Dick Allen

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 05:23 PM) Now, tell me what you would've said here had McCarthy served up a long ball to Hafner. Do tell. I bet it would've been something along the lines of "why not Cotts, heck, why not Logan even?". As for Jenks, no one said he has little confidence in Jenks. Ozzie said he'd be giving Cotts some save opportunities is the timing and match ups were right. No I wouldn't. I don't lie. I can admit when I wrong. I thought they should have left McCarthy in. If not him, its the 8th inning, I'm going to Cotts if he's able to go, which obviously he was, if he wasn't able it would have been Thornton for me, but I could understand if it were Logan for others. If Ozzie was totally confident with Jenks, he wouldn't have to save Cotts, especially with Hafner, Martinez and Broussard coming up in the 8th inning.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) It amazes me how much stock people seem to put in the first couple of games of the season. The season isn't won or loss due to one poorly executed game on the first Wednesday of the season. The season isn't won or lost, but what I was getting at was the players goal is to win series. Cleveland winning the series was a huge boost to their mental being. The Sox had a ton of distractions, so really its no skin off their back. I was saying if Cleveland lost it may become a situation like the Sox and Minnesota a couple of years ago when the Sox just couldn't beat them. What was the Cleveland vs. White Sox head to head last year?

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 05:18 PM) I don't think Cleveland is the type of team that'd get demoralized with the season just three games in. Thank you.

QUOTE(GasHeGone @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 05:17 PM) We need a win tonight in a big way. If we recall last year, the Sox were amazing at avoiding three game losing streaks. I wanna say they never lost three straight until they lost 7 (or was it 8?) straight last August. It may only be April 7, but let's not set a precedent here by losing three straight. Garland's going 7+ tonight. I hope you're right. The game I saw Garland pitch in Tucson, he got pummelled. Then he got pummelled by minor leaguers his next outing. Hopefully it was the thin Arizona air and/or a dead arm period. If his sinker is working, he should be fine.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 05:12 PM) Today is Sunday? Well, we are playing the Royals. Day game tomorrow, so I see why Widger's playing. Dye is hurt. So the only question mark is Pods - He hasn't really looked 100% anyway. Pods is 0-13 and a lefty is on the mound. Ozuna is probably the better bet. Its really too bad the Sox couldn't win Wednesday. It would have been demoralizing to Cleveland had the Sox leadoff man and clean-up hitter go a combined 1-26 and the Sox still took 2 out of 3.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 04:51 PM) Keith, He wanted to save Cotts in case he needed him in the 9th or a tie game. Logan is the lefty specialist, that's why he used him against Hafner in the 8th. You are correct that both pitched two innings. Guillen used Logan in the role they have him in, he made a bad pitch. As for Thornton, I'm sure he'll get some innings this weekend. If he has so little confidence in Jenks in the ninth, that he can't use his primary left handed set-up man in the 8th, there is a huge problem. And if he wanted to save someone for extra innings, he might as well have left McCarthy in. I was at the game, and can tell you my entire section was questioning this move when it occurred. That's not second guessing, and its not micro-managing. Micro-managing would be what Ozzie did. Make sure Hafner saw a lefty, no matter what.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 09:58 AM) Riiiiiiiiiiiight. No one would have gotten on here and mentioned that Neal pitched two innings the prior day and that Logan got Hafner to GIDP on opening day and ripped Ozzie for using Cotts despite those facts. That is laughable. Actually, both Logan and Cotts pitched 2 innings on Tuesday. Logan did get Hafner to roll into a DP on Tuesday, but it also gave him a good look at him. What happened to Matt Thornton? I haven't heard 1 person mention the 2 innings Logan pitched Tuesday. Obviously, Cotts was available, everyone in the bullpen was available. Ozzie chose to use the last guy on his staff. It backfired. We will never know how the others would have fared, it may have been worse, but if it was, I would have been able to go home sooner, it was freezing.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 11:00 AM) If he's afraid to put him in to face Hafner then Logan shouldn't be on the team. It was a bad pitch, that's not the managers fault. That's not the point. Was he afraid to have BMac face him, is that why he was yanked? Of course not. It was the 8th inning, to me that's Cotts' job if they aren't going to let BMac, a guy who was pitching pretty well, continue. Maybe it was a test to see if Logan can do the job in those situations. I would prefer, and others on this board agree, Ozzie doesn't do his testing in a 1 run game in the 8th inning against the team that most likely poses the biggest threat to the White Sox division title defense. Losing that game was a 2 game swing with Cleveland, and last year we found out how important winning series against division opponents is, and how important winning games in April is. Now, Cotts wasn't exactly stellar Wednesday either, and he may have coughed up the lead himself. I actually was stunned they didn't let McCarthy continue. I'd rather have a righty I know is throwing well face Hafner, than a lefty with 1 inning above A ball at that point, that might not have his good stuff that day. Worst case scenerio BMac gives up a homer, but then you have an extra guy in the bullpen if the game goes extra innings.

It was Nancy's idea to work the reduced schedule. The White Sox are not phasing her out, and as far as I know she plans on working this reduced schedule for the forseeable future. I'm pretty sure the contract she signed this past off-season was multi-year.

QUOTE(G&T @ Apr 5, 2006 -> 11:51 PM) This is the first time I'm seeing the payroll over $100 million for this year. I thought it was $95-96 million. I'm suprised to say the least. The Sox are getting a little relief from Thome and Vazquez. So while the totals are their full salary, the Sox aren't paying all of that. The Sox obligation is what you thought it was. At least we won't have to hear how cheap JR supposedly is anymore.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 5, 2006 -> 09:25 PM) GMAB. Did anyone happen to mention that using Logan early just so happened to leave Ozzie Neal Cotts to fave Travis Hafner late in the game? Would you rather have seen Logan or Thornton facing Haf in the 9th or 7th? Also, we all can look back at the last two season and see repeated instances where Ozzie used young guys in key situations. For christ sakes he used a 300 pound alcoholic rookie with an eating disorder to close games in the playoffs and world series against one some of the best powerhitters of our generation! You want to tell me that was smarter than using a 21 year rookie leaguer on April 4th? This is the way that Ozzie manages. I know many people can't see past today, but there is a method to the madness, and you can't convince me that we win the World Series with Cliff Politte close, Damaso Marte facing the key lefties late, and not utilizing our bench in the playoffs. The only reason Ozzie Guillen knew that these kids were cut out for the bigtime is because he tested them in pressure situations that in the grand scheme of things didn't mean a damned thing. The reason Ozzie used a 300 pound alcohlic to close games was because he had to. If Hermy hadn't been injured or Shingo hadn't been ineffective, Jenks wouldn't have had a save opportunity. They were looking for closers last year, but their price was prohibitive. I don't understand why its so imperative a lefty faces Hafner. McCarthy was pitching well, and if I were the manager, I would feel a lot better with McCarthy who I know is pitching well, facing Hafner, than to bring in a guy who was not too effective the day before, and at that point hadn't pitched 2 innings above A ball in his life. It obviously was a gamble that backfired. In the grand scheme of things, I would much rather have Ozzie test what kind of balls Logan has against any team but the one that probably is set up best to keep the Sox from repeating. There is no question Logan earned his way on to this team this spring, but he needs to be eased into things. This is a huge jump he's making, and it wouldn't surprise me if he's in the minor leagues in a couple of weeks.

The regular organ broke in the 2nd inning of the opener. They are using a temporary one until it is fixed.

QUOTE(whitesoxin' @ Apr 5, 2006 -> 08:37 PM) Are you saying I'm seeing things? I hope you're refering to yourself because your pre-edited post obviously had the "$" after 10,000. I don't think you know my boss who only cares about making money. He doesn't give a s*** about how much money his employees make. We've all been there with the kind of boss you have. Just by your posts its easy to figure you are too intelligent to work for the pay you are receivng. Get a new job, and go to college. With a few more dollars in your pocket, and bank account, you may have a different perspective on what is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on someone you love.

$10,000 a year would be below minimum wage if these adults were working full time.

I'm sure the White Sox got a pretty good deal on these rings and while it may cost you $20k if you wanted one just like it, it didn't cost JR and friends 20k each to buy 432 of them. Diamonds are a tricky business. I know when we went to insure my wife's engagement ring it was appraised over triple what I paid for it. I never told her what I paid, so I actually wasn't persona non grata for a week or so. I hope to God my Acct. Rep didn't get one, I don't think he's worked a day in his life, but I'm sure he did. I actually heard him paged at the park today. I guarantee he didn't answer it.

Anyone see that fight near the end of the game in the bleachers? I didn't have a good vantage point, but one of the combatants gave about 6 or 7 security personnel all they could handle out there.

Anyone see that fight near the end of the game in the bleachers? I didn't have a good vantage point, but one of the combatants gave about 6 or 7 security personnel all they could handle out there.

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?