Dick Allen

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 08:06 AM) With Iguchi. what happens if he leaves? Like Kal brought up, there are a few 2b options out there, but nothing really better than Tad. He has basically put up identical numbers the last two years, and while he is getting a little older, I really don't see much of a decline with Iguchi. IMO, he is a must sign, and something I would really like to see get done before the 07 off-season. I just don't see any other options. I'm trying to make sense of the value of secondbasemen. Ronnie Belliard, a decent player, not quite as good as Iguchi, but not horrendous, signed a minor league contract with Washington, that will pay him $750,000 if he makes the team. His numbers last year were decent, a shade under Iguchi's, but certainly not $5 million to $7 million worse than his. Iguchi did hit one of the biggest homeruns in White Sox history, something that gets really no attention. If he doesn't homer in Game 2 of the division series, and the White Sox lose that game, they may not even make it to the WS.

QUOTE(Beltin @ Feb 14, 2007 -> 06:25 PM) Aside from the facts about the historical spending patterns of current White Sox ownership, baseball history is fairly clear in illustrating that throwing big money at free agents frequently does not result into a championship. There are wealthy teams that have signed players to big contracts and been successful but baseball success still depends heavily on sound personell decisions throughout the organization. I think the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and KC Royals of the 1980s are prime examples of this fact. Further, the NY Yankees of the mid-80s to early 90s are a great example of a wealthy team that was mismanaged (or overmanaged from the top) and floundered. The White Sox have had a lot of success using free agents to win. Carlton Fisk is one. Floyd Bannister was a huge part of the 1983 team. The WS champions had Dye, AJ, Iguchi, El Duque. All had huge roles at some point. You mentioned the KC Royals of the 80s. You may be surprised to know the Royals had baseball's highest payroll for a while in the early 80's and bounced back to have the highest payroll in baseball in 1990 a year when the Twins had baseball's highest paid player, and the White Sox had baseball's lowest payroll for the 3rd consecutive season, but won 94 games. It may be a little misleading as the differences from the Royals top payroll in 1990 ,$23+ million and the White Sox botton $9.5 million isn't nearly as huge as the gap that there is today. Its interesting to see that the White Sox total payroll between 88-90 was about $23 million. Now 1 player gets that in a season, when a whole team didn't get that for 3 seasons combined. What you're saying also would mean the White Sox stance on this is foolish. To replace the players lost, since the farm system is not exactly a gold mine right now, would require signing more free agents. I really doubt the White Sox have plans to slash the payroll if all these guys leave, unless ticket sales totally plummett. But I think it may be a bit of arrogance to think players will play for the White Sox for less, just because they won a WS. So KW better be prepared to pay market value or those 90-100 loss seasons he's been trying to avoid will come quickly. The AL Central is only getting better.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 18, 2007 -> 06:01 PM) The 2006 version: There's definitely a chin or 2 less. The article said he was 299 last year. I bet that means he actually was over 3 bills.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Feb 18, 2007 -> 12:16 PM) To answer your first question, it came down some after the ridiculous contracts of 2000-2001. Second, I agree, we'll need to sign some FA talent to sustain ourselves. KW has always shown a willingness to sign people though. I doubt our payroll is going to go much lower, if it all than 100 mil. But who knows. Won't know until after next offseason KW has signed free agents, but mostly with the exception of Konerko, and if the White Sox don't win the WS or at least make it there, Konerko is probably gone, at bargain basement prices. The fact is, all 3 of these guys are playing for way below market value in 2007. If he's so concerned about their families getting by on the millions these guys get paid, why when he heard Dye had a better deal somewhere else, didn't he tell him to take it? Or why won't he just pay them what the market bears, unless they are going to use lack of funds as an excuse. I know a few people who have made 5 year commitments to suites and that new thing in the old pressbox who aren't going to like this new approach. Unless of course, he has that money earmarked for Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrerra or even Zambrano. I can't see the Sox dropping payroll significantly. They would have to spend it elsewhere. But at the level all three of these guys get paid, if that's what they are willing to spend, the team is really going to dropoff in the next few years.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Feb 18, 2007 -> 11:47 AM) I'm thinking maybe KW expects the market to go back to normal this offseason. That way, these guys can go out there and realize they're not going to get as much money as they previously thought they would, and maybe they'll re-sign for a fair contract. If KW offers them what he considers a "fair" contract today, it might seem like they're being lowballed. If he actually expects the market to return to some form of normality, he can offer them the exact same contracts and it won't be a slap in their faces? I'm really just stretching to make some sense of this. I just have to trust KW. I don't think "normalcy" will return to contracts for a while. The Yankees have a new stadium on the way and a lot of money coming off their books. That alone will keep the numbers for the real good players high. At some point, the White Sox are going to have to bite the bullet and pay someone a ridiculous amount of money for what they bring to the table, because they aren't going to thrive bringing up prospects every year.

KW's new attitude towards impending free agents is beyond troubling. Its what small market teams do. Apparently he feels the White Sox should not offer market value contracts to players until he sees they can get market value somewhere else. Its exactly the kind of attitude that will make the White Sox go back to insignificant with most of Chicago almost as quickly as they became the top story. Its not going to go over very well with the fanbase, who have stepped up, when you don't want to even make offers to your impending free agent good players anymore.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) Word in the wind is that in Chicago they will be playing someplace where football is normally played. Really. I heard they would be playing in a dump that reeks of urine, and has nets up to protect spectators from falling concrete.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 17, 2007 -> 03:16 PM) It could be true, if Jack gave up a ridiculous amount of gopherballs Aardsma, the guy KW got to take McCarthy's place in the bullpen, gave up a ridiculous number of gopherballs himself in a very weak NL, but if you read this board, he's unhittable.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Feb 17, 2007 -> 10:24 AM) If 3/33 is correct, then the Sox were lowballing Buehrle in years and money. I read there was an option for a fourth year as well. At that time, I agree, it still was a bargain if you were getting the Buerhle we had come to know, but a price that if the guy wants to stay as much as he claims, he certainly should have considered. With the likes of Gil Meche getting that kind of money now and more years, he obviously played his cards correctly because unless he has surgery he'll get what the Sox offered him if he pitches 2007 like he pitched the second half of 2006. Hopefully, his being in better shape will return him to form, and the White Sox can be spectacular this year. One thing I wonder is if Buerhle does sign with the Cardinals next offseason, considering his comments, would even his most ardent supporters consider him a phony?

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Feb 16, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) Is this available only with an insider subscription? I couldn't find his blog. If McCarthy does justify this title, and we're floundering with the 5th starters position, Williams will appear like a complete dope. He better hope the following events occur -- Masset is an immediate impact player in the bullpen, and Danks pitchers similarily (or better) than McCarthy from 2008 onwards. Yes its with the insider subscription. On the other hand, Steve Stone was very complimentary towards Masset on the Score the other day. You can hear the interview on their website,although you have to listen to about 10 minutes of Cubs garbage (on the White Sox flagship) before you get to it.

FWIW, Gammons on his blog on ESPN.com polled 70 front office people on who would be the biggest breakout player in 2007. The number 1 pick, Brandon McCarthy, with a little Jack McDowell II reference.

Isn't it a little far-fetched to think Smith got into this accident while driving a car totally intact with a clear mind, but then was so dazed he left his friend basically to die in the car although he was able to navigate a car that most likely would be a lot tougher to drive home?

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Feb 15, 2007 -> 06:13 PM) Looks like crazy ol' Flash and his persistent rants concerning the minor league system have new company in Williams. It's almost as if a figurative brick hit Williams on the head this previous season. It's a simple equation -- no production from within the organization + reluctance to sign pitchers to long term deals + inability to locate/sign foreign talent + division rivals with legitimate farm systems = teh suck. Less we forget, positional players aren't exactly compensating for the lack of pitching depth. It's medicore through and through; but atleast there exists hope -- if Konerko's contract was any indication -- we're willing to spend necessary funds for positional players. The ironic thing is one of the big reasons Williams got his job was because "experts" were calling the Sox farm system the best in baseball, and he was given a lot of credit for that. From the White Sox media guide Williams served as the club’s director of minor league operations from 1995-96 and was promoted to vice president of player development for four additional seasons (1997-2000). Under his direction, the White Sox were named 2000 Organization of the Year by Baseball America, USA Today and Howe SportsData.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Feb 15, 2007 -> 03:06 PM) I heard Jamar called Pierre Pierce to get his advice As much as Jamar has apparently screwed up his life, he's probably very, very lucky he didn't screw it up more. Thank God Carwell is going to be fine. I couldn't imagine if something happened where he would have been impaired the rest of his life or even more dire, and it could have been avoided with more timely medical attention, and that's not even taking into account what Jamar's blood/alcohol level may have been. As bad as this situation apparently is, it would be a million times better is Jamar was not hammered. Hopefully the tests will show that. Much like Steve Alford with Pierce, if most of the rumors are true, Bruce Weber is going to be in a tough spot with Jamar. If he gives him his full support, and the evidence shows Jamar was a bad guy that night, Bruce will probably never live that down, and if he just cuts ties with him, that will be brought up by Illinois' competition for every recruit they try to bring in in the future. For a guy with supposed recruiting issues to begin with, that could be a career killer for him. Its really totally unfair to him, much like the initial criticism of Alford was IMO unfair. Alford believed in his guy, but once the second incident happened with Pierce, Alford should have been shown the door for his error in judgement.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Feb 15, 2007 -> 01:39 PM) he already went on television in miami last night and backed off. So for those to feel inclined to pat him on the back for at least being candid, they can't even do that anymore. I really wonder why anyone thinks displaying hatred in public like that is going to do you any good. He really must not be a very bright man.

While Hardaway has a right to his opinion, prejudice is ignorant. Hate is a pretty strong word. It will be interesting to see if he sticks with being frank, or backs off and tries to be PC. Anyway you slice it, I think he comes off as a dope.

It would be interesting to hear Hardaway's take on someone who said he hates black people. Its ignorant, something he will back away from. The funny thing is, is he probably knows a lot of gay people that he likes, but just doesn't know they are gay.

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Feb 14, 2007 -> 07:11 PM) Underage basketball player -- the first thing I thought was party...especially from my alma mater. Especially after some of the other things the illustrious sports players at Illinois have done like bar fights at Joe's, McBride's DUI, Luther Head's theft etc, etc, etc. I wouldn't doubt for a minute that Jamar was being a f***ing idiot. I wonder if he'll actually be prosecuted on campus though given the history of slaps on the wrist. The guy drove home and left his buddy in the car in the parking lot of his apartment complex. His concussion either was so bad he didn't know what was going on, but able to find his way home with, if you look at the pictures of the car, his 6'11" friend only inches from him, or he was smashed and scared out of his mind. Who knows what would have happened to Carwell if someone hadn't spotted Smith in the lot. He's hired a defense lawyer, so apparently the hammer is coming. I have the feeling you won't be seeing Smith in an Illini uniform for a long time, if ever again.

Although I do not like anything Illini, I am very thankful both of these guys are apparently going to be OK. Too bad Jimmy Collins still isn't there, this accident may have been avoided if the guys were given Chevy Blazers.

Can someone explain to me why with Ozzie it was Jenks' and Uribe's own fault that they were out of shape, but Allen Thomas' fault that Garcia and Buerhle weren't in shape?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 03:08 PM) If he was dogging it like you said, then Ozzie would have chewed him out. Ozzie publicly said that Pods was too hard on himself. His lack of effort was never mentioned [that I am aware of] by Walker, Ozzie or KW as a big reason he sucked last yr. On routine plays,he dogs it down the line quite often. The White Sox as a team dog it. There was an article on ESPN.com in the last couple of years that had a scout quoted as saying they can't get good times for White Sox players down the line because they rarely go all out. Thome is an exception, there are a couple of others. Ozzie himself, used to jog down to first on routine grounders. In fact, I remember Hawk even calling him out on it once. The White Sox should get better at that. If they had the reputation for going all out on even the most routine of groundballs, it would put a little pressure on the defense, and would cause a few errors during the course of the season, and probably win them a couple more games. My problem with Pods is besides the fact that running is his only plus, he baserunning instincts are horrid. I remember several times when he failed to score on grounders when the opponent was conceding the run. A lot of much slower players would score easily on plays when Pods is standing on third.

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 01:23 PM) I was commenting about retention. As of last Friday, there are no 81 game plans avaliable. You can buy full season on the website. They don't guarantee tickets to every postseason game however. Just 1 a round I believe.

QUOTE(Balance @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 10:52 AM) "Premium" ticket holders got first dibs on single game tickets, starting at 9:00 a.m. yesterday. Full and split season STHs got to start at 10:00 a.m. Given that most of us posting here got on at 10:01 yesterday and were pretty much shut out, I wonder how many "Premium" STHs there are. This obviously means the holders of the scout seats and suites, but still- why was this year so different from last year? You have to remember groups and Ozzie plans also gobble up tickets to the premium games first. Unfortunately to guarantee yourself seats to the big games, you have to be able and willing to make a big committment. That's just the way it is now.

All I know is the White Sox had the greatest rotation ever assembled last season, and they all wound up with inflated ERAs. It will be interesting to see how they respond this season. Hopefully, KW's theory about postseason baseball taking its toll is correct. The only problem with that theory is then how to you prepare a team to go into the postseason year after year after year? If the Sox win the WS in 2007, do you dump all the pitching for 2008, thinking that they will all be too tired?

The bullpen was also the least used in baseball when it was great in 2005. Ozzie has stated the game belongs to the starters. That's his philosophy. It obviously would make him a lot smarter if , when he goes to the bullpen, they can get guys out.