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QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Dec 14, 2012 -> 09:01 PM) Rather than be sad and depressed about the shooting in CT today, I'd rather feel proud and thankful for the teachers in that school who followed lockdown protocol, distracted the kids with games and stories, and kept away the madness outside the classroom. It's because of them hundreds or children survived and didn't have to experience the horrors surrounding them. That's what I choose to get out of this. Amen, amen. I was telling somebody that earlier tonight as well. I want to thank those teachers for all of humanity. QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 15, 2012 -> 04:17 AM) This is awful beyond description. But so was Columbine. So was Virginia Tech. So was Aurora Colorado. So are any of these high profile rampages that take place. This has become normal now. But the non-high profile tragedies are JUST as bad. I get so sick of media-frenzied debacles being prioritized over boring street crime. s***, the thing that happened on the subway in Philly was just as senseless as what happened today. Just because the media didn't go apes*** over it doesn't make it any less horrible. Just because Obama didn't call for action (he gave almost word for word the same boring ass speech he gave after the movie tragedy) doesn't make it less important. This is the world we live in today and there ain't s*** anybody can do about it. I've accepted it. Others should as well. Jordan, it is true we are now a killing nation. It is simply, so. That's truly the way it is. We are a nation of killers. I've accepted it too and I do agree there's very little that can be done about it right now. You make an interesting point. I don't even know what else to say about your post. Thought provoking. We have become a very mean, cynical nation. An anonymous nation with people spewing meanness all the time. You ever read comments after articles on the Internet? The mean virtriol (sp) spewed by people? The hate? The growing animosity of workers in the workplace? The rudeness and meanness of superiors at work to the employees? Do any of you think the country will be in a mess too big to fix in 20 years? If this continues, it's going to be a war state on a daily basis in the USA.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 15, 2012 -> 06:47 AM) I doubt it will ever come... many people will refuse to give up their guns. As I told a friend earlier on, they made alcohol illegal and that didn't stop anyone from getting alcohol. All it will do is bring forth the black market gun dealers and people will still get guns... it won't stop anything. I was listening to Huckabee tonight on O'Reilly. Say what you want about him, he made a couple interesting points. One was that you can't stop these kind of things. As he stayed it it is an issue of the heart. His claim was that people who are evil and want to do horrific things will do them. Now admittedly this 20 year old punk killer had it easy since apparently his mom owned the guns. Another question I want to ask the good people of Sox talk. We have our disagreements about Ozzie, but I respect many many people on here and want your opinion. This killer was 20 years old, raised in the current public school system. My question to you is: Is the fact all mention of God has been removed from society, the fact kids today are raised that there is no God and God is a dirty word (you won't hear the word in public schools of course) and there is no accountability to a higher power, that the younger generation is being raised in an unhealthy way, a way that will lead to more of these situations? God-fearing people do not kill kindergartners for gosh sakes. Also, the way Johnny is raised today ... Johnny can do no wrong. Johnny is always right. Johnny gets equal playing time with all the other kids on his team; Johnny gets a trophy for finishing last. Is there something wrong with our society in the way we are raising our kids??? I know I didn't explain this well enough, maybe somebody can read what I am trying to say. Tell me ... what is going on today?? Why these mass killings? What is the fundamental issue? Did I get it right or not? I will tell you this, if this continues??? In 20 years we will be waiting 90 minutes to get into a church; 90 minutes to get into a movie theatre, 90 minutes to enter a hospital, it'll take 5 hours to get on a plane by the time you arrive at the airport; 90 minutes to get into the doors of a sports event. There will be so much security it will make your head spin. I'm sick over this. Yes I had tears stream down my face today. When I thought about the scene in the classroom as the punk reloaded his gun, the terror on the kids who had yet to be killed. The pain thinking about the parents of those kids!!!! I'm so sad and pissed and sick over this.

Mackowiak stunk as did Brian Anderson. I wonder what both guys are doing now?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 15, 2012 -> 04:35 AM) You do the same thing for Sox players that weren't on the '05 or '08 teams. I'm talking about specific moments. Specific at bats and occurences. I don't think I do that. My memory of specific plays has never been good.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 07:53 PM) Now it's a money thing, because the Sox don't spend money. (or they just spend money wisely) I wouldn't say they spend money wisely. This team hasn't had many bright moments since 2005. Rios, Peavy and Dunn have not been wise expenditures IMO. Not that I care. It's not my money.

QUOTE (Jillian Michaels' Abs @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 08:51 PM) I'll never forget in 2006 when the Sox scored like 23 runs off of the Cardinals.... every Sox player had at least 2 hits, except Uribe - who dug in the box and waved at 3 straight fastballs over his head. You sound like those University of Kansas basketball fans who only remember negative things about the former players. Not trying to jump on you; it just reminded me of the Kansas fans who always remember the failures.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 09:13 PM) Looking at minor league numbers for Flowers, knowing he'll get regular reps, and looking at AJ's career numbers and his age... I'd say there is a pretty good chance Flowers hits as well as AJ does overall in 2013. Might not happen, call it 50/50. And "except defense" is kind of a big deal for catchers. Also, AJP's throwing really wasn't much better - pitchers adjusted on the Sox is primarily what happened. All this for $500k instead of $4-5M. And Keppinger for Youk is probably a downgrade offensively (but not necessarily - Youk may be fading, and Keppinger is just coming into his own), but an upgrade defensively, and freed up some $8M for using elsewhere on the team. Also, you aren't just going Youk to Keppinger - you are going Morel/Hudson/Youk to Keppinger, when looking at season-over-season. That is probably an upgrade. Nice post. I can buy your arguments.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 08:05 PM) He's better than the two assclowns we had playing as utility guys at the end of last season. Very true. Assclowns made me laugh today.

Bring in Uribe and trade Keppinger for a reliever and backup catcher.

I sure hope Tyler Flowers can hit because this is one of those offseasons where the Sox are doing nothing. Keppinger for Youkilis is a blah move on paper. And Flowers for AJP is a downgrade as well, except for defense. And AJ's throwing ability was better last season for whatever reason.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 08:26 PM) Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS arte took the $ allocated for greinke and gave it to hamilton instead. he will be an angel. Smart move. I'd rather give that kind of money to an everyday player than Greinke. This may be a dumb question, but why doesn't a big market team like the Cubs try to improve like the Angels and just buy, buy, buy players? Are the Cubs short on money? I can't imagine again how bad that team will be this year. I know they sell out every game no matter what, but I don't see how anybody in their right mind could stand going to see that rotten team play. I'd fall asleep in the stands.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 12:36 AM) AJ can't catch the ball anymore. He's so bad at it, it's like there's something wrong with him. That said, I can't see him getting less than what Youkillis signed for. If he gets 12 million a year, wow, he's done a heckuva job negotiating. I remember those instances the ball skipped off his shins or by him. I don't think it happened all that much, though. Not at all like the end of Fisk's career when he couldn't see the ball at all and catch it.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 11:27 PM) FWIW, I liked Youk. He was a big improvement and I was satisfied with his performance. Made the season more fun. He did make the season more fun. I applaud him for that. He was the only acquisition I can recall in quite a while who was excellent right from Day One. Of course he was miserable, totally awful the last month or so, but he was great the first few weeks. It was exciting and fun at the start. I can't deny that. I hated his defense. He was a sieve over there and Hawk didn't call him on it much. QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 12:34 AM) Youk is a winner. I wish him all the best. I wish him the best, but don't know about the winner thing. He and Paulie (injury) and AJ and Dunn had a chance to kick some major ass the last month and carry us to a division title. They all failed, including Youk. Remember the Sox did have Detroit on the ropes for a while. I think it was 3 different series Sox coulda put them away and let Detroit back in the race each of those series. I'll give Rios credit. My memory may be off, but I don't remember him completely tanking like the other guys. I think he hit reasonably well from start to finish last year.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 12:40 AM) I'm going with Pedro Alvarez. When he's on, he as good as anyone. Also, he and Clint Hurdle have had issues with his approach to the game in general, and hitting in particular. Hurdle was frustrated enough to talk about sending him to AAA last year. He's lefthanded and fills a position of need in 3B, even though he had some pretty bad defensive stats last year. He could eventually transition to 1b when PK leaves if his defense doesn't get better. I'd go with Pedro as well, just cause of the hype around him. Yes, I've bought into the hype. I don't think Pitt can trade him, though. It'd be like KC trading Wil Myers. Oh wait ...

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 12:01 AM) I can't wait until they visit Fenway. What a slap in the face to Red Sox nation. 19 games against Boston? Wow. I won't miss Youk, but it's interesting that the Sox have no real third baseman. Kep should be more a utility guy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 11:29 PM) The latter 2 clauses are pretty much the case with most teams, and it seems like several of our guys went on unhittable rolls at different points in the season last year (Reed, Veal, and Jones immediately come to mind as having them). I like Reed very much. The rest of our relievers I personally believe are blah. I simply hate Jones' delivery.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 07:03 AM) I disagree. I posted something awhile back arguing that the bullpen is likely the place where the Sox could make the biggest difference between 2012 and 2013. I think our bullpen lost 23 games, 10 by Thornton alone. The Tigers were almost as bad, but Oakland, Baltimore, NY, and Texas were all far better. You could argue that the difference between the Oakland and Baltimore pens and the Los Angeles and Tampa pens put the former in the playoffs and kept the latter two teams out. Most of the rest of the team is set at this point. If you added a veteran arm who might close, you could jettison Thornton and use the young guys to set up, especially now that they have a year under their belts. Every year people think the Sox will have a good bullpen and it annually sucks. Sox don't have any reliable relievers who get on a roll where they are unhittable. We're dead if our starters come out in the sixth cause that means way too many relievers will pitch that night. If the Sox go with 4 relievers on a given night you can bet one or two of them will suck.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 03:51 PM) You have to trade Flowers if AJ is resigned. Package Flowers, Gavin and Thorton and you should be able to get a good piece or at least some high ceiling prospect(s). That's what I thought. It's either Flowers' time with the Sox or it's not. Wasn't that the same scenario with Karko and Fisk? Was Fisk the guy blocking Karko? As far as AJP, he's earned 6 mill a year again for another two years. If he wants three years, bye bye. Trade Thornton to dump that salary and you get a real bargain with AJ. Buzzkill Thornton really is not needed anymore.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 06:08 AM) he's just young and stupid. i had to go through a painful breakup where I did everything in the books that you're not supposed to do, to realize how ridiculous doing all that is. romantic gestures? don't work. they just piss the ex off even more. WHY? because you're not respecting what they want and it's completely selfish. the only way to get someone back? Go No Contact, work on yourself, and move on. if they come back, then great. fortunately, if he waits till February that's great, because by then he won't care anymore. (yes I'm working on taking this advice myself, but it really is the ONLY way to handle a breakup) I tend to agree with your position on this matter.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 12:13 AM) LOL!! I always thought Andy the Clown was pretty cool too and my dad had a set of pipes to rival him. I loved when he would yell, "C'MON HERSHBERRRRRGERRRRRR!!!!!!!". That, and " MOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!". Has Andy passed away? He has to be pretty old. If he has I hope he finds my dad in heaven, if there is a heaven. That would be a neat meeting. QUOTE (MAX @ Dec 11, 2012 -> 01:40 AM) Tickets from cheap dad's work. Frank Thomas. Thought the cubs were lame and boring. Hey, Max are you the person who said he'd leave the board if the Sox won that one game and you did indeed leave? I think it was you. You were a man of your word and left the rest of the season I believe.

Update on my 26 year old friend (single no kids), the one dumped by a 23 year old woman who left him for a 33-year-old guy at her workplace with 3 kids (one as old as 10). I didn't know he was this f***ed up, but he's decided to make a play for her in February. He's going to wait until then, and at that time either take part in some big production where he dramatically asks for her back or something more simple where the intent is the same: to ask her to leave the guy and return to him. I told him that seems kind of stupid and she'll likely reject him and get the 'last laugh.' His response was, ''I have to try, for closure. I have to see if she wants me back. She may want me back but thinks I've moved on.'' Most of his friends have advised him to forget her, but he said as of today he's intent on doing this. I did ask him, "If she's capable of doing this now, what if you get married and have 2 kids and she dumps you then?" He said, "I'd take that risk." Love is blind? Or ???

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 10, 2012 -> 05:04 AM) Thank you sir. Ya at this point it's nothing more than a dream and I've said that many a times. I've also agreed the way to do it is from the bottom up but this is a special circumstance with it being so close to me, both physically and sentimentally (been getting food from there all my life). It certainly is fun to entertain the idea. Your only hope right now is to find an investor who likes you with money money money. Find him or her.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 10, 2012 -> 06:41 PM) Francouer murdered the Sox last year...to the tune of a .768 OPS. How many homers did he hit against us? I remember at least 3. pissed me off.

Grew up in Mt. Greenwood. Lot of Sox fans, lot of Cub fans in the close-knit neighborhood, too. My dad was a huge Sox fan but very busy guy working at Board of Trade supporting his family. So I didn't do a lot of things with him. My grandfather happened to be a big Cubs fan and since he was retired had a lot of time on his hands and took me to a ton of Cub games. Cubs/Sox...I didn't care. I was hooked on the visual of walking through the turnstyle and up the stairs and seeing a real life baseball field. The green was mesmerizing. My dad got Sox season tickets one year in the upper deck and took me to a lot of games. So I actually became a fan of both teams. Then we moved to suburbia my junior year in high school. My dad's business partner was one of the zillion members of the Sox ownership group. So my dad got 4 Sox season tickets in the fifth row to the left of home plate. He'd go to the games but sit in a box, usually leaving me the 4 tickets and parking pass if I wanted them. Being in high school with nothing to do in the summer, I got to go to a ton of Sox games with my friends. Almost all the games. We'd drive in from suburbia and meet my dad for delicious corned beef sandwiches or beef sandwiches at the park, then he'd go back up to the box and me and three friends would enjoy the games in the fifth row. I had pretty much dumped the Cubs by then. I just didn't really care if they won or lost. Went to college in Kansas and got into tons of arguments with Royals fans in my frat and was pretty much known for my Chicago fanaticism, especially regarding the Sox. Would go to Sox-Royals games with frat friends and enjoyed being the one Sox fan in the group. Sox have had a history of sucking in games in KC and usually I was on the short end of the stick watching those games. I've seen the Sox lose games in so many different ways in games played in KC. In adulthood have only followed the Sox, don't care about the Cubs. So once again .. is that the story of a troll?

Well, the White Sox better come to play against the Royals this year head to head. We know they have hitters that can beat us. Butler, Hosmer if he bounces back, Moose, Gordon, even Francour hits us and nobody else. Their catcher is a total stud. Now are you ready for Shields, Santana, Guthrie, Chen and Davis? It's time for the White Sox to play some competitive baseball against the Royals. You got to admit. Except for Davis' start and Sale's start, I don't like our chances in any one of those matchups considering our lousy play vs. KC and their elevated play vs. the Sox.