hogan873

I love the "looking back" argument. I'm not sure many people would say that the Adam Dunn signing worked out so well. So, most are going to "look back" and say it wasn't a good deal. But when he was signed, most people thought it was a good signing. I didn't say everyone thought it was a good move, so calm down if you're ready to say, "Well, I didn't like it!" If you take away 2011, which I know you can't, Dunn has not been terrible. Worth the contract? Probably not, but how many players are? Dunn has his average almost up to his career average, and he's done that by making an adjustment. It was not an adjustment he needed to make in the past. But he's done it now, and it's working. Looking forward, if Dunn can hit .240ish with 30+ HRs and 90+ RBIs next year, that'll be fine. Again, I'm not saying it's production worthy of the contract, but what's done is done. Enough with the looking back argument. Let's look forward.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 09:24 AM) Willis would have all the players hitting barefoot though. Help or hurt? Might hurt at first, but it would only build strength and character. Then they could tie in Shoeless Joe Jackson into the advertising somehow.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 09:09 AM) What's Tom Berenger up to now a days? I think he's just famous enough that he'd be good, but not so famous as to attract too much media attention and becoming a circus in the locker room. Plus, it's JAKE TAYLOR. I mean, you guys, COME ON! "Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do. Win the whole f***ing thing."

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 07:53 AM) My vote is for Kate Upton. She's definitely FAMOUS and you have her in the dugout with just a jersey on and no pants and attendance will skyrocket. QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 07:56 AM) Upton would be awesome but come on, she is far too busy with her modeling career at this point. Lets be realistic about it. Bruce Willis is probably a better choice. Have you seen Die Hard? He would be able to show them how to run across glass and shoot guns while jumping out of windows. US Cellular would never be the same. I like both ideas, but why not play off the nickname for the stadium: The Cell? We could get Tom Hanks, dressed as Paul Edgecomb from The Green Mile. He could slowly patrol the dugout while giving the players advice on life. Or how about Morgan Freeman (Shawshank Redemption)? "Swing through the ball, and listen to sound of my voice."

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 14, 2013 -> 11:30 PM) From what I've read and what I've seen (I will not over-react; I like him) Garcia again looks like a White Sox free-swinger with a bunch of talent (see Viciedo, see DeAza) who could use some coaching. I like the fact Manto got Beckham to bend his knees. Beckham should now be a .300 hitter the rest of his career, though his power may have been zapped, which is OK. He was on fast track to the minors if he kept his old stance. But folks, our youngsters (Phegs isn't going to make it without some refining as well) need help. Is Manto the man the young players will respect enough to give that help? I'd fire him and bring in a FAMOUS hitting coach. Big Frank probably won't do it. He's too rich to want to travel that much during the season. Is SOMEBODY out there??? Garcia's future may depend on it. Because being famous makes one better at their job. Who cares about fame? I don't care if the hitting coach is Ralph Howard from Nome, Alaska as long as he can help the hitters. It's like the argument that a manager is good because people smile at him at Dennys.

I voted for Sale, A. Garcia, Santiago, Mitchell, and Beckham. I don't know much about the minors, although thanks to many of the very knowledgable folks on this board I'm more informed now. But I've heard a lot of potential good things about Mitchell. Sale and Santiago I like for obvious reasons. I believe both will be parts of the Sox rotation for quite a while. Garcia has a ton of potential, and he's another that could be in a Sox uniform for many years. Finally, I chose Beckham because he's looked so much better this year since coming back from the DL. His defense ahs always been good, but it seems like he'a finally figured something out with the bat. Time will tell, but maybe Hawk was right and he'll take over as the leader of this team. As a wild card, I'll say I'm interested to see how L. Garcia does. It sounds like he has the potential to be decent starter with great defense and speed and an okay bat. It would be nice to see that happen, but having him as a super sub wouldn't be a terrible thing either. Oh, and don't forget about Micker Zapata. I know he's a long ways away, but you never know.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 06:10 PM) Couldn't have been more than like 6-9 months I'd guess. Well, I didn't mean years had passed by. I would agree it was probably about 9 months or so...maybe a year.

I find it funny how much Dunn hate still exists. The guy's been one of the Sox's best hitters for the past month or so. His BA is approaching his career average, he still hits homeruns, and he's obviously made an adjustment because he's getting a lot more base hits than he has in the past. All that said, $15 million is too much for him right now, and that's why he wasn't claimed on waivers. Had he been owed $10 million or less he probably would have been claimed. If Dunn has a similar year next year (.225ish, 30+ HRs, 80+RBIs), someone will sign him for a couple years at a discount (less than $10 million per).

That was an intense episode of Breaking Bad. A great way to start the final episodes. The flash forward at the beginning seems like quite a bit of time had elapsed. The neighbor's reaction to "Hello Carol" led me to believe either Walt was thought to be dead or he's being sought for his crimes. It'll be interesting to see how everything plays out. I'm also looking forward to starting Low Winter Sun. Has anyone watched it yet?

I liked Rios enough. He wasn't one of my favorites, but I certainly didn't share the hate that some had for him. I am glad, however, that he's been traded. I'd like to see a decent return. I don't know much about Garcia Part II (if it ends up being him), but if he can help in some way AND the saved money is spent wisely, I'm okay with the trade.

I don't see Adam going anywhere unless the Sox pay a good chunk of his contract, which I don't see happening. I'm okay with Dunn sticking around. If he can keep up the way he's been hitting into next season, he'd be a much more valuable to this team as they "retool."

Great finale of The Killing last night. It'll be interesting how they handle it if the show is renewed.

I lived in Juneau for about two years and loved it. I'd go back, but there is the issue with being isolated...no way in or out by car. I could see myself going to Anchorage, Seattle, Northern California, and maybe western North Carolina.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 1, 2013 -> 03:39 AM) Cmon, isn't it obvious after this trade deadline thing nobody wants to pay Rios and certainly nobody is going to claim him and pay the full amount of his remaining contract? Rios got 6 fricking hits in a game and still nobody wants to pay his full contract. If somebody truly valued Rios, he'd no longer be a member of the White Sox. Agree??? I would say if I were a GM, and wanted to overlook his reputation of being disinterested at times (how's that for a nice way of saying what I'd really like to say here) I think a fair salary for Rios now is about 3-4 million a year. Obviously teams agreed because NOBODY made the Sox a decent offer for him at the trade deadline. Before the July 31 trade deadline, there were several teams interested in Rios. He wasn't traded because no team met what Hahn was asking and offering. The Sox were not going to send money, so Hahn was asking for some prospects AND that the other team take on all of Rios' contract. Between now and August 31, there will be teams interested in him again, and there might be a point where he's claimed. If he's claimed, the Sox may decide to go the way of the Blue Jays and let him go for pure salary relief.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 24, 2013 -> 11:05 AM) If the rest of the Sox team is good enough next year to win (highly doubtful), I'm sure they'd find a SS to approximate Ramirez production. Besides, it's not like they haven't given away playoff opportunities before to develop players. See Viciedo as opposed to Quentin in LF last year. Christ, here we go again.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 24, 2013 -> 10:15 AM) Yikes. This makes Gonzalez look like a tool box! Yeah, he's not saying what the deal was, just that Martinez was not part of it. Makes a little more sense why the Sox didn't agree.

Heyman is reporting that the Sox did NOT turn down this trade. Apparently Martinez was not offered.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 09:31 PM) Insert Viciedo gif here. That was like little league stuff there. We need to insert the Benny Hill music into the gif.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 03:40 PM) Huh? Yeah...huh?

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 03:22 PM) Has anyone here ever felt the need to defecate but found it impossible... As in, the sun can not break through heavy storm clouds... And just sits near the closed gates... Wanting all the while to reign down in a thunderous plunge? Ladies? Thunderous plunge...That's a good screen name.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 02:09 PM) I don't know that it is that simple, guys. It depends how liquid the market is for him. If there aren't enough suitors, then you can stomp your feet all day long and say "the price was set with Garza," but if no one is willing to pay it, then no one is willing to pay it. Hahn still has to do what is best for the White Sox. That isn't dictated solely by what the Rangers paid for Garza. You're right. Hopefully there's a team that will offer up a nice package that benefits the Sox. Just dumping Peavy's salary for something off another team's scrap heap doesn't do the team any good. I think that if the Sox don't get a good enough offer for Peavy, they'll hold onto him.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 12:59 PM) No, regarding Peavy. I don't know if teams want to mess with having him on the team at all since he gets hurt so much and makes a lot of money. It might be easier to just pass on Peavy rather than have him get hurt and have to deal with all that. Peavy's contract is very affordable. When he's healthy (and it seems like he is right now), he's a very good pitcher. He has gotten hurt a couple times, but each time he has bounced back and pitched very well. I'm not saying he's going to be traded for sure, but you can bet Hahn is fielding a ton of calls for him. Because he's affordable and under control for one more year, he won't be moved for anything less than a similar package the Cubs got for Garza.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 23, 2013 -> 11:14 AM) Tear down. At least 7 guys gone. How often does something like that actually happen...I mean as long as the team isn't the Miami Marlins? Realistically, I see three more players traded. Peavy, Rios, and Crain. I wouldn't be totally surprised, however, if Peavy and/or Rios stay.

Some contracts work out, some don't. The Dunn contract, we can all agree, was an overpay. But, there is nothing that can be done about that now. Fans are still going to the games, paying for the seats, buying beer and hotdogs, and paying for parking. These big contracts aren't going away. Unfortunately, GMs have to look at past performance, and rely on what they've seen, before making offers. If they see something that concerns them about a potential injury or slump, they're not going to make that huge offer. Since you are obviously refering to Dunn with this thread, I think most people saw the signing as decent due to his past performance. He wasn't going to be an old guy at the end of the contract, and he was one of the most consistent power hitters in the game for years. No one, not even Adam Dunn, thought 2011 would be so disatrous.

I like it for keeping in touch with family and friends and the ability to quickly share and view photos. But, the political stuff drives me nuts. I have "friends" on both ends of the political spectrum, and some of them post (usually share) the stupidest stuff. One "friend", who happends to be a relative in-law, constantly shares every anti-Obama/anti-Democrat thing out there. The worst part about all of this is that this person is not even registered to vote. I've seriously considered un-friending them, but their ignorance is almost comical. I laughed out loud the other day when they shared a post from some group called Occupy NRA. The post essentially said that stricter gun laws are needed and compared the amount of gun violence in the US with other countries, stating that the countries with the lowest gun crime rates had the strictest gun laws. But, since the post seemed at first to be bashing the current government, this person shared it, thinking they were once again bashing the current administration. I can get pretty fed up with the crap I read on Facebook. I know I was very close to unfriending a bunch of people around the time of the election. But, as I said, it is nice to keep in touch with friends and family.