Dick Allen

QUOTE (flavum @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 01:27 PM) Keeping an eye on this guy's twitter... https://twitter.com/royalsclubhouse Heyman is good at what he does, but who the hell knows anymore? This free agent season has been annoying as hell. He problem that guy has is if he doesn't sign with the Royals or White Sox, his credibility is ruined. He has been on the he is coming back to KC wagon , but was patting himself on the back when Rosenthal mentioned the White Sox, saying don't listen to the national guys.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 01:21 PM) World Series 2016 here we come!!! But seriously, do you guys think that this is a precursor to another move? No. Room on the roster, get a look this spring.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 09:22 AM) Possibly, although I think he originally took less money to play with the Bulls because he wanted to play for a contender. I believe he pushed for the no-trade clause because he didn't want to get traded to a non-contender. You could be right, but I'm not sure how much money means to him at this point in his career. He left at least $5 million on the table to come to the Bulls. Toronto is 1 game better than the Bulls. I don't see where going there, trying to fit into a new system is going to actually be desirable. Maybe a team with a really legit shot of winning it all, but does anyone really think the Raptors are a Pau Gasol away from an NBA title? I don't even think Pau would buy that.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 09:26 AM) Hey "Bear Brian", to your point: I remember that it was about the time that the Sox were desperate for a decent bat, to hit behind Abreu, that they moved Melky to the middle of the order, and he took off. He is a good run producer, and although he won't hit many homers, he could indeed bat between Jose and Frazier, it the Sox acquire Gordon and put his good OBP in the 2 hole. In any case, I will be very disappointed if the Sox start the season with La Roche in the middle of the order. I would be an advocate for your position, if he were the only other LH bat, besides Melky. I'd rather see them have 6 right handed hitters in a row, than put La Roche in the middle of that lineup. If LaRoche is in the middle of the order, it means he is back to the guy who the Sox thought they signed.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 09:11 AM) While his numbers were definitely down from 2014, if you look at his splits it's pretty much all from LHP. 2014: RHP: .305/.364/.555 LHP: .353/.437/.662 2015: RHP: .308/.360/.548 LHP: .232/.306/.352 His numbers against RHP stayed almost exactly the same, but he went from murdering LHP to struggling mightily against LHP. Both were probably a bit fluky, so if he can just split the difference between the two LHP splits next year, he'll be primed to have another monster year. I pointed this out a couple of months ago. People were so upset about the 14 starts LaRoche made against lefties, yet the problem the Sox had with lefties is hardly anyone hit them, and Abreu's OPS was down over .400 vs them. You would have to think that should bounce back a bit.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 09:10 AM) Looks like the market for Gordon/Upton/Cespedes has become a bit smaller now. Just yesterday the Giants were rumored to be looking at one of the three and it sounds as though that may have changed. "The Giants remain unlikely to play at the top of the free agent outfield market, according to the report, but might look at the next level down. Two names in play are Dexter Fowler and Gerardo Parra, with another possibility being the addition of a right-handed-hitting platoon partner for Gregor Blanco. San Francisco is also in communication with the Rockies on their outfielders, Rosenthal’s colleague Jon Morosi reports." Wonder if the Giants would have any interest in Avi as a platoon partner? I don't expect much of anything in return but it would open up a roster spot on the Sox for a FA while the Giants get a relatively cheap platoon option in Avi. I don't get the fascination with Parra. His defensive metrics have trended down quickly the past couple of years, he has no power, and he was awful with the Orioles. Whoever signs him will regret it.

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 08:28 AM) In Gordon's career he has an OPS of .653 and a career BA of .226 hitting 4th. He is not a cleanup hitter. Sometimes the feeling that you HAVE to have a balanced lineup just does not work. I will again go back to the 2005 Sox, where the majority of that lineup was RH. Unless we trade for CarGo (doubtful), I think Cespedes is the best alternative, since he can play RF and has legitimate power. That does leave Melky in LF (not good) but moves Avi out. I believe they also will keep LaRoche and hope for a bounceback - there is your LH bat. The way the game is played now with bullpens seemingly being used mor and more, trying to get as lefty righty alternating as you can get causing managers to maybe wait on using a guy or having a LOOGY face a righty or 2 may become more advantageous than traditional or even the latest advance stat idea of where guys should be placed in the line up. Obviously your best hitters have to be hitting the most, but more strategy is now involved.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:58 PM) Zach Lowe is a fantastic writer as well, always has fantastic insight (good to see he's still plugging along after the Grantland collapse). One point he made was how Gasol's not really a good fit in this offense that Hoiberg wanted to implement, he wants more ball movement, and Gasol wants the ball more in the post. I could see him get moved to a team like Toronto at the deadline for some future picks, if the Bulls were willing to go down that route. He has a no trade.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 09:19 PM) Would it help to know Jermaine Dye had the best year of his career with the Sox at age 32 ? I was just looking at Dye's stats from age 32 on . He had some of his best years with the Sox. One of the few guys who was hurt a lot then gets to us and gets healthy and hits more HR for the Sox then he ever had before. We always hear " this guy will hit more HR at the Cell "but we never see it actually happen very much. Even in his last year in the majors at age 35 he hit 27 HRs and a .793 OPS and .340 OBP. Dye had 44 HR's in age 32 season. , 120 RBI , 1.006 OPS, .386 OBP, .662 SLG. , OPS+ 151 Dude could still hit when he retired ( or nobody wanted him). His fielding fell of a cliff if I remember it right . Lost a couple of steps at 33 rebounded a little at 34 but still bad ,then totally lost it a lot more at 35. He fell apart offensively his final season. .942 OPS first half with 20 homers, .580 the second half. Probably why he was lowballed the next season. He looked like he got real old real fast.

Now it is just taunting.

QUOTE (Moe @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 05:13 PM) For the Sox, I think Gordon's defense is paramount. He probably would have won the GG over Cespedes (.980%, lowest OF in years) had he not spent so much time on the shelf. Also, in comparison, I'm guessing that Gordon probably would have backed up the famous Blake Swihart (yep, you read it correct) inside the park HR during which Cespedes never took his hands off his knees. Gimme Alex please! I will take any of the three

QUOTE (BigFinn @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:53 PM) The Cubs "stole" Chicago when they brought in John McDonough to run public relations and Harry Caray to call the ballgames. The Sox need to find a way to win consistently, and they need to put a dynamic personality in the broadcast booth when the Hawk retires. Hahn has been doing a good job bringing players to help the club win (they don't always perform, but that's not Hahn's fault). Now the club needs a broadcaster who will help put fannies in the seats. It wasn't until Harry's 4th season that they outdrew the Sox. 1984 , Sandburg, Sutcliffe, is what turned the tide. They can blame Sportsvision, whatever else, Harry went to the Cubs in 1982, and the Sox outdrew them until 1985, but it all comes down to the 1984 season when Wrigley was sold as a treasure, and the Cubs were winning. Winning didn't matter much after that.

The more good hitters the Sox have in their lineup, IMO, the less chance some of them totally crap out. The weight on individual shoulders lessens.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:39 PM) Any three of them is an improvement to the team, I just would prefer to not take a chance on a guy that is most likely going to start declining over the contract. They should all decline over the course of the contract. The younger guys will get a longer term.

His age is always a concern, but he seems to be getting smarter as a hitter. If he signed for 5 years, you would have him through his age 36 season. USCF isn't a bad place for aging OF. And Paulie was fine his age 36 season until his wrist gave way. He was hitting .400 in May. MGordon seems more athletic. Any way you slice it, you probably have to give any of these OF a contract until they are at least that age.

So who would move to RF? Melky or Gordon? I am thinking Melky. He will be brutal but Eaton should be able to help him a bit more, and one thing Melky does really well defensively is throw.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:27 PM) So your argument is that with Victor Martinez instead of Dunn from 2011-2014 we never would have made the playoffs? The only reason we were so close in 2012 was probably related to that injury weakening Detroit relatively. Yes. I think anyone who actually looked at it, would conclude the same thing. Martinez is better, but the only time 1 player could have made a difference for the White Sox at that time was the year Victor didn't play because he was injured during the offseason. Dunn was helpful that year. Victor would have been able to contribute as much as you or me.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:22 PM) Lol. You have the opposite idea. Every time Gordon makes a mistake for the White Sox, that will be your chance to jump all over him. Gordon Beckham was so bad for us there was little need to rub it in, but I'm sure you won't be able to resist. I'm also happy to know that we never even considered Victor Martinez over Adam Dunn. Just think, if the Roylas didn't give Alex Rios $12.5 million to stink up the joint, they could throw that money at Gordon. I love hindsight.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:18 PM) Yes, because clearly we lost the 2012 race by not 3 but 16 games. When you sign a free agent, it has an impact over more than one year. In fact, you wanted to being back Victor Martinez instead of LaRoche just two years ago. Obviously you were impressed by something about him. Victor Martinez didn't play in 2012, Dunn hit 41 homers.

Caulfield in full meltdown. His biggest nightmare, Royal hero a possible White Sox, and now he is back to the White Sox should have been in the playoffs this many times in the past. It is happening. Hahn making moves and the chronic whiners are melting.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) I would say the fall back plan is going to be stick with Avi and hope someone can get him to fix his s***... From Hahn's comments last week, it seems to me the Avi shipped has perhaps sailed. He talked about his talent, but I don't think another year of experimentation is even a thought. He admitted he needed an OF.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:06 PM) By your line of thinking, nobody would or should ever consider past history when choosing a mutual fund or the make and model of an automobile purchase for that matter. So what exactly would cause us to disregard all past Sox history about bad/wrong moves and never giving up more than a contract in the mid to upper $60's (Danks, Dunn, Abreu the highest)... What does have bearing that we can objectively consider or quantify, pray tell? So if the White Sox ever make a bad trade or bad free agent signing they should never make a trade or signing again. Also using this logic, they should drop out of the draft.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:01 PM) Typical. If there was a clever retort to be made...or a substantive response. Oh well. Why give a response to guy who thinks Victor Matinez over Adam Dunn would have made up 16 games in the standings.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 03:55 PM) Honestly, Gordon to the White Sox doesn't happen because we are never on the right side of the ledger in these deals where we add and subtract from a divisional foe... 2003 Kenny Rogers cheaply to the Twins, Sox have no fifth starter and fall short 2010 Thome to the Twins, Kotsay/A. Jones to the Sox Miguel Cabrera to Detroit because of better minor league talent in Maybin and Miller at time of trade 2011 Dunn to the White Sox, Victor Martinez to the Tigers That's three White Six playoff teams alone (2003/2010/2012) and the likelihood of even more with Miggy Cabrera in the fold that whole time. See below. You could make the same arguments even about last year...had the White Sox brought in Morales instead of LaRoche, C.Young/Madson/Volquez/Cueto instead of Shark, Robertson and Duke...Zobrist over Cabrera. Granted, the Royals were willing to sacrifice much of their farm in the process, as they didn't pick up any of the two month remaining salaries for Cue-to and Zobrist. I can't think of any time predating 2000 where we hurt a divisional foe and helped ourselves simultaneously. Guess it has to happen someday, right? Whatevs.

He isn't going to play CF is he?