Dick Allen

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 19, 2009 -> 12:07 PM) The bolded really makes no sense. So, you can K a lot, if you hit homers, or play defense, but not if you have a high average or OBP? Simply put, saying he can't be successful going middle and right is ridiculous. If that is what he needs to do to improve his hitting, then add power as time goes on, that is what he should do. I agree with him. You can't strike out close to 200 times and hit 15 homers with a low OBP and an average at best glove. Maybe if he starts going to RF he will cut down his K rate, but how many guys strike out as much as he does but don't also get on base a lot? Not too many. Although I have never been a fan of his, I personally think he is Ron Kittle Jr. at the plate, it is too early to write him off now. I wish they would let Betemit, even with a bad glove play against some RHP and let Fields play when his chances of success are higher. I think eventually he won't be considered a main piece in the White Sox core, but set him up a little better for success and maybe something clicks. When he walks up to the plate and sees 2 homers on the scoreboard under his name, its not doing his game any good. I'm sure he thought he would be a 30-40 homer guy.

Contreras hurt his back in mid-2006 and has never had the same stuff.

Some reasons the Sox stink right now are Ramirez and Quentin and Floyd and Danks. I'm not counting Contreras because he wasn't even supposed to be around for a couple more months. One could expect some sort of regression out of each, but the regression has been so extreme. The White Sox current team was set up for them not to be a team that could possibly win 100 games, but it was constructed to compete for a weak division while guarding the teams bank account. That is where the problem lies. Quentin, Ramirez, Danks and Floyd all came up aces last season. The odds of it happening again for all of them and for guys like Lillibridge, and Marquez and Nix are slimmer than Ramirez. That said, they'll probably sweep the Twins and score about 30 runs in the 3 game series.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 19, 2009 -> 10:37 AM) This season was almost set up to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. White Sox struggle in a very winnable/average division...end up with 68-76 wins. KW and JR preach the need for being "fiscally responsible" while heading into next season. Attendance numbers of 1.6-2.0 million are also cited as evidence. "We've had one of the top ten payrolls in baseball for four years now and the attendance is only, let's say, 22nd or 23rd in the majors..." This situation is very frustrating. I've been reading whitesoxinteractive a lot the last 2-3 days and they've even started a VERY long "Fire Ozzie Guillen" thread, which makes absolutely no sense at all. Some people are saying we should have hired Gaston instead of Guillen, thinking that might have led to multiple World Series championships instead of quite probably zero. One thing almost nobody can match is Ozzie's passion for the White Sox. And yelling, screaming, knocking over post-game spreads, it's not going to change things for a beaten up team lacking in talent. As much as the idea that the payroll is going to dwindle to $60-70 million seems crazy (since it was $115), it's really the only logical thing to do. We can't easily rebuild on the fly because starting pitching is almost impossible to find from outside the organization. If there's any lesson from the last decade, it should be that the Sox win when they pitch well and have a decent offense (not 2000 or 2006 level, just between 8th and 14th in MLB). The payroll was going down there anyway. Do you really think after they get rid of Thome, Contreras, Dye, Dotel and have to pay Viciedo $4.3 million less next year, that they are going to sign someone for big money? No way. They will indeed use the economy as an excuse for this year, but all the other teams in town have no problems filling their places when they give the people buying tickets something good to watch. Its like a guy opening a restaurant saying he's going to use old food because he's afraid no one will come to the restaurant. When no one comes, he lets everyone know how he was right. Its total BS. Its the defeatist attitude KW claimed he didn't have.

QUOTE (JDsDirtySox @ May 19, 2009 -> 08:47 AM) I bet we could get Chris Young back... and his .170 BA. Couldn't decide if this should be green or not He just has a bad hitting coach. If he had a good one, he'd be hitting .340.

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ May 19, 2009 -> 08:48 AM) Greg Walker Career Stats: G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO AVG 855 2,864 368 746 164 19 113 444 268 28 520 .260 Hal Baines Career Stats: G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO AVG 2,830 9,908 1,299 2,866 488 49 384 1,628 1,062 187 1,441 .289 ... Who do you want to be giving you hitting advice? Michael Jordan should be coaching the Bulls. Who knows more about basketball than him? This is a ridiculous argument. For one thing, being a hitting coach requires communication. Harold? Hello.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 18, 2009 -> 04:14 PM) I'll just have to very much disagree with you here. I think Getz and Fields are doing about what you'd expect them to do at this point, maybe a little under for Fields. Alexei Ramirez at this point last year was worse than Fields or Getz are right now. You expected Josh Fields to be hitting .224 with 2 homers at this point? Fields has had 125 AB this year, after 125 AB last year Alexei was hitting .293 with 4 homers. I don't know what he did today, but coming into today's game Fields was hitting .109 when he fell behind in the count 0-1.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 18, 2009 -> 03:38 PM) So he is only able to help guys to hit more home runs? I believe that is what has been said. Guys come here and become better sluggers, but they never seem to raise their averages. Who has left the Sox and gone on to become a better hitter elsewhere? It may be the players and not the coach. I'm sure it is. I don't know Greg Walker, but how does he get slammed for a guy hitting .230 and Cooper gets no grief for Floyd's 7.71 ERA and inability to hold a runner on?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 18, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) This is actually true - you can usually tell right from the first batter whether or not Dotel has it that game. This is true. Its very rare Dotel gives up a hit or walk to the first batter and he's able to wiggle out of it. It seems the first batter will tell you almost exactly how Dotel will fare that day.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 18, 2009 -> 03:00 PM) And he's hitting something atrocious as his numbers are shooting way back down. I agree with you ont his Dick, however, I also agree something needs to be done as the management did a f***ing horrendous job and right now I see lifeless play and that is un-f***ing-acceptable. Ozzie had a little blow up a week or so ago and they were interviewing JD about it. JD basically rolled his eyes and said the team was used to it, so I think some new "motivation" needs to be worked out. Of course there is the possibility that this team just isn't any good. I would like KW to be bold, but it appears the White Sox front office has gone into hiding and is waiting on the Barons to come up and show they are ready before committing any more money to real players. Its very dissappointing. Maybe this time KW will realize he doesn't have everything figured out. Its tough playing without Quentin, but one thing Carlos hasn't shown he can do yet is stay healthy. You have to expect him to miss time. Thome, Dye, Konerko, you have to expect they will miss time as well, they aren't getting younger. So injuries are no excuse. Its like being shocked Joe Crede has back spasms. This team wasn't set up real well to begin with. Its time KW either gets real aggressive getting better, or real aggressive shedding payroll so he can be a player when some better players become available again. I really don't think the current roster, even when 100% healthy, is in the same class as the better teams in baseball.

QUOTE (Cali @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:58 PM) The Sad thing is that absolutely NOTHING is gonna change... Either that or they will find an even worse player or two to give some playing time. The White Sox cheapness has really caught up to them this season.

How many guys leave the White Sox and go on to become significantly better hitters elsewhere? If there was a guy that hit .220 under Walker but .280-.300 under someone else, and it happened more than once or twice, the Walker bashers might have a point. I really don't see any of that yet, although I'm sure Swisher's name will come up, but one of the reasons the Sox got rid of Swisher was his refusal to listen to Walker. His batting coach is his father.

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:44 PM) Josh Fields went 0-for-4 in Monday's loss and is without an extra-base hit since May 5. He does, however, have 11 strikeouts since then. It's completely unacceptable that Fields has 41 strikeouts and just six extra-base hits in 125 at-bats. The White Sox need to turn third base over to Wilson Betemit and see if it provides a boost. Josh Fields is a star. Just read Soxtalk 2007 and spring training 2008. He's can't miss. He's twice the player any replacement would be.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) Maybe Cito Gaston was the right call 5 years ago...........he sees to have not missed a beat. Cito emphasises hitting home runs.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) Time for some changes. Isn't it great that we kept Anderson in the minors for a few pointless games? Were we trying to save money on his flight to Toronto? Maybe he didn't have his passport handy. Silly they didn't call him up.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) Correct. Its Ozzie's call ultimately, but he relies on his coaches to dictate matchups, etc. So what time does Ozzie get to the park? He doesn't do any instruction, Cora runs spring training. Walker tells him when to pinch hit. Cooper tells him when to change pitchers. Why do the Sox pay Ozzie? I think you're wrong. If Ozzie hasn't looked at the book with all the numbers in it and hasn't read the advanced scouting reports, he's the most ill-informed manager of all time. And what about his "managing from the gut" lines he always uses? Maybe that was an example.

QUOTE (tommy @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:04 PM) Dotel with 18 consecutive scoreless appearances dating back to last season. Kiss of death.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:58 PM) Ozzie relies on his coaches ie: Cooper and Walker to be the first line in those decisions, so yes. Ozzie obviously ultimately can make any call at any time, but he delegates those decisions to his coaches for the most part. Sorry if that looked like "bashing" to you, its just reality. So Walker is in charge of sending in PH. Who sends in PR and makes out the line-up card? Its Ozzie's decision not Walker's.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 18, 2009 -> 02:01 PM) But in that PH spot, it's the perfect chance to use his bat. And you still don't have to have him play defensively as you could have moved Nix to 3rd, Pods to LF and Lillisucks to CF.

Yet another big homer for Mr. Unclutch.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:57 PM) i think the reason why Wilson isnt starting is due to defense. When you are only scoring 2-3 runs per game, if lucky, you can't afford to give up another 1-2 in the field at the same time. Probably, but he's been know as a better LH hitter than right during his career and Ozzie rarely uses him from the left side. When its late and you need runs you need to go with a guy that gives you a chance. Fields hasn't been that guy. If you aren't going to use Betemit there, you might as well just release him.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:52 PM) JD just fist bumped the ump when the ump gave the out sign. Clayton doing his best to keep the team in it, thats the best you can ask from him. 1 run over 7 against Toronto is unreal. Why is Betemit even on the team? Even a 10 year old xbox player would have pinch hit him for Josh in that inning. Walker is supposed to own the matchups for his hitters for Ozzie, he isnt doing his job. So its Walker's fault Ozzie doesn't pinch hit for Fields? Yet another new low in the Greg Walker bashing.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:27 PM) You don't think a rebuild would see Link get a shot? He might, but why have your entire bullpen filled with question marks? Trading a guy like Thornton who doesn't make a ton of money, for prospects unless they are sure fire top of the line guys makes no sense. Financial relief and the ability to redistribute funds with the others make sense, but hoping a prospect or 2 pans out to be just as good as the guy you traded is Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler. It really doesn't make sense.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:23 PM) Well, I hope that this season is now seen as a rebuilding season. We can argue that it's early only so long. And with the team we have, I'm not holding out hope for a surge like last year. If we know it's a rebuilding season and we start seeing some of these exciting players from the minors, the season can hold some interest. I would agree they aren't going to win with their current roster, but some tweaking could make this a .500 or a little better team which would be good enough to compete for a division and let them print playoff tickets so they can hold the season ticketholders hostage again.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 18, 2009 -> 01:20 PM) The whole pen could get you something. If you are moving Jenks, move Thorton and Dotel as well. Some team would also over pay for Linebrink (i.e. Yankees, Red Sox , cubs) It Really is sad that the thing almost every team needs is the thing the Sox are strongest at right now. I think you would want to keep Thornton around and probably Linebrink if Jenks is sent packing. Dotel is gone after this season. You can't have a horrible bullpen for the next several years and expect anything but tumbleweeds at USCF.