Gene Honda Civic

QUOTE(BB2ZZ @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 09:19 PM) Wish more people on this site were as positive as you this year. I would prefer to recognize good play rather than poo poo somebody because they may not be a future big league All Star. JEAN !!! I mean Gene..... Way to raise the level of discourse. First you use the highly original tactic of calling me a Cubs fan, then oh-so cleverly insinuate that I'm a female. I'm sorry I can't get too excited about our slugging AA "MVP" who couldn't out-OPS Chris Getz in the Southern League. With an MVP like that, it's no wonder the Barons were, by far, the worst offense in the SL this season. Which begs the question, how the heck was Collaro named MVP on a team that included one pitcher who ranked 2nd in the league in strikeouts, 2nd in wins, 2nd in K/BB ratio, 3rd in ERA, and 1st in FIP?.. and another who ranked 1st in strikeouts, 2nd in FIP, and 4th in ERA? ... and another who finished 5th in the ERA hunt? I'm all for recognizing good play. So let's recognize it! Jack Egbert had a great season, and he still has a lot to prove.

Holy Crap, go Syracuse!!! You still suck, but I wonder if Louisville even bothers to put a defense on the field.

Just looked at the UM/PSU line -- I was thinking about making a play. I thought Michigan had a good chance of pulling off a pretty good upset, with PSU being a Top 10 team and all. -- They're only 3 point dogs, 2.5 some places... Not enough insurance for me to make a play, but I've got a feelin' Meecheegan can pull it off.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 09:42 PM) There was an article specifically about the Arizona Fall League and they (BA) talked about the top players to watch. In that article I don't recall any of the 6 guys the White Sox are sending were mentioned. Maybe he was referring to a different article? The article I saw came out at least a week ago if I recall. I didn't see that... I thought you guys were referring to the top 20 list for the AZL which was released today (or yesterday)... That the Sox don't have a "top prospect" in the AFL should not come as news. I can't think of the last time the Sox have had a legitimate top 40-50 prospect in baseball in that league. (McCarthy was scheduled to attend, but was scrapped due to innings concerns. Before that, I don't know)... So if you're worried about that, you're late to the party.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 09:34 PM) Yes I did see that article and I agree with you they absolutely need to do better in terms of bringing young talent into the organization. That also holds true for most other teams but that is besides the point. However I think it's fair to say this, personally I take much of what Baseball America says with a huge grain of salt. Yes they have a certain amount of insight but they are getting most of their opinions (rankings) from area scouts and scouting directors, many of whom have their own sets of biases. The Arizona Fall League is a showcase, it's for lots of teams to put players out there to see if they deserve a 40 man spot. It can be a good measuring stick but it's certainly not a be all end all, for me anyways. To summarize, I treat a lot of their Top 20 lists with a shrug of the shoulders and many baseball people do too. As an example if you ever meet and talk at length with Phil Rogers who is the White Sox contributor, as I have, when you start talking about players deep in the White Sox system he gets a glazed look in his eyes because he doesn't know who you're talking about or anything about the players. He is a super nice guy but there are people here who know more about the young players than Phil. They weren't talking about the AFL. The AZL is the Complex league. Completely different than the AFL. The White Sox are in teh PIO and APPY leagues for Rookie ball. And their Top 20 lists are compiled by surveying Managers, Coaches, and scouts. Not Phil Rogers, who has never seen anyone play in the Pioneer league.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 09:25 PM) Figures... Just like the Hawks -- the year they FINALLY win the lottery, there's no consensus 'best player available'. BTW, 29th, did you catch the BA article about the Top 20 prospects heading to the AFL? Not one Sox player listed, IIRC, and I'd say 80% of the players were of Latin descent. Folks in the Sox organization should see that article and be embarrassed, really (if they aren't already). Keith, that would be quite the accomplishment if the Sox had a Top 20 player in the GCL, considering the rookie in the PIO and APPY leagues. Expect Poreda to rank at the top of the PIO league.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 12:00 PM) How many runner score from 2nd or 3rd because they stole 2nd or 3rd? You're giving the same value for a BB and a SB, as you would for a 2B, when they're clearly not equal.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 11:55 AM) Yeah, except that actually halves the value of SB and CS, and double the value of hits, so I would say its less valid in those ways. On a positive note though, it does include SF and SH, which I didn't include, and that is certainly of some value. How many runs are driven in each year by a SB?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary....php?search=EQA

I fully trust Fathom and his source, but it will be funny (nay, telling) when this stuff doesn't see the light of day.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 12:37 PM) I think the gist of the whole argument has to do with selection and signability. With the #1 pick the White Sox can select an impact guy that is signable as well. They will shy away from the Jared Weaver's and JD Drew's as will 20 other teams. I am not sure if this is right or wrong but they will have the highest revenue stream of any tema in front of them unless Houston or San Fran pass them. Therefore they may still have a look at Alvarez or another player that is expecting big bucks but they can weigh the cost with the reward better at 1, 2 or 3 as oppossed to 10. There is no right or wrong view here but he discussion should end in a little over a week thank god. Here is a point nobody has brought up... THE SOX WILL NOT HAVE A 2ND ROUND PICK NEXT YEAR. They're going to end up signing somebody's Type A free agent and be forced to give up there top pick (not in the top 15 overall). The Sox will have only one of the first 80-90 picks. They're going to spend the money because it's the only impact pick they'll have. Anyone using signability as a reason we should be happy with a few more meaningless wins in September hasn't thought the whole process through.

Well at least cake has as much to do with our 2008 draft pick as Brian Bullington

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 19, 2007 -> 11:05 PM) Here's my brand of "logic and reason": With the top pick you can take whoever you want, no limitations at all. With the #9 pick you can take anyone you want except the 8 players who were drafted before your turn to choose. So with the top pick you have unlimited flexibility but with any pick after that you're limited in your choices more and more. IMO having greater flexibility in the selection of talent is an outstanding card to hold. Being handcuffed is not fun. But what if others have made stupid decisions in front of you. SAM BOWIE!

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Sep 19, 2007 -> 11:00 PM) I'm a member of the group that is bringing "logic and reason" to the table, and here is my counter argument: BRYAN BULLINGTON Nuff said. Carmen Electra!!! What type of logic and reason do you use to show that Bryan Bullington has any more influence on the 2008 draft than Carmen Electra? And couldn't I just counter whatever your argument was with the words "Pittsburgh Pirates" in bold size 8 font. Then in small type I could list the names Fernandez, McDowell, Thomas, and Ventura to demonstrate how a real organization capitalizes on "poor" draft position?

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 19, 2007 -> 10:40 PM) It never fails. A new day, a new game thread, exact same arguments, exact same points being made on both sides and exact same people standing on each side of the issue. Dear god this is getting old and oh so boring. C'mon. We heard a new one tonight. PFB as an ally. The guy has the same job as Tony Snow, or the Iraqi Information Minister, but we should believe what he has to say.

^ I was hoping it was a football power house like Ball State. / What ever happened to the Hokey Pokey?

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Sep 18, 2007 -> 04:21 PM) Google Earth is the coolest thing ever created by humans. Ctrl+Alt+A

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Sep 17, 2007 -> 11:19 PM) No. 3 hitter Darin Erstad went 0-for-5 while the White Sox scored 11 runs Monday against the Royals. Any team that signs Erstad to play regularly next year deserves its fate. Maybe he's still a gamer and a grinder, but he has a 644 OPS this season while in one of the game's better parks for offense half of the time. Time to load up the shotgun and take Darin behind the barn. Hey man, if he wasn't batting 3rd tonight, the Sox might still be batting in the 5th. He made 2/3rds of the outs that inning.

QUOTE(BB2ZZ @ Sep 17, 2007 -> 09:27 PM) Hey Gene, why don't you go root for the cubbies or something....... Ah yes. I suppose the next post will challenge my loyalties by questioning how many times I've been to the park. /next.

QUOTE(SnB @ Sep 17, 2007 -> 03:38 PM) I know i'm late but i was busy all weekend. I haven't seen an illinois team look that good since i've been here. The running game looked amazing and juice didn't make any dumb mistakes. We keep that up, we're going bowling. Don't underestimate how bad Syracuse is. They would lose to ND too.

Amazing Athlete!

Let's all step back and ask ourselves what is the cause and effect relationship between former #1 picks and the #1 pick this season? And if you did believe there was a cause and effect relationship, why not include a two of 10 best offensive players in the history of the game in Griffey and ARod? Seems to me there's ZERO f***ING CORRELATION, and you're still trying to skew your list. More choice is better, regardless of the outcome from that pick. Plus the '08 #1 pick (Alvarez) was the no-doubt-about-it concensus #1 before the college season even ended over a year before the draft. The last two times I can think of that happening was the afforementioned Griffey and Arod drafts. I'm not saying that Alvarez is sure fire HOFer (It would be irresponsible to do so), but at this point, still 9 months before the draft, there is the largest gap in value between #1 and #2 in over a decade. I don't understand how people fail to grasp this concept.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 16, 2007 -> 03:28 PM) 70 minutes into the Bears season, and there have been 5 different times Grossman has hit the deck/been rushed because the running back (Benson once, Peterson 4 TIMES!) failed to recognize the blitz pickup. make that 6 (5 by Peterson, whose also put the ball on the ground twice in two games)

70 minutes into the Bears season, and there have been 5 different times Grossman has hit the deck/been rushed because the running back (Benson once, Peterson 4 TIMES!) failed to recognize the blitz pickup.