Dick Allen

Van Gundy chimes in. He does make some good points: http://nypost.com/2015/05/28/jeff-van-gund...vicious-manner/

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 29, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) Pro sports are all very similar, retreads are hired because they have experience, even if their experience is mediocre. Skiles does have a track record of making bad teams decent, but eventually you will fire him with at least a couple of million on his contract.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ May 29, 2015 -> 10:15 AM) Everyone is taking the statements as going after Thibs, but to me it all just screamed justification. All season long people have been reporting that Thibs would be fired regardless of how many games they won and that doing so would be a terribly dumb move. I think the Bulls had to give a reason for the firing, otherwise they wouldn't get their say in for the record. I don't see any personal digs, I see a lot of truth - Thibs is a stubborn SOB and when management and the players want something else, and the coach refuses to budge, that's not a "team" mentality/culture. Throw in a lot of the little disagreements and fights that a lot of employees/employers have, and that was enough for him to get fired. This isn't the first time the Bulls have just plain lied. Back when Phil left, Krause told him the year before if he went 82-0 he wouldn't be back. Yet during the lockout they made it seem like they wanted him back, even though Floyd, who everyone knew was going to be the next coach for a year, had been hired in some other capacity. Apparently they play the public for fools, but the good news is if they don't win a title next season, they will have to come up with a different excuse. It will be interesting to see what that is.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 29, 2015 -> 09:50 AM) For a year an a half of a pitcher pitching much better. We're selling a worse version for just a couple months. And everyone in the world thought that was an overpay in the first place. I don't think everyone in the world thought it was an overpay, and reality is starting to set in for Semien. He obviously still has good offensive numbers, but he has dropped about 70 points off his OPS the last couple of weeks, and now up to 18 errors. If he had 18 errors for the White Sox, he would be getting skewered here.

What is funny is someone actually thinks the Bulls aren't loyal to their players, yet the President is John Paxson. The special assistant is Scottie Pippen. Wasn't Gar Forman Tim Floyd's assistant coach? Many ex Bulls have been assistant coaches and Bill Cartwright even was the head coach. And if Fred Hoiberg is hired...........former Bull. Of course this type of loyalty is only frowned upon to a point. The people who complain the loudest about it many times are the same ones who think Frank Thomas should be the White Sox hitting coach.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 29, 2015 -> 08:54 AM) The opposite. The White Sox are all good "company men" who don't ever rock the boat...or question the longstanding way of doing things. I'd take a dysfunctional frontt office of ten overachievers/tireless workers who don't always get along with co-workers and push their players to their limits than...well, whatever we have now. Sort of like a country club atmosphere. If the Bulls made the same mistakes the White Sox make on a constant basis...would Thibs passively sit there and let it go? It's not a country club. Robin rips on players just not for you to watch: Praised by the front office and players alike for his balanced demeanor, Ventura — who on Friday signed a multi-year contract extension — has been questioned several times by fans for those same qualities. They want to see Ventura air players out in the dugout and criticize them publicly for their poor play. Some assume that just because he doesn’t show his emotions outwardly that equates to a lack of passion for the job. “You get that,” Ventura said. “Just because you don’t do it so they can get the satisfaction of seeing me jump somebody doesn’t mean it (doesn’t) happen. But everybody has an opinion, everybody has a preference and when you get a forum like this you get all of that.” [ Part of the reason Ventura is popular with players is because of the way he handles them. Veteran first baseman Paul Konerko said Friday that Ventura reads and handles his players well. Ventura also prefers to handle his role as a taskmaster behind closed doors. “That’s just the way I do it,” Ventura said. “I’d rather bring them in and do it inside the clubhouse. I played for managers that did it both ways and I think it’s more of an effective approach to do it inside and not let people see it. … It doesn’t mean I don’t care or I’m not mad. You realize that you are on TV and it’s stuff you can’t take back.” While Hahn has no concerns about being criticized, he didn’t tolerate questions about his manager’s passion and rushed to Ventura’s defense. “I didn’t think it was Robin’s place to have to explain how passionate he is,” Hahn said. “Those of us who are around him and see what he does on a daily basis and the amount of energy and time he puts in have the benefit of seeing that passion behind closed doors. It was important for me as one of those people to make that clear. … Although it’s not satisfying perhaps from a fan standpoint, we want that handled behind closed doors. It’s more effective when you have that conversation one on one with a player as opposed to airing it out in public.”

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 29, 2015 -> 08:21 AM) Meh. What Reinsdorf said is true though. People want transparency from owners but then don't like it when they get it. Of course the decision wasn't made when they said it was. What are they supposed to say? We were going to fire Tom no matter what? This has been in motion for the last year and a half. Anyone that was blindsided by this hasn't been paying attention. I'm not saying you, Dick, I just mean in general. Lots of stunned people yesterday and it doesn't really make any sense. Gar said the reports they were trying to get something for Thibs was total BS and that they made the decision to fire him either yesterday or Wednesday. That just is a lie, and like in court, how are you supposed to believe anything else he says? JR's response was damning, and I think unnecessary. Even if they absolutely hate Thibs, keep it classy. As far as I can tell, GarPax haven't exactly accomplished much as a duo. The fact is, the talent was short. Losing to LeBron and the Heat wasn't embarrassing and unexpected. Losing to LeBron this year with a hobbled Noah, a Rose that isn't the same as he was every night, isn't unexpected. They have every right to fire Thibs. But to try to drag him through the mud is proposterus. The fact is, they gave him, this horrible coach, an extension, and still owe him $9 million, so who really is the fool?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 29, 2015 -> 08:14 AM) Realistically, management has also generated guys like Jimmy Butler and company. They seem to be doing something right. I read an article that the guy who recommended Butler and Taj and Noah was a scout who is now the assistant GM in Orlando. The year he left, they drafted Teague.

Good Woj article on the background of the firing, and the statement from JR really seems out of line now: When Hoiberg is hired, are they still going to stick to the charade that the decision was a tough one that was just recently made? http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-bulls-man...-053816326.html

I saw a mock that had Sam Dekker picked by the Bulls. I think that guy is getting better and better.

Beck was pretty shaky, but really for a major league debut, to go 6 and the team is still in the game isn't all that bad, even though the numbers don't look so good.

QUOTE (harkness @ May 28, 2015 -> 05:10 PM) Another example--- hanger right down the middle and Abreu beats it into the ground. If our pitchers threw that pitch to their #3 hitter its out of here. f*** Robin.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 28, 2015 -> 05:03 PM) When was the last good Whitesox pitching debut? Seriously. Carroll's start was sweet last season.

Dump LaDunn. Please.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 28, 2015 -> 03:02 PM) Beck has a very unfortunate picture for his MLB headshot. I don't think even top professionals could do much with that. Not much to work with.

2 in a row. Sale and Samardjiza both with great performances. It's a tough stretch. Who knows what they will get out of Beck, but if they can win this and 2 out of 3 in Houston or Texas, or just split those 6, what started as a disaster, could turn very positive. Especially if the bats start going.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ May 28, 2015 -> 03:01 PM) A lot of people on here seem to complain about him being on the team but every time he plays it seems like hes on base frequently. People complain about most of the roster being on the team.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ May 28, 2015 -> 03:00 PM) In 33 ABs this year. Not a large sample size. His career OPS is 100 points less against lefties. Not every Robin Ventura move needs to be criticized especially in this case when it was probably the right call to stay with Duke. Sometimes a player just beats you. That's baseball. Exactly and even if he homers, the Sox still lead. Try to avoid sending in another pitcher if you can. And there is no manager in baseball that would lift a lefty for a righty to face Chris Davis.

Good thing for that insurance run.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 28, 2015 -> 02:49 PM) A couple infield hits the last 2 days really helps that average. I still like him has a utility guy off the bench though. I don't think he should be getting the majority of starts (just against lefties and a late inning sub) He's hit the ball pretty hard this year. He is showing a lot more value than most thought.

Beckham up to .265.

That Shucker just stole second.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 28, 2015 -> 02:36 PM) I really hate when home umps call the check swing. Just ask the ump at 1st or 3rd I agree unless it is beyond obvious.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 28, 2015 -> 02:26 PM) Chris Sale is a man! I always thought that was pretty obvious. The beard totally gives it away.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ May 28, 2015 -> 01:29 PM) An average BABIP is about .300. I'm (not dismissing) but questioning hot streaks when they came with .449 and .426. .250 is not a BABIP well over 100 points away from the norm. The worst hitters in the league often have BABIPs around .260. And for that matter, even a normal BABIP and he'd still have an awful line. His BABIP last year was .326 and it produced an awful line. His .344 in AAA last year put up a decent line, and that is not too crazy of a BABIP for a non homer guy, plus he is 23 years old, he isn't a finished product. I think he can be an average to slightly above average hitter at the major league level. And who knows, he may get better than that.