greg775

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 4, 2014 -> 05:25 AM) I disagree. None of those starters were near their pitch limit nor were they in dangerous situations with runners on. They either had big leads or low pitch counts, even Ned Yost would have kept them in Hmmm ... As I recall no other team in the postseason has come close to that kind of use of its starting pitchers a few years before and since 2005. I still think the Sabes people and all "modern" baseball tacticians would say that would NEVER work. Magic, destiny I tell ya. It's not ALL about numbers (cough, Billy Beane).

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 08:41 PM) Intangibles? Sure, there are plenty of things that can't be measured that have an effect. Magic, though? Really? Also FYI, that 2005 team was really, really good, and "sabes" would happily tell you that. They had insanely good pitching, which was far and away what got them a trophy, they hit for power, and played good defense. All those things can be measured and analyzed for value in "sabes". I doubt the sabermetricians approved of Ozzie leaving those starters in the whole game.

Why are we sending 4000 troops to Africa because of Ebola. Don't really understand that.

QUOTE (Brian26 @ Oct 2, 2014 -> 01:03 PM) LOL. I assume the 12 game stretch you are referring to is the 2005 postseason? The Sox had the best record in baseball and lead wire to wire. To say they overachieved or to cherry pick the playoff run like they were the '03 lucky-ass Marlins is insane. Ridiculous post. They ruled baseball that entire season from April 1 to the Uribe throw to Konerko on October 26th. Time and revisionist history doesn't erase that fact. There are still intangibles in sports like momentum and magic. That team was a runaway train. It was steamrolling and couldn't be stopped. The starting pitching was amazing and Ozzie/Coop didn't feel the need to take the guys out in the seventh inning when one bad matchup existed. It was magic and the Sabes numbers sometimes didn't apply. Don't stop believin' baby. It was fate and hard work and momentum combined. Take that Billy Beane. Your teams haven't had the mojo yet.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) So I havent been here as long as most of you, but is greg an elaborate troll or just kinda baseball stupid? I can assure you I'm not baseball stupid or a troll. I see a guy like DeAza make so many mistakes for the Sox and mental and physical errors and then see him excel for another team, yes I ask questions about that. Doesn't mean I'm a troll. QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 05:26 PM) hey Greg as you said, or implied, the problem with DeAza was not his offensive numbers. I think the sox brass had a problem with his defensive mental lapse. I mean using DeAza and DV in the outfield was not an idea that I would like to think about. I agree. I'm just confused why he's cleaned all that up with the O's. QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 05:28 PM) he has been on this site for a long time. so what if his point of view may conflict with others, he help stimulate conversation. this kind of discussion brings out point of views that others may not have thought about. but then again, what the hell do I know Thanks.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 06:08 AM) No, it's that he isn't surrounded by other people who are bad at baseball. Maybe that is it, kite. Good post.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 3, 2014 -> 06:12 AM) When De Aza was hitting .301 with a .778 OPS in his last 65 games in Chicago, you simply chose to ignore it. I'm not the only one. Sox got very little for him and now he's excelling. BTW he was despised on this board for the most part for his defense, mental blunders. I'll not rip the Sox for getting rid of a guy like DeAza, but if he continues to excel, I have to think this is an organizational problem.

For LF improvement .. it sickens me that it looks like DeAza is good. Is it the environment on the South Side that made him such a stiff in Chicago? He's doing fine in Baltimore. Should we re-acquire him after he earns this ring in Baltimore? O's looking amazing in rout of Detroit.

Pretty amazing that DeAza turned out to be a great addition for Baltimore. He really really stunk the past 2 seasons in Chicago. Two RBI and hits today again.

Are you folks worried we've got our first case of Ebola here? I was a little bothered that the hospital didn't give a f*** and keep the guy in there when he first showed up at the Dallas hospital. Seems as if he had contact with a lot of people but allegedly Ebola isn't the type of disease easily transmitted. Anyhow, any of you health experts want to fill us in? Is Ebola a big deal in Africa (in terms of it spreading into a once in a lifetime killer disease)? Should Greg be worried here? thanks in advance.

Sounds like nobody is high on gillaspie after last two months

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 08:58 PM) WTF difference does that make? Regardless of whether or not you agree with the approach, the reason Beane was set to film was that he was among the leaders in doing something unique and difficult - he changed the way front offices looked at the value equation. Hell, more specifically, what he did was actually make prolific use of a value equation at all. He (and a few others) changed the game. He may not be a wonderkind or superhero, but then no one here is saying he was either. Except the straw man you keep pointing to. I would agree Bill James is a superhero, not Billy Beane.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 08:54 PM) I don't disagree. Steverson is still kind of the flavor of the month, I was just kind of showing that there were some guys who made strides under Steverson, including Tyler Flowers. He is a guy with a long, loopy, slow swing who currently owns the highest career strike out rate in MLB history, but, for at least this year, he helped mold him into a productive hitter. Hitting coaches do matter, which is why teams still employ them, but I think a lot of their game is in maintainence rather than actually improving and that gets lost on people. You can't hire the best hitting coach in the world and expect a s***ty team to suddenly hit the cover off the ball, but if you have an average offense, you would hope that the hitting coach would help those guys remain average. I endorse and agree with this post.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 08:37 PM) No. I think you can't ignore certain stats and he was atrocious. Not enough makeup in the world, or in this case, HR's, made up for the fact that Adam Dunn was a very bad hitter. After reading the last few posts I've decided to make this my final career post on Dunn. I will agree to disagree with his supporters. Some people just won't say acquiring him was a horrible idea and he was a total detriment to the team the last four years. My last words on the topic are he hit 20 homers and knocked in 54 runs this season. I know those are old time stats, outdated stats, meaningless stats, but to me they signify blah. Yes he draws walks. Yes he hit some big bombs that got me excited. I will end my Dunn posting career by saying he's one of my least favorite White Sox ever. I'm elated he's gone. But to be fair, I applaud him for the homers he hit that won games or put the White Sox ahead. Yes he did hit some of those. I remember cheering those bombs. Again, he made me happy on several occasions. Goodbye Adam. Spend the money wisely which I'm sure you will. I applaud your personality, which is a good one. I can agree to disagree with those who say you were even an average hitter, though. You were mighty bad.

I ask the question again ... in response to Dick Allen's great post, tell me why we love Steverson so much and hate Walker?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 06:53 PM) He was a horrible hitter one year and about exactly what you could expect out of him the other 3. I wish him well, hopefully he keeps winning Oscars. Well, his stats this year were not exactly good in relation to how much money he pocketed. So even with what you pointed out, two of his four seasons were totally unproductive.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 06:58 PM) LOL You approve of the Cespedes trade and what it did to the A's?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 02:18 PM) While it is always the hitting coach's fault the team can't hit, just look at this: Greg Walker, idiot 2011 White Sox .252 avg. .319 OBP Jeff Manto, idiot 2013 White Sox .245 avg. 302 OBP Todd Steverson, genius 2014 White Sox .253 avg. .310 OBP 2014 White Sox without Jose Abreu .245 avg. 300 OBP When BJ Upton continues to suck, who will be the next to blame since Walker will be watching TV? If Hahn wants Steverson to really look good, the roster will have better hitters. Post of the century! Nobody can explain how some hitting/pitching coaches in sports are seen as buffoons and have to be replaced and others are seen as Sabermetric gods. I forgot. What has made Steverson the anti-Walker? Why do we love him again? Great post, Dick Allen! You exposed a big-time cliche. Steverson is just another guy. Players win games.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) Story in Boston paper yesterday estimates Scherzer and Lester will get 6 years at $25+Mil per year and Shields will get 4 years in $90 mil range. Cole Hamels will also be available at 4 and $90 but he will require compensation. So which teams now are spending that kind of money: Are they still the usual suspects: Boston, New York, Toronto? Who's got the money, honey?

I wish Adam well as well. He doesn't need my well wishes after all that money he's made. It's funny how in sports some guys who steal money from teams, so to speak, are OK with the fans, yet fans want to run other guys (like backup quarterbacks in football) out of town. Matt Cassel was booed at the all star celebrity softball game in KC for gawd sakes a couple years ago and he's the nicest guy around. The truth is Adam Dunn was a great guy who was a horrible White Sox hitter. Aren't you supposed to be a good guy in life? Why do we praise him for that and fans despise other guys who are nice guys? I'm sure Pierre was a nice guy. Dwyane Wise was a nice guy probably. Some other stiffs of the past. And they got ROASTED. Good for Big Adam. It's not my money and he's done well setting his people up for life.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 05:26 PM) Butler is trash. Christ, what the hell is wrong with some of you guys? If Butler angers you so, and Sox don't acquire him, then put our own version of Butler, Viciedo at DH and get a new leftfielder, Markaikis. Easily solved there. Viciedo hit eight more homers than Billy. Butler actually would be an OK gamble cause he's going to come cheap and you might get him to sign for 2-3 years like Kepp did. If you want another plodder, base clogger who will hit into a ton of DPs though, don't acquire him. Hahn knows what he'd be getting. So let Viciedo DH add Markaikis to play left. p.s. Billy Beane got OWNED on the Lester deal. The A's sucked after the trade. Lester didn'tlead them to postseason greatness. Bye bye Billy Ball. You and Sabes lose.

Great game, wow the Royals have some guys who can run. So many potential goats (Yost, Salvy, Butler getting picked off, etc) but so many heros in the end. Colon made contact on the little chopper to third, scoring the run. Hosmer blasted that ball off the wall late and those other hits he had; Salvy with the game winning poke past third, Finnegan, Aoki actually elevating and hitting the sac fly. However ... Yost. My gosh what a dumb move bringing in Ventura. Overthinking it. You don't bring in a starter who is young and wild in that situation. I can't believe managers do that sometimes in the postseason. Geezus you don't change roles this late in the game. Thank god Ozzie let the players decide it in 2005. Hindsight is 20/20, but I'd have first of all left Big Game James in, which might have turned out a bad decision since he had a pretty lousy game. IF I had to take James out, I'd start the pathetic parade of lefty/righty crap and brought in a lefty. However, that would have used up Finnegan early. It turned out OK for Ned and the Royals, considering almost the entire roster played and so many guys ended up contributing. Paulie said on Mike and Mike the winner of this game would represent in the World Series. I still like Baltimore. OH and by the way this was a victory for Hawk. Sabermetric Beane loses to old school, Mr. Bunt, Ned. Take that, Sabes.

One thing is certain. Shields will not be effective for the next 4 years which is the minimum of what he'll sign for. I bet Boston or New York or somebody gives him 5-6 years at 15-20 million a year. No need to sweat Shields. He won't be a White Sox in this market.

This is getting ridiculous ... Some Royals fans pissed that Jayson Nix is not playing cause he has good career stats vs. Lester. I don't think Jayson Nix is the answer over Mike (I cant' hit, either) Moustakas. Colon is the bat I might have inserted over Moose. I'm feeling a 5-1 A's victory. Another prediction. Royals fans, known the most of late for booing Robinson Cano at the All-Star game after booing Bill Self and Matt Cassel the day before in the all-star celebrity softball game, will boo tonight when Yost bunts in the first inning. It's reached legendary status here. Fans outraged when Yost goes for the sac bunt in any situation. KC will lose, Beane will be praised and Yost will be blamed is my prediction.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Sep 30, 2014 -> 12:47 PM) When Robin was hired, I was one of the posters who complained that hiring a manager with zero experience was a bad move. Many people defended the move saying that a manager does not need experience to do a good job. Now I think the bullpen and overall weak roster was the main problem with the 2014 team. That weak roster extended to the AAA team since that is where teams look to find replacements for injuries and non-performers. You give Hahn an A and he is responsible for the overall weak lineup and the makeup of the bullpen. You give Cooper a B and he is responsible for the production from that bullpen that Hahn gave him. But you give Robin a D for the overall results. If Hahn had assembled a good bullpen or if Cooper developed a good bullpen the team probably was a .500 team. That would have made robin a pretty good manager. That's pretty good stuff right there in print for all to read. QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Sep 30, 2014 -> 01:05 PM) I'm not posting grades for irrelevant players that have no bearing on the future of the White Sox. Sale and Q both get A's. Abreu and Eaton get A's. All 4 lived up to or exceeded expectations. Avisail is an incomplete because of the injury. The front office gets an A because there wasn't more they could have done. It's well been well documented throughout this thread how good of a job Hahn has done. I mean of course terrible baseball players will get terrible grades from a message board poster. I don't have the time for that though. I like this post. However, I think you could have issued grades in the time it took to write it. So what's this about not having the time?