Dick Allen

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 01:27 PM) Normally, I wouldn't advance an unsubstantiated rumor, but I heard from a friend that I trust, that perhaps there's another reason that neither the Sox nor Cubs made an offer to Henry Blanco as the backup C. I'm sure many of you are aware that Henry's brother was murdered in Venezuela last December after being kidnapped for ransom - a despicable practice that is all too common for Latin players making big $ in the States. My friend said that there might be more to this, that Henry was possibly involved in gang activity at some time in Venezuela, has the tattoos to prove it, and that his brother's death wasn't merely a money-grab gone bad. Thus, the unreported fear of the GM's is that Henry himself is a target, and would bring an unneeded security risk to the team that signs him. Could all be crap, probably is, but has anyone else heard this? Apologies in advance. Ozzie knows Blanco quite well so if this is true, I'm sure he knows better than anyone else. Also if true, considering Urbina, Ozzie needs to get some new friends in Venezuela.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 01:05 PM) So how many games before Getz is moved to the leadoff spot? Common sense would say 0, however we are dealing with a couple of huge egos who have been trying their best to go against the grain so they can have the "no one understands what were doing, except us" routine when they are successful just so they can stroke their own egos even more. Its amazing how they run that false modesty act and how many fall for it. When the s*** hit the fan in 2007, they didn't stand up and take full responsibility, just threw out several excuses.

I was under the impression Lucy couldn't handle catching physically with his injury. If he's healthy, Corky Miller should be waived. He's hit .122 since 2003 or 2004.

I'm a BA fan, and this will be his first legitimate shot since 2006. Its all up to him. If he blows or gets hurt, I will move on. I'm going with BA to be the Quentin of 2009. He won't put up the numbers Quentin did last year, but I think BA will put up the numbers KW thought he would. .270 BA 25 homers.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 12:33 PM) His obp is a eye poping .302 His career OBP in the major leagues is .254 and in the minors its .310. He's 31. KW really screwed the pooch thinking he and/or Owens are major league players, let alone top of the line-up guys.

Owens is out of options so he has to clear waivers to go to Charlotte. I wonder if they are hoping that happens or are cutting the cord once and for all and I think he would have a choice of going to Charlotte or being released. I would imagine he would look at the White Sox OF situation and determine if he really could show he may be able to play, its probably his best chance at getting playing time eventually. Wise made it through waivers during the season last year.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 12:18 PM) Mac is gonna make the team. He has earned it though with a great spring. If he has good control, he can be lights out. He's borderline awesome if he has any semblance of control.

Jerry Owens..............................................he gone http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....-white-sox.html

It would depend on the situation to me. If guys are ignoring fans during a game, I have no problem with that. The biggest jagbag I ever saw was Phil Mickleson. I was at St. Andrews in 2000 and attended a practice round. These guys hit 5 or 6 or more balls from the tee. Everyone in Mickleson's group was very friendly. Signing golfballs and programs for a lot of kids, not Phil. He was too busy concentrating. Of course, he f***ed around with the guys at the tee box, hitting goofy shots, borrowing a club and hitting right handed (he wasn't bad), not taking his practice very seriously. I always have pulled for him to lose after that, even though I haven't asked for an autograph since Claudell Washington.

Olney's latest has some stuff from scouts the first being why we can't take spring training results too seriously especially this year from an NL scout: No. 1: The length of spring this year has affected play. It's only been in the last week, since the WBC ended, that you've actually seen the everyday players start to go hard. This has been good for young players trying to make teams, but for the veteran guys, it's not been a good time to get work in. It's the most non-descript spring training I've ever seen." From an AL scout on the White Sox : No. 3: I love the way the White Sox play. Does any other organization have as consistent of an attitude from ownership through the general manager, to the manager and field personnel?"

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 12:42 AM) All-Time K-To-BB Ratio 1. Tommy Bond 4.440 (879 to 198) 2. Curt Schilling 4.380 (3116 to 711) 3. Pedro Martinez 4.140 (3117 to 752) 4. Ben Sheets 3.850 (1206 to 313) 5. Mariano Rivera 3.830 (934 to 244) The K-to-BB goat if not for some dude that pitched in the 1870s. He also has the 13th best K/9IP ratio (8.60) in the history of baseball, and he averaged a 1.09 WHIP ratio from 1992 to 2004 (ages 25 to 37). Point blank, if you don't have him in the hall of fame, then you don't know your baseball too well IMO. The guy had 7 years he made 30 or more starts. He was a nice pitcher, but he wasn't Sandy Koufax-esque. If he played full seasons he probably would be a first ballot guy, but he didn't. If he goes in, there are several that need to go in as well.

QUOTE (wilmot825 @ Mar 29, 2009 -> 08:39 PM) Although we are about one week away from Opening Day on the South Side, weather predictions show a 60% of rain. On various weather websites say that it will be light rain but I do have one concern. Can Opening Day get rained out? God I hope not because I paid top dollar for tickets to that game. Its why if the opener isn't on a Friday, there usually is a off day right afterward. If it gets rained out on Monday, the opener will be Tuesday. Its still way too early for the weather, although I, like you have been checking the forecasts. It looks cold and wet on Monday and cold on Tuesday and through the rest of that week right now.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Mar 29, 2009 -> 03:33 PM) If we judge Viciedo 231 average as not being ready, then we should do the same with any player in disregard of any position. I understand the reasoning about giving a player (Viciedo) a chance to play everyday in the minors as oppose as sitting in the bench. I preferred him to back up at 3B, RF and DH in the majors 3 times a week as oppose as being in the minors. I am sure I am in the minority with this view. You judged Betemit on 2 plays the first week of spring training, saying he should be sent to minor league camp. You're not the guy to be beating this drum. Viciedo kicked a couple of balls at 3rd base too, the Sox are doing what you suggested they do to the veteran. Remember, you said if he couldn't make the plays in March, he wouldn't be able to during the regular season? So shouldn't you use the same criteria whether the player is Cuban or not? As a non-fan of Josh Fields, I'm certainly not going to sugarcoat his pluses. But as bad as he is defensively(I've seen much worse, but he's definitely not good), and I don't think 2 weekends having Joey Cora hit him grounders means didley, I think he is more advanced at that position defensively than Viciedo. Viciedo will be up soon enough, but he needs at bats and playing time. Sitting on the bench will do him no good. If he's too sensitive he needs a couple of Cubans around him at all times to thrive, or if he thinks at the age of 20 he has it all figured out and there is nothing to learn in the minor leagues, he's not going to be successful anyway. Spending some time in AA and/or AAA is the right move. If he's ready for the major leagues, he will show it. If he's not, he won't be seen until spring training 2010.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 28, 2009 -> 11:55 PM) I don't understand entirely why we had to give him 4 years...? I think 3 would have been plenty. Two should have been fine, like Dotel. Sure, 3-4 seasons ago he was definitely the best/most-reliable set up guy in the big leagues along with Scott Shields. But I think Linebrink had a very "down" 2007 season, and there were lots of concerns about overuse/abuse and innings and appearances taking their toll on him. Plus he was going to the much tougher AL. His velocity was also well below normal in 2007. One of the riskiest moves KW has ever made for a "non-star" player, yet an integral part of the team nonetheless. We definitely couldn't have won without him last year...there's no arguing that. Someone like Russell, MacDougal or Wasserman just weren't capable of taking on that role. Really, Dotel wasn't either...not consistently. If he pitches like he did in the first half of 2008 for at least two more seasons, then the contract was still a very good deal. I just can't imagine that happening, nor can I imagine him going through 3 consecutive injury/pain-free seasons at this point in his career. Speaking of injuries, what's the latest with Mark Mulder? Has anyone heard anything about him recently? Times have changed. At the time, there probably was no way Linebrink signs for 3 years. KW had already tried with the bullpen what he's trying at other positions now, throwing a bunch of s*** against the way seeing if anything sticks. He had to overpay and frankly if he didn't get Linebrink, even though he did get hurt and was awful after that,(showing there really wasn't anyone to take his place) the White Sox almost certainly miss the playoffs. He overpaid, but he had to.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 10:31 PM) Farmer and DJ said that Ozzie was talking about this and he had told them Fields could be "great" defensively if he could keep his legs squared with his shoulders...that, basically, his "base" or legs were too wide and it was limiting his range. Of course, one wonders why if Ozzie notices this, and Cora worked with him a little in the offseason...why he's still struggling down there. Of course, if he even hits .300 in the regular season, he would be a huge asset unless he made 35-40 errors defensively, but what are some of the theories? That he's thinking about it too much because he knows everyone is examining his defense with a fine tooth comb? That it's the sun/glare in Arizona (explaining his slow reaction time)??? The funny thing is that he has very good (for 3B) speed on the basepaths, or at least above average, but Viciedo and certainly Crede had much faster instincts and better range down there (from when I watched Dayan)...I guess this is kind of like Anderson not being superfast, but being but much quicker to balls in CF than Wise and Anderson. Same idea. Or Jerry Rice never running faster than a 4.6-4.65 forty time, and yet you almost never saw him get caught from behind when he was eyeing a touchdown and had open field. Maybe we'd just be better off with Fields moving to 1B to replace Konerko and Viciedo at 3B eventually. Just because you know what you're doing wrong in baseball, doesn't mean its easy to correct.

Lillibridge is supposed to be a plus defender, but he's been brutal this spring defensively as well. Maybe he's taking his poor ABs with him on to the field, but if he makes the team and KW ever talks about a spring training competition for jobs, I hope some reporter calls BS on it to his face. How,if there is some sort of competition for a roster space, can you play like Lillibridge has this spring and make the team?

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) And the year before that he hit .281 with a .345 OBP in AA/AAA. And the year before that he hit .303 with a .417 OBP in A-ball. So... maybe 2008 turns out to be just one bad year... not an indication of his talent. There's a lot more guys who were good in A ball and AA ball that turned into nothing than guys who hit .220 in AAA that became real good major leaguers. If you want to put more on what a guy does as a 22 year old in A ball than on what he does as a 24 year old in AAA, I don't think you would have a long scouting career. The guy has been absolutely brutal this spring, offensively and defensively. They made it sound like he was in a battle for a roster spot. If BA played like BL has played, he would probably be released, same with several players. This guy has no business being on the opening day roster. Make him prove himself before he gets a shot.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:59 PM) this team is going to be the worst fielding sox team that i can recall i think... just my personal opinion, but i think alexei is going to be a disaster at SS...he doesnt look fluid at all He's GG calibur. KW would not lie.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:54 PM) How did DJ Carrasco look as a hitter? A lot like Jerry Owens. Actually more like Lillibridge.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:23 PM) Am I being overly negative when I say that this offense looks like it may be easily shut down again this season and could have some really ugly games????? They will have a low OBP guy leadoff. Quentin is a high OBP, but he may not be able to duplicate last season. Thome is a high OBP but has been declining a bit and he can't run. For all the "speed" added to the line-up, I see Fields for Crede, definitely more speed, but Fields will most likely be a lower OBP guy. Getz for Cabrera. I think if Getz matched Cabrera's offensive numbers of 2008, most would be thrilled. I don't see this huge increase in team speed they have been preaching. I think they will score a lot of runs but it will be just as inconsistent as it has been the past few years.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:18 PM) Why would they cut him early if he's out of options? Not saying he's going to turn it around but there's no upside to it. If your pinch runner Lillibridge gets hurt, you have Owens to fall back on. That's the downside to doing it, there's no upside. I'm glad fan-type passion is absent from most coaching staffs out there. He's still fighting for a starting spot. Why not have the guy who should leadoff during the season get a whirl there before the season starts? The question I have is why ignore what has happened his whole career and base everything on a couple of exibition games at the end of a brutally long spring training? Don't they know Jerry Owens yet? Are their opinions really going to change if he gets a couple of hits? What value other than a pinch runner does he have? Can a team that will carry 12 pitchers keep a guy around just to pinch run? Besides, its not like he's been tearing up the basepaths this spring.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:12 PM) Bad start for Jerry, a weak popout to left is about as bad as it gets for him in the eyes of management (remember groundouts = infield pwnage) and I believe it was on the first pitch. Its pretty sad if Owens fate hasn't already been decided. I don't know why a guy going 0-4 in a spring training game or 3-4 should make much of a difference at this point. If the White Sox see Owens as a contributing major league player, they are in the minority. Let Getz leadoff and let Jerry go home.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:07 PM) DJ just said on the radio that it's shaping up to be Lillibridge likely making the team as a utility guy. I know he's not that young -- but being purely a ceiling guy (with little in the present).....shouldnt he be in the minors playing every day? We may never really find out about him if he's up here sitting on the bench. He hit .220 in AAA with an OBP under .300 last year. KW wants someone from the Vazquez trade on the roster and he's already been praising Lillibridge since acquiring him. This isn't a case of a guy earning a spot on the team, just that everyone that is probably better than him isn't ready yet either so he will win by default. He can run, maybe he can steal bases, but chances are, most scouts believe, his peek is a decent utility guy.

Rob Neyer pipes in, nothing too new, but its hard to disagree: White Sox's center-field options unattractive Friday, March 27, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry Are the White Sox really interested in Melky Cabrera? According to Ozzie Guillen (via Mark Gonzales), they are not: PHOENIX - Manager Ozzie Guillen reiterated his faith in the candidates for the White Sox's leadoff and center field positions and tempered any trade speculation. "No, we're not going (outside the organization)," Guillen said. "I don't want that to happen. I don't like that to happen. If we have to go outside the organization right now, gosh, I'm not going to say we're in trouble. But as a ballclub, we have enough guys here to resolve that problem." Dewayne Wise went 1 for 4 with a double in a 3-1 loss to Arizona but was nailed trying to stretch the hit into a triple in the bottom of the first inning. As Tim Dierkes notes, the in-house options are Wise, Jerry Owens, and Brian Anderson. With all due respect, Jerry Owens simply isn't good enough to play. He's got more than 400 plate appearances in the majors -- and by the way, why? -- and his career stats include a .321 on-base percentage and a .312 slugging percentage. OK, small sample size … but Owens is 28, and in three years and nearly 1,200 plate appearances in Triple-A, he hasn't done appreciably better. He's hung around for a while because he's fast, but you can't steal first base. Owens doesn't belong in this conversation. Brian Anderson is a horse of a different stripe. He's got more MLB service than Owens and his numbers are just as heinous -- thank you, .277 OBP -- but he's two years younger and does have a solid minor league track record. Well, maybe not solid. But it's a track record suggesting he can play better in the majors than he has. And then there's Dewayne Wise. Owens' career OBP is .321. Not good. Anderson's career OBP is .277. Really not good. Wise's career OBP is .254. In 504 plate appearances. His career OBP in the minors is .310. He's 31. When Ozzie Guillen says the White Sox "have enough guys here to resolve that problem," I'm not sure what he means. You can bring in all the fast guys in the world who can't get on base, and you still won't have a legitimate center fielder. Let alone a legitimate center fielder who can bat leadoff and score 100 runs. I don't know that Melky Cabrera's the answer. He's been a bit OBP-challenged, too. What's more, every would-be contender's got a weakness somewhere. Brett Gardner's playing center field for the Yankees. Julio Lugo supposedly is playing shortstop for the Red Sox. The Indians are relying on Carl Pavano. But it's just irresponsible for a contender to enter spring training without a reasonably viable option at a particular position, particularly a key spot like center field. Yet that's exactly what the White Sox have done. And now, just more than week before Opening Day, they're still doing it.

77 wins tops with BA, Wise and or Owens as the primary lead off guys. I still think KW is going to make a trade. How lucky were the Sox that Owens got hurt last spring? If he didn't and played instead of Quentin, it probably would have cost them at least one win before they figured out Quentin was a far better player. That would have knocked them out of the playoffs and taken away 3 gates, and if you believe every dollar coming in goes out, probably cost them some payroll this year.