SoxAce

QUOTE(lvjeremylv @ Jan 28, 2008 -> 12:05 AM) It would still be a vast improvement over our 1-2 from 2007. Tell me about it. Anytime you have Andy freakin Gonzalez leading off for your team (which makes Pods look like R. Henderson) then you know your team is terrible.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in '05 @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 11:36 PM) Does anyone want to share their experience at soxfest?... Or should I say does anyone want to add anything other than whats been written? Any small chats with players or anyone from the organization? The only thing I've heard/read about is the praise KW is getting for the moves from fans aside from a few exceptions. Good post. A friend of mine went this year. (casual fan you can say) He never heard/knew who Quentin was (just knows/follows the sox no other teams, even though he didn't know who Fields was either ) and now is proclaiming him as his favorite player after soxfest. Hellova guy from what I've heard. Swish was supposedly shy, but he is dealin with us Chicagoans afterall..heh.. n was coo too. Wish I would have went. Maybe next season. This season will have a very loose, friendly, crazy characters filled with young n old guys.

Flash cream his pants

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 01:19 AM) He's had a short career and there are warning signs all over. That's all I'm saying. He isn't on Rivera, Nathan, Papelbon's level.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 12:59 AM) pansy. Giggity. You little b****.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 12:46 AM) Under no circumstance would I consider extending him this early, or even next year early. And I wasn't really alluding to the drugs or the alcohol: I was alluding to the fights and the self-mutilation and all the damages that those were. But more than anything, I'm alluding to the fact that he isn't Mariano Rivera. He isn't Joe Nathan. He's already lost some of his fastball. He was bad in the second half of 2006; he was fine last year and in 05. But I need to see more consistency and besides, there's just no real reason to commit to him unless you have to. I agree even though it's my personal opinion that he didn't lose anything on his fastball and it was his choice to relay on movement, sink (less k's, better era, whip, less bb's) but that another different discussion. In his short 05 season before the playoffs when hardly anyone knew him.. damn good. 06.. scouting report, hitters figured him out inconsistant season. 07.. Relayed on movement, sink, "pitching" got DP plays, still nasty, "the streak".. hellova season. 08.. remains to be determined. We'll see now that Bobby actually has set-up help.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 26, 2008 -> 11:45 PM) There are always Riveras, Gossages, Eckersleys, but a good closer (at least for a season or two) is not terribly hard to find and there's no reason to invest in a guy like Jenks who is no sure thing on a team where the budget is not guaranteed (who is to say that fans will keep coming out?) in a situation where his arm is a mess, he has a history of being...bad to his body, etc. etc. No doubt. But Jenks has been clean (or maybe I should say hasn't gotten into any trouble) in 2+ years now. People change GP. I highly doubt he's the same hothead, alcoholic, racist kid like he once was. He's a man thats matured even through pitching (doesn't reer back n hit 97-100, releys on movement, sink, etc..) Like I said earlier if he's consistant year in, year out, unless he's asking for an outrages amount, gets seriously hurt, etc.. you have to strongly consider it. Dammit Pratt, you know me enough to call me by my real name (if you remember it ) QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 12:06 AM) I don't think anyone is arguing that they don't want Jenks here, and that he would be easily replaced. I just don't believe that is the case. However, the Sox find them self in a very good spot. They hold the rights to a young, dominate, very cheap closer. For the next four years, they have the CHOICE in bringing him back for the next season. It's totally up to them to decided if they want him back or not. Wouldn't you want that choice for every player on your team? Granted, you obviously can't have that for every player(or your team is going to win 30 games) but in most cases you should take advantage of it for as long as you can, especially with someone that does in fact have pieces of metal in his throwing arm. I'll say it again unless he seriously gets hurt, ask for ridiculous $$, pitches poor, if we groom a closer, etc.. I don't see why we shouldn't extend him 4+ years from now when he's restricted or whatever. etc (kinda what I said earlier in my post ).. we should definitely consider it when he hits restricted/whatever. Now I'm just trying to stir the pot alittle since it's soxfest weekend, Crede hasn't found a new home yet, ST is 3 weeks away, etc.. But you n I are on the same page Tony... and even you Mr. 2 Dislocated Shoulders Pratt even though the pins/screw/chronic hip/knot etc.. is still overrated from certain people.

QUOTE(knightni @ Jan 26, 2008 -> 09:13 PM) Gagne was better, he died a closer's death. Troy Percival, Robb Nen, Matt Mantei, Armando Benitez, Eddie Guardado, Keith Foulke all had their arms blow up in one manner or another. K-Rod is due. Other than Foulke and maybe Guardado (whispers about him though) what do they all have in common? Performance inhancers. Why talk about the "dime n dozen" crap? Hoffman (lost velocity, still gets hitters out, change-up like no other) Wagner (still brings it) Oldies like Lee Smith, Goose, Tanks etc. Jury is still out if they're (players who are playing now) clean of course but willing to bet they probably are. Not all relievers (or failed starters) have the stones to pitch with, most of the time, a game on the line. Not all succeed. Unless there's a stud closer, if Jenks sucks/gets serious injury, or if we groom a closer, I don't see why we shouldn't extend him 4+ years from now when he's restricted or whatever. Bobby's pin/screw/barely holding arm/whatever else is one of the most overrated things I've read on this board with Konerko's chronic/arthritic/no hip being number two (as Garland's knot is gone) It just puts a big f you to a guy like Farve for example despite having one of his best seasons as an "old man" for a sport that you use basically every damn bone in your body to play. He's not Belle, his hip isn't going to die and he's not 50+ years old. Konerko is declining of course (esp. HR numbers) but he's still pretty damn good. Good points of course, just trying to kinda stir up alittle bit here. /rant

The Oregon-USC game is fun to watch.

I like this one. Thought this was interesting too..

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 06:29 PM) I am assuming they want to see them get some action during the All Star Break. Skille will probably be recalled on Monday. Thats what I'm thinking as well.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 06:15 PM) Hmm. I thought Skille looked like he was adjusting to the NHL pretty well. I don't know much about hockey, but I thought so too. He was a favorite of mine to watch. Maybe because this is because of the all-star game n they'll be back afterwards? IDK.

If true, thats an interesting twist.

I am the lone poster here on soxtalk at 4:38 in the morning... It's official, my life is sad.

Interesting read as far as the article.http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=705 Got Jenks' name in there as well.

QUOTE(That funky motion @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 08:55 PM) Position: Defenseman Shoots: Left Height: 6' 6" Weight: 235 Born: Jun 24 '75 (Age 32) Phonetic (Mah-LEEK) Born in: Ostrava, Czech Republic NYR Season: 2nd NHL Season: 12th Drafted: Hartford's 3rd round choice, 72nd overall, in 1993 Acquired: Signed as a free agent on August 2, 2005. Gracias.

How old is Malik? My computer is turbo slow. (virus)

Agreed. QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 03:20 PM) The new Gatorade G2s are awesome. And... Agreed.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 05:53 PM) Obviously not. But I think the way Floyd finished off 2007 compared to Danks is still fresh in people's minds when comparing the 2. To most here yes. Then there's some posters here, including myself, that like Danks more as a pitcher/more potential/more confidence in/whatever reason.

Your the man as usual Kalapse.

Chi-Town... other posters here said enough. Miami- the beautiful women there is beyond imagination. (pretty women in Chicago would be considered "average" there) I had a hellova time there Philly- great tour sight, got relatives that live there (even though the houses blow) n nothing taste better than a REAL Philly cheese steak New York- Went when the two towers were still there (still got pics ) excellent tour sight. Never would want to live there n too conjusted, but a hellova time. Going at night (not too late though) is something too see. NY hot dog is not too shabby. Alabama/Mont.- Not sure if it counts, but I love it there. Got relatives n you feel at peace cuz it's open. People down south think they can party like us... not even close. I got others but those stick out. Ima probably go to Atlanta next year (09) EDIT: Onterio was cool too. Niagra (sp?) Falls, cool water parks and such.

No, No, No, No, god no. I've seen alot of boards suggesting Lowry who is highly overrated and I laugh. Unless we sell high and ship him out, I do not want him on our team (Broadway, IMO, could put up the same, probably better numbers as a rookie in LR or 5th starter than Lowry who wouldn't pitch half/most of his games in a pitcher's park anymore or in the NL.) I'll give him created though, he's pitches left-handed which is pretty cool.

QUOTE(The Beast @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 07:45 PM) I just remember seeing him come in last season with the bases loaded and striking out the side. I thought that was very cool. Thanks for that thrill, Aardsma. That memory sticks out to most. Made El Duque wanna blush. David has damn good stuff minus his straight, but hard, fastball. Just got his mental midget head twisted. That Cubs series really f***ed him up.

Congrats to Burish.

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 09:19 PM) He was good in "The Patriot" The one movie where I instantly thought of from him. It's a damn shame. RIP.