RockRaines

He's been ok as a rookie at the position, and has the ability to be a plus defender at SS. He is our best option and could be a very valable player over there.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 01:12 PM) and yet, no one on our coaching staff is even on the hot seat. we're settling for absolute embarassment And what are the coaches supposed to do about players slumping? Find them fat girls to sleep with? Its a slump, it wont last forever, this team is far too talented to slump for too long. We have 6 games left with Det, almost an entire month of baseball. They can still get out of it and do some damage. Det is due for a bad slump as well.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 08:04 AM) Here what I would think with 2010 opening day ages I think the teams wholes will be a third and one of the corner outfield positions. I would assume we're grooming Viciedo, so I don't think Figgins will work as he will likely seek out a multi year contract and I think Iwamaura would be a cheaper fix for a shorter amount a time and do just as fine. We are going to need a left handed bat to replace Thome, Bobby Abreu is available and if he'd take a 1 year deal with LA, I would think he'd take a 1 or 2 year deal with us. Just how I would think would make a great squad, but idk. 3B Akinori Iwamura (31) SS Gordon Beckham (23) RF Carlos Quentin (28) LF Bobby Abreu (36) 1B Paul Konerko (34) CF Alex Rios (29) C A. J. Pierzynski (33) 2B Alexei Ramirez (28) DH Tyler Flower (24) or Dayan Viciedo (21) You have some defensive issues there. Gordo should be at 3B, Iwamura at 2B and Alexei at SS for the most defensively sound infield. Iwamura is a very good 2B, not so great at 3B, Becks is a good 3B and Alexei is the best SS of the bunch.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 25, 2009 -> 07:14 PM) You don't have issues with copy protection using DVD cloner? I see it's cheaper than AnyDVD, they have their price in euros and that is really a b****. That'll be a last resort if I have to. No, its been fine as long as I keep it up to date. Also I just upgraded my network to a LInksys N router with WPA2 protection. It was only 30 bucks on amazon and I have seen great performance improvements in both downloading and streaming media.

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 09:12 AM) Oh no, good forbid someone say anything negative about Jim Thome. The guy was a class act, but the fact of the matter is that we won the division just once in his 4 years here. He was not nearly as clutch are some of you are saying. He struck out all the time and could hardly score from 3rd on triple. Thome can't hit a fastball anymore. He is done. I guess I'm not a "fan" because I didn't like Thome. No, but your subjective observations dont match with the statistics that support Big Jim has been one of our best hitters over the course of his stay here.

Someone who is a fan of the team would be in it until we are mathematically eliminated. unfortunately, most folks use the sox as an outlet for their daily frustration, and they were out the first loss of the season.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 05:34 AM) Who cares. He will likely be dealt this winter also. HAHAHA. Fat chance.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) Take it easy, I was just saying attaching Florida fan to him is irrelevant. Its not though, the report is that because he is a gator fan, he googled the player he thought was a buckeye, and then jeered him and then punched him. All because of who he played for and who the guy was a fan of. Its an indictment on the guy, not the fan base.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 03:42 PM) I can't say for sure of course, but don't you agree the move now looks stupid at best? The guy hasn't pitched for us, we gave up some young pitchers who might have fared better in relief roles than the scum we've put out there. The gamble was we'd be in the pennant race and he'd be the September boost we need. I hate to second guess too much but the gamble failed. We're not in the race and his presence matters not. The other guys? They might have helped. We gave up too many bodies for a guy on the DL. No, your post looks kinda stupid, but the trade was still awesome. We have several years of a top flight Ace for basically nothing prospects. What a great trade.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 07:13 PM) It's equally unfair to say this is a mark against Florida fans. It was one guy. Who said it was? You were the one who obviously made that assumption, I just said he was confirmed as a Gator fan who googled the guy before he hit him. Obviously that is a mark against him as a person if he would take his fandom to that level. Not sure where you drew the conclusion that I was saying something about the entire fan base, unless you were thinking my earlier sarcastic remark was serious. Either way, its clear this guy is an idiot, and should be penalized harshly.

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 04:56 PM) Kazmir is terrible... 5.92 era. He had bad year last year.. probably never recovered from injuries. 20million still owed over 2 years. No he's not.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 03:45 PM) So I am looking into IT Governance as a future career and I am currently studying General Management with a double major in IS/IT. Im not sure yet what the IS/IT classes will offer me in the technical side of the field, and though I am more interested in the management part I feel that entry level positions will require more technical knowledge. Ive taken the basic computer programming class (mysql, vba for excel, html, etc). Any other suggestions for classes that I should take to prepare me for future jobs (if any). Thanks y'all. I will say this: CIO's are looking at more business-savy folks for IT because of the ongoing fusion efforts to integrate business and IT in a more efficient structure. Business people with IT backgrounds are going to be making some big bucks.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 04:53 PM) This just seems like a very dumb hitting team to me. Are there splits for hitting with guys on 3rd and less than 2 out? Because I'd love to see our numbers vs the rest of the AL. The other thing is that every no-name pitcher is out there twirling no hitters against us. Now we could blame some of that on advance scouting and some on players themselves, but there's no way Walker shouldn't be held accountable. Unless Greg Walker is your friend, or he's taken you out to dinner, I don't see why people would get so attached. Hitting coaches get fired all the time. They rank 6th in the AL in BA with RISP. As for the biggest glaring weakness of this team which alot of people WONT look at. Sox rank 13th in the AL in runs past the 7th inning.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 04:11 PM) Pretty simple actually cause your stats are skewed. If things stay the way that they are this year, we will have finished in the bottom half of the American League in runs scored for 4 of his 7 years(more telling to look at the AL stats compared to all of baseball considering the whole DH vs. Pitcher thing). Granted, that doesn't say that he's the worst hitting coach ever but it also shows that we've been a below average offense for over half his tenure here. And once again, I don't think getting rid of him is magically going to cure everything but I'd also guarantee that it wont hurt. If it jump starts the team for a little bit then it'd be well worth it imo. Not to mention that Kenny has already pretty much sent out a threat to the players and a firing might just show them that he isn't f***ing around. Skewed how? 2009 isnt over yet, so you cannot look at those stats, there are enough games left where we can move several spots. AL 2008 5th 2007 last 2006 3rd 2005 9th 2004 3rd 2003 8th In those 6 years the Sox were below avg in runs scored twice. One of those was 2007, which no coach in the world could help (they didnt even put up 700 runs). The other: 2005 Technically thats 1/3 of his tenure that we have been below avg, 1 of those seasons we won a WS, the other was one of the worst seasons any sox team has had in many years. So I guess he's batting .666

QUOTE (Tex @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 04:04 PM) I realize that and since we are gettnig into a level of tradition with the dances I am not familiar with, I can only add this. There are some religious traditions in the Christian faith that are performed almost anywhere, like praying. There are other traditions that are kept to certain services and masses. I would also assume there could be some form of Native American actions that could also be done. But, and again I am just taking a guess here, they would not involve the traditional face paint and other actions we associate with cheering a sports team. But, again we come down to is it possible to fulfill an educational mission in Native American studies at half time of a NCAA final four game? I just do not think so. And it really is amazing how fast I became a Big 10 fan again. Personally, I think that sports teams should all take communion on the court before taking free throws. But instead of a wafer, they can use a power bar, and instead of wine, it could be gatorade.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 03:29 PM) To me, theres middle ground in this argument. I believe the first person who introduced the chief dance actually studied traditional illini dances, why cant we go back to that? Why did we have to get rid of it completely? If we are trying to honor the Illini tribe then do some research, make it historically accurate. But I also dont believe the majority of chief fans were mocking the Illini tribe or wished to do so. Because the approval of this gymnastics routine which it is today was done by white people with their interest in themselves and their sports team. There is no traditional Illini dance. There is no historical significance to a religious ceremony being performed for a football team, zero. The local tribes feel disrespected no matter what halftime ritual you want to see. The majority of Chief fans are fans of the sports teams, and have zero opinion on the actual nature of the dance, where it came from and who its disrespeting. Its gone, its done. And for good reason.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) Someone who fails to prove his own point asking someone to prove his. Kind of cute. Sadly, I don't have the time to backtrack records of hitters in history under Walker. For all I know you're correct and I would admit it. All I'm saying is that if the hitters being dumbfounded at the plate is an epidemic for YEARS, isn't the hitting coach somewhat to blame? Why the f*** do we even have a hitting coach, then? Yet the team has been pretty good consistently over the last several YEARS. Which is it? I think your perception is getting in the way of actual facts.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 01:16 PM) Greg Walker hates the cold so he stays home in April. And he loves the European culture so he takes holiday for the majority of August just like they do. Solved

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 12:33 PM) Rock, How do you explain 6 consecutive seasons of terrible hitting in April and August? Why do I have to explain that? Are you trying to say Greg Walker has had a direct impact on the hitting in April and August? If so, thats pretty damn crazy. 2008 6th 2007 28th 2006 3rd 2005 13 2004 3rd 2003 12 Outide of the awful year in 2007, the Sox have been on the top end of the teams in the MLB in runs the last 6 years, finishing in the top 15 each year and the top 10 3 times, including 2 top 3 finishes. How can we explain THAT?

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 10:09 AM) This Milton Bradley thing is yet another blind media flock. He was brought he because he was a winner....yet he has never won anything and seems to piss off rather easily. He was brought in to drive in runs....yet he has never been a run producer. He is an OBP DH...the cubs sold him to their stupid fans as something he has never been and now they are blaming him for not being that. I feel a little bad for the guy as he does lead the team in OBP. He has not underproduced any worse then Soriano, Soto or Zambrano They really should have signed Adam Dunn. Bradley has been one of the reasons the Cub's clubhouse is a terrible place to be.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Aug 26, 2009 -> 11:26 AM) But do we consider you to be one of us?! Some do. Some people still hate me from my company's awful business practices in the 90's. (another clue on how I work for)

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Aug 25, 2009 -> 12:11 PM) I guess it depends on who you ask, doesn't it? Some might say it is morally offensive and is doing nothing to promote awareness. Some might say it is one of, if not the last, remaining reminder of the Illini tribe that once called Illinois home and gave it the name. Not being a Native American: I thought the Chief was about as respectful a symbol as possible considering there were no Illini tribesmen/women to take that role. Just my .02. What part of a kid doing gymnastics moves in front of a crowd at a sporting event while wearing tribal garb is respectful?

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 25, 2009 -> 07:53 PM) So even the Florida fans kick the Buckeyes ass? /runs and hides It's really not even a funny joke that a sucker punch at a bar in front of a kid's family may have ended a promising football career and may leave the kid with a long term disability.

I'm glad I stayed away from the board during that streak, because threads like this almost always pop up. Fire this guy, release this guy, this guy cant pitch. Blah blah blah. Greg Walker's hitting approach for his players has pretty much echoed the wants and sentiments of EVERYONE on this board. Using the whole field, making contact, making productive outs. He's been quoted time and time again in the papers and on TV yet ignorant comments are continually posted saying that he's the "lift and pull" guy, that the players arent producing because of him. Wake up people. Hitters arent producing because THATS baseball. A good hitter only succeeds about 30 percent of the time, failure is a majority of the acitivity on a baseball field from an offensive perspective.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 28, 2009 -> 12:18 AM) Roethlisberger ain't gonna be starting for anyone, which speaks to his fantasy value. In real life, he's more valuable than damn near half of the guys on that list. aint that the truth, dudes a winner. Funny how the fantasy world differs from the real world in sports.