Dick Allen

I think $2.3 million would be more than fair for what KW himself described as an impact player.

I think the key question to the Sox will be at what level will Frank Thomas be able to play. If he can't do much the offense is going to have to get career years from a bunch of guys, no matter how good this pitching staff is, which to me is better than average at best.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 03:43 PM) With absolutely no other catching prospects in the system that will be able to be a contributor in the majors for a few years, there's no reason not to give A.J. a 2 yr deal. This is true. Especially with the fact that KW gave Sandy Alomar Jr. 2 years a couple of years ago at over $2 million per, and at that point he could barely walk. AJ is far superior to what Sandy was when he came to the Sox. I saw Sandy at the Boston hotel in September 2003. My wife noticed how bad he was limping and wondered how he could play. You really have to give Sandy credit, he really has nothing left, physically. He a big man but his knees are so cashed he has no power. He can't throw, his game calling is vastly overrated (the team era when he is catching is usually higher than it is when someone else is. In fact, during his prime in Cleveland, the team era was almost a run a game higher a few seasons) But he still makes himself at least a marginally valuable guy on the roster.

I think the Bears should bring in Ron Turner. They had a pretty good offense when he was OC before taking the Illinois job. I think he's a good coach, just couldn't recruit in college.

I think what AJ brings is a guy who was a major part of winning baseball teams. I think its really important when adding to a team, you add at least a few guys who have experience winning. So many times guys are picked up from cellar dwellar teams, and although they have nice obp's , era's etc. they haven't been around a winning environment, they've been putting up numbers playing meaningless games, and really don't know how to win. A lot of players have been studs in Montreal, only to be traded and become quite average. 2 obvious exceptions are Pedro and Vlad. MLB is not Rotisserie baseball. Teams have to know how to win.

QUOTE(lvjeremylv @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 10:16 AM) Didn't remember Magglio doing that in the brawl. Other than that, though, when did you ever see the guy get fired up about anything? He always seemed far too calm to me. It's just the guy's personality, and there's nothing wrong with being even-kiltered, believe me. But, in professional sports, you need to have a couple of guys who are a little wacky and short-tempered. And what did Carlos ever do to make you think he had a pair? Other than get pissed when he didn't get to RBI 100 last season? I've seen Magglio really fired up, so much so he threw his batting gloves and hat into the stands, and I came up with his hat. I saw Carlos come up with some big hits, and make some good plays in the field when needed. Its funny, many of the same people who defended Valentin, and carried his range factor in their pockets rip Lee who had one of the best range factors for LFs in baseball. The fact is, Lee isn't a very good LF, (just like Valentin isn't a very good SS) and may be out of position a lot, and may not get very good jumps, but did make plays when they had to be made. I agree with you about having a few goofs on the team. I want the Sox to sign AJ really bad, his personality while probably really grating, may be just what this team needs.

QUOTE(lvjeremylv @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 10:06 AM) The last guy that we've had on the Sox who had any balls was Jim Parque. That brawl with the Tigers in 2000 was a thing of beauty, and is the thing I remember most about that season even though we won the most games in the AL (all of baseball maybe, not sure about that) and had several players have great seasons. This team has been severely lacking in the "I've got balls" department, and hopefully the dumping of Magglio and Lee, who are both absolutely sackless, will help fix that. We need AJ to show some of our sheepish players what it takes to win games. Sometimes it takes an asshole attitude to put you over the top, and AJ possesses that quality -- and yes, if directed correctly, it is most definitely a quality. As "sackless" as you think Magglio is, he was a big part of the brawl you mentioned. He gave a flying karate kick to one of the Tigers and was suspended a few games. Lee also was far from "sackless."

QUOTE(SoIL @ Jan 3, 2005 -> 03:14 PM) --INF Juan Uribe, who signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract three weeks ago, is rumored to have put on a lot of extra weight this offseason, and not good weight. Manager Ozzie Guillen said at the end of last season that his players had all better come into spring training in shape and ready to play or they won't be playing for him. I had a few beers with a cousin of mine last week and he was saying Uribe had put on near 40 pounds. I don't know where he heard it and I was hoping he was wrong, but it doesn't sound like he was. 40 lbs would be pretty tough to put on in 2 1/2 months, unless you're Sammy Sosa.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 31, 2004 -> 08:43 PM) It sure gave me a different perspective. But Hawks tenure was also about the deals that didn't get made. I seem to remember an 11 player for 8 player deal that never got made? Can anyone help me out with that one??? There was a deal that year that didn't get made. Andre Dawson was supposed to come to the Sox for some minor leaguers. It was so close to being done that Dawson took batting practice in Montreal with a Sox hat on. It might have prevented Dawson from signing that blank contract and winning the MVP with the Cubs the next season.

Why is everyone worried about AJ's "clubhouse presence"? Last I checked, his teams have been in contention the last several years. If he was or is such a negative presence, it obviously didn't affect his teammates play on the field.

AJ is one of the best in the league at blocking pitches in the dirt.

Marriotti was also pretty rude to Bruce Levine when Levine co hosted the show. Marriotti has every right to criticize the Sox and Bulls, but his criticism was obviously personal, which really isn't good, especially when you are spouting off your BS on the teams' flagship.

I'd like to see the White Sox swing a deal for Kaz Matsui. He is supposed to be available, although I believe he has a no trade clause which permits him to be traded only to the Yankees, or the LA area teams. He was a little dissapointing last year, but still had decent numbers. I think with a year in the U.S. under his belt and a switch to the AL which is more a breaking ball league, like Japan, he could really bust out. He could play SS or 2B which would provide Ozzie with huge flexibility.

That's the way I saw it. To say the ground can't cause a fumble is not true in the NFL. If he isn't touched its a fumble. The referee should be fined, suspended and/or fired for that replay call in the end zone however. That was brutal.

Obviously, even KW, one of Willie's biggest backers doesn't share your optimism. He traded for a cooked Robbie Alomar twice because Willie wasn't up for the job,(Willie hit .182 in June and .188 in July and drove home 2 runs combined those 2 months last season) and made his first order of business this off season signing Omar Vizquel which would have put Willie deep on the bench or out of the organization. Dave Wills, a guy who bends over backwards giving Sox players a fair shake, said Willie has a bad attitude. Maybe he gets his head on straight and those hot streaks turn out not to be a fluke. I'm not counting on it.

What has Willie ever done on the major league level to make anyone believe he can be a regular?

If the White Sox are relying on Willie Harris doing anything, the playoffs are a pipe dream.

Timo played the entire season with a quad injury. He isn't the fastest guy in the world, but is faster than he showed last season. He's also a pretty good outfielder, and has more range than he showed. He's a decent 4th outfielder, can fill in at all 3 spots, gets some big hits, and makes less than half the average salary and less than 1/8th of a pitcher who won 9 games last year. I don't think its a bad deal.

Rush, of course. I have a couple of boots, one from their last tour this summer, and one that's been remastered from 1980. The quality of bootlegs has really risen the past 15 years. I keep my Robin Trower close by.

You're right.

I think there is a lot of radio interference if you try to pick it up in the city. I live on the gold coast and am1000 comes in, but very staticy in my home. When my friend and I go to the games we turn on the post game for the ride home, and almost always completely lose reception when we get near downtown until we get about 2 blocks north of the Chicago River.

Just wait until a huge chunk of concrete falls at the Urinal, crashing through the protective netting. Marriotti will be writing about how nobody listened to him when he was calling for the dump to be torn down.

Evidently, ARod didn't, HE has to sign the contract. If ARod absolutely didn't want to play for Texas, he wouldn't have. Give me a break. Boras doesn't have that much power over these guys. They chase the money too.

I don't think ARod was open to switching positions in 2001.

He made a boat load more money than he would have made anywhere else, and seemed to enjoy his time there.