Dick Allen

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Oct 1, 2006 -> 03:40 AM) I think by moving Iguchi down in the lineup he will hit for more power increasing his SLG% and having an OPS > .800 For me the leadoff postion would be the LF platoon of Mack/Gload/Right handed hitter (Byrnes) #2 would be Omar Vizquel, or if push came to shove, Uribe (did well there in 2004.) Omar may not have a high enough SLG%, but he can bunt, steal bases, move along runners, and he tends to walk more than he strikes out. Byrnes isn't Eric Byrnes, career .322 obp is it? Weren't you the guy saying Michael Young can't hit away from Texas and his road obp is .333, so he should not be an option for KW as a lead-off man?

Pitching is what matters, although Thome, Dye, Konerko and Crede are going to be hard-pressed to duplicate this year's numbers again as a group and individually. It will place more importance on the other guys in the line-up.

If you were to review my posting history, you would see that I have been a Pods basher pretty much from the get-go of his White Sox career. That said, he is not the reason the White Sox failed this season. Rickey Henderson in his prime could have been leading off for this team and it wasn't going to win. Pitching was and is the problem. That needs to be addressed first. Whether you want to admit it or not, enough runs were scored this year. Seriously, just about every pitcher on the White Sox staff has issues. Even Bobby Jenks, who has been absolutely horrible lately. QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 30, 2006 -> 02:35 PM) With Freddy Garcia, before you give a definative answer as to whether you want him traded or not just ask yourself on simple question. Would you be willing to give Freddy Garcia a 3 year ~$33M deal with a 4th year option/buyout RIGHT NOW. If yes then you obviously do not want him traded If no then you should want him traded. I think people are getting too excited about his success at the end of this season, thinking it just will carry over to next year. He was pretty successful at the end of last year, and was brutal for a long time this year.

As long as the Tigers don't get swept by KC they are the Central champions. And if the Sox win again tomorrow, Detroit could get swept by KC and still be the champions.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Sep 30, 2006 -> 01:01 PM) Pierre's and Crisp's OBP aren't that good, so how are they supposed to get on base for the big boppers? Pods real OBP is much lower than his stated obp which isn't too great to begin with, if you take his CS and getting picked off into consideration. Pierre would be a far better choice to leadoff. He actually makes contact which would enable the Sox to play some hit and runs and the like when the bottom of the order gets on. I'm not a huge fan of Pierre, but I think he would be a pretty good LF replacement. I'm not so sure I like him in CF, but he can get to balls, he just can't throw. The White Sox got by and had a few great teams though with the One Dog in Cf, and Tim Raines in LF. Both those guys threw no better than Pods or Pierre.

QUOTE(rudylaw @ Sep 30, 2006 -> 08:57 AM) I hate hearing all of the talk about trading Garcia. I think that now that he has realized that he also throws a splitter he has been amazing. I think that he is a very valuable part of this team. I would rather see Javy or MB go than Big Freddy. Freddy has been great lately, but where was he when the Sox really needed him, back when they had a very realistic chance. I heard Hawk say last night that there is no reason to believe Freddy won't be able to regain his fastball next season. I have to disagree with this. What reason is there to believe he suddenly will be able to throw hard again? How many pitchers lose 5-7 mph off their fastball supposedly with no injury and then suddenly refind it? I think his September domination is a mirage, and I think his value is higher now than it was earlier this season. I hope he is sent packing.

Podsednik's stolen base total has dipped from 59 to 40, but Williams said his exit wasn't certain because of the difficulties of acquiring a fast player. KW is laying it on pretty thick here. Pods may be a "fast" player, but he certainly hasn't played fast for a while.

I'll root for the AL central teams, and if they don't make it, I'm for the AL in the WS.

IMO, Buerhle's trade value is lower now than it has been since he became a starter. There is no guarantee he can bounce back, and if he can, you have to give him a boatload of money to re-sign. If his value is as high as some people here think, the Sox would be crazy not to move him. Of course, I'm for moving at least 2 starters, maybe even 3. I think it could set the Sox up for a long run of contention.

Rush rules. Its really is a travesty they aren't in the HoF. I really don't think they give a rat's ass though. As a long-time fan, I appreciate what they do for their fans. The last 3 tours, they played for 3 hours with no warm up band. I know there are people out there that don't appreciate their music , but as someone who does, its pretty sweet they play that long. I also appreciate the airtime they gave me as an audience member in Frankfurt on their R30 video. Some of their tunes are on youtube, and some of the complaints about them are really a joke. Someone actually said that because their music during concerts sounds almost exactly like it does on their albums that they lack creativity.

Its a shame the Sox set the attendance record the year they had a 3rd place team. I wonder how season ticket renewals will go. The waiting list was a good idea, but another year like this one and I think tumbleweeds will be spotted at USCF at least for the April and September games.

I really hope Chicago doesn't get them. It seems like a collossal waste of money to me. The Olympics being in other cities has never made me want to visit that city. Building a 95,000 seat stadium and then chopping it down to 10-20000 for what? What could they hold there? The security issues I could do without. Just say no.

The Tigers are in the playoffs. That is quite a turnaround. At the end of last season, things didn't look so good. For White Sox fans sakes, hopefully their pitching will do similar things in 2007 to the White Sox staff did in 2006. The grim reaper is circling the White Sox as the Twins magic number for a tie is 1 and for a playoff spot is 2.

Its pretty apparent Cotts cannot get anybody out. There is absolutely no reason to use him anymore this year. In fact, just so Ozzie won't be tempted, I think I would send him home.

For a guy who can't hit, Uribe sure is going to wind up with a decent amount of homers and RBI for a SS.

The Tigers are about to clinch a playoff berth. A great season for them.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 24, 2006 -> 01:53 PM) Ozzie has already said he'll play the regular starters the rest of the year, as they have salary bonuses to still play for. So he's talking out of both sides of his mouth again as it appears the player's personal stats are more important than the development of young players. It was funny to read this morning that Ozzie said he won't be watching the playoffs because he'll be jealous of the teams still playing. Didn't he just go off on Magglio because Magglio was quoted as saying the Sox would be jealous if Detroit was in the playoffs and the Sox were at home?

At least some common sense has prevailed as Bruce Levine announced the Sox are putting Contreras and Buerhle on the shelf until 2007.

The Twins scored 2 runs on a strikeout.

I think the Sox play Oakland 9 times next year, and the Yankees 10 times. Put that together with the 19 against Minnesota and 19 against Detroit, think how easy the schedule will be next year. All those teams will be so exhausted from the playoffs.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Sep 23, 2006 -> 01:10 PM) You're using a single guy's one contract year to try and make a point about Rangers hitter being able to hit away from Texas whereas I used more than 20 different guys who proved the exact opposite. Michael Young's career numbers say it's more likely he won't hit well away from the ballpark in Arlington. In 2005 Young hit .330 on the road with a .384 OBP and 12 homers, virtually identical numbers to his home splits last year. He's hitting .285 this year on the road, with a dissappointing .329 obp. Although you would like the opb to be higher, those numbers don't exactly equate to a guy who can't hit away from Texas. He could hit anywhere.

Why is Mark Buerhle on the mound?

'Fields is starting at 3b tonight. Ozzie is probably sick of watching Crede roll into DPs.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 05:29 PM) Only in Texas. His road OBP is Think about it for a second, not that I wouldn't take Young over Uribe. I think that's a fluke. Frank Thomas only hit 4 road homers a few years ago, and 24 at home. Young will be a good hitter wherever he plays.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 06:00 PM) You pay for the Uhaul, Myself and several other Soxtalkers will take the day off of work and help him load it up. In fact, I might just drive as well to make sure he gets out of here quickly. I'm sure they have Sox fans working the toll booths that would be more than happy to "wave" him right through.