Dick Allen

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

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:38 PM) The 2005 team, as it turns out, was one of the greatest (and luckiest) teams in the history of baseball. Comparing anything to that is a waste of time. Not really comparing, just amazed at the symmetry.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:35 PM) There were runners on 2nd and 3rd, it would have been 2-0 with a single in all likelihood. AJ on second, doubtful. I was think more a SF, which would have been getting the job done.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:33 PM) Probably about as many as most others teams, which is very few. In 2005. they won 1-0 on opening day, 1-0 the first game after the All Star break, and 1-0 the WS clincher.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) If BA (or Lillibridge, or Quentin/Thome) managed to bring in those two runs early, then they had at least a 50/50 chance to win this game. BA is even more important, because they can pitch around him to get to Lillibridge...so he HAS to make contact in that situation. Well, JD just saved one run there with his height, unfortunately it's too late to matter except for the highlight shows. How many games have the Sox won the past 3 years scoring 1 run?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) If BA (or Lillibridge, or Quentin/Thome) managed to bring in those two runs early, then they had at least a 50/50 chance to win this game. BA is even more important, because they can pitch around him to get to Lillibridge...so he HAS to make contact in that situation. Well, JD just saved one run there with his height, unfortunately it's too late to matter except for the highlight shows. So they pitch around the #9 hitter to face the leadoff man? There's something wrong there?

QUOTE (daa84 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:24 PM) good god...im honestly blown away at how good macdougals stuff looks....its really a damn shame he can't locate 95 with tons of life, 92 on a cutter/slider....85 on a hard breaking slider....its really a shame he has no idea where the ball is going He's a total headcase. Even with his horrid motion he used to be able to locate well enough to be elite in stretches. He's afraid of the bat IMO. He abandons his fastball and throws only sliders or he will start aiming and his fastball will lose all of its effectiveness. I don't think there is anyone who can fix him. You just have to hope he finds some sort of comfort zone for a while and ride it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:18 PM) Hawk's pet peeve, the dreaded pitch count. Actually, this is a good test for the Tigers' pen to see if they can shut down the White Sox...Leyland needs to know what he'll get out them in the late innings. Room service DP ball...typical of how this game isn't going. 90% of the time when you miss those two early scoring opportunities against a good pitcher, you can put a fork in that game. Plus our defense is one of the worst in the major leagues...in terms of errors AND range (yes, you JD and Fields) I think we should all blame the game on BA. Anyone else out in CF today batting ninth and the White Sox probably win this one going away.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:05 PM) my god what the hell is wrong with clayton richard He's cold and he wants to go to Charlotte.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:04 PM) So after we fall to 4-4, I have to say I'm extremely happy with how things are going. Some of our big question marks, Quentin and Linebrink, look fantastic so far. Fields is having a good start, and showing a lot of improvement from his miserable 2008. To make things better, the AL Central doesn't look extremely strong this season. Considering how awful we swung the bats in the first few games, I can't complain at all. If you hang around .500, you have a chance in the AL Central.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:01 PM) I was more or less referring to the Thome on the Sox, who isn't as good as he once was. Thomas turned into a similar player later in his career as well. .288,.275,.245

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:56 PM) Well to be fair to Ozzie this year, his chocies are limited. Our CF options all suck, and we're terrible at 2B with Getz gone (and he hasn't proven anything either). Other than that, who can we hit leadoff, Fields? Ramirez? Yeah, not good. This is much more on KW in my opinion. Lillibridge leading off is a bad decision no matter what the rest of the line-up looks like. He couldn't get on base in AAA. I'm quite convinced the White Sox still believe they received a little more than they actually got with his acquisition. He's not a major league quality hitter, and definitely not a lead off guy.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:54 PM) Amazing location on his fastball above the belt. The Cubs rotation is ridiculous if he has any semblance of health this year. He also has a great change up, but he'll never stay healthy.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:50 PM) Dick, everyone knows I'm biased against Thome. I flat out don't like guys who only hit for power and draw walks. That said, those type of guys have places on certain teams and I will admit Thome's value. But as a pure hitter, I don't consider him even close to being a very good hitter. He does other things though, like hit for obscene power (same with Adam Dunn whose a horrendous pure hitter). His .280 career avg. would indicate he does more than homer and walk.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:42 PM) I have no doubt that Owens could hit above .240. It might be an incredibly empty average, but he'd hit in the .260-.270 range with a low OBP and nothing but singles. Wise would hit in the .250's (he's a much better hitter than Anderson) and put up some pop (10-20 HR's) and a ton of doubles as well as strikeouts. Oh and a full season of Anderson and I guarantee the all time strikeout record will be set. I bet if they both played everyday, Josh Fields would fan at least 30 times more than BA. But I'm glad you're ripping him. When you proclaimed Jim Thome the worst hitter in baseball, he proceded to get hot.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:36 PM) I wish we could of convinced Beane to take Anderson over Sweeney. I would rather have no power from Sweeney and a constant line drive swing than the group of fail we have that are candidates for CF right now. And when the Sox traded Sweeney most thought he sucked. Its funny how 1 AB gets everyone to pounce on BA. I knew and everyone knew it would happen if he fanned. If he doubled, some of the same people beating him to a pulp right now, saying how he has a bad swing and will never have one, would be saying he's a talented guy who may be coming around. It was 1 AB. Everyone in the White Sox line-up has struck out it the same situation many times. This board overreacts about everything.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:15 PM) Lillibridge at 1/13 Ramirez 4/27 Anderson 1/7 6/47=.128 Hard to get much done when your 1/8/9 is so horrific. Maybe they should call up Kroeger from Charlotte. He's 0 for 15.

The team has 0 runs in 5 innings. To blame it all on 1 AB by the #9 hitter is ridiculous.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:12 PM) and THAT is why BA doesnt get to play. BECAUSE he is f***ing WORHTLESS in those situations. Because everyone comes through every single time in those situations. He's the 9th hitter who has hardly played this year. He didn't come through. It sucks but it happens. Maybe the leadoff hitter can help him out. You won't say anything if Lillibridge fails again.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:08 PM) Well. This is an AB that BA just has to come throuh on. Bottom line. If he fails Ozzie has the leadoff hitter, the great Brent Lillibridge to pick him up.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 12:48 PM) God I hate that hot dog vendor The hot dog vendor at USCF that screams "hot dogs" every 2 seconds is worse.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 12:41 PM) Lillibridge had a 76% contact rate in 85 big league PA last year, that would put him in the bottom 60 players out of the 280 qualified hitters in the majors last year (had he qualified), if he wants to be effective at the next level that rate needs to come up 10 to 12 points. If there is a downgrade from Dewayne Wise leading off, it would be Brent Lillibridge. Its almost like Ozzie likes to start out with a disadvantage.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 12:13 PM) All I'm saying, is there is a blue seat in the outfield because of Scott Podsednik, and he very well might have hit the single-most important ball in the history of the franchise. If that's not earning it, I don't know what is. Konerko's homer that game was way more important. If Konerko doesn't hit his, the White Sox lose. If Pods doesn't hit his, the game is still tied.

BA still with no official ABs since Wise separated his shoulder.

BA is an on base machine.