hogan873

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 31, 2012 -> 10:16 AM) My first reaction is every sports program up to high school schould be about skill development, sportsmanship, and learning how to be a team mate. Keep score if you like, but winning and losing should not be the goal until high school. Fortunately my school district shares this philosophy. It's good to hear that some areas are doing this. The league where my son plays is all about development. Scores are kept, but both teams just have a team mom or dad doing it. The only time scores count are in the playoffs at the end...and I think some of those games get a little out of control.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 31, 2012 -> 10:06 AM) Basically agree with what you said. They're 6 and 7. How "competitive" is any league at that age? My guess is the coach has some issues and is trying to live his dream through youth baseball. This is a big problem with youth sports. I see too often where coaches expect too much out of the kids and end up yelling at them or making them feel bad about themselves. That's no way to make a kid a better player.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-p...-211302532.html I thought since it's a slow sports day we could discuss this. I read through the article, and I was torn on what I thought. As many people mentioned in the comments on Yahoo, boys aren't allowed to play on girls softball teams. But, I can't help keep coming back to the fact that it's a team for 6 and 7 year olds. And they cut the girl (and several other players) to make the team more competitive. For a team with 6 and 7 year olds... I've been coaching my son's baseball teams for a few years, and our league is open to boys and girls. In the Shetland (6U) division, there are usually a handful of girls on each team, but by the time you get to Mustang (10U) there are almost no girls, as most have moved on to softball. So, I'm not sure which side to argue, except that the article is talking about a team for 6 and 7 year olds, and I don't see how cutting a few players can make them that much more competitive. By the way, mods if you feel this belongs in the Buster, I understand.

I had a ton of shows on my DVR, and I'm working through them one by one. We're catching up with Person of Interest right now. I'm really enjoying it.

I went with Sale. I think he'll do well enough, and when he does falter here and there he'll get a pass since it's his first year as a starter. However, Konerko is a good bet, too.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 10:41 AM) Don Cooper wouldn't let me put his name in the poll. What a bum, what a clown. He's a big meanie!

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 10:14 AM) The system definitely lacks in 1B's and power hitters, even more so than it does in other areas. Wilkins is the one guy who might fit both bills, but 2012 will be a good indicator if that will really happen. Certainly he's worth keeping an eye on for that purpose. The only other power hitter in the system, at least at this point, is Trayce Thompson. But he is still very raw, hasn't hit for a solid average yet, and strikes out a metric f***-ton. Is that an industry unit of measure?

Very well done list. I see lots of pitchers, a few middle infielders, and one 1st baseman...and two catchers. In the opinions of those better versed in the minors, is in concerning to not have a good potential replacement for Konerko? I imagine having pitchers, outfielders, and middle infielders is more important (as 1st base seems to require less athleticism), but after years of having a good power-hitting 1st baseman, what does the future hold for the Sox once Konerko leaves or retires (hopefully the latter)?

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 02:15 PM) While I enjoyed the article and generally agreed with his opinion, I must say I hated that he wrote it. As far as I am concerned, any mention of Oz in a Chicago newspaper or referenceing the Sox is a bad article and further plays into their over inflated opinions of themselves (Guillens). It is a good day when there are no Oz/Sox columns, it is a bad day when there is. And I believe Oz will be one hell of a manager for the next couple seasons. With the team that they've built, Ozzie should look good. But what happens if there's a collapse of epic proportions (which is entirely possible)?

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 10:02 AM) I've said it before here, I just don't think he's gonna recover much. He is not the player he was for whatever reason. I know what you're getting at, but there's a better chance that last year was just a bad year (for whatever reason) than him suddenly not being able to play like he used to ever again. No, I don't have any facts, data, or stats, but in my opinion he'll rebound. I'm not certain he'll hit 40 HRs, but I expect a season closer to his career norm.

A long high-pitched wail was just heard coming from Kansas.

Who are some of the folks on Twitter worth following for trade rumors and such?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:24 AM) Crazy that a movie like Bridesmaids could have a Best Supporting Actress nomination She was one of the best parts of that movie.

QUOTE (G&T @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 11:24 AM) "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" for best picture, eh? A movie with 48% on rotten tomatoes - 30% behind any other nominee. I haven't seen it, but that seems out of place. I'm not sure I like the 10 nominations. It seems like they reach for the last few, and I would guess this movie falls in that category.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 01:38 AM) Let's take your points. Hawk is ... • rambling: They have to fill the airtime. I don't think he rambles that much. • Idiotic: Why would you say that? He's played baseball, seen a lot of ball. Idiotic? I say no to that. • Bellowing: I like his home run call. • Cliched: Maybe, but aren't all announcers more cliched than Hawk? How can you say Hawk has no clue. He also actually criticizes the team some which NO OTHER team does except maybe the Cubs announcers too. I'm okay with Hawk. To me he's entertaining, and he will lay down some criticisms. But he does ramble, you have to admit that. How often does he start talking about guys no one has ever heard of?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 04:07 PM) Has he eaten anything? True. He needs the 30 pounds that Dunn dropped. Maybe they should hang out and discuss their diets. Dunn: I'm going to go ahead and order another burger and a Schlitz. Sale: Not me, I'm full after that crouton and ice water. Dunn: No, the burger is for you. What the hell, you can have the beer, too. Trouble is, Sale could end up looking like Jenks.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 05:21 PM) I'm betting he deals Floyd and Thornton in minor transactions before ST. He'll get 4-5 minor leaguers for the two of them combined. Hopefully some minor leaguers who make the bigs at some point. Floyd alone is worth a couple near major league-ready guys or one who's ready and some minor stuff. I don't think Floyd will be traded before the season starts unless KW can get a very good return.

Could anyone else actually hear Hawk when you were reading that piece? Hawk is certainly not going to come out and say that 2012 looks bad, but he seemed pretty honest about what he saw going into 2011.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 01:19 AM) I'm glad the Sox extended Danks instead of Mark. The money was better spent on Danks, as he is younger. In my opinion, and I think in the opinion of quite a few others here, Miami overpayed for Mark. He may be great over the life of that contract, but chances are he will decline, especially during the last two years of the contract (where A LOT of the money is tied up). There's a better chance of Danks to be solid through the life of his contract due to his age alone.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 18, 2012 -> 07:49 PM) I kind of hate the fact we all know we're not planning on the Sox competing this year. To me, that's kind of sad when you have veterans like Paulie, AJ, Alexei, Dunn, Rios, who are all veterans on the team. Hell, Beckham is young, but even he has a lot of experience. And our starting rotation has some experience on it as well, led by Mr. Veteran Moneymaker Peavy. And our bullpen has a lot of experience to go with the rookie closer. It seems to me, unless KW makes more trades, this team in terms of raw age and experience should be EXPECTED to compete for a division title in this horses*** division (assuming Detroit doesn't go crazy again and win all those games). I hope I am making my point clear. Don't you agree with me that it's frustrating to have such a veteran team be considered a team that has no chance in hell of competing?? I do agree. The point has been made that because of Dunn, Rios, and Peavy (the veterans), the Sox are not expected to compete. If those three guys are the same as 2011, then the chances are pretty good that the Sox don't compete. But what if Dunn rebounds to his career norm, Rios plays well, and Peavy doesn't get hurt and has a decent season? It's a whole new team. I honestly believe that the Sox could compete with the team as constructed. However, if those veterans (and Beckham for that matter) don't play better, then no, they don't have a chance.

I was actually going to mention Teahen. As a veteran presence and occasional bat, I'd be okay with him for the minimum.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 18, 2012 -> 09:31 AM) And right now, all of those positions are filled. Right. The only way I see another LH bat signed is as a bench player who could also slip into the DH position if Dunn tanks. But, would the Sox even consider spending $5+ million on the likes of Damon or Matsui to have them be a bench player?

I agree the team needs a more potent left-handed presence, but if the Sox were to go out and sign a value-veteran to fill that roll, at what position would said veteran play? Dunn already fills the gap at DH (I'm not saying anything about his performance, I'm just saying he's already the power lefty at DH). First base? An outfield position? Or maybe 3rd? Beyond that, who is available right now?

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 01:10 PM) I read Cold Wind this past week while huddled in a very cold tent in Big Bend. I won't spoil it for you, but the ending exceeded my expectations. Not what I was expecting but better. My gf was reading Free Fire which is the only other one of his I have read. Which btw got me hooked. I was looking for a book set in Yellowstone, because I will be visiting there this summer. Finished Cold Wind the other day. I agree about the ending...well done. I really enjoy the Joe Pickett series, but his standalone novel Three Weeks To Say Goodbye was top notch. If you're a fan of Harlan Coben, I would highly recommend it. I compare it to Coben's writing because it was intense, fast, and had lots of twists.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 07:48 AM) Wow, so you're saying that a manager who always defers to his veterans but constantly and randomly benches his rookies might be doing some damage to that rookie's confidence? Who Knew? It was all Morel's fault. He should know better than to have spectacular plays on defense and show that he can swing the bat.