greg775

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 12:18 AM) Just got back from the game, left in the 8th as it was boring as f*** and wanted to do something else with the rest of the afternoon besides get stuck in a traffic jam on the way home. I had a great seat just slightly to the 1B side of home plate and close, Row 20 total, not just that section. Was probably 80 feet from home plate. Body language of the Sox pregame seemed normal to me I was hanging out by the dugout although one thing I notice when I watch the Sox in person is they don't have a lot of guys that like to get the "extra work" in before the games. The mariners guys seemed to be a little more active pregame but who knows, this is just a small sliver into their routines take it fwiw. The ball De Aza lost in the sun is 100% Jordan Danks fault. Danks failed to take charge on an earlier play that Viciedo almost lost. Danks is a natural CF and if he's not going to safe runs with the glove he has no business in Chicago. Again, just my observation but from home plate it surely looked like off the bat Jordan could have made the play. The f***ing music at Safeco is intolerable. My goodness not a moment's peace. It's actually even worse than most other stadiums including the Cell and NYS. Citi Field and Baltimore I remember as pretty bad too. Watched Cano turn a couple double plays effortlessly. His footwork around the bag is a thing of beauty. I will give Gordon credit he made an amazing play ranging to his right to save a run. I think most 2B maybe knock that ball down but I don't think many throw him out. Great reactions from Gordon. Too bad he can't hit a lick. DFA please. Jose looked awful his first 3 times up. Missed the single. Nobody around me thought De Aza would be called out. How in the world did they over turn that? Was it clear in HD or something? Sox only come to Seattle one time a year, it's a shame. At least the weather was nice today. Otherwise a very boring game, Danks pitched OK but the M's lineup sucks. I can see why attendance sucks at many parks. You mentioned how boring the game was. There are so many games, a good percentage can and do suck. At 60 dollars a pop for a good seat, I can see why people pass and watch on TV or do something else.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:36 AM) The 2nd best team in baseball doesn't have a single lefty in the bullpen. http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles...ngels-left.html Good call. That shocks me. If there was a Soxtalk kangaroo court I should be fined.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:33 AM) This post reminds me about how 2005 conveniently makes Sox fans forget that the team perennially underachieved throught the 2000s. Given their size of payroll year after year, two division titles since 2001 is pretty awful. With the franchise's all-time WS futility, I'd rather have the one World Series instead of 7 division titles and no ring, but they really should have been more successful. Definitely. The Sox body of work since 2005 has been so depressing. I really thought the team was set up to dominate a division full of small market teams (til Detroit started spending finally). Am I the only one who thought the Sox were set up to win the division for many years after 2005? At any rate, this has little to do with Paulie. It's not his fault.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 10, 2014 -> 09:22 PM) The only guys that matter on this team are Sale, Quintana, Eaton, Abreu, Garcia, and some young bullpen guys. The core 5 have all been pretty good. The White Sox are bad because they have too many bad players. Those guys will not be around. The system is much improved and at the moment looks to be pretty well stocked with promising young starting pitching. This is also Chicago and the team has a ton of payroll flexibility to go along with another potential top 10 draft pick. I would argue that the future looks incredibly bright. The brightest it has looked in some time. Jimmy, if what you say is true, this team is in trouble. Just five guys who matter? And one of em, Garcia, is still a question mark IMO. I hope you are right about the future. I think the future right now, frankly, is not much better than before the start of this season.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 12:10 AM) 1. His comments and attitude over the years. Ewo: Are you serious? I don't think of Paulie as being controversial at all. He's as bland in interviews as they come. What the heck are u referring to? 2. He was a ken Williams guy. And the reason that frank was ultimately pushed into a DH role. I'm not a Williams guy, but KW was the GM who got us fans the elusive WS title. 3. Since he was a KW guy, he never lost his spot in the lineup in his atrocious 2003 season, despite the fact that frank was killing at 1b in inter league play that year. I guess your argument here is reasonable. 4. He is beloved more for what he is/represents versus his actual accomplishments. The average sox fan is less critical of a bonerko than of a frank thomas. No. You are wrong. He had great great accomplishments offensively and digging throws at first! And I love Frank Thomas and most Sox fans (all Sox fans?) do as well. 5. He is the DP KING. He found amazing ways to hit into double plays. ALL THE TIME. So what. He was extremely productive in the meat of our order. I added responses in the upper portion of the quote. Hope it's not annoying.

Good. He was horrific. However, think about it ... how embarrassing for Mr. Hahn. This has to be the first time in the modern era (since the start of the over-use of bullpens regarding matchups from the sixth inning on) that a team has had absolutely no lefty in the pen. You've got to have some lefties for gosh sakes. Can't they bring up some hack who can throw from the left side to take his turn?

The defense is a huge problem moving forward. That and the bullpen. The future does not look bright right now as the team currently stands - current players and minor leaguers. Lot of work to be done by Hahn to get this team out of the division cellar.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 10, 2014 -> 07:12 PM) Why can't there be an in-between ground between lionizing him as a veritable deity like one particular poster in this thread and "not being a fan of him and his career"? He shouldn't be on this team this year and he's been in the way for the last 2.5 years. As much as anyone, his falling apart with the bat in 2012 was absolutely key to that team missing the playoffs, and he's been paid a lot for the privilege. He had a couple rough years early in his career, had a great peak, was a key to both the 05 and 08 playoff runs, but in hindsight the White Sox would have been better off not signing him to either of his last 2 contracts. Wow, tough grader. Bad for 2.5 years? Are you counting this year? This year he's not being given a fair chance. He's actually still a decent player in my book. He's still the best at scooping throws. Until the last 20 or so at bats was around .250. I won't go on my diatribe about Mr. 44 RBI Adam Dunn, but Paul Konerko is the LEAST of the Sox problems the past several years IMO. I can't understand why Sox fans aren't showing him total love like Yankee fans with Jeter. This guy won us a world series. Let me ask you. What do you think the odds are of the Sox ever winning another one in your lifetime? I'd say the odds are about 50-1. Jerry isn't going to win another one. It will be a matter of who gets the team and if it's Jerry's relative, the odds remain at best 50-1 in your lifetime IMO. If it's somebody like Cuban with money money money the odds will improve. Thank u Paul Konerko!

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Aug 10, 2014 -> 02:26 AM) I'm not one of his biggest fans, but he means a lot to the team, it's fans, and the owner. Let him play. He was brought back to sell tickets and tshirts. This is essentially a gold watch and a pension for him. As for his future, I suspect he'll go home and enjoy his retirement for a year or two, and then come back as a st instructor. I doubt he wants to manage. Just curious. Why are you not one of his biggest fans? I sometimes don't get fan mentality. What more could Paulie have done in his career? He had a stretch of SEVERAL amazing seasons and in one of them the Sox won it all. People have the right to like whoever they want. I just don't understand what Paulie has done for people to not be eternally happy about him. I guess he's so slow people think he's a stiff for some reason.

Glad I was wrong. Sox need to hit and then hold 'em. Odds not so good that will happen.

Nice job by Seattle beating the shift on that at bat.

Like Hawk just said, Lexi is having an amazing season. That was the play of the year (or one of 'em).

No way our pen gets out of the 9th against a contending team at this stage of the season.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 09:49 PM) The White Sox offense has been fine. Konerko on the roster probably cost Jordan Danks a spot, and he was horrible when he got a chance, so you really were not right. It won't cost the Sox a playoff appearance, their DHs have one of the best OPS in the league, and Paulie gets to go out on his terms. I really can't understand the disdain some White Sox fans have with Paul Konerko. Considering at least what on message boards is perceived to be a total embarrassment, he has never been one. A class act, a team all time great, and a guy who was a huge part of a WS. This is how he wanted to go out. I wonder how many years it will be until Chris Sale and Jose Abreu are persona non grata around here. Appreciate Paulie. He has done more for the White Sox than Andy Wilkins will do in his dreams, even if he does contribute some day. If you don't want to watch him, no one is forcing you. Thank you Dick Allen! I've also sensed some message board disdain toward Paul Konerko. Frankly it sickens me. I love what you wrote about him in this post. I like your line "appreciate Paulie." I mean why the hell not appreciate him? He's gonna be here another six weeks. Savor him. People get mad when I bring this up, but folks, there is a damn good chance that one World Series will be the only one we get as Sox fans in our lifetimes. Baseball is just a weird sport and it's almost impossible to win a title if you have "Chicago" in your name. Paulie got one. Enjoy the last six weeks of Paulie for gosh sakes. Resist the tempation to blast him. Yes he's slow. So is Dunn. Yes he does the shoulder shrug. Until recently he was hovering close to .250. Not so bad in limited at bats. He's been a damn fine pinch hitter as well. He's turned on some pitches in games I've watched and has actually hit some ropes, again in limited at bats. Like Dick said, he's never been embarrassingly bad. I worship Pudge Fisk as well and at the end he couldn't see the ball and it was whizzing past him on various occasions at catcher. Paulie forever!!

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 07:49 PM) In 169 plate appearances, Paul Konerko has 7 walks and 5 homers. He has an OPS of .654 and an ops+ of 82. In 386 plate appearances, Adam Dunn has 61 walks and 17 homers. He has an ops of .768 and an ops+ of 115. Greg, stop embarrassing yourself and close the computer. Insult aside, talk about Dunn vs lefties please. I truly think he of the whopping 44 RBI is on his farewell tour too

Not to hijack the thread, but this is Dunn's farewell tour, too. I notice in the Wilkins thread, a lot of people still think some team is going to acquire Dunn for the stretch run. Looking at his splits and his stats, he also looks like a guy, just like Paulie, who is finished and I dispel any thought he'll be joining a contender. Adam can't hit a lefty just like Paulie can't hit a righty and like Paulie, he can't run either. I think Dunn will retire after this season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 07:00 PM) If he wants to manage long term, before the Sox hire him I'd prefer to see him take at least a year off to actually spend time with his family and take a break after a nearly 20 year career counting time in the minors. That way, at least he's had some time to think about whether he wants to get back into a locker room full time after a breather. I would definitely like him to spend time as a coach somewhere before the Sox make him their manager. Even if its behind a novice. Makes total sense. Probably would be best. QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 07:02 PM) I'll be glad to see him get more ABs from here on out. For one reason or another I haven't been able to make it to the park for too many games this year, so I'd like to make up for lost time, and now that the objective of the remainder of 2014 is very clearly draft position, it works out beautifully. Even if he goes 4-4 with 3 HR every night, I have no doubt that the bulldairycowpen knows it's role by now and won't fail those in the front office tasked with preparing for a draft. Good post, and funny, too. The pen is so bad it's good for draft position.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 06:56 PM) There was a CSN article recently that said he seems like a future manager and all the players treat him like one. Nice. Then bring him on staff as soon as next year. I could handle Paulie as bench coach or third base coach.

Dunn's hitting .157 vs. lefties with two homers I believe. It's not so easy. He has 17 homers and 44 RBIs all season. Where's the clamor to not let Dunn play any more? Not talking to Balta but all the Paulie 'dislikers' (people don't like when I say haters).

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 06:49 PM) I think Konerko will be our next manager. Nah. The Sox can't keep naming former players.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 06:47 PM) Paulie's biggest problem by far is that he's Leury Garcia against right handed pitching. He would absolutely be embarrassing himself if he had to face righties more often. He's a better hitter than Leury Garcia, better than Beckham. He's not the worst hitter on the team by a long shot. Who would you rather see bat the final six weeks? Paulie or Dunn? If I could pay my 60 bucks and go to a Sox game in a halfway decent seat in September, it would be an easy answer: Paul Konerko.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 06:35 PM) So in a full season of 600 PA's he'd have fewer than 80 RBI if he kept producing at that same pace, and those 21 RBI are while being used in a mostly platoon role to make sure he's not overmatched so it doesn't even scale that well? Because that's really not all that good. A devil's advocate would say he's shown enough he's still got some ability and would have a fine season if give a ton of at bats. Paulie's only problem is his legs. He's so slow it's forced him out of baseball. I've seen him turn on some pitches this year and bash them. His final season has been OK. He's not embarrassing himself like poor Pudge Fisk did at the end. It's not hurting anybody playing Paulie the last six weeks. The team is crap and Paulie is harmless.

Another jogging mishap. Hopefully minor. My shin and foot felt fine yesterday, however, felt a tinge in my hamstring near the end of a great speed walk with some jogging and sprints at the end. I stopped immediately and iced it. Today the hammy is a bit sore, just enough to know I did something and almost did something bad. I'm not limping. It's just a bit sore back there. Happened Friday. Do I walk again Monday after resting it? Do I stretch?

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Aug 8, 2014 -> 06:06 PM) In my experience, it depends on the judge. Some judges will give a lot more leeway to an unrepresented party - especially procedurally - because they want to go out of their way to make the proceeding seem fair and balanced. If, however, the unrepresented party is an a-hole, they will get smacked down by the judge quickly. Farmteam is definitely right, however, that judges do not like people representing themselves... Last two posts were great. Are judges allowed to make snide comments? Like early in the Arias trial when she doesn't know what the f*** she is doing, can the judge say anything? Like, "Ms. Arias I will give you a final chance to accept legal representation?" Or "Ms. Arias I am offended at you wasting the court's time because of a lack of knowledge about how to proceed?" Or does the judge have to shut up and hold her hand?

QUOTE (BaconOnAStick @ Aug 9, 2014 -> 12:02 PM) Frankly, this idea doesn't turn me on as much as it did last year. I think it is far more important that the guys play well and this team wins a few more games than it would just tanking. I'm petrified of getting stuck in a cycle of badness, and if 2015 is a lost season (as some are already saying) what then? Tank the 15 season also? Last year was the worst I think I've seen this team play, it was different then than it is now. To me this is a group on the cusp of contending, and unless we lose every game from here on out were not getting Carlos Rodon II dropped in our laps a second time around. As far as the '15 season, there will be no guarantees the Sox get off to a start like they did this year, again. Let's say the Sox tank or this current stretch of awful defense and pitching and hitting continues through the rest of the season and the team finishes 20 below .500. Next year, you still have the challenge of playing well in April and May to be relevant as long as the Sox were relevant this year. The cycle of badness still is hovering around no matter what Hawk says. Now if the team acquires two good starters, three good relievers and a good bat to replace Dunn and Beckham's replacement is good, who knows?