Dick Allen

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 17, 2018 -> 03:07 PM) I understand sabes pretty well. I read fangraphs daily and get BP's newsletter. It doesn't change the fact that you can't score without a hit unless the bases are loaded. BA is not the end all be all, but unless a player has ridiculous power, .260 is the minimum level of competence for a major league hitter. Just my opinion. I think it depends. At least with a walk, you aren't making an out, but all walks are not created equal, in situations and player skill levels. The giveaway is teams walk guys on purpose occassionally.

Anyone check out the graphic between Moncada's first 300 + plate appearances and Paulies? Except for whiffs, Moncada's numbers are far superior.

QUOTE (SonofaRoache @ Apr 17, 2018 -> 08:47 AM) I will sit back and watch how the narrative changes now. Previously we were saying we'd compete for a playoff spot next year and a WS in 2020. If our team continues to progress slowly and play poorly, with the exception of a few pitchers, then those years need to be pushed back. Even Hawk was saying 2020. If a lot goes right, next year they have a shot. It's not like you have to win 100 games to make the playoffs. But 2020 is probably more realistic.

With few exceptions, they are playing all around awful. The errors, baserunning gaffes, are occurring almost every game and by the boatload. It is one reason I want the Sox to draft Madrigal. Probably comparing him to Altuve is unfair, but little guys do flourish. He could be a RH Adam Eaton who can play middle infield. And on top of it, his baseball IQ is supposedly off the charts. It's one thing this team needs. Saladino is probably the highest baseball IQ on the roster. He hardly plays. I'd say Yolmer is probably next, and it's up in the air if he really is a regular player on a contender. Everyone else is iffy. I think its a big need. Maybe some of his baseball smarts could rub off on others.

I hope the Sox do not select a HS kid with #4. Too much can go wrong with a HS pitcher, and until the organization can prove it actually can develop a good major league hitter, I'd rather they draft a position player that high that is a bit more advanced. If they want HS guys to try to balance it out, go crazy with the rest of the picks. They have to hit on #4.

QUOTE (Tex @ Apr 17, 2018 -> 04:13 AM) I know a couple lawyers who only work at the law part time. Their other legitimate business interests occupy most of their time. What it does is potentially offer privilege, which we are learning may not be iron clad. Post of the Month worthy Hannity wants it both ways. He thinks his conversations with Cohen should be privileged, but he's not his lawyer. Whatever is going on, it's been one of the better episodes of The Apprentice ever.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Apr 16, 2018 -> 02:40 PM) Seeing as the only "work" Cohen seems to do as an attorney is hush payments, Im going to guess that is what Hannity was paying him for. Cohen really had to be up to something, because only having 3 clients is absurdly small. Its not like he was general counsel for Trump's business, the business actually has its own real lawyers. He fancies himself as a real life Ray Donovan. He doesn't even try to hide it. Fix Trump's messes. Fix Hannity's messes, fix the RNC guy's mess. From what I have read, his skills as an actual attorney with knowledge of the law, appear not be be all that impressive. It's no secret Trump has used legal bullying all throughout his career. I guess being loud and intimidating people is what he is good at.

Hannity a Michael Cohen client. It's all coming together.

Cubs PPD. Tigers, Yankees PPD. I really wonder why so many teams have to make their only trip to northern cities before taxes are due. We need sabermetric schedule makers.

In a way, this does hurt the pace of the game. It is only going to go higher. You see 7 pitches and strikeout these days is considered a better AB then hitting the first pitch on the screws and getting robbed. I am only slightly exaggerating there. But with advanced analytics working counts, which the great hitter almost always did anyways is becoming universal. Guys with OBP only slightly better than their batting average are going to go the way of the Edsel. The walk rate has become more important, and when players focus on that, not only will facing close to 100 MPH gas and 3 different pitchers spike the k-rate, the desire to get a walk is going to put those that aren’t the Frank Thomases of the world in holes that will cause them to strikeout. Not everyone is built to work counts. The problem is, if you aren’t, you let good ones go. Working counts is getting good pitches to hit. If it’s the first one, swing at it.

These make up games aren’t all that bad for a team in the White Sox position as they get to bring up a guy for the DHs. Hopefully someone somewhat interesting, but probably not. For when they actually contend, 4 make up games and counting isn’t ideal.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 14, 2018 -> 09:44 AM) And instead get Russia talking about nuclear war. I think Russia loves having Trump in charge. They know they are one complement away from having him in the palm of their hand at any moment. I don’t actually think Russia might have set this whole nerve gas attack up knowing Trump would have to take action and probably scoring him some points in the US while taking the focus off other things. But I actually am sad I think it is at least slightly possible.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 14, 2018 -> 09:26 AM) OK Wanne. I know this was meant to be sarcasm, but I honestly think they need to trade down in the draft. Too many holes to fill. Unless Chubb unexpectedly drops to 8, there isn't anyone worth the 8th pick. The best chance for them to do that is if only 3 QBs go in the top 7. I think it depends on what is available. I would think if Nelson is still on the board, with all they are doing to make this the Mitch Trubisky show, they have to take him. Chubb is interesting . Personally I really like Fitzpatrick, and Barkley would be tough to say no to if a run on QBs make him available. But trading down does make sense. The new regime will get some sort of reprieve this year, but I don?€™t think 5-11 is going to cut it. The pressure is on to make Trubisky look good. Any disappointment from the QB position in 2018 is going to be a big problem for the Bears.

I wonder even if they were able to play in the football stadium if MLB and the MLBPA would have allowed it. Like a lot of amateur fields now, there is no dirt anywhere. It is all turf, even the mound. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the venue was available.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 14, 2018 -> 08:58 AM) It would be nice if we have someone like Wash working with Anderson, Moncada & company on their infield mechanics. This work is typically done at times during spring training. Ron Washington does this with fielders all season long. Ozzie Albies has been working his ass off with Wash all last season and is continuing it this season. Anderson needs work on his footwork and his glove mechanics. He has the physical tools to be an elite SS but needs to put in the hours of grind to have it become 2nd nature. Too bad Vizquel is a manager in the minors and not up with the big league team. He would be an outstanding influence on the young infielders. This year should be about maximizing the development all around of our players. Whatever it takes. Joe McEwing works with him endlessly.

All the pieces are in place.

Mission accomplished. Where have we seen that before?

With what the weather is supposed to be like in MSP today, even if they could play in the football stadium, it probably would have been postponed. Dangerous driving conditions up to 15 inches.

Something I read today is the very successful tax cuts will have ramifications for sports teams. Businesses can’t write off 50% of their expenses for entertainment anymore. . This really might hurt suite revenue, and probably will hurt revenuefrom every premium level. The Cubs new club costs $56k a year. This really has to hurt that.

Cubs shut down by Anibel Sanchez

Stone mentioned Thursday as a possible make up date

accuweather says there is an 11 to 1 chance they get less than 6 inches and a 51% chance they get more than 10. This series is ova. The Sox got swept.

I thought the right was anti abortion. He used the NDA expert too. WASHINGTON (AP) — A top fundraiser for President Donald Trump has resigned from the Republican National Committee following a report that he paid $1.6 million to a Playboy playmate he had an affair with. Elliott Broidy told RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel Friday afternoon that he was resigning immediately, an RNC official familiar with the discussion said. The official requested anonymity to discuss a private phone call between McDaniel and Broidy. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen helped negotiate a non-disclosure agreement between Broidy and the model last year. The unidentified playmate elected to have an abortion after discovering she was pregnant. Broidy apologized to his wife for the affair in a statement provided to The Associated Press Friday.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 01:46 PM) It was a check on Congress who could pass unfair/dangerous laws and the judiciary that had to enforce those laws. But when it's used to pardon friends, yes, it's an abusive/dangerous power. Just wait until he uses it on himself.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 12:26 PM) Trump pardons scooter Libby. This sends a pretty strong signal about what he'll do with other special counsel convictions. It is funny the same day he tweets someone is a slime ball liar, he pardons someone who lied to the FBI.