Dick Allen

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.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 04:11 PM) Yeah, everybody knows 7 at-bats makes a season. Never said it did. I'm referring to the fact that Frank himself said he was in mid-season form a few weeks ago. Just more delusion from someone who thinks they are in their prime. With his foot problem, 7 at bats may not make a season, but it may be close.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 04:24 PM) That guy knows more about baseball than cheat? Has more connections? Humorous. On his Twins big trade rumor, he has nothing, but does say the message boards are chattering about a big deal about to go down. I don't agree with JimH when he says this guy has great sources. I think he basically goes over the sports websites, newspapers, and message boards looking for a rumor, and he posts it. I really don't think there anything posted there anyone else couldn't get if they wanted to do a little investigative reporting. He may know a couple of writers, but if you look at the archives, his information just isn't accurate most of the time. He is sort of a mini-Rotoworld, except he will use total crap from message boards as a source. It really doesn't bother me. Everyone likes a good rumor, even if there isn't an ounce of truth to it.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 03:19 PM) His rumor was a spoof which I personally think was a stupid thing for him to do but don't think for a second the Cubs aren't keeping their radar on Carlos Lee. They are. What is the payroll? It's about $98M with their actual obligation being about $92M isn't it? They are commiting resources, as evidenced today. So it appears what he said is not too far off base. And actually the # he stated was $105 if I recall. KW has come out well after all this stuff got said and indicated there would be room if they needed something mid season. Some of you guys insist he gets his info from message boards, he reports what he sees on message boards and checks it out with his contacts. I have tried to explain this about two dozen times but no one seems to grasp it. He writes up things he hears or seeks out. He gets a lot of stuff from agents, 2nd level front office types, scouts, and media. He could care less if SoxTalk believes him or not. He doesn't care about people on SoxTalk having a scorecard about rumors and discrediting him. Half of you don't read exactly how he says things anyways. I'm not defending him 100% but I will say he's one hell of a lot more in the know than anyone on this board. My point has been made pretty clearly so go ahead all of you and get in your last word and feel good about yourselves for taking potshots at guys like this. Again it doesn't matter to me if a bunch of fans respect this guy or not. Jim, I would advise you to go back and look at his archives. One of his rumors has source who supposedly was a roommate of Barry Larkin's cousin in college. The rumored trade this "source" had was Ronny Cedeno for Brad Wilkerson. Surprisingly, the trade never happened. I understand there is lots of talks and different players mentioned between teams, a point you have brought up before. But there are also lots of rumors which are total BS, trades that were never discussed. Last winter there was a lot of talk about the White Sox being close to landing Juan Pierre. They never discussed Pierre with the Marlins. I wouldn't doubt the Cubs have their eye on CLee. But I am 99.99 percent certain they would not give up the package this guy is talking about for him right now. If I am wrong and Carlos Lee is a Cub by the end of today, I will wear a mlbtraderumors.com shirt to every White Sox game I attend this year. Another thing, if he really wanted credibility and I am not sure he really does, he would get rid of the link on his site where anyone can send him a rumor. Considering no one else has this, its most likely an April Fool's joke.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 01:56 PM) They report chatter, they do not predict which things will happen. Big difference. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that site say this deal could be done by the end of today? He gets some of his info from message boards, there is no doubt in my mind. When the one poster on this board claiming to be the son of an investor said the Sox were willing to go to $106 million with their payroll, that same "rumor" appeared on that site almost word for word. Also the Carl Crawford for Josh Fields rumor was absolutely ridiculous.

I don't buy this. Why would mlbrumors have it and no one else. When is the last time that site actually had a scoop? Ever?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 12:59 PM) That's what you get for not changing your name. Aboz, you mention Vazquez being signed through 2007, but he is also under control through 2008 because he demanded a trade. But his 2008 season would be an arbitration year which, if he pitches well enough that the Sox would still want him then, will be very expensive. Probably $14 million+.

QUOTE(indyman @ Apr 1, 2006 -> 11:50 AM) Everyone is assuming all 5 starters will always be heathy. It's very unusual if 5 starters to be heathy year after year. I'd be surprised if BMac not starting sooner rather than later. This is a great point. The odds of the 5 guys in the rotation all making it through this season and next without any DL appearances are very slim. If somehow they do, its still great news. BMac is going to get his innings and will get starts. I wonder if the tendonitis gave Jose enough of a scare to sign right away, because if he continues what he did the last half of last season, he is an absolute steal. If all the Sox starters remain healthy, I still think Garland is the top candidate to get traded next off season.

Well, Frank is 1 for 7 with a homer and 4 k's on the spring. So much for him being in mid-season form. Besides, for Frank to be in mid-season form, he would need a boot on his left foot.