Wanne

Seems he's a very well-grounded kid IMO... Be nice if he played more than every 3 or 4 games this fall.

I think here's where it stands now... http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...sox0920-ON.html

I can definitely see a Paulie for Figgins deal going down with some other people involved. The guy I'd still like to see Kenny target for the rotation (if that's what he's doing) is Aaron Cook. Somebody else mentioned Hermida which would be nice only if he could play CF IMO...or JD was moved. Maybe some thought to Roberts too?... You also have to think about 3B with guys like Garrett Atkins or Kouzmanoff being an alternative to Figgins.

QUOTE (StatManDu @ Oct 21, 2008 -> 09:11 AM) I say forget Toby Hall and find the best-throwing catcher out there no matter who it is and bring him North. If it's Donny Lucy. Good. Paul Phillips. Bring him back. Francisco Hernandez. Do it. Cole Armstrong. Bring him on. I would also put forth that if Ozzie gets a good throwing catcher he use him in late-inning situations much like an outfielder because. The stolen base rate against the Sox -- granted much of it has to do the pitchers -- is embarrassing. Michael Barrett (32) Yeah...that'd happen.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 20, 2008 -> 08:56 PM) Here's why I don't. Agreed! I'm all for talent...but character to me is still VERY important. Not to try and hijack the thead or anything...but it was kind of the same reason I was NOT a fan of the Kobe to the Bulls deal.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Oct 20, 2008 -> 05:16 PM) It's a much discussed proposal. Is it worth taking on the 5 years and $101,500,000 remaining on Barry Zito's deal if you don't have to give up much of anything to acquire him and they throw in Tim Lincecum? What's the proposal? IMO...no...it's not worth taking it on. WAAAAAAAY too much quiche invested in Zito and if the Giants are actually even remotely thinking about dealing Lincecum the line of thinking is they want WAY too much in return and/or they think he's not too far from a major injury. No thanks.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 20, 2008 -> 03:04 PM) Zito/Bailey With that contract?!?!?!? Nevermind the fact he was for crap this year. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Kenny make a play for Aaron Cook this offseason. Ervin Santana probably can't be had now. Maybe Duchscherer? I honestly wouldn't be against talking to Freddy either.

Good for them!!! They definitely earned it. Plus...we won't have to be subjected of shots of Francona every other minute shoving crap in and out of his mouth or spittin'.....

As for Cole...the 3 games I've seen him catch so far he really left a lot to be desired defensively IMO. He had a number of PBs, dropped a pretty easy popup and his arm didn't appear to be all that strong. Granted...baserunners were gettin' huge jumps. But he's been hittin' the crap outta the ball lately. That dinger he hit in Surprise the other night was a MONSTER shot...Thomesque.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 11:05 PM) David Eckstein also wins rings. Because he's not the only one that always sucks in the playoffs for the Yankees? I understand the whole "he's making 5 billion dollars a year so he should produce" argument, but when you get little to no help from your teammates, it tends to be hard. Anyways, Alex Rodriguez plays 3B, doesn't need to be traded to be motivated, and he annually puts up better regular season numbers than Manny Ramirez. Alex Rodriguez is easily more valuable than Manny Ramirez. So you're saying it's great to have great season numbers...but if you suck in the playoffs (when it really counts)...that's ok? Thing about Manny is he's picked up a mediocre team...and great players do that. I understand your comment about needing to be moved to be motivated...and rightly noted. But I disagree with your point of getting little help from your teammates. He's sucked period in the post season. Manny's post season stats speak for themselves. But I also understand him bein somewhat of a headcase during the regular season. So I guess it's give and take...pick your poison. I'd still take Manny in a heartbeat since he changes the entire dynamic of an offense. IMO...ARod doesn't.

GEEZ-US CHRIST...the Phillies are 79-0 this season when leading after the 8th inning!?!?!? That's sick.

I say Manny. ARod makes, what...$28M a year?...I actually could see Manny hittin' the $30M mark this off season. The dude is such a difference maker. F it Kenny...dump some dead weight and go get him!!! *kidding*...kinda-sorta.

Anybody that's been lobbying for Furcal should now ZIP IT! That's about the 5th error of the playoffs now isn't it?

Good for the Rays! It's refreshing having somebody kick some ass in that division other than Boston and NY. I'll admit I was one that questioned them in the middle of the season and actually didn't see how they were doin' it. But the are good. But on a side note...you should be good or getting there if you have the 1st or 2nd draft pick every year for the last 10 goddamn years!!!

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 14, 2008 -> 07:56 PM) Kinda sucks Beckham is only playing once every three games or so. Maybe he'll get an AB tonight. I hope they start him at AA next year. It does suck. Was pretty disappointed...again. Wonder why Poreda isn't getting many innings either. Just got back from the game. Saguaros lost 8-6. Good and bad. Cole looked much better at the plate. Hit the ball hard every time up and hit an absolute MONSTEROUS dinger his 1st AB. Probably one of the longest HRs I've seen at one of these parks out here. Cleared the grass and landed out on the concourse past RF. Left some runners stranded in scoring position his last few ABs...but still hit the ball hard. Sox prospect Carlos Torres got lit up. But Cole's dinger was the definite highlight.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 12, 2008 -> 05:33 PM) You know, if Arizona hadn't collapsed and allowed 10 points in about 3 minutes, most noteably allowing a slow running back who runs like a fullback go 70 yards on a screen pass, this game would be over. The officiating has been poor, but it isn't why this game is in overtime, it isn't why the Bears lost, and so on. You guys are like Hawk Harrelson, just completely overdoing the affect of the officiating (well, in that case it's the umpiriing) on a game. agreed. BUT...some really ridiculous calls going the Cowboys favor in the 1st half. Officiating had ZERO outcome in the Bears game.

Hope this works for everybody. I was trying to post them in the thread individually...but it wouldn't let me. Basically just a few shots of Beckham, Poreda and Armstrong... http://my.imageshack.us/v_images.php

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 12, 2008 -> 03:03 PM) A lot more often than you see a team blow a two point lead attained with 11 seconds left without the involvement of a hail mary. The squib kick was the right call. It was executed poorly, and they were STILL in great shape to win the game. The last pass play goes on Mike Brown for being useless at covering, but mainly Bob Babich and Lovie Smith for (1) having Mike Brown in the game during a passing situation and ESPECIALLY (2) calling a defense that leaves holes in the exact area of the field the Falcons needed to get to win the game. Whether it was executed poorly was a moot point IMO. Sure you want to get it past that 2nd line...but the clock doesn't start until the receiving team touches the ball. All they have to do is fall on it...and no time goes off the clock. I'd still rather take my chances with covering the return and running as much time off as I could. I still disagree that it was the right call...pure speculation.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 12, 2008 -> 03:33 PM) Umm because the last time they did that, the guy went 80 yards. The squib kick wasn't the problem, Babich calling a soft cover 2 defense with 6 seconds left allowing the receiver to get into an open zone 20 yards down the field unimpeded was. I thought NOBODY could lose in more pathetic and embarrassing fashion in 2008 than the Chicago Cubs, but I was wrong. A team in the very same city managed to do it. That is the most pathetic thing I've ever seen, I've NEVER seen a team fall behind with 11 seconds left and win without a hail mary in my life at the major college or pro football level. People should be fired for that game. Went 80 yards with extended ST coverage...you kick it deep and set up at the 40. You basically gave them 2 plays (one pass and a fg...which how it turned out). You cover on ST and they only have one play. I still think it was a HORRIBLE decision. But...that's me. How often do guys go 80 yards?...

QUOTE (Brian @ Oct 12, 2008 -> 03:17 PM) He had two huge returns. I was fine with a squib kick, but the squib by Gould wasn't very good though. If that makes sense. From a time factor...no...you kick it deep. It runs time off the clock. I don't care how good his returns were today. Odds of him taking to the house were not that great....and IT. RUNS. THE. CLOCK OUT!!!!!!!!!!! Granted...you'd think this secondary could cover just ONCE today a deep pass. Mike Brown's time has passed. He's HORRIBLE in coverage anymore. Still...a bad decision to not kick it deep IMO.

Are you f***in' s***tin' me?!?!?!?....Just why in the f*** do you squib kick and give them excellent field position to have exactly what needed to happen happen. Kick it friggin deep so the clock runs down and expect you ST coverage to tackle them. Goddamn Lovie... what a disheartening loss.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 11, 2008 -> 08:54 PM) Beckham is leading off and playing 2B tonight. Made an error, got picked off by the catcher. 1-4, double, HBP Glad to see him playin' 2B tonight. Got some good pics that I'll try and post tomorrow. Double was in his last AB. He looked pretty overanxious this first few ABs and K'd twice (HBP his second time up). Hit the ball hard to SS his 4th AB. Made an absolute INCREDIBLE play behind the bag at second and threw the guy out at 1st. Doubled down the RF line his last time up. And an fyi for anybody who has aspirations of Cole Armstong backing up AJ next year...he's NOWHERE NEAR ready. Looks terrible at the plate. A couple of PBs that shouldn't have happened. Dropped a foul ball pop up. He really was very unimpressive. Poreda pitched one inning. His command was a little off it seemed. Throws fairly hard and had one K to get out of the inning. Don't understand why he only pitched one inning. Got my autographed ball from Beckham. I told him he better be up with the bigs within the next to years...he looked at me with a pretty serious tone and said: "sooner......" Glad to hear the tone...but I honestly don't think he's anywhere near ready yet. He'll definitely be playing 2B IMO.... Like I said...I'll try and get my pics posted soon.

No Beck today either. Was more than a little disappointed. He better be playing tomorrow!!! Chances are good I'll get to see Poreda throw too...and Armstrong (who wasn't in the lineup today). Supposed to be crappy weather tomorrow (real windy)...but hopefully I'll get to see Beckham. If it's blowin' too hard I may not go. btw...Brett Wallace looked terrible today. 3 Ks in 4 ABs......

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 04:44 PM) Bingo, I think that saves overall are really one of the worst statistics in baseball. I've read up on them quite a bit and honestly having a guy with lots of saves doesn't really have much of an impact on outcomes as you would think. We could probably trade Bobby and get some really nice pieces back. Like a legit CF who can hit and field. We could probably get 3 good prospects for him with one of them being star-potential. So I guess everybody was REEEEEEEALLY happy with Thornton in the closers role when Bobby was out for a while. Hmmmm...I seem to recall most said he didn't have the "closers mentality"...which I agree with. Why even consider trading Bobby unless you're in total rebuild mode?