lvjeremylv

I was looking at the Sox TV schedule, and I notice a lot of games being broadcast on "CSN Chicago". Is that the same as Fox Sports Chicago, or is it something different? I'm a bit confused. Thanks in advance.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Feb 25, 2005 -> 09:20 AM) Bardo said he heard that Frank had gained a lot of weight in the offseason. Yeah, I saw Frank back in December, and he didn't look like he was overweight at all. I think that's just BS rumor.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 24, 2005 -> 02:40 AM) One the ball is five feet off the plate every pitch i could walk over 200 times too. LOL. What a moronic statement. Watch Bonds hit. Pitches an inch off the plate he DOES NOT SWING AT. Bonds has the best eye in the history of the game, bar none.

LOL. The Twins/Sox don't even hold a candle to the Yanks/Red Sox.

An observation that's not exactly genius, but very much true IMO - the Japanese players that have come over to the States all just go out, keep their mouths shut (do they have a choice? they don't know the language) and play the game right. I feel Iguchi is only going to help the Sox.

How about Tigger?

QUOTE(FlaCWS @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 01:20 PM) Exactly. The biography of him written a few years ago says he was born in '65. Sure, he ain't 35. But, like he said, nobody cares about your age until you're injured or not performing. Guys like Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, and Roger Clemens go out there and perform at levels previously unheard of for people their ages, and if El Duque can stay healthy like he is predicting he will, he'll be just fine. And, he'll be pitching again in October, to boot.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 11:49 AM) Frank tore a bicep muscle. Who tears bicep muscles except guys on juice? Wasn't it his tricep?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 11:49 AM) I don't know, he's been fighting with his wife and doesn't eat when he's stressed, he's getting older and isn't comfortable with the extra weight, he's working out less and enjoying the sunset of his career. We can convict anyone of we try hard enough. Frank tore a bicep muscle. Who tears bicep muscles except guys on juice? Frank has been somewhat moody throught his career! (I don't for a moment believe Frank has ever used steroids, just pointing out how easy it is to convict someone) All I'm saying is rushing to judgement isn't something I want to do. Feel free to choose in your mind whose juiced and who isn't. I've decided that speculation isn't something I want to do. It's not really speculation in the case of Ivan Rodriguez. There's a standing statement by Canseco that he introduced him to steroids. So, you either believe Canseco or you don't - it's not really speculation. And someone said that I-Rod has pretty much looked the same throughout his career. Well, Canseco maintains that he introduced him to steroids in 1992 - his first full season on the majors.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 10:48 AM) All around the league, fans are pointing to players on other teams and claiming that guy who lost weight was on the juice; while *my* guy just needed to drop a couple pounds, he was flabby, etc. What's a guy in Minnesota suppose to think about the new slimmer, trimmer Carl. The same guy who was so moody all those seasons? Hmmm. The guy stops working out so hard and gains a few pounds of flab where muscle was and the world has him on the steroids. Like I said..contract year. Carl knows he's going to actually have a shot to play this year in light of the uncertain return date of Frank, so he wants to be able to get out there and make the most of it and cash in one final time in his baseball career.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 09:56 AM) Drink A LOT of water. Sure, watch how much you eat (no so much WHAT you eat - IMO how much is more important), exercise some (at least an hour a day - something simple like moderately fast walking will suffice), and drink about a gallon of water a day. I did that over the summer and lost about 15 pounds in 5 or 6 weeks.

QUOTE(JimH @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 09:10 AM) Supposedly his strongest attribute is his makeup. From what I hear and read, he's a real student of the game, humble, and a hard worker. All good signs. I'm hoping to see him pitch in person in a few weeks. Excellent. Thanks.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 09:03 AM) Boy, I don't think its fair to imply Jurassic was on the juice. Last year, he was flat-out flabby and out of shape, most likely from being unmotivated in Montreal. Even Pudge jumping in the middle of the steroid scandel...isn't anyone safe? why is this in the PH forum? The title of the post tells you what it's about - you didn't have to read it. And as far as everyone not being safe - Wilson Alvarez being named is about as out of left field as it gets. Although, to me, that gives it more credibility.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:53 AM) I wonder if he went on the Jurassic Carl diet. Wasn't he feeling a little heavy also? Meh, I'd raise an eyebrow at Everett's weight loss too if not for 1 thing - he's in a contract year, and he's looking to cash in one more time before he retires, so that is actual motivation to get in shape and play well. But I-Rod trying to play it off saying he felt heavy behind the plate is just a joke.

QUOTE(BaseballNick @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:43 AM) Let's not rush B-Mac up here right away. Let the boy get some meat on his bones and some experience under his belt before he turns into the next Jon Rauch. This kid can be the real deal; let's allow him come into his own in Birmingham and Chrarlotte for a couple of years and then when we need him, he'll be ready. Meh, Rauch just sucked. Had nothing to do with being rushed to the majors, IMO. Some highly touted prospects are just that - highly touted prospects. When 95% of them fail miserably, people like to try to find excuses or pass the blame off on something. Most of the time, though, they just don't have what it takes to be a big league ball player. And I'd wager that a great majority of the time, it has to do with mental make-up. Dan Wright didn't have it. Jon Rauch didn't have it. So far, Jon Garland hasn't had it. And countless other prospects on different teams didn't have it. Anyone know if McCarthy is metally tough? Or is he a mental midget?

"I felt a little heavy last year behind the plate"... :rolly - you didn't feel heavy before the steroid issue came to the fore-front, though, right? Or before you were implicated in a book by one of your former teammates? Too funny. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1996273 I'd cut and paste the article below for those whom the link won't work, but I think there are copyright issues or some s***, so I won't bother.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:39 AM) I am guessing that Hermanson is around as more of an insurance policy for Shingo vs 5th starter. But there is no arguing the Sox have more depth for righties in the pen vs lefties or major league ready starters. That's also possible. Hermanson is quite versatile, and I think the Sox got him to be there in literally every scenario. He could wind up doing a little bit of everything at different points in the season, much like Sean Lowe did for us - except Hermanson's got the goods to be a closer, which Lowe didn't.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:37 AM) I agree, I have a feeling this season Dustin will have about 4 spot starts..... I hope it's that few, because I think that would mean our rotation stayed very healthy if it's only 4.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:31 AM) If I had to guess... Diaz, then Munoz or maybe Adkins? I disagree, I think it would be Dustin Hermanson. I like what I read about McCarthy, though, and all I can suggest to him is "keep yourself ready", because it doesn't take long in the majors for things to go wrong, and before you know it, the phones in the minors are ringing off the hook.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 06:01 AM) 85 wins, but still a couple behind those pesky Twinkies. The Sox won 86 games last year with no 5th starter, no real lead-off man, and with their 2 biggest offensive weapons out for more than half the season. I don't quite see why you would think we'd regress to 85 wins. Please explain.

This may have been posted already, and "my bad" if it has. But, it's an enjoyable read, so here ya go... http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...5news&fext=.jsp ------------------------------------------------------ TUCSON, Ariz. -- Watching Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Jose Contreras interact during a 15-minute interview quickly evoked the image of baseball's newest Cuban comedy tandem. They laughed, they rolled their eyes over certain responses given by the other hurler and even patted each other on the back after a couple of especially astute replies to questions translated into Spanish by third-base coach Joey Cora. Their immense pitching talent will prevent taking their collective act on the road, aside from the White Sox's trips to Minnesota, Cleveland and Detroit, to name a few away cities. But if nothing else -- other than a few good laughs -- came from the discussion, there's an obvious genuine friendship between the two veterans whose long-and-winding roads of life have led them to Chicago. That bond should be especially helpful for Contreras, a hurler blessed with immense talent, who admitted that his confidence finally has started to catch up to his ability. "They're going to work together fine. They're going to have fun here, and I think they're going to do a good job," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of the Contreras-Hernandez combination. "Contreras is a guy, you look at him, and he's so big, but he's still a little [immature] at the Major League level. "Having El Duque here, I think Contreras is going to feel more comfortable. He's going to have a friend next to him, and he's going to have the support he needs." The White Sox's pursuit of Contreras began early in 2004, when talk started circulating that they were trying to pry him free from New York to become the South Side's next closer. Those unfounded rumors became steeped in partial reality when general manager Ken Williams traded Esteban Loaiza to the Yankees for Contreras minutes before the non-waiver trade deadline. A quick look at Contreras' 2004 statistics points more to inconsistency than Guillen's previous assessment of slight immaturity. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-hander -- who looks more like a NFL defensive lineman than a third starter in the White Sox rotation -- carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Kansas City during the season's final game, eventually picking up his 13th victory and increasing his strikeout total to 150 in 170 1/3 innings. But Contreras also led the American League with 17 wild pitches and ranked fifth in walks allowed with 84. He had the league's fourth-highest earned run average at 5.50, and the 31 home runs he gave up finished 10th from the bottom. Contreras was chastised for an over-reliance on his split-finger fastball, although it is considered one of the best forkballs in the game, and the overuse of his fastball in the mid-90s. Here's where El Duque's positive influence becomes readily apparent. He quickly came to Contreras' defense in regards to his pitching style, supporting the theory that Contreras simply needs to trust his ability. "That was one of the things that bothered me in years past, with a lot of people telling me a lot of different things," Contreras said. "I just want to pitch my game and have fun with it." "He doesn't have to worry about throwing too many forkballs," added Hernandez of his friend. "There are a lot of pitchers out there who throw more forkballs than he does. All he has to do is pitch his game and not worry about anything." Hernandez brings in his own doubts, joining the White Sox as a free agent on a two-year, $8 million deal. On May 12, 2003, he underwent surgery to repair a partially torn right rotator cuff and was out of action two months short of two years, until July 11, 2004, in a start against Tampa Bay. He finished last season with a career-low 15 starts, although he won his first eight decisions upon rejoining the Yankees' rotation. When asked about his durability, Hernandez guaranteed a season's effort of greater than 25 starts and pointed out that nobody thought he would even find success upon returning in 2004. His 9-3 record in the postseason, including a 2-1 mark in the World Series, is especially enticing for a franchise starved for playoff success. That advancement out of the American League Central could be a possibility with Hernandez and Contreras working together. They arguably are the two greatest pitchers in the modern era to come from their baseball-rich country and draw a greater interest at home currently than when they were pitching for the Cuban national team. Hernandez couldn't dispute a comparison to the United States' superstar tandem of Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. The only difference, according to a very clever El Duque, is that "Clemens went to Houston and ate steak at Morton's," while the Cuban duo were lucky to get beans and rice. "We played against each other in Cuba and tried to beat each other," Contreras said of their rivalry turned friendship. "El Duque was the best pitcher in Cuba ever." "I had a few years already when Jose started playing on the national team," Hernandez added. "When I left, Contreras was the best pitcher in Cuba." The two pitched together for one year in Cuba, before El Duque was banned from the sport in 1996 for allegedly trying to defect. They also worked in the same rotation for the Yankees during the two weeks before Contreras was traded. But now a full-fledged chance exists to have fun together with the White Sox. Judging by their recent interview, they already are directly on target. When asked what he liked most about Hernandez's repertoire, Contreras responded, "His heart." And what was El Duque's response to the same question about Contreras? "Todo," said Hernandez, basically meaning "everything" in Spanish. "His fastball, slider, forkball, everything. If I would have had those type of pitches, I would be as happy as Jose is." The duo responded with knowing smiles when questioned about the reported age discrepancy after defecting from Cuba. Hernandez is listed at 35, while Contreras is 33. "If I'm 45 years old and get people out, then nobody cares," Hernandez said with a laugh. "If I'm 22 and getting hit, people will get on me. "Ever since I've been here in the United States, people have questioned my age. That's good. It gives people something to talk about. When I won the World Series games, nobody questioned my age." Both pitchers expressed an affinity for New York and the help provided by the Yankees in bringing their families to the United States. They didn't seem bothered by the intense pressure that came from performing on baseball's biggest stage. They also seemed excited that their act soon could be playing to rave reviews off-Broadway. "I love New York, but I love Chicago," said Hernandez, breaking into a rare answer in English. "Maybe we changed our teams, but baseball really still is baseball." Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

QUOTE(SEALgep @ Feb 20, 2005 -> 08:20 AM) I wagered on that as well. The odds for the division have the Sox at +425, unbelieveable. Um...+425? Where? I want to know NOW so I can go put $100 on the Sox.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 20, 2005 -> 12:38 AM) This guy is 35, and he comes into camp as the best physical specimen we have Can he still give specimens at his age?

QUOTE(winodj @ Feb 20, 2005 -> 07:27 AM) Does the position of the starter really matter? If he's a quality starter and he's in a rotation - who cares if he's 3rd or 5th or 1st? More of a general baseball question I guess. Nah, doesn't matter. The only time IMO that the order matters is, typically, managers like to split their lefties up so a team doesn't see them in back-to-back games. Personally, I don't agree with that, but most MLB teams seem to operate that way. To me, if you're a good pitcher, you're a good pitcher, and it doesn't matter if you're at the front or the back of the rotation.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 19, 2005 -> 04:47 AM) The Sox were 39-30 (.565) with Thomas in the lineup last season and 44-49 (.473) without him. His .434 on-base percentage would have led the American League, his .563 slugging percentage would have ranked fifth, and he was on pace for 39 homers and a career-high 140 walks. His 64 walks ranked second on the team, though he played in only 74 games. Wow. That difference in records is made even more amazing when you consider that not only did we have Thomas in the first 69 games that we played .565 ball, we DIDN'T have Freddy Garcia. The last 93 games, we had a far better rotation, but without Frank, it didn't seem to matter. He's far more important to this franchise than many people realize. And the fact that he had the 2nd most walks on the team despite not even playing half the season is sad. What a joke.