Chisoxfn

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 16, 2008 -> 11:20 AM) If they are on an opponent's team that means they quit juicing, if they are on your team, they worked out, quit the junk food, and got in shape One difference, Giambi got lightyear, Masset worked off his fat and put on muscle (which would not be an indicator of cycling off). I for one am happy. The guy has a great build for a pitcher and pretty good stuff (not as great as we were expecting, but it is solid).

Ya, I can't say it was as I expected (in terms of direction) but I really enjoyed it and it has opened up for a whole boatload of new stories.

Congrats to all the winners!!!!

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 4, 2008 -> 05:11 PM) There are several clubs that dont go over slot. Definitely. However, when you look at the teams that are consistently contending in baseball and you look at there recent draft history, every single one of them is willing to go over slot money, especially in the later rounds. The Yanks, Red Sox, Angels (probably more so than any other team), Dodgers, Tigers have all on a regular basis taken fliers on guys later in the draft (in the Angels case, best example is Adenhart) and than given them over slot money (basically they were first couple round talents that slid and once you slide far enough teams assume you either are a lock to go to college or are just impossible to sign because you are still going to ask for early round money despite ending up going later and most teams won't man up). If the Sox really wanted to, they could easily add 2-3 top 4 round talent's in the later rounds by spending a whopping 1.2 M or so extra on the draft each year. Really thats a small price given the significance that if every two years, one of those 6 players panned out into something decent (which is relatively likely) you'd have a guy that would be a steal. Plus some of those players could easily allow you to get more major league talent (via trade). Hell, it is one thing if you have a very deep system and aren't going over slot money, but when your system is thin there is no better way to re-stock it than by having 1-2 (maybe even 3 drafts) where you throw a bigger budget out there and hord in extra talent (by going over slot a few times). What is the MLB really going to do, not a gosh darn thing (and really you aren't hurting things because these are all players that are going to get drafted early anyway and they are fully worth the money).

QUOTE(striker62704 @ Feb 10, 2008 -> 12:13 PM) I'm not a huge Blanton fan and Chavez is just as much of a risk as Crede. Plus getting rid of Fields, Floyd and Shelby would just make us older and more expensive. I still think Fields is a capable .270-.300 avg and 35hr 90rbi player so I don't want to get rid of him. I think Floyd is capable of matching Blanton's production too. So I'd have to pass. I'm probably one of Floyd's biggest fans on this board and even I highly doubt he will ever have the type of seasons Blanton has had in 2 of his first 3 MLB seasons (ie, sub 4 ERA's with over 200 innings of work in the AL). If Gavin Floyd were to post a sub 5 ERA this season with a good chunk of innings I'd be happy and there is no freaking way (unless Blanton is hurt) that Floyd can match Blanton's production, none. Chavez has been a down player but if the Sox could get Blanton by taking on Chavez contract it would be sheer genius for them (Field/Shelby/Floyd is a freaking small price to pay for that sort of stuff). The Sox would obviously have to shed some payroll and I would look directly at Crede/Uribe/Contreras as the spot where I'd dump contracts and I'd expect Broadway/Egbert to be the 5th starter behind Javy/Buehrle/Blanton/Danks. Hell, as much as Chavez is a risk, he's still a phenomenal defensive player who would be hitting 7th in any projected lineup and that is a pretty ridiculous 7th hitter (if he is heatlhy and I have no clue on his status, he also isn't what I'd consider "old" and Floyd isn't much younger than Blanton). With all that said, there is no way the A's would do the deal, but if it were possible, it would be the type of move that turns the Sox into a potential world series front-runner (they'd obviously still have some risks, specifically injuries, which all teams are susceptible to and of course the 4/5 spots in the rotation but if you make the playoffs you'd have a stellar lineup, especially if Chavez is healthy) and as good of a 1-3 as any other team (plus what I think is a deep pen). I better stop talking cause this type of deal would be ridiculously awesome. Note, Chavez is clearly not been that good the past two seasons, but for a 7 hitter, he'd be pretty damn solid.

QUOTE(Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 10, 2008 -> 11:39 AM) It sounds like Johnson is going to be more of a role player for them. They seem to be very excited about Barton and you can't mess around with Cust after what he did last year. Johnson will probably work at 1B and DH until he's traded. Crosby and Chavez would probably be gone already if the A's could dump them off on someone. I think Beane has also said that Brown and Buck will be everyday starters in the OF, so that probably opens up a Sweeney/Gonzalez battle for a third OF opening. It doesn't seem like Beane wants to just throw these guys into the fire right away and views both Gonzalez and Sweeney as needing more development. Of course anything can happen in ST. Anyway, I just can't see them getting a 3B that is ready now with Chavez still on the books through 2010 ($11mil in '08 and '09, $12mil in 2010 with a team option for 2011). It would be quite a feat if Beane could just dump that on somebody for nothing. Damn, that contract is horrible. Edit: I mentioned the Dodgers possibly taking on Chavez's salary as a means to justify the package for Blanton. That's a package even we could beat easily IMO. Would anyone do something like Chavez + Blanton for Fields, Floyd and Shelby? Crosby probably isn't the type of guy that you'd just want to dump. When he's healthy he's a pretty damn good shortstop whose yet to peak, imo. I highly doubt the A's are going to get rid of him. In terms of Blanton, he's definitely a guy I'd love to pickup (he's the best starter on the market by far and has only 3 years of service time).

QUOTE(beck72 @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 11:53 AM) Seems Boston is unable to trade Crisp now, with teams going younger. He'd likely come real cheap in terms of talent. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7764824...3162&ATT=49 While it makes no sense to put Crisp in CF now with Swisher being given a shot, I'm just not convinced Nick's set in CF. Kenny can talk all he wants about Nick being a "grinder", yet that won't make the OF defense of Quentin, Swisher and Dye even average. The only thing that would make sense is trading Paulie before he gets his 5 and 10 rights. And moving Nick to 1b. Crisp wouldn't even have to hit leadoff. Put Cabrera there, and Nick hit 2nd. I guess it would depend on what the sox could get for Paulie from the Angels. Yet if the sox were intent on trading PK to the angels, it would make more sense to get Figgins as part of the deal, and forget about Crisp. I just think if the sox were truly intent on improving their long term talent, without sacrificing their chances of winning this year or next, PK should be dealt for a reasonable package. I think the Sox offense is strong, but if they could deal Paulie and land a legitimate front line pitcher in return (or the prospects to get one, that is obviously much tougher now as Santana/Bedard are off the block and I don't know which pitcher that would be...Joe Blanton in a three team deal where some other team gets Konerko by giving up prospects to the A's which get the Sox Blanton). Than if you truly could get Crisp for peanuts you stick Crisp in center with Quenin in left. Of course the only way you make this sort of move is if you have a lot of faith in Quentin. I personally love Crisp (more than anyone on here does) and think he'd be a tremendous fit (he's a better player than his current value and he fills some needs in Chicago, specifcially some speed at the top and I think if he's healthy he'll put up a solid OBP and more importantly allow Cabrera to be in the 2 spot). Defensively he'd be above average in CF and Quentin would be a stud defensively in LF (he should play right but that won't happen). Joe Blanton comes in and makes the rotation a s***load better and if Kenny truly has as much faith in the youngsters as he seems to, he could always try to package Contreras elsewhere and still have room for Danks/Floyd as the 4/5's. Offensively you weaken your power, but you also have to remember how you've upgraded all over the place offensively and in the pen. You would probably hold on to Crede (or trade for a first baseman, since they wouldn't have an in-house option to replace him). I mean a lineup without Paulie still has Thome/Swisher/Dye who should be productive and than Crisp/Cabrera is nothing to cringe at in the 1/2 spots and AJ/Fields (or Crede) are all acceptable 6-7 hitters with Quentin and Uribe/Richar in the 9 spot. You are hurting Swishers value by playing him at first of course, but this allows you to play Quentin in the outfield (The Sox would also have the option of playing Crede at 3b and holding to increase his trade value with Fields playing 1B). A front of the rotation including Blanton/Buehrle/Vazquez would be nice and under contract and you'd have cheap options in Danks/Floyd in the back of the rotation (you could alwyas keep Jose if you wanted of course).

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Feb 9, 2008 -> 08:28 PM) Going into this year, I thought Purdue would get better as the season went on, make the tourney as an 8 or 9 seed, and be the favorites to win the league next year. While the last part is true (70 of the 72 points they scored tonight will be back on the roster next year), it's also clear that Matt Painter is one of the fastest rising coaches in the nation (and certainly the best coach in the league with SIU ties) and that Purdue might win the league this year. If they can defend their home turf Tuesday in a tough game against Michigan State, they will win out (sorry Ohio State, your not that good) with the exception of perhaps their trip to Indiana, and at least win a share of the Big 10. It's amazing the progress they have made. Oh, and Jimbo: Your still the best team I've seen this year, and yes you beat a tourney bound Baylor team by 10 tonight, but 90 points? 57 in a half? Letting them make 12 three pointers? Gonna have to work on that defense buddy, or else you'll lose in the Elite 8 again. UCLA says hi. They are the team to beat in the NCAA and they are straight up built for the tourney.

I was lucky enough to see the last VR show down in LA.

All I know is people better be watching this show because I want it picked up for a full season 3 (ie 20 some-odd episodes). It is such an awesome show.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 9, 2008 -> 03:07 PM) Same thing happened to me last Saturday. Except I wasn't playing ball, I was partying, and it was some girl who was like beating the s*** out of me (in some kind of playful, painful manner, I guess). I thought I had pink eye, but it cleared up pretty well the next day and it was all cleared up by Wednesday. Pink eye...so she was literally beating you with s***.

The Gasol deal was the biggest joke of an NBA deal in some time. There wasn't anything more than financial reasons for that move and to me that isn't what a trade should be. Teams should never be allowed to purely by players in a trade and the NBA should have gotten involved.

Oh god, just reading through this and I'm freaking starving.

I'm really sorry to hear that Jim. Thoughts are with you and yours.

These two episodes of the new season have been freaking amazing.

Invest it, although somewhere along the lines I'll probably spend it.

I'd say designer jeans. I have two to three pairs of seven's and than a pair or two of lucky's. Jeans are pretty much all I wear (aside from when I'm at work and am in my slacks and a dress shirt). That said I probably paid around 75 bucks for the Seven's and 40 for the Lucky's and have had most of them for a couple years now (my mom works in the clothing industry so I can get stuff for super cheap). They last long, hold a good color, and look good (throw on a dress shirt and you can pretty much go to any nice restaurant/bar/club). Funny thing is when it comes to my work slacks, I pretty much could give a s*** what brand they are (pretty much all of my work pants are dockers, aside from the couple suit slacks I have for when I have an important meeting and got to suit up).

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 12:55 PM) Yes. Yes they can. What is GERD?

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 08:16 PM) Who is confident though of having 2 out of the group of Contreras, Danks and Floyd winning more than 10-13 games and posting an ERA around the 4.50 mark? Because I think that'll be the ultimate difference maker for us this season. We know the pen should be improved and the offense will be better. If someone told me one of those guys would be a legit three, I'd say the Sox would be almost dead even with Cleveland and just a tad behind Detroit for the division. If they acquired a Bedard type pitcher without losing any key players from the current 25 man roster, I'd say they were even to potential front-runners. Bottom line, if the pitching shows up I think the Sox have a playing time. That is a big if, but it was also the big question in 2005 and low and behold the pitching showed up (in 05, we knew the club had guys that could throw innings, but a good chunk of them had been nothing but inconsistent most of there careers). Danks/Floyd have the stuff to be solid major leaguers while Contreras if he can refind his stuff (I'm hoping his back has gotten better with the Sox putting a major focus on him doing strenght training on that back) than things would be nice (plus I still am a huge fan of the two pitching prospects at the upper levels the Sox didn't trade).

I think they are contenders, but I have been on some coolaid as of late.

Superbowl party at a buddies....glorious HD, hot girls, a couple kegs and some football.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Feb 1, 2008 -> 12:30 PM) I actually think that is how the show is supposed to end. Not sure they will actually find it. But I'll bet they are trying to, and at some point may be close to doing so, and then we get a Soprano's-like ending and it just goes black. I think they are going to tell the story or try to draw out the story of what happened with the other survivors and that Jack and others are going to start to feel guilty about whatever happened and be drawn back to the island. I could be completely off base, but I see this season basically as a setup to lead to the oceanic six or some of the oceanic six trying to find the island (while I'm thinking you'll see island stories still go on with those who are still on the island). I also want to point out that Ben will not be part of the Oceanic Six (considering he wasn't on the flight).

So lets say I had my car running outside (while I was in the house to grab something) and some schmoe walked up and got in the car (nowhere did they have to force anything) and just drove off. Would that not be theft?

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 2, 2008 -> 10:47 PM) Minors, so that would never happen. Even if they are charged, it's off their record within the year. Hopefully the parents make their senior year miserable (no car, no prom, etc). That's the only punishment they'll understand. True...but isn't there some sort of juvy cell or something for kids? Either way, you are right, it is going to come down to the parents to give em hell and they clearly need some sort of lashing considering they are showing zero remorse what-so-ever.

I'm starting to fall for coach Lick at Iowa. The guy is getting guys that did s*** under Alford to actually do something. Hell, had they had Freeman all season they may have a few more wins. They are a horrid team (talent wise) yet they damn near beat Purdue and just beat Ohio State and continue to get better and better. A decent recruiting class is coming next season (with more shooters, which fits into his style) and if they can take advantage of that he may be able to turn Iowa into a respectable college bball program (one that consistently wins, which is something they have been in the past). In fact, in time they could even become more than that...but I'll go with baby steps and some hope of a potential NCAA tourney next year.