Chisoxfn

QUOTE (JuiceCruz16 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 11:07 AM) It is also BY FAR the most difficult game to ref. I have worked all three and it is not even close!! Football and baseball do not have constant bang bang calls, I do not see a fix aspect at all. Holding/non holding inconsistencies in the NFL, or floating strike zones in MLB, is every bit as common. Hell, look at all the blown calls this playoff season in the MLB, and baseball has a fraction of bang bang calls that basketball has. The SEC refs getting hit for calls the past two weeks in football as well, and football has far fewer judgement split decision chances then hoops too. NBA games have constant instances like those on violations or fouls . As for the stars getting more calls, that happens in every league all the way down to high school, it is not always an intentional thing, but reputation and status do effect those making the calls in every game across the board, even if it is a subconscience thing. The strike-zone argument is pretty rare. Very rarely do I see one team get a far bigger or smaller strike-zone as the other team so I would argue that while strike zones vary from ump to ump they rarely vary from team to team. And while people would point out the 90's Braves squad where there pitchers got the benefit of the doubt and what most perceived as bigger strike zones, I would argue that when you throw strikes constantly and have your pitchers frame the ball well it is much easier to get strikes called. And it works both ways. Whenever a pitcher in baseball throws strikes, they tend to get more favorable calls. However, on the flip-side, if you are all over the place in a game, typically you don't get the borderline pitch because the ump is so used to everything being a ball. I almost consider it momentum. I personally believe this is different from the NBA and I would agree with you that the NFL is the closet to the NBA, but I haven't seen the blatant fixes in long-playoff series as I have in the NFL. And of course the NFL is just one game per playoff series so that makes it easier to get away with so-called fixes, I'm sure. But when you see 7 game series blatantly f'd up and called to the pure benefit of a team constantly it makes you wonder.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:41 AM) The benefit is regulars need rest especially older ones in the greenie -free MLB. Say against righties maybe DH Kornerko and put Kotsay at 1st. Just rotate things depending on matchups. I only suggest this based on my idea of improving the D and something somewhere will suffer . The Sox won't fix every hole in the off season so I choose DH as the last priority but I know many want a slugger . I'm just trying stay reasonable on payroll. Thinking of Fielder or Dunn is like dreaming the impossible dream. It also allows you to be more flexible in the case that one of your guys goes down with injury because you don't necessarily have to worry about fixing that exact hole, you have extra flexibility with the DH who can become the starter and than try to find a bat that can stick or play the match-ups a lot more.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 08:32 AM) I believe every word of it. The NBA is dirty. The Sacto-LA series in 2002 confirmed that for me. I have no doubt in my mind. The one thing which has really pissed me off about the NBA is the way the refs work. It is so blatantly the worst referred sport around and the calls are just so so subjective. I'm not shocked at all by the comments. And I hope the NBA gets taken to town and has to be held accountable for these actions. I would argue the NBA at times is more fixed than Boxing for most of the last 20 years.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:40 AM) I completely agree. Ryan Mallet had all the tools. Hell to be honest, Arkansas is a lot like Notre Dame. I don't think Mallet is quite as good as Claussen though and they don't have quite as good of WR's as Notre Dame has. Defensively they are both awful though. Bottom line, Arkansas is a worse version of ND and while I love ND there is no way I'd be arguing about how great they were. ND has all the talent in the world offensively and could stun someone in any one game, but in no way shape or form are they that great of a "team" (and I'm a ND fan). They'll make a bowl and be rated but Weiss needs to get canned. Ole Miss - They aren't very good. People argue that its such a deep conference cause Ole Miss was a pre-season top 10 team, but you know what, Ole Miss flat out sucks. The experts got it wrong. Florida and Alabama have had poor offensive play. Both have legit defenses and some special players on offense. Bama has the stud running game, Florida has Tebow willing them to victory but neither team can pass there way down the field. Hell, Stanzi is a better passing QB than Bama or Florida's and he's the weak link of the hawkeyes (who in no way am I necessarily insinuating are a better team than Florida/Bama, although I'd widely argue the notion that them or OSU would get blown out). Iowa and OSU have gotten better (OSU much better following that Purdue debacle) where as I don't think Florida or Bama have gotten better. Hell, I think LSU is the team that is improving and is probably the best in that conference.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:37 AM) Its funny how long this debate has raged on. I am reading 1968, about OSU football and Woody Hayes best recruiting class and there are numerous statements about how the SEC couldn't compete with the size of the Big Ten back then. And BTW, if Mallet stayed at UM and DickRod never came in, he would easily be the best QB in the Big Ten. I completely agree. Ryan Mallet had all the tools.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:35 AM) Whatever, Gossip Girl is full of a bunch of hot tail. Indeed it is. It replaced the OC and I honestly think it might just be better than the OC (a show that I loved).

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) I have nothing to hide. I also watch Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, the latter of which I think is absolutely hilarious. Does this take away from the other things I enjoy (ie Sons of Anarchy, It's Always Sunny, the lovely taste of my wife's vagina, my ps3, the sox, blackhawks, bears, and bulls)? Absolutely not! Every man has there things that will get them ball-busted. I watch every episode of Gossip Girl. XOXO Chisoxfn's Man Card

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:08 AM) In terms of waiting until Feb. to sign an incentive-laden deal or in terms of giving his team next year great value on his contract? Both

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) If Deng is healthy and can play at his form from a couple years ago and Tyrus Thomas can be a legit staring PF (He was in the 2nd half last night), this team could be vastly better than I thought. I love the leadership this squad has. I think it really has something it lacked in a Pargo and Hunter (quiet, back of the bench leaders). Than you add a Hinrich (always plays his ass off, great D), Deng (hard working, quiet leader), Brad Miller (more vocal leader), Salmons (whats not to like about this guy) and damn you really got to loev the squad. Add a Joakim who brings intensity and a Derrick Rose who can create points and this should be a pretty freaking fun squad to watch. In fact, I'm really excited to see what Del Negro does in his 2nd season. He's been very humble and well spoken and I like what he's told the various players. He's new to the position but has a lot of nice intangibles and could turn into a very good coach. We'll learn a lot about him this season as he will have some pressure handling so many quality players who will all want minutes.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:14 AM) Actually I agree hockey is a niche sport. It just is, and a lot of it has to do with the way it has marketed over the last 10 years. People don't see it on SportsCenter everynight, so they don't think it matters. That sounds overly simplistic, but that has a lot to do with it. Also Jas, do you really think you are able to 100% accurately talk about what the "want" is in Chicago, living in Cali? I listen to Chicago sports radio every day at work, run a Chicago message board, so I think I got an idea as to the pulse of the city. I do miss out on the day-to-day discussions I would have living in the area, but I would say that I have a pretty good pulse on Chicago in general. And I'm not trying to hate. If you say there is more excitement around the Hawks than the Bulls, I'd completely agree. A bigger buzz, sure....are they more popular, probably not. I've came to accept stuff like that and don't care whether my team is more popular...hell, the Sox won the 2005 World Series, we weren't more popular than the Cubs but who the f*** cares, we were the champs.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:04 AM) That's just a cop-out. Blackhawks vs. White Sox is a perfectly acceptable comparison and you can't use the Cubs as an excuse. I don't consider the White Sox a niche, and I don't consider the Blackhawks a niche. Hell, last night I attended a wine-tasting, and the game that was on was the Blackhawks, not the Bulls. It's not as black & white as you're making it out to be. Look, I'm not saying the Blackhawks aren't a great story. They are easily one of the 3 to 5 most popular hockey teams in the NHL right now and might very well be the most popular. However, the NHL doesn't compare with the NBA, let alone with MLB or NFL (which are two juggernauts, as you can see by the post I just made previously). And while comparing the Sox to the Blackhawks there are a lot of things you have to factor in. A more fare comparison would be to compare the Sox to the Islanders (ie, the 2nd favorite team in the respected city for one sport vs the 2nd favorite team in one city for one sport). I won't point the Sox out as a niche team because they aren't a part of the 4st most popular sport in America. Now even if baseball was the 4th most popular sport, I wouldn't give a s*** and I'd just enjoy the hell out of my team (like you guys do the Hawks) but at the same time I wouldn't live in this delusional mindset that they are more popular than other teams/sports with far bigger fan bases with wide-scale popularity. Hell, doing the research, I really was shocked by how damn powerful MLB really is. It isn't quite the NFL as the NFL is a complete an absolute juggernaut, but revenue wise they are close, with MLB reportedly passing them. * All my numbers were based upon google searches. * Note, I'm also not debating with you guys what is the better sport NBA or NHL. I'm simply stating which is more popular, that is all. To each there own. I get s*** from everyone I know for being such a die-hard baseball fan and I could care less, I love the sport, just like you guys love the NHL and thats all that f***ing matters.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:58 AM) Is baseball a niche sport? The Blackhawks have higher tv ratings than the White Sox this year. And since you asked whether baseball is a Niche Sport: NHL Revenue (Including PostSeason) Last Year: ~2.8B (all time high) MLB Revenue for 2008 (Excluding Post-Season: 6.5B (all time high) NFL Revenue for 2008: 6.54B NBA Revenue for 2008: 3.4B

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:58 AM) Is baseball a niche sport? The Blackhawks have higher tv ratings than the White Sox this year. No, but you are comparing the Blackhawks to the cities 2nd favorite baseball team (its our favorite). Compare the Cubs and Blackhawks ratings. Or add the Sox and Cubs viewership and compare them. It would be impossible. Or compare the White Sox playoff ratings to the Blackhawks playoff ratings (our run to the World Series vs there run). Add into the fact that our games weren't in prime-time all that often.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) Following and interest are two different things. At this point we are sort of talking semantics, but in terms of what people want to hear/talk about, right now there is a bigger want for hockey coverage than basketball in Chicago. I'll never argue that there are more hockey fans than basketball fans. It's not true. The NBA is just a more powerful entity. There are more fans of the Bulls and fans of the Bulls are interested in there team. Are they as excited about there team as the Blackhawks, probably not, but thats because the Bulls aren't title contenders. But you guys are mistaken if you think that means hockey is more popular or the Hawks are the talk of Chicago, imo. They are the talk amongst the big time hockey fan and the new casual hockey fan but ultimately its a niche sport.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:44 AM) My biggest problem with JD as primary DH is that it leaves us way too right handed-heavy in the middle of the lineup. Thome or Johnson flat out fits this team better with Quentin, Konerko, Rios, Beckham, Alexei being the likely middle of the order hitters. Sign me a LH hitting LF for the middle of the order and maybe we can talk, but I'm not sure we have a lot of options there. I agree with you that the Sox need to get a lefty for the middle of the order. My question is who that would be, but if the Sox could acquire a lefty bat for the middle spot of the order that can play the outfield, Dye wouldn't be that bad. I still think the Sox might move Konerko which would open up another position where the club could potentially find a lefty bat. I really think the Sox have a few big name pieces they are going to move and I see this off-season going down much like the 2004 off-season where we move some bigger name guys and use the money to fill our holes and make us a solid all around club. Take a flyer on a guy or two that has tools and has been solid and hope they blow-up a bit and rely heavily on our pitching.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 09:47 AM) If another team wants to overpay for a guy the Marlins don't need, then let them. Offer what would be fair value from us, and if someone wants to beat that number then we're better off keeping what we have and letting the other guy overpay. Exactly. If someone offers more fine, there mistake. He's not much different than what Willy Mo Pena was a few years back. Thats not to say Hermida goes the way of Pena, but the bottom line is he's looking for a 2nd chance and guys with tools looking for a 2nd chance are typically much less valuable. Add in a 3-4M contract and there are a lot of reasons why I wouldn't be all that intrigued, especially if you have to give up talent. Plus given where the Sox are (with holes at DH and OF), I wouldn't be all that opposed to holding onto a guy like Josh Fields cause if push comes to shove I still think he'll be able to hit 20 Hr's a season for some team. He just has major flaws that will prevent him from being a very good player. He still deserves a shot somewhere, imo and if a team were smart they'd lowball the Sox for Fields. And not a contending team, Fields needs a year on a s***ty club where he can just play and iron things out.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 05:11 AM) LMAO what? Why does George Bell get the right to b**** during the postseason? I'm guessing he meant George Brett.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 09:13 PM) Hmmm.. I guess 10 postseason games counts into the .249/.371/.498/.869 he put up during the season eh.. He's just not clutch. I'm sure A-Rod can give him some pointers some time. I realize the OPS and OBP are nice, but when push comes to shove and it matters, a good pitcher will get Swisher out damn near all of the time because of the serious flaws in Swisher's swing/game. Swisher was a solid back of the order hitter though, I'll say that much, but to put that sort of guy in the middle of your order, youd' be screwed (OPS isn't an end all be all).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 12:28 PM) If they win 43 games, they will play someone like Boston, Orlando, or Cleveland in the first round, and they will be lucky to win a game against them, let alone a series. I realize that. I like the Bulls depth and I think it will be a huge asset in a physical series. Plus I really really think people are sleeping on what Hinrich, Deng, Salmons, and Miller for a full season will do to this club. Add that to a year older Derrick Rose, a more mature Tyrus Thomas, and an in shape Joakim Noah and I think the Bulls are a serious sleeper.

Evan, I've been rethinking my SEC debate and I'm even less enamored with them. Everyone talks about the lack of skill in the Big Ten at the QB position, but I'll point out the exact same in the SEC. Ryan Mallet is the best QB in that conference. Tim Tebow is having a mediocre season, he's tough, ballsy, etc, but without Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy he hasn't been near as good. Bottom line, I stick to my guns that the Pac 10 is the best conference in the land. I also think oregon is the best team in the country right now.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 07:00 AM) Bears, Cubs, Bulls, White Sox, Blackhawks. That's the order of interest of this city. Hockey is the last on 95% of people's minds. The bar I went to last night was 5-1 bulls game over the hawks game. As for the game last night, if the bulls can stay that balanced, they'll be a dangerous team. They made 3 3-pointers and shot 41%. Just real cold in the first half. Despite not having an old veteran, I think the team can throw enough bodies at teams to wear them down over the course of the game. As Doug Collins said (is it just me or is he the best analyst/commentator the NBA has? There's no one close), the defense is going to determine how far they can go. I think getting past the 1st round is the goal this year. Then bring Wade in for the title run! The Big thing is Hinrich is heatlhy, Deng is healthy, Salmons is rock solid, Brad Miller off the bench (along with Hinrich). This is one of the deepest teams in the league (I didn't say best). They also have star power in a young Derrick Rose. You have Joakim and Tyrus who are solid defensive players with upside defensively. Taj Gibson is a nice looking rookie, Johnson a nice looking long-term rookie. Bottom line this is a very deep team that I believe will make the playoffs and use its depth to its advantage in a physical playoff series and ultimately win a game. Its just one game, but thats a huge win against one of the Favorites out in the West (a ton picked them right behind the Lakers).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 06:04 AM) The Hawks out drew the Bulls last year. Try again. They didn't out-make our out draw the Bulls in TV ratings though.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 09:03 PM) I went out tonight with the boys to watch Hawks/Bulls/WS, and we talked about who is more popular right now in the city. While I do have a bias, there is just more overall interest in hockey right now. I hate to say this, but you guys are absolutely nuts if you think the Hawks have a bigger overall following than the Bulls. Basketball is a much much much more popular sport and while Bhawks hockey is rejuvanated and the fan base is coming to life it still doesn't have near the viewership or popularity as the Bulls.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 08:25 AM) He made about 2.1M this past year IIRC. In arbitration I doubt that goes up past 3M considering it wasnt a great year. The Marlins OF is crowded but that is still a manageable price tag for them to keep him. They may want to trade him b/c of his salary but they won't give him away b/c of it. And even at 4M the tools that guy has he could easily become a bargain. Ok well that's just a gross exaggeration. 4M might turn into a bargain or it might turn into 4M that could have went towards the Sox fixing the pen or something along those lines that I consider much more important. Hermida is a non-tender candidate and to suggest trading Danks (a guy with tons of tools himself who hasn't yet flopped at the major league level) for a guy who has flopped so to speak at the major league level and makes a few mill more would be foolish. Josh Fields is in a similar spot to Hermida and my offer wouldn't go much higher than Josh Fields (ie, I'd add a pitcher with the ability to play in the majors, but none that I thought that had the ability to be an above average piece). So Torres would be fine, even though I think he'll have some value for the Sox potentially as a long-reliever.

If the market turns slow for Dye I could see the clubs finding a way to bring him back at a reduced rate to play as our primary DH with maybe 20% of the games in the field.