Chisoxfn

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ May 26, 2010 -> 07:29 PM) Already said, but no one builds teams to win snow games. They build the best football team possible. Did the Bears get Cutler because he's a cold weather QB or something? No, they got him because they think it gives them a better chance to win football games. In a neutral site game, the conditions should be optimal. If you like soldier field's completely unacceptable turf where players fall all over the place, I really don't know what to say. Plenty of teams have field turf, seems to be working out fine. What wouldn't be the same? Please don't be one of the BEAR WEATHER meatballs. Bear weather. Look at the Bucs, even when they had decent teams they were godawful in low weather games. Why, because they couldn't really play or handle the elements. The greatest show on Turf was able to be so good because they played in a dome. They wouldn't have been that if they played somewhere else. Just like Martz is going to have to adjust his offense because he isn't playing in a dome for half of his games.

QUOTE (T R U @ May 26, 2010 -> 06:56 PM) lol im sorry but no team builds their teams for weather conditions.. it takes the same kind of players to have a dominant running game in the north as it does in the south.. I will give you that having a wide open offense on a turf IS something you can definitely build your team around.. but not weather conditions.. teams in Florida don't look at a FA and say, well hes a very good running back but its prolly too hot for him to play here.. Your example pretty much sums up why it isn't fair.. why should a team like Green Bay get to play a super bowl in a snowstorm or freezing weather against a team who almost never has to play in those conditions? It is much more balanced for them to be in the "optimal" conditions, even if it is a dome, than that.. And its not like going to a dome is going to all of the sudden make them slower on turf.. the difference between Green Bay in a dome and New Orleans in a snow storm is huge.. Teams do build themselves around the elements though. You can look around the league and historically speaking the cold weather teams tend to be the teams more built around defense and running the ball where the west coast teams tend to run the high octane offenses (i.e., west coast offense). It really isn't surprising. The same thing happens in football where Big 10 teams play a different style than other teams because quite frankly they have to adapt to the elements.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ May 26, 2010 -> 06:42 PM) Clarification please: Its not fair if dome teams cant play in a dome, because they built their team with that expectation. ---BUT--- It is fair to make outdoor/northern teams play in a dome, even though they build their teams to cope with the elements. Is that what you're trying to say? You say "best playing conditions" like it means the same thing for every team. Optimal conditions are relative, the Green Bay Packers would much rather play with the New Orleans Saints in a snowstorm than in a dome. Just like a fast team might have the infield grass cut a certain way at there home stadium to better accent their abilities.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:51 PM) And OCab calls up to the official scorer to complain about errors and Torii Hunter comes out every year and says that white players shouldn't be wearing Jackie Robinson's number on Jackie Robinson day. Neither of these guys are infallible either. I just think that baseball is like any other industry or collection of professionals. Everyone has some people they like and some people they don't particularly care for. My feeling is some people think Ozzie is a loud mouth and others think he is freaking hilarious and would be a joy to play for. Just depends on what you enjoy about a leader. Hunter is one of the good guys in baseball. Infallible or not, the guy is well liked around the game and no one would put him on the list of hated players. OCab was hated in Chicago, but everywhere else he's been there haven't been a lot of negative issues. He went to Minny they were fine with him, he was loved in Anaheim, and than I have no idea how things are going with the Reds.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:47 PM) I can't agree with you about Jermaine and Jenks. Jenks loves Ozzie. They hug each other after every game Jenks finishes for us. I think that's why Jenks has such a long leash - because he has taken Bobby under his wing since 05', even if that means giving him some tough love from time to time. Ozzie has done the same thing with Freddy and MCab as well. I really think they get what Ozzie is doing, more so than disliking him for it. As for Dye, Ozzie let the guy play nearly every game in the second half last year, even though he was one of, if not the absolute worst hitter in baseball from August onward. I don't know what JD would have against Ozzie for that. Jenks was livid with the Sox this off-season regarding comments Ozzie in particular made about Jenks and his weight issue.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:46 PM) This is a fantastic post. Let me be even more blunt, we aren't the only people that go, "thats just Ozzie being Ozzie". When players do that, it is sign #1 that they are zoned and tuned uot. Just look at this spring when Ozzie talked about a back to the basics approach this spring. I remember a few of the veterans saying, Ozzie says that every year, things won't be any different. And you know what, they really aren't that much different. I think, barring a huge winning streak, this will be Ozzie's last year.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:38 PM) I respect your opinion Jason, but I find it difficult to believe that this particular collection of misfits having a negative opinion of Ozzie really means jack s*** to anyone worth a damn as a player. I think Ozzie's reputation amongst the latin community of players, as well as his experience managing the AL All Star team in 06' has a lot more affect on what the good players in the league think about him than what BA, BMac and Sean Tracy think of him. I'm not stating that those guys would necessarily impact others minds, but Orlando Cabrera is Vladdy's best friend and Vladdy is a pretty popular player. Torri Hunter is a pretty popular guy as well and he might have heard stuff. All it takes is a few guys to have friends that are big time players and quickly it isn't just some misguided myth, it is the league perception and that is not an easy thing to run away from. And Jermaine Dye is a well well regarded player in this league. Whether legitimate or not, he left on a sour note. That said, Ozzie has always said good things about JD and I think JD genuinely likes Ozzie, but I've heard plenty of grumblings over the last year or two that a lot of people in our clubhouse pretty much tune out Ozzie. And that is not a good thing.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:35 PM) Do you think Ozzie is the only manager that some players don't care for? Not at all. Oh, chalk another player onto my long list of players with potential reasons for grief: Orlando Cabrera Nick Swisher Brandon McCarthy (a good kid) Sean Tracey (who is an amazingly good guy) Ryan Sweeney Brian Anderson Jermaine Dye That is a decent list of players. Some might have BS reasons for being upset but regardless it is a list of guys. Once Jenks is gone, I think we will see him on the list as well. It is no secret that Jenks has had some heat with Sox management (including Kenny).

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 02:34 PM) Coaching basketball is sooooo much different than managing baseball. Basketball is a hands-on sport from a coaching perspective. It's about x's and o's and minutes as opposed to managing baseball, which is basically throw the guys out there and let them do their thing. I agree that you don't want to be known as a controversial basketball coach, at least in terms of clashing with egos and the like. But in baseball, you put the guys out there for 9 innings and whatever happens, happens. Any baseball FA that we care enough to actually be upset about not wanting to come here is certainly not going to be left off the lineup card by Ozzie. He may have his issues with fringe players, but he puts the guys that produce out there on a regular basis. The only player I can think of that had any kind of a case for how he was treated by Ozzie is Nick Swisher, and it's not a big secret that he was not only not producing on the field, but there were issues in the background there as well. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the three guys Ozzie really had a problem with were underperforming on the field and overexposing themselves in the Chicago nightlife scene simultaneously. Not a good combination. Isn't one of the big gripes with Ozzie the fact that he doesn't always put the guys that produce out there. He tends to stick with his guys longer than other guys, etc. I just don't see how this isn't a big deal. How big of a deal is it, who knows, but it is just another on a long list of s*** that is getting real old from Ozzie. If the team redeems themselves and win the world series, fantastic, but I think it is much more likely that this team is so sick and tired of hearing the same s*** out of Ozzie day in and day out that they've flat out tuned him out. And that is not a good thing for any manager. Ozzie is a smart baseball guy and he has a lot of strengths, but I don't know how long he will last at certain spots because of how his act could grow old.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 11:44 AM) As if there is not already enough ammo for getting rid of Ozzie? I'm not too concerned if the frat boys are upset that they didn't get enough playing time. It's not as if Brian and BMac went on to become superstars elsewhere or something. All Ozzie wants is for the young kids to take playing in the big leagues seriously, and try to have a little fun while doing it - just look at his treatment of Gordon. I think the entire league knows Ozzie plenty well by now. Something some agent said is not going to change anyone's mind about him. Perception is reality. Whether we like it or not, that is the case and eventually having a manager that polarizes people in the lockerroom you will get in trouble. Just look at Byron Scott. The guy rubbed so many people the wrong way and because of it he has gotten fired at two different places as a head coach.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 27, 2010 -> 11:36 AM) No, it's really not. Unless you're the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets, you're not getting the big time free agents. And wasn't it believed that one of the reasons Peavy rejected the first trade was because he didn't want to play for Ozzie? Yeah. Whether by trade or FA, etc. I think it is a bad thing if players around baseball are against playing for our manager. That negative perception isn't a good thing and it will make people less willing to join our front office. What happens when we offer the same amount of money to a player who has 3 other teams interested, well, we lose out on said player. Whether that happens or not, I don't know, but it is a really really bad thing if players don't want to play for our manager. I got a feeling that Swisher/Brian Anderson/Brandon McCarthy/Sean Tracey all have really terrible things to say about Ozzie. Whether warranted or not, I don't know. The next question is what does Jermaine Dye think of Ozzie?

Fantastic news. Getting him into the AFL will be big because it will at least help get him ready for next year so that he can maybe start next season and hit the ground running.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 27, 2010 -> 12:56 PM) Remember that due to the Peavy trade, we have an absolute lack of pitching in our system outside of Hudson. That's why I'm confident they'll take a college pitcher with 1st pick. James Paxton might be my choice.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ May 27, 2010 -> 12:28 PM) I've been hearing a lot of negatives regarding his pitch recognition as well, and how it's far away from what it should be at this point. I don't think it's in any way realistic the Sox consider him with the 13th pick. Wilson is basically a tool shed. What he does with those tools, no one will know. From a production standpoint and where he is right now, he has major major flaws to his game. Whomever drafts him will need to have a very good player development department and obviously Wilson will have to have a great work ethic and be able to adapt and make the necessary changes to his game.

Could people be speculating at the Sox changing managers at some point this season if all goes wrong and this be a devised move to try and start putting out some ammo for why they could be getting rid of Ozzie.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 27, 2010 -> 11:30 AM) Oh give me a break. Ozzie is a polarizing figure. There are simply going to be those that love him, and those that hate him. And most managers aren't polarizing so you than have a wide variety of guys willing to play for you. This is a pretty damning article. I guarantee one or two of those agents is whomever represents Bmac and Brian Anderson.

I will say this though, after reading that write-up, it put everything into much better perspective to me. And the idea is definitely plausible and makes a s***load of sense.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ May 27, 2010 -> 07:19 AM) Jacob planned to kill MIB? If the only way that is possible is with a EM-immune person like Desmond, how did he expect Dharma to do anything? Any why would the Others KILL the Dharma people? MIB corrupted Ben? How? Ben only ever took orders from Jacob via Richard. That was the one thing that stood out to me. I could see it if Ben didn't take his orders from Richard.

Good stuff Ozzie. Heres a guy that stood out a little to me. Seems like he could be a nice value pick in the 3rd to 5th.

One thing we know is you can bet your ass the Sox will draft some prep guys from Florida. Heres a short Q&A blurb about 2 Florida preps:

Here is an interesting take fro ma scout on Bryce Harper: What I find so interesting is the fact that we are talking about a corner outfielder. I think there is a huge difference between whether Harper sticks at C vs becomes an outfielder and it seems like a ton of teams want him in the OF because he can/should reach the majors quicker. Still, despite his massive power potential and the fact that he's one of the most hyped draft picks of all time, there is still a major bust factor that exists (per this scout).

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 27, 2010 -> 08:43 AM) If the Sox take the route of a college power pitcher, I would point to Matt Harvey/Ranaudo. Another name I like, albeit not at our pick is Sam Dyson (who knows where he will go). Dyson has a first round arm and I think he could make it as a premium reliever in time if he ended up not having enough to be a starter. Total enignma, but a pick I'd love outside of our 1st 2 picks. I really think Gary Brown in the 2nd round makes a lot of sense for the Sox given the fact that they want athletic outfielders. I dont' know if Brown will hit enough, but if he does, boy would he be a great guy to have in our order for a long time (fast, terrific baserunner, terrific defender, can play any OF position at a plus, imo, strong arm). He just won't hit for power. Here is what Dave Perkin, a scout, says about Gary Brown: Like I said, I really really like Brown and would love it if he was somehow there in the 2nd when we pick. I doubt he gets out of the supplemental 1st and I also don't think he'll go in the 1st due to his minor injury (Broken finger).

One draft experts take on the top of this draft: Just something to consider given the fact that I think a lot of us are more high on the hitters than the pitchers. I'm starting to warm up to Wimmers. Seems like a guy that can pitch and has enough velocity to actually be a top of the rotation guy. Not sure if I love him, but I dont' think he's just a low upside starter that we like. He has a pretty good arsenal.

Here's a name to look out for in the 3-7 rounds: Chad Lewis, from Marina High in Orange County. He'll probably go from the 3rd to the 5th. Real nice set of tools.

If the Sox take the route of a college power pitcher, I would point to Matt Harvey/Ranaudo. Another name I like, albeit not at our pick is Sam Dyson (who knows where he will go). Dyson has a first round arm and I think he could make it as a premium reliever in time if he ended up not having enough to be a starter. Total enignma, but a pick I'd love outside of our 1st 2 picks. I really think Gary Brown in the 2nd round makes a lot of sense for the Sox given the fact that they want athletic outfielders. I dont' know if Brown will hit enough, but if he does, boy would he be a great guy to have in our order for a long time (fast, terrific baserunner, terrific defender, can play any OF position at a plus, imo, strong arm). He just won't hit for power.