Dick Allen

I understand major league players getting rehab assignments in the minors, but why wouldn't Fields just play for the Knights?

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 09:15 AM) Agree. Every team has all the video they need at this point. If the Dodgers or Orioles want to see him play live, I'm sure they've already got all the reports in at this point. There's really no mystery left with Juan. Guus are constantly scouted, and I do agree, teams have probably already figured what they are getting if they get Uribe. The problem is Uribe was hurt. Since he has come back, he's made very few starts. Teams need to see him play in order to determine if he is healthy. They don't want to trade for him and a day later put him on the DL.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 06:39 AM) During that 3 for 18, he also has only struck out 1 time, he's homered once, he's had a sac bunt, a sac fly, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. As a 9 hitter, that is perfectly fine during a player's cold spells. Alexei is also 10 for his last 33 (.303), 5 RBI, 4 runs scored, 2 homers, 2 doubles, those two sac hits, and 5 strikeouts. That's good for an .845 OPS. oh, and FWIW, Uribe was 6 for 22 going into tonight's game...2 doubles, no sac hits anywhere to be seen, 3 runs, 2 RBI, and 5 strikeouts. That's good for a .637 OPS. And Uribe, even though he had a DL stint, hasn't drawn a walk in almost 2 months. That would be 0 walks in 32 plate appearances. and, since you can cherry pick stats, Uribe is 7 for his last 32, 0 walks, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 5 runs, 8 K's, and he grounded into a double play in the meantime too. .500 OPS during that time period. Yeah, real good option there, let's try and run out the player who hasn't been an average major league hitter since 2004 who might accidentally run into a fastball and send it into the stands regardless of the number of runners on base...for a first place team. You seem to be arguing not that Uribe should have been in the lineup but that Alexei wouldn't have made a difference...why wouldn't you put your best team on the field when, quite clearly, Alexei Ramirez is a far superior option to Juan Uribe at this point in time? Argue that Uribe needed playing time atleast, not that Alexei would have made no difference. thxmch, +1 my problem isn't so much that Uribe is getting playing time - I'd much prefer Uribe on the roster than Ozuna - but rather that he is used in the right spots. However, barring injury, he should never get two days in a row in the starting lineup ever. He's not going to get in a groove anyways, so why would you even try? If you watched the game, Uribe had a sac. bunt. The argument is, the bench players have to play every now and again. Ramirez has struggled at the plate recently regardless of his game tying homer, which BTW wasn't exactly kilt as Hawk likes to say, but I realize it isn't baskeball they count the same whether it goes 1 foot over the wall or 150 feet over the wall. It was a good time to rest him again. It gets Uribe some ABs, and ultimately the move didn't cost you anything. The most irritating thing about this thread was that it was started AFTER the game, and people are still b****ing. Why aren't they b****ing about Buerhle stinking up the joint? Obviously Ramirez is the starter, Uribe on the bench, but for as bad as Uribe has been offensively, his OBP is .050 lower. That means he gets on base 1 less time per 20 plate appearances. For 1 game when a guy has struggled a little bit recently, I can't see the problem there. Last time Ramirez was in a little slump, Uribe stepped in, then Ramirez came back and hit well. There is always the possibility that a day off will actually help Ramirez. Ripping Uribe for lack of walks is comical when praising Ramirez. Ramirez hasn't drawn a walk since June 10th and has 6 this year. Uribe has 9 in less ABs. Uribe has gone 35 ABs without a walk. Ramirez has gone 68 ABs without one. My posts aren't Ramirez vs. Uribe per se. I realize Ramirez is the starter, but he is a guy who needs a rest every now and then, and 3-18 is a good time to get him one. There's probably a better chance that he would have been 0fer last night than there was in him leading the Sox to victory.

Ramirez is 3 for his last 18. His OBP is a whopping .309. Someone explain how he would have made up the 6 run difference?

Ramirez is 3 for his last 18. Ozzie always likes to use his bench players a couple games in a row. Its an obvious move.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jul 3, 2008 -> 03:37 PM) That was because it was temporary and on the air. Maybe Hawk has mellowed with age but the behind the scenes issues with Paciorek has always lead me to believe he could not have another strong personality in the booth with him for an extended period of time. And they were a very good pair together. Stone worked with the biggest ego maybe ever for how many years with the Cubs? I think reports of Hawk's ego are very overblown. Hawk always talks about Don Drysdale who had a gigantic ego and drove people nuts with his expense account. Stone and Hawk would be fine. I just hope if it happens DJ stays around.

Thigpen was pretty good prior to 1990 on some very bad teams. He had 34 saves in those seasons. Most years, his 1990 is a lock for the Cy Young. After that, he became average and then worse, but not many White Sox relievers have been able to put up numbers for 4 or 5 years like him. I think Rodriquez will shatter the record. I think the Angels should let him try to get 70 saves and then watch someone sign him to an enormous contract. I think this season will take a toll on him not unlike the 1990 season took one on Thiggy.

Gonzalez wrote Konerko is going to Charlotte tomorrow and will probably be back Monday. Uribe is probably in his final couple days with the Sox. Cabrera probably needs a break, but I do think a team or 2 wants to see Juan at SS before dealing for him.

I've really come to enjoy DJ, but I think teams make a lot more money with television than with radio. If Stone is broadcasting, the "stars" of the booth would be Stone and Hawk. Sucks for DJ. He's now in his ninth season and has done everything asked, but its the way of the world now. If this is true, I hope DJ will consider moving to the radio booth. I think he could flourish if they would let him spread his wings. I think he'd be good as a PBP guy and let Farmer do color. DJ is a classy guy. I feel for him.

If Konerko came back and was healthy with the hand and the oblique, and hit like he normally does, if everyone stays where they are at, it will be a cakewalk to an AL Central title.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 11:27 PM) Seriously Dick, you're being a drama queen here. That contract is not a huge albatross. That contract makes up less than 2% of the team's 08' payroll. As I said earlier, it certainly is not ideal or optimal, but considering where some of our other payroll is going to this year, I don't think it is going to in any way seriously handicap us. I mean, come on Dick, $2 million a year is a really negligible number by baseball standards. Its $3 million next year for a middle reliever who chances are will be in AAA. He'll be out of options, so I guess chances are he'll be in AAA or watching television. Up until Linebrink and Dotel, KW didn't pay $3 million to a reliever. MacDougal is nowhere near that class. I didn't say it was an albatross to the White Sox BTW, although I'm quite positive if some GM called KW and said he would assume the entire contract, KW would do cartwheels. I said it was a huge albatross in trying to move him. Its just another reason besides his performance why he has no value.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 04:44 PM) This thread long-ago left the original topic, why stop now? Honestly, there should be at least a salary floor if there is not going to be a salary cap... The union doesn't want a salary floor because they believe that would be a precursor to a salary cap.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 04:54 PM) Hmm... Javy had a 3.07 ERA last September... a 3.74 season ERA.. and a 3.57 ERA at the Cell And if you look at Javy's career splits, September is his best month with a 3.66 career ERA So what's the concern about his September numbers or his ERA outside of Montreal? Javy has generally been on non contenders. Teams that play against half a line-up of AAA call ups in September. 2004 is the only time he was on a playoff team and his September ERA was over 6.00. In no way do I think Garcia is better now than Vazquez, but Freddy has put up big numbers when it mattered. If he happened to be 100% healthy, there is no way Garcia isn't better than Vazquez. Freddy just will never be that way again IMO, but I'm sure the White Sox are keeping close tabs and I think unless someone offers him good money, he will eventually sign with the Sox.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 04:26 PM) Yeah, I just think you're way off-base here in claiming that Mac's contract is some albatross or something. Certainly it's not optimal to pay a minor league pitcher $2 million per year, but there have been far worse atrocities committed upon payrolls. The difference between $2 million and say, $400k is not as much as you are claiming for a big league team. Its a huge albatross. The guy can't prove he can pitch effectively in AAA, has $1 million left to be paid this year, $2.65 million guaranteed next year with a $350k buyout. So you owe him $4 million right now. Approximately the same amount KW was able to sign Ramirez for 4 seasons. Why would a team give up anything of value and assume that contract taking into account his struggles this year and last and the huge injury risk he will always be? KW barely paid his ENTIRE bullpen $4 million when he was defending a world title.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 04:00 PM) Yeah, see him. He's not doing too badly right now. If Aardsma had MacDougal's contract last winter, Boston wouldn't have traded for him.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 03:57 PM) Have you guys not been watching the crap that teams are picking up in terms of relief arms over the last several years? They'll take anyone who's ever done anything who could possibly do something again. We signed ESTEBAN LOAIZA for the love of god! And Dick, why would we bring him up to the big league team if he's not corrected his problems yet? Simply because he has been a disaster for a year now doesn't mean he won't ever become something again. And while he is making $2 million this season, it's worth more to the club to hold onto him and hope he figures things out again than to DFA him. No one is claiming he's going to be traded for a top prospect; however, he certainly has some value to a team that thinks a change of scenery might serve him well. We all know he would be a guy the Sox would be looking into if he was in another organization having these problems right now... The point I am making is not only is he making $2 million this year, he is making $2 million next year as well. He stunk last year, wasn't good at the major league level this year, and has been horrid in Charlotte. No team is going to give you anything of value for him now. Loaisa was signed to a minimum pro-rated contract. No one would have picked him up if it meant paying him what is left on MacDougal's contract, let alone give up anything of even slight value for that honor. MacDougal has no value. Maybe he will in the future if he can get things straightened out, but to say he has some now is crazy.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 02:42 PM) Jumping in late here, and while his value is not through the roof, MacDougal still has value, and could be a key piece as a throw in a deal. Too many underestimate the value of pitchers with MacDougals stuff. Every team in the league would be willing to take a chance on him. Look at Aardsma, he was as bad, if not worse than MacDougal last year and we did get two borderline decent prospects for him. While we didn't get much for Aardsma, we still got more for him than what we did for Iguchi last year. With the way some people act, you'd think people with MacDougal's stuff grows on trees. They got crap for Aardsma, and MacDougal stinking AAA up would mean they would even less for him. Why would someone want to give up anything of value for a guy doing what he is doing in AAA in order to see if he can help them win in the major leagues right now? If anyone offered KW anything of value for MacDougal, he would be gone by now.. Don't forget, he also is signed through next season for a couple million a year I believe, far more money than Aardsma was getting.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 02:57 PM) two seasons? we acquired him in '06 and he was above average for us, last year the wheels came off for him and Matt Thornton; Matt has been able to put it back together. MacDougal has more ML experience and success than him, like shack said: someone with his arm, past success and contract has some value. Lastly i said June; and i didnt even say tearing it up hes been ok. Yes 2 seasons. 2007 and 2008. He has no value or the White Sox wouldn't be paying him millions to pitch in Charlotte. MacDougal couldn't repeat a delivery to save his life, so he can't throw strikes. He has nice "stuff", but it doesn't matter because of his total lack of control. If he's so good, maybe the White Sox should call him up and start throwing him in the 7th and 8th innings. I doubt you would think that is a good idea. Why would it be for any other team looking to win?

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 1, 2008 -> 01:36 PM) Insurance Troy Percival and Al Reyes are huge injury risks not to mention Reyes fell apart after the ASB last year; add into the equation Wheeler is just one year removed from this line 1.34WHIP & 5.30 ERA, Niemann will be thrown into a bullpen on a first place team with very little experience and Salas is off the PEDs, and you have a recipe for a front office looking for cheap insurance that might catch lightning in the bottle going forward. MacDougal hadn't been horrible down at AAA in June not great by any stretch but not bad either, the rays dont want to deal a top prospect for fuentes. Maybe we could get a Tweener like Fernando Perez for Mac and Uribe and a bit of cash. What kind of insurance is a guy who has shown the last 2 seasons he can't handle the major leagues. Its funny on this board how guys get trashed and most rightfully so, then when it comes time for a trade, the same people trashing these players think they have value. MacDougal has none. If he did, he would be at USCF right now.

With all the "W" flags I've noticed flying around in my neighborhood, I decided to buy an "L" flag. I have it flying proudly right now.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 09:39 PM) I would like to know the specifics on the exact details of Thome's option for next year. I've seen conflicting reports, some saying the Phillies only paid 22 mill over 3 years and some say 22 mill over 4. If it's 4, cutting Thome loose would be a terrible move IMO; if it's only 3, then it's an entirely different story and he should be cut loose, though a big bat should still be brought in regardless. $22 million=$22 million. Whether they paid the White Sox off in 3 or 4 years isn't very significant. In fact, it probably is better if it were only 3. As I understand it, when a team agrees to pick up part of a contract, they just give money to the other team, so its not like Philadelphia is actually paying Thome. Its not like they are sending the Sox money every payday. The White Sox can spend that money on whatever they like. There was no way that option was going to vest. I think if Thome plays decently the last 3 months, he will be back, but it will be a reduced rate.

QUOTE (the People's Champ @ Jun 23, 2008 -> 02:26 PM) The difference is, I have nothing invested in him. I'm not hanging on to the tiny shread of hope that this kid may, MAY, just one day get it. I have the easy job. I can just wash my hands of him because I have nothing to lose. That's the difference, smart guy! But other teams don't have anything invested in him and you are suggesting that they will give up something of value for him. So you must know more than the other teams.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jun 22, 2008 -> 05:55 PM) The hairiest 16 year old in the world... that's not an image I want stuck in my brain BearSox. Sure there are exceptions. But think about it... People you know who are seniors in high school... People you know who are seniors in college... Can you generally tell the difference? It's not just 'look'. Those 4 years (17-21) usually result in some significant and obvious differences that are not hard for people to pick up on. Usually, but not always. One of my best friends was buying alcohol at 14 not ever getting carded. I also know a 44 year old woman who could easily pass for an 18 year old. A 21 year old could easily look 17 or 18, and vice versa.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Jun 22, 2008 -> 10:03 PM) Give the Cubs some credit. Swept us minus Soriano and Zambrano. Long way to go still, but they look good. i'm pretty sure the Cubs have taken 9 out of the last 10 in this series,

Javy Vazquez showed again tonight why he cannot ever be considered a #1 pitcher. The first 8 pitches out of the zone? Ridiculous.