Dick Allen

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 03:39 PM) Still not sure why Betemit is playing 3B instead of Fields. That inning we had two hits that should have been outs before the Griffey double. Well, if Paulie had more than a 7 inch vertical. Fields blew an easy chance last night. How can anyone say he would have handled anything today flawlessly? They are giving him a break in the field. Betemit has to play sometime, although batting RH has never been his specialty. I think most so down on him now will change their minds by July.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 03:12 PM) i'm not making excuses, but I have to believe some of these guys are going to play better once they get in some baseball weather. But so will the opposition. You have to wonder how 19 hits in April with the temp under 40 degrees transfers into July and August. Gavin Floyd is resembling the pitcher the Phillies gave up on.

The White Sox are the only team in baseball at any level that turning over the line-up means getting through your leadoff hitter not to him.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 02:35 PM) 17 for 17 on opposing stolen bases, according to the PR crew all of them are on the pitchers. AJ lurks like a panther ready to pounce on any baserunners if only he had a chance. Corky Miller isn't having much better luck. He had a steal or two against him yesterday with no throw. Its ridiculous the jumps the opposition gets against several of the White Sox pitchers. I understand not letting runners bother you on the mound, but you at least have to look at them once in a while.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 02:30 PM) Why is it that Sox cannot throw anyone out stealing bases, but yet we cannot steal a base! Not a good mix. When Floyd and Contreras are pitching, its a miracle if there is even a close play on a steal attempt.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 02:30 PM) I mean, COME ON! "Aggression" my ass. There's nothing aggressive about letting your players be automatic outs. I really wish this team would just STOP trying to steal. But they have to show off the massive upgrade in team speed.

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 01:53 PM) He, like every other player, is paid to help the team win, first and foremost. Hitting homers and driving in runs is what Thome does best and it does help the team win. Maybe when the Sox won 1-0 against Minnesota last year, Jim should have tried to bunt down the 3rd base line for a single rather than hitting a homer for the game's only run. Funny, I saw no Thome complaints that night.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 02:02 PM) But he's fast and he's built like someone who should be able to bunt Does he ever bunt? Why does Ozzie always want to start the first inning with 1 out and nobody on?

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 02:02 PM) Ok i understand Quentin stands on the plate, but he's been hit a lot so far this year. He got hit 42 times one year in the minors.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 01:59 PM) Has anyone ever looked as overmatched as Lillibridge? Guy looks like he'll never get a hit. Most pitchers in the NL look better at the plate. If he must play, he should bat 9th. Leading off is the biggest joke I've ever seen.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 12:48 PM) Anyone know the lineups yet? I know Lillibridge is leading off, so we have that going for us, which is nice.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 12:52 PM) I think this thread would be cooler if the title were "Thome to retire?". Flame away. Jim Thome may be the least appreciated White Sox vs. what he has accomplished by Soxtalk of all-time. In fact, I don't think there is a close second.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 12:07 PM) Kroeger would be the most likely player to be recalled. Betemit, to Fathom's eternal delight, would get most of the at-bats, in all likelihood. If Josh Kroeger and his current .185 batting average are recalled, KW should be embarrassed.

Did any of the guys bashing Thome now ever bash Harold Baines? He had the same shift in the infield, although the OF played him to hit it the other way. Only 13 or 14 players have hit more homers or walked as much as Jim Thome in major league history. For him to change his approach is dumb. He's not a singles hitter. He's a slugger. His job is to drive in runs. Not many in the history of the game have done it much better. In fact when he's hot, most teams would love for him to try to hit a grounder the other way for a single.

Maybe the Sox should call up Josh Kroeger. He's got the average up to .194 in AAA.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 08:45 AM) Given Flowers is still learning the position, no chance they call him up. Lucy would be the next call-up for catcher. I am a Donny Lucy fan, but a .219 average in AAA is not grounds for a call-up, that's why I don't mention him. Obviously, his ABs are few so a good week and he's more respectable, but just like Egbert and Broadway, guys not getting the job done in AAA shouldn't be expected to get it done in Chicago.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 12:05 AM) I said earlier...he'd be a great September call-up. As a 25 man roster player, it's an absolute joke. The problem is that we have 3 of these types right now (Lill, Owens, Broadway). The talent level on this team is pretty scary right now with Getz/Thome out. I've been saying since 2005 AJP was the key to the White Sox doing anything, because if he went down, the Sox were screwed, they had no other viable options., Now it seems to have expanded to a couple of other spots. That said, no matter what anyone says, this divison is fairly weak. There is no great team. If the Sox can stay around .500 and play the teams that aren't all so good in their division decently, they will have a chance.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:54 PM) As someone who has seen almost all of his at bats, I'll sum it up this way: HE f***ING SUCKS! He looks like a bad hitting pitcher at the plate. For someone who has speed, he is absolutely pathetic at hitting the ball on the ground. He must have got lucky to hit .220 in the minors last year. I couldn't agree more. Its amazing how many people stil put Lillibridge ahead of Anderson and Wise. Lillibridge is no better and probably worse offensively than Jerry Owens, but for some reason(probably because KW said so) they think he's a viable offensive major league player. He's nothing more than a late inning defensive replacement and a pinch runner.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:49 PM) Yes, Jim Beam Club is the s hit. And the secret to getting those tickets is to wait until the week you want to go to the game (assuming it's not Sox/Cubs or something) and then they'll only be $180 apiece on StubHub opposed to > $300 Or get them comp. Oh my. I'm fairly certain if I had Jim Beam Club season tickets, I would weigh 500 lbs. and would be an alcoholic. Nice spread tonight with the prime rib, turkey and fish.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:52 PM) I haven't seen all of his AB's so I don't know, I just glanced at the stats. But tonight he looked god awful. Like I said though, we get someone to teach him to stay on top of the ball and have quick short line drive swings, he'll be a completely different player, IMO. Nothing that great, but not nearly as bad as he is now. There is no reason for Brent Lillibridge to hit the first or second pitch of an AB for an easy flyout. He has to realize his limitations. If he thinks he's going to consistantly crank balls into the seats, he needs to find a new profession.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:40 PM) I like it, but don't mind Thome 4th because it should theoretically put someone on base 40 pct of the time for Dye/Konerko. Fields batting 2nd is just stupid, and I feel like he's changed his approach because of it. He's worthless if he's just a slap hitter. When Thome is drawing walks he starts hitting homers in bunches. There are obviously times when I can strike him out, but we all have to hope he sees the ball well for long stretches this season.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:47 PM) Alexei hit the ball hard today, and he'll always be the type of player who will look good for one at bat and look foolish the next. Right now, I'd say he's our best option in the 2 hole. He's been putting the ball in play and adds more speed to the top of the lineup. Anorexei is looking a little better at the plate for sure.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 11:45 PM) Miller's done an incredible job behind the plate....no issues with him so far. An 0-30 or so is just around the corner. The problem is, unless Flowers is called up, there is no obvious better option in the system and calling up Flowers to play part time is not wise.

Broadway or Owens or Miller or Lillibridge. None are major league players. I think it probably will be Owens the first out, followed by Broadway. For some reason, Ozzie and a portion of soxtalk think Lillibridge brings something to the table and perhaps he does as a pinch runner. He would be on base far more as a pinch runner than he would be as someone who actually had to earn his way on base. He sucks offensively. One of the worst offensive players on a major league roster IMO.

The first game tonight, the line-up with Owens leading off and Miller and Lillibridge at the bottom was weak. In the second game, you were facing a top tier pitcher and had BA leading off. Sorry, that is a line-up that isn't supposed to score runs. No one should be shocked. If Quentin, Dye and/or Konerko don't come up big on Tuesday night, there's nothing much left.