Dick Allen

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Dec 19, 2005 -> 04:12 PM) "then we could flip duque to someone else for prospects or something" Yea, that would be ideal. I don't see anyone wanting him though--he can't pass a physical, and he's owed 4.5 million. I mean, he's garbage. Too bad we can't just cut him and save money like the NFL. Because he has a guaranteed contract, he can't be cut and be done with it, and you are correct, if he flunks a physical the Sox will not be able to move him anywhere. This trade all depends on how much the D-Backs really want Young. Duque can fail a physical anyday of the week and no one would raise an eye. As long as the D-Backs didn't get cold feet with this deal, or didn't later get offered something they like better than Young, I expect them to complete the deal. If they try to use the condition of Duque's shoulder to get more out of KW, I would imagine he would tell them to go scratch.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Dec 19, 2005 -> 02:47 PM) KW said that. KW said that Crede was doing well in the offseason and that he will be good to go. The thing is he said that he couldn't go into the season knowing that something bad could happen that he previously knew about, without doing something to back it up. Buts its possible KW doesn't know what hes talking about. I mean he's only the GM No, KW commented on Hermanson's back, and has not said diddly about Crede.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Dec 19, 2005 -> 02:37 PM) But my point is that evens out. You don't trade a pitcher like Garland to get a player that is just a little bit better than the one you have. And we have Crede locked up for a couple of more years and a price that will be even cheaper than that. 5 Million is ridiculous for a player that has a road OPS lower than Scott Podsednik for the last three years. And I'm aruging with a guy who think Podsednik sucks. You are pretty much getting a player that will only help you out when he is at home against right handed pitchers. That is signficantly cutting down on his worth. So you are also saying that the just turned 25 year old Blalock doesn't have the ability to improve his numbers on the road? That he's pretty much has maxed out. The other major concern the White Sox have that you are apparently overlooking is the condition of Crede's back. Maybe he will be fine, but all indications are the White Sox are concerned.

Watching this particular replay has made me dislocate my shoulder from patting myself on the back so much for not wanting Matt Clement signing with the White Sox last offseason. Now Boston is stuck with him, and they don't want him.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Dec 18, 2005 -> 10:04 AM) Isn't Izturis slated to miss half the season? And what purpose would he serve on the current White Sox? I could see Garland being moved to LA, just don't know why Izturis should be involved. I really think that Texas is where Garland winds up if the Sox trade him. They desperately need pitching, and eventually will be willing to overpay. I also think the Sox love Blalock.

Good luck to Nomar. I met him last summer, and despite what some say, he is a very nice guy.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2005 -> 10:15 PM) If Clinton had done this, he would have just lied about it anyway... George W. Bush has never lied about anything since he was defeated into office back in 2000.

Personally, I still think Contreras without Duque is a concern. I wouldn't expect Cooper to say anything other than what he said about it.

The new Cardinals station and the Score, the White Sox new station are owned by the same parent company.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 16, 2005 -> 10:57 AM) It would shock me, simply because we have nowhere to put him. He's a liablility in CF these days. I love Griffey and do believe he can still play CF. I don't think he could play it for a full schedule though, and the DH role seems to not be available with the World Champions.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 16, 2005 -> 07:38 AM) They should put brick on the walls of the bullpen. It would look so much better than the gray wall. Probably just basic upkeep. This seat sale if they are only selling 7000 seats will net them less than $2 million. Hardly enough for anything very significant.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:51 PM) Wilkerson is a damn good player who's always played in a bad hitter's park. He could easily put up numbers better than Blalock or Crede. If the Sox were able to make this trade, and it probably is just a BS rumor, the offense would be fun to watch. Maybe the most enjoyable White Sox offense of our lifetimes.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:50 PM) Yeah because Blalock wasn't supposed to be offered up in that Beckett deal at all. Oh, I remember that now. Blalock just turned 25 a month ago. Why don't you compare his and Crede's numbers at a comparable age?

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:47 PM) If he's such a stud player, then why is he one of the guys they are always willing to give up in trades? I liked the Pods trade simply because it gave us a leadoff hitter not named Aaron Rowand. They have traded him the same amount of times the White Sox traded Frank Thomas. Great players get traded and some non-tendered every year.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:42 PM) Look at the park adjusted stats. They're the same player. Then why not take the younger player with a far greater upside? One of the criticisms of Blalock the last couple of years is he has been swinging for the fences. There are more than a couple scouts who compare him to George Brett when he has his line drive stroke working.

Blalock is only 3 months older than Jerry Owens and he has 89 career homers.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:33 PM) Officially the most one-sided thread of the year. And were not even taking into account the issue with his back. The White Sox are obviously very concerned.

1000 to 1 at best.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:29 PM) Sorry, he had the protection of Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand/Aj Pierzynski. That's hell of protection. Your protection argument is total BS. The higher up in the order he hit, the worse he hit. Its not like Pods provided much protection for him when he hit ninth. He isn't exactly a guy who can drive runs home.

Considering Crede hit .333 batting 9th, .241 batting 8th, and .155 batting 7th, the last thing you would want to do is have him hit 3,4 or 5.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:19 PM) I'm pretty sure Crede was the 9 hole hitter until the last month or so of the season. He had 102 ABs batting 9th and hit .333 with 9 homers batting ninth. He had 253 ABs in the 8th spot with a lot less success.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:18 PM) I don't know if we should trade for Blalock or not but why do people worry so much that he only hits well at Ameriquest? Would he not hit at the Cell as well? No. He could only hit at Texas. Which is good because the Sox have struggled there in recent years.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:17 PM) Cleveland has a pretty good staff. The Tigers have 2 good pitchers. Royals have like 1. Seattle doesn't have a great staff. Oakland does, but Harden was injured for more than half the year. The Angels had Colon and that's it. Washburn and Lackey weren't bad, and their bullpen was pretty good.

Hank Blalock isn't going to suck anywhere. He will hit with comparable or better numbers than he has put up thus far in his career. Joe Crede had to get hot at the end of the year to hit .250. He was nails in the playoffs, and seems poised for a breakout. The Sox have been here a few times with him already in his career and have been dissapointed each time. I think Crede has the better glove, but only slightly.

nitetrain, I noticed in the Frank Thomas thread you wrote you never want him to leave. Ever notice his horrific splits the last 4 or 5 seasons between home and away? There's nothing to say Blalock wouldn't flourish at USCF, and as to his numbers dying in the second half, maybe not playing in the 100 degree heat for half his schedule will keep him stronger.