SoxAce

Just turned 24, RH, cost controlled until 2019, tremendous change up, throws strikes, but a straight low 90's sometimes mid 90's fastball (leads to the homeruns) not a great upside (although sox don't need that with him, just a solid #4 which is what I see him becomming). Decent write up today about finding the next Clay Buchholz from Eno Sarris of fangraphs though.. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/finding-t...-clay-buchholz/

Pretty much sums it up..

Good god your just as ugly as I remember.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 09:26 PM) This is a rather flawed argument. Your premise was McGrady should get some slack for not playing for the "best" defensive coach, but then you went on to discredit Van Gundy in his early days as a head coach. From 2004 to 2007, the Rockets were perennial ranked in the top 10 or top 5 in defensive efficiency. He wasn't the best defensive coach, but it doesn't take the best defensive coach to coach the best defensive player. And you can even say McGrady was a below average defender in certain years prior to 2008. I've watched most of the Magic/Rockets games from 2002 to 2008, and in certain games, T-Mac looked brilliant defensively when he tried. The defensive work in 2005 playoffs against Dirk was brilliant. But he was never counted on to defend the other team's best players otherwise, even at the end of games. The superstars we have today, Lebron, Durant, George, and Kobe in years past, all guarded the other team's alpha dog in late stretches or even throughout the game. Your going in complete circles with yourself here, and in a way arguing with yourself. I already said he used alot of Riley's philosophy in his coaching tactics as well as his motivating of players, but if I "discredit" him of being a poor in-game adjuster with lacking certain X's and O's, then yes. I already said enough about T-Mac's defensive game, so I won't reiterate it again. And I wonder why he wasn't put on certain player's in stretches late. Could it be the player himself, could it be Van Gundy not trusting him, or could it be not burning him out on the defensive side of the ball late in the game.. hmm.. Even Durant wasn't great defensively his first year or two comming out of Texas and was seriously influenced by Ron Adams, helping his development in that area. Your one of the few posters I agree with quite a bit in years past when I posted more in this thread (along with Nite, Zoom, Felix and 2012-mid '13 version of J4L ) but at times like this no.. not even close.

QUOTE (Willard Decker @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 08:42 PM) Don't agree with this at all. Jeff Van Gundy's Knicks teams were regularly among the top five teams in opponent's field-goal percentage and points-per-game despite having no stand-out individual defensive players. Larry Johnson was Van Gundy's most effective on-the-ball defender, a player whom Scottie Pippen cited as one of the league's worst defensive players. Van Gundy's Rockets teams were similarly effective with an uninterested McGrady on the roster. He had an opportunity to learn how to play defense effectively but never took advantage of it. --Captain Decker I think anyone with a brain knows that was Pat Riley's work in those early Knicks years when he took over and implemented the 1-3-1 trap. (which was brilliant and he was also the first coach to watch video during halftime to break down adjustments) Guys like Oakley, Ewing (although he was already a stud), Starks, etc. were already all defensive players before Van Gundy took over. Now, he used alot of Pat's philosophy in his coaching and it helped hide...er..."made non defensive players better" such as LJ as you alluded to (same with Thibodeau on certain guys currently), but his in-game adjustments/creativity (which is part of what he was criticized for) was indeed poor.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 07:26 PM) Orlando-era T-Mac was a stud though, and he was still very good his first year in Houston. He was my favorite player in the late 90s-early 00s, even though he snubbed Chicago when he signed in Orlando. He was never as lazy about the game nor lack the heart as his cousin Vince (as I've stated repeatedly could of been/should of been one of the greatest ever) did and actually made the most out of what he had offensively during that time/prime/peak. Now with that said.. with his athleticism, length, quickness, movement without the ball, etc. he should of had much more impact on the game defensively. (most of that is on him, but he was always the man since high school and he never had the best defensive coaches either strategically, same as Carmelo currently) A shame what injuries did to him later on. Also a shame he didn't pay attention to detail as much on the court during stretches.

Nice water.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 08:56 AM) OK, but the people I know are in their late 20s to mid 30s. I know guys 40+ doing it, thanks to my profession. (even myself doing it every one in a while) Hard labor man.. for the druggies and alcoholics.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 10:17 AM) What if the #3 pick becomes a star? What if Danish becomes an ace out of nowhere? What if Laumann and the rest of the staff find a gem (or two) after the #3 pick in the '14 draft? What Q and myself are saying is, you just never know what will happen that can derail the FO's plans good (as in that, other or under the radar prospects shining, young players in the bigs living up to potential) or bad (serious injuries, prospects busting, young players taking years to develop, or struggle/never get it)

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 3, 2014 -> 04:44 PM) Jason Parks just said he's got the Sox as the #19 system in baseball. They will probably be middle of the pack (#15th or so, maybe better) when they add up the #3 pick, plus the other draft selections the sox brass makes by the end of the year. A HUGE step from where this organization was just two years ago.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 07:21 AM) I know people who smoke 10+ times/week. Not that much, but that was pretty much me in high school....

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 02:39 AM) How many more dead grandpas do we need to get some life out of this team? Kane just lost it in the post game interview. Haven't seen him cry like that since Savard was fired. Kudos to him for even seeing the media after the game. He had an amazing game all around.

Congrats to JPN! Top 5 defense in NFL history easily.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 31, 2014 -> 09:16 AM) So anything before 2005 just remains forgotten? How else are we going to remember the Sox coming back from an 8-1 deficit against the Cubs? Not my rules Blake. But hey, feel free to start another thread about moments before 05' if you want

Shout out to the NHL chief operating officer for saying "Comiskey." It'll be good for popularity as well for the White Sox in some instances.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 31, 2014 -> 08:56 AM) Also, Konerko's homer off Guardado in 2003 to tie it, and then Frank hitting a bomb FOUL and then following it up with a BOMB that stayed fair. OP said 06' or later son. And didn't Contreras break the franchise consecutive wins streak or something in 2006?

JPN is the only true Seahawks fan I consider on this board anyways.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jan 28, 2014 -> 07:10 AM) ESPN is the worst To be fair, it was a fan who asked the question. Stephen A. Smith wasn't too happy about it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) Don't get me wrong, I have no problem if he is the opening day starter, just that if he starts in the minors, it's not the worst thing in the world. Let's hope the sox org and Buddy Bell has learned about rushing these kids too much. Thank god Jacob May for example figured it out after starting off so brutal in Kanny.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) And this is of course assuming Davidson doesn't make the team meaning Gillaspie/Keppinger are still apart of the logjam. I highly doubt he does, unless he tears the cover off the ball in ST. Kid is still a bit raw (although the power is very real). He'll be here before the end of the season though. Even Hahn spoke about him likely headed to AAA to start, which I believe is the right move for his development (unless, like I said, he just murders the ball in ST). Let him handle the tougher IL.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 11:59 AM) To summarize, the Nets just willingly traded for quite possibly the worst player of all-time. Austin Rivers, with actual playing time, had one of the worst seasons in the NBA/ABA era (I'm talking 308th in the league as a defender, nearly record worst 43.1 TS%, 5.9 PER.. yea I don't need to go on) and is still doing s***ty this year, albeit not as s***ty as his god awful rookie year, but still s***ty, yet you still spill out the same bulls*** most of us already know (although not nearly as awful as you portray the kid to be) seeking the "hey look at me" attention to your posts no better than J4L in this thread (who is miles smarter than you about the game of basketball btw) and then still pout about others in this thread who might not be as factual about certain aspects of Thibodeau's tactics, advanced statistical strategies (especially defensively... his abolition of illegal defense he fully leveraged and was really the first to do so, by loading up the strong side box while having the weakside defenders zone the back side of the defense.. just a brilliant mind) or about a Bulls player in general (and yes some are warranted) and yet respond to one, two, sometimes ten word snarly remarks back to others reminiscent to SoxFan1 who does it.. well.. almost all the time. No wonder why some good basketball minds here rarely post or just avoid this thread entirely. Of course I'm only pulling your leg and halfway kidding Steven. But yes, Teague wasn't properly developed here and he sucked. Bulls did what they needed to do to get under the tax. Best of luck to the kid. Maybe Jason Kidd can teach him some things with his high basketball I.Q. like how to properly bump into him with a drink in his hand without getting caught on camera.

He knows something... that Spanky....

WFAN Sports Radio ‏@WFAN660 20sec Report: Masahiro Tanaka has also confirmed to his agent Casey Close he will "seikou his wife" on the mound with the media at hand after signing to his preferred club.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 09:47 AM) Sqwert, no doing this if the Seahawks lose http://deadspin.com/49ers-fan-allegedly-sh...of-b-1505721518