Dick Allen

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Apr 5, 2006 -> 07:26 PM) For whatever it's worth, I was there today (my first game this year). It sucked. We looked flat. Jose looked good through six, so did Brandon. Then Boone gave up the dinger. Hell, that thing looked like a Thome homer. It was cold, it was boring, and that's just how it goes sometimes. Forget 2005. We're never going to have a start in our lifetime like that. However, I trust that Ozzie and KW know what they're doing, and there's a method to their madness. Give it time, people. We didn't win the series, but KC is up next, LOL. Hell I'd rather have bad first half and then smoke down the home stretch then almost blow it all after a first half like we almost did last year. I know that sounds like heresy, but seriously. Like they say, you can lose a season in the first half, but you can't win one (although didn't Cleveland kind of disprove that?). As long as we don't lose in the first half and put together a solid season, I'm happy. Just sit back and enjoy! Baseball is back, for God's sake! I had a crappy day/night but when I walked into the Cell I thought: "Ahhh! My goodness, I'm back!" We have to stop thinking like champions and start worrying about just toughing out each three game/four game series. Then the division. And then, and then... 2005 was great, but it's in the rear view mirror now. This game sucked, but there were some positives. The pitching and defense were good. The bats, I assume, will come around. As will the situational hitting (damn you, AJ! I thought they were toast when you had the bases loaded!). Again, step away from the ledge people. It's been three games. Have fun with the season. P.S. how 'bout that crazy interference on the 1st base side? Or the collision between their pitcher/catcher? That was scary! Side note: the most exciting thing today was apparently some hell of a brawl that was going on in left center, in the bleachers. Politte was pitching but we were all watching that, LOL (I was in 148 along the 3rd base line). GO SOX! Cheer up, people! It was freezing out there today. I have never been so sunburned while freezing my ass off in my life.

I thought putting Logan is was odd, considering BMac was dealing. Still even though nobody in the bullpen was very impressive, they did only allow 2 runs in 5 innings. The Sox had their chances. With Podsednik and Konerko go a combined 1-26 in a series and you still had a great shot of taking 2 of 3 from a very good team, things should be alright down the road, although beware of the bullpen, especially if BMac has to ever move into the rotation. Pods needs to quit hitting lazy fly balls.

Speaking of guys who signed minor league conracts, what happened to Ben Grieve, he isn't on Charlotte's roster?

Freddy was pitching half-assed his last spring training tune-up and everyone even Hawk and DJ were laughing saying he was ready to go. Obviously, he wasn't. If taking 5-7 mph of his fastball is his new approach, considering the success he has had in MLB, I would think the change isn't voluntary. Either his arm strength isn't there yet, or he has lost a few feet on it. He wasn't exactly locating very well today. Its one start, and no need to be concerned yet, but if he goes out there with the same stuff a few more times, I think a surgeon may be called.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Apr 4, 2006 -> 04:11 PM) That's full capacity now. ESPN hasn't updated the max for the Cell. They took out a few thousand seats in the UD, when they renovated. Actually, capacity is a little over 40,000, but every seat was taken. They don't count comps.

Frank was grimmacing a lot last night. He's hoping to play 100 games this year, and I don't think he will make it. Thome is a guy who potentially could hit 50 homers, is left handed, something the Sox need, and draws a lot of walks, something else the Sox need, not to mention he is considered the best teammate in MLB. Rowand is a good player, not a great one, and the Sox strength in their minor league system is outfielders. Anderson can be a good player. He will be adequate this season and a year or 2 from now is likely to be just as good or better than Rowand. Gio and Haigwood, especially Gio to me, were tough to let go, but we have seen so many lower level studs turn to crap its well worth the gamble to me. Give KW credit for having the balls to make the moves. It would have been easy to sit back and do nothing with a world championship under his belt. We waited for minor leaguers refusing to trade them for known commodities under Ron Schueler, and we received performances from Scott Ruffcorn, James Baldwin, Rod Bolton, etc. that were very forgetable.

Next winter is a long way off. These things tend to take care of themselves. I really don't think KW would trade one of them during the season unless the Sox somehow fell apart and were out of it. I wouldn't trade a starter for a reliever unless it is a top of the line closer. Someone may get hurt and open a spot for BMac, someone may not pitch well. BMac may get hurt or not pitch well.

What happened to Contreras?

If you are ever at a game that has a delay watch when they pull the tarp and dump the water on the tarp into the outfield. Puddles appear, but are gone within minutes.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:26 PM) Serious? It's a bag of white powder behind the mound that pitchers use to dry their hands. Just don't use Doc Gooden's. That's a good one

QUOTE(greg775 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:24 PM) This isn't meant to be critical, I just don't have the answer and am curious. Why would they want to start the game at 11 p.m. with tomorrow's weather to be nice? Is it because they know nobody will attend tomorrow's game on such short notice and there would be no walk up gate at all? Is it because they think we will likely win the game? is it because with an off date tomorrow they can play until the 2 a.m. curfew without it bothering anybody? I just wondered what the reason would be to delay a game that long, especially if it poured so hard. I won't mind at all watching it on ESPN at 11 but it seems like a no brainer to call it off. They want to get it in so they don't have to bring everyone back tomorrow. There wouldn't be any walk up gate because the game is a sellout, and for the sake of each pitching staff, playing tomorrow would basically make this a 4 game series. If they got it in tonight, and they only need an inning and a half for an official game, the bullpens get a day's rest. I live on the northside and it stopped raining here.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:22 PM) It wasn't that bad a pitch. A meatball is what Baj threw to Hafner last year. Buerhle wasn't too happy with the pitch, and considering the distance it travelled and its height, I assumed it was a meatball.

I just hope ESPN shows the game when it resumes. If it takes too long they may blow it off like Fox did a couple of years ago.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:18 PM) Meatball... that was as inside as you can go on a strike.... maybe it could of been a little lower or higher instead of middle but I think credit goes to Perez. The ball was crushed. One of the highest home runs I've seen at USCF.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:17 PM) Oh? I didn't get to see that. Was he screaming and swearing and stomping? He fired the rosin bag and was pounding his glove. When the inning was over and he was walking off the mound he seemed pretty animated .

QUOTE(greg775 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:14 PM) we had this same weather front in KC yesterday and it rained all night. I wonder how many fans are sticking it out at the Cell. Probably 25,000 max? Likely 10,000? There were people leaving, but it was raining so hard it was hard to walk out. I would imagine about 20000-25000 will still be there if it starts at 10:30 . Brooks was on the Score on our way home, and he said the front was moving faster than expected, so if that's the case it should re-start pretty soon.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:12 PM) Ah, well, I do hope they send him back out. I know the only stat that matters is a win, but Buehrle's game shouldn't be screwed up by the rain. His game was screwed up by the meatball he threw to Perez. Buerhle was pissed. It was the most upset I think I've ever seen him, he's usually pretty low key.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:11 PM) Hey Dick Allen: I logged onto whitesoxinteractive.com earlier and was listening to harry caray's audio highlight of Dick Allen's long homer to cf bleachers that just missed Harry's net. It was good stuff. I saw him hit one into the CF bleachers when I was a kid. I wonder if that was the one. I'll have to check out that audio. Thanks.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:05 PM) How do we know the cameramen, announcers, groundcrew, ushers, etc. don't have conflicting schedules/obligations? This isn't like preparing people for a makeup game in one week, or one month in advance. Rescheduling a game for an offday so suddenly, without prior notice, will be difficult. It is the reason they have the open date.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:07 PM) So, everyone thinks there's no chance of Buehrle going back out there? They brought him back after a long delay last year, but its so early, and tomorrow is an off day, so overworking the bullpen would be difficult. I would be shocked if he went back out.

QUOTE(whitesoxin' @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 10:04 PM) Why'd you leave? Don't let work or sleep get in the way of your White Sox fandom! I'm a full season ticketholder. I saw the ceremony. The rest of the game will look better from my bed considering I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow.

I just got back from the game. They will get it in I'm sure. They put a message on the board that they will wait out any rain.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 06:45 AM) IIRC there wasn't any retirement talk coming from Dustin last season. It was only brought up this spring [and Dustin denied uttering those words, or implying it]. The media likely asked about it and ran with it No one knows what kind of deals were or are still out there for bullpen guys. But with closers such as Todd Jones and Benitez from SF starting the yr on the DL, it would cost a lot of talent to land any help now. He definitely floated the possibility of retirement due to back issues last season. Lets face it, he was a huge question mark all off season. I've been posting about the bullpen all off season. I see no way the Sox are pissed of at Hermanson. He has done everything they have asked of him. The payroll went up significantly this offseason, but the bullpen was mostly ignored or so it appeared. Either KW decided to roll the dice with Hermanson's back, or there was nobody available at a price the White Sox were comfortable with which would be odd because this guy's White Sox "source" also said that ownership was willing to go to $105 million with the payroll. It also doesn't take a genius to figure the Sox ARE pissed at Jenks. Anyone who follows the team and read the papers can come up with that tidbit.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 2, 2006 -> 05:22 AM) According to MLB trade rumors, the sox are none too happy with Jenks and Dustin. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/04/sox_brass_displ.html Makes a lot of sense. Dustin tells the sox he's ready to go, and KW doesn't make a move [which is unlike him not to fill a need]. If the sox knew Hermanson wasn't ready to go, they'd have made some kind of a deal as a backup plan. We already knew about Jenks and his weight--though how much is related to his lifting and how much just being overweight and out of shape. Why pro athletes would still be out of shape in this day and age is beyond me. They can afford a damn treadmill at least I can see where they would have problems with Jenks, but they knew the story with Hermanson. They knew he hadn't thrown a pitch, and as Herm Schneider says, his back is fine except for the pain when he twists it pitching. I believe one article said if Hermanson were at any other position than pitcher, he would be able to play. I really find it hard to believe they would be pissed at him when last season he was talking about retirement, and when he came to camp he had not thrown 1 pitch all winter. In fact at the end of January at Soxfest someone asked KW about Thome's back. He said it wasn't an issue, that there were a couple of other backs he was way more concerned with. I guarantee one of those was Hermanson's. Besides, what reliever was available a week or 2 into spring training that isn't available now?

Ozzie, at least last season, always sat a guy out the game they were ready to return from injury. The fact that Sabbathia is pitching, and the turf should be wet, I still think Pods will be riding pine when its time to playball tomorrow night.