fathom

QUOTE(BMac41 @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 02:18 PM) Kenny Lofton is an old piece of s***.The guy sucks now.He's a waste to have on the team. There were numerous reports that said Lofton didn't like playing for the White Sox because he was a Cubs fan. I highly doubt KW would ever consider bringing him back.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 03:50 AM) Just got a call from a kansas buddy. Brandon Rush with 17/10 Jwrihgt almost had a triple double. Sasha Kaun with 23. I love Julian, but 8 pts, 8 rebs, and 4 asts isn't close to a triple double. Rush had a great game, and Kaun had quite the interesting fg/ft pct tonight.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 10:52 PM) Where do people get this impression from? It's just so common I have to ask. Have you ever once seen him play? If so, what did you see that every other coach and media agent in America missed? This is the type of b.s. which has really annoyed me by some Illini fans during the Weber recruiting debacle era. They think that every analyst/guru is stupid when it comes to ranking the players high, even though the rankings are pretty consistent across the board. If a player is ranked high, and they don't get him, they say he's overrated and the rankings don't matter. If they get someone like Carlwell who's in the 35-50 ranking area, they proclaim how he's such a great recruit BECAUSE of his ranking. When nearly everyone that saw Semrau play this summer say that he was a massive bust, then the fans again state that the gurus don't know anything. As for me...I'll wait until these freshman aren't playing Division III athletes before I judge their potential. I know a main player on IWU, and for anyone to judge how the Illini players were against him is pretty odd to me.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 10:00 PM) Just wondering why would Illini fans want him to fail? It's not like Weber ever came after him. He was very high on UNC and Marquette. He never even mentioned the Illini. Read the illiniboard often? Nearly every post after he went to UNC was how he'd never amount to anything at UNC, and he'd be transferring to some mid-major school by '07.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 09:27 PM) how has bobby frasor been faring so far for the heels? i'd read somewhere he was going to start. hat's off to a fellow southsider if that's the case. I've heard very good things about him. Even though most Illini fans I know want him to fail, I've heard he's looked great in practice and has an excellent chance at starting sooner, rather than later.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 09:09 PM) Dang, I just checked their roster and you are completely right. I forgot about who all they had returning. IF Bowers continued to develop over the offseason and can give 20 mins a game, I honestly think they can challenge Duke for the ACC title. He has always played well against Duke. Maryland is the only team in the ACC with enough size to match up with Duke. The ACC is at its worst possibly in history at the PG position, so Strawberry should be able to take advantage of that. Maryland returns 83% of their offense, and will likely have Strawberry, an elite defender, for more than half a season like last year. Maryland is another that I believe will end up in the top 10, great call there. Maryland needs Ibekwe to stop being so inconsistent. Gist is probably a better overall player than he is. Strawberry will be the best defensive pg in the country this season, but he might struggle against tough defense against himself. They should get 3rd or 4th in the ACC, but they better do good this season, because the ACC is absolutely loading up for future seasons, especially UNC and Ga Tech.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 05:07 PM) QUOTE(fathom @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) You really don't think Urbina has some baggage? I've been told for years that he has an awful reputation within baseball, and recent events only scare me off more from him joining the Sox. Sure, he may very well be innocent of the crime....but it's not like being charged with attempted murder should just be brushed off like it's no big deal. Not that any of this matters and it's ruining the thread. Yes, I was saying that it indeed is a big deal, and that was in response to you saying that I was being irresponsible by claiming that one of the reasons that he shouldn't be an option is because of the arrested murder situation. If there was confusion on my behalf, then I'm sorry, and you're right, there's no more reason in arguing about this. I'll stand by my sources that say Urbina is a shady person, and you'll stand by your feeling. Doesn't make either of us right or wrong.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 04:58 PM) 1. Don't put words in my mouth. 2. Dustin is going to have back surgery 3. I didn't say it should... you did. 1) You said that Ozzie and UU got along great when you saw them at the Ritz. Just because they got along great, it doesn't mean he's a great fit for this team in terms of personality. While someone like AJP had a bad reputation for being an ass off the field, he always was a tough SOB on the field. That's what KW wanted for this team. UU is much more about himself, which is something that it seems the Sox have been trying to clear themselves of recently. 2) I agree with you that Hermanson will probably have to have back surgery. 3) I definitely never recalled saying that the attempted murder charged should be shrugged off as no big deal. It will definitely scare off numerous teams from possibly signing him.

Give me Overbay and Matsui over PK/Frank in a heartbeat. However, there's not a chance in hell we'd get both Overbay and Matsui.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 04:48 PM) I don't know anything about him other then meeting him for 5 minutes in the Ritz bar - where I witnessed an extreme respect between him and Oz. Do I care what baggage he carries.. no, and I don't think the Sox do either. If they did.. then Bobby Jenks and AJ both would not have been on the '05 roster. So we should bring in a player just cause him and Ozzie get along? Also, what point would there be in having a 3 million dollar set-up man when you already have money invested in Hermanson and Politte to be the set-up men? And to say attempted murder should be shrugged off is quite odd. Sure, Ray Lewis got off on the charges, but Rae Carruth sure didn't, etc.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 04:32 PM) No, it's not either way. It's alledged. And your comments are irresponsible. No better than Viz.. :rolly whatever. You really don't think Urbina has some baggage? I've been told for years that he has an awful reputation within baseball, and recent events only scare me off more from him joining the Sox. Sure, he may very well be innocent of the crime....but it's not like being charged with attempted murder should just be brushed off like it's no big deal. UU had a 4.5 ERA in 2004, and then a 4.13 ERA in his time with the Phillies last year. We're not talking about the marquee closer that he once was. His fastball has lost like 8 mph in the last few years, and he'll still cost you at least 3 million. For our 5th or 6th reliever in the pen, give me Viz. In no way could I see UU having no problem not pitching but once a week.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 03:58 PM) Alleged.. and heaven for bid someone be accused of something that isn't true.. remember there are some pissed off rebels still on the loose who weren't able to cash in on kidnapping his mother - which many feel was an inside job... Either way, the guy has a ton of baggage right now, and isn't someone I'd want my team to have to count on. Not only that....but he's not very good. He makes a lot of money for someone who is no better than Viz now.

QUOTE(Greg Hibbard @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 04:10 PM) does anyone else feel that 4/52 is shockingly (almost insultingly) low in terms of years/total money I think it's more than PK deserves to get, but it won't be enough to get him.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 02:43 PM) I don't know how much of a pipe dream it is. If Matsui has interest in this club, which that quote suggests, I see no reason why he can't be had if Konerko walks. Then, a trade for Overbay seems like the most plausible way to replace Konerko (that isn't an in-house replacement). It doesn't sound easy, but I really don't think it sounds like a pipe dream. The one thing we can all agree on is that it would be unacceptable for the Sox to do nothing if they lose PK. Replacing PK with Dye at 1b and Anderson in the outfield, or sticking Gload at 1b, would be a great way to slow down the momentum from last season.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 7, 2005 -> 09:00 PM) He recruits dirty, that's how. So you're saying he just started to recruit illegally once he went to Kansas? The thing I don't get when Illini fans b**** that Self is cheating now is that it would also implicate that he cheated in signing Deron, Dee, etc.

Urbina's had a terrible reputation for a long time in baseball, well before he tried to kill someone. Not only that, but he's the type of pitcher who would start to b**** if he wasn't used frequently (like the role Viz had last year).

QUOTE(Fingish @ Nov 8, 2005 -> 04:51 PM) Urbina Story Someone suggested getting Urbina because of the Venezuela connection, well, his price just dropped by a ton. Attempted Murder charges usually don't enhance a FA's value. This might all be crap, and Oswaldo would be the one to know whether the guy is in real trouble or if something will be worked out. I'll take him for league minimum plus incentives and send Vizcanio somewhere else. damn, the guy had a 1.15 WHIP and a .186 BAA, ok, even with the charges I'll give him $500k + incentives... Urbina? Not a chance in hell he should be brought in.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Nov 8, 2005 -> 03:33 PM) I doubt he will be anything like ELo. If he concentrates the whole year and really works hard he could have an ERA below 3 and be one of the dominating pitchers in the game. We need to lock him up, not think about giving him away. I wasn't expecting Loaiza to be a perennial Cy Young winner, but after that magical season he had with his cutter, I never thought he'd have the problems that he did the next season.

It's too bad the XFL isn't still around, because these two would be the centerpiece of the league.

that went well

QUOTE(Brian @ Nov 6, 2005 -> 11:59 PM) How far away was the FG Gould missed? I have little confidence from any distance. 47 yards

Great catch/throw!

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Nov 6, 2005 -> 11:56 PM) At least one will be 8 feet over Moose's head, hopefully the other is good. Like I said, 2 passes.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Nov 6, 2005 -> 11:53 PM) Keep. It. On. The. Ground. We're going to see 2 passes now.

With a home game next week vs the 49ers, this is a huge drive for the Bears.