Chisoxfn

He's rep'd by Boras so thats a no go. If he wasn't a Boras client he'd probably go top 10 anyway. However the guy I really like would be a reach at 15 but I'm a big fan of Cesar Ramos of Long Beach State. The southpaw has 3 good pitches and can throw them all for strikes. I like him more than Ricky Romero (who I've seen a whole lot of). Hell I'm still shocked Romero is so high. I mean he's an amazing college pitcher but for some reason I get flashes of Jim Parque in my mind. Of course both him and Parque have tremendous hearts (and if anyone doubts Parque's heart, just remember how the guy pitched on pretty much zero arm in the playoffs and did an admirable job at that). That and I think Romero's arm will fall off because he's been worked so much and just seems to have a violent motion. He does have good breaking stuff though and what I'd call a good enough fastball.

Dbaho...IIRC Brien is 10th all time in field goal accuracy. He was very good last season minus that one playoff game. Everyone has bad games.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ May 23, 2005 -> 01:00 PM) Interesting. Who returns punts now? Vasher I would guess. Maybe Clayton? Right now Berrian is the favorite but the special teams coaches seem to think Vasher could turn into a big time return man. However, with the lack of depth in the secondary I don't know if I'd be risking one of the Bears better cover corners by having him return kicks. Bradley and Wade will also be competing for the spot.

Just got it in the mail from netflix. Once finals are over I'll be checking it out.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ May 23, 2005 -> 01:00 PM) There is nothing per say wrong with what Uribe did. It just sets a bad precedent. If people think you play dirty, they will play the same way against us. The White Sox do not need other teams not only gearing up because we are number 1, but being told that we play dirty etc. ::shrugs:: Some times you may win the battle, and lose the war. And that is my belief on plays like this. Maybe they work and save us a run. But do we need the other team having fuel to beat us? SB I'll say this, what Juan did is a lot better than the way the Sox had played under Jerry Manuel with all there boneheaded plays. This at least shows they are paying attention to the little aspects of the game. Hell, I think Juan is a far more heady player than I ever suspected prior to this. I mean I see both sides of the situation and in the end it just falls on what you think is the right way to play and what you think isn't. It could go either way and I'm sure if you did a survey in the majors you'd get a pretty split reaction.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ May 23, 2005 -> 12:56 PM) Good God WHAT THE f*** IS WRONG WITH WHAT JUAN DID? Why would you stop running because you enemy told you to? Its no different than Arod trying to rip the ball out of Millar or whoever was playing firsts mit. Its just classless and you don't do it. Its bush league as Badger said. There are suttle aspects of the game where you try to outsmart the player. Like I mentioned faking the cutoff to slow the runner down or at least trick him into thinking the throw is coming. However, thats entirely different from faking out a fair or foul ball. That goes one step too far in my book and its not how I played the game. You can also try and trick the player with that lame fake to 3rd throw to 1st move (once again no problem). Now Lee still made another baserunning gash later in the game when he didn't go 1st to 3rd on a single to right and its still his responsibility to look to his 3rd base coach who should have the better angle. However its still bush league for Uribe to do.

For anyone saying that this is going to be an easy series, your wrong. I can't even remember the last time the Sox went into Anaheim and actually played well for an entire series (i can remember a few games where the Sox whooped the Angels...but a lot more where the Angels absolutely annihalted the Sox). This place is basically on the same level as playing in Oakland and the Sox are going to have to play at there best to leave here with wins. Regardless, sure the Angels are banged up but they also have Steve Finley finally getting his crap together and just took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers and have been pitching surprisingly well. Don't tell me whose out on the Angels, because they, like the Twins, play the game right and find a way to win regardless.

QUOTE(shagar69 @ May 23, 2005 -> 12:06 PM) who the f*** is santana? The best pitching prospect in the Angels system. The kid has electric stuff, but still has to learn how to pitch. He's definately not ready for the show, but thats not to say he can't put it all together and dominate for a start against the Sox. He's been sick in the minors.

QUOTE(longshot7 @ May 23, 2005 -> 11:11 AM) I'm really looking forward to the game - I'm going to tonight thru Wed - and it will be my first look at Garland. Haven't seen that much of the Rally Monkey this year, now that I think of it. We'll make him eat s*** too!!! Bring them luck tonight. I'll be there tomorrow thru Thursday.

Just look at Ozzie's quotes on Paulie and its also rather evident that despite the low batting AVG Ozzie still feels Paul is contributing. Plus mix that with all the comments KW had about Paulie over the offseason and its evident to me that the organization is still quite high on Konerko. Konerko is the ultimate team player. Now he may of called Uribe out when he shouldn't of, but once again I don't see this as him calling him out rather saying he disagreed with the play if Uribe did in fact lie (never said he did either). But thats just my 2 cents.

On a sidenote....I think all Paulie was saying is he didn't think that was the way you play the game. He didn't know what Uribe did and he went as far as to say that in the quote. I think people are really overreacting to this. And if it won us the world series, you'd probably hear another reaction out of me. Hell I'm sure if Jeter did it during the series it would be called brilliant. However, all that being said I think it goes beyond what a player should do. Hell I don't like it when a player tries to fake as if he caught the ball when he knows damn well he trapped it.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 23, 2005 -> 10:36 AM) In general I agree. We don't know if Konerko and Uribe already spoke about on the bench or something ... and Konerko knew he'd be asked about it since the microphones seem to always be in his face. Again I agree with your premise but there are variables we may not know. We don't play the game in the majors. I know when I played you would try and trick if you were playing an infield position. Act as if you were getting ready to catch the ball to hold the runner on 2nd (thinking the ball was coming in and he didn't have time to go to 3rd). Those were little things that are part of the game. As far as calling a foul ball fair...not cool in my book. However I have no idea if Uribe even did it on purpose. But thats just my 2 cents on the issue. I wouldn't do that to the other team and I wouldn't expect that back. To me that goes beyond trying to outsmart opponents.

I'll say this. Ozzie got awfully mad in his post game interivew in regards to this. Ozzie said he wanted to let Brandon finish his start on a plus and didn't want to risk him getting the loss or getting beat up. He was quite adamant about that and got quite flustered.

He's expected back in Charlotte in the next day or two. Thats where he'll begin his rehab assignment. He should arrive in Chicago around the same time Frank does.

QUOTE(Cy Garland @ May 22, 2005 -> 07:27 PM) I hope they make an episode 3.5 ROFL, you'll be in luck. I think the TV show Lucas is planning on doing will be set between episodes 3 and 4. Not positive on that though. Only other hting it would be would be set after episode 6 when Luke is tempted by the darkside and than goes good again.

QUOTE(Cy Garland @ May 22, 2005 -> 07:15 PM) SPOILERS I dont know if anyone else understood this part besides me but at the end where Yoda tells Obi wan that Qui Gon has made contact from the dead and he will teach him how, that is how he talks to Luke in 4,5 and 6. I was the only one out of my group that understood that. And the best yoda line was somethin like Not if anything to say about it, i have Ya, that part was pretty badass.

QUOTE(danman31 @ May 22, 2005 -> 01:46 PM) Yeah, that was great. While we are getting into spoilers, the Yoda-Sidious fight was rather disappointing. As powerful as they both are it should have been better. The Dooku-Yoda fight of Episode 2 was better IMO. And why did Sidious continue to use the force when Windu had the lightsabre blocking right back at him? I suggested to my friends that he was losing intentionally to get Anakin to defend him and switch but they said Windu was really that powerful. Why did Obewon just leave Anakin there? Wouldn't he have finished the job? It would have been better if Sidious or some storm troopers came in to save the day. He would have finished his job. And how did Anakin go from being on fire to singed rather quickly? Wouldn't he continue to burn? Overall, there were some things that struck me as odd, but I loved the movie. A couple of my friends who were really into it said Windu is supposed to be the best swordsman of all the jedi while yoda had the best mastery of the force. So I think it was more Windu being that good. Of course I thought the same thing you did...they want on to call me a moron...I called them dorks

QUOTE(Fotop @ May 22, 2005 -> 06:34 PM) This is a highly speculative scenario, but what if BMac gets multiple starts while Duque is out for an extended period of time and basically forces the White Sox to keep him since he's pitching so well? I personally believe that if he puts up some damn good numbers over his next couple of starts he deserves to stick until he proves otherwise. BUT this is the real world of baseball and the only place BMac would go once Duque is healthy is the pen. Would I want BMac in the pen? No, I think for him he's better off honing his skills as a starter. I know that Buerhle got his start out in the pen, but i think with BMac it's different since our staff is pretty deep in comparison to the time buerhle was brought up. However, it will be interesting to see what is done w/BMac if he strings a few quality starts together, but this is all dependent on how long Duque is out. Completely agree and thats the scenario I'm referring to. If Bmac makes 5 or 6 starts before Duque is ready to come of the DL and pitches well, I can't see the Sox turning the starting job back to Duque and kicking Bmac out. Now maybe another pitcher is struggling (be it Contreras) and Duque slides into that spot and the other pitchers moves into the pen, but right now its hard to say. All I'm saying is it could get really interesting if Brandon is out there for an extended time period (and I don't necessarily think thats a bad thing because I think McCarthy is fully capable of helping the Sox now).

I enjoy it quite a bit. In general I'm old school when it comes to baseball (a traditionalist) but I'm a big fan of interleague play.

QUOTE(qwerty @ May 22, 2005 -> 05:07 PM) Maddux is not longer an ace by any means. But he was an ace for a decade and one of the best pitchers in 20-30 years. Not many can touch what he has done in his career. How many times did glavine pitch over 200 innings with an era under three? Glavine has not always been an ace and either has maddux but they both were for along period of time. Plus Maddux had a few years where he had ERA's in the mid 1's. Thats downright nasty. He is and will always be one of the 10 best pitchers in my mind. Him, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez are by far and away the 3 best from this recent era.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 22, 2005 -> 05:05 PM) His numbers indicate perfectly how he's pitched. 1.65 WHIP .287 BAA BB/9 4.7 K/BB of 1.25 All are f***in horrible. His concrete numbers of ERA and wins suggest that he has pitched well - you are right about that(5 wins, 3.91 ERA). Look at his peripherals and you can see why some would think he has not pitched so hawt this year at all. Hey, no you know why I'm a proponent of saying screw Duque let him rest and going with Bmac. Of course thats just because I think so highly of on and so little of the other. At the same time I realize Duque is experienced and has the intangibles necessary to help a team down the stretch and it doesn't hurt the Sox are paying him good money.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ May 22, 2005 -> 07:15 PM) Oh, definitely. If you can get the excellent defender along with the good bat, than you gotta go for it. Unfortunately, there isn't a Derrek Lee available in the offseason. And, looking at the other guys -- JT Snow, Konerko, Durazo -- Durazo is probably the best offensively. Then again -- thinking about it a little more -- if this organization is confident in Casey Rogowski, they might just want a one-year stopgap guy like JT Snow to fill in for a year, if he'd accept. But, I'm not sure where they stand on Rogo. If he's able to repeat or come close to his numbers of last year, I think we got ourselves one helluva future firstbaseman... Is Mient signed long term by the Mets? I know he is struggling right now but maybe I'm assuming wrong but I'm guessing he didn't ink a long term deal in New York so he'll be a FA as well. Mient isn't that bad of a hitter and I'd like him more than JT Snow (well possibly). I hate JT Snow though and it has nothing to do with his playing days. He's just an asshole or at least was back when he was in Anaheim.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 22, 2005 -> 06:40 PM) You're calling Lyle Overbay a stopgap and are suggesting that Ryan Sweeney is a better prospect than Brian Anderson. I don't think he called Overbay a stopgap. I thought someone else did. As far as Sweeney/Anderson. I think Sweeney will develop similarly to Garret Anderson. However Anderson has proved he can at least produce in Charlotte and is doing it in a big way. He continues to rake after every promotion (even though some, msyelf included have had doubts). I still like the long term potential of Sweeney more, but I also think there is a lot more risk in that and Anderson is no the more sure thing (I wouldn't of said that last year either). But I like Sweeney more than most and I'm not one to look negatively on his lack of hitting for power at this point. I look more at his stroke and its a real nice one and he's a strong kid who will fill out and hit for more power.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ May 22, 2005 -> 06:27 PM) BTW -- Durazo is playing first tonight for the A's, Sunday Night Baseball. Has anyone watched? I don't think that first base is that much of a key, as far as having a superb defender at the position. If the guy can make up for his lack of range with his bat, then I guess it's not a huge deal -- to me, at least. I'm the opposite. I think people underrate the importance of defense at 1st base. I mean Mark Grace saved the Cubs tons of runs of the years and no one is going to tell me that Mient wasn't some factor in helping the Twins the past few years and than his defense down the stretch helped the BoSox as well. Its great having a good defensive 1st baseman. However, I would swap Durazo and Frank. You get a guy that at this stage of the game is relatively similar to Frank but from the left side. Plus he'll cost a lot less (most likely half the price). And no one is going to tell me that Frank puts up that much better numbers (I'm not talking about Frank in his prime) than Durazo. Then you have power there and find someone for 1b. I also would look outside the organization, but its usually relatively easy to find a 1st baseman. However if Paulie finishes this year with similar numbers to last season, I'd sign him, although his price tag may be sky high (potentially way too much to give a 1b).

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ May 22, 2005 -> 05:01 PM) yeah i meant Heath Phillips being in AAA and if a starter goes down him being called up.... I guess Tracey could be that guy too, but he really didnt impress me in spring training(which really doesnt mean much). I think his future could be in the bullpen. Well, he's a far superior prospect than Heath Phillips. Phillips was overmatched in Charlotte this year and is now back in AA where he belongs for the time being. Phillips does have a lot of similarities to Buehrle, but that doesn't mean he's Mark. Tracey, Gio, Lumsden, Whisler, Liotta are just a few prospects that I'd rate ahead of Heath. Of course some of those guys wouldn't be as advanced as Heath at this point next year. I'd also go one step farther and add Haig/Rodriguez to that list.