Dick Allen

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 7, 2016 -> 10:00 AM) He very well may be turning it around. He has talent. Sometimes it takes time. We'll see. Even elite players like Todd Frazier didn't pull it together until 25 or 26. I see you are enjoying the 20-10 start. You must be a treat to be around.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 6, 2016 -> 02:27 PM) He was an intern with Boers and Bernstein. Dan mentioned the other day that people told him that Jason needs to stop doing the announcer voice. Dan says that it's his voice. That's how he sounds all the time, even during regular conversations. I don't have any issue with his announcer voice. It's not like Kevin Harlan, the king of announcer voices with his wet s's. The guy can't say enough words with an s in it and it alwaysh shoundsh like thish.

Should be good crowds all 3 games, especially tomorrow with the bobblehead. I bet it's over 25k tonight.

We have been here before with Avi a couple of times. His first 23 games with the Sox, he hit .349. As late as June last season, his OPS was above .800. He will get ridiculously hot. That HR last night was amazing. The only HR I have ever seen with less air under it was Dave Winfield back in the 80s. The key will be can he stay away from swinging at pitches he can't hit. He's doing it now. I actually saw an AB with pitch trax where Avi only swung at strikes the other night. That doesn't happen too often. He has all the ability, but old habits tend to resurface. They should ride him when he's hot, though. And hide his glove so he can't go out to RF.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 6, 2016 -> 12:03 PM) And his WHIP was 1.4 for that, that's just not good enough. Burns through way too many pitches because his command just isn't there. He had a nice bounce back in the minors last year. I thought there was reason for optimism. He appeared to have a decent shot a rotation spot before they signed Latos, but even then Hahn was praising Turner. You have to think when guys claimed on waivers who pitched 9 minor league innings last year, and previously had some difficulties in the major leagues, seemingly leap you, the handwriting is on the wall. I fully suspect EJ will be a throw in for some trade in short order. He still has some potential, but I really doubt it will be with the White Sox. It seems they made their minds up long ago, and he was around in case of emergency. And he did nothing that would change their minds.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 6, 2016 -> 10:53 AM) Who cares? He's gone. Are you telling me fans get tired of the highest paid player when he performs as one of the worst annually? That's some groundbreaking stuff. No, what I am getting at is the Johnson kept the team in the game argument. He was awful. There are no 2 ways around it. The bullpen had to go 4 innings. He got out of some jams with at em balls. Big Papi rolled into a DP on a rocket. Walks, ridiculous pitch counts...there really was nothing to be encouraged about, except for maybe the strikeouts. Next man up. I really thought he had a chance this season. But he wet the bed in spring training, and last night looked like 2014 all over again. I hope Gonzalez can do something, because that spot, as good as this team has been, has been about as awful as Matt Cain.

QUOTE (South Sider @ May 6, 2016 -> 10:14 AM) I know he luckily escaped a few jams but lost in all of this is that he did give the team a chance to win that game. For a 5th starter in the AL, that's really all I can ask for. If the Sox had converted on their several opportunities perhaps we'd have seen a different outcome. In a tie game or Sox lead, you don't see Jennings throwing 40+ pitches. Nonetheless, he's back to Charlotte so there must have either been something the Sox didn't like, or a strategic reason for the move. I guess we will see. If the exact same thing happened to John Danks, it would be a marathon of DFA posts. I thought EJ had a chance, but he was awful last night. They were hitting rockets everywhere. Unless they fanned, they hit it hard.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 5, 2016 -> 11:41 PM) Uh oh in a politically correct charged environment like soxtalk that is a risque joke. I can't believe people are jumping on me for not being crazy about standing in line and eating next to some guy in a dress and heels. The guy is not pulling off well being a woman and I'm not all that interested in being around somebody who is making me uncomfortable at dinnertime. If you had a kid or a family member or a close friend decide he wanted to live as a woman, would you cut ties? Being afraid to stand in line behind someone is really kind of out there. If the guy hadn't bathed in a week and really smelled, I could see where you wouldn't want to be around that while ordering a sandwich. Or if he or she was doing disgusting things. But wearing a dress? You need to buck up.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 6, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) You could see the look of disappointment on his face when Ventura came out to get him last night in the 5th, like "well, I guess that's that." The guy was at Soxfest talking about his routine. It was cool and very strange all at the same time. He seems like a very robotic individual. It was cool he seemed very confident in his routine, and praised White Sox coaches for helping him out, but he would always go back to his routine like he was a telemarketer reading from a script.

In a way, the Sox set Johnson up to fail. He did strike out a few, but they were hitting rockets off him all night. The way they have jerked him around, and obviously he has something to do with it, isn't exactly going to make him really confident on the mound, but it it's obvious to a lot of us, it has to be obvious to him, the White Sox don't think much of his ability to be effective. It is sort of like what they were with Santiago. You know they don't trust him and won't trust him. It seems like they want him to do well enough another team would give them something they considered more desirable for him. That doesn't look like it will happen, but it seems to be a lock, he'll be a trade throw in soon. So far, as bad as Danks was this year, the 2 replacements have been worse. That won't continue. I expect Gonzalez to get at least a 3 or 4 game audition. If it's bad, Turner is next. I'm sure they wouldn't mind Fulmer being ready in a month or so, but you are going to run into an innings problem with him if he is. Still 19-10. There is room for some experiments.

QUOTE (Real @ May 5, 2016 -> 08:15 PM) It'd be nice to win a game when one of the gas cans is spilling itself all over the mound They did with Gonzalez. So far the 2 guys replacing Danks have been worse

QUOTE (fathom @ May 5, 2016 -> 08:10 PM) Sanchez stabbing at pitches is ridiculous He is the 4th catcher. For a team 19-9 you seem to be dissapointed in most of the roster.

Can they tell Danks they were just kidding

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 5, 2016 -> 03:09 PM) Lol. Follow the social media feature during an ESPN.com gamecast. Mentioned by both Chicago and Boston writers/reporters numerous times. However, there's pretty much zero incentive to "prove" anything since the game threads are now supposed to filled with positivity according to what Rabbit wrote last night. I know you saw that. And, if I proved it, you would just turn around and use it as justification to complain more about my posting it. Or you would argue that nothing constitutes proof, everything is subjective or based in our perceptions of glass half filled or half emptyness. So what's the point??? 19-9, bring up the attendance. Why are you so concerned about the attendance? Why don't you buy some tickets and donate them to a YMCA or something. It will help a couple of causes. Good for kids and good for attendance.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 5, 2016 -> 02:57 PM) He's just not exposed to that stuff. It's like how a large population of straight men are afraid of homosexuals because they think they are going to go after them upon sight. I mean if every woman in the world isnt trying to f*** you, every gay guy isnt either, probably less actually. Different is just scary. I wonder when the bathroom issue will transition to gay/straight.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 5, 2016 -> 02:41 PM) I didn't realize making this thread constituted making fun of the fans...is that what it really is? There's also a difference for Pirates' fans because they know they have two better opportunities to see the Cubs later in the season since they are divisional rivals. At any rate, the Orioles' attendance is also way down and they actually spent quite a bit of money in the offseason, have been to the playoffs much more recently, and got off to a similar start record-wiseto the White Sox. Like it or not, with the media focusing so much on the Cubs and their revenue machine now, it's going to be even more of a topic of comparison because it's the one profound and obvious difference between the two organizations at the current time...and a hot topic on social media as well and presumably sports talk radio in Chicago. Other than your posts, do you have any links as to where this is becoming a huge topic? People have been fully aware for years the Cubs outdraw the White Sox even on their worst days vs. the White Sox best.

How often do people get prosecuted for using the incorrect restroom? This is such a waste of time. Women's restrooms have stalls. Men's restrooms have stalls and urinals. If you are afraid someone might be leering at you, it's pretty easy to solve.

I was a little surprised Gonzalez didn't get the call. I wonder if it had to do with him taking a ball off the face, or if there might have been a problem with how long he has been back at Charlotte. I would think he would have been good to go, but isn't there a time period after you have been sent back until you can be recalled again unless there is an injury? I would think he exceeded that, but maybe not.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 5, 2016 -> 01:44 PM) What about Michael Saunders...any chance we have a piece as attractive as what Texas was giving up? Toronto had that PED guy and Saunders is doing pretty well, and they were acquiring Jay Bruce, so I doubt he is available. At least at a price the Sox would be willing to pay. For instant gratification, you would have to think Bruce is probably the best bet. But as long as they have a lead, the White Sox can buy some time and wait for something better.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 5, 2016 -> 09:02 AM) Sucks Bosh is out again because ECF between Cle and Miami would be fun. It does suck, but if I ran an NBA team, I would be so scared to ever let Bosh play at this point.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 5, 2016 -> 01:02 PM) On a sidenote, I do think it is pretty surprising that they can't draw against a team like Boston. Usually Boston always will draw crowds wherever they go due to their overall fan base. I realize the weather and lack of school, but that is a pretty big negative, imo. Goes to show how hurtful the past few years struggles have been. Bottom line is people go to games to be entertained and for a few years the Sox were horrific in the entertainment department. It takes more than a few weeks to change that. This club needs to be a consistent winner with playoff consistency. Do that and even with what the Cubs do, they absolutely will draw consistently. Problem is the franchise has not had a sustained run like that anytime during any of our posters lifetimes. Boston being pretty awful last season probably has a lot to do with it. If this series was a month from now, it would have drawn a lot better even if one of the teams was horrible.

Anyone watch Dice on Showtime? It seems to be a poor man's Curb Your Enthusiam. Instead of Larry David getting into it with everyone, it's Dice. Not quite as funny or clever, but it has it's moments.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ May 5, 2016 -> 10:37 AM) Economics 101 would largely disagree with this postulate. The consumer doesn't invest in the product until the product is deemed worthy of doing so. The producer of the product must first invest in it in such a way that it is appealing to the consumer, after which the consumer will become loyal to the brand. Not the other way around. Teams spend the money when they have it to spend. Whether it be by stellar attendance or a new TV contract. They don't just up the payroll an extra $100 million to see if that will make more people come. If you disagree, maybe you can point to a team that has done exactly that. Then we can examine the results.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ May 5, 2016 -> 10:25 AM) Yes and no. If I had free tickets I'd probably go last night, but it was cold, I was tired from work, and I watched on my 60" television drinking $1 Founder's and $1 tacos to my hearts content. On a weekend when I am more free to seek out entertainment I do so, but on a weekday? Meh. And I live in the city, w/ no kids, so my excuses are a lot less than the majority of the folks out there. IMO, everyone's excuse is just as legit as anyone else's. I just don't think anyone should call out the team for not spending like the Cubs, and acting sort of small market. Teams don't spend $200 million on payroll in a hope to draw fans. They spend it when they have those fans locked up. I always find it curious many of the people calling the attendance lame weren't at the game. And it was so cold last night. I took my dog out for a walk after the game and couldn't believe it was May. Although the coldest I ever was at a game was a Cubs/Sox game at Wrigley in late May around 2006 or so. The wind was blowing straight in off the lake. It felt like it was about 15 degrees, and it was a week before June.

Johnny Danks was the winner in each of the last 2 postseason games the White Sox won. The Blackout Game and the 1 win they were able to get vs. Joe Maddon in the 2008 ALDS.