Dick Allen

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting Kirby will be removed from life-support sometime tonight. RIP Puck.

I thought Cooper was able to turn meat into good pitchers.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) Hopefully he recovers fully and sees the hint that he might want to improve his diet. I don't think you ever fully recover from a stroke. My dad had a mini stroke 7 or 8 years ago, and while he's close he never has been quite the same. It wouldn't be wise to speculate, but it appears Kirby's is severe. Hopefully he can go on living a normal life. 44 years old is way too young for this to happen.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 03:04 PM) Look at my avatar, Farmer said it hit off the CF wall, that would put it well out at US Cellular. Not if it hit it near the bottom of the wall, plus the ball goes a little farther out in Arizona. The one place the ball doesn't jump at USCF is the area the CF scoreboard is covering.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson weren't particularly known for their defensive prowess. Gordon isn't a very good defensive player, but he has improved. His offensive game is at times, unbelievable. Unless he's going in a trade or as part of a trade for a guy like Garnett, I hope the Bulls keep him. If I was Pax, there is no way I would trade him for Pierce. As for the draft, the Bulls certainly need some big players, and definitely need someone who can score on the block. But, I think it is still imperative they draft the best player on the board when they pick. You can get the other guys in FA or trades, and trades seem to be the way Pax is leaning right now. It is an extreme example and one that most likely does not apply to this draft or most drafts, but Portland probably cost itself several championships drafting a need instead of the best player in 1984. In 2 or 3 seasons when hopefully the Bulls are ready to contend for a championship, the glut at certain positions works itself out. It wasn't too long ago the Bulls had too many PF.

Nomo sucks, but he's still just as good or better than Tim Redding.

The Knicks suck so much. What a mess of a franchise.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 05:20 PM) You would be wrong. It's not really old but it's definately "older." I believe 27-29 are usually a player's prime years. No. According to Frank, the prime years are 37-41.

George Offman is just full of insight.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 03:18 PM) I read it, and I think I understood "he's not calling him out". Yet, he did call him out... and (imo) in the process likely embarrassed him. If the way he signals him in from the bullpen doesn't embarass him then what Ozzie said shouldn't embarass him, and if it does, tough s***. Jenks is being counted on heavily. It was very irresponsible of him to come to camp heavier than last year.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 01:29 PM) I prefer Fatolo. But seriously, if Bobby lost too much weight would he lose any MPH off of his fastball? Anyone know? When he was 250 which was 20 lbs. lighter than last year and even more from right now, he threw as hard as he does now. I don't think extra fat helps put MPH on your fastball. This guy needs to watch it, because there haven't been many 300 lb. pitchers that have had a career of much length. He may be getting close to that weight. Ozzie may need some arm extensions to signal him in from the bullpen this year.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 10:33 AM) A little heat, some running, and lots of water and he will shed a few pounds. Bobby's what, 24 years old? His metabolism is only going to slow down. The guy needs to cut back on the beer and food intake. If he doesn't take care of himself, his career will be brief and he and we will wonder what could have been. Hopefully Hermanson is healthy, and feels good when he throws. I am not ready to put all my eggs in the Bobby Jenks' basket just yet.

QUOTE(KeithFranklin @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 07:47 AM) Of all the years for this to happen. When I was young I had to play little league for the Cubs for 2 years. We had to wear actual Cubs caps. It was brutal. I would only put it on when I was on the field. As soon as the third out was made, off it went. I also threw it in the trash at the field the last game of the season.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 03:51 PM) We did get Freeman from you guys and that kid is gonna be a player. Hell the strides he's made offensively in his freshman season have been ridiculous and he's one of the better defensive freshman at the point position that I've seen in a long time. Problem is he came to Iowa solely because of Alford (Freeman's dad was teammates with Alford). My guess is if it weren't for Alford he would have been at IU. I'm glad Iowa got him but I think my biggest fear with Alford leaving is that Freeman will go join him at IU (and Freeman is one of the few younger players we have with some talent). It should be mentioned that Freeman is from Maywood ILL (same place as Dee Brown is from IIRC). I really doubt Freeman would go to Indiana. To transfer from one Big 10 team to another means you would give up your eligibility for a scholarship. Freeman would have to pay his way at IU.

If KW said this he didn't say it to a reporter, he said it to a staff member. There would be many things that are not said to the media that if they were printed in the paper would make this comment look like nothing. And BTW, fronting people money on their contract is a loan, although I said all along that was the one thing KW should never have mentioned.

I read a comment from Konerko either in this thread or another in which he stated he really has never had an older teammate to talk to about hitting that he saw eye to eye with. KW mentioned that he said he was going to go after Thome to Paulie, I think even before the playoffs ended, and Paulie said a big part of his coming back was Thome being with the Sox. Do you think its possible Paulie has no use for Frank and would have taken the Angels money if Thome were still in Philadelphia or somewhere else, and Frank was hopping up and down on his foot to try to prove he was healthy in Tucson? In other words, do you think Paulie had it in his mind that either Frank goes or he goes? I know he speaks kindly about Frank, but that could be all an act.

Maybe KW was wrong to say those things about Frank, but it accomplished what he hoped it would, it shut him up.

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 05:03 PM) see WS dvd. "All of my friends always said that I'd have to get outta here if I ever wanted to win a ring, and I am glad that I decided to stay here to win a championship." I lost all respect for him as a player the second I heard that.... on the WS dvd no less. Good riddance should be classified as an understatement coming from KW. Now he said he should have asked to be traded after he took an ofer in the 2000 playoffs. I guess that means the WS ring means nothing to him.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) The White Sox signed the contract, too. Why is it the team should be able to hold salary against players, but not the other way around? I think all this salary business is meaningless. And yeah, I know what Frank said about it, and I think he's wrong too. When did the White Sox hold salary against any player let alone Frank. I have never heard JR or KW or Schueler when that idiot was here say they were paying someone too much. They have cried they want to much and been stubborn in negotiation, but once the contract is signed, the deal was done. The clause in Thomas' contract was not exercised, Frank got a new contract which gave him a lot more money up front. The White Sox did him a huge favor something they didn't have to do and something that wasn't that sound of business decision, especially considering the clause was triggered by a lack of production.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:20 PM) He said he was misquoted and I believe him. I just finished junior theme and our teacher taught us how to change a quotes meaning without actually taking adding words to it. For example i found an article pretty much trashing Quentin Tarantino (guy who i picked to my junior theme about). The quote was this: "People think Tarantino is the Orson Wells of his generation but he is not. He is no different than any other director." Here what I used in my paper: "Tarantino is the Orson Wells of his generation." It is perfectly legal what I did. I am not adding words to it. That is probably what happened with Frank. Phil Arvia, the last guy who Frank said misquoted or twisted his comments, has the entire interview on tape. He says he did not misquote him. Considering its been 3 or 4 stories with the same theme, if Frank is constantly getting misquoted, why would he continue to grant interviews?

Whats weird is Frank has had a lot of White Sox fan detractors over the years, but he seems to be like a little brother to some. Its alright if you call him an asshole, but if someone else does you have a problem with it.

QUOTE(whitesoxin' @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:08 PM) In 1995-1997 he was one of the top 10 players in the game. 1998 he was one of the top 20, and 1999 before the season started he would have been projected to be in the top 30. Like I said, he deserved the contract that he got. Especially in 1995, coming off of a monster season in the shortened 1994 season. 1998 he hit .265. 1999 he missed most of the last month with an injury and only hit 19 homers. He got paid more than he was worth. He was the one who popped off about his 2000 season when he was worth the money, but then again, maybe not, considering the "greatest hitter in franchise history" failed to get even 1 hit in the playoffs. He was paid nearly $10 million for 68 ABs in 2001. Another $10 million to hit .252 in 2002 and then cried about the diminished skills clause in a contract HE SIGNED. 2003 he was worth what he was paid, but $17.5 million has gone into his pockets the last 2 years for 345 ABs. The subpar offensive years are made even worse by the fact they guy can't play the field.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:07 PM) It makes no difference what he did on the field (which hasn't been anything for a while). You should be evaluating this without statistics to remove bias. Frank has averaged less than 60 RBI a year the last 5 seasons. I think the $42.5 million paid to him during that time could have been spent a lot better.

QUOTE(whitesoxin' @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:03 PM) Let me start out by saying if you voted for "Boo" then you really must not be a Sox fan. *Now insert a smartass comment about me not being a true Sox fan because I got a case of the Thomas Syndrome one day* Frank gave so much to this organization, and it is in no way acceptable to boo him when he comes home. -------- Now let's imagine if you were in Frank Thomas's shoes. You are drafted by the White Sox, and you work almost twenty years to accomplish your ultimate goal of winning the World Series. The destined year finally comes and you get hurt. You aren't able to play in the second half of the season or playoffs. The organization that you have been the face of for years are World Champions, meanwhile you are on the outside looking in and two months later you are kicked out for good. How would you feel? I understand that it is a business and I'm not saying the White Sox were not justified, but it just sucks for Frank that this had to happen. I would be extremely pissed off and ALL of you would feel exactly the same way. Let the man vent. -------- Anybody who makes the argument that Frank has been paid too much money from 2000 through this year, just stop talking. He did not have a monster contract in the 90's when he was in his prime. (Sorry Frank, you're not in your prime right now) The contract he signed was a token of appreciation and what he deserved. You should do some research my friend. In each year from 1995-1997 Frank was in the top 10 paid players. I believe he dropped to the top 20 in 1998 and top 30 in 1999.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 03:56 PM) What about saying "my players" and "my staff" don't miss him and are glad to see him go? He speaks for everyone now? You think that was off the cuff, you don't think he had discussed the situation with Ozzie and JR before he popped off? I think the response was mostly KW with a little Ozzie and JR thrown in. The fact that Ozzie said nothing speaks volumes. I know he said he doesn't start anything, but he does start things and Frank did mention Ozzie's exit from the White Sox as a player.