nitetrain8601

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Nov 5, 2009 -> 08:35 PM) Barnes still utilizes Iowa State's practice facility, works out with members of the team, plays with members of the team, has consulted with McDermott after visits, is the son of an ISU player, has a mom that works for Iowa State and has expressed extreme interest in the possibility of playing with Craig Brackins next year. He attended a number of ISU games last year and grew up an ISU fan. To say he won't come to ISU is fine, but he didn't put ISU in his final six as just a formality. Yeah, he works out there because his parents work there. I'm sure some football players in the NFL grew up Raiders, Browns, and Lions fans but don't want to play there given the choice. Barnes is working out there because he has unlimited access to the facilities and he's from there. It would make sense for him to workout at the local university over flying to UNC or whatever school he chooses. ISU never had a chance. He's leaving them in his top 6 out of respect for the school, but they were never realistic. Sorry to break it to you.

I can see us taking a flyer on Vlad if his price isn't too high. He would be an under the radar move since all eyes will be on Holliday. I know he's a free swinger, but the Sox have been trying to get contact hitters with patience for like 5 years and it never actually happens. Just my own guess though.

Me thinks that the people who are complaining about Verizon haven't had it in at least the past 2 years. I've been with every major network except for US Cellular and Verizon has the 2nd best network, but best overall service(again, not including US Cellular who I heard are very good, but don't have the greatest phone selection). AT&T has a good feature with rollover minutes, but besides the iPhone, I rather have T-Mobile. T-Mobile, recently has been getting a lot of bad reviews in the media for good reason since they had the sidekick blackout and then this past tuesday's blackout, but they're the better decent cheap option for college students IMO unless you really really want an iPhone. Verizon & Sprint to me are the big boys though. What I don't like about Sprint is that your bill is never the same from month to month and roaming charges are a pain, but in the 2nd year that I had them, I never lost a call nor was I never able to gain internet access. They also can't cut you a break. Verizon has a great selection of phones and customer service is great. They're willing to hear you out and understand. The one downfall with Verizon is that they cripple their phones with their own software. With the Storm though, I haven't seen much of that.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Nov 5, 2009 -> 06:51 PM) I knew Lincecum was a stoner. With that type of hair, he had to be.

Or, they could be using Teahan for a bigger trade involving PK. I dunno, but I love the offseason.

I like the idea of trading PK a lot as I think he's the main proponent to the chemistry issues. I don't see what it has to do with this trade though unless they plan on bringing back Dye or Thome as DH's, and adding a Nick Johnson type of guy at 1B with a raker or Adam Dunn in the OF/1B slot. Please trade PK though before his value goes down the tube.

Minny will improve, slowly, but surely. Despite how nice it is to have Kevin Love, they should've never traded OJ for him. OJ & Al could've been a great one two tandem in which all they would've had to do is fill in the holes with shooters and hustle players. Eventually Al or Love is going to have to go.

Kansas can't hold Osiris' jockstrap at RedBird Arena. He's going to go down as the most exciting player ever...in the NBDL.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Nov 5, 2009 -> 06:42 PM) Pft, Iowa State is still there... Yeah, as much as UIC is still there too....

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Nov 5, 2009 -> 07:11 PM) My god people we talk about Chris Getz like he accomplished something here. Is he the new BA? The new Sweeney? Is this what we're trying to do here? There's no raw data to support Getz being anything other then a utility player. Intangibles are fine, but if a player lacks the track record and skill set to back said intangibles, it's pretty much a dead issue. I like Nix no doubt about it, but i can't write him in a starter. Why? Becasue he has enough issues to make his place on this team, a legitmate question mark, but he has the skill set. He has that potential, he doesn't rely on some distant intangibles, he relies on good d and solid pop. It usually produces results. And if it doesn't? We cut our losses and move on. Getz was at least as good as Teahen was last year and Getz was a rookie. He also plays a premium defensive position which, while he's not a Gold Glover at yet, he's pretty decent. I don't mind moving Getz, and most people here wouldn't mind it as he's a nice player, but no one to lose sleep over. It's who we traded for in return. And unless Beckham is going to SS, Alexei back to 2B, Teahen to 3B and a stud RF/LF are happening(which it may, I definitely don't know), then this move is a lateral one at best because Teahen isn't great against anyone, but us.

With that said, the Phillies did not bring their good hitting sticks tonight. I think it'll benefit the Phillies for another pitcher other than Pettite(hell even Mariano) to come in because Pettite will throw junk up there where as guys like Mariano will try to come after them and jam them inside. Just cheat a little inside and they have a better shot at scoring. With Andy and that strike zone though, it's not going to be easy.

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_arc..._to_pittsburgh/

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Nov 3, 2009 -> 12:21 PM) who was getting in people's faces in 05? Timo? Two posts ahead of you. Rowand and Everett were two big ones. And to answer Tex, it's not bad to have guys who can get themselves up for games and keep to themselves. At the same time, not everyone is like that. Some people, do need motivation, support, etc. from other teammates. Some people do need a good yelling. And some people can do it by themselves. The main problem I think Mark alludes to is that the regime in that locker room now, only knows, respects, and wishes for one way and that's their way.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 3, 2009 -> 10:43 AM) Yeah, when a veteran player is struggling they should lose all respect and accept getting their ass smoked by other players. It's not like they deserve any respect for all they have done in their career. Why do people think being a vocal leader meaning only pointing out the negative things and getting in someone's face? You can be a vocal leader and help teammates adjust. Give him some of your own personal input. Help clear a teammates mind. When Everett was on the squad, you didn't hear about him complaining left and right and that's it. But he was the vocal leader of the squad because he would tell you what you needed to hear. PK & Dye, especially don't do that. I don't consider AJ a leader because I don't think he wants that tag and he doesn't strike me as that type of guy. Buehrle is kind of the same. He just wants to be one of the guys. We need an Orlando Cabrera. We need a Carl Everett. Look at the two teams playing in the playoffs. They have a strong vocal leader in each clubhouse. Rollions and Jeter.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 08:55 PM) When I was in high school I was a bit of a UIC fan, Banks and Bailey were a blast to watch back than. They were. I remember they picked UIC when they could've gone to a bigger school because they wanted to make UIC a powerhouse mid major. Honestly, they were on their way until Bailey stopped taking classes seriously and Aaron Williams showed how dumb he can be. Honestly, UIC probably would've beaten GaTech that year if they had Bailey, but he had to watch from the sidelines.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 09:51 PM) I don't have any insider info on this subject, but from the outside looking in, it seems like Ozzie wouldn't like any vocal player leaders. He likes to be the voice of the team and that's it. I disagree. From the Ozzie OC situation, Ozzie doesn't mind if you talk, but he wants you to back up your mouth. I think that's why he didn't really like BA who we can agree on, was full of himself early on until Ozzie benched him in '06 and gave him a huge reality check. Ozzie just doesn't want you to talk and be a crap player.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 09:20 PM) If the consistent performers of the team didn't want a vocal leader why do you want to piss them off? Seems to me that if you have someone who can't get fired up playing Major League ball, some dick yelling at him isn't going to make him play better. Not everyone responds the same way to everything. A player should perform on his own and it's respectable to get pissed at a guy for yelling at you. Any blame for 2009 should be assigned for a lack of talent on the team. They lined up pretty evenly with the projections going into the year. Meet QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 09:26 PM) The first part of this quote is unbelievably disappointing The second half of this quote I agree with wholeheartedly Not everyone is going to respond to not being held accountable either. You don't have to get in everyone's face all the time, but at the same time, staying quiet in a corner while you're slumping and leading by example doesn't always work either. There needs to be a balance and what Mark is saying I think, and this is from what I've gathered as well is that the "leaders" of this clubhouse don't want a balance. They want it their way or no way. Until we get rid of PK and Dye, I think it's always going to be like that. Like seriously, how are you going to get on Chris Getz for saying what he said?

What was the point of that Rick Roll?

QUOTE (kev211 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 07:28 PM) I believe I'm gunna go to that game. I'm really thinking we take over that arena. Probably. UIC's student body doesn't support the team. The only game I remember us selling out was against Georgia Tech in '04 which Cedric Banks almost singlehandledly beat #2 Georgia Tech. Heck of a game, but free throws cost us. Other than that, our Pavillion doesn't sell out for jack unless it's the opposing team's fans coming in.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) Doesnt Konerko not like vocal leaders? Wasnt that the one of the big issues with Cabrera? That's what I was saying in the Swisher Vazquez thread I believe a while back. This just confirms it basically that guys like Dye, Konerko, Thome didn't like guys who spoke up and tried to lead vocally. From what it sounds like, they're the ones led to Orlando Cabrera becoming an outcast and eventually off the team when he was providing the fire and being vocal about what this team was and needed. Were they right about Swisher? Most would say yes, and I'll probably now say yes considering Ken Griffey, whom Swisher said he was one of his biggest fans, tried to give him tips on his stance which Swisher just ignored. In the end, I think this confirms Cabrera got a raw deal, obviously, no one but Ozzie wants to speak up, and the Vets kind of are ruining the clubhouse like Everett alluded to when he was off the team in '06. Gonzales pins the most blame on the vets for last season.

Don't make this a flame war about WSI. It's a great read and I suggest members go there. Confirms a lot of what I heard regarding Orlando Cabrera as well as guys like Swisher and the vets. http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/in...=11&id=3906 Thoughts? Opinions?

Larry Johnson of KC is about to be cut.

Tonight's game postponed. They'll try to play it tomorrow at the same time.

Strictly on the season, Bulls beat 38-44. Barely miss playoffs. Deng is dung. Salmons barely misses the all-star game, Rose makes all-star team, people call for VDN's head, and Bulls look to dump Tyrus at least at the break. BTW, Boozer will be the biggest name traded.

Deng has looked the same all preseason as he has the past 2 years. In fact, his holes are even more evident. His jumper is nowhere where it was in '07. Clearly, he's been trying to go ISO a ton so far in pre-season, and clearly you can see he doesn't have the quick step to get past his guy, nor the moves that a Paul Pierce has where he takes a jab step, then a drive to the basket for a step, and backs up pull up jumper. And Deng has stopped the ball movement at times this preseason. Fits right in with what Del Harris, I believe it was, said. Deng wanted more shots and wanted to be the first option on offense. He clearly doesn't have the ability. Right now, he's just a really good defensive player and a nice rebounder. He's a top 10 worse contract though.