SoxFan562004

Juan Pierre has been consistently healthier over his career and he's younger... to me, at the end of the year they'll end up with roughly their career numbers and be about a push (Pod's career RC/G 4.7, Juan's 4.8), also I think Pierre is a slightly better defender, both have terrible arms, but Juan seems to take far better paths to balls. The Sox had interest in keeping Pods, he wanted a multi-year deal from them and the Sox were able to get Pierre with a chunk of his salary paid... Honestly, I don't care how the KC fans feel about him or if they smile when his name is mentioned, that has very little to no value on whether he belongs on the White Sox or not. I'm not a huge fan of either, I think they overall will shake out about the same, with Juan being better on the base-paths and on D and Pods giving a little more pop. Also, baserunning is a big part of Pods game and he's kind of bad at it, I don't think that that aspect of his game should be undervalued.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 14, 2010 -> 02:44 PM) I could see them just cutting bait or trading him for a bag of balls while paying 90% of his contract. They have a ton of money. I don't think it's as much as many people think, they have a ton of money tied up in bad contracts, the Rickett's had to scramble for money to finalize the deal (remember the story when they were asking local celebrities to pitch in?) and they have Wrigley, which makes money, but is also a lot to keep up. FWIW, Terry Boers, who has been around awhile, reported his sources saying the Cubs won't be opening their checkbooks for big time FAs for a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying, nor was Boers saying, that the Cubs are going to be a mid payroll team, they'll continue to be up there, but I think some Cubs fans thought with the Ricketts they would jump up to another level, it doesn't seem that will happen right away

the most ridiculous one I've seen, not racist, just gross, was around Wrigley with a Cardinal pointing to its rectum and something like "St. Louis takes it in the Poo-Holes"... just don't see where you could wear that one

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 10:21 AM) The G was sporting a new slide-step during ST. hopefully it is effective... but the stolen bases last night late (were they against Jenks?) AJ had no chance

I'm not saying AJ has a rocket for an arm, but many of the pitchers give him zero chance

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 08:00 PM) I am not watching a second of it, because I am sick of the Tiger coverage. I fully agree that the coverage was ridiculous and got very silly, don't get me wrong, I think cheaters are scum and Tiger came off as a dude who is basically a repressed teenager, but every report I heard was the women were consenting and of age, so basically I didn't care... however, he is one of if not the most dominating athletes of my lifetime and I am really curious to see how he comes back. Although I am going to Las Vegas this afternoon for the weekend, so the Masters will be on my back burner!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 07:18 AM) I think the story goes that he broke his right arm in high school, so he went out back to his barn and just started throwing with his left arm over and over until he got it right. yeah, and he never did anything else left handed, I think I heard him say other than throwing a baseball he is/was really uncoordinated with his left arm

yeah, I'm OK with him off the bench or when he plays in the field hitting 8th or 9th, but 5th and starting DH is mind boggling...

To add fuel to the show formerly called "Cold Pizza" today they had a MLB "expert" on discussing Jake Peavy and how he's healthy this year and ready to go, but then she said when he pitched for the White Sox last year it was "mixed results." OK, it was only 3 starts, but he was excellent in all 3 of those starts, it wasn't mixed... I actually like PTI, but other than that I have zero use for the other shows, all though Sportsnation has actually done some OK segments and the female is cute and I usually check it out to see how she is looking. One thing that is comedy is once in awhile Rome will do a rant on soccer and those are hysterical. They do broadcast an hour of the Scott Van Pelt show in the afternoon and I do enjoy that as well

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 01:41 PM) You guys make it seem like Quentin is made out of glass. He really is a player I analyze every move he makes, especially after sliding or something like that, his track record worries me a little.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 01:32 PM) Kotsay hitting 5th again. Ugh I really hope Ozzie does not become stubborn with this, and don't get me wrong, I realize this is WAY to early for me to be in a panic or anything over this, but I just remember him rolling out Mackoviak (I know that's a poor attempt at spelling Rob's last name!) to CF over and over when it was obvious he had no business playing CF. Again, it's only the 2nd game and I haven't seen personal splits of the players. EDIT: OK, saw the small sample size splits Thunderbolt posted, makes sense to have Kotsay in there I guess, but I agree, not in the 5 spot... hopefully Rios has a good year and they can slot him in there.

QUOTE (SteveB23 @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 01:56 PM) Regardless of what happens with Choo, the Indian for whom we should be monitoring is Grady Sizemore. If/when Cleveland falls out of contention, they will look to unload salary. He's the guy I'd LOVE to see batting leadoff for us (moving Pierre to #9 where he belongs.). also have to monitor how he bounces back from his injuries this year. He is obviously extremely talented and young enough, but it's not a given that he'll come back full guns this year

shocking Simmons gets on board with something then acts like he's an expert

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 10:15 AM) Super foggy, but I'm not sure if it will rain heavily. All forecasts say rain : { http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/36728:20# yeah, but at least weather.com has it down to a 30% chance of rain by game time. Hopefully if they do cancel it they cancel it early so people don't truck down there and pop for the $23 of parking

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 10:10 AM) This has been doing for a few years. I never seem to be able to pull the trigger on getting it. With MLB Network though, there are plenty of options each day without the package. exact same thing as me, I was actually going to break down and buy it last year but waited until the season started, saw how awesome MLBN nighttime coverage was and didn't get it... however if I didn't live in Chicago I would get it in a second. also, on Comcast we also get the NHL package for free for the week too

I have listened to the Ricky Gervais podcast off and on for a number of years and enjoyed it, but the animated show on HBO has brought it to another level, it is hysterical

hope they get this game in, I am so happy baseball is back! I am interested to see Carmona too, have heard that he really has bounced back in spring, let's see if that begins to transfer to the regular season

QUOTE (The Critic @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 08:14 PM) Otunga has a lisp, too? Swagger and Otunga = Dueling Sylvesters. nothing holds a candle to the lisp Severn had/has

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 05:16 PM) It really is a great feeling. Pitch a shut out on opening day and be able to come back with Jake Peavy. I think it's amazing to think that they open the season with a 3 game series and still get to have Danks open against the Twins

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 09:12 PM) Juan Uribe's catch in game 4 was pretty damn good as well even with the 3 game cushion in the series. I agree, 3 game cushion or not, if we're going with situation being involved, Uribe's play is tops for me

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 05:27 PM) I think the way it was structured, it had a pretty small signing bonus, but a huge dollar amount if he stayed with their org, so that he'd be strongly rewarded for not ditching the Cubs after 2 seasons to try out for the NFL. ah, OK, that would make more sense, but I didn't put common sense in there because it was the Cubs org that signed him... I just remember seeing it up in the top 5 of draft deals when Strasburgh (sp?) signed this year

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 05:21 PM) How long does that initial $10 million contract require him to stay in their org? I'm not sure, but I thought a large chunk of that was a one time up front signing bonus, so I think he got a lot of it already. He flat out sucks, he has no control and doesn't even have outstanding movement when he can locate... guess it pays to have long hair and come from Notre Dame!

Awesome game, very solid effort, hope to see a lot of that all year!! I think as a fan I'm allowed one knee jerk complaint on a day like this, Kotsay batting 5th should end quickly

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 02:11 AM) They mentioned that numerous times. only saw the end where Miller was shocked that the score was so high specifically pointing out that CC was starting for the NYY

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 11:38 PM) That was nothing compared to Gardner's throw. haha, yeah, that thing was flat out terrible, didn't seem very strong and was nowhere near a cut off man, 3rd base or home-plate.