Dick Allen

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 01:53 PM) JDM update: The Red Sox’ current top offer to Martinez is “in the vicinity” of only $100MM, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/j-d-...rs-tuesday.html Poor one dimensional guy trying to get by on only $100 million. He had a great year, but odds of a repeat are slim to none IMO. He's still a greater hitter, just not the 2017 version. I think I'd take the money. I don't think he would find much better chances of contention than Boston.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 10:51 AM) America First! 3 Trump properties posted 144 openings for seasonal jobs. Only one went to a US worker. Check where all the DJT Collection is manufactured. Apparently not all the manufacturing jobs are coming back. https://www.trump.com/merchandise/signature-collection/

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 10:27 AM) They're still going to have to offer the most money to land Machado. Doubt he would leave millions of dollars on the table to play with a guy who was a teammate for one season. I'm sure Machado has friends on most teams. I agree with that. He's here for more attraction with a similar offer, although with these kind of signings, it does seem one team always seems to break from the pack and go crazy. I also agree Machado probably knows people on all the teams, but I think these guys do have some sort of bond.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 10:19 AM) I feel like I may be beating a dead horse as I continuously drive this narrative. It’s just such a crazy year out there. I feel like you could field a team of bad news bears with these FA’s and turn in a playoff team. There’s just that much talent available. Two things I get: - Let the kids play. They are on rookie contracts for cheap, let them play, see what we have. No reason to bring in vets and pay them their minimum. - We likely aren’t going to be the Twins of last year and surprise folks. (I would counter that with if the Royals don’t acquire some players we’ll have the Tigers and Royals as really, really poor teams. The same way the Twins loaded up on W’s against us and the Tigers last year and snuck in) The link is to the alphabetical list of FA’s remaining. I picked a few I like. Feel free to counter my arguments. http://www.espn.com/mlb/freeagents/_/type/available Colby Rasmus – with the amount of OF’s we have, this may not have upside, especially at 30 years old. But this is a guy when he gets 400-500AB’s is guaranteed to play average defense at all 3 positions and can hit 25HR’s for you. Can probably pick up on a Jurickson Profar (not FA – but trade candidate) – played 1b, 2b, ss, 3b and is still what? 25 years old. Needs out of TX. A guy who hit the majors at 19. Perceived to be an attitude problem, but hey, I’ll take a shot on him all day every day. Flip them whoever and let’s see if it works out. Trevor Cahill – if you look at his advanced numbers he to me is my #1 FA I’d like to sign. Coop and Duncan could make this guy into a really nice piece moving forward. Andrew Bailey – His numbers don’t lie. Love adding bullpen pieces. RA Dickey – Older. Probably a 1 year deal if he feels like playing. But an innings eater and last year after he got going was actually really serviceable. Just another good veteran guy in the clubhouse who does it the right way. AJ Griffin – I’d say to look at his career numbers. Really serviceable. Injury history. Lower on the arms I’d take a flier on. Francisco Liriano – talk about an up and down guy. And Coop couldn’t really fix him first go round with the Sox. But the Pirates did. He’s the classic “a tweak away” from being really good. Or maybe you just utilize him in the bullpen. Would think it would be cheap to bring him in and the type guy that could be flipped for a decent amount if he becomes dominant in the bullpen under Coop and Duncan J. Lucroy – this is a guy I wanted more than Castillo. But maybe you can find him a spot platooning at C, 1B and DH. I think you could find him 120 games with that method. He flourishes? You can easily flip him for prospects. Ben Revere – a guy who has basically hit .300 consistently minus a really down years with the Nats in 2016. Can swipe you 25-30 bags with enough playing time and doesn’t strikeout Hector Santiago – From memory, and not numbers, I remember his time with the Sox being pretty good. Ichiro – okay stay with me on this one – it’s an outside the box idea and frankly I have no idea of Ichiro’s English. But going back like 5? Years when KW mentioned that he floated the idea of Konerko as a player manager? Ichiro said he wants to play for as long as possible. What about an idea of him as 4OF + coach? I know this is a wacky one. But in the same way Abreu is teaching these guys by example I’ve heard that Ichiro is the type of guy to be at the ballpark 6 hours before the game like Thome was and has crazy preparation. I can’t see it hurting to have a guy like that teaching your young talent. My overall thought process simplified: - Engel, Willy Garcia – see 5% and 0% chance long term respectively. Engel for sure if he could figure out his bat.. but don’t think itll happen - Demonico, Tilson, Cordell – Yes I’d like to see them play. I don’t necessarily think a Rasmus or Revere is better long term – just food for thought - I’m bigger on the pitching aspect. I feel like as proven last year at the deadline that you can flip an arm for something (Jennings/Swarzak) but not a bat (Melky) as easily. I also think Shields/Gonzalez etc. won’t net you a prospect no matter what, so if you can bring in someone else that DOES possibly net you something? You do it. Plus those two aren’t in your long term plans either. Also we owe nothing to those guys in the bullpen. So bring in as many arms as possible. - Which leaves Lucroy and Profar – if you can convince Lucroy to come over I’d love to have him split between C/1B/DH. Profar is has just too much upside and can play so many positions that I would love that gamble. I get not all these guys have a fit, but I can’t see the cost being inhibitive. I also know we aren’t trying to win this year – but is it so crazy TO TRY to win? Instead of schlepping Shields out there every 5th day, why not move him to middle relief/mop up duty? Replace him with an RA Dickey or Franky Liriano, Cahill, Santiago? Never can have too many arms and Rodon is down likely til June. Also a lot of these FA’s may be inclined to take a Spring Training invite and minor league deal… especially with a team like the Sox that is supposed to be bad. Gives them the best shot to earn a spot. Wellington Castillo was signed for a reason other than catching. He's here to attract Machado. But because of his presence, they aren't going to bring in a Lucroy. They are going to roll with him, and when Machado is signed by someone, then all bets with him will be off.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 09:41 AM) When JR bought the team the first thing he did to stimulate interest was sign 2 big free agents, Fisk and Luzinski. The White Sox took over the city during the early part of 1981. They were having walkup crowds of 20,000. The franchise was going to draw over 2 million people for the first time. Then there was a players strike and that killed all the momentum that was built up by the new owners. It's a different day now. These groups have to come up with billions and are normally leveraged to the hilt. Spend, spend, spend is a lot more complicated now. Fisk was a fluke free agent. Luzinski was purchased from Philadelphia for a song. That's when "spending" didn't cost 9 figures a crack for what you would probably consider minimum for not being cheap.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 09:28 AM) Some concerns that haven't been addressed. If the Sox do spend next off season because of the amount of quality free agents on the market shouldn't they be taking advantage of the market now while it's cold and prices are down? I don't know who might benefit the Sox the most at this time but free agents next year will want 2 things, money and to be on a winning team. Should n't the Sox do something to make the team more competitive to next years crop of free agents ? Shields should be off the books next year so might another starting pitcher benefit them ? Relying only on young starting pitching even if the target date is 2020 is risky business, Also if the target date is truly 2020 isn't it also risky business to expect next years good crop of FA's to wait a year or even possibly longer to be on a winning team? The Phillies might be thinking along those lines with the signing of Santana and still are rumored to have interest in a starting pitcher. The Sox might end up with too many holes to fill when they actually do decide to spend and the competition for the top free agents will be fierce so being a competitive team would surely work in their favor just as being a few years away will work against them. Other concerns for the rebuild is what happens if JR dies suddenly or the players strike after the 2021 season which would be right in the middle of the supposed window of competitiveness if all goes right ? Obviously the 1st concern is the most pressing but these other 2 things could easily happen and in the event of JR's sudden death how does the rebuild survive ? I agree with this. Obviously it depends on value, but if 3 WAR players are signing for $8.5 million, grabbing a bargain makes a ton of sense. At the very least, they can be very flippable at the deadline. Obviously, I have no idea who is available for what price, but bargains that can help you win down the road shouldn't be ignored. Chances are, the opportunity so many may be available might not ever happen again.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 08:27 AM) . I was hoping JR would sell the team. The sooner the team is sold the better the franchise is going to be. New owners will spend money on quality free agents not Adam LaRoche. Secondly new owners will show Rick Hahn the door. He has been the GM for over 5 years and the team is still "Mired In Mediocrity". If Hahn had been the GM in Boston, New York or the Cubs he would have been gone by now. I'm told by my contacts that JR is going to put the team up for sale sometime in 2019 which means the new owners will be running the team in 2020. I hope this is true. I always get a kick out the posts a new owner will spend, spend, spend. What did Ricketts do right away? What did Jeter's group do right away? What happened to the Padres when an ex agent bought them? Your contacts are wrong. He isn't selling.

According to Fox News, not only was the dip in the stock market last week Obama's fault, so was Rob Porter's wife beating. How can anyone with any integrity work at that place?

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 03:52 PM) Hated him, or disliked him as a player? Lazerus’ point is that people are saying ignorant, personal s*** about these guys I think the vast majority of these people are the bandwagon fans who hopped on in 2010, took off work to go to all of the parades, and still can't name 10 players on the team. The fans who were diehards previously do respect these guys for what they have done, understand the run they had was awesome, and realize fFather Time is undefeated.

Don Jr.s wife hospitalized after opening envelope that contained white powder. Sickening.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 09:33 AM) Is he really a kingpin or is he more of a mule? Kingpins don't get caught red handed. They are insulated.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 11, 2018 -> 07:55 PM) New infrastructure plan coming out....pass all the costs down to states and municipalities, aim is to reallocate any Federal program’s money that goes to poor people, loads of toll bridges and toll roads for the private sector to profit from, lots of well-qualified Trump officials supervising the permitting process (yet another job for Jared?) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trumps-half-...-220006903.html Everybody seems to favor new and improved roads and bridges. It’s finding the money to pay for them that’s the problem. President Trump will unveil a long-awaited infrastructure plan on Monday with a lofty goal: to stimulate $1.5 trillion in new spending to modernize the nation’s transportation and public works systems. But the plan won’t identify any new revenue sources to finance those projects. Instead, it will call for killing other programs and shifting that money over to infrastructure. “They’re not serious about infrastructure,” says a representative of the business community familiar with the White House plans. “They don’t want to put any new money into it. They’re going to use it as political bait, to portray the Democrats as getting in the way of rebuilding the country.” Though Trump is calling for $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending, most of that wouldn’t be federal money. The Trump plan only calls for $200 billion in new federal funds, above what Washington already spends, which would be taken from other programs. Those funds would be used in a variety of ways to seed or incentivize projects. The rest of the money would come from states, cities and private sources. Trump also wants to speed the permitting process, requiring approvals in 24 months or less. His plan would cut back on bureaucratic overlap by identifying a single agency to take the lead for every permit required, eliminating duplicative procedures. “The process we have in the United States just takes way too long and is not really focused on outcomes,” a senior White House official told reporters on February 10. “We want to shorten the process while at the same time preserving environmental protections.” Aetna California scandal demonstrates why private insurance “death panels” shouldn’t be trusted to make medical decisions https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/11/health/aetna...tion/index.html “They’re not serious about infrastructure,” says a representative of the business community familiar with the White House plans. “They don’t want to put any new money into it. They’re going to use it as political bait, to portray the Democrats as getting in the way of rebuilding the country.”

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 11, 2018 -> 07:55 PM) New infrastructure plan coming out....pass all the costs down to states and municipalities, aim is to reallocate any Federal program’s money that goes to poor people, loads of toll bridges and toll roads for the private sector to profit from, lots of well-qualified Trump officials supervising the permitting process (yet another job for Jared?) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trumps-half-...-220006903.html Everybody seems to favor new and improved roads and bridges. It’s finding the money to pay for them that’s the problem. President Trump will unveil a long-awaited infrastructure plan on Monday with a lofty goal: to stimulate $1.5 trillion in new spending to modernize the nation’s transportation and public works systems. But the plan won’t identify any new revenue sources to finance those projects. Instead, it will call for killing other programs and shifting that money over to infrastructure. “They’re not serious about infrastructure,” says a representative of the business community familiar with the White House plans. “They don’t want to put any new money into it. They’re going to use it as political bait, to portray the Democrats as getting in the way of rebuilding the country.” Though Trump is calling for $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending, most of that wouldn’t be federal money. The Trump plan only calls for $200 billion in new federal funds, above what Washington already spends, which would be taken from other programs. Those funds would be used in a variety of ways to seed or incentivize projects. The rest of the money would come from states, cities and private sources. Trump also wants to speed the permitting process, requiring approvals in 24 months or less. His plan would cut back on bureaucratic overlap by identifying a single agency to take the lead for every permit required, eliminating duplicative procedures. “The process we have in the United States just takes way too long and is not really focused on outcomes,” a senior White House official told reporters on February 10. “We want to shorten the process while at the same time preserving environmental protections.” Aetna California scandal demonstrates why private insurance “death panels” shouldn’t be trusted to make medical decisions https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/11/health/aetna...tion/index.html “They’re not serious about infrastructure,” says a representative of the business community familiar with the White House plans. “They don’t want to put any new money into it. They’re going to use it as political bait, to portray the Democrats as getting in the way of rebuilding the country.”

QUOTE (Tony @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 08:50 AM) This is a new one: Esteban Loaiza, drug kingpin. The second-winningest pitcher from Mexico in MLB history was arrested Friday with 20 kilos of heroin or cocaine, according to San Diego police records. He'll be in court Wednesday to face felony drug charges. Details are in pics. - Jeff Passan https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/963060403671453697 Wasn't he just at Soxfest?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 10, 2018 -> 03:18 PM) Darvish is a nice addition to the cubs rotation but that contract will not be as nice a few years from now. Rickets bought the neighborhood. Cubs fans are paying him all day and all night when they go to the games. Money isn't an object.

I will believe they are getting a new stadium in that area when construction starts.

Trump won't release Dem memo due to National Security concerns. LOL. This guy is a joke.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Feb 9, 2018 -> 02:48 PM) Yes. A good organization would definitely do some sort of failure analysis if a guy the scouts really liked flops. The problem is, everyone flops on prospects. If they had their choice of another prospect and he became a great player, then I think there is something there. But if you held everyone to all what they call top prospects had to develop into good players, no one would have a job very long.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2018 -> 02:39 PM) Midseason, BA list, Rutherford was 36, Sheffield was 73, Andujar was out of top 100. Out of those 3, if you bought into that list, you'd pay a higher price for Rutherford. The MLB.com list was also updated at midseason. So you think major league teams go by those lists? Read up on how these lists are formulated. You will be fascinated with how Dave Wilder kept his scam going for a while. They actually asked HIM to rank his prospects. So these lists are easily manipulated. We have no idea if the White Sox asked for the others or if the Yankees offered the White Sox the others. But Rutherford had some flags when the Sox acquired him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2018 -> 02:32 PM) Worth pointing out - at the time that deal was made, Sheffield and Andujar were seriously outranked on most prospect lists by Rutherford. Based on those, Rutherford was more valuable and it wasn't close, at the time. The question remains whether we scouted rutherford correctly. On a prospect list that wasn't current. I really doubt the Yankees thought Rutherford outranked the other 2.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 09:37 PM) Well, McDaniels just got released by his agent, so its not just the Colts who are miffed. Apparently the two of them have broken up and gotten back together more times than Biebs and Selena Gomez.

The Republicans have sure changed their minds on spending and debt in the last year. I guess the real deal was they were so scared it would be spent on things that were needed, they wouldn't be able to spend it on things that were not, like making the rich richer and more nukes.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 02:11 PM) Am I wrong or wasnt there some beef between Duncan and Hawk a few years back? I'm pretty sure he is the reason Hawk fired LaRussa. Hawk wasn't a big fan, and I do seem to recall something later on, but can't quite remember.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 02:14 PM) Bulls are 1.4M under the salary floor. They need to add someone, somewhere If they don't reach it, they just dole out funds to their roster to cover it. A nice little bonus.

QUOTE (FT35 @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 02:03 PM) Exactly. I simply don't see why the players are so surprised that there hasn't been much activity on the FA market this winter. Honestly, I think agents should have seen this slow winter coming a few years back in their databases. All of the facts line up with prudent business rather than owner coercion like the players and agents have suggested. I'm sorry, I don't think choosing to hold my FA money back on a 3B like Moustakas for a historically loaded FA class next year that includes Donaldson, Arenado and Machado is anything but smart management of risk/funds. Let the super 7 (NYY, BOS, LA, CHC, HOU, WAS, CLE) fight over a 1-year deal with Moose (which he'll likely hold out for more years) and then them battle it out for the 2018 WS title--THEN go all in on a player(s) who can make a much larger impact next winter. Smart business. Surprise teams always have the trade deadline to make a move if elevated success puts them into the same conversation as MLB's elite teams for a playoff push. Boras also has a lot of the guys out there, and he always takes forever. It's on him as well. He makes up a price and pretends that is the market. The fish aren't biting. I don't think there is collusion or conspiracy. It just is the combination of teams wanting to get out of the tax, teams not trying to win, and some of these teams and others saving their cash for next year.