Dick Allen

Everyone wants Paulie to sit, so he probably will have a huge series. Remember when Ozzie was an idiot to have Thome bat against Sabathia?

QUOTE (WCSox @ May 15, 2008 -> 09:36 AM) I thought that some other ML team had signed him, but cut him in their minor-league system. Maybe I'm wrong about that. Whatever the case, it was the best thing that Schueler ever did. He tried out for the Astros and they passed. He had a tryout with the White Sox and the scout that was working him out showed up 4 or 5 hours late, but Maggs waited at the field for him. They signed him, he struggled initially, and was exposed to the rule 5 draft, but eventually became a very rich man.

I guess Contreras isn't washed up after all.

What I don't understand is the Walker bashers refusing to bash any other coach. Why is it the coach's fault when a player strikeouts out, but not the coach's fault when a player misses a cutoff man for the upteenth time? How many times is Swisher going to air mail the infield allowing runners to advance before he or a coach is held accountable?

Actually, Owens wouldn't be bad in Ramirez' spot. No ABs. Just let him pinch run.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 13, 2008 -> 10:15 PM) I'm on the Dewayne Wise for Ramirez bandwagon. I fail to see how having Ramirez watch game after game is doing anyone any good. They need him to play. I can't understand why he's not in Charlotte.

Jerry Owens down to .228 in Charlotte. Its a blessing.

From whitesox.com. I'm kind of surprised. 05/13/2008 4:28 PM ET White Sox welcome Carlton Fisk back to organization Team will pay tribute to Hall of Famer on "Welcome Back Carlton Fisk Night," May 22 CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox will welcome back Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk to the White Sox organization on Thursday, May 22 at U.S. Cellular Field during "Welcome Back Carlton Fisk Night." Fisk has agreed to become a team ambassador and member the White Sox Speakers Bureau, which includes former White Sox stars Minnie Minoso, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton and Bill "Moose" Skowron, and will make appearances on behalf of the organization. The former White Sox catcher (1981-1993) will be welcomed back by the team and fans during pregame festivities that will feature a special video tribute and visits from other former White Sox players. "It truly is a special feeling to be back with the White Sox organization," said Fisk. "I am thrilled about having the opportunity to represent the team and visit with fans who are second to none in baseball. The reunion also will give me the chance to be around so many of my former teammates who are still with the organization." During his 13 seasons on the South Side, Fisk played in 1,421 games for the White Sox and batted .257 with 214 home runs and 762 RBI. He still ranks among the team's career leaders in games played, extra-base hits, home runs, RBI and total bases. "Carlton Fisk is one of the greatest players in our franchise's long history," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. "Pudge left a lasting impression among a generation of White Sox fans, and we are pleased to welcome him back for this special night." Fisk was an 11-time American League All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, 1972 AL Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove winner. Fisk holds the major-league record for games caught (2,226) and ranks second in home runs by a catcher (351). The White Sox retired his uniform No. 72 in 1997 and unveiled a sculpture in his honor during the 2005 season. White Sox general manager Ken Williams, manager Ozzie Guillen, bench coach Joey Cora, first base coach Harold Baines and hitting coach Greg Walker all were teammates of Fisk's during his playing career. Tickets for the game vs. Cleveland on Thursday, May 22 at 7:11 p.m. are available by calling 1-866-SOX-GAME or visiting whitesox.com.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 13, 2008 -> 04:27 PM) Garland wouldnt be worth s*** if it wasnt for Ozzie, he may have been stuck in minor league ball. False.

Wassermann is a minor leaguer. Buerhle needs to be pinpoint and for most of his career has been. This year he's off a little and becomes extremely hittable when he's not locating. The defense has not been good behind him, but if you are getting $56 million, pitching over it should be expected. He'll get his control back and be good again.

I know the defense has been horrible tonight, but the next time Buerhle pitches over an error will probably be the first time in a long time. BTW, Wassermann really isn't a major leaguer.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 12, 2008 -> 01:26 PM) I think Thome is cheating most of the time on fastballs because he can't catch up. Unfortunately that means when gets those hard breaking balls he has no chance. This is a better team with Dye batting 3rd. I think Thome swings and misses a lot. I also think when he's going bad, he swings and misses even more. He's going bad. Given him a week or 2 and he will be on fire again.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 11, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) They probably win today if Dye is playing. That's not an indictment on Ozzie because he has to rest, but more on Thome for being useless in big situations. I'm a couple weeks away from hopping on Thome's retirement bandwagon. He'll probably hit 5 or 6 homers in the next 2 weeks. He's as streaky as they come. I think Wassermann gets until the end of this road trip to get people out. Obviously his performance didn't have an effect on today's outcome, but he hasn't been very good. If he has another bad outing or 2, it probably will be time to insert Broadway into the bullpen.

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ May 9, 2008 -> 03:43 PM) I'm going with an off year is my guess. A lot of players, especially young ones will have a year that you kind of just scratch your head at. I think this will be Howard's year to just not put up huge numbers. Predicted finish .242 with 28 hrs. He's really not all that young.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 9, 2008 -> 02:45 PM) Per Rotoworld He's been horrendous. It's funny how the entire baseball universe could tell Edmonds was done, yet someone who makes a decent salary decided to trade for him and take on over $6 million. Edmonds had a decent career, I'd think he might be done. Decent career though, won a World Series, and at one point was regarded as one of the better homerun hitters and fielders in baseball. KW lucked out again. He tried trading for him, but Edmonds wouldn't waive his no trade.

Ramirez leading off, and I thought the Sox would have to have the team plane go down to get someone anywhere near Andy Gonzalez leading off again.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 6, 2008 -> 10:01 PM) Don't forget that this umpire had a very small zone, which made the outing even more special. He wasn't throwing all that hard. The board at the game had him 90-91. He wasn't striking many out. I'm not a big believer in him, but he was great tonight. They didn't hit many solid. I hope he can keep it up.

I hope its a lot more civilized than the White Sox clubhouse.

The Oliver Hardy look-alike is being replaced by Neil Funk who moves from radio. Wayne Larivee has also called his last Bulls game. The Swirsk, Chuck Swirsky returns to town to handle radio PBP.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 6, 2008 -> 12:32 PM) For the players entire careers reporters in the locker room have been a part of their lives. Right or wrong. Where do we draw the line? Are you serious? Certainly you have a concept of acceptable and unacceptable behavior that will be reported to your fan base? You have got to be smart enough to know that this is not the image that the White Sox or MLB wants to portray. Because you don't know where to draw the line, are you saying there should not be a line? Imagine if the Sox no longer where on ESPN because the team barred the reporters from reporting THE TRUTH. Great PR. Most players are assholes. What the White Sox did with those dolls and bats was wrong. What was your reaction when Ozzie called Marriotti a f**? If you did that in an office, there's a good chance you're headed out the door or at the very least to the HR dept.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 6, 2008 -> 12:10 PM) There are separate changing areas. The press is not allowed in when the guys are naked. These guys are protected because they keep acts like this away from the office and work. That's the point. Have you been in the clubhouse? They get dressed at their stalls. The press is right there. Its even smaller in most road clubhouses.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 6, 2008 -> 11:56 AM) I agree. For most players the press is an unwelcome part of the job. But it is a big part of the job. And almost every job has it's not so much fun part. But to cash those checks they know it comes with the territory. And if you do it very well, they reap some big benefits. By most accounts Michael Jordan was no choir boy. But he carefully guarded his image. He was engaging with the press, always acted like a pro in and around the court. And years after his retirement he still does more commercials than any active player. The guys get it. They understand it. Better then most fans. Michael Jordan was protected by the press. Roger Clemens was protected by the press. These guys got away with a lot of crap. There's plenty that goes on that doesn't get reported. Plenty that would make anyone on this board blush. While I don't agree with what went on in the clubhouse, I think it was very irresponsible of a few members of the press to report it. This is a room where men get dressed . What's next, are they going to start reporting on the size of each player's crank?

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 6, 2008 -> 10:04 AM) Yes, this is a locker room, it is also the area that the EMPLOYER has opened up and wants visitors to come in and report on what they see. The EMPLOYER hopes to parlay that publicity into more profits for them. They use those profits to pay the employees millions of dollars. The image the team portrays, whether accurate or not, also increases or decreases the profits for the team. Players understand this and some perform better in that role (Thome, Payton) then others (Bonds, Thomas) Perhaps this publicity will increase the fan base with people who think blow up dolls are great entertainment. That will really improve the image of Sox fans everywhere. It is a MLB policy to open the locker room to the press, and its only for a certain amount of time. If JR and every White Sox player and employee had their choice, a member of the press would never be in the clubhouse.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 6, 2008 -> 09:14 AM) What business doesn't want all the free publicity they receive from the media??? The Sox will not be covered today because they blocked access to the media because they reported truthfully about what was going on in the clubhouse? Brilliant PR move. There are some things that should not be reported in the media. You really think the White Sox love the publicity of this particular event? I'm not saying the media shouldn't be in the clubhouse, I'm saying there should be a line drawn on what they can and cannot report. In fact when Ozzie called Marriotti that name, the reports were that he used it all the time, but the media "protected" him. What was the fallout from that?

What happens in the clubhouse should stay in the clubhouse other than quotes media members get from players. Anything else, if they report it, they should lose their access IMO. There is no need for this stuff to be all over the papers. Like the post above stated, they try to present a family atmosphere at the ballpark and kids do look up to these guys, but that doesn't mean that crazy stuff just shouldn't happen. It should be off the record.