SoxFan562004

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 02:51 PM) What movie is he in? A-Team

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) like who? Again, it was awhile ago, but every team reggie jackson was on basically (again, I'm not comparing swisher to reggie, but people didn't get a long) the '03 Cubs hated Sosa and they got within a game of the WS and complete mental failure cost them that, Dibble use to talk about the divides in the Reds clubhouse when they won the WS when he was on Dan Patrick's show, Manny was a pain in the ass teammate, Kirby Puckett was a notorious A-hole. Also, when "chemistry" is bad you don't hear about it if the team is winning. Look, we disagree on this subject and it's hard to prove right or wrong.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 02:43 PM) Each team is unique, you cant say if something affects one team it will affect all teams, and vice versa. He didnt fit in, the team didnt appreciate his antics, he was gone and thats it. Plus, Swisher is on the best team money can buy, they can pay over chemistry mistakes that other teams cannot afford. Or you can question the veteran leadership on the White Sox as to why he didn't work. Other teams with less payroll had poor chemistry and did a lot of winning.

Mir/Kongo added to 107. I wonder if they'll add anything to 105. It's free on Spike in the states and they just signed some new UK television deals, so I wonder if they'll add a bigger main than Bisping/Kang.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 01:52 PM) Ok, speculation. Thats what I thought It doesn't matter. So many teams have so many players that hate each other and still win. Ever hear the stories about Jeter and A-Rod? Yeah, no WS since they paired up but playoffs all years but one and the Evil Swisher is on that team and they will likely lock up the best record in the AL

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 12:27 PM) They played and old Griffey and Dewayne Wise over him last year; he was bitter about it. He had to go, and I think if we kept him, we wouldn't have Pods or Rios right now. I would be OK with that and we are still in a waiting pattern on Rios.

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 11:51 AM) Because... 1. He's a D-Bag 2. He hit .219 last year 3. Dewayne Wise outperformed him offensively and defensively last year 4. He strikes out too much 5. He was a fourth OF/backup 1B 6. He's a D-Bag nobody liked, and have you noticed when we play Yankee's Konerko won't even talk/look at him at first. 1. Ultimately, who cares? He's the same guy he was his whole career 2. So what? Cherry picking an incomplete stat and his BABIP was about 30 points lower than his career average. 3. Exteremely arguable on both ends and Swisher has a FAR better track record, we were talking about this year. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...ar=2008&t=b http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...ar=2008&t=b 4. Again, who cares? http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74441 (specifically the section about negligable correlation between runs produced and Ks) 5. Nah, he was as good as Pods is in CF and not leagues worse if any worse than Wise (he was playing there full time for the first time in his career. 6. Who cares? The team was about the same/little bettter with him on the team last year. The A's of the 70's got into fist fights in the clubhouse, chemistry is overrated, it's magical when you win and scapegoated when a team loses. He hasn't exactly destroyed the NYY clubhouse this year has he? Again, the best argument for why they traded him was they decided his salary didn't fit their future plans, which if Rios goes back to around his career averages and plays CF full time next year, it was probably the right decision in the long run.

It's so awesome when people compare an injury prone veteran's 2nd best career season with a younger player's career worse year (and many of Swisher's numbers aren't that much worse than Pods this year) For instance, Swisher had somewhere around a .332 OBP last year and Pods this year is .358, but their BAIP was about 100 points different!!! Pods roughly 30 points over his career average and Swisher 30 points under his. Also, Swisher was playing a new position full time. Over their careers Swisher doesn't make an out .18 more times than Pods does per plate appearance. So you can break down swinging, contact, walks, etc... but he makes less outs than Pods per plate appearance and he slugs .80 higher than him over his career!!! Pods does not nearly have a high enough SB% to overcome those. Hey, it's great Pods has given the Sox a good year FOR HIM, and as I have posted earlier and gotten yelled at because I dared looked to next year, I have zero problem with bringing Pods back as a 4th OF on a one year dealer, but counting on him to contribute at this high level FOR HIM would be a mistake IMO. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...ar=2008&t=b http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...ar=2009&t=b Who hits leadoff next year then? Beckham does. He's cheap he'll get on base and provide some pop at the top of the lineup. Now, the argument I can buy is Swisher was too expensive and the Sox wanted to free payroll. That one I buy because obviously the cost between him and Pods is huge... now going forward it may be paying Rios over Swisher for a few years.

just out of curiosity, how would getting the olympics effect the White Sox and Cubs? would they have to take extended road trips? Play a "home series" in a neutral park?

Swick out of 103 with a concussion from training, Daley in for him

Penn/Sanches is official for 107 now, not a 3rd November event. I am also seeing some buzz that Reljic is going to come back. I haven't seen any article confirming this, so I'm not going to get my hopes up, but if he does that's a real exciting fighter the UFC is adding back from injury. If anyone sees an article or a good source please post.

both Brenly's and Stone's separate calls of that Soriano slip/missed ball were priceless.

In two weeks it is an UFN, the premier of TUF and 103 right after the opening week of football... that's a pretty sweet week of sports, too bad the Sox aren't in the race!!!

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 11:33 AM) That's a great point as well... the pitching was so good then... not so much now. You can't get away with the waiting on the 3 run homers. I will echo an ealier post that stresses defense. The sox are 2nd or 3rd in the AL in ERA last time I looked. The SP has been very good lately and the pen not so much. I will give the pen a little excuse that they have had zero margin for error since the offense has failed to give them any breathing room, but again, the pen needs improvement. As I've said since they got Peavy, coming into ST with Floyd/Peavy/MB/Danks as their top 4 gives them a great base to start with.

I am fully aware the importance of a good farm system in developing and maintaining a quality MLB team with a managable payroll, but the MLB draft is still such a crap shoot. With the Sox being a big market team and consistently being in the top 10 of payroll the last few years they've proved they will spend money, so they can always get a better prospect later if they're willing to pay. I hope Ozzie gives the younger guys a chance to play here on out and the White Sox have succeess on the field for the month of September. If that costs them a few spots in a notoriously hard to predict draft, than so be it. I also like what the Sox have done by targeting Cuban players, hopefully that extends to more international players who aren't subject to the draft system

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 10:25 AM) It will be hilarious when "Chilly" has to watch his 39 year old QB go on the IR because he gets mowed over by a massive linebacker blocking for AP Looks like the wildcat trend is spreading, and I could only imagine Ray Lewis licks his chops everytime he sees a QB or WR in a place they're not supposed to be. If people run it a lot against the Ravens I'm predicting one or two highlight reel destructions by Ray Ray

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 11:28 AM) I think 05' was more of a balanced line up though. They didn't have to wait on the 3 run shot. that was one of those years that with the pitching the White Sox had they really could of had any type of line-up and went far

QUOTE (danman31 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 03:32 AM) College innings and outings are actually probably more taxing because the priority is winning so pitchers are pushed a bit more, especially the good ones. I would think aluminum bats would make them a little harder too, obviously less talent up and down line-ups, but with the bats there's less margin for error with the talent level

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 11:21 AM) I think most people go to polar opposites when they talk about lineup construction. The reaction to our issues with offense is that we need to abandon power hitters completely. its really about a balanced lineup. You need a power core in the middle of the lineup to provide high OBP, power, and the ability to drive in runs wrapped around with more pure hitters. Guys who can make solid contact, don't strike out and can hit doubles are the pure hitters that can augment your lineup. Having 9 guys who swing for the fences is dumb, as is having 9 singles hitters. I agree 100%, that's why I'm shocked that the Twins have said they're going to stay the path with the type of players they develop when moving into their new park. Now, having M & M in the middle of the line-up obviously help, but they are going to lose an advantage IMO. Just so I'm being clear, I agree with you SSI. It has to be a mix, I just go crazy when posters focus so much on the myth of 2005 "small/Ozzie ball".

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 09:00 AM) Yeah, major changes have to be made to this team. Obviously the bad things are magnified right now with them playing so bad, but it's time to get away from the "let's wait for the home run" attitude. This team needs to jettison the old slowness and get down to speed and manufacturing runs. If the Sox go to a team that relies on "manufacturing" runs in the AL and with 81 games in the Cell they'll lose and be a terrible team. Don't get me wrong, this team has, and seems to be, getting more athletic with a little more speed, but with the league and home ball park they still need to put some focus on power.

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 09:43 PM) How many times have we lost in the 8/9th inning the last few weeks after being tied or in the lead?? it goes hand in hand with how many times have the White Sox had quality scoring opportunities in the middle innings and done absolutely jack with them?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 10:49 AM) How is speed at the DH position going to solve the defensive and and pitching woes of this team? I would limit that to bull-pen. I know they have given up the most unearned runs, but 2nd or 3rd in the AL in team ERA is still good.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 12:12 AM) Adam Dunn is having a really, really, good year. He's hitting for a pretty high average. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunnad01.shtml Yeah, he's having a career high OPS+, but the lowest he's had is 114, so I would love to see him on the Sox next year.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 12:10 AM) $12M. He made $8M this year. OK, I'm still hoping he looks into it. He could DH.

I hope KW calls Washington in the offseason and see what they want for Dunn's 10m and one year remaining