Dick Allen

Drake left Sale a signed jersey. He must be pretty cool.

The Black Unicorn traded to NE

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 03:21 PM) They just asked him to dial it back and not have his kid there every single day. That's not unreasonable. Maybe not, but still it is an unwelcome sign. What constitutes the amount of dialing it back? If he is a distraction every day, why wouldn't he be a distraction once a week?

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 03:13 PM) Perhaps it's the Sox's front office fault for not setting boundaries. Kenny did this spring, and LaRoche apparently wasn't happy about it. So be it. To answer your question, my guess is that LaRoche would've gotten more leeway if he had put up a .900 OPS last season. Superstars get preferential treatment (e.g., Barry Bonds' private room, complete with recliner and video game system in the Giants clubhouse). That said, I don't think that Kenny used this situation to force LaRoche off the team and $13M back into his organization's coffers. I honestly think that some of the new guys complained about it and that Kenny had no reason to give LaRoche special treatment. The other thing is, you say something like KW says, and how is LaRoche ever going to be comfortable ever bringing his kid in the clubhouse, whether it's once a week or once a month? You know KW is taking attendance. What is the cutoff between fine and too much? LaRoche walked away from a lot of money in a rather short period of time. Obviously having his son there meant a lot to him. As I said, I have no problem with the White Sox having a policy you can't bring your kid in every day, but they should have had it in place a while ago. If the White Sox could have signed Alex Gordon but Alex wanted his kid in the clubhouse every day during spring training, I really doubt KW would have said that would be a deal breaker. And if he did and that news came out, everyone would rightfully be blasting KW.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) Even the nicest people in the world can get on people's nerves if they're constantly around. Then the entire team should be annoyed with each other. Many teams let their kids in the clubhouse, many have a policy against it. Either is OK. Just don't have one that allows it, and then ask the player who this means so much, to not take advantage. As the earlier post stated, does he have this conversation if LaRoche had a big year last year, and was healthy this spring? I don't think he does. If the truth is he would, then I apologize to KW.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:45 PM) I don't think that's obvious at all. It's more likely that he heard complaints from multiple players. I doubt that. From all accounts, both with the Nats and White Sox, this kid is supposedly a really good kid. If he was a distraction, they would want him gone. KW said he just didn't want him there every day.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:44 PM) , I'm sure this isn't just KW's decision. From his quotes with Rosenthal, there is no doubt in my mind it is all him.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:38 PM) Sounds like Drake's presence was no longer limited, according to KW today. He didn't call the Sox evil but he's clearly telling his friends they're persecuting him or some nonsense. Thank god we got his opinion. This spring he has been around all the time, but LaRoche has been hurt and unable to do anything anyway. The article I linked stated he had limited access during the season, and he played on a couple of teams so he wasn't around every game. This is just KW being KW. It shouldn't have been a surprise Drake LaRoche would be at spring training daily. He was last year as well. In the article it said LaRoche's wife and daughter don't come to AZ until about halfway through spring training. KW should have said something before spring training started. That's all I'm saying. It's obvious he is frustrated by LaRoche's performance/injury/whatever, and he took it out on the kid. I don't think it makes the White Sox evil at all. I do think it shows how petty KW can be.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:25 PM) Maybe they saw first hand that the kid was a distraction. I'm gonna start bringing my unemployed college roommate to work with me because I like having him around and then call my company evil when they tell me to stop. #FriendshipFirst He didn't call the White Sox evil. The guy loves his son so much he walked away from $13 million in 6 months to be able to spend more time with him. If more fathers had a fraction of that desire to be with their kids, the world would be a much better place. I just think it is bad to change the policy in the middle of spring training. You gave the kid a locker and a uniform, now you say he can't come in? Unless he did something dreadful, that seems to me to be a bit petty, and using the kid to try to punish or whatever to LaRoche is weak. From the articles I linked, the kid is supposed to be a real good kid who knew his place, and he wasn't in the clubhouse and on the field all the time. He was limited. As I stated, the new policy is fine, but if it was used as some sort of weapon against LaRoche, that, IMO, is wrong. LaRoche walked away. Good for him. I think most would not.

QUOTE (Tony @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:17 PM) Here is a question. If LaRoche hit 25 bombs last season, does Williams have this conversation.. No chance. But KW is now a shoe in for White Sox employee of the month and of the year. His decision resulting in $13 million in savings will endear him forever. I don't have a problem with the KW using this policy as long as it is for the right reasons. The question I have is why wasn't this policy put in place before now? There could be logical explanations, but it is cold to all of a sudden institute this policy when you know how much it means to the father and son.

Unless they were BSing, and this really is the reason, the team seemed to like having him around last year. And according to this story, he really didn't have full access all the time. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0620-story.html

That doesn't make much sense either. One article I read said his kid has his own stall in the clubhouse this year. Why would they kick him out now? I can see a no kids rule, but I really don't think he would walk away from a profession because of this.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 11:43 AM) Obama made a political power play. If this gets dragged out, it only gives the democrats ammo for the general elections. I agree. The lame duck argument is lame. He was elected to a 4 year term, not 3.

They should have some money to play with. If they can make the team better now, that's less they have to do at the deadline, or may be a reason they have to do something at the deadline. It would be interesting to know what was available and at what price. Acting now may mean you don't have the funds to go after someone later. But a $13 million gift right before the season starts has to be huge to the White Sox, especially if LaRoche's heart and/or body weren't into it. I thought he was a decent bet to bounce back, but if he doesn't........ I know one thing, White Sox fans won't let RH, KW or JR forget they should have some money to play with.

Considering the White Sox front office seemed surprised by this decision and were among the people trying to get him to reconsider, I doubt they offered him a buyout to go away.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 03:21 PM) I'd like more elaboration please. At least when he was with the Twins, it was common knowledge he truly hated the White Sox. When Jesse Crain signed with the Sox all his former teammates contacted him to congratulate him on his new deal. Except one. Maybe now that he is not a Twin, that hatred isn't there. But it at least was an issue at one time.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 03:00 PM) here's the thing on the bolded - I'm genuinely not sure that's true. I look at a team like the 2013-2014 Bulls, with Deng still around, Noah at DPOY level, quality depth, Butler starting to develop into an all around threat, and I can't figure out how you could give Thibs a more perfect roster than that one...with the exception of the all star PG who is missing. About the same thing in 2012-2013 although Hamilton/Butler there is maybe a bit weaker. Those teams were built perfectly for Thibs, with the exception of Rose's injury. Yeah, their best player being out kind of screws the whole thing up. Thibs coached the Bulls for 5 seasons. The last 4 seasons, Rose played 100 games. I don't think there is a team in the NBA that overcomes their best player not playing that often.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:00 PM) Nope. This team was a f***ing train wreck against a broken Cleveland team. They sucked under Thibs that last year. He lost the locker room. Blame that on Gar, I guess, but it's still a fact. It wasn't going to work going forward whether Gar was there or not. It was time for a change. If the reports of Gar sabotaging Thibs in the pre season half any truth, that argument holds no water. The fact is, the Bulls roster has been short ever since Rose got hurt. Expecting them to beat LeBron is kind of like expecting John Fox to make the playoffs his first season with the Bears. Thibs will be better off without Gar. Even KC Johnson called the Adams firing a Gar power play. It was stupid and the beginning of the end. But Gar sold it to Pax and JR and JR's son and it seems several fans. Popovich is probably the best coach going. He went 6 years in a row without going to the finals. I wonder why he didn't get replaced and trashed on his way out the door. Now the fools look like fools. The same guys get hurt, and they don't win as many games even with the only cool guy who would give Gar the time of day coaching them. I hope some day JR at least in private apologizes to Thibs for being played by Gar.

The White Sox are running out of punching bags. Danks, Avi, maybe Melky. I wonder which new ones will emerge.

The fact that he is even taking the teams' advice to sit on it for a day or two, indicates to me it most likely isn't anything serious and family related. Perhaps his back made him frustrated. But what is impressive is he already did all the offseason stuff. He already showed up for spring training. Walking away from $13 million the next 6 months takes a either an already huge bank account or a lot of character. As for Jay Bruce, the first question that comet to me is you didn't like LaRoche, why would you like Bruce?

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:07 PM) I think the answer to the question of who replaces him is pretty obvious. Hahn needs to get on the phone and see what the Big Donkey is up to these days. Probably 325-350

Olt should go to Japan or Korea. He'd probably be a star.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 09:39 AM) The Bulls FO rightly saw the writing on the wall. Thibodeau was never going to get out of the east and he was never going to let the team play bad enough to get a good draft pick. That's basketball irrelevance. Thibs would prohibit any rebuild and couldn't take the current squad to the finals, period. On top of that, Thibodeau wouldn't play the players Gar wanted him to play (McDermott rotted for a year). The problem is, Hoiberg is not a good coach at the NBA level. For that, Gar deserves to be fired, but stop pretending that the Bulls had no reason to fire Thibodeau. *The minutes haven't changed because Fred Hoiberg isn't very smart *Over Thibs' tenure, the injuries were significantly worse than anything we have seen this year and I'm sure the FO thought Hoiberg would be better What is so annoying is that I mostly agree with you: Gar needs to go. What bothers me is that you insist on calling me out when I have done nothing to you except ignore your ESPN First Take, no value added talking points. McDermott sucked and then got hurt. Now you are saying Thibs won too many games? Were they trying to win a championship or not? For a guy who tells everyone how wrong they are, reading your fiction time and time again is beyond hysterical. Blaming injuries on Thibs is a joke. They were hurt before he came, they keep getting hurt after he left. You think Gar has to go, but you fell for his Thibs narrative hook, line and sinker. There would have been no reason to fire Thibs if the Bulls did the correct thing and launched Gar instead. The team would be better off.

The first time I heard it was concerning DRose. He never stretched but was starting to after all his leg injuries that weren't his knees. The trainer said stretching would make him a little less explosive. I thought that odd, but things change. They used to tell you if you had to drink water while exercising to spit it out. Now it's important to remain hydrated. I have flat feet. When I was a child they made me wear these hard shoes. Now they tell you to wear soft ones. But this one does make some sense. My wife is a yoga freak, but a couple of times a year she hurts herself in classes and takes a couple of weeks off.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 01:28 PM) Scott Kazmir looked awful in a B game this morning vs the White Sox but this Chris Sale kid might have a future. https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/709445828910256128 Maybe in the bullpen. http://www.southsidesox.com/2011/12/1/2603...bout-chris-sale