greg775

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 04:04 PM) I think if the season was played out 100 times, the Sox might win the division in 2 or 3 of them, tops. Being honest, I see the Sox as something like 15-20 games worse than the Tigers. Sure things could happen to change that number, such as Verlander's arm falling off, or Cabrera taking Prince out for a season of drinking, but in general, I have zero expectations for this team this year. There are scenarios where the Sox could win, but I don't find them very likely at all. Even in the scenarios where the Tigers fall backwards hard, I'm not sure if the Sox have enough to catch them. Exactly. Detroit is so much better than Chicago on paper it's amazing.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 07:19 AM) I don't think even Robin Ventura knows what his managerial style will be. I hope he's just the CEO of the team, so to speak. He can't know anything about handling pitching. I would think he has never has thought much before about hit and running, when to steal bases, etc. I hope he lets Cooper make all the pitching decisions and his bench coach most of the other in-game decisions. The guy has absolutely no experience. That's OK, though. Ozzie was hated so much by fans he's an easy act to follow.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 05:02 PM) That's a pretty poor argument though. Using that same argument, I could say that the Athletics didn't really do anything to make themselves better this year and that they didn't really do anything to improve themselves in the future because nobody knows what Cespedes does. You could make the same exact argument about the Cubs too. Williams, by any measure you want to make, brought in a lot of pitching talent. The future of this organization looks better than it did before we went into the offseason. And, considering the success he's had at turning other teams' pitching prospects into big time contributors at the MLB level, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. A grade of D- is dumb. It's a good grade. The Sox did not try to improve as a team. The team is expected to be way worse than last year. So it's a good grade.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 19, 2012 -> 07:35 AM) We seem to be playing the "all of these 'experts' don't know anything about our situation" card a lot recently. But perhaps they are right. When everyone disagrees with you, it doesn't always make you a profound genius that nobody understands. More often, you're just plain wrong. The board seems to be dominated by those who blamed Ozzie for most everything. I tend to agree with the experts that our offseason sucked! And Oz had nothing to do with the offseason. The trade of Sergio is confusing and infuriating at the same time.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 05:10 AM) There's a lot of righty starters in our division. Fukudome is significantly better against RHP than Lillibridge, and he's also a very suitable defensive replacement for Viciedo. By having someone you can use defensively instead of Lillibridge, it allows you to let Lillibridge run for someone late in the game instead of being forced to use someone slow like Morel. Touche. Good stuff.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 06:01 AM) The worst goaltending tandem in hockey. Damn, that's unfortunate. That has to be totally frustrating for you guys who watch all the games. Nothing worse than lousy goalkeeping. Came across this on the Internet. Wow, goosebumps listening to this former Hawks' announcer.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 04:49 AM) Actually, the Fukudome signing was great. Probably one of the best bargains of the entire offseason, and it's a perfect fit for what the Sox needed. With regards to Cespedes, I'll be surprised if he's more productive this year than Fukudome is. What role do you see for Fukudome? Late inning pinch hitter on a team that doesn't figure to contend? Makes little sense. Replacement for Pierre? That would mean he's a regular from Day One, making DeAza sit. In my eyes we already had a backup with some pop in his bat in Lilly.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 04:50 AM) You have no freaking idea how Robin is going to manage. Hopefully Robin has the guts to make difficult decisions, unlike our last manager. Facts ... • Sox have added Fukodome (sp). • Rios is one of the highest paid players in Sox history and has started in the big leagues for several years now. He's known as a regular. • A new season is starting making last year's stats mean nothing regarding Rios. • Any manager will give a highly regarded, well paid veteran like Rios several weeks/months to prove himself, at least until the weather has been warm for a month or so • Fuko will play. • DeAza is still young and unknown. • Viciedo is the new blood that needs to play every day. Conclusion • Fuko will play ... at the expense of DeAza, not Rios. How can u argue with this? Why would any manager not let Rios play at least until July 1 when he's had a chance to play in warm weather? In my eyes the guy who gets screwed is my new favorite, DeAza.

For this fair-weathered Hawk fan (playoff fan) tell me the MAIN reason(s) for the Hawks' skid as briefly and succinctly as possible. Thank u.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 04:40 AM) Shaka Smart, your table is ready. Is the key for the next Illini coach recruiting Chicago? Will that be the key for Shaka returning the Illini to greatness? Will the Public League coaches embrace Shaka? It seems sometimes the Illini coach relationships with Public League talent is not good. And other area talent. Wouldn't NW's Sobelewski of Benet and Boatright of Aurora look good in Illini colors?

QUOTE (sunofgold @ Feb 14, 2012 -> 05:58 PM) Glad that we didn't get Cespedes especially at that price. Cespedes could turn out to be the new Fukudome..expensive but not close to a superstar player. Ironically, we got Fuku now for a lot less $$$. A's are gambling here. Sox fans, at least on this board, are very understanding when it comes to saving money. I could give a s*** about Jerry saving money. Spent some f***ing money and give me a winner!! (I don't count $$ to Rios/Dunn/Peavy; that's their own fault they are wasting those greenbacks).

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 04:59 AM) We have no idea how Robin will run the team. That's why I said, 'just to piss me off' You know that's how it's going to go, though. No way Robin is going to bench Rios through the all-star break at least. He'll be playing every day through the first few weeks of hot weather.

The offseason from hell for Sox fans continues. A's get Cespedes. Sox get ... Fukodome. What an organization.

Just to piss me off, Fuko will play a lot this season at the expense of DeAza, not Rios. That will just suck. I want DeAza to play all season to see if he can hit. If you got to sit somebody, sit Rios!!!!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 08:06 PM) The Cubs will pretty much have no choice but to do a remodel in the next few years, if for no other reason than to keep the structure safe. It won't be for long. But the Royals didn't have to play elsewhere for a year. They just did the ugly construction work during the season and during any warm weather they had after the season.

Won't the Cubs have to do a remodel as the Angels and Royals did? Where there's ugly construction for a couple seasons but they do it while still playing games? Cubs can't afford to leave Wrigley for a full season like many of u stated, not for a mere remodel.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 05:47 AM) Which is when we generally do best. And the Marlins...Loria and Ozzie will fight more than KW/Ozzie and they are in a stacked division. Is Loria that bad? Does he ever shut up and let the team's season play out?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 05:53 AM) Cue Catholic Bishops' Conference entering thread, after dominating the airwaves last week. Oops I'm Catholic. I am in the minority on that on this board, too?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 05:08 AM) The Sox will have more wins than the Marlins. No way this is true. Our team is expected to be one of the worst in baseball.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 04:37 AM) Hearing this news is like having a really bad, unsatisfying masturbatory session which immediately turns to regret. QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Feb 15, 2012 -> 05:11 AM) I feel like every time I am done masturbating I get hit with a wave of shame and regret. I feel like I just burned down an animal rescue shelter. Are you guys joking? Or really discussing this in this manner?

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 14, 2012 -> 08:48 PM) I was one of most ardent Ozzie supporters around here, but even I saw it was time for a change. That is not flaming Ozzie, it was just time for both Ozzie and the Sox to move. I believe in 2025, the 20th anniversary of the '05 title, that Ozzie will receive a standing ovation when they honor that team at the Cell. Makes sense. It's not fair, though, that Ozzie gets this talented team in Florida that acquired a bunch and Robin (and we fans) is left with this rotten team on the South Side.

Isn't Lillibridge a much better outfielder than infielder? My hope is Ventura sits Rios the first time Alex loafs and then platoons him with Fuko. I think Lilly could have filled whatever role Fuko has on the club this year.

This will be embarrassing for the Cubs. They will not draw squat in the Cell.

If it means cutting Rios' playing time, I'm all for it. If it means cutting DeAza or Lilly's playing time ... this sucks.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 14, 2012 -> 07:23 PM) I'm glad they traded him. At least they got something for him. One thing for certain, Ozzie's time in Chicago had run it's course. Not flaming but in discussing posts on this board ... after reading this, this is where I go off about how great Ozzie is and stand up for him and everybody says, 'give it a rest' when I'd just be responding you guys bringing up the old topic of Ozzie again. It goes both ways.