Dick Allen

Greg Maddux won 133 games for the Cubs, which is 11 more than Mark Buerhle has won for the White Sox, and a Cy Young. He's also a first ballot HOFer. The Cubs are totally justified retiring his number. The question to me would be why it even was available to him in the first place?

Someone's in dire need of an intervention, but you have to love his enthusiasm.

Gammons says the rumor is Boras wants $50 million for him and will send him to Japan if he doesn't get it. The draft must be slotted.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Mar 21, 2009 -> 05:51 PM) Accuracy, maybe. Arm strength, no. He has made some strong throws, but a lot of the time, he's hunting rattlesnakes. He holds on to it too long most likely. He also isn't very accurate. He had 2 today where just a halfway decent throw nails the runner, and they both were in very easily. He can hit, no doubt about it, but his defense is definitely a minus. Its not Ron Kittle bad yet, hopefully he can improve, but just the little I've seen of him this spring, he looks no different to weaker defensively compared to 2008.

I don't know why everyone wants to move Quentin to RF. Dye is stuck in mud, but he's a superior defensive player to Quentin.

Looks like Fields could use more time with Cora. 1 error and 1 s/b error.

If you are only going to have low OBP guys at the top of the order, the Sox might as well have Quentin lead off. Batting 3rd with no one on is a waste. Let him leadoff and try to get something started in the first.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 01:35 PM) If BA or Fields only leads off against LHSP, would that be so bad? I dont' think so. With Owens or Wise leading off against righties? Easily the worst leadoff combo in the major leagues. Maybe in the history of the major leagues. I will say this, maybe leading off would help BA or Fields a little. Make them cut down their swing a bit. I just don't see their OBP's rising through the roof.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 12:56 PM) Let's not panic people. It ain't that bad I disagree. BA is leading off today. The White Sox lead off man might not have a .300 OBP this year.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 10:41 AM) Tony Gywnn JR is starting for the Brewers today. Means he's off the table. How about Chris Duffy?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 12:18 PM) I was actually thinking Lofton. Lofton would have been a much better option last year than Griffey, and would have cost less. He's either 40 or 41 and hasn't played in 18 months. I think its a longshot he can be very effective and stay healthy, although I'm sure he is still an upgrade over Owens and Wise.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 12:12 PM) Could it be a precursor to a three-way trade somehow? If it's not a three-way trade, I wonder what CF or leadoff-type guys we could possibly get from the Brewers? Gwynn Jr??? Gwynn Jr. is no better than Owens or Wise unfortunately. He is also out of options. He has a nice name, but he doesn't have much game.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) Wise is aWeSoMe! Here's a big difference between me and the rest of the board: The board reads ozzie saying he's considering fields or BA leading off and they go apes*** saying how dumb he is. I get excited because it means he's not deadset on starting Wise or Owens as leadoff. But I'd bet ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS that our starting 2b leads off. I think the reason people would be upset is not because he is now not insistent on one of the other 2 leading off, but he comes up with even worse scenerios, making one wish he would have stuck with Wise or Owens.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 11:37 AM) Gregor in the daily herald seems to think KW is close to making a deal for a CF with leadoff capabilities. If its true, and Gregor has never struck me as a guy who breaks stories,it almost has to be the return of Pods.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 20, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) I don't know. Fields may not the WORST choice in the world, He's in the conversation.

If these 2 are even a remote consideration and not just BS, Why in the world did KW not go after Crisp or Hudson?

If he was traded, its probably for a minor leaguer, maybe someone with the potential of leading off someday.

I'm starting to wonder if KW is thinking about trying to bring back Pods to leadoff and play CF.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 19, 2009 -> 02:47 PM) Ozzie already said he's now considering Getz for leadoff. Maybe he should try it in a game. Not that it really means anything. But get him prepared. Owens and Wise are not good, even if they hit .800 the rest of the spring. The only other problem with Getz as a leadoff hitter is what to do with Beckham when he's ready in a couple of months. Maybe moving Ramirez to CF would be the answer.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Mar 19, 2009 -> 12:32 PM) Other than J-O in CF I think he has the leg up on Wise. Its really a shame that the White Sox are actually thinking about Owens and Wise leading off, leading the offense. It won't last long, that's for sure. The team sees something in Owens I don't think anyone else does, and the fact he's out of options says to me they don't want to risk losing him. If he must play, at least bat him 9th.

Except for the pitcher and Thome DHing, that looks like it probably is the opening day line-up.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Mar 18, 2009 -> 08:23 PM) Not for quite some time. Here is the problem with this venture. Even though it sounds like a "unique" idea, they don't hold any piece of the market that is untouched. This is strictly internet radio. ESPN and The Score are both streaming online at all times. Obviously, you can't get the internet station in your car, so they already behind the ball. On top of it, the programming lineup isn't going to scare either station. Chet and Boom appeal to the 55 and over crowd. How many 55 year olds are going to stream internet radio every day? While Hood is a good guy and has talent, he couldn't make it on either station in town. I don't know why anyone should expect him being able to steal listeners from the two big boys. It just isn't going to work. Supposedly, their website will be leap years ahead of anyone else's, which is fine as long as you aren't driving. I think if they could keep their advertising mostly to their website and keep minimal commercials on the broadcasts, they would have a chance. People listening, at least where I live, if at home, would much rather listen to a web based transmission than AM which comes in horribley. Also, I'm not sure of this, but isn't the Scores website broadcast delayed a bit? I'm not a fan of the Score, I think most of their "talent" doesn't have much, and the commercials are ridiculous, plus I am probably one of the few who really enjoy Coppock. His show when it was on nightly on WMAQ AM with Dan McNeil as his go-fer was the best sports radio talk show ever.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 18, 2009 -> 03:09 PM) I was under the impression Hood did not like North. Guess I was wrong. Supposedly North's partner is the money guy in this venture, and is throwing good money at these guys. I don't know if he likes North or not, but money talks, and although it may not work at the present time, this venture is pretty interesting. Kind of like the White Sox with their original PPV. They were just ahead of their time, which could happen with this as cars getting this programming seems to be a ways away. Eventually, there will be a ton of internet based stations.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 18, 2009 -> 03:41 PM) Looking at their numbers in the minors, both Lucy and Armstrong do very well at throwing runners out. I'm not sure the sample size in spring is enough to take anything from it, for either. I don't know Stewart's numbers. Sox catchers have zero chance when Floyd and Contreras are pitching.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 18, 2009 -> 03:10 PM) Good start for Dweezy. His 6th K of the spring puts his BB/K at 0/6 and his OBP at .290. Yet he's having a "great spring" and going to lead off with bad defense in CF. I'm hoping the Sox are just kidding. KW has to have something up his sleeve.