Dick Allen

Just a note, please remember I am a JR backer. Sam Smith is a friend of Jerry Reinsdorf.

Just a question, not giving you a hard time or anything, I don't smoke personally. Would you have respected Willie any more or less had he not been smoking and just sitting at the bar getting hammered?

He's tried to trade Frank, but was denied by Reinsdorf. Do you know that Joey Cora talked to Frank? I'm sure he can tell Kenny and Ozzie whats going on with him. They aren't going to trade Frank. If he wanted to be traded, he would have had his agent demand a trade. He has full no trade rights as a 5 and 10 player. Someone once posted that Frank relinquished those rights in his last contract. That would be illegal. As far as playing first base goes, Frank will play there as much as the team needs him to, remember one thing, the biggest reason Frank was reluctant to play first in the past was his lack of confidence as a fielder, a lack of confidence which came from smart ass comments by his ex teammate and current manager. Ozzie was relating a story about how he was standing next to Crede, and didn't know who he was. He also didn't know or talk to many of the players on the team yet. The fact that he hasn't talked to Frank yet is a non story only made another negative White Sox story by Guillen and Williams.

Where does it say Frank has to talk to Kenny Williams? Maybe just maybe Frank thinks KW is a jagoff and has nothing to say to him. Frank will talk to him when he has to talk to him, not a second before. Some may call it disrespectful, but would you return phone calls to someone who hates you and you hate, just so you could stroke that person's ego ?What is a conversation between KW and Frank going to accomplish anyway? Give me an example of something that must be discussed now, and can't wait until Frank reports.

The Tigers can improve 19 games, and they still would lose 100.

Kenny Williams has spoken to Frank at the time Frank exercised his option. Kenny has not spoken to a few players for a longer time than that. One being Magglio Ordonez. Frank has spoken to Joey Cora, so Joey can relate to Ozzie what's on Frank's mind. Frank will come to camp in excellent shape, ready to play. That is all he is obligated to do.

Another Boras client follows the money. Obviously, Boras can care less about how miserable Alex Rodriquez is counting his millions in last place every year. Now he has 2 Rodriquezes doing it. Why do I have a feeling that there will be an eventual 3 way trade, and both the ARod and IRod will be involved?

I wasn't there Friday, but I was there Sunday, and there are many embarrassingly stupid questions asked, but the people there PAID to be there to ask questions and have KW answer them the best he can. These questions are asked every year, KW even said later he expected it. I agree that catcalls are uncalled for. But KW has to do this 3 days a year, so if he doesn't like a question or the tone of it he should try and be above it and smile and answer it to the best of his ability. Its basic customer service, firing back is uncalled for, immature and classless. Funny, I just described the Sox GM and manager.

Anyone see when Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Janet Jackson's outfit at the end of their performance? She had one of her breasts totally exposed. I think he ripped off more than he was supposed to.

I know someone who works for Michael and they absolutely love him. Of course I know people who actually like his father. Michael would probably never get a fair shake running the White Sox because of his last name.

There is a seminar everyday, because most people just go one day , and so they don't miss out. Usually, the seminar questions and answers don't make it to the papers. I think you're right, because of what was reported, these next couple seminars could really get out of hand.

Tha's a great point. At least KW knows Soxfest isn't going to be a lovefest, and people can be proud they ruffled his feathers a little bit. It will be interesting to see if the panel and format remain the same for the seminars today and tomorrow. The fact that the fans are pissed is getting play in every paper, I wouldn't be surprised if it has inspired some more people to dog KW even more. I bet television crews will try to cover the next 2 seminars.

I heard, and I really can't confirm this, that they wanted to main entrance on 35th instead of having the park face the skyline and having the entrance on 37th, because they didn't want the suite holders to enter that far south thinking it wasn't as safe. It seems like a weak argument to me.

I don't know if its actually being talked about between the teams, but Rogers has a source that claims it is. It is not a proposal off the top of his head, although he is prone to do that.

Think about it. Of course the owners want someone whose financing is questionable. It increases the chances that he isn't going to go crazy like Moreno with the Angels. It just makes them have to pay more. I agree with you, I don't think this is good for Dodger fans. I'm shocked they passed this with Broad and O'Malley waiting in the wings.

Quotes straight from Kenny at a Soxfest seminar last year.

I'm thinking after the deals Kenny gave Koch and Konerko, and initially tried to give R. Alomar, JR won't be letting KW negotiate any contracts that are above minimum. I believe Rick Hahn negotiated Buerhle's new pact.

They are moving the fences back ten feet this season at Kaufmann Stadium. I wonder if Juan Gone will be psyched out like he was in Detroit.

Sheffield at 3B would make that one of the worst defensive infields of all time. Jeter is overated at SS, Soriano is horrible as is Giambi. Boone is a great thirdbaseman, I really think the Yankees are too weak defensively. Unless their pitching is lights out, the big Stein is going to be getting very angry this season.

KW is a moron. The reason the Sox are over budget is his fault. The Konerko and Koch families should keep him on their Christmas lists for the rest of his life. Jose Valentin should chauffer him to USCF everday this season for what he did for him. He is such a moron, he wanted to give Robbie Alomar $2 million, with another $1 million deferred. JR probably told him he was crazy, and the best Alomar can get is $700,000 and $300,000 deferred. I still wonder how KW intended to get under budget if he had signed Colon. He probably would have taken a weak package from LA for Magglio.

Playing basketball would be a good way to stay or keep in shape. It was a fluke injury. I think its kind off odd that playing basketball would be a no no written into a contract. Cal Ripken Jr. was famous for his off season basketball games. He has his own court, and played everyday during the offseason. I feel bad for Boone. He was just trying to stay in shape, and it looks like the Yankees are going to stiff him on his contract. JR could have stiffed Jay Williams, but still paid him for this year, and will pay another $3 million to buy him out, and Williams wasn't doing anything to improve his physical condition when he was injured.

The Tribune mentioned the Sox were represented when Scott Erickson worked out, and he allegedly was impressive. I heard he's a real asshole though.

The quote about Frank supposedly not running the bases is not calling him out? Did the reporter ask Ozzie if Frank ran hard? If you go to my earlier posts, this was the one comment I remember from said press conference that really pissed me off. Most of the team didn't run the bases, in fact Ozzie didn't run the bases all the time when he played. The article didn't tell me what I saw and heard, it only confirmed it. Its amazing how people think Ozzie was a big part of Florida's success. Evidently they don't remember he was also around when they sucked. I think the White Sox can still be successful this season, but I think it will be in spite of Guillen, not because of him.

Joe Cowley of the Southtown is saying Guillen called out Thomas at his press conference in his article today. Maybe southsideirish can go over to Steff's house and watch it over again on her TIVO.

KW is an ass. He always talks about the fact that he chooses to take the "high road" and may be forced to go the other way if certain things are said. Thats's BS. Taking the high road would be to just shut up about it. What he said now about the Backman situation just gets people to assume Wally deserved what he got and did something horrendous without ever saying what he did. He is a coward. He tries to play on both sides of the fence. Guillen hasn't seen Frank or talked to him in six years, but says he has heard things. I wonder from who. The high road would be to let the new manager come to his own conclusions.