen

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 03:00 PM) I still think Rios needs to get acclimated, and I don't think he'll be his old self till next season. Isn't this the first time he was traded while up at the major league level? It might take getting used to. For now, though, even though his bat is useless, I think he makes up for it with his defense, which I think is better than even Anderson. There's no question he's a better player than what he has shown. Of course, Timo Perez is a better player than what Rios has shown.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 02:51 PM) Let's say this...if KW didn't realize that if he put a waiver claim on Rios, there was a very good shot Torotno would let him go, then he screwed up big time because everyone here realized it the moment we read that a claim had been placed on Rios. There were several baseball executives that didn't think Toronto would do it, although it seemed obvious they should. If KW had been pursuing Rios before, he probably had a pretty good handle on the situation, but if your team is bleeding money and you can get out of a $60 million committment, ownership will make a non baseball decision. It also seemed obvious Orlando Cabrera should have accepted arbitration last year, but he didn't so sometimes obvious always doesn't pan out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 02:36 PM) So do you think they were making up wanting Rios in the past? Plus knowing the way the Sox do budgets and contracts, there is no way they put out a waiver claim on a guy with $60 million outstanding unless they wanted him long term. This isn't the Yankees we are talking about. The Sox are about as conservative as they come. Heck this would have rated as the biggest free agent signing in team history if it had been done that way. What I am saying is they certainly expected Rios to contribute THIS season and I'm saying if he were a free agent after this year, I don't think there's a chance in hell he would get the contract the White Sox were obligated to assume. I am also saying I'm not so sure KW really wanted to take on the entire contract. They may have wanted him before, but perhaps they wanted Toronto to eat some money or take back a contract like a Linebrink that had some money left. KW said he only had $.50, and Rios cost a lot more than $1.Don't you think its at least slightly possible he didn't think Toronto would give him up for nothing and put a claim in to block him from a team like Detroit? It would have made a lot of sense for Detroit to claim him as they would have saved some money the first year. As I stated before, Rios isn't a bad player and will be much better when he gets out of this funk, but he's not a $60 million guy, and regardless of all the money coming off the books, its still $60 million that is now committed and I feel they could get a bigger bang for their buck than Alex Rios. I also stated this at the time of the claim.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 01:07 PM) Main problems on team of late (during period we fell out of contention) 1.) Bullpen. 2.) Dye/Rios being automatic outs in lineup. 3.) As hyped as our starting pitching is, still inconsistent. Am I forgetting something more obvious? The sad thing is the White Sox lead at least the AL in quality starts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) Do you really believe for a second that anyone in the White Sox management group would come out and say, yeah we suck. This is totally for next year, with something like 50-60 games left in the season and us a couple of games out of first place? Do you really believe the Sox would take on a $60 million + contract when they are 3 games out with 2 months to play and think its for next year and not this, especially considering their CF situation, and expect Rios to be as horrible as he's been? Its not like the guy is a rookie who needs a few months of seasoning. The waiver claim, at least for this year, blew up in KW's face, and as I stated earlier, I'm not so convinced he really wanted Rios, he may have been blocking him, but that's another thing I do not think he would ever admit.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 12, 2009 -> 11:08 AM) He has a contract for years... He had better of been thinking of the next few years at least. His quote was when he acquired Peavy and Rios that the Sox were now ready to compete with the big boys, so while he had to have the future in mind considering the contract, and who knows if he really wanted the contract or wanted to block a team like Detroit, who could have picked him up and waived Magglio, actually saving them some money in the short term, from getting him, he definitely was considering 2009 and Rios hasn't performed anywhere near what KW could have possibly expected.

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.