Dick Allen

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:01 AM) Are you sure about that? What I've read explains it a little differently... Unless Rios has been pulled back once already this month, he can be placed back on waivers again. It also sounds like Kenny is running the risk of getting stuck with all $60 million of that contract. Uggh. But if they can't pull him back a second time, whoever claimed him the second time would get him for nothing, so I don't see what that would accomplish for Toronto other than having to pay Rios a few more weeks to play meaningless games. I would imagine if all that has been speculated is true, Rios either winds up a White Sox or spends the rest of the year at the very least, in Toronto. Even if Detroit wanted to trade for him, what would they give up for a guy owed at least $60 million? It can't be much, and if they are looking for Toronto to provide salary relief, wouldn't just letting the team that claimed Rios assume the entire contract be more attractive than eating $10-20 million just to acquire some middle of the road prospects?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:51 AM) Are you kidding? Do you not see how much he stepped over the line there? That could be considered slanderous. That information could have hurt Adam Dunn's employment opportunities elsewhere. It could have damaged him financially. And god knows what Ricciardi's source even is. Because for a guy who doesn't particularly care for playing baseball, he sure as hell does put up numbers. Why do you think Ricciardi had to call Dunn and apologize if those comments weren't a "big deal"? Probably why KW called to aplogize to Frank and Ozzie called to apologize to ARod and Magglio, but when White Sox personnel pop off about other teams players its fine. It almost becomes a Jerry Springer Show. Look, I don't think Ricciardi should have said anything, and whether a player has or has not played for you in the past, commenting on other teams' property isn't right. I also feel there are a lot more people in baseball with a lot more inside info than we all have, who agreed with Ricciardi's assessment of Dunn at the time than disagreed. It doesn't make it right and he apologized. It doesn't make him a bad guy. This whole thing started when I said I read he was a very nice guy privately and very smart. It doesn't make him a bad GM, but these days, being the GM of the Blue Jays is almost masochistic. You're setting yourself up to fail.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:35 AM) I didn't say it was "ok" or "not ok." I think the settings are different. I think Soxfest is a special event that occurs one weekend a year which gives Sox fans a chance to come together with players and the FO and to ask questions. Debates and discussions occur there. From what I understand, KW is not disrespectful or rude during these conversations. On the other hand, JP has mouthed-off to fans on a freaking weekly radio show. Do you honestly consider these two forums to be comparable? If KW had a radio show, which he does not, if fans called ripping him, he would fire back. Its the one time of the year where fans can ask KW questions, and he always has said if fans fire on him, he's ready to fire right back. Its the same thing, fans asking a GM questions. Mostly stupid questions or they have crazy opinions. If firing on fans is wrong on a radio show, its wrong in a Soxfest setting. BTW, his Dunn comments may make him the world's biggest jerk to you, but I don't see the big deal. "Do you know the guy doesn't really like baseball that much?" Ricciardi said to the caller. "Do you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much? How much do you know about the player? "There's a reason why you're attracted to some players and there's a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here ... "We've done our homework on guys like Adam Dunn and there's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn. I don't want to get into specifics." J.P. then said "He's a lifetime .230, .240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs."

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:36 AM) I don't think you can block a straight waiver claim, can you? Yes.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:25 AM) There is a massive difference between having a debate in a closed environment designed for fans - a "town hall" meeting, if you will, and randomly acosting fans on a radio show, where everything is broadcasted to a much larger audience and recorded for posterity. Secondly, Adam Dunn never played for JP Ricciardi. Adam Dunn never did a thing to him. JP just went off on him because a fan suggested they trade for him. Frank Thomas and KW have a history. That is not a good analogy at all. Kenny does have a big mouth, and a big ego. But when Kenny has gotten controversial in the past, he has done it to protect this organization, not because he wanted to prove he is some sort of genius. The situations aren't particularly comparable. KW's Soxfest get togethers are covered by print and on air media. I would imagine his comments in those settings reach far more than the amount of people listening to Ricciardi's radio show before anything goes national, or international. When they say something newsworthy, it will reach the masses. I don't buy how its OK to say something at Soxfest, when the media is present, but not OK to say something on a radio show.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:15 AM) He gets into arguments with fans on radio shows. He insulted Adam Dunn on a radio show. The guy is an egomaniac and a loose cannon. KW gets into arguments with fans at Soxfest, he called Frank Thomas an idiot when Frank was with the A's. I know KW is an egomaniac, but would that also make him a loose cannon? If fans ask stupid questions or are blasting you with bad info, why can't you fire back. Frank Thomas is an idiot, and what Ricciardi said about Dunn isn't a unique JP Ricciardi thought. Both have big egos, but loose cannons, I dissagree.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 10:10 AM) Rios has more extra base hits (40) than everyone on our team except PK (42) and Dye (41). Also 19 SB (Getz is our leader with 18) compared to 3 CS. He has a lot of talent, and does fit with KW's plan to get faster, younger and more athletic. I think KW sees the White Sox defense, and sees it just like we all do, they need a massive upgrade, and he fits the bill. Whether you really want to owe him $60 million is the big question.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 09:56 AM) He's a little b****. The only positive things I have ever heard about him were in Moneyball. I've read where he is really a very smart and nice guy. There's nothing wrong with popping off about leaks. KW doesn't like anything leaked either.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 09:55 AM) That's a good point. If he's trying to save his job, getting the Jays back into a semi-healthy financial condition, at least enough to be able to afford to re-sign Roy Halladay, is a good start. It may not be enough to save him. But it could only help. I'm not so impressed with him as a GM, but if you put the Blue Jays in the AL Central at the beginning of this year and they didn't have to face TB,NY and Boston 18 or 19 times a season, they probably would be competing for the division title. He didn't handle the Halladay fiasco very well, and while I don't blame him neccesarily for not trading him, allowing it to become the circus it became was on him, and from what I've read, the people he reports to weren't very thrilled with it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 09:43 AM) That's a s***ton of money for a not very good player. I swear if Pods got benched I'd be pissed off. He hasn't been very good for almost 2 years now and is 28, a time when he should be starting to peak. Whether a change of scenery can help get him on track is a big question. The upside is he's Carlos Beltran Jr. for a reasonable sum for quite a while. The downside is that he plays like he has been and you are stuck paying him what you pay far more productive players for several years and probably won't have an opportunity to move him.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 09:26 AM) if the Sox do trade for him,couldn't they just say a player to be named later and then that player wouldn't have to pass through waivers? I really think Ricciardi is an idiot an will pull him back. Ricciardi is also probably in his last couple months as Toronto's GM. I wonder how that will play into it. He may be desperate to save his job, and getting $60 million or so off the books would be a pretty good start.

The other thing to consider is Rios has a full NTC this year and next. He can block a waiver claim.

QUOTE (SoxnGiants @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 08:59 AM) Speculation up here in Canada is that BJ ownership needs to reduce payroll. This would be an easy way - especially since Rios has really become public enemy #1 to a degree with his poor performance and public issues. I'd expect the Jays to move him to us - and if it's by trade I'd be shocked if Rios wasn't overjoyed to leave. It makes a lot of sense for Riccardi to try to work a trade for Rios and if that fails just pass along his contract if the Blue Jays don't want to pay it. Rios hasn't played up to the hype for almost 2 years now, they might want out of that contract. I don't think their fanbase would be too opposed to it, I'm not there, but it never has appeared to me Rios was a cult-like figure in Toronto. If the team has any budget concerns at all, if I was Riccardi, I think I would move him on whether its the White Sox making the claim or some other team. The Blue Jays have been criticized for giving him that contract, and this is a Get out of Jail Free card being handed to him, although I'm sure they still see the talent and it would be kind of hard to let it go for nothing.

I hope the Tigers pick him up. What is there anywhere to say he's not done? A 42 year old pitcher, who now cannot pitch multiple days, so no bullpen, all sorts of surgeries, and a guy who was pretty much lit up every time he took the mound. Its not like something is going to click pretty soon. He's done.

QUOTE (Dizzy Sox @ Aug 7, 2009 -> 09:54 PM) It took Flowers a a few weeks to adjust to AAA, but it looks like he's on the road to figuring it out there. I wonder how long it will take Fields to adjust to AAA.

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 12:04 AM) Dye will be the DH... he is younger and can still play the field... KW has no problem letting aging DH's go (Frank Thomas) I don't know why everyone just assumes Dye is the DH next year. First off, except for average, Thome's numbers are better. The 20 points in average is 1 less hit every 50 AB. Secondly, no one knows if Dye would agree to become a full time DH and even if he did, if he would be effective as one. Many players struggle in that role. Thome being older is probably a bigger gamble, but he'll also probably come much cheaper. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Perhaps both are gone.

Here's a couple things to ponder. Rios makes a ton of money, really starting next year. If he were a free agent this year, he would certainly not get the contract he currently holds. On the other hand, if, and its about as gigantic of an if as there is, he can play to his ability, if Toronto just wants to give him to the White Sox, its quite a deal for KW. If he plays like he has this season and most of last, KW is left holding the bag. Financially, this works because Rios is owed a couple of million the rest of the seaon, which is about the same or even a little less the extra money they would have paid Peavy had he agreed to come when the initial trade was made. Personally, if I were a GM, this would be a tough call. Its a very real possibility whoever claimed him will get him for the waiver fee, and it may be the White Sox. I would most likely not have claimed him, but if KW did, and I do criticize him from time to time, I would not at this time. If he plays anywhere near his potential, he's an excellent pick-up, and with all the money coming off the books, probably a decent gamble. My only qualm would be if he were to become a free agent at the end of this year, would I give him his current contract? The answer would be no, so the waiver claim for me would be no.

The Sox are 2-7 in the finale of the 9 series, 3 games or more, when they are going for the sweep this year. They swept KC and Cleve. It seems most of those games, if not all, were poorly played. Sometimes you can play decently and still lose. I know most teams have the motto "just win the series" and that's fine until you get to the last game. I wonder if they have some sort of mental block like they have in the Metrodome, a place where they lose before the game starts.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:48 PM) Didn't he steal 70 bases in 2004? If 2004 and 2005 weren't good back to back seasons, I don't know what were. A .313 OBP and an OPS of .677 wasn't good. SB aren't the end all stat.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) Their bullpen is terrible, their staff beyond Lackey isn't great. They just hit the s*** out of the ball against the terrible teams they play, and play decent against the good times. They are 4-2 against the Yankees and 4-2 against Boston this year. Those 2 are almost locks to be in the postseason. 3-3 vs. Det. 6-4 vs. Minnesota and 1-4 vs. Sox.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:36 PM) I think the Angels benefit from playing in a weak division and padding wins against the Mariners and A's. Kinda like how the Cubs pad wins against the likes of the Pirates. Oh, like the 2005 White Sox which mowed down AL Central opponents, but were .500 against the rest of the AL.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:30 PM) These Angels are gonna win a bunch more regular season games, but they sure as hell aren't built to win in the playoffs. ? I've never understood how someone can build a team that can win 100 games during the regular season, but somehow they aren't built to win 3 of 5 or 4 of 7 in a playoff series. Please explain.

Bobby Abreu can really hit. If he still had his power, he would be MVP worthy.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:11 PM) you guys can thank me for Gavin. At least when I criticized him his ERA was one of the worst in the majors, not like Thome's OPS. Where does Thome ranks amongst DH's in offensive categories? Robin Ventura's best season with the Sox he hit 34 homers and drove in 105 with a .368 OBP. Thome is on pace for 32 homers 107 RBI and a .392 OBP and every other week there are 20 posts mentioning his demise and how the Sox must get rid of him. I guess some must keep posting these ridiculous thoughts because he is pushing 40 and some day they will be right.

Should just wait. Even if he continues with the pace he's been on for the rest of the season, he won't be ridiculously expensive. See where he's at, see what other options there are, and then make a decision. Pods hasn't put 2 good seasons together back to back in the major leagues, and doing it for the first time at his age would be unusual.