Dick Allen

I don't think Our Chuck is allowed to talk about Harrison without saying he brings a lot of energy.

The Phillies could use him. They totally disregard defense. This season, the Phillies will probably be able to let everyone know how important defense, especially OF defense is, vs. having some serious sluggers.

The way this guy hit after missing so much time makes me wonder how good he may have been if he could have stayed healthy.

If I am a GM on a contending team in the middle of July and need a RF, I would much prefer a guy who has been playing than a guy who has been waiting.

As time has gone on, the use of pal has become very impersonal. You call someone pal or buddy that you don't know, you and they know what's up. I walk my dog, people call him buddy. I could be wrong, but I don't think Ray Ray wants to take me home and rub my belly.

There's also rumors he has long covid. Who knows what it true, but the fact that Boras spokesman Heyman has nothing indicates to me, he is going to be out there a while. Maybe they are now waiting for an injury.

And it's because Merkin re tweeted an article about him. In the article, 5 or 6 suitors were mentioned. One team was absent.

The QO expires after the draft. The draft is on July 17th this year. That isn't going to work well.

I think if he is not vaxxed that could be causing the hold up. Story wasn't vaxxed either. He just got it.

Trevor Story agreed to get paid $140 million on Sunday, but was not vaxxed . Boston was going to back out of the deal. Story got vaxxed on Tuesday. May be one reason Conforto is still out there.

Pretty much shows they aren't making room for a real addition to the 40.

All the Yoans.

It would probably be good for minor leaguers. It would probably be good for guys who want to buy teams that would have a hard time getting enough of the other owners to approve, and it probably would mean 3 teams in NYC. Territorial rights would probably be shattered.

But this is where you are safe. If he sucks, it's nothing on you, but RH, KW, JR get heat. If it actually was your job, and your job was on the line if things didn't work out, you wouldn't really think that. You throw it out there so if somehow it comes true, you'll go back and show us, but if the reality is, these guys are what they are, no one ever sees it again. Who are some of the other cheap failed starters you would have had make up the Sox bullpen?

Kimbrel's ERA last spring was over 12.00.

Then how come you aren't drooling over Valasquez?

There is way too much stock put into spring training results.

I'm not being naive. If you thought the 2005 team could be really good before they played a game and thought a bullpen counting on Politte, Cotts, Vizcaino and Hermanson with their track records, was very solid, there aren't many White Sox teams you could think didn't have a chance of being very good. They won in 2005, they deserved to win in 2005, but they got performances no one could see coming, and a few no one would ever see again out of multiple pitchers. Not to mention a ball going through Graffinino's legs and perhaps the most improbable El Duque performance away from being a typical White Sox playoff team bowing out in the first round.

Not saying that at all, just challenging Balta's claim that he knew the 2005 White Sox had a great offseason are were ready for a championship. Gio/Lynn are the equivalent of Buehrle/Garcia coming into the season. Cease is at least what Garland was. Kopech is at least what you thought you could get out of El Duque, and Kuechels 2021 ERA is similar to Contreras' ERA in 2004. Only Balta knew what Contreras was about to become. The bullpen is much deeper projection-wise. Hermanson, Politte, Cotts....did you see their careers before 2001? Vizcaino, Marte were alright, but before the season started in 2005, on paper, this staff blows that one out of the water, as does the line up. I think they needed to do more things this year, because almost everything going right hardly ever happens, but on paper, the 2022 Opening Day White Sox destroy the on paper 2005 Opening Day White Sox.

Their bench was pretty pathetic actually. Timo, Ross Gload, Pablo Ozuna, Willie Harris. The bench was such a concern, Blum was acquired and he sucked until 1 AB. . And how deep were they really on the pitching side? They were at closer where Shingo bombed, but Hermanson was great until he got hurt, and then Jenks. But they had few injuries. If this year's White Sox team was guaranteed to have 6 guys only start games, I;m pretty sure they are going to be very successful.That team was blessed, which was great for all of us. I also believe the analytics at the time had them projected a lot closer to last place than first. If you liked the back end of that bullpen prior to the season beginning, how can you not love this year's version? This year's team is so much better on paper than that team was before the season began, it's almost a joke.

So you knew Politte and Cotts were going to have career years. That Dustin Hermanson would be nails until he couldn't pitch, but the minor leaguer they would get on waivers could and would save the day. That the Contreras with the mid 5's ERA that the Yankees dumped, only to have him pitch the same with the White Sox in 2004 would become an ace. That the 4.89 ERA for Garland in 2004 was all the sign you needed to know he was a championship quality rotation piece, and that the who has any idea how old El Duque would overcome his 2004 injuries and be a solid #5. You knew that even though he was non tendered by SF, that AJP was just what every team needed. You knew that Iguchi wasn't going to be Kaz Matsui. And knew that Jermaine Dye's cumulative -0.2 WAR for the 2002-2004 seasons was WS MVP stuff. How is it teams aren't offering you 8 figures a year to make them champions? That team had amazing performances out of a lot of guys who couldn't have been expected to be that good, and amazing health. Used only 6 pitchers to start games the entire season. I know it tied a record then. I don't think anyone has come close since.

Yes the Sox shouldn't have picked up Kimbrels option but people are putting way too much importance in his first outing of the spring. He was throwing 94. So what? Hendriks was at 94 his first outing. I'd like to see them peak when the games count. Not when it doesn't matter and they are working on mechanics. Spring Training stats are meaningless unless you are a fringe gut trying to make a team. And with how spring training went down this year, even less than the normal meaningless.

Its just the way the treated Black Jack. Make the situation so contentious, they don't get buried by the fanbase when they give him away.

There is no doubt in my mind he being the player rep played a lot into this. They will dump him in the offseason, or if things go wrong, at the deadline.

Eloy sporting some gold.