SoxAce

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 02:36 AM) That's going to be my upset prediction for the playoffs, the Thunder to knock off the Lakers. If Sefolosha can do a decent job on Kobe, I think the Lakers are there for the taking. I know they'll pick it up for the playoffs, but I just don't like the way they've played at all for the past 20 games. I can't see it, but it wouldn't exactly "surprise" me either. Thunder are a young, hungry team, and usually young teams don't know any better in the playoffs. Plus the Lakers won't be just ass-raping a usual 8 seed. The Thunder have a legit superstar in Kevin Durant. I can't them upsetting the Lakers (Lakers beat them 3/4 times in the reg. season, though I know that's the regular season), but it won't be the usual 4 game series for the Lakers either. I can easily see this series going 6-7 games.

Kong.

Quentin.

BTW, one West matchup is now set. #1 Lakers vs #8 Thunder.

A rumor, but Brewers want to lock up another young stud.. but Fielder isn't (doesn't want) gonna be gettin a Braun steal of a contract.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 01:15 AM) I wonder what the chances are that once Kenny realizes he can not get A-Gon, that he will throw some money at Jermaine (assuming he does not have a team). 1. KW already says he'd prefer a LH big bat, not to mention that is what we lack. 2. Ozzie would probably make alot of posters here (including myself) hate Dye. 3. Dye would not accept even a DH role, as he already said. (even a part time one, he wants to be in the OF, and even went to say he'd even play 1B as long as he's on the field.)

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 12:00 AM) http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?pla...=P&pitch=FA Gracias sir.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 06:47 PM) Nice line from Collop: 5 IP, 12 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO. He'll have some good success pitching like that. Yea he didn't have anything tonight for sure.. I was as off as your prediction yesterday on a Wickswat/Vizcaino pitchers duel. I'll say this though, his control this game is encouraging for a guy who has not been stellar in that regard in the past (5:1).

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:45 PM) How bad was Ozzie's managing when he decided to have Kotsay bat for Alexei in the 11th to get the lefty-righty match-up, and then Kotsay singles? Puts in Vizquel to pinch run, and he scores on the triple. Look in the game thread. Fathom, BigSqwert, etc.. loved the call when he did that. In fact, I loved it too sitting at home and was shocked. I mean come on, Kotsay is a lifetime .330+ hitter pinch hitting so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see he thrives in that role (and alot of us wanted him there this year.. a bench guy/pinch hitter late/occasional starts) I was even more shocked to see Teahen swinging away and not bunting to drive in Vizquel which was brilliant. Ozzie looked like he learned from the Beckham AB when he bunted. Can only help these guys confidence going forward, and Ozzie's confidence in them.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:14 PM) AVG MAX DATE 93.27 95.7 - 3/31/08 92.88 93.6 - 4/05/08 91.72 94.6 - 4/06/09 91.93 94.1 - 4/11/09 91.75 93.8 - 9/19/09 91.64 93.4 - 9/25/09 91.21 93.3 - 10/2/09 90.77 93 - 4/7/10 89.93 91.2 - today Hmmm.. you got his velocity numbers from May-Sept. Kal in 08? Funny thing is we got guys who aren't at their usual velocity yet either this early. Thornton has been 94-95 a couple of times touched 96 (been 96-98 last year) Santos is 94-95 (was 97-99 in winter ball and in AAA) Peavy, I believe I've seen Danks at 89-91, Putz is 92-94 comming back from surgery (was 95-98, when he was healthy) etc..

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:28 PM) Also, his high OBP is inflated quite a bit by his HBP, which isn't a terrible thing He's been doing that for years now ever since Stanford. His OBP being "inflated" is basically his game. He will average about 20+ HBPs per year (also walks at a solid rate) depending on the amount of games he plays. A Craig Biggio with more power, maybe less average.

BTW, Reading that game thread now (especially early on) makes me disgusted to be on this site with some of you.

Toronto comming in, is one of the best offenses in the game so far in this early season. Yes Peavy is learning the AL is a man's league, but he isn't nearly this bad either. Simply was missing his locations on pitches. He'll be fine.

Ima go out on a limb and say regardless if it's a RHP tomorrow, Jones will be in the lineup. 9 of our 14 hits were from guys who weren't on the team last season or the years where we sucked in Toronto. (Teahen, Rios, Jones) QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:42 PM) Very interesting box score. How did Andruw look in LF? As good as he did at the plate, though he didn't have many chances out there, but it's good to see runners now aren't testing all three OF arms when Pierre isn't in LF (or when Pods was here).

Why do people pitch to Mauer? Seriously. I mean I know Morneau isn't any better, but I'd take my chances than pitch to one of, if not, the best hitter in the game. (dude hit .365 last year.. c'mon)

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 02:35 PM) They are NOT risking him getting injured at $12 million. Well it's not like his contract is up after this season or anything.. Oh wait. Hell judging by the commercial, Buehrle has great form back there when he was catching Peavy.

QUOTE (earthshiner @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 03:23 PM) I think he means emergency third string if lets say both aj and lucy go down in the same game. I would guess its Nix. If that's the case.. I would guess Konerko since he came up as a catcher.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 02:19 PM) Don't know if this has been posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/knic...qlxSjLDmd8yKOgK "Most players believe James is staying in Cleveland and Dwyane Wade, who visits the Garden tonight for the last time before becoming free, will not leave Miami, despite selling his home for a loss. League sentiment also has Amar'e Stoudemire hooking up with Wade in Miami and Chris Bosh joining forces with point guard Derrick Rose in Chicago. That leaves Joe Johnson, who doesn't exactly make the Knicks world-beaters." I know you guys would be happy to have Bosh down low with Noah. Bulls would have a nasty front-court. I would love it. Get Bosh, draft a sniper as a shooting guard (Anderson, Jones or Warren at 18, or pray Henry falls that low) sign a couple guys to the vet minimum for the bench, and call it an off-season.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 02:53 PM) For the Bulls, they should still tank IMO and try to get a top 3 pick. Getting pounded by the Cavs in four games is not going to do anymore good in their psyche than going home at the end of the season. Also, the Bulls have to prepare themselves for the situation of them getting no one in FA. It doesn't even have to be Turner. Hell, Turner has no spot on the squad as he's a SF and the Bulls would have to move Deng which I must say, "good luck with that one". If they get a top three pick and get Wall, Cousins, Turner, Favors, Johnson then they are in a great position. Even if the piece doesn't fit, they can still move him for a better fit. Well what if the Bulls stay at #11 which is a 99.7% chance of that happening? Bucks can just say hi, and give us their #18th pick swap. Plus, if the Bulls move into the top 3, they wouldn't have the money to sign a max type FA anyways (than a guy at 18) so that point is moot. More playoff experience for Rose, Noah can't hurt (especially for Noah, and both guys have missed games from injury so it's good to have them get better) not to mention will be very good for Taj and Johnson (assuming VDN lets him play some minutes) Turner is a SG and has been one for a while. I've heard he actually could be 6'6, not 6'7 (we'll see in the nba workouts) and even then is still very, very good for a tall SG who has his ball handles and intangibles. (which would be wasted at SF) Now don't get me wrong, I would love Wall, if he's a legit 6'4 (who knows), tell him to add muscle and he can be our 6'4 DWade at SG, but that might not be good for him in the long run. Just don't see any benefits on tanking to the 11th spot, which is what the Bulls will finish anyways as they have no shot at #10, and just have the Bucks swap picks, unless Stern wants our 0.3% chance to be greater for Chicago to land Turner. (even if he and DRose don't get along)

QUOTE (whitem0nkey @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 02:52 PM) Reporters asked him what was the difference. :lolhitting :notworthy You can see Mo Rivera laughing in the back

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 02:50 PM) Rios in CF and Jones in Lf. As it should be. Thank you, Ozzie. WOOOO! He must be reading the boards. Just said that yesterday myself.

Justin Collop.. I'm going to keep an eye on him this season. He was a bit of a reach last season, but has just great projectability. He finally has a change-up, which he didn't have success with in college and the sox supposedly tweaked his mechanics. Strikes me as one of those prospects who pitches better with wood bats than aluminum (which tends to happen with guys who sucked in college, same as hitters). I could see him advancing a stop or two when this season is done if all goes well.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:51 AM) I would like you to meet Derrick Rose. The Bulls had the 8th overall pick at that time, so at least they were in the top 10 lottery. Unless Stern really wants to rig it in our favor (again) for us to net the other Chicago stud (Evan Turner), it's gonna be damn near impossible to move out of the 11th spot, yet alone go in the top 5. 1.7% is alot better odds than 0.3% especially when you do have a hell's chance in that near 2%.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 12:18 PM) :lolhitting

QUOTE (bulokis @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 07:00 PM) A little disappointed we did not win the west but the Stanley cup is the one goal. When does the playoff start?