nitetrain8601

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 07:40 PM) It would mean a hell of a lot of money flowing in for infastructure. But I guess that's "bad"... with that said corruption of the flow money would be rampant. Think of it this way. No Olympics = Raised taxes for corrupt politicians pensions Olympics - Raised taxes for need improvement of infrastructure and side money for politicians Either way, we're going to be paying, so might as well as have some sports and the opportunity to rent out our homes for profit.

Felix Hernandez Kevin Youkalis Dustin Pedroia Miguel Cabrera Victor Martinez Bobby Abreu Grady Sizemore Carl Crawford Andrew Bailey Manny Ramirez Justin Upton Bj Upton I think if KW were to obtain all of those guys, this team would compete.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 11:09 PM) More like June, this is the arrogance of KW, KW knows Walker has not done the job but he is so much smarter than anyone else just ask him. Walker as hitting coach has been a problem since June 2006 this team is in a 3 and a half year funk. KW had no trouble making sure Tim Raines was shown the door when they said he was not doing the job. Walker having a seizure on the field in the 80's should not mean lifelong employment by JR! Hey I am not afraid to say it, his actual job performance surely is not why he is still employed as the hitting coach. Perfectly stated. Raines was shown the door and probably did more than any other coaches not named Razor Shines or Joey Cora.

Oh wow, KW has made his first idiotic statement IMHO. If a coach is not getting through to his players, it's because they're tuning him out. If they are tuning him out, that means he is unable to perform his job. That really stuck out to me the most though.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:42 PM) I disagree on this. Professional baseball players already know how to hit, they already know how to perform the task, they wouldnt be in the mlb if they didnt. The problem is that each hitter is unique, and for most of them it is their uniqueness that makes them great. No one will hit like Frank Thomas, it wasnt the hitting coach that made him. Walkers job is to prepare the hitters, and I believe that he is doing that. I just dont believe the Sox are filled with players who actually care to listen. And that is an indictment of the players, not the coaching staff. So the Sox have had players for over 6 years not willing to listen? In that situation, Kenny needs to be fired since he brings in players who are deaf. QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:42 PM) Would you say Coop is just a whipping boy then? It's f***ed up how people can say Walker doesn't have much influence/control over the situation and then praise Coop. And also, if the players like Walker so much, and if the organization likes Walker so much, then maybe that is part of the reason they're all s***. Maybe these miserable f***s need a drill sergeant in there. Or maybe they just need a dunce corner and after every s***ty AB, that player will have to put on the dunce hat and sit there in silence at the end of the bench while the other players spit on him and throw garbage at him. And if by the fourth inning the entire lineup is sitting there on the end of the bench and there's no one left to put in, just call the game, forfeit, and save the arms on the pitching staff. But Walker can control weaknesses and have a direct effect on hitting just like Coop does on pitching. He can tell his hitters to stop trying to pull outside sliders. He could tell them to go the way of the pitch instead of pulling which it seems almost everyone on the team does. QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:47 PM) Well you could have read my caveat: The difference with Coop is that there are a good amount of players who did not perform as well before he was the pitching coach, or as well after he was the pitching coach. With Walker there is absolutely no evidence of players being better and performing worse, or being worse and performing better. Not to mention pitching and hitting are completely different. As a pitcher you control the game, so if Coop says "use your curveball more" well you can throw it more. As the hitter the pitcher is still in control. So even if Walker is telling them 100% the right information, the pitcher can still attack their weakness. As for the rest, good luck running a team like that. I personally think baseball players perform the best when they are enjoying the game. You don't know if the players are going to perform better or worse without getting some new blood, a new voice in there. Again, are you saying if the Sox should've never fired Jerry Manuel as there was no evidence that they would do better without him? QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:52 PM) So what you're suggesting here is that Walker does his job in preparing hitters for upcoming pitchers (and that's certainly important); yet the players on our team just don't listen? Now when you consider that only a few players (Dye, maybe Podsednik, Wise) will not return in '10, and maybe an additional player unknown as of now will be traded, we're going to have a large percentage of this seasons roster here for 2010. What's the purpose of having him around? You know what, if the players are going to ignore the hitting coach I'd rather it be someone else. I'm tired of Walker. Even if absolutely nothing changes, it'll atleast be another name. It's like the whole Anderson issue. It was at the point where whether people believed he was mistreated by Guillen, or was nothing more than a 4th OF, I just wanted him gone so I didn't have to hear his name anymore. Let us build resentment for another hitting coach. What I'm getting is that Walker is able to prepare the players without them listening, therefore he's doing his job at the same time as not doing his job. QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 08:00 PM) Thats where I disagree, I think continuity in a coaching staff brings success. And I really dont think there is much for a hitting coach to do, unless its a huge mechanical flaw or you notice that they completely changed their swing, there is not much you can do. Not to mention, the reason why the Sox offense is doing bad is JD and CQ. CQ is coming off an injury so well see what happens next year, JD was amazing in the first half, horrible in the 2nd. Not sure what any hitting coach could have done with that. Rios was slumping bad when the Sox got him, it was kind of wishful thinking to believe hed just turn it around immediately. Continuity is good in the workplace if people are able to successfully do their jobs. If I have a supervisor who constantly gets ran over by his workers, which is what you're essentially saying, are you saying that is better than firing the supervisor and getting someone in there that knows what he's doing and that the people would listen to? I think that's incorrect.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:34 PM) Indians scored less runs than the Sox last year. Texas has scored 719 runs this year, scored 901 last year. I personally havent seen anyone from management state Walker isnt doing his job, so Im not sure what your criteria is for his job. My criteria is not based on the success of players who he basically has no control over and I dont make changes just to make changes. I'm stating when they made the changes. Cleveland made there's sometime in 2005 or 2006. Texas made their's around the same time. And teaching is Walker's job. Managing the hitting is Walker's job. Getting the players to know how to perform their tasks as hitters is Walker's job. So far, he's failing miserably at one aspect in that, from what you state, say he preaches using all fields, but none of the players listen to him.

I'm fine with this team if they fired Walker. Honestly though, I think they need to complete their tweaking of getting older guys out of here, and the youth in. Let go of Jermaine. Trade PK and Jenks for some influx of young talent. As far as the bullpen, it's so crazy that anything can turn it upside down, so there's no point in wasting top dollar for a bullpen arm.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:21 PM) What reasons would I fire a hitting coach? Conflict with the manager. Hitting coach and manager do not have the same philosophy. Other than that I dont really think that a hitting coach is very important. I guess I feel like Ozzie likes him and more importantly the players like him. Im not sure that ive ever heard a bad word said about Walker. All players do is compliment him and say that he works as hard as anyone (or at least that is what I can recollect.) Its the players job to hit the ball, in my lifetime I cant name any hitting coaches that I think make a huge difference, and there really are only a handful of pitching coaches who you can say the same about. For the most part hitting and pitching coaches are whipping boys. Didn't someone here say that Walker and Ozzie didn't get along almost all of last year? Also, I'm sure Rusty LaRue worked as hard as anyone, but it doesn't mean the Bulls should've kept him in favor of someone who can do their job better. Off the top of my head, Cleveland and Texas in this decade took off after getting new hitting instructors.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 06:47 PM) Looks likw my memory wasn't that far off. Anyone got a link to the old story? I would go digging, but I'm on my blackberry right now.. I tried to do a quick google search, but basically if you look up the peavy rejection article on padres.com, it mentions a blurb in there.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 06:45 PM) Between PK, Delgado, and Floyd, the hip specialists in Chicago will make a fortune! The Floyd hip situation is really underplayed right now, but I hate hearing he might have to alter his delivery. I agree. I hope he doesn't. Honestly, he doesn't do anything too bad in terms of pitching mechanics. I think it will alter his curve if he changes his mechanics. Heck, it did so to Barry Zito when he changed his mechanics slightly when he got to San Francisco.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 03:29 PM) Boooo It's a number.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 06:36 PM) A free agent like Figgins is out of the question at this point, but I still think the FA that ends up on this team next year is Delgado. Kenny has already said that the middle of the order needs a LH stick(after Thome left) and Delgado fits the bill. On top of it, he has been linked to the Sox before, should come at a reduced rate, and can still play first if needed. I'm not crazy about it, I just think it will happen I'm sure it won't be him as he traded for him before only to have Delgado reject him because he didn't want to play in Chicago. It wasn't like Peavy hoping it would be the Cubs or no one. He honestly didn't want to come here.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 06:33 PM) lol I think that the defense is more that there is no proof we would get any better with another coach, as there is no evidence that its the coaching that has made the Sox players ineffective. My guess is that my question will go unanswered by the Walker detractors. If Walker was the reason the players arent performing, wouldnt it stand to reason that they would do better under another hitting coach? Lemme ask the Walker followers, is there ever a way to tell how a manager/coaching change/gm change/etc will affect a ball club? If not, which is what you're essentially arguing, why fire any manager? Why not keep Jerry Manuel after '03?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 05:17 PM) Steve, Come on, I would expect that you wouldn't parrot the nonsense that is on Soxtalk. Walker does not teach hitters to pull the ball, he tries to teach them to use the whole field. He tinkers with hitters who don't need tinkering. For example, when Juan was taught the leg kick from Walt Hriniak and Frank, it was working super well for him. Walker told him to stop doing it, presumably for power, and Uribe stopped and sucked again. Also, if he's preaching use the whole field, then the Sox are extra scewed because it means after all these years, he hasn't gotten to the hitters so his voice is none and/or the players don't care what their manager says. Either way, this man should've been gone for awhile.

Fantastic. I don't know how this guy keeps living.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) The Bulls this season will go as far as Tyrus and Deng can take them. Salmons I expect to be solid but not great and to improve our defense in the backcourt. Rose should take a solid step forward at the least, hopefully adding to his jump shot game, getting to the line more, and no longer being a sieve on defense. Noah will hopefully keep improving on both O and D, hopefully such that he isn't getting outmuscled as much by guys in the post or on rebounds. That assumes he's hit the weight room this summer. Tyrus and Deng though...I really have no idea what to expect from them. If we get the Deng we should have had 2 years ago...the 20 PPG, 8 RPG guy with the solid outside shot who can also create by driving the lane on occasion, yay. If we get the Deng from last year who stood in the corner not doing much...well. And Tyrus...well...what more can be said. If we're back in the boat where our small lineup is our default lineup...uck. How does Salmons, Hinrich, Rose, Pargo, Deng sound to you as a lineup? Deng really has no place as a SF in this offense. In a fast paced offense, you need to have at least one of two abilities if you're not playing PF or C. That would be either quickness or the ability to hit the three. He has neither. He would work great as a PF though since he can hit the 18 foot jumper. He also has a nice touch around the rim. The thing is, he never really bulked up or worked on any post moves since entering the league. In fact, he really hasn't work on anything. As far as Tyrus, he wants to play SF, but same with Deng. He can't hit a 3 point jumper. His best bet would be to develop as a PF, but he doesn't want that. He's a potential game changer sort of like a rich man's Chris Anderson when on. He could maybe one day be a SF, but he needs more work. One thing I notice is when he actually took his man off the dribble from 18 feet out, he actually had good dribbles and good moves, but then when he got to the rim, he would throw up a crazy shot instead of just dunking the ball or making an easy layup. So that's what he has to work on because his moves to the rim are strong, it's just when he gets there he gets in between of throwing a powerful dunk and shooting a finesse layup.

Honestly, the Cubs could use a Matt Holiday. Too bad that money is invested in Alfonso Soriano. Also, I would look to get rid of Z, though maybe easier said than done, and Aramis who seems to get injured, or if other hitters get injured and proceeds to be teh suckz for awhile before getting on his horse. I honestly wouldn't depend on him.

Eh, the bigger news is that Jermaine at one point was going to take a paycut instead of the 12 million option at the end of the season (he decided this by the All-Star break) to give the Sox a hometown discount and finish his career here. Now, he considers himself gone. It was in the Sun-times as well. I wonder why no one made a post about that.

Konerko for Justin Upton would work, except they have THEE Brandon Allen. Honestly, I'd do Flowers and Jenks for Upton with fillers mixed in on both sides.

I can't believe the QB took that and got up right away. That hit was nasty for all parties involved. I can't believe a QB of all people took it.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Sep 18, 2009 -> 06:38 PM) I just saw it was back on as well. The one thing I do hate though is that if you want a shot at good seats you've gotta join the fanclub...not sure I'm gonna spend $45 bucks just for the shot at good seats. Neither am I. I usually get presale codes though from a reliable source for all types of events, so if I do get it which I'm 99% certain I'm going to have it, I'll PM you.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 18, 2009 -> 09:32 AM) Another reason why I hated all those arrogant do-gooders in the student orgs like MSA and the like, they made 300 "beat furman" tshirts for MU students this weekend in tigers lair or whatever. WHo the F*** wants that. Yay!!! We beat FURMAN!!! My tshirt totally helped motivate!!! Lol. I agree strongly though.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Sep 18, 2009 -> 03:41 PM) I was. But I keep hearing that the tour is cancelled. It's a shame because it'd be a orgasm visually. I am going to U of I to see Jay, Lupe & Wale though. Oh, from all accounts, it's still on. Tickets go on sale in October. My gf sent me the link because she loves Gaga and Kanye's Graduation album. Lupe and Wale should be good. Jay, eh. I really love Shining Down by Lupe though. Very underrated song. EDIT http://www.examiner.com/x-6604-Urban-Pop-E...s-and-dates-set Presale is next week for Kanye fan club members.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Sep 17, 2009 -> 09:46 PM) Say what? That entire album is great. Actually, Warryn Campbell gets the co-production credit on Homecoming. Martin helped produced it. In fact he said it at a Coldplay concert. He could've been lying though, who knows. QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 17, 2009 -> 10:08 PM) I'm not gonna stand here and listen to people tell me Chris Martin is a good producer. for one: per wiki 2007 "Homecoming" Kanye West Graduation Co-writer, featured vocals, piano 12. Homecoming (Ft. Chris Martin) Produced By - Kanye West & Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell he was the co producer for one awful song off a terrible album. For two he doesn't even produce coldplays albums. For three, he's something awful as a songwriter. And for Beach Chair I don't think he got production credits(don't have the booklet), but he sent in the chords to Dre who did the rest. Anyone going to Kanye's/Gaga's concert in January?

Briggs named a captain, yet he doesn't get to call plays for the defense. It goes to a backup. NFL is weird like that. Sapp was on the NFL network yesterday I think stating that Urlacher's position is not really important in the Cover 2. It's Tommie, Lance, and Aflalava's positions. He basically said, what you got from the MLB, as long as not out of position, is icing on the top, and Urlacher made a ton of cakes(that's my paraphrase). Anyway, what happened to Jamar Williams?