Dick Allen

QUOTE (qwerty @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:24 PM) Jphat, you are currently just a shadow of your former self... for a long time i thought you were some happy-go-lucky robot that thought the sox could do absolutely no wrong. I know. Either he fell on his head or he dropped some bad acid. He's a changed man.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:23 PM) Since I haven't yet said this all weekend... my opinion on Mike Huff.. he's awful. Uuggghhh I miss Stoney. Can't wait for him to be back. Its probably why he runs the White Sox Training Academy and isn't in a booth full-time.

At least Hawk can blame the umpire.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:18 PM) Almost like a repeat of your avi. Pods is an awful defender. I hope he's not brought back next year just for that reason alone. What the Sox are getting out of Pods offensively this year is a miracle. To expect anything close next year would be foolish. Ride this out and say goodbye.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:17 PM) He doesn't do well is what you are saying? Bring him in with a 2 or 3 run lead, he's automatic for a save. He's not bad, but not nearly elite.

Burn Pods glove. Man is he an awful defensive player.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:13 PM) Bobby should never be brought in unless to start the inning. This I am sure of. He doesn't do well starting with runners on. He doesn't do well in non save situations He doesn't do well unless he starts an inning. He's 6 for 10 in saves with a 1 run lead. I think we know why the Sox aren't going to be particularly thrilled to be paying him $8-9 million next year.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:13 PM) The guy slid into the tag... don't know how that ump missed it. He tagged him on the back of the elbow. I think his hand was already on the bag.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:12 PM) Nix should have made sure to tag him when he was off the entire bag...come on. Instead of just assuming he was out on a very close play, if he stuck with it, it would have been an easy tag and call.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:11 PM) He was definitely out, very bad call by the ump. Started to signal out, then switched to safe. One of those angles looked like he was very safe. It was very close, even slowed down. Nix needs to stay with the play.

For a guy who is supposed to be all world with the glove, Nix sure does make his share of physical and mental errors.

Looking at his average and that last play, there's no doubt Cunningham is a product of the White Sox farm system.

QUOTE (MattZakrowski @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 04:13 PM) So since when is Kotsay our best hitter? Nice triple for Pods. He almost overslid again.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 03:43 PM) Looks like you could've used one Definitely.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) Agreed, I hate when they let kids do it at the cell too. Some dope shells out $1000 to have his kid do the line-up for half an inning. He should probably spend the money on a private tudor.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 09:32 AM) I remember 2005 very well, when Jose was the key to our postseason rotation. But Jose looks nothing like the pitcher he was then. There are two more games Jose is scheduled to pitch. This Wednesday against Zach Greinke, and then with the off day, he'd be @ Boston on the 26th. After that, Peavy is set to return. Those 2 games could be critical to passing the Tigers this season. Is Jose really the White Sox' best option to try to win those games? Yes he is. Who else is there? Torres? Did you see what he did? Hudson, making a major league debut? Please. Contreras was lights out after he came back from the minors until the all star break, then lost his rythm. He's been good for a few innings in each of his past 2 starts then fell apart after some broken bat hits and bad fielding. I think he's by far the best option.

If not winning in Toronto is an excuse for Rios not to go all out, its unprofessional. He got paid a lot of money to go out and give his best. If certain conditions need to be met in order for him to do this, he's not what you're looking for. He does have a clean slate. We will see how it goes, maybe he takes off, maybe he stays the same. He's still pretty good. Just maybe not $60 million good.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 08:38 AM) Griffey gave the Sox exactly what they wanted. He was a lot better attitude wise than his reputation, but I'm sure the Sox were looking for a few more runs from his bat.

BA back in the big leagues, starting in RF for the Red Sox tonight.

Its kind of shocking. Either the Southern League has horrible catchers or Flowers has improved an unbelievable amount since spring training.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) At this point, Jose is not helping the ball club. He's taking a roster spot that could be better filled, IMHO, by ANY starter the Sox have in the minors. I had some high hopes earlier this year when he was sent down to rehab. He came back strong and pitched two gems in a row. But that's been it. 6 run lead last night and he can't even get through 5 with the lead. Sure, Sox defense was pitiful behind him. But that didn't excuse the pitch he grooved to Ellis that cleared the bases. Or the two guys he let on in the 5th with a 1 run lead. If Freddy Garcia can pitch, let him take Jose's slot. Then we still need a 5th guy to fill two starts until Peavy joins us. But at least we wouldn't have the complete downer that Jose has become. He doesn't even look like he wants to win. It's the Javy Vasquez syndrome. It hurts the team. If he won't take a minor league reassignment, then cut him loose. Javy Vazquez syndrome? You must have been in a coma about 4 years ago.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 10:00 AM) That would be strongly dependent on how long he plays. In this day and age, I think that you need either 300 HRs or 200 HRs and a Mauer-like batting average to get into the Hall as a catcher. If he puts up an OPS of .800 for six or seven years and then flames out, he won't come close. The original post I replied to mention Flowers as a possible "huge" upgrade from AJP. I can't recall if defense or calling a game, (which, BTW, White Sox coaches will not do) had anything to do with it, but when you consider Fisk's .766 OPS with the Sox and AJP's .744 OPS with the Sox, a huge upgrade would be an upgrade over Carlton Fisk and he has his likeness on the OF wall. Fisk put up an OPS of 800 or higher 8 times in his career when he played at least 100 games. 2 of those came after he turned 40. Bench had an OPS when he caught at least 100 games of at least .800 9 times. Ivan Rodriquez, 8 times in the same situation. Piazza blows them all away, and he'll be a HOF, although not without suspicion.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 07:49 PM) AJ's OPS numbers as a Sox player (full years 2005-2008): .728, .769, .712, .728 Those are pretty good for a catcher, but nothing spectacular. Being significantly better, say around .800, would be considered a pretty big upgrade, and I think that's a real possibility for Flowers in his prime years. But Flowers would have to do that consistently for 15-20 years (meaning until he was 40) to put up HOF numbers. So when comparing to AJ, who is past his prime (probably), no, you don't need to put up HOF type numbers. At all. Johnny Bench career OPS .817. Ivan Rodriquez career OPS .809. Carlton Fisk career OPS .797. Carlton Fisk White Sox OPS .766. IF Flowers puts up an OPS of .800 as a catcher, he's HOF material. Chances are, he won't. White Sox fans need to appreciate what they have in AJP. The catching situation has been pretty good with the Sox since 2005.

Poreda has been godawful as well. MacDougal like awful.

The White Sox gave Viciedo more than double the signing bonus they gave Gordon Beckham. They are also paying him more than double what they are paying Beckham this season, and will do so next year as well. Viciedo has a ton of errors at 3rd base, so he's a DH right now with a pretty unimpressive OPS in AA. He can get better, but I hope the White Sox wait until he gets better before throwing him to the wolves.