Chisoxfn

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 04:31 PM) I think people sort of underestimate how expensive it is to live as a ballplayer. You have to order out a lot, buy dinner/suits/drinks for rookies. You likely have multiple residences due to ST, where you play, and where you live in the offseason. Every time you go to a bar, a hotel, or a restaurant you have to tip generously or you risk being in the newspapers for not tipping well (Pippen, etc.). Lastly, its not like you can wear a Men's Warehouse Suit off the rack unless you want to be belittled by your teammates. I'm not trying to say that you should feel sorry for these guys or anything or that millions of dollars isn't a lot of money but there are a lot of costs that are sort of hidden. That is not to mention an agents take. Haven't you noticed that fans will say that a guy has 100 million dollars because that is his contract? After income taxes, agent cuts, etc that figure is pretty misleading when you think about it. Just a few points to ponder Remember, every player is given a pretty good stipent when they are on the road for food expenses and other travel stuff. Its like when a company sends you on the road (well at least thats what the company I work for does) where you get perdiem and in the case of major league players, IIRC its like 200 bucks a day (its a pretty good amount, I remember that).

Unless Marte can be moved in a deal to help land the Sox a DH, I would not trade him. He's signed to an affordable deal and still has an awesome arm. I think he'll be just fine next year and has worked through his issues this year. Sometimes the best option is in-house and in this situation Marte is still every bit as capable of being the best left handed reliever out there. Therefor, unless he has value and can help (in a package with others) land the club a big time bat I wouldn't make a move with him. Especially since the only other replacement via FA is going to cost 4-5 million a year (and that money could be better spent). Scott Eyre is not better than Damaso Marte, yet he'd get possibly twice as much money.

Good Riddance

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 03:29 PM) LC's is an architect and designed almost all the holywood big wigs homes out there. He designed Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's house and that's how he got introduced to producers and directors, etc.. which led to the show. Jessica's family is supposedly the "poorest". Jason, do you know anything about that KC girl (blond, kinda slutty, talks with a squeak)..? Rumor is that her father made his $$ in the adult entertainment business.. Not a clue. Only reason I know anything is because my buddy used to work at the same surf shop that Stephen worked. Went to one shin dig where they were at and like I told you Stephen came off as a pretty chill nice person, but Kristen was all b****o (good looking, but not near as hot as she looks on TV). I know one thing, KC's family is loaded cause there house is the nicest next to Jason and LC's (LC's is freaking awesome, but Jason's grandpa's is probably worth 10-15 million). Thats the only reason I know they kind of react and dramatize up stuff that already happened. But its not like the stuff doesn't happen. I find it funny and entertaining as hell.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 03:23 PM) His dad is a real estate developer, right..? And I know he owns all kinds of exotic cars. Supposedly his father and Jay Leno are friends and ride their Harley's together. LC's family aint too bad off.. Ya, LC's family is very wealthy. But quite a few of those people aren't all that wealthy (They aren't poor either) but I'm sure they all make a good amount on the tv show. I think both LC's dad and Jason's dad are each involved in real estate. Not positive on Lc's dad. Jason's dad kind of took over his grandfathers business or at least thats what my dad mentioned (I think he used to be a big time developer and than kind of stepped down and now they don't do much but have tons of money from it).

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 02:57 PM) Some teenage club on 75th Street, I've never been there but a few people that have say it's a dump. If its the same as the 18 and older clubs in my area. You have a few high school girls and than a bunch of 35 and 40 year old men there as well. Its kind of creepy. I went one time when I was 18, never went back.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 02:47 PM) From what I heard, he isn't anything major as a pitcher. A career minor-leaguer at best if he decides to play baseball. And yeah, I heard that they guide them more so than stop taping and telling them to re-enact stuff. The reasoning is that the first time you show emotion is the best footage to catch because it's natural. Basically they do what they do on the Real World which is push their feelings. He can do whatever he wants though. His family is the most loaded on that show supposedly.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 11:06 AM) My office just had a discussion about this, lol. My coworker told me that all of the kids from the original show were 21 when it occured, and that it all has been scripted from the start. I have no proof, she could have been talking outta her ass for all I know. But I thought that it might be scripted when those kids went to Spring Break and were drinking like fools throughout the whole episode. I wouldnt think MTV would want to put themselves into a position in which they were showing off underage kids drinking themselves into oblivion. Not true. It is scripted a bit and overly dramatized though.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Nov 15, 2005 -> 01:04 PM) The really good ones play somewhat shallow though. Hunter plays a pretty shallow CF, and if I remember correctly, A Jones, and B Williams at their prime played VERY shallow. Isn't it the opposite, the really good ones play deep because they can come in on the ball so well. IIRC Andruw Jones plays one of the deeper CF's in the game (I may be totally off) but I swear I remember a few people I knew involved in baseball telling me exactly this. Most of the time they play center, but in Andruw Jones case he's probably the best player to ever play the game when it comes to coming in on the ball and he's able to get to so many balls so he plays a little deeper and can cover an insane amount of ground. I could be totally off.

I'm going to move this thread to the SL&P board. However try googling Yo Ho Yo Ho

Quick question. I'm not gonna be at my house with the NBA package tonight (gonna be at my moms instead) and she gets NBA TV and I saw the Bulls game is slated to be on there. Anyone know if I'll be able to get the game or will it be blacked out. I assume I'll be able to get the game, but just was gonna check and see for sure.

QUOTE(Soxpranos @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 03:43 PM) You hit it on the head. He does have more range and a better arm. He doesn't need to play real deep like Aaron does. Aaron is still the better defensive outfielder though. Why you ask, because he also has very good range, but he also gets awesome jumps (which is the most important thing for a CFer).

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 12:46 PM) A-rod deserved it more. I hate him and Ortiz, but he deserved it more. Arod >>> Ortiz. Lets not forget that Arod plays gold glove defense (even if he didn't win the award).

Khabi gave up some cheapiest against the Kings but must of played better against Edmonton. I was at the Ducks/Stars game last night and man do the Stars know how to move the puck and set up there offense. It was a thing of beauty to watch compared to the Hawks.

I got nothing but respect for Arod. I'm not the type of person that will hate a player for signing a contract that owners gave them. You can hate or knock your owner for offering the deal, but Arod and the players do nothing wrong. Why shouldn't they sign the highest contract out there (that fits there needs as well, such as location and other factors). We do the same in the real world. Just because they are doing it in a large scale (the $ amounts) doesn't mean its any different.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 02:34 PM) I think any Beane fan that tells you that he only looks at stats, and totally avoids tools, is a fool. Thats why he's the best of the sabermatric type GM's. Because he actually is willing to role with the punches. Everyone talks about him loving OBP, he didn't fall in love with OBP, he noticed that guys with high OBP's and OPS were not in demand at the time and he could get guys like Matt Stairs and company at a discount (people were paying a premium for other things). More recently there has been a shift in that trend and now OBP and OPS are becoming a premium and speed has been the bargain. Ken Williams jumped all over that this past off-season (well it wasn't just speed) but took advantage of it in a sense. You'll notice more teams factor speed and defense into the category. The same can be applied to the draft. Everyone mentioned Beane's love of college draft picks. He loved them because for a long time people were over-drafting high school players, which meant the college crop was deeper and one where you could get a better player with your pick. More recently thats tended to change a bit (or at least even out) and you'll notice Beane disciples (and Beane as well, but mainly Depodesta) go out and actually take a large amount of high school guys (other people caught onto the college thing and went heavy with that, leaving high school guys a better pick).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 02:34 PM) Jason -- It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, either, about Shea playing so neutral this year. Your theory/logic certainly makes sense. W/r/t Thomas, I'm not saying he's going to play again. But I think Piazza is going to ask for more guaranteed money than Frank will (maybe I'm wrong on that), and I think I'd rather have Frank on an incentive laden deal than Piazza with guaranteed cash. I'm sure some team will overpay for Piazza's services... Jackie -- I dunno, that may come to fruition, and maybe he just needs the 'days off' as a DH. But he hasn't been a really good hitter since 2003. Even if he does hit relatively well, I don't think it'll be much better than a .270/.350/.475 line. Don't get me wrong, that's an okay line -- I just think we can do a little better than that. Heck, if they're going to go on a route like that -- I'd much rather they go for Durazo. I think he'd come cheaper than Piazza (and Thomas for that matter), yet could still put up good numbers (provided, of course, he can bounce back from the TJ surgery). I think any Beane fan that tells you that he only looks at stats, and totally avoids tools, is a fool. My problem with Durazo is that he's plain and simple a Dh and unless your one heck of a hitter I'm not a fan of those type of DH's. That said if later on in the FA process he's sitting without a job, he could turn into a good option. Sometimes certain guys end up becoming great values because they just don't fit anywhere. This happened with Brad Fullmer back when he was with Anaheim (I'm talking a few years ago) and even Jose Guillen (who slipped through the cracks and signed a really reasonable deal). If Thomas was healthy I'd sign him, but right now I wouldn't and obviously (which I think has been mentioned a few times) you can't go with Frank and Durazo because that gives Guillen (a guy who loves depth) no options and would mean the Sox would have to carry less pitching (something he doesn't want to do).

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 01:13 PM) Schedule around...? And who's going this year? I'll be there as usual. Don't think the schedule is out yet, but I always assume about March 1st till the 26 or 27th.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 02:20 PM) If everyone thinks North sucks then how the hell is he on the radio? Who listens to this guy. That is all I want to know. WHO LISTENS TO HIM? People do, people listen to Rome too. I can't stand either of them.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 02:11 PM) Wite, Jason -- I'm not buying the 'he played in Shea Stadium so his numbers are a little skewed' argument. First, bbr had Shea playing just below neutral (or, just a tiny bit as a pitcher's park) this year. If Shea Stadium was really taking away a bunch of homers from Piazza, he'd have a lot of doubles: he doesn't -- he had 23. With 19 homers. Next -- OPS+ accounts for that (park factors), and he still wasn't a very good hitter -- .251/.326/.452 is not the line you need out of a DH. Piazza, simply put, isn't a good option. At least with a healthy Thomas, you know you're going to get good production. The same can't be said (anymore) about Piazza. Why do you all just assume Frank is going to play again. There is no guarantee that he's gonna be back. Franks injury is VERY VERY serious and it has been re-occuring. Also, I don't need to look at stats to know that Shea is a pitchers park. The dimensions are spacious and the ball doesn't carry well there. They happened to have quite a few power hitters and there pitcher (namely the pen) tend to give up HR's. Sometimes the type of team you have plays into those stats. For example if a team had 6 or 7 30 HR guys and went to play in Dodger stadium you may get the stats to show up and say they were playing in a neutral stadium to maybe even a hitters stadium (especially if there team gave up a gazillion Hr's). We all know I'm not a big guy on stats. I look about 20% stats, 50% talent and about 30% into the salary (cause that is a definate factor, in fact it may be an even higher factor). I just don't think looking solely at stats does it. Hell I'm convinced that despite what all the Beane lovers say, they need to notice he does look at tools. If he didn't he'd of gotten some AAA stiffs that put up sick numbers in trades as opposed to the Dan Haren's of the world.

Abreu would be an awesome pickup. However, the Phils aren't going to just give him up. But if you could get a 3rd team to enter into the equation with Rowand, Marte and a good to very good prospect or two going to a 3rd team (which will in turn send the Phils one more piece they want) than I think you could get something to meshe. In fact, I think you could maybe turn a Rowand, Marte, Duque and good prospect or two (in a 3 team deal) for Abreu and a different left handed reliever (or something else that could help the Sox). Financially giving Duque in the deal will help the Sox take on some of Abreu's contract. The only thing is I really don't want to see Pods take over CF. The main problem is I don't see the Phils dealing Abreu, but if they can't unload Thome, than this could be their only option.

Offensively: 20-30 HR power (I think it will be more on the low end than the high) .260-.300 AVG (I think in the beginning it may not even be .260, but I do believe he'll turn into a .280ish hitter) 100 Plus strikeouts (early on we may see 130 or so) Defensively Strong, Accurate Arm Great Range Fluid Runner Baserunning Good speed (He'd be the 2nd fastest everyday player in the lineup this side of Pods) Could turn into a 15-20 stolen base guy The guy is a very good all around athlete and I'd say he has the ability to turn himself into a Torri Hunter type player. He doesn't have the pretty swing or the best eye, therefor I have a hard time seeing him ever turn into a great hitter. That said he has all the tools to be a plus defensive outfielder and should be a good hitter (a solid hitter with some pop). However, all that said, I don't think he's ready for a starting position and I would prefer to see him playing everyday in Charlotte for another few months. If he were to break camp with the Sox I'd like to see him play in a super sub role, ocassionally DH'ing, but giving Aaron, Scotty and Jermaine each time off (which should get him maybe 3 starts a week, possibly 4 considering how Ozzie likes giving guys rest). This should give him plenty of at bats to the point where he will be able to learn and make adjustments and be ready for a starting job in 2007 and if someone were to go down, he'd be ready to fill in this upcoming season.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 02:08 PM) Uhhh.. you don't recall meeting him at Jimbo's...?? Thats why I said he was a nice guy

QUOTE(FGarcia34 @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 12:14 PM) On Rotoworld there is an article about possible trades and here were the ones involving the White Sox: Lyle Overbay - Brewers - Overbay is more likely to be traded than either Geoff Jenkins or Carlos Lee, but it looks like the Brewers are leaning towards keeping all three, at least until midseason. If they change their mind and deal Overbay, it’s not like they’d be risking everything on Prince Fielder being ready. They also have Corey Hart available to step in if Fielder falters. If they keep him now, the Brewers risk Overbay’s trade value declining as he gets more expensive. Trade possibility: To White Sox for OF Chris Young and RHP Sean Tracey Prediction: Stays Jon Garland - White Sox - It’s the same deal with Garland. Assuming no extension with the White Sox is reached, he will have just turned 27 when he becomes eligible for free agency next winter. If the White Sox lose Paul Konerko to the Angels or another team, using Garland as bait would be the best way to replace him. The Diamondbacks have talent to spare and would probably be the top candidates to land him should something happen. Trade possibility: To Phillies with C Francisco Hernandez for OF Bobby Abreu Prediction: Stays Hypothetically if these happened, which chances are they wont, this would majorly upgrade the White Sox offense. Goodbye Paulie but hello 2 stud players one of which is a perennial All-star and one has a cool name. But losing Jon seems out of the picture because we all know KW would not sacrifice pitching for hitting. So unless the phillies would accept Aaron instead of Jon this will never happen. But a guy can dream right. I throw up at the idea of a Chris Young and Sean Tracey deal for Overbay. Thanks but no thanks. I wouldn't deal Chris Young at least not for Lyle.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 08:58 AM) Simply put offering Carl a new deal will cost the Sox far less than signing either Piazza or Nomar. Piazza to the Sox is pure fantasy. Carl will get 3-4 million, Piazza may only get 2 million although he could get some incentives. Nomar will probably get 4-6 million (if I were to guess) plus incentives.