Dick Allen

I went to a minor league game on Tuesday morning. Wes Whistler was pitching, Pods took him deep to CF for a double. Thome lined a double against the RF wall. Thome didn't run, but seems to be alright considering he was in today's line-up.

I am in Tucson and was at the game behind home with the scouts. The radar the scouts were using had Jenks at 91 most of the time. He hit 92 once or twice,and 93 on the 2 run double. Real games are a week and a half away, I think Jenks may find he is not the closer if improvement isn't immenent. I don't think it means anything, but all of the scout's interest picked up when Politte took the mound. He hit 92 a couple of times. I don't know what the gun on television was showing, but Buerhle looked good, and he never got higher than 84.

If Nomo's the best KW can do for middle relief, he should just give Tracey the job. Nomo pitches batting practice. TB released him. That should speak volumes. I'm sure KW signed him to draw some people in Charlotte.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 19, 2006 -> 04:33 PM) I'm sure glad the refs got this call right and called the foul on Arnold. It's not like that would make a difference in a game that is decided by 1 possesion. Do you have the photo a split second before this showing the push of the Washington player? Notice his legs, he's probably grabbing the Illinois player so he won't fall down.

Over half of Indiana's shots were 3 point attempts. You don't go to the line much playing that way. Gonzaga had about 1/6th 3 point attempts. Besides, the Hooisers didn't exactly fair well with the free throw attempts they were allotted. Read what Dee Brown had to say about the Illini, he said the Illini were hacking and not executing. He's not blaming their loss on officials. A fairly called basketball game doesn't have to end with similar free throw attempts.

Although there was a huge difference in free throws in both the Indiana and Illinois games, I think thinking a fix may be on, or that the officials cost each of these teams the game is a stretch. Indiana was hoisting up 3's and fouling. They had a game in the Big Ten this year where they didn't shoot a free throw at all until about 5 minutes was left in the game. When Killingsworth got a T, the replay showed an obvious foul.Indiana also had 3 lay-ups in the little over a half of the game I saw that didn't even graze rim. Illinois had an 11 point lead, which they blew. They didn't execute offensively and threw the ball away a lot. I think it was wharris1 who mentioned the officiating during the Big Ten season, and I think he has a good point. For as long as I can remember the Big Ten has been very physical and officials let you get away with a lot more than what you would be able to get away with in other conferences. Considering the Big Ten is usually a flop in the tournament, there obviously have been exceptions, I wonder if the loose way games are called during conference play hurts Big Ten teams when its tournament time.

We should have a poll afterthe next post about a player the Bears are interested it, guessing which of the other NFL teams will sign him.

3 years, $25 million? Has Jerry Jones been paying attention the last couple of years? The guy is a great talent, but has acted his way off of 3 teams. SF, the trade to Balt. and Philly. Nothing would please me more than if he were to continue his cancerous ways in the Big D.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 18, 2006 -> 07:50 AM) But there is a good reason to push them to play even better -- trade value. If I'm Ozzie and I see what Hermanson is going through, I want both of these guys to hit .500 so Kenny can trade one of them for a reliever. But I read that article and it seems like Ozzie is doing the same thing with Boone Logan. He is hyping the kid up so the other pitchers start performing. Borchard and Gload hitting .500 the last 2 weeks of spring training isn't going to raise their trade value.They have too much of a track record to base projections on 2 weeks worth of hitting in meaningless games. I don't think its Ozzie's style to try and indirectly motivate like that. If he thinks Borchard or Gload need to kick it up a gear or 2, I think he would just come out and say it. As to his comments about Boone Logan, he did refer to the other guys vying for the job as horses***.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 18, 2006 -> 07:42 AM) I think it's all talk. Sweeney will be playing in the minors. We have two guys who are out of options so it makes no sense. I think Ozzie just wants to motivate Borchard and Gload. I really don't think those two need any more motivation. I do agree that its most likely just talk. Besides, Borchard and Gload have both played pretty well this spring.

The most interesting thing to me is Ozzie is seriously considering keeping Sweeney with the team. You would think they would want him to be playing everyday instead of getting at bats every now and then on the big league level.

Ray Meyer died today at the age of 92. He was a very nice man who I had the opportunity to sit next to at the Big Ten Tournament last year, and truly a legend in college basketball.

I'm concerned about Jenks because he has never put his arm through what he put it through last season. He made 20 starts in 2002. That is the most he has made in his career. I believe he made 16 starts in 2003 and 14 in 2000. Last year between Birmingham and the White Sox, he appeared in 67 games. It may have an effect on his arm.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 17, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) Of course. It's sort of disappointing when the best thing going in our minors concerning pitching is Boone Logan. Reynoso has talent, yet has inherited Marte's wildness. According to his numbers (yes, small sample) he's dominated RH and has been hit well by LH. Don't need this from a lefty at this point. He obviously throws hard, but why is he throwing 95 and Jenks 91 if it takes hard throwers longer to get ready? Shouldn't there be a little concern that Jenks is down a consistent 7 or 8 mph on his fastball right now?

Reynoso is throwing 95. He's looked good this spring, but that is 6 walks in 6 innings, against mostly minor leaguers.

Yet another minor league free agent pitcher who is showing exactly why he was available.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 16, 2006 -> 10:41 PM) I wouldn't mind Juan Cruz. He's a hardthrowing righthander who can't possibly post numbers worst than a Backless Hermanson. I still recall his first game in the major leagues--I believe it was Dave Otto whom used the term "Little Pedro" to describe his explosiveness. It all depends on what Beane is willing to accept for Cruz. Cruz has talent and has atleast proven in Atlanta the ability to be a reliable setup man. What would he want for someone like that? Wasn't there rumors last season that KW was close to acquiring Cruz?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 10:17 PM) Blalock has been projected as a late first-early second and Stinson a second rounder from what I've seen. The scuttlebutt is ISU had three draft picks on their team this year between those two and Clark. At least they have some talent on their team at the time of this scandal. When I was at Iowa and the Iowa State football program got in trouble, they had a horrible team. They used to have bumper stickers, "Iowa State Football: The Worst Team Money Can Buy"

He was injured last year. I remember when they were playing in Toronto early in the season, and they showed him warming up. He was trying to shake pain out of his arm. Whether there really is a problem with his arm or shoulder at this point, its in his head that there is, so there probably is very little chance of him returning to his once dominating ways in 2006.

Herm on Frank's 2004 injury which was eventually diagnosed as a broken bone "It has the potential to bother him the rest of the year. He's got some garbage in his ankle and it's there. We can calm down the inflammation and he either can deal with it or he can't

I will feel better about it after they return to the line-up. They came to the same conclusion of arthroscopic surgery for Ordonez on Saturday morning at Rush University Medical Center, performed by Dr. Bush-Joseph. While Schneider still couldn't specify Ordonez's malady, he indicated Friday the injury doesn't seem to be severe.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:57 PM) Here's the problem....when he tried to gut it out, he had nothing on his pitches. I respect Hermanson for the great job he did for us last season, but I don't want him on the mound if he's not even close to 80 percent. Right. His smoke and mirrors act is only going to work for a finite period of time. Watching how he was getting roped in the playoffs and thus far in spring training, that time appears to be up.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:53 PM) There were threads about this at that time. In short, from what I recall and know myself, back surgeries are dicey deals. They can fix all, or do worse damage, or something in between. With disc problems, surgery is seen as a last resort. I think there are very few athletes that were able to do much after back surgery. Scottie Pippen is one I know of, but if you know anyone who has had back surgery, they usually are still a little screwed up after the procedure.

The Contreras thing is a concern because if he winds up having to miss a start or 2 or ?, McCarthy goes into the rotation, and the bullpen becomes even more questionable.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) :headshake No news is bad news in this case. Dustin is done. Pods is a huge piece to the Sox puzzle. I just hope they are careful with him. The Jose situation doesnt sound like anything. Herm did say that this entire season for Dustin will be like the last half of last year when he was basically shot. He gutted it out a few times, but he obviously can't be counted on.