greg775

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 03:13 AM) I grew up raised in a Christian family. I was committed and took my faith seriously my entire life. When I got to college, I wanted to back my beliefs by learning more about what I proclaimed as truth, so I majored in bible and theology and minored in 1st century [biblical] Greek. Unlike my peers, the more I learned, the more I started to realize how much less reason there was to believe in Christianity and God. By the time I graduated, I still believed, but only because I was holding onto "faith" that I had built up throughout my whole life. As I met more people after college, I started to meet others who had "faith" and started to really question what the point of faith without any backing is. When I met someone with unwaivering faith in Sai Baba (youtube him), I think I started to get perspective of how pointless faith alone is. It's been a bit difficult, because most of my family and friends that I grew up with were all Christians and I've lost a lot of those friendships (not because difference in beliefs) because I'm not involved in a lot of church/faith based activities I used to. I wish God exists, I wish Christianity was true. But I also am not going to live a lie because I want it to. Good post. I'm wondering why all that knowledge you gained did not support a God. I mean you could say the Bible is false and a lousy book but you could still believe in the ultimate creator if you wanted. Any chance you just got burned out on the whole thing? I'm stunned we are at 16-4 unbelief.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 02:45 PM) So, this weekend we had a fan knocked unconscious by a ball of Schwarber's bat. Earlier this year there was a fan impaled by a bat fragment at Fenway. Baseball has stated this is an issue they're going to study in the offseason. ESPN here reports that there are 1750 fan injuries per season on foul balls, with the majority less severe than those obviously. They're already facing lawsuits from some of the injuries this year. Players including Justin Verlander have issued public statements supporting increased efforts towards fan safety after a fan was injured at their game last week. There's a blog and a book upcoming on the issue. When even players are joining in calling for more safety that's an issue reaching a crescendo. Despite the "foul ball" warning on tickets, I think it seems clear that MLB is going to recognize that "severe fan injuries" are a threat to their business model and they're going to have to do something to at least reduce the risk for fans in their stands. Pictures of a dead fan stabbed by a baseball bat or hit in the head by a baseball will do real harm to their business model and that's one baseball can't afford. So let's see if anyone has any opinions on this. I'm not quite sure what will be done - ballparks sell more tickets by putting fans closer but that also puts fans more in harm's way. More and longer nets? Higher fences? Do nothing and get into the NFL like setup where they're facing a major public backlash? Open to suggestions and interested to hear other people's reactions. QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 05:08 PM) I wouldn't sit that close to the field with my kids. Just won't do it. I don't even like sitting that close. I've sat first row of the dugout and had a couple shots come my way. I hated it. You have such little time to react (and that is when you are paying attention...and at a baseball game, a lot of the time people aren't paying attention). I am fine if they put nets up and would rather they do it now then after someone is killed. This is a great thread! Some very smart baseball people here saying it's dangerous as hell to sit down low at a baseball game. There have to be nets put up ASAP. I'd love to send this thread to the commissioner if he'd read it. This is good, serious stuff. We have a good adult fan on here saying he WOULD NOT have his kids down that close. Serious business. PUT UP NETS!

Something tells me this Royals team could really suck in the postseason. That's why they need to get their rotation set before the playoffs and Cueto has to pitch a gem in Game One of their first playoff series. Then they turn to either Volquez or Ventura in Game Two. Ventura, Duffy, Guthrie (lol) all those other guys are very inconsistent. Medlen? Gimme a break. Stiff. Ditto the other guy who has been a spot starter.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 04:45 AM) Their young talent is super impressive and they have the perfect manager for that team. They're going to be a powerhouse for a while. Regardless what you think of them, they are fun to watch. Also its never a bad thing when the Cubs are good because that's usually when the Sox FO takes notice and starts making moves. The Sox underachieving this year while the Cubs are making a playoff push (they'll make it, even if its only the WC game) isn't going over well with JR or KW. Damn. If it's true "they" are good and "we" are horses*** this could be the total demise of the Sox franchise in Chicago. I mean think about it ... Cubs have been NO rival of the Sox for a long time. We've been the better team (or at least way better team on paper) for a VERY long time. With their fanbase being 10 times bigger than ours ... if they are actually GOOD (we know their manager is very good) and we continue to be embarrassingly BAD (not worth cost of admission for sure) this could get ugly. Maybe Jerry will sense this changing dynamic and sell to Cuban!!! We can only hope. He wouldn't move us to Dallas/Fort Worth. They can't support 2 teams.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 08:21 PM) That's the nice way of putting it. For the past few years and prior to this season, I've considered Kirk Hinrich to be the Gordon Beckham of the Bulls. Gets lots of playing time but is no good. I didn't realize this. Do the fans despise him and boo him? I thought he was kind of the fill in guy who saves the day when Rose is hurt, etc.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 11:22 PM) Don Orsillo the TV announcer is leaving the Red Sox job after this season. Is he leaving to come to Chicago to be the White Sox TV announcer in 2016? On the White Sox last road trip to KC, I was told the Royals announcers were saying that this is the last year for the Hawk with the White Sox. I don't know anything about Don Orsillo. Is this guy a golden throated homer? I'd rather have Stoney take over as play by play with somebody like Paulie as colorman. Stoney can get used to play by play. Or let Farmer do it with Stoney. and Orsillo with DJ on radio.

Thompson, please be for real! Just think if Saladino, Sanchez and Thompson all start next year and all hit about a buck fifty the first month and a half ... such is the life of a jinxed White Sox fan since 05.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 03:17 AM) 12/23 = .522 Trayce Thompson's batting average With the Sox luck of late ... he'll hit .380 in limited duty this season. He'll be awarded the starting job and trade Eaton this offseason. He'll open next year hitting .180 the first six weeks with nine RBIs and 2 home runs. Not to be a defeatist. Hope he's the real deal.

Nice comeback win over a bad team. Need to win some home games like these. Sox grab a W. Nice. Trayce baby!

QUOTE (farmteam @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 10:49 PM) Why do you assume there's a reason why humans exist and have established civilizations on earth? There doesn't need to be a reason. Maybe we're just here because billions of years of evolution and progression have led here, as well as an uncountable number of other places. 16-4 vote so far! Wow, society is changing. Keep voting please. There has to be a reason we are living, breathing, thinking beings. If there is no God and afterlife then why aren't we all selfish bastards every minute of our lives? The minute we die we're toast, never to be cognizant of anything again? Why don't we just run amok on earth if this is all arbitrary? QUOTE (ron883 @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 11:16 PM) I'm not sure how anybody can believe in a kind god who made man as an image of himself when you see how absolutely horrible the human race has been throughout history. He would be one smiteful SOB. God never promised us an easy life. He promised to be with us during the trials if we believe. I actually have proof there is a God but I will not share the story. Too personal. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 11:40 PM) Some people need an answer to the "Why" in life, they need that mental or spiritual safety net. Religion for the most part provides that comfort. Some dont need that. I disagree. The people who I know who worship mainly do it as a form of thanks to God. Most of us aren't doing it for safety, but most of our praying is praise. QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 12:08 AM) I'm an atheist. Don't believe in a higher being. I believe that it's a "fairy tale" as well but I don't begrudge people who believe differently. That's cool. But why is it a fairy tale? Why has America become so skeptical about matters such as these? I have a mother, two brothers and a sister. Right now the sister has nothing but problems with her kids, with her emotional health, pretty much every moment of her life is hell. WHy doesn't she give it to God and quit being selfish and obey the Golden Rule? My mom the same way ... totally self absorbed, needs meds, is basically miserable. I want to tell them to start going to church and trust God but it's on deaf ears. They think only of themselves and won't give anything to God. My one brother has given up on the church cause he's a lawyer and very upset at the pedophile stuff. I can't blame him. He will no longer give a penny to his Catholic high school and he used to be a big booster. My other brother seems happy as well and he is atheist which is cool. But why doesn't everybody believe?? I feel it'd make for a happy world. One other thing: I'm surprised we haven't completely gone off the deep end. SHouldn't it be considered child "abuse" making kids go to church when they are above the age of 8? Aren't parents abusing their kids, forcing this fairy tale on them and shouldn't this be stopped? A parent wouldn't be allowed to hold rituals where they force their kids to drink and smoke. WHy haven't liberals insisted that parents have no right to make kids go to church? And I say "abuse" cause I couldn't think of a proper synonym.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 02:10 AM) OT- Cubs, IF/OF Emilio Bonifaco agree to deal Good for him. He seemed like a good guy. Serious question: Why the hell did the Sox target Melky and sign him?? They knew his power numbers were not going to return post steroids. It was just a bad signing. And the LaRoche signing was horrific considering the guy's age. Wake up, Hahn.

I hate the fact this team is just a bad team. It's actually a worse team than its record. It should be about 15 below .500 at this stage.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 08:28 PM) So the magic man in the sky version? Yes. Jimmy Carter believes in that version and nobody can deny he is one helluva smart person. Some of us believe. Some don't.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 09:47 AM) While we are at it, you also shouldn't lump together God and organized religion. There are people out there that might believe in a God, but don't agree with the concept of organized religion. I just wanna know if people believe there's a man upstairs in charge. Not a spirit or a state of limbo but a real God. As far as the other topics it's hard to believe we are going to die and merely vanish with all memories of this life gone and no future contact with those in our families and others we connected with on earth. It's possible but why have all this to begin with if when we die we're just vaporized and no longer exist in any fashion?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 09:55 PM) Now it's being reported Jared's charity was a sham as well. Never donated any money. Gave most of what it had to his cameraman, and they don't know where the rest went. Who knew what a despicable human he was? Glad in retrospect I've always clicked channels when his subway commercials came on. Never was a fan of his "story."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 02:14 PM) He's never guest hosted for Rush Limbaugh. He's chopped liver. Not real funny. I actually don't listen to Limbaugh a lot but have been turning him on in the car cause I wanted to hear his take on Hilly and Trump.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 01:53 PM) You've figured out the secret to winning games - hopefully Hahn or Ventura is reading this thread. Robin will never do it. I'm sure having a very difficult, no nonsense camp is probably against baseball's nonwritten "rulebook." You've got to just "get your work in" and "be professional" even when these guys need to be pushed as much as football players in many cases. That's why we need a new voice. Robin isn't gonna put them through fundamental boot camp. He's gonna continue to run the kind of camp he probably enjoyed most as a player. If Robin can turn it around I'll be amazed, happy but amazed.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 04:44 AM) Jerry dybzynski cost the white sox the 83 title Yeah, I'm surprised he's not despised more, kind of like the Sox version of Bartman. But he's really not. QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 05:59 AM) Greg, I'm with you on Danks. He's a warrior. I can't stand watching him on the mound but what he's doing after the capsule tear is basically unprecedented. He's worked his ass off to get back from it and even though he isn't half the pitcher he was I really appreceate his dediction and love of the game. I can see the dedication to baseball with him. His body betrayed him it really sucks but he could have just easily half assed his rehab and made the same amount pitching in Charlotte are being DFA. I've not written that in my support of Danks yet, but that is indeed why I love him. QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 06:09 AM) The Sox scored 3 runs in that 4 game series. Hard to blame one guy. True, but if Dybber doesn't screw up Sox cruise in the final game of the series behind Hoyt. It was Hoyt's year like Baumgartner in the WS last year. QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 03:47 PM) Nah, I can hate Kirk Hinrich and Gordon Beckham for what they represent. LOL. Why don't u like Hinrich? Ugly guy? Just wondering. He's a pretty good player. Got a lot out of his skill set. QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 04:26 PM) Santo hated his time with the Sox is true. He hated being moved to second base, hated being benched by Chuck Tanner, just a real ass. Carlos May told me this story about Santo when I interviewed him. “The other time was when we got Ron Santo. He was our DH that year. We were in Chicago and it was cold and wet. Dick was hitting 3rd, Bill (Melton) 4th, and Santo 5th. Ron was back in the clubhouse, I don’t know if he was getting loose or doing something but Dick made an out and went back to the dugout. As Dick was sitting down, Ron came out of the tunnel and asked him what the pitcher was throwing. Dick exploded and basically said if he wanted to know what the pitcher was throwing he should have his ass on the bench watching with the rest of us.” Mark Great story. He probably forgot he wasn't on the Cubs anymore where he was king and knew everybody. He was on a new team. That's an interesting lineup with Allen, Melton and Santo all in a row.

Couple of questions. ... -- Any Western Illinois fans? Is Benet QB Jack Beneventi expected to do anything in Macomb? Why did Iowa dump him as a commitment? -- Anybody know where Benet's John Duvic the kicker has surfaced? He has left Kansas. Finally --- Anybody know if Martez Walker is Central Michigan's top running back this season?

I would kill the creation part but I can't find an edit button on thread titles.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 09:19 PM) It officially started in 1976 but he joined in 1984 and became their most well known proponent. He should get more credit for being one of the most upstanding individuals in the history of the world.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 03:45 AM) It's true. I wouldn't post a fake stat but it is very sad. His ERA is lower than you'd think for someone who leads baseball in earned runs allowed, isn't it? Yes. This kind of season should propel him to the one-year 9-10 mill a year territory so many hack pitchers find themselves in. Still he'll please some fan base this offseason when he signs. He still has a name. San Diego 4 years 80 million maybe? Dodgers 5 years 100 mill?

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 11:14 PM) Being a bust as a player though is different from being hated. And I was told a story about Swisher from one of the beat writers. In the second half of 2008 after the Sox got Griffey, he tried to help Swisher who was in a bad slump by offering some hitting tips. Swisher literally blew him off I was told and just ignored him. Mark That's amazing. I really despised Swisher when he was here. I was quite vocal on soxtalk. I hated him. QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 01:08 AM) Navarro is #1 ..............John Danks #2 Geez. Really? Mr. Blackout game starter? QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 01:27 AM) Without a doubt. He is one of the most hated players in the league by teammates. There is a reason that he needs to travel from team to team. He is truly one of the most dislikable people you've ever met. In Baseball he is on par with Bonds and sheffield. Any stories? We'd love to hear stories about AJP the prick. Is he despicable in restaurants/bars to fans, etc? QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 02:18 AM) I don't "hate" anyone. Hate is a strong word for me. I don't like what he did to people and I know how most people view him. Any good stories? QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 02:58 AM) Considering we gave up a draft choice, pay him more and signed him for more years, Melky was a far worse signing than Laroche. And yet, people act like Melky has done his job. He's been terrible. I agree. Melky bothers me greatly. Only reason I don't totally despise him is he's pretty much the reason the team got sort of "hot" for a stretch and actually looked like it might actually wake up and vie for a wild card. But his clownish behavior in the Royals series and his lousy stats bother me to no end. QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 03:06 AM) Danks has been average to below average this year. If it wasn't for his shoulder problems, he could have been one of the better Sox pitchers of the past decade. He was absolutely money in 2008 and had 4 seasons where he put up 3.7 WAR per season on average. I love John Danks the baseball player. QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 25, 2015 -> 03:24 AM) Danks had one of the best performances in franchise history in the tiebreak game. He shouldn't be close to anyone's most hated list. Amen. You speak the truth. Interesting somebody said Santo. Didn't he say he just hated his one season on the Southside? Was miserable? Kessinger was a big bust, too, as a Southside player/manager. I don't know if he hated being a Sox though. He probably did as well.

QUOTE (jamesdiego @ Aug 22, 2015 -> 02:37 AM) If Robin is coming back, then I'm sorry, but there will be no point for me to invest in any way, shape or form into next season. It will free up a whole lot of free time for myself without the Sox. Maybe I'll get to those hobbies or never realized dreams I've never started. So in that way, thank you Sox. But a big F U to Jerry. You know what, that's a reasonable position to have. If Robin is back there is no way the team will change its identity of this nonachieving lazy mistake filled bunch of ballplayers. I LOVED Robin as a player but it's true. How the hell is this team going to next April 1 turn this around? It can't. Unless he totally changes, starting in spring training with a military like camp (which he won't do) and thousands upon thousands of ground balls, fly balls to fielders; situational hitting; situational baserunning drills, nothing can possibly change. Even if its change for change sake. I can see why you'd skip the season as a fan. Cause there's no way in hell we're going to finish over .500 with Robin. It's just true. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 09:40 PM) Scot Gregor ‏@scotgregor 5m5 minutes ago #WhiteSox VP Kenny Williams says he is flattered about rumored outside interest but he's also comfortable in Chicago Kenny Williams a few minutes after talking to reporters: "All right, what did I say this time that's going to get me in trouble?" That's actually pretty damn funny. Kudos to Kenny on that one.

QUOTE (Carlo Paz @ Aug 24, 2015 -> 11:59 PM) Thanks for that, it was an enjoyable read. I agree. Thank u for your perspectives on the game and dugout.