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Yeah I really, really enjoyed nba from 2008-2016 and would defend it but this year really, really sucked. Part of it is that basketball is a game where slight advantages can have big results. How much better is GS than San Antonio? Cleveland? In other sports you'd say GS was the lead but each team could compete and would be no shocker to take a playoff series. But when you have a really good team that 3-5% advantage you have over the other team just adds up really quickly each possession. And so even though we've had teams building up and up, there were still these awesome playoffs of grizz v spurs and clips v okc and okc v spurs / GS. But then GS and CLE got that edge with Durant just too much higher over where "anything could happen" can't really happen. And it turns out that's remarkably not fun. ANd it also turns out that the responsible distribution of minutes in the regular season is remarkably not fun when it's not just the spurs doing it. These are two really great teams playing beautiful basketball. But is it high stakes? I don't know, when it is this preordained, and when the outcome is so determined, it just feels like an all star game. So yeah, I'd love if the Bulls were the ones dominating. But even though times change I'm still just thinking how much I love Russ for wanting to beat everyone on his own. Didn't win s***, won't win s***, but I'd rather ride with that honestly.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 02:36 PM) Most insiders are saying they already have the guy which is why they decided to pull the trigger now. Who knows. Football season is first anyway That would make sense. I would say that it's less odd timing if the coach is coming from the pro ranks. Might not mean stevens but could mean someone like Monty Williams?

Can't express how pissed i'd be if I was a fan of one of those programs and lost my coach in June/July. Those recruits too, even if anotehr place opens up space for them, it sends a ripple of screwing over kids.

QUOTE (Sonik22 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 01:13 PM) Thad's had some health issues. AD Gene Smith said that on court performance earned him another year but recruiting was the final straw. Yeah, I don't want to imply anything but an oddly timed forced retirement after a guy has had ongoing back problems that may have affected recruiting just makes me a bit worried. Hope he's okay, hope OSu can find a coach, and that this really just was an AD who did not want to see how bad the team would get after recruiting falling off.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 01:07 PM) Rumors this morning were that he would step down at the end of the upcoming season. A little surprised it's now. It should have been 3 months ago if they wanted a shot at Archie. I assume they'll go the interim route this season and then look for a replacement after next season. edit: wow, sounds like this was OSU's decision. If so, what a dumb move not doing this earlier when prime candidates were available. You never know what's going on behind the scenes. Hope Matta is okay and there isn't something looming.

It was fun watching Haray and Piersall clips. Some twitter post was for the last day of 1979 or something. There was a point where the clown prince of baseball was basically interrupting a live game and everyone was yucking it up. I was trying to imagine the fit everyone would have if players were distracted during the game with something pleasing fans. Actually I want to try and find it. 1) I would love a radar gun on Steve Trout, looked like he was throwing 82 mph 2) Hard not to notice the difference in announcing due to how fast the pitchers pitched. Would be a lot less Benetti/Stone banter if they didn't have 40 seconds between each pitch 3) There was a part where the scoreboard wished happy birthday to the cameraman from channel 44, Piersall misread channel 44 as the cameraman's age, and goes "44! he doesn't look 44" to which Haray replies "That's the channel not his age!" good stuff. Shots of the crowd are too good. Not a jersey in sight.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 12:12 PM) I would be open to that, which ever bat they take at 11, Ideally Haseley, Beck Kendall, Adell in that order. If Seth Romero is available at 39 I hope they take him issues and all. Yeah it will be interesting. If we draft a college bat then I'd like to get a good HS talent in 2nd, but there are some mocks projecting pitchers like Tanner Houck available at 39, there could be a really interesting college pitcher at 2 like last year, will be fun to see it shake out.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 11:28 AM) Pretty sure it is Brendan McKay not Hunter McKay. Haha, thanks, edited. I was trying to do them in alpha and kept retyping names.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 11:13 AM) Same questions apply. Who is available? I also hate questions like these because we had a run of 20+ games with only 1 day off and I'm assuming Renteria and Coop get days where they know some pitchers need a rest that we aren't privvy to. I'm not saying nobody can criticize the manager, but I really like how Renteria has tried to prevent 3rd time through order for some of our weaker pitchers, but you then get into scenarios where you wear down some guys and pitchers have to pitch out of roles.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 11:12 AM) You have a lot more faith than I do that he's gonna somehow suddenly change his ways when we try to contend, or that Jerry will become unloyal by that time and fire him. I don't think he's ever going to stop bunting, but I do think the middle inning bunting will end. I think late inning is going to happen.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 09:09 AM) maybe the guy is just trying to see what his players can and cannot do while he is in a year where they are clearly not expected to compete. Which is pretty much exactly the same situation he was in while manager of the Cubs. This is a mulligan year, finding out if Adam Engel can lay down a squeeze or sac bunt seems like something a manager should know. This is exactly how I feel. Let's be aggressive in stolen bases this year (IMO), and sure, try a bunt. Let us figure out who can do it and who can't before it matters.

Despite my going to bat for Kendall, given the chance I went with Haseley. I think my top 3 probably is 1) Haseley 2) Kendall 3) Beck with 2 and 3 swapped if Beck comes underslot. If the White Sox had all 10 available, I'd go Hunter Greene because I actually watched a video and the movement on that kids fastball is ridiculous.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 10:40 AM) Hard to say what better position player options might be available to us at #11 overall? I'm actually intrigued about Evan White's potential to be converted into an outfielder? MLB.com's scouting report on him as a first baseman: Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55 Those tools seem like they could be a fit for moving him to the outfield, where his lack of power profiles better? Could be an underslot signing? I also like how it's not just "good defense" at first, they are saying elite defense at 1st. So if he can't move to OF for some reason (given his athleticism seems like corner of should be feasible), you are getting something interesting.

Two Scenarios: - Possible picks (removes the likely top 5) - White Sox are in Twins position, who would you pull trigger on?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 3, 2017 -> 11:05 PM) Of course he is a democrat, just as Trump is a republican, wink wink on both. I know why Biden didn't run. Sure it was family reasons. But you don't think he'd have run if the DMC made it clear he was the person the party wanted and the country needed? Biden isn't dumb. It was all Hillary all the time and he'd have been considered a traitor to the party by running. He knew it was Hillary coronation time and he couldn't be the rat who spoiled Hillary's coronation. Do you really believe Biden wouldn't have run, even though he was grieving, if the coronation was his?? Again ... everybody on the democratic side was convinced it was Hillary's turn, Hillary making history. Perfect scenario. She would roll to victory, be rewarded for her lifelong service and be the first female president to boot. Biden couldn't spoil that party. He'd have been such a rat for trying to get in the way of the Hillary train. The Democrats didn't want a competitive primary season yet outside of the higher ups in the party, Hillary was despised by so many voters she actually faced decent competition from old, socialistic Bernie (who I happen to love). I'm not trying to be insensitive to Mr. Biden, whom I love as a politician. His grief was real and true. I'm saying if it was made clear to him he was the popular choice of everybody, he'd have run. I agree with Greg. DNC definitely tried to clear the field and it's a mistake that people won't let them make again. But, its usually difficult to find candidates after a two termer.

I really like Haseley but it just makes me nervous that a lot of the logic seems to be : College outfielder with splashy junior season ... he's andrew benintendi!

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 08:08 AM) Just like the Manchester attacker, these guys had been under surveillance and reported to the authorities multiple times by fellow Muslims for extremism. Major fail by British intelligence. This is all hard though without more details. Were they under surveillance because they were reported? They ultimately can't arrest them until they've done something illegal.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 2, 2017 -> 05:27 PM) I feel like I'm the one person that still likes Hawks (even though gets on my nerves) in addition to liking Jason (despite the corny stuff). Give Jason time. Sheesh. I liked hawk for a long time but the last 2 years have been especially painful. Clearly struggling to see, some really bitter games. But I have liked both. I think you probably had a similar experience in Mo where the only time you could really talk about sox was people wanting to talk about Hawk's catch phrases.

Sorry for flurry, but JIm Callis was on the sss podcast doing a preview, starts around minute 19 if you want to skip over Josh Nelson reading from a script for 20 minutes. Thoughts: -Really high on kendall, doesn't see how you could knock kendall for hit tool and then go after player like Beck who has no track record. -Thinks Bukauskus will go top ten. -Lower on Haseley. Says he is definitely going in that 5-8 range but thinks players like Kendall give you so much more. More of a line drive hitter - "only thing that he gives you more than Kendall is batting average" - Has not heard what BA is reporting of the tools being hung on austin beck. - Thinks Faedo's velo issues are all due to the knee stuff and isn't concerned.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 07:47 AM) This is what MLBpipeline.com has to say about Lincoln Henzman. He's their #163 prospect. Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 Henzman overcame Tommy John surgery as a high school junior in 2013 to make an immediate impact as a freshman reliever at Louisville two years later. After an inconsistent 2016 season, he turned down the Mariners as a sophomore-eligible 31st-rounder and has taken over from White Sox first-rounder Zack Burdi as the Cardinals' closer. Henzman tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 16 saves entering the regional playoffs. When Henzman keeps his 90-95 mph fastball down in the zone, it's almost impossible for hitters to lift. His changeup has similar action, behaving like a splitter, and grades as a plus pitch at times. His cutter climbs into the upper 80s and is an effective third offering. Henzman blitzes the bottom of the strike zone and has permitted just one homer in three college seasons. He could move quickly through the Minors as a reliever, but he also had success as a starter in the Cape Cod League last summer and could get a shot in that role. He has enough pitches to work out of the rotation, though he'd have to prove he could maintain his velocity with a heavier workload. I really like a lot of this but especially anytime a young player already has a feel for the change. Would be happy with it if we did the dunning route, just would prefer we take guys that are already relievers after round 5.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 5, 2017 -> 08:37 AM) This draft class seems weak overall, and the second tier or talent seems to comprise pretty much picks 6-20. This is a year where I can't say I have a strong opinion -- it's just going to come down to who the Sox think is the best. Everyone that has any chance to fall to us has as many warts as virtues. I think it will end up being a productive draft just because of number of college pitchers with some pretty good if unharnassed stuff. But when you have a bunch of lite power 1b leading the top position players it really drags down the excitement.

QUOTE (Donaldo @ Jun 4, 2017 -> 08:13 PM) Josue's father is Eleazar Guerrero, who never made it out of the DSL. Is that bad

I just hope it means one of Geist/Van Leer transfer next year and mizzou isn't holding 4 spots of players that won't see minutes.

Me either. His stats are good, he's an all American, but a reliever topping out at 94 and relying on movement just seems like there's not a lot of room for error if velo drops at all. He has a good changeup, wish that he could be a starter.

Ha oh thank god. I was so pissed they were going to do that.