hogan873

Imagine the stories Hawk will tell every time Damon comes up to bat. "I'll tell ya, Stone Pony, this kid can hit a golf ball."

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 05:13 PM) i disagree. Damon goes to LF, Pierre goes to the bench and you DFA Kotsay or Jones. Why would Pierre go to the bench? Wouldn't Damon be signed to take the DH spot?

I found DJ to be even more painful on the radio than when he was on TV. It could be, however, that there are two color commentary guys, and DJ is the lesser of the two.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 12:17 PM) So you are in favor of wasting a roster spot for a part time DH that cant even play the field? That's not necessarily was I was saying. I see your point, but if Thome plays 60% of the time as the DH, I see value in that. However, I'm not the GM...which is probably a good thing.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 12:09 PM) Given Thome's struggles against LHP, playing time very well may have been a factor. That was kind of my thinking. But if he was aware of his own struggles and the Sox were aware of those struggles, I would think they would agree on curtailed playing time. I'm inclined to agree with you that there were things behind the scene we don't know about.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 11:52 AM) That said, our offense has sucked balls down the stretch in two of the past three years with both Thome and JD in the lineup. I don't see how bringing back a 39-year-old Thome is going to propel us to to a division title. He would've been a nice (and cheap) addition, but was unlikely to be a game-changer. Game changer...no. But having Thome (for a mere $1.5 million) would have only added to the flexibility that KW and Ozzie keep talking about at the DH position. At 39 years old and in declining health, Thome is not an every day DH. I don't know if one of his stipulations was a certain amount of playing time, but he could have easily been in the DH spot 3 or 4 times a week. Then Ozzie could use others in that position for the remainder of those games. I just don't see the reason for not having signed Thome. However, I will have to assume there are reasons we don't know about. Because the alternative is baffling.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 10:46 AM) Peavy and Rios were midseason pickups. They should not be used in any objective look at the offseason moves. The rest of the names don't instill anything major in me. In fact, there's a decent chance that the production of guys like Vizquel and Jones could be replicated with in-house options. Say, Nix and Flowers. I do, however, like the Teahen and Putz moves a lot. I agree with Teahan and Putz. The Vizquel and Jones moves are huge question marks, but cheap ones. If nothing else, some veteran presence was added. One or more of the questions marks (Jones/Vizquel/Kotsay) will most likely not pan out. Let's just hope the failure happens early so KW can acquire someone mid-season...and then slap Ozzie in the back of the head.

The frustrating part of "ending up with Kotsay/Jones" as the DH is the fact that they chose to do this. KW could have signed Thome...easily. He could be actually pursuing Damon. He could still sign one of the few names left out there. But he's bending to Ozzie's plan of a rotating DH. They've had time and options, and there is still time and a few options left. However, I think what we see is what we're going to get.

J. J. Putznstuf?

Ponce de LeJuan Pierre

I just spent the weekend in St. Louis and partook in quite a few Schlafly Pale Ales. Aside from being difficult to pronounce correctly, I found this brew to be quite good. Gives me another reason to visit this great city.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 03:43 PM) I'd easily throw 2/14 at Damon. I'm sure it wont happen though. I agree...on both points.

Apparently the Braves offered him a one year deal worth about $4 million. If the Tigers' offer is actually 2/$14 million, that is quite a difference.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 12:14 PM) Does JD not realize that he can't play the outfield anymore? Apparently not. Maybe he'll realize that when he doesn't get any offers other than to be a DH or 4th outfielder.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 12:00 PM) i think it is safer to say he has no desire to be a dh Might be a bad decision on his part.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 11:51 AM) If people are constantly willing to offer Damon >$6 million, I'd be fairly confident that people have made offers of at least half that amount to JD, but they're just holding out for something better. I suppose it's safe to say that the Sox have not spoken to JD about coming back as a DH?

If JD would improve his attitude and accept the fact that he could be quite useful as a DH, I'd welcome him back. But he seems bent on playing in the field. I don't know that he's going to get many offers.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 11:13 AM) Is it badd when I'm buzzed, on the way to being drunk, before lunch time? It's bad only because the rest of us are jealous.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 11:29 AM) So in other words, there is zero chance he is back here in 2010. If that wasn't the case yesterday, it is today. Whining attitude certainly doesn't help.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Feb 10, 2010 -> 05:44 PM) Im sure I noticed it before, but the weather was beautiful that day. Clear skies helped capture those clear shots. It's strange what we remember about that day. It truly was a beautiful day (in New York and here) until one of the most horrifying events I can remember happened.

I've always been a fan of Big Love, but this season is by far the best. Great new direction, new characters, and issues.

I was a bit shocked to see this, but after suffering a massive stroke a couple weeks back it's not a total surprise. Very sad news. He was one of the best parts of that show. I feel for his sons, as they truly loved their dad. I wonder how this will play in the next season of the show. They were offloading the boat during the opilio season when he had the stroke. I imagine they were filming at the time. I'm sure the Discovery Channel will handle it well.

QUOTE (gosox41 @ Feb 9, 2010 -> 09:53 PM) I think the gap is narrower then people think. One thing many aren't taking into consideration is how the Twins new ballpark plays. The gap between the Twins home and road record will likely narrow as the Twins are moving outdoors. Whether they took advantage and cheat at the Metrodome, I don't know. And while the Twins have great hitters, it's a lot harder for hitters to find a groove when they are playing home stands in April/May in 40 degree weather with changing wind conditions and not relying on the same 70 degrees every game. Maybe I'm overanalyzing the move to a ballpark, but just having less of a 10th man effect in the fans should make a difference. Bob I honestly wasn't even thinking about the fact that the Twins have a new ballpark...an outdoor one at that. There's no doubt that the Metrodome was very favorable to the Twins, and most other teams hated playing there. Who knows how the new park will play, for and/or against the Twins. On paper, the Twins probably have a better team, but the 10th man effect has been removed...or has it? Only time will tell. If the Twins play differently in the new park, this year is when it will be most pronounced as they adapt to the different weather conditions day in and day out.

As far as in literature: Serge A. Storms in the Tim Dorsey books.

QUOTE (Felix @ Feb 8, 2010 -> 09:34 PM) Al Swearengen from Deadwood (also one of the all-time best characters from any show) Great one! One of my favorite shows.