fathom

Good job pitching it on the inner half to him!

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:25 AM) Think the D'backs have a scouting report on Theriot yet? ie, Bust his ass inside. If Webb keeps throwing that outside sinker to Theriot, it's going to be 1-0 Cubs.

Did anyone else hear Bernstein talking about how he thinks Soto is on steroids? It warmed my heart, as I've been saying that for months.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:21 AM) IS there anybody that Tony Clark is actually a good match up against? Guys who throw less than 90 mph.

Terrible at-bats after the leadoff single. I really don't think Clark is a good match-up against Zambrano, as he's overmatched against good fastballs. I don't care if they have no power....#3 and 4 hitters should be hacking on 3-0 with a RISP.

Just want to know why wasn't Drew bunting in order to get Young over? Getting Webb a lead this game is a must.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:11 AM) Look at that lineup -- how are they going to score runs this series? Is that sarcasm about the Dbacks?

QUOTE(Linnwood @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:08 AM) Yeah, even if he isn't a Cubs fan he has to hope they win the WS so he gets left the f*** alone. Cubs fans would love him if they ever win the WS.

Is that the worst overall infield in the history of the playoffs?

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 01:45 AM) It's not surprising that you don't think they are making progress, I wonder why that is. Is it because you're conditioned to think negatively, quite possibly yes. You might want to stop listening to Baseball America and your brother who works there and dig a little deeper. Minor league depth lets you do a lot of things. It lets you trade prospects for major league players. I know that concept is a dirty word to many on this site but it can be an effective strategy. This is a system thats been in the dregs the last couple of years and is turning it around. They have a good group of true baseball players at the low levels and that's how you strengthen a farm system. You also bring in new player development people, put more money and effort into international operations, bring in different scouts and more scouts, among other things. Those are all the things that don't show up in Baseball America. Unfortunately they take a while to show up to the average fan who cares about results, and not progress. Small incremental progressive steps (progress) lead to results, I wish things moved faster but it is the reality of development and strengthening a farm system. Williams wanted to get rid of Shafer a few years ago but couldn't present a prevailing case to get the ok. Finally it got done. Note that Shafer wasn't snapped up as a director of scouting ... he got a job as a scout, that's it. That was progress in and of itself. There is so much more to making progress than you realize, things that Baseball America won't tell you. I like DLS more than most on this site, as he has a different skill set than our typical prospect. I still don't think Poreda will be much more than a power lefty reliever. I just have a hard time getting really excited about our minor league system with the horrible development of Ryan Sweeney this year. It's funny, but I was probably the most optimistic person about Josh Fields' ability on this site, even though I heard terrible things about how he looked in the minors earlier this year. I've always liked how the ball jumped off of his bat. This organization needs to start putting a lot more money into it's player development. No more going cheap in the draft and not even thinking about bidding for players from the Dominican, etc.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 12:40 AM) Small moves, fathom. Small moves. The Sox are a little better off than a year or two ago in the minors, mostly at the lower/younger end - so they are making progress. That is possible, you know. I don't think they are making progress. A few years ago, we had a plethora of guys who were projected to be major league outfielders. I've never cared much about minor league depth....it's all about having impact players. DLS is the closest we have to an impact prospect.

Just heard Frank for the first time today....and it was just horrible.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 11:46 PM) Which team are you working for? You never told me you were a scout? I am also not as high on Gio as some are. I still believe the Sox know something about Gio, what makes him succeed in the minors, and re-acquired him as a sexy trade piece. I will not be surprised in the least to see Gio get dealt. I think we'll keep Gio, and trade Danks. There's not a doubt in my mind that the organization was extremely disappointed with Danks' development over the course of this season.

We just went 72 and 90....why do we need to sign a dinosaur to a one year deal? I'd rather have Andy Gonzalez at SS next year than Vizquel.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 11:41 PM) Gio was fantastic this year, Sweeney not so much. We don't have much reason for optimism in the upper majors, especially position player wise. There's some talent in the lower minors but obviously those guys are much more likely to bust and they still have a long way to go. I'm just saying that the review on this site, which was a good read, wasn't very high on Gio. I'm still not sure what to think of him....I've never projected him as more than a #5.

Thanks Randy, as I was wondering the same thing. Gio and Sweeney were supposed to be our two best prospects (if not top 3) coming into the year, and the reviews for them weren't exactly promising.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 11:29 PM) It could be because I don't watch a ton of NL, but I really have a hard time rooting for any AL team. I just watch, and while the baseball being played is fantastic, I have a hard time activly rooting for a typical Sox opponent. The same can't be said for the NL. I loved rooting for the Rockies today. It was the 1st time I cared about a game for as long as I can remember. If the Sox can't win the WS every year, I would at least like to say I saw the World Series champs during Spring Training. Trust me, if the Cubs are eliminated in the first two rounds, I'll be cheering like crazy for the NL teams. Basically, I'm rooting for any of the 7 teams first.

The announcer made it sound there like Lackey was in People Magazine for "sexiest man alive".

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 11:22 PM) Really, why are you rooting for Boston? People will hate me for saying this, but I love the drama of the Yanks/Red Sox playing each other in the playoffs. Also, I believe those are the two best teams in baseball, and the teams I'd want to be in the WS if the Cubs make it.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 11:18 PM) Because only one man can stop the Cubs and that's Josh Beckett? Something like that.

I hate Felipe Lopez. He's not a winning baseball player. Terrible baseball IQ, bad attitude, HORRIBLE defensive player. If I recall correctly, he's been brutal against LHP in his career. I'm of the belief that Renteria, Tejada, or Furcal will be our SS next year.

I hate saying this....but I'm rooting for the Red Sox.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 10:08 PM) How about them Rockies? I love it. I hope they keep it up. The question I have is that if they win, and the Cubs win, wouldn't the Cubs have home field in the NLCS?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 10:07 PM) For every player, writer or Sox fan you can find who hates Wrigley, I'm sure I can find a counterpart who enjoys the place. And that's all I have to add to this discussion since there is no victory and the "discussion" would be endless and mind-numbing ("Wrigley is a dump," "I like Sox Park churros," "HAIL" -- f*** that) Doesn't Ozzie Guillen hate the place and didn't he say he wishes it was destroyed?

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 09:53 PM) I was at that game. Rowand and Gooch both went deep, and I had my Arow jersey on. Hey, I had fun at Wrigley!!! I always enjoy the threads when me, you, SSI, and RockRaines are all in agreement. It's like a Podsednik injury.....happens about 4 times a year.