Dick Allen

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 03:25 PM) Probably because he seems qualified for the job and hasn't proven to be inadequate yet. What would it take for him to be considered inadequate? He's been the GM for the Robin Ventura era, except the season they won 85 games, who supposedly has shown all he is inadequate. Gave him an extension. Signed Jeff Keppinger, Belisario, thought Hector Noesi was a #4 starter, likes Avi Garcia, had Gillaspie and Micah starting on opening day, so apparently doesn't think much of defense. Still seems to think Tyler Flowers is a good idea. Blew $4 million on Bonifacio. Blew $4 million on Scott Downs, spent $25 million on LaRoche, the list goes on and on. What he is, in essence ,is Jay Cutler's back up QB. People are hoping against hope he knows what he is doing without much evidence, except for contract extensions, he does. People hate KW, therefore, like RH, when the reality is they probably agree more than disagree. This is pretty much proven on this website. He was lauded for the moves made last winter. Most thought the Sox were a contending team. When that went by the boards, all these moves Rick was lauded for were the idea of KW.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 03:15 PM) The black and white coming from some (DA mostly) here is hilarious. Seriously, the guy got promoted to GM from within. Guess what happens for EVERY executive in ANY field when that happens? They still have to report to the person above them, especially if they moved into their job. The reins are never handed over instantly. The job allows lots of control, but not all. This is reality. Why is that even a question? KW has some control, and Rick works for KW. Rick is the GM and makes a lot of, but not all of, the decisions. And major decisions go through management. This is not complicated, nor does it mean Rick is either a dolt or a master knight of the secret squirrels. He took a job that is a lifetime dream. He took it knowing FULL well who KW is, I am quite sure - specifically, KW is a control freak. Zero chance Hahn didn't know that. He's working into more control. He's young and has time. Which is precisely what I have pointed out. But to think he has nothing to do with what people think are bad decisions is beyond ridiculous. I have never said KW wasn't in charge, in fact, last winter when all were giddy about "Rick's" moves and how different it was from the KW era, I pointed out that the Shark trade, was extremely KW-like, and KW had final say. I also don't think he would turn down requests to interview to be a real GM because he would rather stay with the White Sox and be a fake one, 4and tell everyone how he screwed up when KW made a bad decision. No way. I have changed jobs twice in my life when I knew getting to the next level at my current company wouldn't mean much, that there would be too much interference, and there was an opening at the next level somewhere else, and I'm sure I am not the only one. Hahn is a smart guy, and would have no problem getting another job in baseball if he told KW and JR to go scratch. If he truly was just the spokesman taking blame for lousy seasons, he would be a fool.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 03:06 PM) The interesting thing to note in that article I posted is that projection systems have actually been fairly accurate in predicting individual performance (except for our guys apparently), but trying to predict team performance is where things have fallen apart. "It’s a long-held saying that baseball’s playoffs are a crapshoot, but the unexpectedly great performances of teams like Kansas City this year might indicate the regular season is headed in that direction, too." Too many variables with the team. I think one of the years Boston came in last place, they led the league in cumulative WAR.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 03:00 PM) Hey, you're preaching to the choir, but taking a poll at Soxtalk isn't much more accurate. Actually, the guess the record has been fairly accurate most seasons. This year it was off, but back to PECOTA, the teams they had making the playoffs, one finished in 3rd place in their division, 2 finished 4th, and 2 finished 5th. I don't think BP will be touting those numbers anytime soon. You would think if you had to pick 1 team in 5 that would make the playoffs, it wouldn't be that difficult. They couldn't even pick one that finished in second place. I think they need to go back to the drawing board.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 02:49 PM) this place makes my head spin. I can't keep all the stat proponents and detractors straight. whatever supports their argument I guess. Just so you know, none of the 5 teams in the AL who made the playoff were projected to make the playoffs under PECOTA; TOR 80-82 NYY 79-83 KC 73-89 TEX 79-83 HOU 77-85 BOS and DET and LAA were projected to win with TB and SEA projecting enough for the WC.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 02:44 PM) Also had us scoring 81 more runs than we did, our record might look similar to what they predicted but the path we took to get there was very different, pretty much no one on the offensive end sans Eaton lived up to their projections. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-201...ections-failed/ But according to this article projection systems have been getting steadily worse over the years. Yes, I saw something about that last spring. They were getting better, then fell off a cliff. I think it was 2014 where if you predicted everyone to finish 81-81, you would have been more accurate than one of fangraphs or PECOTA. I wouldn't concern myself too much with those projections. For fun they are fine, but to take seriously, IMO too many things happen that cannot be anticipated or built in to a model. For individuals, sure, but not for teams.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 02:31 PM) Having an interview is different than being handed a GM job on a silver platter. He's a Chicago native, been living here forever, he knows the owner is super loyal to a fault, so the job is his no questions asked. Why risk that to MAYBE get a job somewhere else? Even if that job wields more power, you gotta take the sure thing when offered to you. How many GM jobs even open up every year? That's why I don't question why he might take a job under KW & JR calling the shots. So why isn't Hahn ripped for being a loyalty hire?

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 02:23 PM) Not a huge fan of PECOTA but I think they had them at 78 wins. Didn't they have the Royals at about 72? One of them did.

QUOTE (captain54 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 01:54 PM) the missing ingredient in this equation is that the Cubs addressed their suckage…as did the Bears.. as did the BlackHawks… the White Sox? they will continue to ride 2005…it's an embarrassment…. There can't be a franchise is sports that is more out of touch with it's fan base than the White Sox… Ive gotten a good half dozen mass marketing emails from the Sox pimping their party suites, or this and that.. and I always respond with.. "you guys figure out a way to put a better product on the field and I'll be happy to come to park and spend my money" ..their response? more generic marketing emails… The entire franchise needs to be re invented.. that's the only hope of the Sox maintaining any relevancy in this town….in reality the chances of that are slim to none.. intstead, Reinsdorf and his band of crusty old investors will try to trot out the same old same old with Kenny Williams and Hahn tap dancing their way into spinning positive in the media with some psycho babble about this or that convoluted plan… Bottom line..Going back now to the end of 2012.. things have not worked out.. and the Sox have no answers.. do they really believe that surrounding Abreu and Sale with a cavalcade of scrubs is gonna bring people to the park…? They did sell more tickets than last season, and an overwhelming majority of posters here thought the moves they made last winter made them a contender if you look at the prediction thread.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 01:02 PM) Quite frankly, I don't know what or who to believe in the Sox organization. What I'm saying is Hahn has to say things as part of his job to cover decisions that are made either by him or above him. Bottom line, it's a bad organization right now with an owner that is no longer capable of making good baseball decisions or hiring people that are allowed to make good baseball decisions. By the way, I'm done interacting with you since all you and that other guy do is pick at what other people say. So say what you want...you'll get the last word. It is funny you take your ball and run when you complain about picking at what someone says when you were the one who wrote what I wrote was horses***. LMAO. Rick Hahn does nothing wrong. Free Rick Hahn.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 12:26 PM) Except TBS's plotting was also quite bad. Pitch F/X shows the true story, aside from a few strikes called balls and an extended plate inside to LHH (very common) Mark Carlson was very good yesterday. Nothing there that jumps out at you. The Grimm V Pham AB is the one that really stuck out as bad on the TBS strikezone, there were back to back pitches that showed in identical locations one called a ball the other called a strike. Here's the pitch F/X plot for that AB. It shows the called strike just catching the zone and the called ball missing the zone. If the plotting is wrong, than that is another story.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 12:17 PM) Parent got let go because his contract was up, but I believe Reinsdorf doesn't want to pay for two managers and sets of coaches. We'll see how much changes in June if the Sox are out of it. Like I said, I choose to believe Hahn would have made more coaching staff changes if he had the choice. Complete speculation on my part because I think he's smart. Not hero worship. Far from it. Just think his hands are tied. I'm sure you disagree, so say more horses***... No, horses*** is what you throw out there. Rick would have cleaned house. That is based on nothing. Rick gave Robin an extension. But of course, you know for sure he really didn't want to, but was forced to. Failing to see how Rick Hahn bears anything but zero responsibility for a failed season is about as naïve as one can be. Here is Rick taking the blame for signing Jeff Keppinger, and praising JR for eating the contract. If it really was JR or KW who thought Keppinger should be signed, pretty pathetic Rick would take the blame while praising JR for eating money. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...ger-future-mind

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 12:18 PM) I used to think that too, but given how few GM jobs there are, I don't think it's that simple. It's not like he can pick and choose any other GM job wants, he'd be lucky to end up in the right opening at the right time. Here he has the perfect connection to get the job, so even if it's not ideal power structure, it's better than possibly starting from the bottom somewhere else. It doesn't matter. What many claim his job is would not be considered a GM job. If he has no say or very little say, how can he call himself a GM? Maybe there were some things he disagreed with KW on, and maybe KW won, and maybe those things blew up in their faces, but not all the White Sox bad choices are KW's, and not all the White Sox good choices are RH's. I am sure if we knew exactly how every move since Rick became GM went down, this fantasy that he has all the answers but has to bow down to idiots would come to an end. Even on here last winter, Hahn was a genius. He filled so many holes. No need for a long rebuild. Then it didn't work out, and suddenly it was all KW's doing. I guess that isn't a bad thing. A guy with no track record can do no wrong. A group of people who constantly complain about loyalty thinks the guy who has never worked for any organization except the White Sox would be a perfect GM if really given the opportunity to be a GM. It flies in the face of all the loyalty complaining. If KW is still making all the calls like some believe, there is nothing anywhere to suggest Rick Hahn knows what he is doing.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 11:12 AM) I don't remember many articles about the Sox going to the WS after we swept the ALDS in 2005. Hell, World Series talk didn't really start until after game 4 of the ALCS, when it was pretty evident the Sox had the series in the bag. I actually think the media has been pretty similar. The little things that bother me now, probably bothered die hard Cubs fans 10 years ago. But there is still hope for a Cubs loss.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 11:58 AM) I choose to believe it goes right to the top with Reinsdorf. I think Hahn would have cleaned house if he could have. What do you base this on? I think Rick Hahn is a smart guy, but if he took a job to be a puppet for KW and JR, that would make him not so smart. I don't understand how so many conclude Hahn wants to always do the right thing but is constantly overruled. That type of thinking is very naïve and Greensox would correctly classify it as hero worshipping. There is no doubt in my mind Parent's contract expiration made him the fall guy.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 10:41 AM) Apparently the Kardashian crew showed up to the hospital with a camera crew. Such dumpster people. If true, that is beyond sad.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 10:32 AM) Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 18h18 hours ago Cards fans complaining about the K zone: Don't. The TBS box is misleading. Mark Carlson has been very good today. Passan is full of it. Disregard the box, and look at the dots. His calls were all over the place during the same ABs.

When the Cubs last made the playoffs, 2 years in a row, "sustained success", they won exactly 0 playoff games.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 10:14 AM) God, they're like Blackhawk fans. I think it will be worse than the Blackhawks. Although I bet at least half the people that went to the Blackhawks parade couldn't name 5 players on the team.

QUOTE (Coach @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 09:54 AM) I don't know whether TBS's zone is accurate or not. From what I saw, the calls were bad. Not really bad though. Just to mention when Lackey was pitching and the K-Zone showed 2 pitches in the exact same spot and one called a ball and one a strike, you know the ump stinks. At least last night, I agree. Forget the box, just look at the dots, and a lot of his calls don't make sense.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) Sox are very comparable to the Royals. A stadium amidst a parking lot. Strong fanbase that wont' come out unless they win. Also KC was a very successful franchise in the 70s and 80s under a great owner Kauffman. When he died it all went to hell for a long stretch. The game changed a lot. I think as late as 1990, the Royals had the highest payroll in baseball. At one time, the Twins had the highest paid player, Kirby Puckett, and the Royals the highest payroll. Those days are ova.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 08:59 AM) Cub attendance took a big hit the past few years remember which led to the drive to bring in Theo, completely gut the franchise and get to where they are today. Their were a lot, ALOT of empty seats being shown on TV at Wrigley Field. Cub fans were getting fed up and pissed off. Columns were written about it in both the Sun-Times and Tribune. Just trying to be accurate. And just last year the Royals manager called out his fan base for not showing up with the Royals winning. Three decades of losing will do that to a fan base who has to be convinced the season isn't a mirage. Sounds a lot like things on the South Side no? (example is 2000 after four losing seasons in five years time...) Mark Since you are trying so hard to be accurate, the Cubs brought Theo in after the 2011 season, when they finished 71-91, and when they drew 3,017,966 fans. That would be an all time high for the White Sox., For accuracy's sake, you also might want to know that despite 5 consecutive seasons of not even winning as many games as the 2015 White Sox, the Cubs attendance never dipped below what would be top 5 in White Sox history.

What many people are missing is the teams they want the Sox to be like, the Cubs, the Pirates, the Royals, the Astros, were consistently awful for a very, very, very long time.

According to the Tribune, the Cubs are now the favorites to win the WS.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 08:26 AM) http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/playoff...ls-and-strikes/ I'd love to know the stats of the Cubs/Cards guy from last night. He was awful. I didn't see most of the Cubs ABs, but I would imagine he was just as bad for them. And it's not just accuracy, it's consistency. If you are giving everyone 2 inches off the plate, that's fine, just don't be "accurate" and then call the pitch 1 inch off the plate a strike sometimes. I mentioned the Cruz AB. He correctly according to their zone called a pitch high, and then later called a pitch that was even higher, a strike.