Dick Allen

Ozzie always has his favorites and is very inconsistent. He blamed Jenks and Uribe for being out of shape last year, but blamed Allen Thomas for Buerhle and Garcia being out of shape.

I don't see where what anything McCarthy said should be offensive. Guys that are 22 or 23 don't hang out with guys who are 30-35. Almost everytime someone leaves the Sox someone from the White Sox eventually slams that player in the press. Its really getting old. QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 02:40 PM) My view from afar is simply that Oz isn't a good game manager, and although he's good for providing spark to a listless ball club, once this club tastes success - he's been more than happy to let the life get sucked right out of it again. I view him as a short term success and not a long term solution. Most "experts" agree with you. They don't think his act is suited for long-term success.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 11:59 PM) I hope the comparisons to Buehrle immediately end with velocity. That was one of the strangest comparisons ever. Cooper basically said they were sort of alike because they both were left handed but everything else was different.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 07:22 AM) Because it's spring training and you don't take a chance? That's my point. Why, if they knew about this problem to begin with, did they take a chance with the 10 pitches? I hope this is minor, but I think its awfully presumptious to think its nothing.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 12:24 AM) I was talking to a former minor leaguer tonight and he said tightness is common in the spring. I'm not saying Bobby isn't really hurting and could be out a while, but this guy laughed when I expressed concern and said tightness is no big deal. For what it's worth anyway. If its no big deal and alright to send him to the mound with, why was Herm called to the mound, and Jenks lifted after 10 pitches? The other problem with having him pitch with shoulder tightness is he will compensate and may put more stress on the screw in his elbow.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 10:08 PM) Only a few from today's action. That first one makes it look like Jenks still needs to eat a few more salads.

QUOTE(fathom @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) I was thinking the same exact thing. It's frustrating that Garland said he felt tightness in his shoulder also, and couldn't get loose. If that's the case, then why are we putting these guys on the field right now? Garland's shoulder was tight last year. Widger popped off about it, and nobody really picked up on it, and we know how awful Garland was the first couple months of the season. Hopefully all this tightness is nothing, but holes may seem to be appearing in the "playoffs=tired arms" excuse from last year. The Sox have been pretty lucky with injuries to their pitchers the last few years, eventually things tend to even out.

Anytime a pitcher has to leave a game after 10 pitches because of an issue with a shoulder or an elbow you have to be concerned. If Jenks said he's had this problem since spring training started, can someone explain to me why the hell he took the mound today?

I get BP every season, and they are no less accurate over the years than all the "experts" that get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars on various networks. I don't buy 72 wins, they use PECOTA and that probably has the offense a lot less effective than last season. I'm sure Gavin Floyd doesn't project too well with just about anybody's systems. And the rest of the White Sox pitching staff is loaded with questions. They could be great, they could be awful. I would think if everything turned bad the Sox would win more than 72, but assuming they are going to win 96+ games is probably equally as crazy.

Another interesting name supposedly a customer of this place,Evander "the maybe not so real deal" Holyfield.

QUOTE(Beltin @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 01:52 PM) Am I mistaken, or is it three other HOFers? Jenkins, Williams and Banks? You are correct.

Another 2 years of hearing Santo whine and beg........ Maybe if he helped his team make the playoffs ONCE with 2 other HOFers on the roster.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) It did? I've known about this rumor before, and after reading the Sun-Times article by Chris DeLuca (which you're probably referencing) I didnt' come away with anything. If it were true, it would have been leaked by now. Whether by an anonymous source within the White Sox or Texas Rangers. From a Dallas paper last week: Why did the White Sox suddenly make McCarthy available? Good question but there's no clear-cut answer. McCarthy had made it known that he was ready to start after a year's apprenticeship in the bullpen, but there are rumors that there was more to it than that, perhaps even something personal between Williams and the young pitcher. "Without getting too much into it, there were personal things between us in different realms, but not really in how I was being used, certainly not last year," McCarthy said. "When you've got five [starters] of that caliber, cracking that rotation is certainly not going to be easy. "I said it a lot of times that I would love to be starting, but that was the competitive side of me. I wasn't whining or complaining, but I don't know if that was taken out of context." Whatever caused the rift, if there was one, the Rangers were only too happy to be the beneficiaries, and McCarthy is now guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation, right behind Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. As much as the Rangers liked Danks and his potential, they like McCarthy even better. "He has three major league pitches," pitching coach Mark Connor said. "His changeup is top of the scale. His curveball is above average. His fastball hits 88-92 [mph], and he has good control. "He's exuberant about starting. He didn't like being in the bullpen. I think we're getting him at the right time." So does McCarthy, who has seen the major league careers of contemporaries such as Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander already taking off. He's ready to start playing catch-up. "I definitely envision myself as a future ace," he said. "I would love to be in that role. I welcomed that in the minor leagues. In high school and college, that was something I thrived on, the guy that every five days goes out to the mound, a Chris Carpenter, Johan Santana type where you just know you've got a good chance to get a good win today and get a good outing." Watching him throw Tuesday, Didier remembered again seeing McCarthy last spring in a White Sox uniform. At that point, he could only drool and hope. "I won't say I was mesmerized, but I said then, 'God, this guy's got something going for him that's going to be special.' He threw a lot of balls right on the knees and threw quality strikes," Didier recalled. "I just feel like he's that kind of guy, that he could be something special. "Who knows? Only God knows how he's going to turn out. But he's got the chance to really be something. He's got that chance." A chance at something special is what a scout and a general manager live for and that's what put a quiver in Daniels' voice that December morning. Black Jack McDowell, Matt Morris or something in between? The Rangers can't wait to see how this dream ends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Reeves, 817-390-7760 revo@star-telegram.com

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 08:12 PM) KW was supposedly into McCarthy's sister or girlfriend, and McCarthy was pissed about it. That's why he was traded. It's completely preposterous, and thank you Ginger for taking a shot at such a stupid rumor. It probably is a preposterous rumor, but McCarthy's recent comments on his relationship with KW did sort of imply that this rumor could actually be true.

I really don't think you can take anything from a performance in the first intersquad game of spring. Good or bad. These guys aren't fine tuned yet, and the intensity level is not nearly as high. As Allen Iverson said "we're talkin' about practice". Does anyone think KW has put his neck on the line with a Gavin Floyd? Its almost universally thought in baseball that this guy really can't be considered a top prospect, and KW sees him almost as elite. In a way, I can't see JR ever pulling the plug on KW, but if the offseason moves blow up in his face and the White Sox don't contend, he may not have a choice. According to someone on another site, BP has the Sox pegged at 72-90. I can't see even a worst case scenerio playing out that badly, but if it did, someone would have to be held accountable.

Gavin Floyd is older than McCarthy and gave up homers at a higher pace than McCarthy did last year. He also walks a lot of guys. Hopefully he can get his act together enough to be a decent fifth starter, but I hope KW has some decent options up his sleeve in the likelihood he fails. Maybe Haeger. I don't think Danks or Gio should even be in the mix. Making the team and getting pounded and sent back to AAA screws a lot of guys up. Let them get their feet wet when the game is meaningless or your 100% certain they are ready.

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.