Everything posted by Dick Allen
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What would you have done ...
First I would tell the team to stop. Second, I would tell the Front office. And if none of that worked I would resign and tell the world what is going on, This is the problem I have with Hinch. Sure he destroyed a camera or 2, but he is in charge, and they put a new camera up. For all of you who think that is nothing, I doubt you would think it is nothing if Ricky Renteria had the same thing happen. I doubt you would think there really is very little a manager could do in that situation if it was Robin Ventura. It is totally fucked up, and any way you slice it, he is complicit. Cheating has always been part of baseball Stealing signs the old fashioned way, no one,IMO should have a problem with, but this way, was a home field advantage no one should ever have. Hinch is lucky he only got one year. He didn’t kill anyone. He didn’t rape anyone. He didn’t beat his wife. He isn’t a pedophile. So I guess he deserves another chance. Sure Dallas Keuchel likes him. But a lot of people want the Sox to sign Joc Pederson. If you are Joc, and the money is similar, do you want to play for a guy whose blantant cheating may have cost you a ring? If you played in the AL West or were on a team that the Astros eliminated during this time, what do you think of AJ Hinch? What about the rest of the league.? There has not exactly been a shortage of Astros hate from players around the entire league since this story broke. I do think he is the far greater choice than LaRussa. Supposedly his baseball mind many who know of him, a lot better than me, think is unmatched. But I wonder what kind of toll the scandal takes on him. There is going to be a lot of pressure on him, both fair and unfair. But at least you can say he brought it on himself. A place like Chicago, where he would be expected to win big right away might be the wrong move for him. If the White Sox won 88 games next season and either fail to make the playoffs or are eliminated quickly, his entire record in Houston will be questioned. Many will say his WS title is not legit, the only reason he has it is cheating.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
Because it is probably a two horse race, and one of the horse, if he were to manage, would only manage the White Sox, and the other horse is suspended for another week and a half.
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Mazara and Right Field Thread
He came on at the end but to me Calhoun is still a low OBP guy. If it were me, I would offer Mazara a low salary with some I’m incentives so if he comes up big he gets his arb number and a team option. If he says no, move on. The market should be flooded with players. A ton of non tenders is expected. Plus, with Robert in CF and Engel the 4th OF , they can get creative with a RF. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who has a history of great glove work. This is kind of like the early to mid 90s before Maggs, when the Sox used to rent a RF. Ellis Burks, DJ, Dave Martinez, Danny Tartabull...they all did pretty well. And they were acquired coming off injury or poor performance.
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Tony La Russa
It seems even from Nightengale, it is either LaRussa or Hinch. I do have a problem with Hinch and cheating. Why he wouldn’t or couldn’t stop it is very concerning. But if they hire LaRussa, I think I will laugh. Then cry. I thought we were finally rid of this guy 34 years ago. The one scary thing is they get rid of Cooper but leave the other coaches around in case the new manager wants them. Doesn’t that scream Dave Duncan? LaRussa said he was offered a job last year and would have taken it had Duncan agreed to come with him. Duncan is another year away from losing his son to cancer, maybe he is more willing. Who knows.Maybe Hinch has someone from the Houston organization or somewhere else in mind for that role.
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Tony La Russa
I don’t know if that is true, they give and take away. But the White Sox have no control of the umpires. They do have control of the manager, and Ricky showed them that even if he didn’t do it this season, he could cost them championships in future seasons. It was a bold and shocking move, but one that probably had to be made if they plan on having a WS contender next season. EE in the middle of the line up, I can make a case that is OK. But having your worst pitchers on the mound in key situations when you really have to win? And look at him hunched over in the dugout. He was overwhelmed by playoff baseball.
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Giolito items at Cooperstown
I received a Giolito item in the mail today. A ticket from his no hitter. I guess season ticket holders get them for free. I just think it is kind of odd they printed tickets since they don’t print season tickets anymore. it will make a nice bookmark.
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Pitching Coach Candidates
Actually Rick Hahn has said in the past that it would be Curt Hassler. If LaRussa gets the job, I am going with Dave Duncan as the pitching coach and Zaleski in the bullpen as the heir apparent. Although since Duncan has supposedly been with the White Sox, if he doesn’t want to return, he probably knows the minor league guys well enough to advise Tony. If it’s AJ Hinch, I have no idea, but if he is naming the coach I can’t see how he would go with Zaleski as the actual pitching coach. He most likely doesn’t know him at all.
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Tony La Russa
Yes but other than Abreu, you can probably expect some improvement. How many players made their major league debut? They got nothing out of EE and Mazara. Moncada physically was a shell of himself. No Kopech. I was worried a year ago, but now I am convinced this team, if it stays healthy, will be a powerhouse. I was expecting some busts, but of their young hitters, it looks like somehow that may be avoided. TA is going to be better than anyone could have ever thought.
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Tony La Russa
Everyone in their division played a similar schedule, and the Sox were 1 win from having the best record. So sure, their schedule wasn’t as tough as some teams, but it was pretty much the same as their rivals. I haven’t looked back at the preseason win prediction list, but I am pretty sure 35 was on the high end. This might have worked out perfectly. Ricky could have taken them to the ALDS, but as long as they didn’t trust Cease or Dunning to give up a run, that was as far as it was going to go. So Ricky’s lack of game management didn’t cost them a trip to the WS or a WS title, and it was exposed even though the team won games and made the playoffs. Think of what it usually takes to get fired from the White Sox.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
I read an article about AJ Hinch being drafted by the White Sox. He wanted to sign but his parents wanted him to go to Stanford. They all thought the $150k the White Sox were offering was too low. So he takes the Stanford scholarship. The White Sox then claim his college eligibility should be revoked because he used an agent. Hinch claims a “family friend” faxed the White Sox a counter offer without authorization. First off, petty of the White Sox to try and wreck an 18 year olds college career. Second, How would a family friend without authorization get the fax number to send a counter offer? Turns out going to college was good for him, and the Sox saved money simce Hinch was not a guy who was ever going to help them on the field.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
Before he worked for the White Sox RH worked for the agency that repped AJ Hinch when he was a player.
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Tony La Russa
While I agree, the fact that RH and KW know JR really wants Tony, assuming that’s the case, will weigh on their minds, If either is not very enthused about the possibility he gets the job, I bet they are praying Tony tells them he isn’t up for it. I just have a hard time thinking they would “interview” him, have him decide he would like to get back in the dugout, and then ultimately tell him they decided on someone else.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
I don’t think the bat flips will bother him. He managed Rickey Henderson , Jose Canseco, and Dave Henderson, 3 of the biggest showboats whoever played. I don’t want him, if they hire him, I will think it’s a cruel joke, but as much as I don’t like him, he runs a game much better than Ricky.
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Offseason Targets
Lance Lynn really limped home in 2020. His FIP was 4.19. The Rangers aren't going to get more for him than they turned down at the deadline. Only less. They blew it.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
While I agree, LaRussa would be a terrible choice, I do think he would probably be better than had the Sox stuck with Ricky. He wouldn't be all hunched over during an entire playoff game.
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Tony La Russa
LaRussa hired a 66 year old ex veterinarian and stock trader and White Sox fan who he met when looking for an apartment when he managed the White Sox, to run the analytics department in AZ when he ran the DBacks. Granted, if he was managing the team in 2020 and the Sox were facing Barrios, I am sure McCann would have been in the line up at least once, but Tony isn’t exactly married to advanced metrics.
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COVID-19/Coronavirus thread
My brother and sister in law live in Switzerland. She just came into town a couple of weeks ago and went back on Monday. When she gets back, she has a 10 day quarantine where she cannot leave her house. My brother can go out as long as they sleep in separate rooms and remain socially distanced in their apartment. They own a place in Paris they cannot go to because they would have this same quarantine every time they returned.
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Offseason Targets
Joey Gallo high OBP? His career OBP is .009 higher than Nomar Mazara’s.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
If he truly knows, it is Hinch.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
I agree. You don’t interview LaRussa for him to come in second place in the interview process. Al Pacino doesn’t go to auditions. Hopefully he doesn’t want it, maybe HE could be a bench coach. But I am starting to get very uncomfortable with this.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
I don’t buy most of what Morosi says, but if this is true, I hope it doesn’t mean JR has a health issue. It is one way this makes sense.
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COVID-19/Coronavirus thread
Trump gave a speech today and sounded horrible. He still has mucus in his lungs.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
He passed out drunk behind a wheel with his foot on the brake at a stop sign once.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
Hawk was openly courting Billy Martin right before he fired LaRussa. That was back in the day when you could do things a bit more discreetly than you can now. I remember watching the sports on the local news and they had footage of them meeting at a O'hare hotel.
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Tony La Russa named Manager
If LaRussa got the job, what is the over/under on how many games it takes before he takes a nap in the dugout?