hogan873

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.

I started 11/22/63 the other day. I can't put put it down. The writing is very much old school King, but there's not a lot of supernatural stuff going on...well except for the time travel thing.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 06:35 PM) Anyone else going to check out Alcatraz Monday? Definitely.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 12:02 AM) E-Reader proliferation maybe? Good point. I held off from buying a Kindle for a long time. I didn't think I'd like it. I like the feeling of a real book in my hands. But once I decided to buy one I wondered why it took me so long to do it. Convenient and immediate. Plus, I've found quite a few authors with books for less than $3 or even free. Now even libraries are starting to lend e-books.

Is this year's book thread already longer than last year's? If so, bravo. I just finished The Hunger Games. Good read. I'm hoping they do a good job with the movie. Now I have to figure out which of the multitude of books on my Kindle I want to read next.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 03:02 PM) Darn you, Pennington!!! I think that was the game...A's? There were too many in that 4-18 stretch to count. At any rate, WHY WHY WHY haven't the Marlins signed Juan Pierre yet? What gives? Rowand was bad enough, but...just saying. I am waiting for the "Rowand Watch" when his career is rejuvenated and he single-handedly wins the NL East with his mythical "staring death in the face and not blinking" defensive abilities. As Rowand is lying twitching on the field after crashing head-first into the wall, Ozzie will be saying, "I like this kid. He always try his best."

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 02:02 PM) Let the open bullpen competition begin. Last couple of ST's with Ozzie were so boring and non-productive. For once, can we play well and take winning a bit more seriously so that we "hit the ground" running right out of the gate? (I know, I know, if Pierre/Thornton don't conspire to blow Game 8, the entire season would have ended up differently...don't blame OZZIE!!!) That game was definitely a conspiracy to make Ozzie look bad and begin pushing him towards Miami. Pierre and Thornton were seen talking to each other the day before where it was reported Pierre said the words "ball" and "drop". Although no one could confirm the two words were uttered in the same sentence or even within the same few minutes, there's no doubt that it was the beginning of the end for Ozzie. The former manager was reportedly so upset by the happenings that he quit several months later and went to Miami.

Very encouraging news. Sounds like the Sox are serious about building up the farm.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 12:45 AM) Found any good ones? I'm a bargain hunter when it comes to buying stuff for my Kindle. If a book is $10 or so on Kindle, I'll go old school and get it from the library. For the most part, every book I've downloaded has been less than $5, and many have been $2.99 or less. A few standouts were Wet Desert by Gary Hansen ($2.99), No Good Deed by M. P. McDonald ($2.99), Brainrush by Richard Bard ($.99), and Suckers by Jack Kilborn and Jeff Strand ($2.99).

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Jan 9, 2012 -> 10:47 AM) Does anyone have any reading goals for the year? Last year I set a goal to read 60 books and finished with 64. This year I'm just going to read without a goal and see how many I tally up. I never really set goals, and to be honest, I'm not sure how many books I read in a typical year. I'm almost always reading one book and listening to another on CD in my car. Now that I have a Kindle, I love being able to click on a book and have it ready to read a minute later. I've downloaded a lot of books for $2.99 or less and found some really good authors I'd never heard of. As far as how many books I might read in a year, including the ones I listen to, I'd say about 40. I'd like to be able to read more, but the times I have to read are lunch and before bed. Lunch gives me a good 20-30 minutes a day, but I usually fall asleep pretty quickly at night.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 01:28 PM) Wanting to do some fairly low impact reading over the holidays I got around to reading the Hunger Games trilogy. Very enjoyable. I'm about halfway through the first book. Very easy to read, and it's quite enjoyable. I'll probably have my kids read it and then take them to see the movie in March.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 9, 2012 -> 07:52 AM) Read Joseph Finder...he writes stuff that could be described as "corporate espionage." Pick up "Paranoia"...one of my favorites... Paranoia was the first of his books I read. I was hooked. I've read about 6 or so since.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 10:51 AM) His writing matched the setting better than any book I can remember reading. I did struggle to sleep last night. Weird dreams and waking up disoriented. It was simultaneously a very easy read and a difficult one. Lots of layers. I am planning on reading No Country for Old Men after Lonesome Dove. I am also filling in some books I should have read, but somehow avoided. Lord of the Flies is in the que as well. I kind of took a break from any real literature and read a couple C.J. Box books (very good vacation reads) and a couple Clive Cussler Dirk Pitt books. Love the C. J. Box books. I'm in the middle of Cold Wind right now. As far as The Road, very disturbing read, but wonderfully written.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 06:32 PM) Maybe Lawrence Market Survey? Lawrence Surveying...? Lawrence Market Analysis/Customer Feedback? Polling almost makes it sounds like the name of some cricket player from Australia or New Zealand. What's that thing they do on CNN right after the primary and presidential debates...? There's a specific term for it that eludes me at the moment. Exit Poll?

So far this thread is great. Of course I see the title, and I was surprised to see the conversation start with giving birth and quickly dissolve into a discussion about taking a s***. Speaking of, how about all the different euphemisms for taking a dump? Maybe that should be a separate thread?

I've never played poker at a casino. I've played in a few "home" tournaments but never faired too well. Once I was one of six remaining from a pool of 20. I enjoy playing, especially Hold 'Em. Playing friendly games with a group is preferable to me. We'll usually play dealer's choice, and some of the games we come up with are pretty fun. One fo my favorites in Night Baseball with threes and nines wild. With a group of 6 or 7 guys the bets can get up there. I haven't played in a while. Now after seeing this thread I got the itch.

You'd think there would be at least a bit of truth to this. At least maybe talks have taken place and a few names were tossed around. But, I'm now thinking that the story is false. I'm hoping I'm wrong, though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 03:45 PM) Between Castro, Stewart, and Drabek, we'd be putting a whole lot of faith in Cooper's fixems for this rotation. Imagine they pan out and Molina does as well...the rotation would be nasty. Unless they're traded for a 37 year old bat at the deadline some year.

This Deck McGuire seems to have a lot of potential...

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 03:35 PM) Could be a fleecing. Drabek's stock has certainly dropped. Will have to see. I'm certainly a fan. Stupid question...related to Doug Drabek?