Dick Allen

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Feb 25, 2007 -> 03:16 PM) He scored only 80 runs because missed 33 games. Remember. Only 1 guy in the AL had fewer plate appearances and scored more runs than Pods. David Dellucci. He hit 29 home runs and played for Texas, the #3 offense in baseball, while the Sox were the #13 offense in baseball. Pods scored runs at roughly the same clip per game in 2005 and 2006. He drove in more runners in 2006 and that's with BA and Uribe in front of him not getting on base. Even his biggest backers would say Pods was pretty bad in 2006. I can't see how this translates into him being "great" in 2005. But for me, enough about 2005, I wonder what he'll do in 2007, and obviously I was very dissappointed he wasn't replaced. This latest injury and his history directly after his injuries would indicate to me that Ozzie and Kenny probably aren't expecting too much in 2007. It would be inexcusable to me if he plays like he did last year and still is a regular in the line-up.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ Feb 25, 2007 -> 02:52 PM) Is Pods supposed to drive himself in? PK hit like .225 the first two months. Dye? Remember the same Dye everybody wanted run out of town at the start of 2005? All the lame Jermaine 'Die' or 'Princess' Dye jokes? He did next to nothing for the first two months as well. Our DH/#3 hitter sported a .745 OPS. Pods had an OBP of .350 or better every month except for August. So it's not hard to see why he didn't score as many runs as you would like from your leadoff guy. Of course, it's just hip and cool to blame it all on Pods. Also, nobody has led me to believe s***. I watched just about every game in '05. I saw the difference Pods made. The impact he had, especially the first four months. I watched just about every game, but then again I'm blind and ignorant. Pods created 105 runs in 2005. He wasn't horrible. I said he was very overrated. Konerko drove in over 100 runs. Dye hit over 30 homers. Carl Everett drove in 87. Frank Thomas even hit a few over the wall. Pods doesn't have to drive himself in all the time, although it would help on occassion. My big point, which you fail to understand is if he was reeking the havoc that a lot have claimed, how is it that it didn't result in more runs? If the pitcher was so distracted like Hawk had everyond believing, how come the poor performances you mentioned? His 25 RBI was pretty low as well. Uribe and Crede were hitting 9th all year and they were at about 70. Iguchi was over 70, but Pods, right in the middle of them was 25. There is no doubt in my mind if the White Sox pitched in 2005 like they did in 2006 and weren't in the playoffs, many of those who admire Pods would change their minds.

So if the leadoff hitter gets a hit or steals a base the Sox probably win. Maybe its time for KW to find someone who does it more often. Its amazing that a guy who hardly drives in any runs, and in 2005, when he was supposedly driving pitchers crazy with his basestealing, making them lose all concentration, finished in 31st place in the AL in runs scored, and last year with one of the best offenses in team history, with Dye, Konerko and Thome behind him, finished in a tie for 33rd place in the AL in runs scored. Add to all this his difficulty moving runners over, and you have one of the most overrated players in White Sox history, save for October 24, 2005.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Feb 18, 2007 -> 09:10 AM) My "source" said Soldiers Field...he thought...he knew it was a place that nobody has played in a long time. I went along with him figuring it was Soldiers, just due to my knowing there have been shows at Soldiers. I never heard of anybody playing Wrigley...nor did it make any kind of sense at all. Surely they would want Soldiers, as they could sell WAY more tickets, I would think. Jimmy Buffett played there a couple of years ago and Dave Matthews was supposed to this year, but his wife is having a baby around the same time that they were to play there, so he backed out. People planning a riverboat tour breathed a sigh of relief.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 11:57 AM) I assume Terrro would be the backup plan for CF with him making the team out of spring training as the 4th OF. That should be fun seeing as how he's terrible and all. I've watched most all of his 40 ABs from last season now and it's funny to here how the announcers talked about him, taking shots at him during every AB, wondering aloud why he's even on the big league roster and then presenting him with a Bronx cheer when after 32 AB he finally picks up his first extra base hit of the season. You think Brian Anderson looked clueless at the plate last season just wait until you get a look at Luis Terrero. Walk will fix him

When I was in the American Airlines terminal at LaGuardia in January, there were 3 or 4 rats running around under the seats. Rats and NYC go together.

I really can't see where a guy who threw 3 or 4 one hitters in the NL last year would struggle mightly in the AL. Its a very small sample size. Zambrano would be the White Sox best pitcher by far in my estimation. The problem with him at least in my eyes is that he is a more intense Bartolo Colon. He's going to get a lot of years, and will be Cy Young worthy a few of those years, BUT he's a guy who has some problems with his weight. He also has some problems with his back and forearm. You sign him for 6 or 7 years, he's going to most likely spend at least one season on the DL. I can't see him staying healthy that long. Something has to give.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 11:35 PM) Just two things... First, 1.58 HR/9 for Vazquez, 1.81 for McCarthy. It's not a huge, huge difference, but it's a difference. Secondly, Vazquez's threw 61 fewer innings above the AA level, and 77 or so fewer innings at the AAA level. Those are pretty significant differences. Also a difference, pitching in Olympic Stadium in Montreal, not facing a DH and pitching in USCF, facing a DH.

So let me get this straight, he wants to be here, says he would sign here for less, but our GM wants him to go through free agency because he owes it to his family. Wow. Either KW is drunk or he just doesn't want to sign Dye for 3 or 4 years no matter what the cost.

Well, I'm not a fan of Vazquez. He's been around 9 years and usually has mediocre seasons. He's had a couple of decent ones, but nothing that would get him serious Cy Young consideration. Besides, if you listen to the people on this board who tell you Brandon McCarthy will never be very dominant because of the homers he allowed his first season, look back at Vazquez's first season. 31 homers allowed in 177 innings in the NL where he gets to face a pitcher, pitching in a big park in Montreal. If McCarthy can never be dominant because when he was 21 or 22 some guys hit some homers off him, I would guess the same applies to Vazquez.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 07:50 PM) I'll add my vote as well. Imagine that, 3 people who went to Illinois and don't care about the Chief...I had no idea there were so many of us. I know a lot of U of I grads from a few different age groups, and I'd say its really split up pretty evenly between people who are happy he's gone to people who couldn't care less one way or the other to people who are angry about the ouster to people who believe its some sort of Communist plot to topple the university.

The Native American students at the U of I have been offended by the Chief for a very long while. Isn't that enough for the white guys who think the Chief is "cool" to say maybe this "tradition" needs to go away?

I'm torn from voting the 2007 bullpen will be better than the 2007 bullpen or worse. Too bad equal to the 2007 bullpen isn't an option. I'm torn from voting the 2007 bullpen will be better than the 2007 bullpen or worse. Too bad equal to the 2007 bullpen isn't an option.

Strat-o-matic baseball

Considering Smith and Carwell are both underage and both were drinking, the source of their alcohol may be in trouble as well. As unfair as it seems, Carwell is underage and was alledgedly drinking, he should get some sort of suspension.

The way this is being handled by the U of I athletic department is unbelievably pathetic. Smith on the bench the day he gets bailed out of jail? Forget about the numerous transgressions he had that night. He's breaking the law just sucking back 1 beer. I don't like the Illini, and never have, but I've always kind of admired Weber and thought any criticism of him was pretty unfair. Last night's "decision" is just more poor judgement, and for that he and the AD should resign. If they refuse, they should be fired. As an Iowa alum and a guy who initially supported Alford's decision to support Pierre Pierce, and seeing all the Illinois fans, students and alumni's reaction and rip job on that, and listening to many of the Illinois apologists on the radio yesterday sticking up for Smith, I almost could laugh at this, if it wasn't so sad. At least there was a little doubt when Alford supported Pierce during his first crime, it was a he said/she said thing, and he was professing his innocence. There is no denying Smith was drinking underage, drunk, driving, got into an accident, and left his teammate for dead. BTW, when Pierce was busted for the second time, I do believe Alford should have been shown the door. I guess Smith learned one thing playing basketball at Illinois for a couple of years. He looks good in orange. A color he probably will be wearing 24 hours a day for a couple of years.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 04:41 PM) Madison you have to be 21 to enter a bar at night, unless you are accompanied by your legal gaurdian. I dont really know of any college campus where you dont have to be 21 to get into a bar. I always thought that was only an Illinois thing, because they use it as one of their recruiting tools. (Not talking about athletes, talking about when they are trying to get students.) On the Chester thing, we also dont know what Jamar Smith said to him. For all we know he told Chester: Carlwell was drunk as hell smashed up the car and told me he wanted to sleep it off in the passanger seat. Lets go out and make sure that he is breathing, but I dont want to call the police and get him in trouble. Chester isnt a dr, and some one passed out in a car without apparent injuries may not look that injured. In retrospect its easy to say "oh carlwell was seriously injured", but from personal experience I know people who have gotten in worse wrecks and tried to keep the police out of it because the injuries were only minor. If he looked at the state of the car and fell for the story you mentioned above, the guy really has no business being in college, let alone one with a great academic reputation. QUOTE(illinilaw08 @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) Two things: 1) Has there been any confirmation of Couch's report that Chester was the person that went out to the car with Jamar? Logically it makes sense that it was Chester since he and Jamar live together, but Couch isn't exactly an Illini beat writer, and there isn't anything clear from the State's Attorney's report that this was Chester. I'm just curious. 2) I agree fully with Soxbadger on Chester. Assuming he is the second person with Jamar at the car, what he did was not illegal. You have no duty to call 911 when someone is hurt and I guarantee Chester would have a lawyer immediately if he lost his scholarship for doing something that, while morally reprehensible, is not illegal in the eyes of the law. I don't know what you can do to him other than a long lecture, maybe a game or two suspension for "not taking care of business" but removing him from the team would not be the correct move, in my opinion. As a diclaimer, I am in no way advocating what Frazier allegedely did, but he should not be dismissed for it. Scholarships are year to year things. Hiring a lawyer would be useless. They could yank it for any reason. If the Sun-Times report is accurate, and he saw a teammate in a car either hurt very very badly or even dead, and he did nothing about it, would you really want this guy in your program? I'm sure he was scared, and probably beyond freaked out, but you have to at least call for help.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 02:20 PM) My take: Let him stay in school, but suspend him for the year, and that includes his scholarship. If, he goes to AA meetings, does some serious community service, and moves on campus or with a Asst. coach and meets regularly with his probation officer and/or serves his time, then you give him a half scholarship for his senior year and let him play. If he won't agree to those terms...division 3 is a calling, Jamar. My dad is a Uof I grad and he started college when he was 16. He got caught with a fake ID and got thrown out of school for a year. This is a felony, and perhaps prison time. This guy has no business ever being on scholarship again.

I'm not going to condemn the underage drinking. I used to get hammered when I wasn't of age, and even drove a few times. Dumb, I know. But to risk another life trying to cover your ass is being a pussy. I'm not going to condemn the underage drinking. I used to get hammered when I wasn't of age, and even drove a few times. Dumb, I know. But to risk another life trying to cover your ass is being a pussy.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 03:16 PM) They did with Buehrle...last ASB. Maybe it was lowball, but they tried. And, I think that after the Belle contract, Reinsdorf and the rest of the White Sox Board of Directors are leery of setting market value for anyone. And honestly, again, I don't blame them. With what the Flubs, Giants and Mets have done in recent years...whew, I wouldn't want to set market rate. If Buehrle, Dye or any other Sox free agent can get more...more power to ya. The White Sox will be around a LOT longer than any of these players will be. We all rooted for the Southside Hitmen in the 70's (well, maybe just old folk), the Winning Ugly teams of the 80's, the Young Guns of the 90's and the Grinders of the 00's. And we will ALL root for the teams of the 10's, 20's, etc. This is one year, let's enjoy it and worry about next year, next year. We aren't the GM, we aren't the manager, let's see how they do before we crucify them. Some b****ed about Magglio. Some b****ed about El Caballo. Etc. Etc. Etc. Foresight is NOT 20/20. Negotiating a season and a half before he becomes a free agent with one of your marque players and that's it is not trying. If what we can expect is any White Sox player who performs well enough to be paid premium money and deserves "market rate" is that they will be getting paid by other teams, the White Sox in the future won't be the Cubs, Giants or the Mets. They will be the Pirates, Devil Rays and Royals. If the White Sox go bad, USCF unlike the Urinal, Shea or whatever they call that masterpiece is SF, will be a ghost town, full of tumbleweeds. I anticipate this season with as much excitement as any. For some reason this winter seems so much longer than others. I can't wait for real games. Even if they lost 100, which they haven't done in a very long time, I'd still watch just about every inning my wife would let me get away with. Its just much better when they are winning.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 01:47 PM) Shouldn't you do that anyway? I know I do. It makes sense to always look. And since there is a finite number of employers for these guys, I would imagine this is more prevalent than you think. It's not always about respect. It's about business. And if my employer was upfront with me...then what can I say? There are too many factors to say..."they're disrespecting me." Again, at the end of the day, the White Sox are a business, not an XBox game. And it's prudent to see what's out there from both sides. HOw do we know that there isn't another 2005 Jermaine Dye out there? Someone a bit under the radar, but a big talent that won't command as much money? The 2005 White Sox were blessed that everything came together...that doesn't mean it's going to happen again...just look 10 miles to the north of 35th and Shields. The difference is they are under contract and supposedly can't look to see what's out there until that contract ends. I don't see where it is bad business to take advantage of exclusive negotiating rights for your better employees while you have them.

QUOTE(bigruss22 @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) I must say that this is different, in that they have paid agents whose job is to find them the best price, and if the player wants to stay or even sign with a certain team, then they may not get the most money, hence the "hometown discount", but money isnt everything sometimes and some players like to go where they are comfortable, and some teams cant afford to give the best price out there for some players. It has to be a mutual agreement for it to work out and if that isnt the case then its better for the player and team to move on Of course its different, I was just responding to the post. Maybe what this means is the White Sox aren't going to offer contracts to their players, but if they come to the White Sox with some figures, those will be considered. I do think it would be a good idea to make every player you want to keep here for a while, know that is your wish. Usually when guys get to the free agent process, they go for the money, and who can blame them. One thing the White Sox could try with these guys, is to give them deals that kick in in 2007. They all are below market value this season, and the Sox seemingly should have some money to play with. Giving them a extra couple million in 2007 and then market value for 2 or 3 years following is a 3 or 4 year contract equivalent to a 2 or 3 year extension. Throw some sort of option on that, and a guy like Buerhle, if he is being straight with all of his comments, may take it. QUOTE(bad at best @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 01:42 PM) I think generally if your current team matches the price of another team, the chances are they will stay with their current team. Spite is nice and everything, but not moving your family all over the place is nicer. Most White Sox player's families don't live anywhere near Chicago.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 10:10 AM) I don't know how many people on this board are out of school and work full-time...but many times I have heard someone go in and ask about raises and the response comes back, "You are free to look elsewhere." AND, I would be happy if that were the case. That means they respect me. That doesn't say to me that they wouldn't match or exceed the offer, that says that they don't to limit me. Maybe that's optomistic, but so what? Sure, they could think I won't find anything better. Or, they'll just let me go because I'm replaceable. But, the decision is left up to me...the person who does the work. Ya never know, I just might take less to stay, because I like it here. And I have no problem with Kenny being honest, as long as he told the players first before it went to the media. While I don't work under a contract, if I asked for a raise and was told I was free to look elsewhere, and I went looking for a better paying position, if I had to go through the process of looking elsewhere and then got a better offer and my current employer said they would match it, I personally would tell him to f*** off. It would be an insult to me, a total lack of respect, that some place where I have invested a lot of time and effort would only pay me what I evidently was worth (if they are willing to match) if someone I hadn't worked for were to offer me more.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 01:10 PM) I think the weight kept his velocity down a bit last year. If he can keep from 2nds in the buffett line he should be fine. Bobby is just the type of guy that needs to throw a lot in ST so he can stretch out his arm. So hopefully he does a lot of side work to augment his in game work. The hip condition he acquired, the White Sox feel was because of all the extra weight. Considering they marked him at 299 last spring there's really no telling how much over 300 he was. Hopefully the hip problem goes away with the pounds he shed and he can get his velocity back up and build his endurance. I read where his ERA after the ASB was 5.72. If that's someone who can't throw 95-100, that's DFA territory.

Contreras has always been a physical specimen. One of the better conditioned players on the White Sox. I doubt he's lost much weight.