Dick Allen

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 10:38 PM) Wished Matt would have thrown a slider at some point...every pitch in that 9th up until the homer was a fastball. And he struck out 2 guys and had Swisher 0 and 1.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 10:37 PM) good thing AJ was just calling for fastball after fastball. Please. He threw it too low. Up high, Swisher had no chance, just like ever other pitch to him this evening.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 10:35 PM) Wonder if Jenks would pitch the tenth. If not, you've got to wonder if he's hurting or something. I think the Sox will score here.

OMG

Maybe Ozzie is actually looking at the reports and sees these guys don't hit Thornton that well instead of automatically entering Jenks. That would work for me for the rest of the year.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 10:29 PM) So did Jenks lose his closer spot? If he has, this certainly is his last season with the White Sox.

So Jenks isn't closing or setting up. They probably should at least get him ready.

If the Sox have the lead in the 9th and go to Jenks, I really think it will be decision day. If he's back, great. If he screws up again, I think he'll be out of that role for a little while.

The Yankees make a lot of teams a lot of money.

Its nice to see the other team look like 8 year olds in the field every once in a while.

Dirty 30 is bringing a tear to my eye with memories.

Watching this replay with Contreras on the mound, the one thing he did differently when he came back from AAA than what he is doing now and in this 2007 game was work quickly.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 07:59 PM) My sister met Costas in the airport in New York as they were taking the same flight into Chicago on Tuesday. Is she at least 5'2"? If so, she probably was looking down on him. Anyone remember when Bob Costas was an announcer for one season for the Bulls back when they had Ricky Sobers?

MLB Network has the Sox game on tonight. Costas is calling it. Kotsay leading off in CF. He is the second coming of Darin Erstad.

Anytime you get another chance to see Darin Erstad in White Sox double knits, its a treat.

A rain delay when it isn't even raining against the Yankees........................again.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 06:35 PM) Either way, the Reds taking Alonso over Beckham = epic fail. Thanks guys! I'm sure there are more GM's who passed on Beckham who would trade their pick straight up for him right now. In fact, maybe all of them.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:01 PM) You know, I'm not jumping off the ledge, but I really hate the 2006 Cardinals for this exact reason. That was very clearly an anomaly, yet still, fans everywhere get deluded into thinking their .500 team could be a World Series contender in disguise and conveniently ignore all the stars that would have to align for this to happen. At this point of the season in 2003, the Florida Marlins record was 2 games better than the current White Sox record. The goal is to make the playoffs. Anything can happen. The 2005 White Sox had a dominant 11-1 record in the playoffs, however, what if a routine grounder didn't roll through Tony Graffanino's legs, and what if a pretty washed up El Duque didn't somehow avoid giving up runs with the bases loaded and nobody out? The Sox may have been done in round 1. Last year, what if the Sox had their pitching rotation set for the playoffs? Maybe they knock off Tampa who did make it to the World Series. 8 teams make the playoffs, and most of them lose, but giving yourself a chance is a lot better chance than hoping some obscure A ball player will lead you to the promised land in 4 or 5 years. A lot more stars would have to align for the junk you may be able to get back taking the White Sox old and slow players contracts actually being good enough to help you make the playoffs one day, than for some team to sneak in, get hot and win a few series. You can go 11-8 in the playoffs and still be world champions.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 06:16 PM) Cowley said that, not Ozzie. Cowley said something like, "One of them is playing hard just to be here and the other one is playing hard to be somewhere else and the organization can see that." Personally, I think Cowley is full of s***, at least most of the time. Cowley also said BA wouldn't be traded because no one would take him. BA must have stolen one of Cowley's honeys on a roadtrip.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:47 PM) This might end the Fields/Pie speculation cause Bell is a corner infielder. Orioles could still plug Fields into 1st though, depending on what they think of him or might just feel that from a pure value standpoint the deal makes sense (since Pie isn't going to get starters AB's behind Adam Jones). I read where Bell was real bad defensively, so bad he may have to change positions. Fields isn't exactly Brooks Robinson so it will be interesting to see if McFail has interest in Fields. Pie shouldn't cost too much although he is starting to play a bit better.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 04:30 PM) On the first note...I can't, so I'll back away from that comment. On the second note...I believe Ozzie pretty much said that Wise was giving his all for the White Sox while BA was giving his all for whatever team he was going to be traded to. Maybe not in those words, but pretty much that. He didn't question BA's effort. BA probably knew he wasn't long for the organization while Wise figures when the White Sox say good bye, he's looking at perhaps never seeing the major leagues again. He's hitting .150 his last 133 AB. He has 2 SB this year and been caught 3 times. I really don't see what Dewayne Wise brings to a team other than outs.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 05:45 PM) Cowley just said that the Sox told Lillibridge he could go back to AAA. At least one of my prayers has been answered.

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 12:42 PM) Hate to break it to you. I wouldnt have seen many teams giving up an Alderson for Sanchez. The only thing I could possibly see as a reason why it isn't worht it for those teams to make a deal for a Dye, Jenks, or Dotel is they don't want to offer arb to get the draft pick compensation. That is the only thing I can see holding these deals up. As much as you like to think certain guys arent worth certain players - having expiring contracts or compensation - especially type-A means a lot to clubs. If they deal 1 good looking player for a Vet who can carry them into the playoffs then have a chance 2 draft 2 more young studs? Please. It's worth it. According to Keith Law, Alderson's stuff has deteriorated to the point where he thought it was a fair deal. So you are saying if you were a GM of another team, you would have no problem giving up your top prospects for Thome, Dye, Dotel, Contreras or Jenks? Do you understand how draft pick compensation works? The team would have to offer the players arbitration to be eligible for the draft picks. If you were the GM that means Thome would be offered at least $11 million, and he would have to turn it down. The White Sox free agents to be are looking at sharp reductions in salary except for maybe Dye, but I don't know if I would want to pay Dye $12 million next year. So the draft pick compensation thing isn't going to work.

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 12:21 PM) Unfortunately - that is something I can't debate. As much as I feel things would be different dealing off veterans and having some great young guys already up to look forward to. I can't argue it wouldnt take some form of a PR hit. Which is a shame because people would rather be stubborn and watch a team semi-playoff caliber coast to a 3rd place finish 8 games back then put together another World Series Caliber team for next season. It's the truth. Unfortunately too many people don't realize how much of a business this is and sometimes should be treated like one. What type of prospects if you were the GM of another team would you be willing to trade for Thome or Dye or Dotel or Contreras or Jenks? Remember it is a business like you mentioned and that you have to honor their contracts and in Jenks case, he's arb eligible? When you answer that, put those types of prospects in the White Sox organization and tell me how those players will help the White Sox win the WS next season? Also keep in mind when you are mentioning money savings, the White Sox have not given another teams' free agent more than $20 million since December of 1996. Chances are they aren't signing one. Then look at next year's free agent list. Its pretty ugly. Figgins may have some interest, but he's getting older, has had injury problems in the past and has come up big during his contract year. It seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 12:14 PM) Lemme ask all the BA over Wise haters this: Let's say you owned a business. There's one guy that does one thing very well, and a bunch of other things ok. This guy doesn't seem like he wants to be there. He's always b****ing and talking about how he could do better elsewhere. Then there's another guy. He doesn't do anything that well, and isn't as good as the other guy, but he tries. He's a team-first guy who will do anything you ask him to do. He takes the criticism and comes to work everyday. Which do you want? Personally, I want the guy that wants to be there and will do anything asked, no matter his limitations. Either way, it's done...BA is gone, Wise will be soon. From all reports, BA was a very liked guy in the clubhouse. That other stuff about wanting to be somewhere else was speculation by some White Sox people. Perhaps it was true, but most likely spin. I read somewhere BA and Quentin were really tight. Talk about two opposites.