Dick Allen

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.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:02 PM) Cowley: "Where is the warning for Konerko getting hit? Or did Joe West eat it"? Cowley's a douchebag. He's got something bad and stupid to say about everyone.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 08:54 PM) AJ loves his average. He would hit .300 every season if his main focus was LF.

For everyone saying if the White Sox made the playoffs, they would have no shot of winning anything, they took 3 of 4 from the Yankees and if they win tonight 4 of 5 from the Angels. I think they would have a chance, especially if Peavy can come back at full strength.

For a guy with all the homers he has, and as streaky of a hitter he is, particularly homers, Thome has never hit 3 in a game.

Thome's bat is obviously slowing down dramatically.

QUOTE (Stocking @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 08:43 PM) I really like angles broadcasts, non biased and very comlimentary As a White Sox fan, although I am sick of the b****ing about umpiring, I appreciate Hawk's homerism and he being totally biased. He's also pretty complimentary to other players when they deserve it.

TB drafted the wrong Beckham #1 last year.

Beckham is a doubles machine.

Floyd's ERA is 3.00 a game lower at home vs. on the road. Most of the Sox starters have lower ERA's at home. I think Peay will be just fine at USCF.