Dick Allen

QUOTE (SoxFan2003 @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 01:15 PM) I think bad press was the wrong choice of words. I'm not sure anyone outside of Sox fans talked about it at all. All I really meant was that the people I know who were at the game, and the people on this message board were in agreement that everything about how last year was handled was terrible. As someone else said, I'm not stepping foot into the ballpark tomorrow until I know there will be at least an attempt at baseball being played. I doubt they change their ways. They have been doing the same thing for years. I once sat through a "rain delay" for 2 1/2 hours, when it didn't rain at all. There would have been no problem getting an official game in. Then it rained and they called it 5 minutes after it started raining. It's one reason I will never sit through rain delays anymore. I go to enough games I don't need that crap. If the tarp goes on, I'm bailing.

QUOTE (Sarava @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 11:51 AM) The reason this wont happen is not because of the potential visiting northern teams. They'd all be for it. Playing on the road isn't that hard where you would normally only win 4 of 12 games. What would stop it is the dome and southern teams. As much as it's more playable in their ballparks. They all sell tickets better in the summer and they simply won't give up their summer dates to accommodate northern teams in March or April. One thing they could do is forget the game vs. Charlotte on Monday before the season starts. If the last spring training game is on Sunday, Sunday night, fly the team to Chicago. Let them all get situated and fly to the next city Wednesday night. Hold a workout if you can on Monday and/or Tuesday at your home park. This year, they went to Charlotte, then went to KC on Monday night and stayed there a week. Even if they played the first 4 series on the road, it would only be another 3 days or so of hotels.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 12:38 PM) I think announcers would take a line like this anyday. As long as you overall like the duo ... there always will be some gripes. When Jason is not with Stone, usually on other sports, he doesn't try to be as cute, and he is really good. I think eventually they will cut it down a bit. I'm hoping sooner rather than later.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 12:18 PM) I don?€™t want to be a 100 percent against him either. He actually has made me laugh, but he misses way more than he hits. He has great pipes for broadcasting without being a cartoon character. He?€™s very smart. He just needs to dial it back. Let the game breathe instead of wall-to-wall talking. He's like that friend or relative at a party that has to try to be the funniest person there all the time. If they didn't try so hard, they would be hysterical, but since they have to have some funny quip about everything, it just makes you groan and roll your eyes. As for some of the other stuff some said, yeah he isn't an ex player, but he appears to know plenty. Seems well prepared, and IMO can be excellent. Just stop trying so hard to have everything that comes out of your mouth funny.

I think he's fine, but for some reason, he and Steve seem to think they are at Zanies doing 3 hours of stand up. Not everything has to be a clever joke. If they cut out the bit about trying to be cleverly hysterical all the time, they could be funny and provide quality game content. The current style doesn't bother me so much I can't listen, but it seems obvious it is 2 guys trying too hard to be funny for 3 hours straight. Just call the game and let the humor happen. Don't force it.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 11:03 AM) I was less than impressed with Lavine. And while letting him walk makes the Butler trade look terrible, I just can’t see giving him a max contract (which he will obviously be seeking). His effort, shot selection, and absolute disinterest in playing with Dunn and Lauri really left a sour taste in my mouth They can't let him walk, but the good news is its very unlikely another team would give him a max contract, so the Bulls shouldn't have to either.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 11:04 AM) You can say whatever you want, the fact is teams would never sign off on a yearly 4-city to start the season and you know it. I would bet plenty would.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 10:57 AM) Starting the season with a 4-city trip every year will never happen. Teams won’t go for it. Imagine starting 4-8 on the road before the home opener...not happening. This is just an unfortunate year. Nothing more, nothing less. If your team blames losses on road games, you aren't a contender. When teams build new stadiums, they start the season on the road to give the workers more time. I think the Sox opener when they opened the new park was April 18th or something. The Cubs are playing 3 road series to start this season on the road because of work being done. They won't complain, and people actually go to their games when it's 35 degrees. It's one less long road trip to make during the season.

I get teams don't want all their home games in April, but I would think the weather has a much better chance of being better the second half of the month. Make the first 2 weeks of April played in domes and warmer weather spots, the second 2 weeks in the colder places. It won't always work, but at least there is a better shot.

Contact play cost them there.

The Sox need to make Donaldson throw as much as possible.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 08:04 PM) I think they simply wanted a veteran influence in the clubhouse who could eat some innings until Kopech or another prospect was ready. I don’t think they have any expectations he’ll develop trade value or at least I hope not. Could be, but they gave him almost $5 million. It seems they are hoping for a little more than that.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 07:47 PM) Not too sure why we bothered resigning Gonzalez and his 5.39 SIERA/5.65 xFIP. Would have preferred just to do what the Twins did with Pineda and throw one of the Guererro-type fringe prospects at the 5th starter slot and see if something stuck. Yes, even if some sort of miracle occurs and he is pretty average, it isn’t like he is going to bring back a very interesting prospect on a flip.

Avi would be good at a HR hitting contest.

That last throw by Donaldson was a bit iffy.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 07:36 PM) We knew they would be bad.. just got our hopes up a bit with frost two games.. have to dial it back now This year the highs are going to be really high, and the lows are going to be the cold water thrown on you to bring you back to reality.

There is no fixing Miguel Gonzalez. This time next year, he is in a beer league.

I thought shoulder separating at first with Engel

I love make up homers

Boston has to blow his whistle when Donaldson bats. The Sox also have to think about laying a couple down the 3rd base line.

Hopefully if the Sox have a regular prospect failure rate, if Rutherford is one , hopefully Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas, Trayce Thompson, count as well, the Sox could be in pretty good shape. Obviously it would be nice if Rutherford somehow becomes the player many had thought he could become, but I think it is more important their better prospects turn out. Then they really would be cooking with gas.

Nailed it.

Thoughts and prayers should take care of it.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 11:32 AM) He said it was something to do with posting from an ipad. I noticed it on a few other posters as well, i think DA the other day. Yes. That happened a couple times on my IPad when trying to use an apostrophe. Then I ran an update and it seemed to clear it up.

Apparently Boston knew Donaldson hated the whistle, so he blew it as Donaldson was coming to the plate. Donaldson is an ass, but his response is justified.