SoxAce

Dan Marino and Jim Kelly don't have Super Bowl rings. Obviously they must suck since Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have one.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 20, 2009 -> 06:12 PM) Bears deny report Smith is returning http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news...e=ESPNHeadlines I gotta say.. if this is true from Jerry, then it gives most of us Bear fans some optimism.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 20, 2009 -> 04:35 PM) 2 Cutler INTs, 1 in the red zone, got lucky with a missed Balt FG, only Bear TD is a punt return. I'm about to stop defending Cutler. He seems lazy on his throws. Rarely steps into it. Meh.. when he does this with a real OC and a QB coach who can actually develop somebody next season, then I'll stop as well. A talented QB like him doesn't go from a Pro Bowler/one of the top QB in the game, to Rex Grossman in one season without something being up.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 20, 2009 -> 01:05 PM) Brittany Murphy died this morning at the age of 32. Heart attack. Yikes Holy s***. And I watched 8 mile yesterday too. Crazy.

Wow.. talk about a throwback.. I remember this was talked about back in the day a few times actually. SoxFan1 (Slav) loves Tucker Max, kinda got me into it a while back, though I haven't followed up on the stories much anymore.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 20, 2009 -> 01:49 AM) Probably because you're always masturbating... That is... partially true.

I always have to close the door in my room to go to sleep. Even if it's open slightly, it gets to me.

Well.. this deal was pending a physical and Lowell failed his physical. He'll have surgery on his thumb, but is expected to be ready by spring training.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 10:43 PM) It sucks to see the Saints perfect season end, for the simple fact that I'm sick of Mercury Morris and the 72 Dolphins. Hopefully the Colts can win these next two games. I'm still shocked those guys are still talking. Yes the Patriots lost in the super bowl, but they were still perfect in the regular season. I'd rather them talk when a team (like the Colts) loses in the playoffs when/if they are perfect after the regular season.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 09:05 PM) Joe Johnson looking pretty good tonight.... It's been the Joe Johnson and Derrick Rose show today.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) You're right, but it's the old recency effect. People are usually greatly affected by events that occur recently. I think some people have had time to let the Peavy excitement wear off. Eh.. people still get their shots in with Alex Rios on this board still. Not sayin it's right.. but just sayin...

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 08:45 PM) Totally disagree. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They sign two players like that for the same money and are still left with holes to fill. As it stands now, I think they still have a hole. And that's after they've made those other acquisitions. I agree with what your saying, but you can't dismiss what Ozzie Ball was saying either. I can't speak for Randy Winn but say we signed Nick Johnson to 5.5 mil and traded for Gardner (KW mighta overpaid a bit, but as long as it wasn't Hudson or Flowers couldn't careless about the other "top" prospects) who makes the minimum.. whose to say he still could have signed Austin Kearns (whose had a couple bad years on a terrible Nationals team, but has a career .353 OBP and is one of the best defensive RF in the game) for next to little? (And btw, have no problem with the Putz signing and Teahan addition) That's what some mean by creativity which KW has been really good at in the past. I just think he "settled" for Pierre more or less cause of Ozzie's stress with a leadoff hitter, and Pierre being a veteran certainally helps that though I was never a fan of his (hopefully he can hit like last season or his Marlin years when he was younger). Not saying even THOSE additions would be as good/worse as the guys we have now, but I would certianally feel much better about them given their history in their numbers which is what some feel is mediocrity we've been getting, and honestly... it's hard to argue that unless what a couple said.. maybe we strike lightening with a couple of them having career years. (and I still feel good about Teahan this season)

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 08:04 PM) Not questioning, but is him being black and having 2 other blacks there really going to help him? Honestly, just curious. It's actually been of interest with me for a while, especially regarding Contreras and Iguchi in 2005 and then following them afterwards. Well I can't speak for Bradley cause I'm not in his head (though I don't even think Milton Bradley himself knows what's going on in his head) but the year he was with the A's, he was pretty liked, and the year in Texas, he had his best season under Ron Washington. I tend to think the lower market helps more so than having other black teammates, but I'm sure that does not hurt much at all with Milton. He usually clicks with guys with strong personalities I noticed regardless (I.E. Frank, Swisher, etc..) and Griffey already has that respect all around the game, not to mention is a hellova guy. I can see him developing a few handshakes with Ichiro when he drives him in.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 08:13 PM) I think Williams is trying to recreate 2005. He wants the studly pitching staff (he didn't know he had 4 sub-4 ERAs before the season, considering neither Garland nor Contreras had ever done anything like it), a good bullpen (hasn't moved Jenks and brought in Putz while hoping for others to break out), and a very balanced lineup. Early in the season, the Sox had an absolutely dreadful lineup. He's trying to avoid having that. I still think Thome is going to wind up back here next year, but unless he absolutely starts tearing the cover off the ball against both righties and lefties (which is almost certainly not going to happen), he's going to have a reduced role and will probably only play 120 games. That still leaves Ozzie with a rotating DH, the ability of great pinch hitters, some flexibility off the bench. And another left handed hitter really doesn't hurt. Agreed. But we better hope some players have career years like 2005 (I.E. Garland, Cotts, Pollite, etc..) For some odd reason, I have a good feeling about Teahan at least. We'll see.

I have no idea how many times I've mentioned Austin Kearns on this site... but I'm glad it's been credited as a creative imaginative thought.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 04:14 PM) Second, one thing that is missing from a lot of our guys is significant OBP. Say what you want about guys being base cloggers, one thing I don't see when I look at that lineup is a guy who's going to take a lot of walks and make you throw a lot of pitches. Just for diversity in the lineup, that could well be useful. Agreed 100% and have been saying that myself. Other than Konerko, Beckham, and Quentin, I don't see anyone in our lineup currently that can be a definite .350+ OBP player. We gotta hope some can have good years and perhaps revert back to it or close around there (Teahan, Rios and I'll even add Alexei as well) and a guy who has to find the youth potion and give us a serviceable OBP (Pierre) as most know.. that isn't A.J.'s game. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 04:16 PM) Screw whether they are lefty or righty. Just get the best hitter you can afford. I agree 100% with this as well and I'm glad KW sees it that way from some of the rumors of players on blogs/sites and from sources some don't know here. The whole lefty/righty balance is almost as overrated as Ozzie's lefty/lefty (or righty/righty) tendencies for pitching matchups. Give me Thornton (probably the only guy I feel comfortable with before the season AS OF RIGHT NOW of course) to get that tough lefty or righty out 10/10 times. I'm sure if we traded for B.J. Upton (not saying we will, just hypothetically), there would be no complaints about balance of the lineup especially for that stud who helps us win and can hit lefties and rightites.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 04:22 PM) If Mark Kotsay is the White Sox every day firstbaseman, we better hope Bears training camp is interesting. I'm going to assume he meant as far as defensively. Which I would definitely put Kotsay out there as a late inning sub over Paulie. Paulie of course is much superior with the bat.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 03:04 PM) Yeah kittens are impossible to not like, but you just want to throw them out the window sometimes. No.. I hate cats. And I used to have one back in the day.

I can't us landing AGon in any way (esp. with other teams playing the field here) without Hudson being involved in any deal FYI.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 03:44 AM) Ya, I just got back to Chicago from school late tonight. I was planning on getting home somewhat early so I can go out tonight but Chicago traffic and snow kind of killed my plans. So day drink tomorrow. Sounds like a plan to me. :cheers

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 03:29 AM) I'm sober on a Friday night in 2009? Hard to believe. I'll probably be sober next Friday as well (Christmas.. family) so pretty much from Thursday/Friday (New Years Eve and Day) I should be good. Then again.. I had a few beers with the cousins last year for X-Mas watching football, so who knows.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 18, 2009 -> 08:46 PM) I think he'll fit in fine there. It's a place with less media scrutiny, the fans are a bit more laid back, and they should be a playoff contender. I think it's a very nice risk for Seattle. Indeed. Reminds me of Bradley with the A's and he was very liked there actually. (Bradley still says that was the best clubhouse he's ever been in) I remember Big Frank loved him. That's why I said he'll fit there nicely, especially in "Griffey's clubhouse."

QUOTE (WCSox @ Dec 18, 2009 -> 04:23 PM) Hudson is also only 22 years old. Danks was of similar age in 2007 and, despite throwing 156 and 140 innings in the minors over the previous two years, he went through a dead arm period in late 2007 and was so ineffective that they shut him down. I imagine that Hudson would experience similar fatigue issues if he were asked to throw 190+ innings next year. Agreed. Hudson was also pitching in A, AA and AAA with basically no pressure, and getting hitters out consistently with a low pitch count (I remember seeing his pitch count average was 91.3 but I gotta double check) You don't have that wear and tear in a full MLB season where players are alot more patient and selective at the plate. He also pitched mostly out of the bullpen here.. a much different than starting.. seeing those same hitters more than once. Huddy is gonna be a good one.. but I wouldn't rush the reins with him just yet unless he really shows something in ST and/or Freddy pitches really terrible/gets injured.

Hjalmarsson out tonight (sick), Bickell recalled. Niemi will start in goal.

Might be the best thing to happen for Bradley. He'll be a saint in the Griffey clubhouse. Got a couple brothers there to talk to as well. Can't see a downfall to this deal at all for the Mariners. Not that this made them any different, but I was going to pick them to win the West regardless. Yes the Cubs got raped in value, but freeing up 6 million in cash (which they can use in FA) to trade Bradley (getting 9 million back from the Mariners) is very good for them.