Dick Allen

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 05:34 PM) I think he was in solely to keep Charlotte happy. Charlotte has been terrible in the W/L department the past few years and while that may not be a big deal to Sox fans, it is a big deal to the Knights and there attendance. I don't think they ever had any plans of Grieve making the roster. Hence Ruben Rivera and Bucky Jacobson. Maybe you are right about Grieve, but it wasn't that long ago he was a damn good hitter. You would think he would at least get to go through most of the spring with the big league club.

QUOTE(Balance @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 01:04 PM) While I understand it's tradition to do the "na na hey hey" song when the opposing pitcher gets pulled, I always thought there should be a requirement that the Sox knocked him out. There have been times when the opposing pitcher has been dealing, the Sox haven't really gotten to him, but the pitcher gets pulled, usually for matchup purposes. But it wasn't a removal because the Sox smacked him around. I always thought that jeering an opposing pitcher who's throwing a great game against us doesn't show us to be very baseball astute. Still, it's tradition, I guess. Someone mentioned this to Nancy somewhere and she said she understood but it was orders from above that had her playing it in the scenerio mentioned above. I think she only does one verse on an occassion like that.

I thought they would give Grieve a better look. He does look like he is trying to shorten his swing. He didn't look good in the OF, but not many do in March in Arizona, and Grieve has never been a very good fielder.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 05:14 PM) Iguchi had the most strikeouts last year in the least amount of bats.... do not forget him. Yeah, I think and hope with his moving down in the line-up, his totals will go down.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 05:08 PM) Anderson is gonna be second on the team in strikeouts barring injury or if he gets benched for an extended period of time. If he gets 500 ABs you may be right, but he will probably not get enough ABs to overtake Dye or Konerko. Thome should have the K title wrapped up by Aug.1.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 04:56 PM) Ever read mailbags or baseball america... how about baseball think facory? I remember there was a pretty good conversation about him there. His defense is not anything to write home about... but on the other hand it's not something to worry about. To be honest... he does not have many things he does extremely well. Anyone who says otherwise is just saying so to say so. Great swing... plus arm... what else? He is not very fast... have read his reads could be better... and i am not sure about his base running. He has a decent eye... about a .60 differential... but unless he developes serious power int he near future ( next couple years) i cannot see him as our starting right fielder in 2008. It's not that he just hasn't had homerun power... it is also gap power. I think he will improve defensely. Remember he is young and not only that, growing up in Iowa has limited his experience. As a 20 year old,he hit .298 in a park that isn't the easiest to hit in, even with 2 healthy wrists. I believe his power will come. He makes good contact. There are a lot more prospects with a lesser chance than Sweeney of being productive major league players, than there are with more of a chance. You are right though. Most prospects don't amount to much.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) I do not see sweeney developing 20-25 homerun power anytime soon. You do not go from hitting one in a full season to hitting that many no matter how f***ed up your wrists are/were. Sure, he has two at this point... but realistically you cannot expect him to keep this up. He is just a mediocore fielder and has mediocore speed/baserunner from mostly everything i have read. While he is a good prospect i do not consider him a lock to make the big leagues... let alone be a start in just two full seasons from now. Jerry owens is a fourth outfielder that cannot play center... don't you want a fourth outfielder to play all three positions... and do it well? I also do not consider it a lock for anderson to outproduce rowands season from last year this year. Yes, i do know how bad rowands season was last year. Robin Ventura hit 3 homers at Birmingham in 454 at bats as a 22 year old. He develop 30+ hr power. Odds are Sweeney won't, but 20-25 is far from a longshot.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 03:55 PM) Ummm, is there a chance Sweeney could make this team? I think even if he hit .800 with 15 homers this spring, the Sox should send him back to AA and let the kid dominate for a season. This is the one guy I have always liked, even with the lack of power thus far. He can hit and he can throw. I think he will develop decent power.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 02:51 PM) Weird.. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060307/sp_nm/...XAwBHNlYwM3NTU- SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The death of Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett has brought to light his true age, which even the Minnesota Twins listed incorrectly his entire career. When the 10-times All-Star outfielder died on Monday in Arizona after a stroke, many fans learned for the first time that Puckett was born in 1960, making him a year older than that given by his team and elsewhere throughout his career. "We had it listed as 1961," said Molly Gallatin, who coordinates publications for the Twins, including the annual media guide with detailed information on players. "We probably put it down the first year and never looked at it again. I don't know why it happened; it fooled me." Puckett played his entire 12-year career with the Twins, who apparently learned of his correct age after the outfielder's retirement in 1996 and reported it in announcing his death. The long-running error means baseball cards throughout Puckett's career contained the wrong information. Officials at the Hall of Fame say they learned the true birth date of the star, who helped the Twins to two World Series in 1987 and 1991, about three years ago. When I was 15 I played in a 19 year old league called Thoroughbreds I believe. There were usually a couple of scouts at every game, and sometimes they would ask you to fill out a card with your name, address, date of birth, etc. They would tell the 19 year olds to shave off a year of their age, so they would have a better chance of being drafted or signed. We sometimes played at Triton. I wonder if Kirby was offerred the same advice.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting Kirby will be removed from life-support sometime tonight. RIP Puck.

I thought Cooper was able to turn meat into good pitchers.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) Hopefully he recovers fully and sees the hint that he might want to improve his diet. I don't think you ever fully recover from a stroke. My dad had a mini stroke 7 or 8 years ago, and while he's close he never has been quite the same. It wouldn't be wise to speculate, but it appears Kirby's is severe. Hopefully he can go on living a normal life. 44 years old is way too young for this to happen.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 03:04 PM) Look at my avatar, Farmer said it hit off the CF wall, that would put it well out at US Cellular. Not if it hit it near the bottom of the wall, plus the ball goes a little farther out in Arizona. The one place the ball doesn't jump at USCF is the area the CF scoreboard is covering.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson weren't particularly known for their defensive prowess. Gordon isn't a very good defensive player, but he has improved. His offensive game is at times, unbelievable. Unless he's going in a trade or as part of a trade for a guy like Garnett, I hope the Bulls keep him. If I was Pax, there is no way I would trade him for Pierce. As for the draft, the Bulls certainly need some big players, and definitely need someone who can score on the block. But, I think it is still imperative they draft the best player on the board when they pick. You can get the other guys in FA or trades, and trades seem to be the way Pax is leaning right now. It is an extreme example and one that most likely does not apply to this draft or most drafts, but Portland probably cost itself several championships drafting a need instead of the best player in 1984. In 2 or 3 seasons when hopefully the Bulls are ready to contend for a championship, the glut at certain positions works itself out. It wasn't too long ago the Bulls had too many PF.

Nomo sucks, but he's still just as good or better than Tim Redding.

The Knicks suck so much. What a mess of a franchise.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 05:20 PM) You would be wrong. It's not really old but it's definately "older." I believe 27-29 are usually a player's prime years. No. According to Frank, the prime years are 37-41.

George Offman is just full of insight.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 03:18 PM) I read it, and I think I understood "he's not calling him out". Yet, he did call him out... and (imo) in the process likely embarrassed him. If the way he signals him in from the bullpen doesn't embarass him then what Ozzie said shouldn't embarass him, and if it does, tough s***. Jenks is being counted on heavily. It was very irresponsible of him to come to camp heavier than last year.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 01:29 PM) I prefer Fatolo. But seriously, if Bobby lost too much weight would he lose any MPH off of his fastball? Anyone know? When he was 250 which was 20 lbs. lighter than last year and even more from right now, he threw as hard as he does now. I don't think extra fat helps put MPH on your fastball. This guy needs to watch it, because there haven't been many 300 lb. pitchers that have had a career of much length. He may be getting close to that weight. Ozzie may need some arm extensions to signal him in from the bullpen this year.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 10:33 AM) A little heat, some running, and lots of water and he will shed a few pounds. Bobby's what, 24 years old? His metabolism is only going to slow down. The guy needs to cut back on the beer and food intake. If he doesn't take care of himself, his career will be brief and he and we will wonder what could have been. Hopefully Hermanson is healthy, and feels good when he throws. I am not ready to put all my eggs in the Bobby Jenks' basket just yet.

QUOTE(KeithFranklin @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 07:47 AM) Of all the years for this to happen. When I was young I had to play little league for the Cubs for 2 years. We had to wear actual Cubs caps. It was brutal. I would only put it on when I was on the field. As soon as the third out was made, off it went. I also threw it in the trash at the field the last game of the season.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 03:51 PM) We did get Freeman from you guys and that kid is gonna be a player. Hell the strides he's made offensively in his freshman season have been ridiculous and he's one of the better defensive freshman at the point position that I've seen in a long time. Problem is he came to Iowa solely because of Alford (Freeman's dad was teammates with Alford). My guess is if it weren't for Alford he would have been at IU. I'm glad Iowa got him but I think my biggest fear with Alford leaving is that Freeman will go join him at IU (and Freeman is one of the few younger players we have with some talent). It should be mentioned that Freeman is from Maywood ILL (same place as Dee Brown is from IIRC). I really doubt Freeman would go to Indiana. To transfer from one Big 10 team to another means you would give up your eligibility for a scholarship. Freeman would have to pay his way at IU.

If KW said this he didn't say it to a reporter, he said it to a staff member. There would be many things that are not said to the media that if they were printed in the paper would make this comment look like nothing. And BTW, fronting people money on their contract is a loan, although I said all along that was the one thing KW should never have mentioned.

I read a comment from Konerko either in this thread or another in which he stated he really has never had an older teammate to talk to about hitting that he saw eye to eye with. KW mentioned that he said he was going to go after Thome to Paulie, I think even before the playoffs ended, and Paulie said a big part of his coming back was Thome being with the Sox. Do you think its possible Paulie has no use for Frank and would have taken the Angels money if Thome were still in Philadelphia or somewhere else, and Frank was hopping up and down on his foot to try to prove he was healthy in Tucson? In other words, do you think Paulie had it in his mind that either Frank goes or he goes? I know he speaks kindly about Frank, but that could be all an act.