Dick Allen

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:49 PM) I see Cora working with the middle IF guys on positioning, technique, etc. and I see Baines working with the OF guys on similar stuff. (should be clearer, have seen this in Tucson). So it looks like the "hole" as it were, was the baserunning technique and I will go out on a limb here and say they have someone in mind that they like. There is great validity to the issue of your question, why don't the Sox players know all this stuff by the time they hit the majors? Not that players don't need a refresher now and again, but your exact point is why they are looking at all aspects of player development this offseason. Maybe KW should acquire some players who can run the bases. That might be a start. I don't know how anyone is going to make Konerko, AJ, Thome, Dye, Crede anything but basecloggers. Pods and Erstad were always hurt. Owens was better on the bases than advertised. Richar can use some work. Fields and Uribe don't exactly appear like they are speedsters. Most of the White Sox baserunning problems are slow runners and bad instincts. If there is someone who can fix that, they would be worth a lot of money.

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:49 PM) The article does not say that. Yes it does. Click on full story.

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:44 PM) To be accruate... the article states Ozzie will search for the replacements. Not that he had anything to do with the firing or reassignment. I'm reading it differently quote from whitesox.com Whereas Shines, 50, was let go, bullpen coach Art Kusnyer, 61, was reassigned within the organization. Guillen will lead the search for both replacements, having been given control of the staff's hirings and dismissals by general manager Ken Williams.

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:38 PM) Absolutely. Though I've never heard Ozzie call someone a "stupid mf'ing n". So Ozzie personally fired Razor? If the article on whitesox.com is accurate, Ozzie has full control over hiring and firing of the coaching staff.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:36 PM) Not at all. Ozzie never wanted Tracey to see the majors again. Razor asked for Ozzie to reconsider (in a conversation that I have told a few people on here about), and the rest is history. But Shines was hired after the Tracey debacle. Ozzie said in the whitesox.com article that Shines did a good job but they needed someone to teach fundamentals and baserunning. What exactly does Joey Cora do or Baines? Why don't White Sox players know how to do these things before they get called up to Chicago? To me, its really not that huge of a deal there will be a new 3rd base coach, but considering how many guys get away with stealing money, I have a hard time with guys who let go for really no valid reason. It almost appears from the article that Shines was canned because of what the other coaches lack.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:28 PM) Actually I was referring to the two players you mentioned, what was the story there? For the record, I have heard him swear. The guy who fired him was swearing on a radio show, and probably can't complete a sentence without swearing.

First off, I don't think Razor wanting to be a manager has anything to do with this. Cora wants to be a manager. If the Sox have problems with people desiring to better themselves, wow. I can buy the maybe someone they really wanted is available now argument. As far as different skill set, he was in the organization for 6 years, if he didn't have the skill set necessary, you would think they would know that before they hired him. I think either they have someone else in mind who is now available, or Razor recently pissed off the wrong person or persons, considering Ozzie said he was doing a good job coaching 3rd, and supposedly he doesn't lie. He also spoke out against yes men, so dissagreeing with him would seem not to be a reason to get canned. As far as Hard Art, I think his eye issues are a nice convenient reason to make a change. With the importance of bullpens, it wouldn't surprise me if the White Sox hired a guy with pitching coach experience to replace him. The bullpen has been disasterous the last 2 seasons. Maybe someone new can make a little difference.

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 04:25 PM) Everybody. And Raines was not fired. Ozzie was quoted as saying he had to fire Raines, a friend of his because he wasn't getting the job done. From the Sun-Times in June ''I had to fire one of my friends, one of my coaches [Tim Raines], because he [wasn't] doing the job. If something happens to me this year, next year, 20 years after, I will feel the same way about Kenny and Jerry. I understand his point.''

Do you think Art got reassigned due to his eyes, or do you think they are pinning some of the bullpen's problems on him?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 02:36 PM) im still here. Not only did they fire you last season, didn't they also remove your little snippet on the pre-game video?

Bring back Rock Raines and Man So Lee

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 02:20 PM) No thanks on Cora, but you make a good point that has been brought up here before - Ozzie needs a good bench coach. I've been watching Kirk Gibson be a great foil for Bob Melvin, for example, and that works really well. A really solid baseball guy who understands game tactics is a real need for Ozzie. Wasn't Gibson in the same position in Detroit with Alan Trammell? The year after they dump all those guys, they go to the WS. I think Ozzie needs good players far more than a good bench coach. If Cora is a bad bench coach, he should be shown the door, as he has shown he's horrible in the 3rd base coaching box.

Walker wasn't going anywhere unless he quit. JR came out and said about a month ago that anyone who blamed Walker for the offensive problems "didn't have a brain". Its too bad about Razor, I really liked him. I hope he catches on somewhere else. I wonder how much of him not being a coaching staff insider, ie. not playing with Ozzie or not being around the big league guys much contributed to his ouster. It would have been nice to have enough guys rounding third to really evaluate what kind of 3rd base coach he was.

QUOTE(kevo880 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 11:53 AM) yeah but his batting average and basically every other number has declined drastically over the last few seasons 2005 .252 16 HR 71 RBI .301 OBP 2006 .235 21 HR 71 RBI .257 OBP 2007 .234 20 HR 68 RBI .284 OBP The last 3 seasons, he's been pretty consistent. Great for a SS in HR and RBI, everything else, pretty bad. The problem with his good numbers is that they are accumulated in very few games. He does have the ability to be a very good offensive player. I am of the belief he will have an outstanding year some year. $5 million is a lot, but he will be playing for a contract, so his "laziness" may not be in existence in 2008. I would only upgrade if the upgrade was obvious, not an Eckstein-like in other words, and certainly not Lopez. Furcal, ARod, Tejada, would all be acceptable. It will be interesting to see what the payroll will be. I think KW had more to play with this year, but chose not to use it, perhaps to keep from having his hands tied coming into this offseason. The fact that they claimed Tejada and risked assuming the contract, (although it was a very slight risk Baltimore would have just let him go) indicates to me KW may actually be able to shoot for the moon.

Owens hit .340 in September. Ozzie said don't believe what you see in September if the team is out of contention.

The money it would take to bring Bonds here would be significant. The Sox already have the DH position pretty well covered with their top power guy and on base guy. As injured as Thome has been, he has played more games than Bonds in each of the last 2 years. Bonds being 44 isn't going to help that number. The circus it would cause, I just don't know if the Sox would really want that. He has a few more legal problems than just the steroids. At his age, why would he want to come to a team that is coming off a 90 loss season? I think if the Sox have the money available to sign him, they should use it plugging a few holes instead of trying to make one of the team's biggest strengths (DH) a little better. Thome, who has lost his power, homered once every 12.35 AB in 2007. Bonds once every 12.15. I know Bonds gets on base a significantly more, but he'll be at least double the price the Sox are paying Thome. Is it really worth gambling that much, not only in money but all the other baggage that goes along with the new home run king, on a 44 year old entering a new league for really a fairly small upgrade?

For one night at least, I was very happy KW traded Chris Young to Arizona.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 05:44 PM) I can appreciate a homer announcer but not Hawk, with his "Crede > A-Rah" and "Stretch!" and "DADGUMMIT!" which is frankly the worst call I've ever heard from an announcer. I love when Hawk talks about restrints. You know, those places you go for a meal.

Boras is a magician at getting guys contracts you wouldn't think possible. JD Drew ? Tom Hicks, a known Boras sucker is looking for a CF. If ARod opts out, Mr. Hicks doesn't have to pay the Yankees any more of ARods salary, and from what I understand its close to or over $10 mill a year. Boras saves him $10 mill. a year there and in exchange he gives another one of his clients a very nice contract. Its just a thought.

QUOTE(whitesox1976 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 05:41 PM) I thing I like about Hawk is his style of being a homer announcer. He adds fun the game. Given time I think Big Hurt would be a good announcer. Hawk was known to be pretty outspoken when he was an announcer with the Red Sox. Homer wasn't a word associated with him back then. I love the Hawk, but he does piss me off occassionally. I get personally offended when he tries to sell crappy players as guys full of potential. He's just doing his job though.

Even Steve Stone was panned when he started out on ABC.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 05:14 PM) Yeah. After all these years, Hawk Harrelson still hasn't learned. One guy I thought would be really good and was horrible was Dan Hampton. He lasted 1 season as a network color guy.

I read somewhere where he wants to get into broadcasting. He might be pretty good at it, but it does take time.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 04:49 PM) Nope. its just a poorly designed ballpark. The only thing it has going for it is that its old, thats it. The walls are an awkward distance from home plate, the baskets are stupid, the indentations on each foul line are terrible, not to mention there is zero foul territory unless you want to break your leg running up a poorly constructed bullpen mound. The views are obstructed in a great percentage of the lower level, the concourse offers you no view of the field, and you cannot go from the infield to the outfield and vice versa. Its just not that great of a park. Not to mention it has notoriously the worst infield in baseball and an outfield that looks like there was a truck rally on it. I've been on Wrigley Field, I've played on a lot of park district and high school fields that were on par. Another thing about the infield is the slope in foul territory . Guys going after pop fouls towards the stands are running downhill and the incline is a lot steeper than it looks.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in '05 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 03:06 PM) I'll take Uribe because of his defense. Eckstein might be a great clubhouse guy, but I'd take Uribe's defense over him. Not only that, but Uribe might get his head straight since he'll be playing for a contract. They really do need to brink Hriniak back for Uribe though. Another thing, I think the clubhouse thing can be overrated a bit. You can have a team full of Eckstein's and Erstad's, but they will never win anything. KW needs to bring in people that can play not just to cheerlead. Actually, Uribe is a very popular guy in the clubhouse.