ptatc

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 08:37 AM) I'm more wondering whether the new stuff is any good. Just a few, mostly no.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 11:19 PM) http://deadspin.com/richard-shermans-email...icele-922762394 Still at Stanford. Still got into the school. Still an accomplishment.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 09:23 PM) By Tuesday we could have two new feet of snow. Or we could have two inches. Cloudy skies may be the determining variable.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 10:42 PM) I'm pretty sure Richard Sherman's a smart guy, but a 3.7 GPA in communications isn't proof he is. Getting into Stanford is though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 09:02 PM) Then point to us the specific physical change in Arod between the mid 90s and 2001 which tells you when he started doping and let us know when he actually started. I never said I could. I said people who see them on a regular basis in a clubhouse could tell. I did not. I only saw him during his days in Appleton and didn't think he did them at that time. I could be wrong but I don't think so.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 08:05 PM) This thread has become an deteriorating aging horse, any hunters around? Got a few pheasants this year. No luck with deer.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 07:03 PM) Who is the best Jedi? I liked the young Luke Skywalker and Qui-Gon-Jin. Anakin skywalker. Not Darth Vader but his grandson who sacrificed himself to save the galaxy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 08:29 PM) If it was as easy as this then people should be readily, easily saying which guys dope before they get caught. Most people who see them on a regular basis do have a good idea. You just can't suspend them without absolute proof. When you see them in the locker room, it's usually pretty obvious.

Bye, bye bouman. That was a nasty one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 01:11 PM) XRT plays some horrible music. Absolutely, awful that someone would say this.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 19, 2014 -> 07:59 PM) That assumes you can say when they started. I think its entirely possible they were doping much longer than just the latter portions of their career. Not every drug makes a person explode, Bonds could have just switched drugs in the late 90s. Even more possible, ARoid could darn well have doped his entire life. We know he was doping in the early 2000s, we know he said he stopped and that very second he was finding a new supplier. He acts like a guy who knows nothing other than juicing. Why should I even consider that he was clean beforehand when all we know of him is juiced? He was supposedly an athletic freak in high school, why can't the explanation for that be a good doping schedule? I don't think he was doing it in the minors. I was working for kane county when he played for the appleton foxes. I saw him enough and he didn't look like it. He was no doubt the best player by far but not PED like.

Fleisig is the number one guy for pitching research and has been for awhile. I agree with part of the article in that one of the primary problems is when pitchers try to throw too hard too often. When they make a effort to really add velocity it puts too much stress on the arm regardless of mechanics. This is part of Cooper's success. How many times have we heard that he stresses decrease velocity for increased movement.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:19 PM) The cross town rival should never be the motivation. Put a competitive team on the field and fans will begin to show up, win some games and more fans will show up, so on and so on. Prove to the fans the team is a legit contender and they will come out to watch regardless of what the other team is doing. I disagree, a little. Most of the time if both teams are good or both a bad this is true. However, with the losing and complaints of the Cub fans in the past year, I think the season tickets are significantly down, it's a good time to "steal" some fans. This can only help the Sox for budget reasons.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:16 PM) Yea! Let's have CHINESE KIDS read Brave New World or 1984! I'm sure the apparatchik will appreciate a new crop of thought criminals to lay bricks on the Three Gorges Dam with no safety equipment. Nothing wrong with showing them what could happen if the government has too much control. A little revolution is good every now and then.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:14 PM) true, I more just meant that the stars are aligned for this to possibly happen, that some big name teams may be out and if its Cubs v Sox at the end, then you may want to overpay to beat them. I agree. As I said I think he is worth a chance especially given the Sox situation. I'm hesitant with any pitcher for more than 4 years but if they think he is that special you roll the dice.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) Brave New World is probably my favorite book and I always liked that "The Doors" were named after his book "The Doors of Perception". A govt that controls through happiness and logic is far more dangerous than oppression and censorship. But I dont consider him an American or his books to be American Literature (unfortunately). I agree. Great book. I still have my copy from high school. However, it's not really american literature.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:07 PM) Kershaw isnt a realistic option. Not many times do 25 year old Cy Young winners hit FA. And Im not sure if its overpaying when they are arguably proven to be the best. That was just an example. These types are realistic as when Sabathia, Maddux or other Cy Young types come up. My comment was based more on the "if there was ever a time to do it" comment. This to me would be a proven MLB players as opposed to a player who is a mystery to the MLB. He could be Darvish, he could be Irabu. All had the reputation of one of the best in Japan when they came to the MLB.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) Thats like saying why would McDonalds care if there is a BK across the street. There is a limited market of baseball fans in Chicago. Any acquisition that can tip fair weather fans from being "Cub" fans to "Sox" fans is a huge deal. With the decline of the Cubs, the Sox could easily make huge headway in the city. More fans= more money. Its not like the Sox are selling out, they need better attendance. This is an under rated idea that many fans don't get. The sox don't want to beat the Cubs in players or headlines because of the on field competition. It's because of the competition for fans and fan dollars. The Cubs are starting to lose fans and the Sox need to convert them before the Cubs start winning and bring them back.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 01:09 PM) If there was ever a time to over pay it would be for a young potential international superstar while denying your in city rival. I would say if there is ever a time it would be with a proven MLB pitcher such as the LA did with Kershaw. I would take a chance with Tanaka but it's not my first choice.

Not real current but Grapes of Wrath was always one of my favorites. for biographies if you want a fun and a look behind the scenes of hollywood over the years, the new Tim Conway book is extremely funny.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 02:56 PM) I know some Americans that have a hard time with English. My son got a B in English this semester even I as a medical professional can't read his writing.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) This is not quite true. Due to inflationary reasons, we can make a safe assumption that teams will pay more for WAR as the contract goes on. By the end, teams may be paying $6.5-7 mill for 1 WAR. Spoken like a sports agent.

QUOTE (saabturbografx @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 06:19 PM) Scotty Po-Po did nothing but hit for a good average and steal bases with the best of them. Why do you reckon he bounced around so many teams and is currently a free agent? He seemed pretty reserved and enigmatic when he played for the Chisox..maybe not the best club house guy? He is a really good guy. It's definitely not a clubhouse problem. Maybe he is smart enough not to bring his wife to some clubhouses.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 11:42 PM) I feel like even if the Sox don't get him, they are planning a fairly big move for shortly after Tanaka-thon ends. I don't think so. JR has a history of allowing money for a special player but not willing to extend it for someone else. They must think Tanaka is a special player. I don't see any other current free agent as a "special player." I think the only thing that may happen if the Sox do not get him is a trade for a catcher, if that.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) By this do you mean that his stats, his performance, in 2013 (and 2012 for that matter) outshine or speak more loudly than his tools? Not arguing with you on this, but I'd be interested to know how many middle infielders playing at age-appropriate levels put up OPS numbers of .833 and then .880 the past two years. Would the people making these lists argue "yeah, but his tools don't say that he can keep doing that"? My reasoning is that many of the people who create these lists look at his tools will translate to the MLB level as well as his stats. All of his tools have been rated as average to slightly above average, with none really being a plus tool other than maybe "batting eye" or OBP. This type of player typically does not make a top 100 list. Personally, I like him alot and think he will be a good player not an all star but good. However, with his tool set, I can see why he is not on top 100 lists.