Dick Allen

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 18, 2006 -> 07:50 AM) But there is a good reason to push them to play even better -- trade value. If I'm Ozzie and I see what Hermanson is going through, I want both of these guys to hit .500 so Kenny can trade one of them for a reliever. But I read that article and it seems like Ozzie is doing the same thing with Boone Logan. He is hyping the kid up so the other pitchers start performing. Borchard and Gload hitting .500 the last 2 weeks of spring training isn't going to raise their trade value.They have too much of a track record to base projections on 2 weeks worth of hitting in meaningless games. I don't think its Ozzie's style to try and indirectly motivate like that. If he thinks Borchard or Gload need to kick it up a gear or 2, I think he would just come out and say it. As to his comments about Boone Logan, he did refer to the other guys vying for the job as horses***.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 18, 2006 -> 07:42 AM) I think it's all talk. Sweeney will be playing in the minors. We have two guys who are out of options so it makes no sense. I think Ozzie just wants to motivate Borchard and Gload. I really don't think those two need any more motivation. I do agree that its most likely just talk. Besides, Borchard and Gload have both played pretty well this spring.

The most interesting thing to me is Ozzie is seriously considering keeping Sweeney with the team. You would think they would want him to be playing everyday instead of getting at bats every now and then on the big league level.

Ray Meyer died today at the age of 92. He was a very nice man who I had the opportunity to sit next to at the Big Ten Tournament last year, and truly a legend in college basketball.

I'm concerned about Jenks because he has never put his arm through what he put it through last season. He made 20 starts in 2002. That is the most he has made in his career. I believe he made 16 starts in 2003 and 14 in 2000. Last year between Birmingham and the White Sox, he appeared in 67 games. It may have an effect on his arm.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 17, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) Of course. It's sort of disappointing when the best thing going in our minors concerning pitching is Boone Logan. Reynoso has talent, yet has inherited Marte's wildness. According to his numbers (yes, small sample) he's dominated RH and has been hit well by LH. Don't need this from a lefty at this point. He obviously throws hard, but why is he throwing 95 and Jenks 91 if it takes hard throwers longer to get ready? Shouldn't there be a little concern that Jenks is down a consistent 7 or 8 mph on his fastball right now?

Reynoso is throwing 95. He's looked good this spring, but that is 6 walks in 6 innings, against mostly minor leaguers.

Yet another minor league free agent pitcher who is showing exactly why he was available.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 16, 2006 -> 10:41 PM) I wouldn't mind Juan Cruz. He's a hardthrowing righthander who can't possibly post numbers worst than a Backless Hermanson. I still recall his first game in the major leagues--I believe it was Dave Otto whom used the term "Little Pedro" to describe his explosiveness. It all depends on what Beane is willing to accept for Cruz. Cruz has talent and has atleast proven in Atlanta the ability to be a reliable setup man. What would he want for someone like that? Wasn't there rumors last season that KW was close to acquiring Cruz?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 10:17 PM) Blalock has been projected as a late first-early second and Stinson a second rounder from what I've seen. The scuttlebutt is ISU had three draft picks on their team this year between those two and Clark. At least they have some talent on their team at the time of this scandal. When I was at Iowa and the Iowa State football program got in trouble, they had a horrible team. They used to have bumper stickers, "Iowa State Football: The Worst Team Money Can Buy"

He was injured last year. I remember when they were playing in Toronto early in the season, and they showed him warming up. He was trying to shake pain out of his arm. Whether there really is a problem with his arm or shoulder at this point, its in his head that there is, so there probably is very little chance of him returning to his once dominating ways in 2006.

Herm on Frank's 2004 injury which was eventually diagnosed as a broken bone "It has the potential to bother him the rest of the year. He's got some garbage in his ankle and it's there. We can calm down the inflammation and he either can deal with it or he can't

I will feel better about it after they return to the line-up. They came to the same conclusion of arthroscopic surgery for Ordonez on Saturday morning at Rush University Medical Center, performed by Dr. Bush-Joseph. While Schneider still couldn't specify Ordonez's malady, he indicated Friday the injury doesn't seem to be severe.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:57 PM) Here's the problem....when he tried to gut it out, he had nothing on his pitches. I respect Hermanson for the great job he did for us last season, but I don't want him on the mound if he's not even close to 80 percent. Right. His smoke and mirrors act is only going to work for a finite period of time. Watching how he was getting roped in the playoffs and thus far in spring training, that time appears to be up.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:53 PM) There were threads about this at that time. In short, from what I recall and know myself, back surgeries are dicey deals. They can fix all, or do worse damage, or something in between. With disc problems, surgery is seen as a last resort. I think there are very few athletes that were able to do much after back surgery. Scottie Pippen is one I know of, but if you know anyone who has had back surgery, they usually are still a little screwed up after the procedure.

The Contreras thing is a concern because if he winds up having to miss a start or 2 or ?, McCarthy goes into the rotation, and the bullpen becomes even more questionable.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) :headshake No news is bad news in this case. Dustin is done. Pods is a huge piece to the Sox puzzle. I just hope they are careful with him. The Jose situation doesnt sound like anything. Herm did say that this entire season for Dustin will be like the last half of last year when he was basically shot. He gutted it out a few times, but he obviously can't be counted on.

I forgot who said it, I think it was Rick Sutcliffe who stated that tendonitis is when you are hurt and they really don't know what's wrong with you.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 01:11 PM) Im not going to worry right now. All it said on the update was that he was scratched because of some tightness in the forearm. Im sure those things can happen based on the increase of throwing come Spring. However, its something to keep an eye on. Better the forearm than the shoulder. Is it confirmed Podsednik is basically fine, or did the same doctor that said Ordonez was day to day 2 years ago examine him?

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 08:45 AM) LOL. Our head trainer said it doesn't appear serious. I think I am going to trust his diagnosis over yours if you don't mind. Every story that came out this morning said the same thing. We actually saw some info that said he could be in the lineup this week, but nowhere did it say anything about longterm. Hmmm.... I never made a diagnosis. You need to work on comprehension.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 14, 2006 -> 09:12 PM) It is inflammation. They said the only question is if it is in the muscle or the joint. Pods thinks it is in the joint. They are getting a second MRI to determine where the inflammation is ocurring. They can give him a shot to get rid of the pain if need be, but obviously they would like to know where the inflammation is occuring first, which is why they need to inject the dye and then take the MRI. All of that taken from the story. Not guessing. So Dr. jphat007, what you are saying is they don't know exactly where the pain is coming from, enough pain to keep him from playing, but they do know that it isn't serious. How do they come to this conclusion?

Will Carroll of BP deserves an apology. He had this story a couple of weeks ago, and the Cubs tried to make him look like an idiot.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 10:44 PM) There's no way you trade Politte. He was probably the best middle reliever in the entire MLB last season and he's making peanuts this season ($1.2 million). Even if he doesn't reproduce last season's numbers (which he likely won't), he's still valuable to our bullpen. Hermanson would have been ideal to trade after his career year but obviously no one is going to trade for a reliever with a bad back. The same can be said about Shingo last year at this time. I hope I'm wrong about Politte, but veterans that cut their ERA's by 2.50 in one season, usually bounce back to mediocrity the next. If Politte pitches like he did in 2004, he will not be of help to the White Sox. Didn't he almost get non-tendered after 2004? I think he took a cut with some incentives and added a year.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 10:41 PM) Not that I've thought about this for even a second, but I don't think it would've been possible to trade Politte and have gotten anything better in return. As far as what I expect of Cotts and Politte, it doesn't really matter. I'm not gonna dismiss their '05 seasons as flukes just because. And what if they don't match those numbers? Does that mean they're gonna suck? Does that mean they still can't help us win games? As I mentioned before, Cotts is a keeper. I think you will be dissapointed in Cliff.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 10:29 PM) You wouldn't take those numbers from him? I sure would. Especially since he wouldn't have been counted on to close this year. Vizcaino had those numbers, he didn't close, and he got clobbered on this board.