Dick Allen

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 11:08 AM) If we tie with Cleveland for the division/wildcard, then we actually take the division title by virtue of head to head record. If there is a tie, a tie breaker would be played in Cleveland Monday. They won the coin flip. Head to head doesn't matter. The thing that would really suck would be if the Sox and Cleveland finished with the same record as the 2nd place team in the East, although I'm not sure that's possible. The Sox and Cleveland would be playing for their playoff lives, because a loss is considered a regular season game and they would be a half game out of the wild card.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 10:35 AM) Look at the offense behind him. Man, runs scored is not an "ability", it is all dependent on how well people get behind you and how much you get on base. The only way you can hlpe yourself score runs is to steal bases, and he was the best at that before his legs got hurt, though his legs have really bothered him all year. He missed that series against SEA earlier in the eyar because of it. Pods has gotten on base a lot this year. The only thing he can do at that point, other than getting in scoring position on his own which he did, is to wait for someone behind him to knock him in. We haven't been consistent doing that at all this year. Then that is a flaw with the White Sox new offensive philosophy, and probably should be scrapped.Pods has to rely on others to score and it isn't happening. It also shows the alleged disruption on the basepaths he causes really is overblown. It also doesn't explain the great one's 0-7 with the bases loaded this season with 1 RBI, on a walk. What's to say his legs aren't going to bother him next year? The Sox would be wise to rid themselves of him this offseason when they might actually get something for him. He's a little more expensive next season, and after that, if he does anything to help you, arbitration eligible I believe, when he will be way too expensive for what he brings to the table. Why pay for stolen bases when the rest of the line-up can't bring him in? It would be like the Royals investing big money in a closer.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:59 AM) The division or just a playoff spot? I'm not certain that "wasting" a start just to win the division is better than having him start game 1 of the playoffs. If the playoff spot is assured, trot Brandon out there and let Contraras start game 1. Division title + Contraras start I agree. Who is to say BMac won't fire a gem on Sunday anyway? Although if the Sox were to lose the division on Sunday after being in first place every other day of the season, it would be a little heartbreaking.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:21 AM) I will s*** my pants if that actually happens. Might as well take Everett out now that he had a couple of hits last night.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:39 AM) POds>Carlos Dye>Maggs AJ>everything for the past 10 years Iguchi>Willie You may be right, but except for AJ its pretty close. Pods and Lee are pretty close, Pods has more speed, but is very unaggressive in the field, and Lee is much better than him near the wall. Dye has a stronger arm than Magglio, but I would say there's not much difference in their range, and Ordonez isn't as prone to a collosal f*** up like Dye. Iguchi turns a sweet DP, and makes a lot of difficult plays look easy. He is horrible on pop ups though.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:32 AM) You can Amen all you want. The fact is, its not that simple. AJ is a HUGE reason why the pitching is so good. Without him, regress. We dont have a large amount of strikeout pitchers, our defense is what helps out the pitchers more than anything. With less defense without pods and Dye and iguchi, less outs. The pitching stats wouldnt be as good without these players, nor would the teams record, and that my friend is the bottom line. Pods is average at best in LF. Dye has had his moments in RF, but really hasn't been anywhere near the Gold Glove caliber defender he was several years ago, and Iguchi has been solid, but has definitely had some head scratching moments in the field. AJ I agree has been a big part of the pitching success, but you can't give him all of the credit, and if you go back in time, you will see that I was one poster who said signing him was a must, even when KW said it wasn't going to happen.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 07:58 AM) Pods in Sept: .325 AVG / .391 OBP. The guy is garbage, complete garbage. He's a solid 1 for 6 stealing in Sept. also.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:18 AM) So.....last year's lineup, with the addition of El Duque would be better than third place? Because you cant add Hermy, Vizcaino, or AJ with the old lineup. Wait, or Iguchi. So Ben Davis is catching, Willie harris is playing 2B, not to mention our bullpen. Think again perfect world guy. Calm down. You were talking about the old line-up. The old style of play of hitting homers instead of this Ozzieball that everyone is talking about. Pods certainly isn't the reason this team has 94 wins, nor is Iguchi or AJ. Its the pitching.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:12 AM) Shouldn't the fact that he's on pace to score 81 runs be more of an indictment on the players following Pods in the batting order? As far as the 25 RBI, yeah he's not a power hitter. Thanks for the update. He's failed to get a hit to score a run plenty of times. In fact he is hitless with the bases loaded. And it is an indictment of the players following him. It shows the problem with this style of play, as it shows that the disruptiveness Pods supposedly causes when he's on base is really overblown. Not to mention he is average at best in LF.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:07 AM) its making moves just to make moves. Too many people are mad that we lost and are trying to come up with someway to make themselves feel better or look like they are smarter than people in baseball. So soon you people forget being .500 And all this complaining about our lead off hitter, this lineup, without our power and non-existant lead off hitter is what got us to this record. If you want the old lineup, welcome to third place for the next 3 years. The old line-up and the current pitching staff would do a heck of a lot better than 3rd place. You know that. This team has already won 15 or 16 games scoring 2 or less runs. 2003 and 2004 they won 2 each year. Considering in 2003 they won 86, give them an extra 13 would be 99 victories, hardly third place. This team is the worst in the league hitting with RISP. They have won 94 games. It doesn't add up, and I would be willing to bet if they are the worst in the league hitting with RISP next season, 3rd place might be fortunate.

Putting Pods runs and rbi in perspective, last year in 100 less at bats, Willie Harris, who was replaced because he wasn't good enough, scored 10 less runs than Pods has, and driven in 3 more.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:00 AM) And who are you going to bring in to be the lead off man? Pods is on pace to score 81 runs and knock in 25. He really shouldn't be too hard to replace.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 07:58 AM) PODS? Your first half MVP?? Everyone was slurping this guy until this slide. Who is your lead off hitter than you are bring in then? I love how quickly everyone can turn on this team, when you were all singing their praises as the best white sox team ever in the first half. Boy, I'd hate to be your friends, one time I would let you down and you would abandon me. I've never "slurped up" Pods. I never thought of him as the first half MVP, and if the Sox roster was based on my decisions, I would be really more concerned with the standings at the end of the season than at the midway point. Can you believe the Orioles fired their manager earlier this year? He had that team in first place much of the first half.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 08:31 AM) His decision in that situation to use willie as a pinch runner to make Guillen hurry his play was a great move. Using Borchard as a pinch hitter in that situation. Is a great move. Bring up a switch hitter to keep that pitcher in the game, was a decent move. The pinch hitter swinging at the wrong pitch, bad play. Thats it. He is trying to put players in a position to succeed. And the player didnt come through. I've never seen so much disloyalty before on this site, and it really is sickening. Someone performs for you all season, has people calling it "magical" "best team ever" "greatest summer of my life" and now he doesnt deserve a home here next year. Unbelieveable. If the switch hitter is named Geoff Blum, it is absolutely the wrong move. The man can't hit from either side of the plate.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 08:18 AM) Nicely put and all, but I wasnt ripping Manuel. Manuel was a decent manager, and its obvious by his success for the last 5 years...... Garland matured when Ozzie began to give him more confidence, and you cant argue with the numbers. You guys can try and argue little tiny facts all you want, and try and vent your frustration on Ozzie. But you were the same people who thought he was manager of the year in the first half. Funny how quickly you can turn on YOUR team. He has made this team, made up of average offensive players, and put them in a position to have the best record in the AL. To me, that is not even close to fireable, and mentioning it is downright ignorant. I still think if the Sox win the divison he should be manager of the year, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't rather have a slew of other guys making out the White Sox line-up card. Manager of the year really is a team award. A lot who win the award are looking for a job within 2 seasons. I can't get over him using Blum yesterday, and its the difference between the first half of the season and the second half. It was the wrong move. Blum can't hit, especially when he has about 5 at bats the last month. He rolled into the DP. The first half he probably breaks his bat and bloops one into RF, 2 runs score and Ozzie is a genius. Results aside, it is stupid managing, and while sometimes you get lucky, bad managing eventually catches up to you.

Mr. RockRaines, you are a good poster, a season ticketholder who gives tickets away on this site, I have respect for you, but I really don't understand your logic. You mention how Ozzie knows more baseball than any of us, and how basically his decisons should never be questioned, but you ripped Jerry Manuel's handling of Garland. Using your logic, shouldn't Jerry Manuel, the AL Manager of the Year in 2000, know more about baseball than you, and questioning his use of a player be off limits?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 07:56 AM) And who was the major component of bring in this pitching. And developing Jon Garland instead of yanking him early al la Jerry Manuel. Ozzie did. KW ever said that Ozzie brought up the pitching early last year. It was him headmanning the whole change. getting us a lead off hitter, making the fielding better, and getting us pitching. Now you wish he didnt do that, well welcome to 2004 and 2003 over and over again. Quit giving Ozzie all the credit for Garland, thats a lot of BS. Check Garland's numbers with Ozzie last year and Manuel the year before. Garland finally got his act together between the ears, it had nothing to do with Ozzie leaving him in to get lit up. If you still insist Ozzie is responsible for Garland's turnaround, then tell me what did he do to Marte?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 07:51 AM) You guys are incredible morons. The fact that he took this team, who everyone agreed wasnt going to win the division. And put them in the position to win 96 or more games, is amazing. He was up for manager of the year honors until our bats fell asleep. This team has great pitching and below avg hitting. We are ranked last or near last in almost every hitting category, yet ozzie found a way to make these guys play. He has totally turned this org in a new direction and ITS WORKING. Im ashamed of all of you. Ozzie said he had the team he wanted and was going to win the division at Soxfest. That's before they signed Iguchi. I really doubt they would be in the position they are in without him. If you think the reason the team is winning is because of Ozzie's genius, then you must not think much of KW's ability to put together championship-type teams. The fact is even Ozzie's biggest fan, the Hawkeroo, is getting frustrated by a lot of his decisions. Cleveland has been red hot, but the Sox who have lost a ton of very winnable games the last month should have clinched a playoff berth a while ago.

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 06:56 AM) Wow, implying he plays favorites based on country of origin? I know it seems silly, but this actually has been discussed on sports radio. There are several people who believe Ozzie treats Latin players differently. I think Ozzie's a goof, but I don't see that. I just see a guy who has no confidence in Neal Cotts vs. right handed batters for some reason.

I read where the Crede's baby is in breech position. I was a breech birth.

I said in the game thread, the 4 guys in the line-up I would be looking to replace are Rowand, Crede, Everett, and Pods

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 07:34 PM) Last year we had no leadoff hitter, so we trade a power hitter for a leadoff hitter. This year we have no 3 hole hitter, because we traded him to fill above. The irony. I'd rather have a 3 hitter. Our leadoff man isn't scoring anyway.

Maybe the biggest at bat of the season, maybe the biggest at bat for the White Sox in several years, and Ozzie calls on Geoff Blum? Bring back Terry Bevington.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 07:29 PM) HOW THE f*** DO YOU DROP TWO TO THE f***ING TIRGERS WITH YOUR PLAYOFF LIVES ON THE LINE? We have an idiot for a manager.

This team is screwed.