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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 05:08 PM) I literally can't. I try to open the article and I get a popup that will not close. I try to close the popup ad or answer the stupid survey thing and whenever I click on it the page automatically closes and it opens an empty new tab. It's awful. I have pop-up blocker on, it cannot stop the madness.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 04:57 PM) Unreadable, Sun Times, closed link. Ye Gods, I read it, he's taking 2 days to clear his head. Eaton said Herm pushed something through him and he feels better.

I'm still upset about the Kotsay over Thome decision.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 04:19 PM) Here is an off the wall and totally unrealistic idea: Avi, Micah and Danks to SD (maybe throw in another low-level lottery ticket) Shields and Justin Upton to the Sox Sox then flip Shark to Toronto for Pentecost and Hoffman Yuck.

Ugh, God, I just thought about the Garland for Erstad trade, why were we so interested in him for that decade: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/erstada01.shtml

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 04:24 PM) Do you have some insight? I only have second hand complaints from several customers that have had booths there for various things. Same stuff you have, never had to be around a convention that required much more than something a large hotel could not accomodate, thankfully. But the main issue is booking at mccormick is handing over everything to them. You will put on the convention that mccormick wants you to put on, to a tee. Or else the labor costs will just destroy you.

Man, if our pitching prospects could have just panned out those 01-04 teams had some awesome pieces.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 04:16 PM) You are assuming that Graph Expo is a small convention. It is not. Quite large, and has visitors and exhibitors from all over the world. I likened it to banks, cable companies, etc that give awesome giveaways and deals to lure new customers, and completely forget about their current customers. As for how busy McCormick Place is, I recall about 5 or 6 years ago they were complaining that they were losing gigs all over the place and were blaming the excessive set up fees and union charges even back then. I don't know how busy their schedule is now, but still seems silly to piss off someone who has been with you for 20 years. Place is ridiculous. Survives off legacies like this, nobody wants to deal with switching venues and learning what set-up is needed in the 48 hours they have access before convention.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) Sorry, but pace/schmace - Twins might well be 82-83 win frauds. The pace/schmace rebuttal always wins

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 03:58 PM) Mark Buehrle and Rafeal Palmeiro had an epic 19 pitch at bat where Palmeuro ended up getting a walk. The crowd cheered and gave a standing ovation. In 2003 I remember Frank Thomas fouling off a few pitches only to hit a walk off home run off the Twins. Paul Konerko hit a 2 strike, 2 out homer in the 9th to keep the game alive. Oh, that was the same game. That was the height of Paulie's brutal stretch. I feel like Alomar/Everett trades happened around then as well.

QUOTE (Whitewashed in '05 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 03:42 PM) Frank Thomas said Pedro and big unit were the toughest pitcher's he's ever faced. This wasn't vs Pedro, but one of my favorite at bats was vs the twins and eddie guardado in extra innings. It was another long at bat and Frank Thomas hit a long shot that just went foul down left field. Very next pitch, Frank hits a walk off homer down left field. I remember that, that was awesome.

Wow, it was only 10 pitches. It felt like so much more.

Shoot, that's actually an awesome article. And, as an aside, this is the type of detail DJ often gets into when there is a big at bat. That same breakdown of thought process. That's why I still enjoy our radio crew when the game gets to a tense moment.

I had the misfortune of listening to Steve Rosenbloom on saturday whilst stuck in traffic. BUT, when talking about Pedro Martinez he discussed a column he wrote of the epic at bat of Pedro vs. Frank Thomas. I was at this game. I do not know what year it was, I want to say 2002 or 2003. White Sox vs Red Sox, not late enough in year to have real implications. It was the 5th or 6th inning, bases loaded. Frank Thomas comes up to bat. This epic battle occurs, to me it was 17-18 pitches, Rosenbloom said 11. Foul after Foul. The whole stadium knew this was an awesome moment, people were on edge of their seats. Pedro struck him out looking. I booed, I went home and immediately went to white sox message board and asked if it was a strike (no video online then), it was a wicked, wicked strike. I bring this up because I'm amazed how many sox fans I talk to remember this isolated at-bat in a basically nothing game 12 years ago. One of those "baseball is pretty great" moments. FYI, Joe Crede hit a 3 run home run and we won the game.

Yes, and that is key. Reports on Anderson's athleticism are through the roof, if his instincts and footwork is improving, he has so much athleticism to make up the rest. I'm really excited for Anderson since he's turned it on in mid-june.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 02:04 PM) To me, the phrase "one of baseball's best" means top-ten. That being said, Carrasco doesn't miss by much, but I'm still reluctant to call him that. WAR isn't the only stat I'd use to judge this, though. I'd obviously take Felix, Bumgarner, and Hamels over Carrasco. Regardless, Cleveland's rotation is very good.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-the-...cond-half-2015/ Article I read on it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 02:02 PM) I wonder if Theo wouldn't mind moving a couple of these prospects before they become exposed as frauds. I would guess Baez's value is down. Castro could have netted more. A couple of these others, the value most likely will go down unless the Cubs are really lucky. I would if I were them, but I'd try to get a good pitcher in their mid 20s. They can get pitchers like Hamels in FA. but how will they deal when their position players are about to enter their prime years, and they are paying their 34/35 year old pitchers 25 miillion a year for crap performance.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 01:58 PM) What is their reasoning? Basically they feel good about competing next year with Darvish back. But...not sure with gallardo being shopped what that means. So, still confused. But I kind of like the idea of them just liking hamels so who knows.

I've heard the reasoning behind Texas's interest, still so weird to me.

I'll take Geo vs DH if I have to choose between him playing vs. not playing.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 01:17 PM) Big picture, i think the most common expectation was for this team to be in the 85-88 win range. 82 would be disappointing in that sense, but in the terms of how this season started, and finishing on an upswing, plus not having given away any of our real future pieces, I would be OK with it. Not thrilled, but not ready to light up some torches either. At the very least it means that some of the guys who got off to horrible starts, continued to recover and are viable pieces for 2016. edit: deleted everything I wrote. I agree. But having endured the beginning of this season, I feel like 81-81 or better means that: -Saladino stayed good -Sanchez may have finished with .240 or better average - Melky stayed good -Pitching stayed good That would make me pretty optimistic for next year, as opposed to a 73-something finish.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 01:10 PM) I would love to watch this team finish with 82 wins. I would be thrilled with that. I thought the same thing. Going from 63 to 72 to 82 wins looks like decent progress to me.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 12:56 PM) I just think the Sox trade for someone who is gonna help next year, and possibly even this year. Can't see them trading their best chip for a piece that's a few years away. Particularly when said piece plays the position that Tim Anderson plays (hopefully). Yes, I agree on the close to minors portion, I just don't think they would refuse to inquire on a talent like that because of Tim Anderson. No guarantees either would end up a SS, and it's the easiest position to move elsewhere.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 12:45 PM) A 18 year old sure wouldn't fit their 3 year plan, so I kinda doubt it. Plus I think Tim Anderson is type SS of the future. Eh, SS at 18 years old doesn't mean anything.