SoxFan562004

Rickey. Not only does he have the credentials but his speech would be epic

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 10:53 AM) I see a distinct difference between the auto companies and steel or airlines, though. Those items don't come with 5-10 year warranties like an automobile does. I think the fear (whether rational or not) that GM won't be around in 6 months will keep most people from choosing them when shopping for a new car. Flight tickets are a much smaller expenditure and, while it may be a huge inconvenience, your airline going bankrupt isn't going to effect you for years to come. With steel, you buy it, and you're done. You couldn't care less if they're around in a week because you have your material. I will give Ford some props though, I've had a Fusion for a few years and the car is awesome. I've never had a problem with it, it gets good gas mileage, and I drive ALOT, and it handles extremely well.

The WEC show from Wed was only OK, worth TiVo'ing and FFWing... the Fabiano match is a real technical JJ match in the first round then some laying, but interesting. Bader vs. Vinny and Nover vs. Escudero for the TUF contracts and rest is here... http://sherdog.com/news/news/lineup-announ...-8-finale-15402 The Bader fight should be interesting since his and Vinny's standup seems limited and Bader is a top notch wrestler who laid and prayed his way to a victory in his semi-final match and Vinny is about as top notch BJJ guy you will find in MMA. So it will be interesting to see if Bader sprawls takedown shots and attempts to see who has the tallest midget standup or if he sees how good his submission defense is and shoots in on Vinny. MMA JJ is different than non striking/competition JJ such as Abu Dabi. Jacare has sick JJ and he got beat in the finals of DREAMS GP recentally, but it's a huge risk for Bader to try and lay on him. It could be the most interesting lay and pray fight ever. http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templa...2&zoneid=14 The Fight Night for the troops could be interesting, Kos is the only top 10 name, but often times guys trying to make an impression put on barn burner fights, and Yoshida is no push over for Kos. Al-Hassan has a 6-0 record and has some buzz around him. And hey, it's free MMA. http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templa...9&zoneid=14 UFC 92 has three awesome fights on it. The Big Nog/Mir fight for the interim belt and to see who will fight Lesnar will be interesting if it goes to the ground since those are two top level BJJ guys, but Big Nog might be better off keeping it on the feet since I give a good size edge to Nog there. Griffin vs. Evans for the LHW and a battle of 2 guys who make every PRIDE fanboy cry should be interesting. I keep picking against Griffin and he punks me, but I pick Rashad. Wand vs. Rampage III could be crazy. Wand left him draped over the ropes in their last match and some people who watched it honestly thought Rampage was going to be seriously injured from the beating, but Rampage looked different in beating Chuck again and Hendo and Wand, outside of the Jardine fight, hasn't looked overly impressive (when Cro Cop KO'd him in the finals of the Open Weight Grand Prix I thought he was going to be in a coma). Mustafa Al-Turk has some buzz and for TUF reasons they're putting C.B. Dalloway on the main card instead of Okami, who if he wins they'll likely show because he'll probably fight Silva next. Affliction has a good card in January and Zuffa has some too, but let's wait on this, some good MMA coming up here. Also, for those with HD-Net, they are showing live at 2:00a.m. the finals of the K-1 2008 GP and Hong Man Choi has a non-tournament match on there. Definitely worth watching, they usually replay their stuff so look for it. For some reason they're having Kimbo as commentator, I can only imagine that he might go the Bob Sapp route and fight in Japan soon.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 08:53 AM) Am I the only one who thinks that if we are looking at the total and final collapse of the US Auto Industry, it makes sense for the US Government to provide some capital to the Big 3 in order to allow the bleed to slow down, rather than a shock of a GM - as its currently held - to just completely collapse? again, I am going to preface this with I have a limited econ background, but I tend to agree knowing what I know. Obviously these are the best case scenarios since they are what Ford and Chrysler said, but they both said they can be profitable in 2 years if they get loans, so who knows.

threadjack... there was a guy named Whitey O'Day who use to perform around town, I saw him at Irish Eyes in Lincoln Park a lot (he was a fellow Elmhurst College grad so he and I would always talk) who would do about a 10 minute section of limerick's that was awesome. I use to know a ton of them and probably could remember them if I had the proper prompts. I haven't seen him around much lately, but those were some classic nights. /end threadjack

Lol, seems most media outlets and my friends thinks KW's conference yesterday was 100% smokescreen. I tend to be in that boat too. There was a BBTN special on yesterday and since it involved Steve Phillips not much of substance came out of it. Basically he said he expects KW to do something at the winter meetings. I wouldn't be shocked if a lot of the top free agents take short 1-2 year deals or accept arbitration to see if the economic situation passes. At this point I wouldn't be shocked to see OC take it and despite what KW said yesterday, I think he would start at SS and Alexei in CF or 2nd

Watched Barney Franks opening remarks today with the Big 3 leaders. I was 3/4 listening to it since I was jamming a Benadryl down my dog's throat and I have a very limited econ background, but I think he basically said the finance committee is going to go forward and work with the big 3 on a bailout because it wouldn't be fair to hold the U.S. hostage to punish those who made the mistake. He cited the new job report (which initially anyways, didn't send the DOW soaring downward, hovering around -80 at the opening bell) and said the effect of the Big 3 not paying their debt at this time would harm the U.S. too much. Now, hopefully one of you econ guys heard it or can read it and translate it, that's an econ layman's interp of it

He also said Poreida (sp?) will go to ST as a starter

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 02:47 PM) even the comment about OC being a back up... its posturing to get him to decline arbitration. if he accepts, there is now way he isnt starting. I agree with that. They made the point that OC isn't a high end Type A free agent and some teams might be shy to sign him since they have to give up picks... another comment they aired saying Javy wasn't a money deal, more about the team getting younger

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 02:41 PM) Ditto I hope so too. I don't have an overall problem with what KW has done this offseason since I think he has another move or two in him, but if this is the team he comes with to ST I would be a little dissapointed (or if he added a token piece like Taveras). the 4 and 5 starters would be complete question marks, and i know they were last year with Floyd and Danks, it's hard to rely on that year after year and then count on Danks and Floyd to be at the level they were at last year. I'm a little nervous about the team right now, but I am in the camp he's putting up smoke screens.

KW said Vaz trade was focused on future more than Vaz's struggles last year. KW said at this moment he might go to ST with 4 and 5 as is and have an open competition with the young guys (I would hate that) Winter meetings might be slow for Sox. Will look at CF/leadoff spot but indicated everyone is looking for that and would be dificult. Would be suprised if another veteran is moved. He will let GMs come to him. If OC accepts arbitration he will be a backup, Ramirez going to SS and one of the young guys to 2nd. High on Flowers and Lillibridge, thinks there's mechanical problems with Lillibridge's swing that they will fix. Looked to get younger and athletic this offseason. FWIW Rogers said he doesn't think they'll bring in any FAs. Actual tape of KW saying he will "be in listening mode" B & B think it's a smokescreen.

KW just got done with a 1/2 press conference, Rogers will be on with B & B soon (sounds like after 2:30) to relay what he said

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 12:36 PM) Ugh, I can't stand reading something mentioning Jerry Owens' name, much less his probability to be a starter... I agree, it drives me crazy, he has done zero to show he's a legit MLB player

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 12:29 PM) Wait. Are you saying that a CF who's older than Justin Morneau, Nate McLouth (8 months), Rocco Baldelli (7 months), Carl Crawford (6 months), Curtis Granderson, Bobby Jenks and Jake Peavy should no longer be considered a young prospect or even a prospect altogether? That's just crazy talk. We're using the Rich Hill scale of young prospects here

Wilson was vastly overrated in Chicago because for awhile there was a rumor he was coming to the Cubs

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 12:32 PM) You're with me Leather. I laughed so hard when I read that. But seriously, it's a great read, the chapter on Peter King and his daughter sums up my feelings on so many of these media wanks

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 12:26 PM) Later in his conversation with Holmes/Hampton, he said he thought the likelihood of a Dye-Jenks deal with the Mets was not high. In fact, he questioned where the rumor even came from. Then he introduced a rumor of his own... said he wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox talking to St. Louis... offering minor league pitching prospects for Colby Rasmus. I had heard that St. Louis would be more likely to trade one of their guys who played at the MLB level last year to free up space for Rasmus

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 12:15 PM) Law is a very bitter man who takes out his resentment of his old boss (J.P. Riccardi) on every GM, and every farm system in baseball. Read Will Leitch's book "God Save the Fan" he does a chapter on "experts" his relates to a fantasy football expert, but it gets the point across Read this book! It's great and actually makes you not feel alone if you don't buy into the mainstream sports media and you will never be able to look at a woman in a leather jacket and not think of Chris Berman again

I'm still waiting for a few more moves from KW before I judge his offseason, it's hard to react to KWs individual moves. I'm a little worried about the 4th and 5th starters at this point, but we'll see. I've posted it before, but Javy, for a high payroll team like the White Sox, was a good luxury as a 4th or 5th starter. He's going to give you 200 innings every year which is nice. But we'll see, I have a gut feeling the Sox will make an suprise FA signing

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 11:55 PM) That's right, I do know very little about the years spent mashing the mush. I know the Red Sox value his opinions and statistical mashed potatoes quite highly, but I also believe they spend an assload of money through the draft, through the international free agent market, through free agency, and in their scouting and player development departments. And I don't think you need runs created or whatever to tell you that Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsukaza, Curt Schilling and all the other key cogs in their championships are or were very good players. Nor do you need that stat to tell you that Jed Lowrie, Clay Buccholz, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Michael Bowden, etc. either are or were very good prospects. In short, I attribute about 0.0000003% of the Red Sox successes to Bill James. Luckily for Red Sox fans Theo Epstein would probably disagree with you. A few things. One, often times it's easy to peg the superstar players in any sport, I don't discount the eye test. Two, the Twins obviously weren't overwhelmed by David Ortiz even though he was growing as a player every year and those whacky stats would have told you that. http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/ortizda01.shtml Taveras does not fit into any of the categories of players you listed, he's not a superstar and at best he would be a role player who sometimes you need to compare him with similar players, which stats help one to do. You seem like someone who also believes in "hard nose football" and "Bears Weather!!"

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 11:25 PM) Because you guys kept up with your s***. I thought you'd all quit, but then you didn't. I am almost done for tonight though, it's getting late. All I have to say is that I am going to laugh so f***ing hard if I wake up in the morning and turn on the radio and hear that the Sox have just acquired Willy Taveras. I'll laugh even harder if he has a good year and you guys can't enjoy it because you're all too butt-hurt by his low SLG%. What would you consider a good year? Hate to ask you to use those evil "stats", but "he ran fast" isn't what I'm looking for. (I'm going offensive wise here). Just so you know if the White Sox acquire him and he has a career year I will cheer him as loud as anyone on this board.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 11:21 PM) No, thank you, really I mean it. Now that I know how insightful it can be to take all those stats out of context, weight them arbitrarily, and then combine them into this ridiculous mush, I'll never have to look at what a player's strengths are in individual areas again. God bless the runs created stat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James This is the guy who created the stat. He has been in the Boston Red Sox front office for many years and uses these stats to help the Red Sox evaluate players. You cannot watch every single game played by every single base ball player. People smarter than me (and despite your blanket statement that people who don't like Taveras are "stupid", I am somewhat bright) have came up with formulas to help gauge a players performance. To call it ridiculous mush shows how little you know about the years spent in developing these stats

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 11:11 PM) Per Wikipedia: Technical version of runs created: RC = (H + BB - CS + HBP - GIDP) X [TB + (.26 X (BB - IBB + HBP)) + (.52 X (SH + SF SB)] / AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF HOLY s*** THE ANSWER TO THE UNIVERSE1!11!!!!1OMG1!!!!!! Thank God. I'll never have to watch another baseball game again. That's what I was waiting for... thanks...

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 11:05 PM) I understand that. But a leadoff hitter with a below average OBP, absolutely no power and no ability to drive in runs isn't the answer either. Like I said, if the price was low and Taveras was thought of as an eighth or ninth place hitter, I wouldn' mind him on the White Sox. Selling him as a leadoff hitter is a joke. I will agree with you on that, if the Sox give very little up for him and he bats 9th it isn't the end of the world, but not as leadoff.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 1, 2008 -> 10:58 PM) Your list is a joke. I just counted, and you've got 2 3B who aren't starters (Counsell, Castillo), 6 catchers, 9 SS, 3 CF, 2 2B, and 3 LF who aren't starters anymore (Payton, Pierre, Pods). Who would've thought that you'd come up with a bunch of players playing premium positions when you ranked according to OPS? Big surprise there... And yes, Taveras would make the Sox a better offensive team than what we have now because he adds an element to the game that we are missing. Which would be speed? Again, Swisher is slow, he had a higher RC/G than him and it includes base running which includes SBs!