greg775

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 2, 2015 -> 03:54 AM) Please don't give Saladino a starting job next year. Utility player at best I feel like this is a great post. The only way it isn't a great post is if .230-.240 is becoming a "good" batting average now in this day and age of batters unable to hit. Offense is dead and gone in baseball and I agree he blows, but like I said, what if .240 is the new .290? -- This is a perfect example of a bad, poorly coached (on fundamentals) baseball team vs. a good team. That bunt by the Twin was perfect. To exaserbate the problem, though, Duke throws it past first and game ova.

Hawk is acting weird tonight, you all are right.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 1, 2015 -> 08:52 PM) 1. Trayce has strong position splits against lefties, and being a little careful with him is not a bad thing. 2. Adam LaRoche is still under contract for $13 million by the White Sox next year. Like it or not, Adam LaRoche is going to be on the Chicago White Sox in 2016 starting a lot of time at DH and 1b. 3. Adam LaRoche has had some hits lately, with a .930 OPS over his last 7 starts. 4. There is a righty on the mound. If you can get Adam LaRoche's confidence up and help him have a good last month, that at least improves your chances of getting something useful out of him for $13 million in 2016. When there is a righty starter on the mound, Adam LaRoche should be in the lineup, at least until the White Sox are ready to eat his contract. Exactly. LaRoche is going to play a TON because of the money he earns. We have to accept this. He will not be platooned ... ever. QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 2, 2015 -> 12:41 AM) Sale doesn't really pitch well in big games, it seems. He's letting Minnesota get to him with being crossed up, throwing some fastballs WAY off location I'd be interested to know how he'd fare in a pennant race Why did you type that, Tizzle? This wasn't a big game by any stretch. No pressure at all tonight. Sale throws way too many pitches. Good thing they just yanked him at 115 or so through 6 1/3. QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 2, 2015 -> 01:17 AM) Why do they keep putting Saladino in the 2nd spot? Give Sanchez or Avi a try. It's disappointing how they have 30 or so free games and keep seemingly playing them as if it's May. I agree. It's frustrating even though Saladino sometimes tries to go with the pitch and drill singles to right, which I like. His batting average kind of blows and I wouldn't mind seeing him ninth for a while.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 2, 2015 -> 02:03 AM) blind squirrel Don't be like the Indians fan in major league. Credit Avi for that amazing bomb.

Flowers' grounder there is why baseball players have such rotten batting averages nowadays - scouting. If a player is able to actually hit the ball, there's a GREAT chance the opposing team will have a shift on and the defense there to snuff out any potential hit. Flowers just now rapped a base hit up the middle ... however there was a defender there right over second base. That's why players must bunt and do funky things to beat shifts. Or they'll all be doomed to hitting between .230 and .250 with .250 suddenly becoming an awesome batting average.

The more I think about this the more mad I get. If the Yankees claimed him, why not let him go?? He is an unnecessary expense and this team needs to revamp its lineup and needs the cash. He has been an average closer and there are other candidates to close. Why does a lousy team need a closer? Sox blew this one. Trade him.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Sep 1, 2015 -> 07:29 AM) Because it's very hard to get a better closer at the price. Robertson is the least of their problems. If they are actually good soon, he'll be an asset. He's had some tough BABIP luck and some control problems but for the most part he's been very good. Worst case they suck next year and they get more for him at the deadline. We never move guys at the deadline. Just save the money, dump him given the chance and give Nate a tryout as closer.

Why wouldn't they dump Robertson when given the chance? They certainly don't need him at this stage of rebuilding and have other candidates to close by committee?

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Sep 1, 2015 -> 12:27 AM) What reason is there to believe this is true though? My memories, personality, feelings, thoughts, goals, desires, etc are a product of, and reside in, my brain. When I die, my brain will rot and all of these things will be destroyed. What evidence is there to believe that a unknown force uses an unknown process to make a copy of all these things and sends the copy to an unknown place? Good question. I have no proof of my statements. That's really going to suck if we die and that's that. I happen to believe we will live on. Why else would that one passage be in the Bible .... John 14:2. Why would somebody just make this up and put it in the good book? The passage is ... ""Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.…" So we will be in heaven and we will remember stuff from earth, folks.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 10:17 PM) If this was actually true, everybody that truly believed would want to die. They don't, because it's a bunch of bulls***. If God has a plan, then no, you don't have free will, since you're following his plan. This is a have your cake and eat it too argument. Not many people "want to die" (except in extreme cases). It's human nature to be scared of the unknown and want to stay put on earth as long as possible. But it's a goal of many believers to not "fear death" because we do believe we go to a better place. Why is that belief a bunch of bulls*** as you stated? You die and your spirit goes to a better place. Obviously your body doesn't because when you see a dead body you are fully cognizant of the fact there's nothing there. It's not going anywhere except the ground or a cremation bin. But the spirit does move on to a much better place. Nobody knows what God's plan is ... you are correct there. But I do have a choice in many matters, there's no doubt about that. If I desire, I can drive my car into a tree at 110 miles an hour and die. That is a fact. I can do that tonight if I wish. Did God know I'd do this the day I was born? Did he know it would end with a tree? Did God know the Colorado movie theatre killer would do what he did the day he was born? Did he know that would be our destinies? I don't know. I guess he did since he's God. Nobody ever said humans had the answers. That's not a crutch, it's the truth. Like even Bill Maher has admitted ... the only thing he'll pacify us believers with is he is not positive there is no God. Nobody can say for sure until we die and see for ourselves.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 08:17 PM) Greg not sure when you left Mt greenwood but all of the southside Catholic schools are getting hit with lower enrollment as costs rise. Brother Rice and Marist has a nice niche to draw city kids and suburban kids. City kids have limited options. St Laurence problem is that the Garfield Ridge area is more hispanic and the Burbank area and parts of Oak Lawn are more depressed now and hte Reavis/OLHs options are better options. They do recruit and the trick is getting kids proper financial assistance in order to remain fiscally strong. I was at the Brother Rice game, they looked incredible but the proof will be in the pudding when the likes of MC, Loyola and Providence come calling. Harry do you live on the south side still? I need to get down there for a Brother Rice sporting event to relive the past. Is that parking lot big enough to hold all the cars for football games? Did they rename the field because of the Joe Johnson controversy? p.s. I looked up and it's 10,000 bucks a year to attend brother rice. You get 3,000 off if you record some amazing score on the entrance exam. Man, if a south side working family had 3 boys born close to each other and were in high school at the same time that'd be 30,000 a year. or even if one was a girl i assume McAuley's tutition is about the same. You have three boys and 10000 a year that's 120,000 after just four years. Hopefully mom and dad have great occupations. Although you just can't live on the south side and send your kids to public schools can you? I'd assume schools like Morgan Park and Evergreen Park are wretchedly bad.

Minnesota is hosting Thursday I thought.

Greg's best bet of the week: Take Minnesota and the points on Thursday night.

Q: Brother Rice annihilated Brother Rice of Michigan on Saturday in an interesting game, one in which you could guarantee, 100 percent flat out before kickoff that Brother Rice would win. My question is: Is Brother Rice of Pulaski Road vastly underrated this year and will they excel? Also, why does St. Laurence always suck in sports? And finally, do schools like Brother Rice recruit players? Is there an art to the recruiting so it's legal according to KSHSAA rules?

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 01:55 PM) The religious say things like this all the time. "God works in mysterious ways." "God has a plan." "They're in a better place." There are many more examples of this nonsense, but those are the easiest ones to remember off the top of my head. Do they really say things like this all the time? Really? WHen there's a tragedy, the people I know who believe in God say things like, "Anything you need ... let me know." "I'll pray for you." Stuff like that. As far as what you said, yes I do believe anybody who dies "is in a better place." Of course they are. But I wouldn't say that during a tragedy. As far as "God has a plan" well again, that's not proper to say during a tragedy. God may have a plan but we also have free will in this life. I stand by my point that God is with his people. Jesus died on the cross, which was painful physically and emotionally. Life wasn't easy for him, either. We just do the best we can with what we've got.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 03:09 PM) It's unbelievable people are defending Robin when his performance is so far below deserving to be fired. Amen. To the Robin supporters ... seriously, we are all in this together. We want the White Sox to win! So please Robin supporters tell me: "Do you really think there is ANY chance the Sox will take the field under Robin's direction next April and have a chance to not get swept in the series opener by a fellow Central Division team" and be able to fare well in the 76 Central Division games? I'm just saying it's guaranteed to be the same ol same ol. He's had enough time. He's blah to lousy. He's got to go. If you can make me feel better about our chances NEXT SEASON under Robin, please do so and assure me. I'm listening. I really am. That doesn't mean the next guy will be great. We already blew it by not acquiring Madden before the Cubs did. Now rectify the error and GO GET GARDY!!!!

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 06:54 AM) I'd be very surprised if you even got that. I suspect now more than ever everyone returns next year, KW, Bell, Robin and his cadre of clown coaches. It's really hard to find any silver lining for the franchise in all this and it's worse with the Cubs seemingly figured it out enough to look like they could be a factor for years to come while the Sox keep "hoping" they can figure something out. Mark I believe Mark is right, but with the Cubs dominating, the Sox enter next season in deep trouble. They'll get no publicity and no fans if Robin and the clowns come back. We're not going to suddenly get good, folks. They may have to clean house just to save the franchise in Chicago. Fans aren't dumb. It's gonna be repeat of this year. The Central has Robin's number. Gotta try a new manager and staff and get rid of LaRoche, Melky, Lexi, et. all!

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Aug 30, 2015 -> 08:13 PM) I'm not sure what your obsession with Jimmy Carter is all about or why you think he is "ultra intelligent"... I just think he's brilliant and one of the greatest individuals to be President. His intelligence cannot be questioned. And he is full of faith in God, so I see it only natural as I would point to Jimmy as somebody to solidify my position that there is a God.

Keep hearing intelligent people say Hillary is not going to win. Don't know what they're drinking/smoking but I can only hope/dream. I wonder if this Ben Carson guy is the answer to our country becoming great again.

Nice hit by Saladino to win it BTW. I still think he's a utility guy but I could see him getting a shot at second base, not third. In theory you need more pop in your third baseman and shortstop. However, baseball is becoming a game in which very few players can hit .300 so I don't know what to think about the future of the game. Maybe .240 will be considered "good."

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 01:33 AM) This year gets worse by the day. No one is going to hire Kenny Williams for gosh sakes. You fire him or keep him. No team wants that guy. He exudes ego and doesn't have the resume to back up his ego.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Aug 30, 2015 -> 10:16 PM) It is too bad this team has been so good in extra innings. If it wasn't for the fluky extra inning record we would be in great shape for a really high draft choice. It doesn't matter where you draft. You're going to get a good player allegedly in the top 15 picks. Who cares if they pick No. 4 vs No. 10. Not me.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Aug 30, 2015 -> 08:11 PM) Religion occurs even in societies or groups without any significant hierarchy. They typically serve many purposes including explaining the unknown, maintaining order in society via moral codes, and uniting individuals into a group to achieve common goals. Elements of culture are subject to selection just like genes. Religions have tended to be some of the most successful cultural adaptations in history. I think it's a little conspiratorial to imply that religious leaders are all just power elites looking to control people rather than devout believers themselves. There certainly are charlatans, of course (I'm looking at you Prosperity Gospel preachers and cult leaders). I don't think guys like Jimmy Carter would be practicing their faith if they thought all the leaders were in it for the wrong reaons.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 30, 2015 -> 02:21 PM) The Sox have been the place where veteren hitters go to die. It really boggles my mind. Melky had been a pretty good hitter, even post roids. Then it stopped. Bringing him in was the right thing to do, it just didn't work out. We saw when he was going good for awhile that the Sox were a fairly decent team. His inability to sustain that success is puzzling. To me that falls on the guy no one talks about, and that's Todd Steverson. There's such a negative vibe going on surrounding Robin that Todd seems to get no blame whatsoever. With the pitching the Sox have, I just can't bring myself to thinking they should do a complete rebuild. Maybe you "Throw in the towel" on 2016 and let the kids play but come 2017, when you can potentially throw out a cheap rotation of Sale-Q-Rodon-Fulmer-EJ, there's no way I wouldn't try to compete. Sadly this most likely would mean hitting on a couple FA hitters, and also swinging a trade that more that likely would feature the likes of Montas, Danish, and Micah. I can envision the 3 year plan we hear about. Steverson has the cliche going, that he's a brilliant mind. Walker was a buffoon. No reasoning behind the cliches. I read somebody no hitting coach alive can get a veteran to listen. That's why there are so many shifts. They are uncoachable.

When there are men on the base the Sox are especially overanxious. Second and third one out and they get the one in on Eaton's first pitch grounder.