Dick Allen

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 07:56 PM) A couple of thoughts. What are you trading to get a C or CF because you are not getting them out of free agency?? We saw last season that Jackson was the best this FO was willing to spend on. We also saw what they got for C. Then, if they are struggling next July, it probably means that some of the pieces you would unload are worth less than they were this trade deadline or off-season. I think your idea works only if you are getting rid of Williams and Hahn. Then it would make sense to let the new GM decide what direction he wants to go w the current roster. I say Williams and Hahn but the first person that needs to go is the scout that suggested they trade for Shields. So why would these guys be the guys to tear it all down and start over? Seems that is a bigger disaster waiting to happen than adding middling players hoping it all works out. At least they have Sale and Quintana. Quintana is going on the White Sox cruise in November, so it doesn't appear the Sox think they will trade him. I am going to a season ticket holder event with Hahn tomorrow. I will report if he gives us anything.

Sales usage was fine. Besides the White Sox have to play these games like they are in contention. If they were, people would have moaned if he was pulled.

QUOTE (Insp @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 05:56 PM) So what you're saying is that lack of plate discipline is a good thing at least with Avila? Taking good pitches to hit is not good plate discipline. He is a huge swing ad miss guy. Giving himself one pitch to hit did not work.

Ever since Avila stopped taking at least 2 strikes and became willing to hit it the other way he has been very good offensively.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 06:53 AM) Padres released Alexie. There's one Hahn got right.

QUOTE (SpankyEaton @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 12:01 PM) Can someone explain the outrage over releasing Gould and how the meatballs are upset by the direction Pace has taken? It's a complete rebuild that isn't done yet - I doubt Cutler, Jeffery, Houston and Royal are in the future plans. I don't think there is much outrage. I think people are questioning why Gould had no competition in training camp, and the answer there might be simple. Kickers are going to go to a team they think they can make. Gould has been entrenched. Maybe they wanted to bring Barth in earlier but he thought he had a better shot in NO. Gould has had some injuries, but did his slide start with the injuries or Mannelley retiring? The snapper can make a huge difference. Anyways, Barth isn't too shabby, and he is pretty much automatic inside 40.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 08:57 PM) Stupid question, but I rarely think about special teams. Are kickers particularly difficult to find? I think if they were easy to find, they never would have paid him what they paid him. But it does seem as a whole, kickers are a lot more reliable than they used to be. Robbie has slipped without a doubt. Hopefully they find someone as reliable as he has been over the years.

QUOTE (Tony @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 08:16 PM) Adios, Robbie. There was a tweet that releasing Gould was in essence releasing their entire offense. He has been in decline, and this pre season wasn't so hot. I wonder who the replacement is.

QUOTE (harkness @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 06:08 PM) Actually has 7 now... like 14-15 in the past two seasons. The most in MLB. Roberston's fastball just isn't that great... and he lacks the mental fortitude. He just always looks scared to me out there. His fastball is fine. It is what it always has been. He is having a tough time throwing strikes.

Kahnle with a save.

Sox win

Atta boy. Does Kanle ever not get to ball 3 on anybody?

Make sure you get to at least ball 3 Tommy

Why is it when the teams sucks, the manager gets blamed, the hitting coach gets blamed, and when it's good, they really don't get much credit. Yet, with Cooper it is exactly the opposite. He gets credit for all their success, no no blame for their failure.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 04:45 PM) Interesting take on MLB network just now - Robertson was measured as having the "longest stride" in the big leagues and when his fastball was 93 the long stride made it harder to pick up the ball, but if he were to lose a little in velocity in their opinion that could trigger a really dramatic dropoff. According to fangraphs, his fastball is as quick as ever.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 04:11 PM) Note that the guys who were "white flag" traded were Navarro and Duke, neither of whom is obviously going to replace Ranaudo or Shields. Well maybe Shields. Navarro probably could have outpitched him. There are guys playing now that wouldn't be if they had a shot.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 04:09 PM) One does not pick up a James Shields because they wish to rebuild. They keep throwing him out there if they do. If they were in contention and he pitching like this, he would not be getting starts.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 04:02 PM) Then we need to be happy with 3rd and 4th place finishes. Because sticking your fingers in your ears and pretending that injuries don't happen does not actually prevent injuries. Every single year there's a team like this. The Cardinals were banged up to hell and back last year and won 100 games. The Dodgers have basically lost their entire starting rotation this year. And of course you ignored the note about the Indians losing Brantley, some of their starters for short stints, and Byrd. But please, tell me again how the White Sox lost 20% fewer games to the DL this year than the Royals but the Royals and Indians are these payroll juggernauts and the White Sox can't compete with them financially. Whatever. There is no question the Sox need to be deeper. If you have no depth, injuries hurt more. But since the Sox waved the White flag, they re going to lose more games than they would have had they been in contention. Ranaudo and Shileds wouldn't be pitching, and most of these minor leaguers wouldn't be getting a shot. This right now is part of rebuilding, something supposedly many want but constantly complain about when these guys are in the line up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:53 PM) Well then I guess you make a strong case why we need to be happy with 4th place. Your argument is ridiculous and you know it, the White Sox can't compete with the Dodger financially, and that extends to the minor leagues.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:52 PM) And that payroll is not the main reason they withstand injuries. They have organizational depth. Heck, it was they who passed on Frazier,preferring Sox prospects. Petricka and Putnam are average at best relievers; Lawrie is avg or below at 2b; same with Avilia and Jackson. The Sox didn't exactly lose high talent. BS. They had a $249 million vs.. $114 million payroll advantage. If you don't think adding $135 million to the payroll won't increase depth, you are high. That doesn't even count the signing bonuses and penalties they take for international signings. And the reason they passed on Frazier was because they ha a 3B. And they traded Montas for Rich Hill. Hero worshipping. The current White Dox with half the roster AAA talent, should be your wet dream.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:45 PM) The Los Angeles Dodgers lost Clayton Kershaw for what, 1/2 the season, and are still in 1st place? I never want to hear how losing Zach Putnam and Jake Petricka totally doomed this franchise while the Dodgers lost Kershaw for 1/2 the season and are still in 1st place. And he was only like 20% of what they've lost to injury. Good teams deal with injuries. The White Sox whine. Hell, the team that is going to win the AL Central lost their #3 hitter coming into the season for the entire year and had another OF get caught. And somehow, they had a good enough roster to overcome that. But we'll never match the Indians payroll, they're juggernaut. The Los Angeles Dodgers can also throw many around like no other team. While we all fret about the $20 million the Sox have to pay Shields the next 2 years, they can piss that away and no one thinks twice. It may be the dumbest comparison ever. Take away Kershaws $30 million and they still have a significantly higher payroll than the White Sox.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:23 PM) Preaching to the choir. But that will be a heavy, heavy excuse used by the FO. Really, you think the Sox should and could be be like the Dodgers? That may be the craziest thought ever.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 02:48 PM) Melky, Abreu Nd Frazier still battling. All with two out hits For the most part, the offense has been OK recently. What is killing them is 40% of the rotation and the amount of guys who should be in Charlotte in the bullpen.

QUOTE (Insp @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 02:30 PM) Why is Ranaudo still out there? The bullpen pitched forever last night. If they are going to leave these 2 dopes in the rotation, they need to split them up to give the bullpen a break. At least Abreu is back.

The back end of the Sox rotation makes one want Danks and Noesi back.