Dick Allen

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 02:51 PM) That is a terrific point. The best managers are really amateur psychiatrists. They have an ability to figure out what drives guys, what gets on their minds...things like that. Chuck Tanner was very good at this aspect and so was Jeff Torborg. In fact Jeff called me this morning and as we talked he told me a story about Lance Johnson. The Sox sent Lance back down in the spring of 1989 and Jeff said he was so upset he started crying. Jeff said he told him, 'let's go into my office...' Jeff said he knew immediately what was really bothering Johnson so he gave him his phone number and told him to call anytime something was bothering him or if he just wanted to talk. Jeff told me he knew that Johnson was worried that if he was sent back down to the minors nobody would care anymore and the organization would just forget about him. History shows the type of player Lance was and you never know how this small gesture by Torborg played a part in that as it helped him mentally. Another story Jeff told me a few years ago was right before the All Star Break in 89. Sox were in K.C. had a day off before opening up a series with the Royals. Jeff asked the team to have a short workout on the off day just to go over fundamentals and that if they did it he wouldn't ask for a workout the day before the season resumed so they could be with their families a little longer. So he gets to his office at Kauffman Stadium and sees a bunch of guys on the field working out, he went to his office to start working on lineup's for the series and after about an hour he went back out to the field expecting to see the guys all gone. Instead he found them actually playing a game like we used to do when we were kids (just lobbing pitches in to hitters). He was amazed but thought, 'OK let's see what we can do with this.' So he told me he called and ordered pizza's and some beer and had them in the clubhouse when the team got back inside. They ate and talked. When they came back after the break they won 11 of 12, had a winning record in the second half and had a fantastic 1990 season. Little things sometimes add up to really big things. You just wonder what could have been had Ron Schueler not insisted that he had to hire his own manager and forced Jeff out. What the good managers have is good players. Torborg was canned from the Marlins mid season, and then they won the WS. Of course they added Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to their roster. His career winning pct. as a manager is .006 higher than Robin Ventura's, a guy who was blamed for a lot of things you still see with the same players this year. Bad baserunning, bad defense, stupid throws....Lefty Tanner set the record for consecutive last place finishes by a manager. All these guys did pretty well when they had good players. Ozzie Guillen was a genius when the Sox won and he wanted all the attention. When he did the exact same thing when they were not so good, he was an ego maniac. No one wins with bad players, some lose with some good ones, but the locker room stuff, IMO, is now self regulated. Players make much more money than the manager for the most part. If you have talent and the right players leading your clubhouse you're fine. If you are looking for your manager to be that guy, IMO, it will be brief and there are 2 or 3 guys tops that could get it done.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 11:35 AM) Mueller probe expanding to include Trump business transactions https://twitter.com/business/status/8880439...src=twsrc%5Etfw That's great, but Mueller will be fired before anything comes of it, and republicans won't care.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 11:25 AM) There are several guys in the 15-25 range of our top 30 that compare very similarly to this guy. I don't care enough to argue anymore than that, but every available piece of information available to me suggests that is the case. His bonus coming out of LatAm, his tools, his age, his performance thus far, etc. He's got more projection to him than Call and Fisher maybe, but he's got a higher ceiling too. What difference does it make? Fulmer and Collins are ranked top 10 in the Sox system and top 70 overall, and they get trashed on a daily basis here.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 08:30 AM) No, it's not better than any message any congressman, senator, or former president has given him. He is a moron. And it is the day after he called the guy crusty Totally nonsensical ? Yes, nonsensical. Heroes don't get captured. Just ask Trump.

It's as if he is playing lawyer and trying to get off on technicalities. Intent has nothing to do with it.

John McCain has brain cancer

John McCain has brain cancer.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 03:25 PM) Kahnle looked pretty good today. Frazier... not so much. Frazier had an 11 pitch AB.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:45 PM) Until Swarzak/Melky-mania hits. Then it all starts again Those trades will be far less interesting. Its just about over for the non hockey Sox, Bears, Bulls fans for quite a while.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:58 PM) And their ages are different. Their investment was different. Their roles are different. But they are pitchers who might get hurt, and supposedly that is plenty of reason not to have them around. Kahnle we know can get major league hitters out. It appears Kopech will be able to do the same, but we can't be 100% sure, and his value is higher. I just think if you aren't worried about Kopech or Giolitto or Lopez or Dunning getting hurt, there is no reason to think Kahnle was destined for a catastrophic injury.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:57 PM) If you get trading Kahnle, you get the rationale that he might get hurt or decline. Now, I get that he can decline, and that he can help your return while you trade some relatively expensive guys. Unless he has some things going on we haven't been made aware, or someone with the White Sox sees something in his mechanics where injury is inevitable, trading players because they might get hurt is silly. Who isn't on the might get hurt list?

QUOTE (shipps @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:54 PM) Apple meet orange. Really? How much higher can Kopech be ranked? Maybe a little higher, but if he gets hurt, he's worthless. It's pretty much the same thing except you can get more for Kopech than Kahnle. Tyler Kolek, Brady Aiken...those guys got hurt.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:45 PM) Sox had two choices: Option 1 = cash in on Kahnle now while he is hot and healthy Option 2 = cash in on Kahnle next season for a potentially higher return, but also risk injury and/or poor performance. Value can go up, but also could go down. Option 3 = we keep Kahnle (doesn't make much sense to not deal him) There is no shame in striking while the iron is hot on a relief asset. We should deal Swarzak soon as well. That I understand, but shouldn't they think about dealing Kopech? Strike while the iron is hot. Why risk injury? I get trading Kahnle. I just don't get the he might get hurt, look at Nate Jones, posts. Everyone might get hurt.

If Kahnle is such a huge injury risk, aren't all the White Sox pitchers, including their prospects?

Why are the worried. Trump learned all there is to know about healthcare in a very short time. He's like really smart.

Frazier, Robertson and Kahnle are all active today. Frazier is not starting.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 11:45 AM) Not sure what it would even be considered. I like the direction as is...and really don't see the need to even contemplate signing any big name FAs in the foreseeable future. Of course that's just my 2¢... Hahn made it seem last night that this season and next are the rebuilding years, and some trades and/or free agency should fill in the holes after next season. That the money they don't spend this season and next would be used for 2019 and beyond. So his target to contend is 2019. I think it's a bit aggressive, but if these guys are as advertised with minimal busts, it's possible.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 11:27 AM) I'm not a huge fan of only judging trades based on the end results years later. Trades should be judged on both the end result and the value traded the day the trade was made. To make an extreme example, if we traded Courtney Hawkins for Mike Trout tomorrow and Trout got hurt in a freak accident and never played another game while Hawkins inexplicably somehow becomes an above-average regular, would that incredible stroke of good and bad luck make that trade a bad one for the White Sox? The fact is prospect rankings are done by people who aren't paid by MLB teams. So their relevance, and judging whether a trade was good or not based off that, doesn't matter. I'll never forget hearing the story how Dave Wilder BS'd his way into having his guys ranked higher. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what Jonathan Mayo or Keith Law or any of these guys think, it's what the White Sox think. They made these trades thinking they are trading for the correct pieces. Who knows, maybe to them, Rutherford is a top 10 guy. maybe to the Yankees he's a top 60. If they are wrong, the "well Keith Law really liked it" doesn't make it excusable. If they are right, it's all on them as well, not it was a no brainer. They can only trade these guys once. Hopefully the main pieces turn out as well as they hope.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 11:17 AM) It was a direct reply to "he was always highly regarded." That's what it has to do with. Keep up, Dick. His arm has always been well regarded.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 11:15 AM) I presume we won't get the type of offer we'd like to move Jose. I agree. He's worth more to the White Sox than other teams. I think it's a good idea to keep a vet or 2 around anyways. Last time the Sox totally rebuilt like this, they kept Carlton Fisk around even though he was 40ish. When they White Flagged it, they kept several guys around. We will see. A lot happens in a few months. But Hahn sort of made it clear last night, this year and next season are the tank years, then the winning is supposed to commence. Hopefully the prospects make that a reality.

Machado's OPS is actually .008 lower than Todd Frazier's this year.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 10:42 AM) He was a 5th round pick and a Rule 5 guy right? You're acting like we just traded Kershaw for the corpse of Borchard. What does that have to do with it? Q was a 6 year minor league free agent. Mark Buehrle was a 38th round draft pick. Kahnle averages 15 k per 9 innings in the major leagues this year. Rutherford has been ho hum in A ball. Yet Kahnle is sure to have a bad month and be worthless, while if Rutherford has a good month or 2, he's untouchable. I just hope some posters here are prepared when some of these guys (and not necessarily Rutherford) bust. It will happen, yet being ranked #1 on the farm seems to mean as much to some as winning the WS. Who cares what you are ranked. What matters is what these guys become. The Sox staff is on the clock.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 09:55 AM) They didn't get any top up the middle talent in any of these moves. But they can trade for some...they'll have to. That's why I really think the easy part is done, and the hard part lies ahead. They signed Anderson to a decent contract. Moncada, Robert, Collins.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 09:25 AM) Guys, this very much is not over. They'll simply decide not to fund the ACA and it will die. They'll create the outcome that causes it to fail. Of course, and hopefully they will be held accountable. Using Americans and their health as pawns for political gain is beyond disgusting. It really should be criminal.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 09:43 AM) But there is not as much control left on Kahnle, and if he's dealt next deadline it would be as a rental. Also, if there is one thing the White Sox have in spades it's right handers with explosive stuff. They are in a pretty good position to replace Kahnle without ever noticing hes gone. Kahnle is controlled 3 more seasons after this one.