Dick Allen

Marquez getting lit up again, but has his ERA down to 21.00

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 06:04 PM) I remember last year Ramirez broke out at Tampa Bay... lets hope that's the case again this year. If he has a big series in TB this year, I'm going to think he just hasn't figured out how to play when its cold yet.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 03:27 PM) The Hudson deal COULD be worth as MUCH as $8 million, with $3.6 million guaranteed. However, Hudson is a big character guy and would have been a perfect fit in our clubhouse, IMO. I'm not going to get into whether or not Getz was/is ready, or Beckham for that matter, but Hudson at 2B or in CF would have been a huge upgrade over what we have for this particular season. He's very similar in terms of demeanor and personality to Dye...one of those guys (unlike Elijah Dukes) that you NEVER hear anything bad about. The C.A.T.C.H. Foundation was founded by Orlando Hudson, a 7 year MLB veteran, All Star and 3 times Gold Glove Recipient. The 501c3 non-profit foundation is headquartered in Darlington, SC, and takes pride in its continued commitment to provide resources and a support system for youth coping with Autism. Orlando Hudson is committed to bringing autism awareness to the African-American community. An active volunteer for organizations which promote autism research advancement, Hudson created the C.A.T.C.H. (Curing Autism through Change and Hope) Foundation, to provide resources and a support system for youth coping with autism. The C.A.T.C.H. Foundation has served youth with Autism through their annual Autism Walk; Strike Out! Bowling Fundraiser; Homerun Holiday Christmas Gifting Ceremony and providing local organizations and schools with financial assistance for youth coping with Autism. The C.A.T.C.H. Foundation’s 2009 goals include expanding their menu of services as well as presenting grant funding to deserving Autism oriented programs. In addition, the foundation has plans to do a National tour to generate funds and more awareness of the disorder. [/i] And while he's not an ideal leadoff hitter, he's at least as good as Orlando Cabrera and before last season started if OC told KW he would sign a 1 year extension for $8 million, that would have been a done deal.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 03:23 PM) Getz won the leadoff job but got hurt, in case we all forgot. Give that kid a month and I think we'll find he's plenty good enough in that role. Certainly better than any of the CF's we have. Any CF we play does NOT have to be a leadoff hitter. Getz is leading off tonight. He didn't "win" the leadoff job. He was put there after the Wise experiment was turning ugly both on the field and in the stands. The problem with the CF has to be the leadoff guy was that's how the White Sox were looking at it. Apparently, when Getz is out, the 2B has to be the lead off hitter now. Lillibridge is less qualified than Wise.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 02:57 PM) Only one team can sign a player, does that mean the other 31 teams have organizational problems too? Everyone has a price in their head that they won't go over (except the Yankees), sooooo...you and all the others can try to figure out the organizational problems for 95% of the league. The White Sox have used Dewayne Wise and Brent Lillibridge in the leadoff hole in 2009. Look at their histories and ask yourself what qualifies them to leadoff in the major leagues? White Sox leadoff hitters are 2 for 30 on the season. The White Sox also slashed payroll by the second biggest amount in baseball despite playing 3 extra home games last season, having season ticket sales increase and raising ticket, parking and concession prices. Only SD slashed more, and that's because of a messy divorce. The team also has Contreras $10 million, Dye $10 million net, Thome $13 million and Dotel $6.5 million comingoff the books after this season. Thats almost $40 million. Maybe you think $5-6 million guaranteed for Orlando Hudson is way out of line, but its quite obvious KW took too much stock in Jerry Owens and Dewayne Wise, and the White Sox are going young and cheap. The market for players who can help out was very suppressed this offseason. Cruz was ignored. Might not need him, but if Dotel and Linebrink don't hold up, he might have made sense, and theres a lot better chance he can help the White Sox win than the 20th pick in the draft in June. Crisp was a definite upgrade, but apparently the White Sox had no interest. There were no bidding wars for these players. If, and if you read it carefully, the White Sox don't have the parts to acquire a Coco Crisp, I said that wasn't necessarily true, AND they can't spend the money at last offseason's bargain basement prices to bring in help, then they have big time organizational problems. No team is perfect, and the White Sox wouldn't be perfect if they picked up these 3, but they would be a lot better. Just thank your lucky stars the Sox are in the Central division.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 02:08 PM) Couple notes in reply. First...for Juan Cruz, the Royals had to give up their 2nd round pick. We'd have had to give up our first round pick. It's like giving up #50 versus giving up #20. Juan Cruz simply wasn't worth that pick even if he was signing for the League Minimum. Second, in terms of Coco Crisp, the Royals gave up a 27 year old, pre-arbitration reliever who had an ERA under 3.00 last year to get him. The Sox simply have no one who fits that bill. Jenks was our only pre-arb reliever last year who had an ERA under 3.00. Poreda might have worked but he's never pitched in the big leagues, and I'm not sure I'd have done Poreda for Crisp. Orlando Hudson...also costs our first round pick, may not have wanted to play CF, might have been willing to do that deal though even with the draft pick. Baldelli...decent option except he can't play more than 1/2 games even if he's 100% healthy. Bobby Abreu is not a CF. Pretending these facts don't exist is not an option. Note - not once did I say we couldn't afford any of these guys. That may have played a part in it, but it's not the only reason. Juan Cruz, I'd rather sign him and give up the first round pick which will save you more than $1 million right there. As far as Crisp, just because the Royals traded a reliever for Crisp doesn't mean they wouldn't have gone for something else. The White Sox overestimated Wise and Owens. Orlando Hudson was going to where the money was. If the White Sox offered him a higher guarantee than LA with the same incentives, I don't think there's any question he would be willing to play CF. In fact, Steve Stone said more than a couple teams were looking at Hudson as a CF. We will never know the exact circumstances, but if the White Sox organization doesn't have the pieces to pick up players that will help them fill holes and doesn't have the money to sign players who can help them fill holes when they are signing for pennies on the dollar, then there is an organizational problem that needs to be fixed.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 11:58 AM) JR to KW: I'm not happy with the CF situation. KW: I'm not either. The price for a CF is crazy. I take personal responsibility. JR: What about Aaron? Can we pry him away from the Giants? KW: I thought we agreed that he's not worth the cash. Besides, I'm right at budget. JR: There is too much talent on this team to not try to win it again. I'm not getting any younger. Get it done Kenny. I'll get the money. KW: I'll call San Fran right now. It probably would be more like: JR to KW: I'm not happy with the CF situation. KW: I'm not either. The price for a CF is crazy. I can't spend $1 if all I have is $.50. JR: What about Aaron? Can we pry him away from the Giants? KW: I thought we agreed that he's not worth the cash. Besides, I'm right at budget. JR: That's right. What was I thinking? Wise is hurt, Brian has struggled, Jerry Owens should be selling insurance, there has to be someone, anyone we can sign for next to nothing. KW: I'll call Scott Podsednik right now. Our fans still dream about 2005. They won't realize that he's almost as bad as the others. JR: Great idea. As long as I run the show, you will be taken care of.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 11:58 AM) JR to KW: I'm not happy with the CF situation. KW: I'm not either. The price for a CF is crazy. I take personal responsibility. JR: What about Aaron? Can we pry him away from the Giants? KW: I thought we agreed that he's not worth the cash. Besides, I'm right at budget. JR: There is too much talent on this team to not try to win it again. I'm not getting any younger. Get it done Kenny. I'll get the money. KW: I'll call San Fran right now. The only problem with your post is there are about 5 fantasies in the conversion. The only realistic quote is -I thought we agreed that he's not worth the cash. Besides, I'm right at budget and maybe: JR to KW: I'm not happy with the CF situation.

Funny, SF is trying to win, Rowand is off to a hot start, how in the world would they trade him and eat half the contract? Just some more Cowley BS. They can't afford guys making $3 million a year for 1 or 2 years, but Rowand even at half his salary and 4 years to go, they can afford. Right, Joe. What a hack.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 08:18 PM) Apparently Xaiver Nady is heading for Tommy John surgery. How hard would Cashman laugh at KW if he called up offering Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez for Swisher and his entire contract? 8 games into the season, Swisher is an MVP candidate, but he's always been streaky. He'll fall apart pretty soon. Money is no object for the Yankees, but its huge for the White Sox. I still think KW did well to rid himself of Swisher despite his red hot start.

I wonder if the Sox have ever sent MacDougal to a sports shrink. I know I would.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:20 PM) Hey, what's going on with Getz? It seems like he hasn't been in the lineup for a few games now. He's got an elbow. He'll be fine.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) You think the Sox will have a payroll around 75 mil next season? I bet it will be lower than that. Between $60-70 million unless they lose 100 games this year and they have to sign someone significant to keep at least a few people paying $23 to park.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:12 PM) Not KW's fault that he had to cut payroll from the 2008 team. He did well just to get rid of Vazquez and Swisher quite frankly. The White Sox ticket sales are ahead of last year. They have found some more sponsors. They increased ticket and concession prices when other teams are holding the line or decreasing them. They have a ton coming off the books next year. If they didn't have the money to give Orlando Hudson a bigger guarantee than LA did, they have been operating deep in the red for a while, and we know that doesn't happen.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:07 PM) I want KW to say he failed this team this offseason also...we don't always get what we want. He obviously has a mandate from above to cut costs. But his talking up Lillibridge and Marquez and Nunez was just plain pompous. The only team that shred more payroll than the Sox this offseason was SD. I think the Sox are the odds on favorite to win the biggest payroll drop next year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:05 PM) In his career, he's split his AB's roughly 60/40 righties/lefties. It's not saying all that much given how bad his overall numbers are, but he's put up better batting averages and OPS against righties than lefties. Coming into today's game he had 2 so far this year. Actually 4 with 2 BB, and I'm sure all his AB against RHP is very scattered. Before he's hung, I think he needs a chance to play for a little while like all the other guys. He obviously has ability.

Negron is leading off for Charlotte and hitting .148. Some wanted KW to call him up.

QUOTE (robinventura23 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 03:02 PM) I have to believe there will be a new person in the bullpen when the Tampa series starts. Whether without Richard or MacDougal. Just a hunch. Charlotte's bullpen hasn't been any better.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:58 PM) He better learn how to hit righties if he's going to really be our everyday CFer. I agree. Hopefully they let him face a few. It could help his development.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:53 PM) Never have I see a pitcher with such talent be so ineffective for so long as this guy. Its like listening to music by Rush - such great musical talent, such irritating results. Never ever rip Rush again. You should be suspended.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:53 PM) Somehow I doubt that. He's not only not coming through, he's having pathetic at bats. He is horrible up there. He walked 3 times in a row. He's hardly played. Even his big strikeout which apparently cost the White Sox the game really wasn't that horrendous of an AB. Gallaraga is tough on RH batters. BA hardly ever faces RHP. What do you expect is going to happen?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:49 PM) Since when is it a "or" matter? BA is horrendous, as is anyone who has had the opportunity to hit leadoff. Because the leadoff hitter, who is hitting a combined .067 this season is supposed to be a higher quality hitter than the guy hitting ninth. BA failed to come through on his 7 official AB of the season and then came 25 posts just bashing him. Its beyond silly, and eventually BA will show how foolish it was.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:47 PM) MacDougal going for the league lead in wild pitches apparently. Its always nice to have a few numbers in bold at baseball-reference.com.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:42 PM) That team was actually relatively compareable to other recent teams. The difference being that team had FAR better pitching, and could manage to score one to three runs and win 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 when the home runs weren't there. Sox teams since then haven't had nearly as good of pitching, and couldn't manage ANY runs without homers to boot. I know. I researched it last year or so and they won more games in 2005 scoring 3 or less runs than they did the next 2 seasons combined I believe. As far as the homers, that team hit 200 homers. When the 2006 team hit their 200th homer, they had scored the exact same amount of runs the 2005 team had finished with. The runs/homer was the exact same. The pitching was different.

I believe the White Sox are 2 for 30 out of the leadoff spot this season. Keep bashing BA.