Chisoxfn

Tremendous piece Greg. You really have a talent when it comes to writing. That was just a very entertaining article that brought me back to just how much I love the game of baseball. That also sounds like one hell of an experience (getting to play catch with Black-Jack).

Pickle was a classic game. I used to PWN NOOBs at that all day long.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 11, 2008 -> 05:05 AM) Really? Hart: .292/.332/.510, 47 R, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 13 SB Rowand: .296/.362/.453, 40 R, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 1 SB Burrell: .279/.412/.581, 48 R, 22 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB Theres no doubt in my mind Wright should have been the guy and Lee has been better too, but Rowands numbers dont even compare, and although Burrell has more homers, Hart has the base-running versatility so those two guys are close. Burrell has 22 HR's and a .412 OBP, there is absolutely no way Hart should be in over him. Rowands numbers are comparable (higher OBP and a far better defensive player, although less pop). Pat Burrell was a bigger snub than JD, imo.

This is going to be a great test for Gavin.

The weak $ may be the #1 reason the price of oil is so high right now (from the US perspective).

Ya, they have to have game counsel. In fact for some reason I always thought Wii fit came with the system (but I'm probably wrong).

We used to play "over the line" with whiffle ball as well, which was always great. Anyone play the game "Butts Up". That was a classic.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 11, 2008 -> 08:23 AM) Did you guys ever play football in the street or a yard, and when you kick off (or throw off) you yell "warning, no false in, no no takes!" or something like that? Or was it just my neighborhood? We always yelled "Warning".

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) Almost flashlight tag-ish there. Which was also a good game. I have fond memories off being at a full sprint down the sidewalk at night ready to kick the s*** out of the can to set everyone free. We mustve had 20-30 neighborhood kids playing every night. Our parents loved it. We were safe on the block, we came home tired, and we got exercise. Such a great game. Kick the Can was great too!!!! Still, nothing topped a good game of Capture the Flag (especially when you had a big area to hide the flag).

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 02:49 PM) No. By knife, you mean spoon!!!!

QUOTE (robin23 @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 03:21 PM) The current stadium i believe was designed so that if Charlotte could lure a MLB team the current stadium could be expanded to be capable of housing an mlb team. Yep. Its in a unique area and there is tons of room to add stuff. There is a lake behind the stadium (which is not visible during games as trees block it) but the lake causes for some very odd weather and the Knights stadium just gets barraged with rain delays throughout the summer (or at least it sure as heck did the couple different times I was out there).

I loved the current facility they have, although it is older. The Knights have been trying for a couple years to get a downtown stadium. The goal is that the stadium would be home to the Knights as well as potentially ACC Championship Baseball.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 12:42 PM) I thought Milton Bradley was his replacement? I didn't know if that meant he was his replacement in the starting lineup or on the actual roster.

I would be all about moving Contreras in the right deal and acquiring Joe Blanton. Blanton is having a down season, but has a good arm and would be a nice middle of the rotation starter who should remain relatively affordable for the next couple of years. IF you trade for him, you still have two full seasons of him until he becomes an un-restricted free agent. This puts you in a prime spot to acquire him and work out a 3 to 4 year extension (buying out his final two years of arbitration and pushing off the time until he becomes a UFA). It should be noted that one major risk is that his numbers would likely increase in a move away from Oakland (which is a pitchers haven). Another concern is how much this seasons struggles are due to him throwing 230 innings last year. I would not give up top value to get him either (ie, top or premiere prospects in the organization; Josh Fields/Lance Broadway's, sure, but not Poreda). I'm also not saying he's an ace, rather the type of guy you can pencil in for 200 innings and a league average ERA (under good coaching I think he does better). Whether Beane does that, I don't know and I'm not saying Fields/Broadway is enough to get a deal done. Rather stating that he's a guy that I'd acquire if you could get him for a fair value. I think he's a better pitcher than his career statistics would indicate; statistics indicate he's basically a league average pitcher). I also know last year Beane was asking an arm and a leg for Blanton (and should have sold him than cause his value on the open market right now isn't near what it was last season).

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 12:44 PM) I don't think either team is that good yet but scare me. There ya go. The one thing that scares me is Floyd/Danks wearing done and Contreras continue slide back into his 2007 form (which was downright NASTY and I mean that in as bad of a way as possible).

Screw it...just keep winning White Sox. White Sox keep winning and I don't care what the hell any other team does in baseball

LETS GET DYE IN Note: I still think he'll get in as a replacement for Ortiz (or have they already announced Ortiz's replacement).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 12:21 PM) He was such a leader for Boston, they made no attempt to keep him. They spent their money on his arch enemy, Renteria, instead. The White Sox also used to say nice things about their players until they were gone. Carlos Lee was a good LF until he was traded away. Then it was he was horrible but we had to say he was good. Its pretty apparent, the White Sox roster isn't very enamoured with Cabrera and vice versa. I don't think he did anything wrong yesterday, the steal made a lot of sense, but he's just not well-liked, and I don't think he particularly likes playing for the White Sox. Isn't Swish/OC joking around after homers at least some indication that someone gets along with OC. If he didn't have any friends or get along with anyone in the clubhouse he wouldn't be taking part in those celebrations, imo. The thing is he's very quirky and can come off as over the top and I think Dye is one of those guys that is more quiet/laid back (in general I think the Sox probably have a pretty laid back clubhouse with few exceptions, ie Swisher and AJ to an extent) and that doesn't always mesh well with a quirky jokester (which is what I remember hearing the angels announcers describe him as many a time).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 12:09 PM) I will agree, Cowley is a dope, but I really don't think OC is as well-liked as you think. I know for a fact that he was/is loved in Anaheim. However, they have a different clubhouse. But he may have gotten overly comfortable with what was the norm there and it may be different in Chicago which leads him to rub people the wrong way. That said, his on the field performance since May has been fabulous and I'd have zero problem if the Sox signed him in the off-season. I just love the way he plays the game.

Easily one of my all time favorite things to play as a kid. Hell, I can't wait to have kids cause you can bet your ass I'll be playing it with them. What a bunch of malarky...let the kids have fun, let them have fun. Man, I'm so glad I was able to do stuff like that (well not quite like this) but in terms of going out, having fun outdoors and getting a little dirty.

Did you know: Player traded for himself 1962 In April, the Mets traded catcher Harry Chiti to the Indians for a player to be named later. On June 15, the Mets received the PTBNL, who turned out to be Chiti, making Chiti the first player to be traded for himself (in 1987, in the same sort of scenario, Cubs pitcher Dickie Noles was also traded for himself).

I looked up Buckholz and I was wrong. He's got 2 decisions this year. Still, I'm thinking its the type of player that threw a completely random no-hitter, as opposed to the kind of guy that threw a no-hitter and than got hurt.

I'm going to guess Clay Buckholtz (I know the BoSox sent him back down shortly after and I'm not sure if he's won a game since than).

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 12:55 PM) I'm not really sure, maybe I'm wrong. I thought that Seattle did that with Rashard Lewis last year though so he could get more money. Was he a restricted free agent? I didn't think so. Maybe it no longer applies once they hit the open market and is only good when signing an extension, or maybe the option years throw the whole thing off. Here's a bit of info:

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jul 10, 2008 -> 08:36 AM) White Sox are 33-17 (.660) Rays are 32-18 (.640) Red Sox are 30-20 (.600) Angels are 30-20 (.600) Tigers are 30-20 (.600) Yankees are 29-21 (.580) Twins are 29-21 (.580) Cubs are 30-20 (.600) Brewers are 30-20 (.600) As much as it seems like all of the above teams have been red hot and playing better, we've been the hottest team in either league over the last 50 games. The Rangers would probably find themselves on that list. They are 11 over .500 since May 1st (so not quite the same sample).