hitlesswonder

I don't see how anyone right now can argue against a concealed carry law. You can see the result of guns being banned on the VTU campus. I don't see how there can be any debate on this subject.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) The harsh reality is, you can't expect an advanced system. Atleast on large campuses such as UIUC. There's the dark side here of cost effectiveness. I think money is pretty tight at public universities. UIUC now receives only around 25 percent of its funding from the State of Illinois (it was over 50 percent about 20 years ago). As you said, I doubt we'll see large capital investments to prevent a relatively rare event. I liked the idea of something like a tornado warning siren to at least warn people to stay where they are. That's financially doable and seems potentially useful. Of course, you'd have to have drills and tests, otherwise people won't know what the siren means....

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 12:50 PM) 9th inning or later And how many chances has he had to win a game with the Sox 9th inning or later? He had all of 64 at-bats in "close and late" situations last season. In those he had a .188 BA, but .878 OPS with 5 HRs and 23 walks. I'm guessing teams don't really go after Thome in those situations unless they have a LHP facing him. Anyway, I agree that Thome is the least of the Sox concerns on offense right now.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 12:17 PM) You just seemed to quantify a 'good hitter' as someone who gets big hits late in games.... People always posted the same things about Frank Thomas -- how "un-clutch" he was. Apparently it's tradition for the Sox to have a HOF-caliber DH who people don't fully appreciate. And seriously -- how many RBI opportunities has Thome gotten this season? It can't be that many....

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 10:09 AM) How can you possibly use 7 scattered ab this season as a reason he shouldn't be playing? You're right -- that was over the top on my part (using that standard about 7 of the Sox starting 9 would have to sit). I really would like to see Anderson do well, but I think it's going to have to be for another team.

Anderson wants more at-bats and doesn't want to play winter ball, per the Suntimes. It's impressive that a guy with a something like a .600 career OPS doesn't think he needs to get some at-bats in the winter to get better. And he thinks his .143 batting average deserves some more major league at-bats this season. I think it would be best for all if Anderson found his way to a new organization as soon as possible.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 06:17 PM) I'd say a much bigger problem is that too many people are assuming that Brian Anderson will never improve beyond what he did last season. Odds are he doesn't. And that's not a slam on him, it's just that very few ballplayers end up really making it in the bigs. If the Sox want to contend this season they can't wait for Anderson to come around. His plate appearances today were horrific and we now read more stories about his poor work ethic. That doesn't encourage optimism. Anderson could improve. I think I like him as a prospect more than most Sox fans. But he's worse than useless on this Sox team. Terrero is a much better fit, since Ozzie is on record as saying he loves him (actually, Terrero is a lot like Anderson will probably be a couple years from now). It's clear Anderson has no future with the Sox, and can't contribute at the plate in the present. For the sake of Anderson's career and the organization it's time for the team to move him to another organization.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 02:06 PM) I don't know how you expect a player with one year experience in the bigs to look at the plate with seven at bats over ten games. I don't expect him to look good. Anderson should be playing everyday in AAA or preferably (for the sake of his career) for another organization. The Sox need a better CF than Erstad and Anderson isn't it. I do think Anderson still has a shot to be a productive major leaguer, but it won't happen with the Sox

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:39 PM) As proven by these numbers: So now Anderson doesn't play hard and doesn't break up DPs? Okay, I'll take note of that. Anderson's closing speed is much better than Erstad's. But if you want to believe that they're equal -- maybe it makes you feel better -- go ahead and believe that. Yup, he's healed and back to his 2000 ways. Err, wait, no he's not... In his last 3 injury-plagued years, Erstad's OPS is 50 points higher than Anderson. Anderson's defense is tremendously overrated -- every Sox beat writer I've heard has talked about how much trouble he has going back on the ball. Look at today's game and tell me who looks better at the plate. There's no way you can say Anderson is a better player than Erstad right now. the problem is that Erstad isn't actually any good and the Sox need to acquire a CF that can put up an OPS over .700.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:30 PM) Well, with Konerko, Dye, Crede, Hall, Iguchi, Uribe, etc., we should be pretty decent. It's not all lefthanders...it's just that Sabathia and Santana are that good, especially against the Sox. It is all lefthanders...Iguchi can't hit LHP. Uribe can't hit period. I'm starting to lean towards thinking Crede really isn't good hitter and just had 1 decent year. Dye looks old. Honestly, I think this is an old team and it's time to blow up significant portions of it. If they move Dye, Crede, and Buehrle for something decent and are willing to sign some FA position players the Sox could be good in 2008....

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 11:24 PM) iAnd in my opinion he didn't win it back in spring like he was told he needed to do. And that was made harder going up against a guy who's proven himself at this level and won multiple gold gloves, not to mention his ability to handle the bat better than Brian. I can't find the stats, but wasn't Anderson's spring OPS around 150 points higher than Erstad's? He had a much better OBP and about the same number of bases in almost half the plate appearances. Picking solely on stats, Anderson would have won the job. Erstad has proven himself to be a very mediocre hitter over the last 6 years. I'm OK with Sox thinking Anderson isn't the answer in CF, but then they should bring in someone with more offensive ability than Erstad. Having 2 guys out there who will struggle to put up a .700 OPS isn't a recipe for success.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 11:27 PM) Sure looked like BA in CF for the first 80-90 games that I saw. But my reception is bad. Mack had 166 ABs as a CF while Anderson had 362 ABs as a CF in 2006.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 09:51 PM) Brian Anderson was not a major league caliber CF at the plate last year for 4 out of the 6th months. But there's some ray of hope... Well, I agree...I'm not that optimistic about Anderson but I do think Anderson is actually more likely to have a some semblance of an offensive impact than Erstad. It's just that it's clear to me that it won't be with the Sox while Guillen is managing. You can look at a guy like Cuddyer in MN as an example of someone who put it together around age 26 or 27 after some fairly mediocre seasons. I'm sure someone will point out that Cuddyer was a much better prospect, but whatever...the point is that I think relegating Anderson to the scrap heap is silly after one bad season. But, I can honestly understand that a team built to contend might not want to take a chance on Anderson again. So it would be best for everyone if he was traded, and somehow the Sox brought in a CF that they were willing to start over Erstad.

Really, I get it -- Anderson had his shot and blew it. Just ship him to the Marlins already instead of repeatedly telling the beat reporters that he sucks and failed as a ballplayer and professional. I'm tired of reading that story. Call up Terrero and use him the way a defensive replacement should be used.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 08:45 PM) I dearly hope that's sarcasm. It's only semi-sarcasm. Anderson probably isn't a major league caliber CF (at least at the plate). If it were my team, I'd give Anderson a shot at starting again. So the bottom line for me is that if the Sox aren't going to start him he needs to be out of the organization and the Sox need to find a CF.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 03:09 PM) what should we expect from Anderson tomorrow? He barely plays and has to face CC. Ozzie started Erstad against Sabathia before and Erstad's career numbers are good against Sabathia. I'd be surprised if Anderson starts tomorrow -- has it been announced? QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) Podsednik being a terrible defensive player, a young player being kept on the bench when he could be improving his game in AAA and Ozzie Guillen's stubborn nature, unwilling to make defensive replacements or pinch hit for his light hitting vets. Not to argue, but I doubt Anderson is on the roster because Ozzie wants him. I'm pretty sure Ozzie wanted Terrero but Williams vetoed him. I think you have to blame Williams. His fix for CF and the non-problem of a #2 hitter was Darin Erstad. That's not a good fix when you've already committed to bad offensive player in LF. I think the roster was poorly constructed.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 04:20 PM) An observation about Erstad: He's a decent backup OF. The Sox don't have anyone to start in CF other than Erstad. And before anyone says something Brian Anderson -- Anderson isn't good enough defensively to replace Pods in late inning situations.He's obviously not a starting major league CF.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 12:45 PM) What else is new??? Erstad needs a day off. They can't rest him...there's no backup CF on the team.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) All signs have pointed to Illinois going after 6'7, 225 pound wing Rodney Alexander of Benton Harbor, Michigan via Redlands Oklahoma CC. Anyways, he was down to Illinois and Tennessee by all accounts, but somebody posted a rumor on the IB that he canceled his visit to Tennessee this weekend and very well may sign with Illinois next week. If true....well he's a wing with good size, and his scholly opens up in 2 years as a JUCO, so I wouldn't mind it. The Tennessee boards say that UT decided not to bring Alexander in for a visit; they decided not to offer him. I find that more believable than Weber outrecruiting Pearl for a player.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:37 AM) The first 8 games have been fine. It was a tough schedule to start, and considering how awful our hitting has been, we're lucky we're not 1-7. Of course, if our hitting continues to suck, we're going to win about 70 games this year. Aaron Rowand is nothing more than a 4th/5th outfielder right now. Unless MLB changes its rules, he's not going to be good again. Philadephia fans are no longer happy with Rowand (check out this blog entry -- they even say his defense is below average). I like Aaron, but the Sox need to get a real outfielder with a real bat. It's past time for people to stop pining for Rowand. As for the Sox, despite my pessimistic nature, this start isn't bad. The pitching has been good overall, and that's the thing I was worried about the most. Offensively, I'm stil concerned long-term about the lack of OBP in the 1 and 2 spots (and how much Dye and Crede will regress from last season). But Uribe has been adequate and that's plus (2 walks -- he's trying!). Probably the most worrisome thing is just the level of talent in DET, CLE, and MN. Detroit's picthing has been great. Anyone that thinks 2006 was a fluke should watch Verlander, Bonderman, and Robertson pitch this season. I'm not sure the Sox have a single starter that could match any of those guys. And somehow Ramon Ortiz has decided to finally live up to all his hype as a prospect like 10 years later. I know 2 starts is too soon to predict what he'll do all season, but it would be just like the Twins to somehow get a great year out of him. Grrr.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 05:01 PM) Kielty kills LH pitchers, then you have Piazza and Chavez. It would be nice to get an 8-3 lead and just leave Aardsma out there. I don't think I can take Jenks again. Wouldn't that be 3 days in a row for Jenks? It would be 3 days in a row and his velocity was lousy last night. Leave in Aardsma....

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:30 PM) Erstad is now hitting .240 and his OPS has fallen below .700 again. Edit: Grindingly. Whoever suggested "Grinding to a halt" as the 2007 slogan was a genius (posted by someone a while ago).

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:29 PM) Erstad's luster is really fading fast. Sadlly, there's no better option for CF....

QUOTE(joeynach @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:21 PM) Pinch hit your righty when they have a tough lefty or LOOGY on the mound. THat is almost just understood, its just the way the game works. But no Oz does it different he has to set us up for that taylormade 6-4-3 dp. Sweet. You never pinch hit for Pods. NEVER. His speed changes the game....

AJ is going to play in 162 games this season....