Dick Allen

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 09:43 AM) trading arod would be one of the all time worst moves in baseball. I think the Yankees would be stupid to trade him, and I also don't buy the reason a lot of "experts" think the Yankees have to trade him.......because its chic to boo him and he'll never be able to turn around the boos. Didn't Giambi turn around the boos fairly quickly? All he needs is a hot week or 2 that you know is just around the corner, and he'll be back. I do think he would be an even better player outside of NY, but the guy was the MVP last year.

I think KW was being sarcastic and just screwing around with his comments the other day. IF ARod is available, he would be an awesome addition to any team.

LA Times reports Alomar can no longer catch at the level required for a back-up at the major league level. He was the Dodgers 3rd string catcher. As bad as Widger was, this is not going to be much better, if its even better at all.

If they think so highly of him, it really makes you wonder why they ever let him go in the first place. The difference in salaries between Widger and Sandy was only $50,000 last season, and this season they were earning the same. Oh, I forgot about Ben Davis. Nevermind.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 08:35 PM) This was obviously done to help the pitchers. Maybe some of them complained about Widger's game-calling. The coaches will take the hit by criticizing his preparation. But I wonder if one of the pitchers told Coop that they weren't comfortable working with Widger and the move was made. Widger's time was up. In fact this move was way overdue. I just think the Sox should have upgraded defensively. The Sox aren't pitching as well as they need to be. Making every single or walk a double isn't going to help make it better.

For all of Sandy's supposed leadership and clubhouse influence, he was here when the attitude of the team was allegedly bad, and when it improved last season, he was not here. He obviously wasn't able to get Olivo to grasp the nuances of catching in the big leagues quite like Joe Girardi has. I know he's a great guy, but at 40 years old I have the feeling KW is going to regret not bringing someone in who is more solid defensively. Its going to be like a merry-go-round the games Sandy catches.

This is just a move to make a move, Sandy will probably be just as pathetic as Roberto was the last time KW acquired him. I'll throw out the 6.09 CERA for this season, and the fact that that despite his .323 average, he's hitting .231 since April 20. He hasn't been that great for a while. Here are some comparisons since 2000, and remember he is now 40. Year Team Team ERA SAjr. CERA 2000 Cle 4.84 5.22 2001 Sox 4.55 4.49 2002 Sox 4.53 4.39 2002 Col 5.20 5.64 2003 Sox 4.17 4.70 2004 Sox 4.91 4.99 2005 Tex 4.96 4.93 Even when his CERA has been lower than the team's it isn't enough to make you think he makes much of a difference defensively behind the plate. With Garcia and Contreras on the mound and Sandy catching, there is no reason for any baserunner not to be running, its almost automatic. He's had 9 knee operations, and its zapped any power he had even though he is still a huge man. I know the organization is very high on him as a human being and leader and that's fine. I just can't see it translating into more wins. I'd rather have a solid defensive catcher who couldn't hit at all, than a guy who is going to be mediocre at best both offensively and defensively.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 06:09 PM) I haven't followed Widger's career, but he must have been a decent catcher throughout his career, how else would you stick around the bigs for 11 years despite hitting .222?? At one time, he was a very highly thought of prospect. That he could hit a little bit, with some power, he did have a couple of fairly solid seasons with the Expos, and being a catcher gets you a long career, sort of like a very mediocre left handed reliever. They last forever.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 06:08 PM) Pitch selection isn't the same as calling out somebody's game preparation. I believe it definitely is part of game preparation.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 06:00 PM) This sure wasn't the case last year. Everybody raved about his pre-game preparation last year. I guess a lot can change in a year. Actually, the Sox were quite livid at Widger's pitch selection several times last year. Especially with Jenks on the mound. He's never been known for his defense or his game-calling, and when it gets to the point where he can't hit anymore, he's pretty worthless. Last year he had been out of the game, so he may have appreciated it more. I think veterans that become back-ups tend to take shortcuts preparing to play. This may have happened to Widger, but either way, he really is most likely at the end of the road.

Whoever it is, they have to be here for tomorrow night's game. I wouldn't be surprised if Stewart is flown to Chicago just in case Alomar or whomever else they are bringing in doesn't get here on time.

I don't know why Rongy would say Alomar is coming if he isn't. While I was hoping that it wasn't true, it most likely is.

When is the last time Pods drove in runs in 3 different ABs in one game?

QUOTE(CySox @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) No, I always thought Rongey was an idiot. I personally can't stand him, and I think he is one of the worst pre/post game guys the sox have had. I wish we could bring back the guy from last year. His names escapes me right now... I liked that guy too. The Dodge people gave him a car to drive around during the season, and he always gave them airtime and a lot of pub. With all the mentions, he deserved better than the Neon they let him use.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:36 PM) Alomar's last start was in June. 6/28: Odalis Perez, 6 runs in 4.1 innings (no other runs allowed) 6/18: Aaron Sele gave up 5 runs in 4 innings (no other runs allowed) 6/2: Seo started and gave up 3 runs in 4 innings (making a start for Perez who was just demoted); Baez gave up 5 runs in the 9th inning of that game 5/26: Brett Tomko gave up 6 runs in 4.2 innings (pen gave up 4 runs, but the relievers of that game are both no longer with the DOdgers and had ERA's over 6). 5/13: Sele gives up 2 runs in 7 innings, but Baez gives up 4 runs (2 earned) 5/4: Tomko throws 7 shutout innings with Saito coming in and giving up 3 runs in relief 5/1: Penny gives up 3 runs in 6 innings (no other runs given up) I want to point out that Alomar has caught just once since May 1st for one of the Dodgers front line starters and most of his starters came from a combo of Perez (whose awful), Tomko (who has pitched surprisingly decent and was alright in Alomar's starts) and Sele (who had one good and one bad with Alomar Jr). Most of the runs allowed came from Baez who has been terrible with whoever caught up. Just trying to show kind of why he's catcher ERA is so high. Back-up catcher ERA;s can be deceiving no question. Sandy's has generally been higher than the team's ERA for his entire career however. The White Sox have always thought very highly of him, and think he's a future major league manager. IIRC they tried to get him to retire a couple years ago, and make him a coach or manager somewhere in the organization.

I would be so happy if this report were erroneous. It just seems like a move that makes no sense to me.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:33 PM) I can remember quite a few games where he hit into a walk-off double play. Luckily, one of those was when he was on the Indians, and it was against Foulke. A guy I work with lives in Cleveland and is a huge Indians fan. When the Sox first signed Alomar back in 2001 or 2002, he mentioned that although Sandy was very popular in Cleveland, the Indians fans would not miss the DP balls Sandy seemed to hit into often in close games.

At least Thome will have another guy to party with.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:13 PM) He'll make more contact. However, I think he also likes to wear shades at the plate. Alomar is one guy you would like to see whiff more often. His consistent contact a lot of times bring up the numbers 6-4-3.

I was in Boston in 2003, and I just can't get the image of Sandy, who is a really nice guy, walking through the lobby, walking like he was 85 years old in need of knee replacement surgery in both knees. He was really hobbling, but he still played that night. He must take painkillers up the wazoo to be able to play.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:05 PM) SA Jr. has a 6.09 CERA this year In the NL..............................at Dodger Stadium. His CERA usually is higher than the team ERA.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:01 PM) Seriously, what was really available from a catchers perspective that wouldnt cost a lot. Do you really want to blow any quality prospects that can get us something on a fishing backup catcher. If he hits .220 with no power, he is still an upgrade over Widger. I actually think I was being generous with the .220-.240 prediction. At least Widger may run into one once in a while and hit it over the wall. I'm not going to get too upset with this, it is just the back-up catcher, but keep in mind, there's an excellent chance Sandy is going to go on the DL sometime as well. I think the Sox would have been far better served just calling up Stewart. He's a better player than SA Jr. at this point.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 04:56 PM) He is hitting .323 this year including a .500 spot against lefties. I could care less if he is 70, if he can put the ball in play fairly once and a while and call a decent game, he is an upgrade over widger. His game calling is very overrated. He is no better defensively than Widger, and offensively he will not continue hitting .323. He will hit .220-.240 with the Sox with little to no power, and the guy doesn't walk at all. He's brutal at this point in his career.

Sandy hasn't homered since he played for the Sox, but he's walked 5 times. I don't understand this at all. Oh well, he is replacing Widger, so at worst its a push.