Chisoxfn

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 02:06 PM) I'm betting people who don't like pulp also dislike eating tomatoes....except for ketchup. I absolutely love tomatoes and almost all vegetables but can not stand any juice with pulp in it. Ewwww.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 02:39 PM) I think there are better ones than Sweeney. Carter for one, and maybe Miranda or Shelby for higher ceilings. And I know at 25 most wouldn't consider him a prospect anymore, but I think Bourgeois looks very close to major league ready, and he can play a lot of positions (not as high a ceiling as others, though). I guess it depends on how much you value readiness versus ceiling. But I'd bet Sweeney comes back healthy and stronger in 2008 at Charlotte and has a very good season. Sweeney, imo, has a higher ceiling of any of those guys you indicated with the possible exception of Carter (who has such massive power potential). Sweeney is a tremendous athlete (capable of playing all 3 outfield positions), with a strong arm. He has a very fluid swing that generates good bat speed. The one thing he really has to do is stay healthy (the wrist) and learn to drive the inside pitch. If he can do that everything works out for him. Basically put I think Sweeney is a #5 prospect (behind Carter whose #4). However, Poreda's 99MPH fastball alone may get him into the top 5 as well.

Gene, who do you have ahead of Egbert (with him at #5 or 6). I have DLS, Gio, Egbert in that order (although Gio is by far more of a sure thing at this stage so I think he's #1 on a lot of people's board...I just love DLS upside) The org has nothing in terms of position prospects, but my #4 spect would likely be Chris Carter or Lance Broadway

He seems to have a really good attitude and I know the pitchers down in the minors love throwing to him.

It appears that the Dodgers are willing to move Kemp as there are some concerns over his attitude. The guy is an extreme talent though and I would, at this point, make a Garland for Kemp deal straight up (don't know if the Dodgers bite or not). Kemp gives the Sox a CF of the present and future (he could also play RF) and than leaves the Sox with only one hole to fill, SS (maybe they could pull a bigger deal involving Garland/Others for Furcal/Kemp). I don't think they have the resources to get both, but I do think Kemp in CF would be a major coup, especially as it would mean they don't have to give out a huge contract to Hunter/Rowand/Jones.

QUOTE(knightni @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 11:16 AM) Who's DLS? The White Sox #1 prospect. Faustino De Los Santos (pitched in Kannapolis and Winston Salem this year and was also the Sox representative in the Futures Game).

Other competition appears to be Dontrell Willis(I would grade Willis in a similar spot as Garland, but he has a lot more hype, despite a lack of production as of late, so he would likely have a bit more valued than Jon and obviously more value than Jose): Willis is due 9M in arbitration which puts him in a relatively similar position as Garland (salary wise) although Dontrelle has one additional year left before he would become a UFA. He is also a bit younger than Jon (born in 82).

We all that there is a good chance that both Johan and Torri Hunter will be out of Minnesota at seasons end. Hunter will likely sign a FA contract elsewhere while the Twins will probably be forced to move Santana before he walks a year from now. Since Santana appears to be the one true elite pitcher on the market (and with the Sox potentially willing to move 1 or 2 of what I would consider the 3-10 best pitchers on the market) I figured it would be interesting to see what the early reports are in terms of value: This would be a strong initial offer as the Twins would be getting a stud position prospect who has already shown he can hit at the major league level (Kemp) and one of the 3-4 best left handed pitching prospects in all of baseball. I think it would take a bit more for the Dodgers to get them and I would hope that would be the case as this would definitely be the deal that sets the trade market (and Santana is clearly much much better than Garland/Contreras).

Wow...I've got through all of the new ones of the season and I actually think the show is even funnier. Danny Devito is just ridiculous. He gets hugged by someone who is coming back from Africa...Oh god he's trying to give me aids.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 02:58 PM) 1) Seriously people...are you THAT surprised that your accounts are overdrawn if you don't keep a check book, don't check your online banking, and never deposit money in your account? and NO, I won't refund your fees. 2) My bank requires us to do quartly training online which this HORRIBLE jeopardy game to test us...I want to kill Alex Trebek Well I never keep a check book, than again I never write checks (like 3 a year). Checks are so old fashioned. But I do check my online balance quite often.

I only played part of the first level (maybe played the game for 15 minutes) but the graphics are awesome. Haven't ventured into online play as my xbox live kept saying I needed to download an update and when I tried to download it it would say I couldn't connect to xbox live (even though when I ran my test connection it would connect fine and than again pop up and say download an update). I assume the server was just bogged down or something.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 05:47 AM) Way too late to work out a deal now, but I would hope next year every game is on local TV. I don't think its too late. The Angels a couple years back had no TV deal as Moreno was in the process of renegotiating with FoxSports and it went up to the deadline. The Clippers had something similar happen and they eventually agreed to a TV deal with KTLA 5 to do some of there games (CW). If Wirtz son wanted to, they could get a deal done, especially since Comcast is set up to be able to do games anyway (they do Sox and Cubs at the same time so they could easily do Hawks/Bulls).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) I'm not too familiar with the Denver offenses that Griese led in Denver, but I can't imagine the talent around Griese being anywhere NEAR as good as it was in Denver. He's got no wide receivers, his backs can't pickup blitzes, the line is getting old and has been very hit-or-miss (mostly miss). The only thing Griese has on offense is a decent group of TEs (IMO -- I'm pretty fond of the Olsen/Clark combo). Also, the reason Grossman sucked can be placed squarely on my shoulders. I bought his jersey immediately after he was drafted so Rex was doomed to fail. Sorry bud... Benson has actually done a very good job picking up the blitz this year. Peterson, on the other hand, has been atrocious picking up the blitz and its assinine that he has continued to play.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 02:45 PM) I'll root for the Bears to win no matter who their QB is. However, if Griese struggles, will it be the fans rooting for Orton to come in, or will they want Rex back? As 101 points out above, there are so many other issues with this team right now. Rex has been brutal so far, but guys like Moose, Tait, etc. have been equally worse. I hope the goal is to give Griese a couple starts, let him hold over, in an effort to get Rex back on track and move him back into the starters job. This team has to try to do everything in its power to get Rex to succeed because anything else would be a severe blow to both the current and long term future of the franchise.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 01:23 PM) lol. It's on PBS. It started Sunday, I think it goes through Thursday and then the second half starts next Sunday. Something like that. You mean the first half is a new piece Sun/Mon/Tue/Wed/Thurs and than the 2nd half will have a few pieces beginning on Sunday? Or are they replaying the first half every day until Sunday?

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) Great comment and on that note here is what they said in the chat about Salvador Sanchez. Warren from Texas asks: Use your crystal ball and Predict Salvador Sanchez' future five years from now. Thanks for the chat. A: Ben Badler: Well, I'm not some kind of sorcerer, so I can't look into a crystal ball, but I will say that the forecast for Sanchez has a fairly wide range of outcomes, everything from a talented big leaguer to a flameout. Maybe that seems like some kind of a cop out answer, but it's the truth. Some people who saw Sanchez thought he was one of the top prospects in the league because his combination of power and speed might be unmatched in the Pioneer League this year. He played mostly right field this year and has a plus arm, but he played some center field and would be more valuable there. His slash stats—.343.394.544—look nice on the surface, but his high on-base percentage was largely fueled by his .343 batting average, which I don't think is sustainable for a hitter who strikes out in 19 percent of his plate appearances at this level. The power is real, but his plate discipline has always been poor and it needs to improve. He was 21 years old this season, so he’ll have to give low A another try after not faring so well there in his first stint. Sanchez is definitely one of those high tools guys that lacks on major tool (pure baseball skill). Yes he has the ability to generate power (and projects to generate more), great speed, a strong arm, but he does not yet have great baseball skill or IQ (which I really think should be evaluated as a tool). That means he doesn't have the greatest strike zone judgement or the greatest swing (he has very good bat speed but even that doesn't make up for a swing that can get too loopy, although his greatest issue is definitely that of strike zone judgement). If he can overcome those IQ issues (some guys will eventually have a switch flip and just come on strong...heck look at how long it took Sammy Sosa (roids be damned, he still was a good talent and it took him a long time to finally have it switch) for his switch to truly flip) he truly could be a very strong all around player (above average defense, great speed on the paths, 20HR power, .300 AVG....basically everything). The thing is he has yet to show he has made enough strides in that area (hopefully his improved short season numbers are indications of him making strides though and we will see those carry over as he repeats full season ball somewhere next year).

The thing with GM is that unlike the other manufacuters, they are a very good company aside from the legacy issues. I realize you can't just ignore your legacy costs, but those costs are expected to be reduced greatly in the coming decade and when you factor that in with GM having really improved there vehicles (they build exceptoinal SUV's and Trucks and are on the verge, even if its a little late, of becoming big players in the hybrid market) I see them being a company that 10 years from now will be a success story (showing how they fought off a lot of various things and serious doubts to once again become a profitable company).

Its really on MTV? What days/time?

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) This is extremely disappointing. We didn't draft Poreda with the intention of developing him into the next Matt Thornton. If he doesn't develop several secondary pitches by next season, whether in Kannapolis or Winston Salem, then the criticism should be in full force. Also, SSI71 sent me this link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...rtnered=rss_cws Merkin addressed several issues discussed on this website concerning the upcoming draft. I find it funny how he mentions in the last paragraph about winning every game this point forward. Almost as if he's indirectly commenting on those of us who believe losing here on out is more beneficial to our future. I think the most interesting thing, and Cheat brought it up over at SouthSideSox as well, is that the Sox need to really focus on there top 10 guys and scout them like crazy. Money should not be an issue as all indications lead to the Sox signing a type A free agent which would cost them there 2nd round pick (meaning that while the 1st round pick will get at least 2M of a bonus, possibly more, they should be able to recoup some of that with them not having a 2nd rounder). However, I would like to see the Sox (regardless of what they give there 1st round pick) still go above slot money and give a 3rd rounder or a couple 10th rounders (who would be worthy of being 2nd or 3rd round picks) a share of the money that would have gone to the 2nd round pick in order to get more talent in here (I truly think this is where the Yanks/Red Sox/Angels have done so well as of late as it allows them to get more talents in with true upside and that means you have a better chance of pulling out a couple good players out of each draft).

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 12:17 PM) I agree that even the most optimistic of fans shouldn't overreact to having 6 guys on a list like this. Yes it's probably better than having no guys on the list but it's still a rookie ball level. That said, and this is just my opinion, some of those scouting reports were regurgitated from draft time and didn't take into account the growth of these guys this summer. Not that a whole bunch of progress is made in one summer but as an example, I listened to several of Ely's starts. Opposing announcers were raving about how he moved in and out and up and down. Oh well. And I will admit I'm probably biased because I enjoyed that team so much this summer and obviously I want the Sox prospects to do well. Regarding Moreno. Yes he is def. a guy to watch. 90 innings pitched in the Pioneer League, only 4 HR's given up and only 11 walks. That's quite good. His biggest attribute appears to be pounding the strike zone and knowing how to pitch. Ely is the type of guy I want to really keep an eye on as he moves up. He's the type of guy that doesn't have extreme upside, yet if he can continue to pitch succesfully it would indicate he has enough stuff to go along with his intangibles (have the command and smarts to work the zone). I recall hearing he has pretty good movement on his pitches too which is a major positive. Same can be sade for Moreno. Stuff guys can struggle at the lower levels, especially if they are still raw, where as a much more mature control/command pitcher can dominate the lower levels and than blow up at the higher levels (if his stuff just isn't very good) or it could continue on (indicating he has major league stuff, just no plus pitches and there are plenty of good major league pitchers that lack any true "plus pitch as "command" could be considered there plus attribute).

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 11:55 AM) Do you have to post everything in a smart-ass tone. The guy was called the most dominant pick of the draft. He obviously performed well. Why do you have to take everything to the extreme? That comment about a fastball that hard is ludicrious. People throw that hard at the collegiate level and most of the guys in Pioneer league tend to be college players are more veteran minor leaguers. I'm not saying every team has numerous guys that throw so hard, but bottom line, Poreda isn't the first guy they've ever faced with a 95MPH+ fastball. He obviously showed good command for a power pitcher and made some strides with his secondary pitches since no matter how good you are, if all you can throw is a fastball (especially if you are a starter) than you aren't going to succeed (whether its Low A, AA, or the Majors). And Rock, don't ask me why Pratt is always so extreme. The whole point of talking prospects is you basically discuss a players upside as well as the potential for them to reach that upside (some players have superb upside but the odds of them making it are very very slim due to mechanical flaws...see Collaro/Borchard/Brian Anderson or on the pitching end Andrew Sisco). While other guys may not have as great of upside but a greater chance of having sustained major league success or serviceable careers (think Aaron Rowand; Aaron Miles; Charles Haeger; Jerry Owens; Lance Broadway). Than of course you have the high upside guys that laso look to have a great chance of major league success (this is a rare breed....Mark Prior/Stephen Drew/Mark Texiera/Matt Wieters (best catching prospect since Mauer and as sure of a thing as there is in terms of catching prospects, imo); Pedro Alvarez (typically highly touted, for the most part collegiate players that are high high draft picks). Weaknesses typically factor in on what the player needs to correct to reach his upside (and these can be mechanical weaknesses which could potentially be corrected or physical weaknesses which usually can't be).

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 09:24 AM) Is it also worth noting that many of those Japanese cars that are made in America are not made here because of any actual price or efficiency reasons, but are in fact made here because of laws enacted during the wonderfully pro-capitalist Reagan years which required the Japanese auto manufacturers to open plants here in order to be allowed into the U.S. market. Once companies meet those requirements, they tend to move factories outside of this country. My favorite example of course is still Toyota's decision they made a few years ago to put a new plant in Canada, when they had it narrowed down to specifically canada and the U.S. as final choices, and picked Canada citing almost exclusively the lower costs to Toyota due to Canada's national health care system. Or in the case of the Pilot the car is pretty much exclusively made for the US/North American markets so it makes sense to have the product produced in those markets to cut down the shipping costs. Than again, GM seems to do just fine shipping many of their vehicles to Mexico where it is eventually assembled. I know my Pilot is more made in a America than many GM products.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 07:42 AM) Whoa - did I type "not" made in America? I meant ARE made in America. Sorry. No idea why I typed it that way. I think you meant to say they are "NOW" made in America

QUOTE(NUKE @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 07:32 AM) Actually, a large number of foregin cars ARE made in America, while an increasing number of "American" cars are made in Canada or Mexico. The lines of "buy American" are very blurry these days. My Honda Pilot is made in the USA and I'm proud of that.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 07:09 AM) Let's be clear - people might "buy American" if American car companies made cars that were at least as good as their Japanese counterparts. Unfortunately, they do not. There are a lot of Japanese counterparts that are more expensive: For example Toyota 4Runner, while a great car, is a lot more money than a Ford Explorer or Chevy Tahoe (especially after you factor in the heavy discount you get when buying the American Car) Toyota Tundra is a great truck but it is also a lot more expensive than the Dodge Ram, Ford F150, and Chevy Silverado (comparing apples to apples as you have a lot of wiggle room on the american branded trucks). Hell, I would never buy a Toyota as I think Honda is superior to Toyota (although Honda does not have as many models as Toyota).