Dick Allen

Javy does his best work when his team is comfortably behind in the standings.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 11:00 AM) From what Mully and Hanley made it sound like, Contreras yelled at Ozzie in a meeting and then stormed out of the room after the Ozuna decision was announced, and then refused to talk with Ozzie during the game. I doubt that is true. I also think Ozzie's "f*** Contreras" quote was taken way out of context. If you read the entire quote he's pretty much saying forget how upset about this Contreras is, its bothering me even more. I really think this is so blown out of proportion its sickening, and I usually don't defend Ozzie's mouth.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 10:44 AM) Yes, I know. However, what's off the field needs to stay off the field. Don't bring that baggage with you to the mound. OC didn't let his phone call to the official scorer screw him up. Hell, he's done much better since then. How do you know it affected Contreras' performance? He was upset a friend is gone. So what. Have you ever had a good friend move away? Even if you know its coming, the day it happens kind of sucks.

This is much to do about nothing. They won. Contreras will be fine. The rest of Pablo's friends will be fine. Pablo will be fine. The sun will continue to rise.

Considering Crede's back has hurt for the last 5 or 6 years, I really doubt it has anything to do with the accumulation of errors this season.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 11:40 AM) I understand what you're saying here, but your premise is almost as if there are no more players available to draft. As if they can't just draft another player next season that they will control for 6 years. Certainly LaPorta is well-regarded and more of a certainty at this stage in his career than the player they will draft next June with their first compensation pick, the difference is not that far off. I think Cleveland actually should have gotten more. Its hard to say what other teams would have been offering. Draft picks cost a lot of money for a lot of speculation and projection. Getting minor leaguers who have already been paid and have shown an ability to be good is a lot better than a couple of picks IMO. Plus they shed the $5 or $6 million they were to pay CC for the rest of this year, so they wind up with probably $10 million saved considering Sabathia's salary and signing bonuses and better young players than they would have had with the draft picks. I think its a good deal for Cleveland.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 04:19 AM) He's probably looking for 7 to 8 years, and giving any pitcher that is generally a pretty poor investment. Add to it that the Sox rotation is already among the best in the majors, and I wouldn't even call his agent. I think Zito and in a smaller way, Santana, will make it nearly impossible for CC to get 7 or 8 years.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 01:32 AM) FWIW, the Brewers traded 4 prospects for Sabathia and 2 prospects to be named come next June. Still not a bad deal all around. Milwaukee is going for it. It gets an ace for the rest of the season. Cleveland loses CC but its not going anywhere anyway, loses 2 draft picks, but gains already established minor leaguers who have already been paid their bonuses. With CC's salary and the bonus money they would have to pay, they probably save themselves $10 million and are better off next year.

Bobby Jenks is loving life. Arb-eligible and closers getting 8 figures bodes well for his wealth.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 07:47 PM) just a little update, so far tonight Konerko is 1-2 with a walk. His hit was an RBI double. I hope the time off did his hand well. It would really be a nice addition if Paulie could regain his old stroke. I have a feeling the team is going to have to score more runs to win after the ASB. I can't see the pitching keeping up the current pace.

Hawk is getting nauseating crying about an umpire's correct call. Get off it Hawk. 80% of the non-Yaz, Catfish, Frank Howard, Sam McDowell talk is crying about the umpires.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 04:28 PM) Buehrle's only 8-9 because Uribe was starting in most of those losses. I'm joking. And I realize the bench must play occasionally, but in Uribe's case we need to put strong emphasis on occasionally. Considering he's had only 25 AB since May 15, I would say he only plays occassionally. I wonder who this board will blame when the Sox lose when Uribe is gone. I imagine it will be Thome's fault. Just think, if Uribe and Thome are gone, the Sox should probably go undefeated.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) Much smaller sample size than the one he showed earlier, and frankly, Mark didn't pitch that well for the first 2 months of the season now did he? Its half the size. He's a pitcher who has more to do with the outcome of a game,probably at least twice as much, than a 2b batting 9th. It was a comment made in jest just to show how ridiculous the comment I was responding to was. If you really think Uribe is the reason the Sox are 17-22 when he plays and would be 5 or 10 games better if Ramirez or Ozuna played instead,.....wow.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) We are 17-22 in games which Uribe has started. Since we win almost 70% of games he has not started in, I do not want to see much more of him They are also only 8-9 when Mark Buerhle starts. Maybe they should yank him from the rotation. The bench must play occassionally

QUOTE (shipps @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 01:34 PM) But it doesnt take that much to prove your health.It takes a game or two especially when it wasnt a major injury.cmon guys. He had an injury to a leg that had him out 3 weeks and he's hardly played since being activated. He's played 2 games in a row. Its not like he's eating everyone's playing time. He's also not the reason the Sox lost the last 2 either.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 5, 2008 -> 02:02 PM) I was relatively curious about that as well, was surprised he was in Winston Salem. Only thing I could think of is that they wanted him to get some confidence before coming back to Charlotte. Although, I do know that he isn't the first Sox minor leaguer to rehab at a lower level, although it is much more typical with pitchers coming back from injuries. The only thing I can think of is roster space.

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.