Dick Allen

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2009 -> 03:18 PM) Like I said, you can call it whatever you want. Anymore nits to pick? That would require doing some of your own work though, instead of just picking apart what others say. Sorry to point out an error in your "research". I'll go to timeout for 15 minutes.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2009 -> 03:09 PM) Feel free to do your own research and make your own post anytime. I know I won't be holding my breath. If KW "raised" the payroll $3-4 million, you certainly wouldn't be calling it the "same". Your last sentence is really uncalled for.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2009 -> 02:47 PM) If you did the research you would see they are sitting at about $60 million after being at $57 million last year. If you want to call that higher, that's fine with me. $2-3 million is hardly worth mentioning IMO. Their owner also said there is room to add, so I have it right now at $61 million. Its about 7% higher + they may add Crede or someone else. I'm sure if your boss told you that your would be getting an additional 7% added to your paycheck, you would call it a raise.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Feb 16, 2009 -> 02:20 PM) But teams like the Royals and Rays couldn't go much lower. And the Padres were being sold by an owner going through a divorce, so that explains that. But other than that, it is really amazing. I think what would be even more interesting to see is how much higher/lower these teams are going? For instance, are the teams that are cutting decreasing at a significantly higher rate than the adding teams are increasing? Either way, the economy is going to affect all sports for years to come...and if there was ever a time for the owners to push for a salary cap in baseball, now would be the time. Minnesota's remaining the same seems impossible to me. Nathan got an extension. Mourneau and Mauer had to get raises, and they pretty much are bring the rest of the roster back in tact.

Good thing he's not a Cub. Losing all that weight would mean he was on roids.

QUOTE (Gregory Pratt @ Feb 15, 2009 -> 12:53 PM) yeah, me neither Would it really surprise anyone if Gavin Floyd was back to awful in 2009?

Maybe by the time his contract expires, we all will be glad he's retiring. 3 seasons is a long time for a pitcher.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 04:37 PM) Yeah, but the major benchmark for success in 2009 should not be winning a s***ty division and putting ourselves in a position to win 1 out of 4 playoff games against much stronger AL teams. If they win the division, anything can happen. It would be better if they could win it without going into overtime, so they can set their pitching up, but winning the division should be the goal. A weaker division helps. I don't ever buy a team is built to win a division but not to win playoff series. After winning it all, winning a division and losing in the first round isn't thought of as highly as it once was.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 04:23 PM) You are reading waaaaaaay too deeply into that statement and turning it into a 100% truism. I never said they completely abandoned common sense. It would be really stupid to add payroll to the point where you know you are going to have a loss in total revenues. As I said when you pulled out that tired Fukodome/Hunter arguement before, times have changed. Just because the team was willing to spend money last year, doesn't mean they are now. If the economy was the same as last year, I have no doubt the payroll would be the same, or even higher this year. There are years of history that prove that out, as compared to the anecdotal hypothesis with zero flexibility you are trying to paint this as. Failure to recognize that times have changed is the type of stupidity that turns you into the Phoenix Coyotes. Have you ever disagreed with anything KW has said. 1,000,000 posts, I'd like to see one. You're brainwashed. The fact is since you've used Forbes as a reference before, this is a team, especially with all the money they have coming off the books next year, that can easily take on a lot more money and not be the Phoenix Coyotes. I've never suggested they do that, but what have they done with Forbes estimate of $70 million in profits for those 3 seasons? Don't say put it in the payroll because that $70 million includes the additional payroll. If you have listened to JR and Brooks Boyer, they aren't anticipating this massive loss of revenue you are projecting obviously with KW's "can't spend $1 if you only have $.50" playing in your ears. Season ticket sales, according to Brooks in Craine's, is actually up this year. The White Sox don't play in Detroit. Last year they were coming off a 90 loss season and had no problem making payroll. They have a better beginning point this year and will have just as much money to play with, if not more. I'm hoping KW's crying poor is a smokescreen and will add players when teams can't make payroll during the season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) So you don't think it is reasonable for them to cut costs in the worst economy in recent history? If I am drunk on Kool-aid, you need to be putting down the Hateorade. OK Stacey King. You just said they raise payroll by the margin of money they make the previous season, even though Forbes says they make a profit even after raising and paying payroll, $70 million combined for seasons 2005,2006,2007. I pointed out that BEFORE this crisis hit, they wanted Hunter or Fukudome and were willing to spend at least $50 million to get them. They didn't, and although JR is saying even with this economy attendance shouldn't be too affected and the raising of ticket prices which will more than cover the loss of 2 sponsors even if they are not replaced, which isn't happening, they will cut payroll. So, being zero sum as you say, they must have lost money last year, even with 3 extra home games and would have really been stuck this year had Hunter or Fukudome signed because contracts like those or Dye's, or Konerko's or Thome's aren't moving anywhere unless you pick up similar money.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) Its a myth in the narrowed sense of the term. In reality the payroll fluxuations pretty much match the profits from year over year. So they lost money last year, even with a couple of extra dates, and they really didn't want to sign Hunter or Fukudome. C'mon, you're not that drunk on the Kool-Aid. For the record, I have no problem with their payroll, I do have problems with raising ticket prices and lowering payroll, but there are some things that if you really think about it, are difficult to buy.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) I haven't heard anyone say it won't affect the bottom line. Do you have a link or something? With a zero sum operation, I am assuming that the money has to come from somewhere until proven otherwise. The zero sum operation is a myth. It is virtually imposssible to break exactly even every year. The $5 million will affect it, but they will make money of this in the long run, and they have been planning this for a few years, so chances are the money was most likely budgeted for years. JR's real edict is to not operate in the red. He doesn't care if he doesn't make anything, but just don't lose anything. That usually results in a profit, unless Forbes is way off. 2005-2007 seasons, they supposedly made a total of $70 million in profit, AFTER meeting their heightened payroll.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 03:23 PM) 1 - In 2006 we were coming off a 72-90 season. In 2007, we're coming off a 89-74 season. 2 - In ST last year, it looked for a minute like both BA and JO would be starting in our OF. That won't be happening this season. 3 - John Danks and Gavin Floyd took big steps upwards, and entering 2008 they were big question marks. Danks has put on 15 extra pounds of muscle, and I'm probably more worried about Gavin out of the 2. Still they should put up ERA's around 4 I'm thinking. 4 - We know that we have a stud player in CQ now. When healthy, he's proven over his minor and major league career that he can produce. That's the key for him, to stay healthy. 5 - Entering 2008, I thought Javier Vazquez was our best pitcher, and we were going with 2 unproven young guys in Danks and Floyd. That's not the case this season. 6 - Our bullpen looks to be a plus again, entering 2008 we didn't know how good it was going to be. Adding Poreda to the mix could give the Sox a serious weapon of the pen also. The team coming into last season didn't appear to have any hope of winning a championship. I personally don't think this team does either, but stranger things have happened.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) Why not? Its $5 million coming out of the teams budget. Where else would it come from? To begin with, there will be some accounting taking place that will make this expense a lot less than $5 million in actual cost. Do you think they don't separate expenses? Do you think if they hire another guy to print tickets at the box office, it will be that much less for player salaries? There are different budgets for different departments. While in theory, that would still mean there is less money to give to the salary budget, this is an expense that can be made up over time. Obviously, there is something that makes it worth it to them to pay the $5 million, and its not going to be at the expense of their baseball team. I am willing to bet if you asked KW and JR about it, they will tell you it has no effect. Spring training expenses will be cut down as well as revenues rising. Forbes says they make as much profit as any team in baseball, and there's really no reason not to believe them, if you believe all of their other numbers.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 02:37 PM) Well for starters I'm a lot more confident in this team right now than I was this time last season. That should tell you something about the moves KW has made. Here's the problem I have, the White Sox made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth last year. Will Quentin and Ramirez be able to maintain their performance levels or improve them? Can you reasonably ask Gavin Floyd to be as good or better than he was last year? Can you do the same with Danks? Can Colon hold up? Clayton Richard and/or Jeff Marquez better be a lot better than they were last year. Is Linebrink going to be the guy he was before his injury or the guy who should be pitching for Home Run Derby after he came back? Will Fields, Lillibridge and/or Owens perform better in the major leagues in 2009 than they did in the minor leagues in 2008? Will Dye, Thome, Konerko and Pierzynski be able to hold off father time one more season? Can you reasonably suspect Detroit to be the total trainwreck they were last year? Can you expect Cleveland to be as bad as they were in the first half last year? One or two no answers to the previous questions spell no playoffs IMO.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 02:21 PM) So that is about a 10% decline, which isn't too far off of what the Sox have cut off of their payroll from last year to this, once extra costs such as the spring training buyout are included. Spring Training buyout should in no way effect 2009 payroll. If it means the White Sox can't add an Orlando Hudson, I'm sure White Sox fans everywhere would say they should just ride out their obligation to Tucson. They will be making more money in Phoenix.

If he suspends ARod, he must suspend every player who tested postive during that confidential test. Just because his name was leaked doesn't mean he should be subject to more penalties.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 01:09 PM) Reinsdorf said he doesn't really expect attendance to drop much because families might be canceling more expensive things like vacations but adding less expensive things for entertainment like a trip to the ball park. He also said the payroll isn't attendance driven as much as it used to be and corporate sponsorship , which will be less this year, pays for much of the salaries in baseball now. The Sox lost 2 sponsors. Pontiac and Motorola. In Crains, Brooks said if Motorola continued with their sponsorship 10 people at their company would lose their jobs. Let's just say with benefits and salary, that's $200k a year per employee X 10=$2 million. I have no idea what Pontiac paid, but the White Sox will get some sort of replacement, even if it is less financially. If the Sox draw 2.2 million and increased ticket prices $2.50 a ticket, that's an additional $5.5 million. If the difference between what Pontiac paid and what the new sponsor will pay is $3.5 million (probably much less) its a wash.

QUOTE (heirdog @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 12:02 PM) .263 and 23 HRs in 100 games in '07 .244

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 12:15 PM) Noah, Thabo, and PJ Brown's contract is still quite a bit more than what the Lakers gave up for him IMO. The Grizzlies' owner said the reason the Bulls didn't get Gasol was because they didn't want to get above the luxury tax threshold. Apparently with the Bulls, JR doesn't have the "break even" mentality he alledgedly operates the White Sox with. They print money at the UC. If the Bulls did get Gasol last year, they probably would have made the playoffs, and been immediately eliminated. Derek Rose would be on another team, so it worked out.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) Tyrus is not the player he has showed the last few games, but he has helped his value, which is nice. D Rose is the key to everything and if you think that Amare is better than any player you can draft or sign in the next few years, then trade the whole f***ing team for him. As long as you have Rose+Amare you are prob a playoff team anyway, or at least very close. The Suns have Nash, Amare, Shaq and a few others and right now they aren't a playoff team. The danger of the NBA is to be the perrenial 5th-8th seed. It becomes almost impossible to get better through the draft and usually you get very tight with cap space. The good thing is Rose is only going to get better. The Suns owner is also apparently making calls to trade Amare as well. I guess he's pretty desperate to shed payroll. I don't think Paxson would hesitate if he could get him for Tabo, Gooden, Simmons and Tyrus.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 10:51 AM) Well, we could replace it with "Pau Gasol" or "Kevin Garnett", there have been too many no brainer trades that the Bulls didnt jump on in the past couple years. Any time a trade doesnt happen, GMs always insist it was just speculation, but where there is smoke, there is fire Gasol would have gone to the Bulls, but the Bulls didn't want to go over the luxury tax. That's JR's decision, not Paxson. The Bulls didn't have the match-up for Garnett. Al Jefferson is a little more highly regarded than anything Paxson could have put together.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 04:32 PM) I don't get what the basis of the suit is. She doesn't state that she felt forced into sex, or that she was raped, or that she has HIV. In fact, despite her claim that she's has many sexual encounters with Alomar while he had HIV, she never contracted it herself. The only issue is whether "AIDS-phobia" is an actual emotion disorder (I've never heard of it). Even if he was grossly negligent, she did not suffer any actual harm. I may be totally wrong about this, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I think the basis is he had unprotected sex with her while knowing he had AIDS. Reading the lawsuit, if he has AIDS, it appears, according to her, they found out about it at the same time. I'm telling you this is a money grab. They probably are threatening him with releasing more personal info, and would settle for much less than $15 million. She's a single mother who is used to living a very high lifestyle what with her huge home and Escalade, probably both purchased by Alomar. She runs a massage business and probably fears her lifestyle being knocked down a couple of pegs. She'll probably get something out of this just to keep skeletons out of public.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 04:33 PM) something doesn't really seem right...they had unprotected sex from 2002-2006 and she didn't contract HIV? either way this whole story is rather disturbing and unfortunate....alot of this is private stuff, especially the fact that he was raped, and really shouldn't be made public. the smokinggun is a cool website sometimes, but sometimes they really should respect the private lives of people The lawsuit would be public record. They just made it more accessible.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 03:35 PM) Adam Dunn Nick Johnson Josh Willingham Austin Kearns Elijah Dukes Lastings Milledge Willie Harris Dmitri Young Wily Mo Pena all 9 of them get to battle for 4 spots. Kearns and Young are almost certainly out, and Harris will probably move back to his 4th OF/super utility role. That still leaves 6 guys for 4 spots. I can't wait to see how this shakes out. Dunn is going to play everyday. There's no question about that.