Kalapse

Torii Hunter circa 1999 both offensively and defensively.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 11:53 PM) beg to differ...ATLEAST I AM NOMINATED, yeah so there and you are nominated for like every other category, so it is oh k. I believe you are actually nominated for both conservative and liberal of the year. Haha, who do you think nominated your ass? And I may be nominated for a few but Fathom is taking it to me in two of them and Gage in the other.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 11:02 PM) Just wondering here. The "I told you so" award. Does that mean the people who got nominated often say something like that, or does it mean that people usually say something like that to them for being wrong? Because I am literally always wrong, so I don't get to say "I told you so" very much at all. Also, keep voting for me. I wanna be remembered for something It's supposed to go to the best prognosticator but since I was not nominated it will not be going to the most deserving poster this year.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 11:00 PM) Podsedik is out for the first month of the season due too much off-season pie seeking. Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, I read the first caption and just assumed a Podsednik joke was around the corner but sadly it never came.

I was disappointed in the complete lack of sexual innuendo.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 09:54 PM) Actually, you're tied with me now. Honestly, I thought you'd smoke me in that category... It makes sense to me, it's kind of complicated but it definitely makes sense.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 09:39 PM) Could be worse, you're tied with me right now. That's really sad. Even worse yet, I'm behind you.

QUOTE(T R U @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 08:43 PM) Which is one of the problems.. there is too many elite players, teams in this league are either really bad (because of their GM) or really good.. there are superstar players all over, not enough middle of the road growing teams. The league is watered down with superior talent Are you guys still using the same points system or maybe a scaled down version? I know that was a problem at one time, that points were creating a s***load of good players which would eventually end up on only a few teams leading a a large discrepency between the best and worst teams in the league. Also, are the drafts still incredibly loaded with talent as they were just before I left?

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 08:41 PM) Kalapse. I went a little bit inactive over the summer because I was really busy. Also since you went inactive I thought Angels only had 1-2 seasons left in them before being destroyed so I some what laxed on trading my players and tried to keep guys like Pujols forever. Well see what happens, much harder to get to the top now than it was. Most of the best players are on a handful of teams. Makes sense, I'm glad I could play a role in your eventual downfall.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 08:27 PM) Did you guys start in 2005 or 2006? I suck at remembering 2005 QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 08:27 PM) You'd have been fine if you maxed out some of your guys with points. Alden and Junichi are monsters now, Smit is having a huge year, and McDowell has been pretty big as well. Actually, the bigger factor is that Oakland has fallen off a bit, he only won 88 last year and is on pace for only 89 this year. Plus I still made some changes, I added Delmon Young and Heath Schwandt last year, and got Phillip Hughes and Mark Carrillo this year. Those guys made a fairly big difference. Yeesh, I knew Alden was destined for greatness. Sounds like you've done a decent amount of work on the team, good for you I'm glad that team is finally winning. I'm surprised Oakland has fallen off, Badger is pretty damn good at loading up on picks and picking up fine spects in each deal, he's always had a loaded system. I figured he'd compete forever.

QUOTE(T R U @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 08:13 PM) Please come back btw, Zoom is about to win the AL West for the 2nd year in a row.. looks like you got busy at the worst time See I knew he took over the Angels and I got the feeling he's been pretty successful from a few of the posts here but I tried not to really read into it because it would only piss me off. Figures, I'm in the league for how many years and not once did I get past the A's then that asshole Zoom takes over my team and finds immediate (somewhat) success. Ridiculous.

If you guys ever decide to start over and need a GM absolutely count me in, I just got through the busiest and most stressful couple of months of my life and now have some good free time for s*** like this. I'll admit Badger kicking my ass year in and year out from the very beginning of the league wore me down but the experience of playing was just awesome. Unless of course you're happy to have rid yourselves of me, that I could also understand.

QUOTE(VicRattlehead @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 07:00 PM) What does power have anything to do with it? Do ya really think the Sox need more power? Power isnt something they desperately need. Come on now. We didnt pick him up for power anyway depite the fact he has hit 25 in a season before. We needed a solid backup OF in case Pods or BA bomb or have injuries which is the case now with Pods. I wont argue that he doesnt draw walks but neither does Pods and neither drive in runs which isnt a big deal anyway cause they are lead off guys, they wont drive in alot anyway. Erstad isnt my first choice either but Im glad we have him especially now that Pods is having problems yet again. Whos to say Darin cant get back to swinging the bat like he did in 2000? As for mediocre, well thats just your opinion and thats fine but when the guy can stay healthy he's better than mediocre and his career numbers show it. Power matters because he's a corner outfielder which is a power position, if you have a good speed guy with a high OBP you can probably get away with it, sadly Erstad is not fast (good baserunner, yes, speed/SB guy? no). Power is also a very nice thing to have when you don't do anything well on offense outside of the little things. He hit 25 HRs 7 YEARS AGO and hasn't come anywhere close since despite being perfectly happy throughout that time span. He's hit a grand total of 18 HRs over the past 4 seasons combined, to even bring up the fact that he hit 25 in a single season is completely pointless. Pods may not draw walks as well as the elite leadoff hitters in the league but when comparing him to Erstad he's pretty decent, Darin draws no walks. Even when hitting in other parts of the batting order Erstad still doesn't drive in runs so that can not be chalked up entirely to hitting leadoff, the guy just does not produce runs and since he'll hopefully be spending time in other parts of the order outside of leadoff (Mack, Iguchi and Ozuna are MUCH better options for leadoff) it would be nice if he could knock in a run or two but it's something he does not have a history of doing. The odds of him just suddenly returning to his 2000 status are about as good as Junior Spivey returning to his all star status of a few years ago. When Darin has hit a certain way for 7 YEARS NOW as well as the years prior to 2000 I'd say that one season was likely an anomaly (1/11 of his career). OPS+ for the past 6 seasons: 78, 88, 75, 95, 89, 60, in order to be just average he needs a 100, being under 100 for that long is the height of mediocrity.

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30048 http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=50098

QUOTE(VicRattlehead @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 02:18 PM) Well I dont agree with mediocre but the point is Dye was a risky signing at the time cause of his injury problems just like Erstad is but we got both for cheap and ya never know he could be another cheap addition that helps us get back to the playoffs. Worth the small risk anyway. No, mediocre is the word, he has no power, doesn't draw walks and doesn't drive in runs, he's mediocre. Dye was a risk but it was a great risk to take with major upside, he was coming off some injuries but was still known as a very good hitter when healthy and they gave him a pretty cheap deal. Erstad is bad offensive player who will be limited defensively while coming off ankle surgery but worst of all he's going to be relied upon to be the team's leadoff hitter to start the season which is pretty ridiculous.

According to Deadspin, every person they've asked has said the player is John Amaechi. The Book is called "The Man in the Middle" and is being published by ESPN books. So as of Valentine's day ESPN will be even more unbearable (if that's even possible.)

QUOTE(VicRattlehead @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 01:57 PM) Thats a bit rough dont ya think? For one KW signed Erstad and not Ozzie for two Erstad made it real easy for Angel fans to forget about Edmonds cause he so damn good. The guy has had injury problems but ya cant deny what he did before the injuries and he's only 32. KW would have signed Erstand if he wasnt ready to come back at 100% and contribute. Same s*** was said when Dye was signed and thats worked out damn good. Erstad has been a mediocre offensive player for the past 6 years. And people really have to stop mentioning Dye and Erstad in the same sentence, talk about completely different players and circumstances.

After going over a list of retired players I have found our man. Shawn.Kemp. The 2500 illegitimate kids was nothing but a cover.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 01:15 PM) I believe he said the player was NOT a former Bulls player anyways... That's what I get for not reading the Trib. It will likely be a no name guy who was in the league for a few years and had a pretty uneventful career, unless of course Mitchell gave other criteria which would squash this theory which I'm sure he did.

QUOTE(shipps @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) I thought of that but it wouldnt just be a blurp in his column. It would bring the Sports world to its knees, it's also completely unrealistic.

QUOTE(Felix @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 12:58 PM) Yes, how dare he have back to back years with an ERA below 4 and 200+ innings. This is a pretty good deal for the Reds, especially considering Harangs age. All while pitching at the Great American Bandbox. His 128 ERA+ last year was the 9th best in baseball. He also lead the NL with 216 Ks which was good for 2nd best in baseball behind Johan.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 01:01 PM) yikes, if I heard someone say this:" Thome...blaimed for the lack of 'smallball" I wouldhave to call it, at best, silly talk. No matter how insane it sounds, that sort of talk took place quite a bit last season and it makes me sad.

QUOTE(fathom @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 11:22 AM) Interesting blurb in Fred Mitchell's column today about how a former NBA player, who retired 3 years ago, is going to "come out" on Valetine's Day. Should make for some interesting speculation, just as the rumors that there's currently a gay NBA player on the Nets has. How about his one, what former NBA player retired 3 years ago, just got a divorce, is notorious for loving the nightlife and would have a connection to Chicago, the trib and Fred Mitchell? Oh he also loves white women but what gay guy doesn't?

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 12:47 PM) If by "a near pass" you mean "he's the most complained about and scrutinized player on the team," I agree with you. If by "a near pass" you mean "a near pass" I would say that applies only to Mark Buehrle despite his being, if you had to rank them, the number one reason the Sox didn't make the playoffs. Their great starting pitching got them the World Series in '05. Mediocre starting pitching would have gotten them in the playoffs in '06. Their bad starting pitching kept them out of the playoffs. Buehrle was the worst of the starting pitchers. It depends on who you're talking about, if you're talking about the type of fans that are on this board then yes Pods was really nailed last year but if you're talking about the type of fans who call into White Sox weekly (the majority of Sox fans) then the guy got a serious pass last season compared to guys like Vazquez and even Thome (who was blaimed for the lack of 'smallball). And yes Buehrle did get a pass last year but I'm talking about next season, if Mark f***s up he's going to get killed in the press.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Feb 6, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) what has the world come to when Aaron Harang getting 9.125 million per season is a deal? we can soooo kiss Mark Buehrle goodbye. Aaron Harang has been one of the best pitchers in the NL the past 2 seasons, has a great power arm, top of the rotation stuff and is 28 years old. This is a GREAT deal for the Reds. He's certainly better than Garland and will be making about the same amount as Jon over the course of his deal.