greg775

I guess there's no harm letting Rodon gain experience since the team is going nowhere, but it's kind of painful to watch a guy with some talent stink on occasion.

I love Rodon's stuff. He got rushed, however. He's not a big league pitcher right now. Send him down for some seasoning.

Went to see Trainwreck today as I have a few days off. First of all, kudos to LeBron. Good job acting. Pretty funny. As far as the movie, I'll be honest probably at the 3/4 mark I was getting antsy, kind of wanting it to end. But it was pretty funny, made me snicker out loud a few times (not guffaw like the women in the audience who seemed to LOVE it), and certainly some of the lines were pretty damn creative/funny. I'd give Trainwreck a B. I feel dirty giving it a B- cause I feel the acting was good and there were some great lines for a movie. I wouldn't argue with anybody who gave it a low A-minus.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 09:31 PM) Such a discrepancy between the outrage over "everyone gets a trophy and winning isnt important" and the behavior of the ridiculous amount of helicopter parents that exist today. Parents today are 1000 more involved in their kids lives and often are the main problem. What confuses me is the generation of kids whose parents never came to their sporting events turned into horrific helicopter parents themselves. My mom never saw one of my games in basketball or baseball. She never even asked me about the games except how we did. My dad went to one of our playoff games for some reason. He was shocked that our team was so good on defense. He told me nice game on defense but he didn't go to the next game. None of the kids cared. We liked the fact no parents went to our games. But these same people had kids and went to all their games screaming at umps, coaches, fellow parents, etc. Weird.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 08:14 PM) You have to build the trust with the parents first. You have to establish some credibility that you know what you are talking about. Then as long as you are looking out for the player's best interest parents will give you some leeway. High school sports are a little different but parents are parents. I've always sought out parent's input, so that heads off a lot of issues. I have also been able to back my decisions with some reasoning. I will also admit quickly when I goofed up and will make certain the players receive as much attention as I can send their way. As a coach all you really can do is put players in a position to be successful, the rest is up to them. I ended two players seasons early this year. When I was asked why, I explained it was a private matter between the players and myself. It didn't take long for everyone to know that one was because of grades thus reconfirming I was serious about academics. The second was I caught him cheating, again that reinforced a core value of the, well of everyone from the District to myself. Every parent I spoke to later told me if I every caught their child cheating to do the same, and the same with grades. I didn't need to make the kid an example. I treated him with respect. The coaches that have problems are the ones that have not earned any credibility and who yell and humiliate their players. If the coach comes off as a bully and not a teacher, parents will jump in the protect their child, and they should. Kids make errors, even professionals do. Coaches have to teach them how to bounce back, not stand there and yell. And specific to running laps, I really dislike coaches who use cardio exercises as punishment. Athletes should run to get better at their sport. My golf team hikes up a very steep hill with their bags at the end of every practice. Sometimes we will do two or three trips. I see other coaches using it as punishment. We walk and play very physically demanding courses. When we are hiking the hill, I'm right there with them carrying my bag, setting the example, getting their legs ready for 36 holes in one day tournaments. People need to be careful what they use as punishment. I've had students that tell me they hate reading because it was always a punishment by their parents. No TV you have to read a book. You're grounded, go clean your room. What are we teaching kids? Thanks, Tex. You make a lot of sense.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 02:57 AM) Limbaugh is defending trump now, lol nyt I mentioned this exact thing as why I like Trump. He's not cowering when under siege. Usually the public figure makes a statement that the PC world deems bad and the public figure cowers and apologizes. Trump says basically "grow up. I didn't say it or didn't mean it like that and go f*** yourselves." I like that. Limbaugh did the same thing the last controversy he had. Some people were boycotting his show (like the Macys deal with Trump), Limbaugh wouldn't back down, a few stations pulled his show but not a ton and he survived easily. I love the rare times a public figure refuses to cower. The media doesn't know what to do when the public figure tells everybody to "f*** off." They really don't know what to do. They are so used to the public figure apologizing and then dropping out of the race or falling off the map.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 08:35 PM) It's a shame Robin over achieved in his first year as manager ... He wouldn't be around this year if he didn't. No real point of bringing in someone new/giving Coop or someone else the reigns for the rest of year. Not going to right the ship or fix anything. This year is what it is at this point. Trade Shark, bring up Johnson and Montas and see what you have. Bring back up Micah and see what he's got. Play Tyler and see if he can't be successful. Get rid of people who aren't going to be around next year. Flowers, Beckham, etc Great post. I think all your suggestions are good ones. As far as Robin, he's very calm, boring which the team "needed" after Ozzie. The old cliche is you have a fiery nutjob like Ozzie, then you go with the boring calm guy. Our next manager will probably be a Sabes guy, just have a feeling. Probably an up and coming Madden type if there are any. Personally I'd bring back Ozzie with a GREAT bench coach in case Ozzie implodes again. Have all sorts of stipulations in the contract that Ozzie must muzzle himself or get fired/fined. Any controversial statements about Castro, etc., a $50,000 fine each time. Jerry decides on whether the statement is fine-worthy.

Just another example of modern baseball, teams spending zillions of dollars for no reason. So they sign Shields and two months after having him need to get rid of him. Baseball is run by a bunch of morons, but nobody seems to agree with me. It's going to be the same whomever signs Shark next year for 20 mill a year. Shortly after signing him, we'll be hearing about the team being stuck with him. Hilarious.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 02:54 PM) They're stuck with Verlander, Martinez, and Kinsler's salaries for awhile. Even Miggy's deal is going to be a problem if he keeps getting injured. He's only 32, but he has 12 MLB seasons on him already. They deserve what they are getting giving Verlander that kind of a contract. Dumb.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 14, 2015 -> 05:04 PM) Iran has never followed any agreement before, this time will no different. True. It's obvious how the world as we know it someday is going to end. Finally get to the point we destroy ourselves with nukes combined with decimation of climate/environment.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 07:00 PM) Such a straight shooter, tells it like it is and then sticks to his guns. You should be proud. I'm not saying he should win or I'd vote for him. I HAVE said I like his style. I guess I'm so sick of the Hillaries/Obamas/Bushes, etc., of the world doing so many favors for the zillionaires who fund their campaigns I like the forceful talk of Trump. I'm pretty much fed up with politics and the fact political figures do not have the best interest of the country at heart ... ever.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 11:54 PM) I've been coaching kids in various venues for 25 years. Parents are the greatest help and the worst nightmares, sometimes at the same time. Great youth coaches get the parents buy in. Awesome, Tex. As coach do you have the authority to get mad at the kids if they are late or disruptive or do you have to let the little precious kiddies do whatever they want nowadays cause you have no right to bench them or make them run laps, etc? I would assume parents don't take kindly to coaches yelling at their kids.

I wanted to drill a Royal as well. I think it was Saturday and I think they hit Abreu. I think that's what got me fired up. It was an obvious situation where you don't want to pitch to Abreu and he got hit on the first pitch. I was hoping to plunk a Royal hard after that. But again, aside from opening day, Sox really don't come to compete IMO. They win their share of games but rarely have that eye of the tiger any more.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 10:20 PM) Congrats greg, you were off by a single run Thanks for the props. I take no joy in my prediction, however, since the Sox got owned again by a divisional foe. I knew this series was lost - 3 of 4 or 4 of 4 - before the series started when Robin made the ridiculous call to wait until Sunday to pitch Sale. I knew Sox weren't coming to compete again, but were looking down the line with no urgency as they always do. Give Sale the extended break, blah blah blah. Again ... someday we will have a team that comes out to battle every day. But right now Sox are just a patsy in their own division. The front office will continue to wait for the 13 game winning streak that might put us in position to grab the wild card. Problem is that streak never comes, but we know that rotten 1-9 or 2-8 stretch on the road sure is coming again at some point the second half as it always does. Sox will probably continue to play decent baseball the rest of the way, looking good on occasion and winning some games, but losing pretty much every series against divisional teams and also suffering that abovementioned stretch. I'd say 12 to 20 below .500 will be the ultimate record.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 08:50 PM) If he is hurt put him on the damn DL That's what I was thinking. Or just assume he's a singles hitter til the hand improves. QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 08:50 PM) Calling for a bunt in that situation is reason enough to fire ventura. 2 on no out; heat of the order coming up, and Robbie plays for 1 or 2. managing scared. You kind of had to bunt there. Down 2-0 nobody out. Pretty much had to do it.

Melky is hot. Maybe this is the tying single.

Hudler said Ventura told him today Abreu has hurt index finger of his top hand and it's hurting him at the plate.

Good guy to have up here. I'd walk him if I were Ned, but I'm nuts.

Good things happen when you hit the ball where it's pitched. Nice hit by Eaton to left on 3-2 offering.

Sox have been taking advantage of opponents mistakes a bit lately. Could be key inning.

Conor's defense reminded me of a bad college player. You never know when he simply was going to kick one or wave at a grounder or throw it away. He was OK last season as a hitter but not a big leaguer. I doubt anybody will pick him up except for AAA ball.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 04:42 PM) What's the difference between pitching Sale the DH and today? Robin is completely different than Ozzie. We all know that. It doesn't mean he doesn't care. He isn't going to embarrass himself the way Ozzie did at times. You can bash Robin for pitching Danks in the DH but he won. He pitches well against the Royals. We have Sale today, and if Shark pitched like he should have and won Friday then we'd be talking about taking 3 of 4 today with Sale pitching. I preferred sending a rested Sale out there in Game One of the series to maybe shut them out and show the Royals we finally came to play some ball against a team that owns us. Not saying it 100 percent would have worked. For competition sake I wanted Sale/Shark. QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 05:05 PM) Lol remember when you went on a tangent about Robin running out of pitchers? What would your response have been had Robertson came in and the Sox failed to score for an inning or 2?.You would have b****ed about that too. And Lol at complaining about the order of the rotation. What does it matter if Sale pitches Friday or Sunday? He still pitches against the Royals. I'd have been furious if he ran out of pitchers of course. But I feel like he conceded the game anyway leaving Jennings in there a fourth inning.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 04:02 PM) greg you're a bloody closet Royal's fan. I've turned down free Royals tickets 3 times this year cause they weren't playing the Sox. Don't like 'em or their fans or announcers except Denny Mathews. QUOTE (harkness @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 07:48 PM) Just don't blame Ventura for this little league level mental team... Over and over again they make these dumb plays. Melky should have hit the bench after that play. Royals announcers were just ripping Melky for all his hand signals to the dugout and how he hugged not only Hosmer at first base but Escobar when he got to second. They ripped him for doing that during a game. Hudler said "take it to lunch don't disrespect the game like that. It's about competition not hugging but to each his own." QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 08:12 PM) Escobar wasn't even looking when he picked that. The Royals are so ****ing lucky It's called picking 'em with good hands. QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 08:13 PM) He looks nowhere near 100 pct running Royals announcers said he shouldn't be playing cause of his hand injury.

Sox had been playing well before the break, winning series after series. As expected, they are back to their Sox ways post AS break. I predict the inevitable 3 of 4 losses to KC. Today's game 5-1 Royals.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 03:14 AM) In my town, Little League worked like this (wasn't formally associated with LL, just called itself that): -There was a brief, one-day tryout in which every player who signed up was graded by each of the league's coaches. The combined scores were used to create a player ranking (only available to coaches and commissioner). -A draft was conducted, with each coach taking his or her own son in the round he was slotted. -Each team had 11-13 players, but rarely would a team both have 13 players and have 13 players present at any game. -Every player batted throughout the entire game. You'd have a 1-11 or 12 or 13 batting order, so no pinch hitting and all that. -Every player needed to play the field at least 3 innings of every 6 inning game. There may have been special exceptions for when you had 13 players there. The worst players got the least playing time, but usually the amount of kids not coming to games for whatever reason meant everyone got well above the minimum. I think most of the coaches also felt that it wasn't right to stash a kid on the bench, especially when the talent wasn't deep anyway. The worst player and the 6th worst player were both probably going to botch anything hit to left field. The time my dad coached me he had a brilliant strategy for those horribad players: teach them to bunt. First of all, even decent LL teams screw up bunts defensively. This also gave those kids a legitimate chance to contribute in important situations. And more often than not, for the kids who really did want to do well, this was a big confidence booster. If they bunted a "triple" they were suddenly taking big hacks in their next plate appearance instead of running out of the box or whatever they would normally do. The trick obviously is to make sure you don't send these poor kids up there with the instruction to bunt every single time because you want to give them the chance to get better. That all makes sense. Did any parents get mad if their kids had to bunt, though? I like your league's rule of letting everybody bat, but man in a six inning game nobody bats more than twice I bet. I do wanna say this about our Little League back in the day in Mt. Greenwood. It's funny you talk about kids missing games like it's expected and routine. In our LL, our serious coaches would discipline you if you missed a game or were late for a game. Yes disciplined Little Leaguers. Back in the day parents rarely went to our games and if they did go, they yelled at umps but not at coaches for some reason. I remember one year when I was 12, my final year of LL and third year of playing for the same coaches, my grandfather took me to two Cubs games in Chicago (my grandfather was a Cub fan and I preferred the Sox but agreed to go with him; hey it was MLB) the same week we had LL games. The first day Cub game, my grandfather got me to my LL game just in the nick of time to take fielding practice, etc. The coach was not pleased I was at a day Cubs game before our LL game instead of resting, but all was OK cause we won and I did OK. But then our next game we hit traffic and I was late for infield practice because of my grandfather taking me to the Cubs game again. The coach benched me but seeing a had a good attitude about it let me pinch hit and I scored the winning run. He yelled at me after the game and said if I was late again that was it. I'd be on the bench forever. Nowadays the coach would not be allowed to yell at me like that.