ptatc

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 12:36 PM) I side with Bernstein there unfortunately. You can't play the "i'm the greatest and all I want to do is win, no matter the cost" card and then ignore doctors who say you can play because you're worried about your legacy, or b**** about the roster when you're not willing to make a call to help build one. I agree with the comment that said if it wasn't troll/dick Bernstein, that story would have been received positively. I think in the case of the ACL you can, to an extent. While the knee was medically sound, most athletes will tell you that it doesn't "feel normal" for 18 months. Most believe this is due to nerve healing and motor control issues. As soon as Rose said he wasn't returning until it felt normal, everyone knew it wasn't going to be in the normal 9-12 month time frame. So the question was do you send him back before he feels he is ready. Usually, that is asking for trouble. He was practicing all out and didn't feel ready.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 08:00 AM) It's not "my thread" and one of the things that a good thread does is spark conversations. It's interesting listening to people who don't have kids theorize what they will, or will not, do when they have kids. My son played from the ages of 6-12. He is a bigger, quick kid so he always played center/nose tackle. He got bored with just hitting and watching the ball. Since the age of 12, it's been nothing but lacrosse where everyone gets to play the ball, hit and run around.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 11:11 PM) http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/06/03/ber...ds-of-football/ The research cited in this article is similar to the others that have been published. I'ts basically, we found a few things in a few players so there must be a link. I'm not saying it can't be true but far too many people are jumping to conclusions too quickly. How about something like the reason there was a slight, not significant decrease loss in memory among the players with no diagnosed concussions was because they were taking illegals drugs. Until there are more longitudinal studies done not just individual case studies people should be careful with their reactions.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 03:53 PM) Yes, as I'm his Dad and know what's best. Trying to say I should let him play because he "could" be the next Peyton Manning is stupid. And yes, it's absolutely my right. I think that goes without saying. Yes, I am. That's just me though. I think that should be what we believe is best. While the researchers are finding the CTE and think there is a correlation to problems. The research is mostly done with case studies that show retrospectively that people had CTE. Some players have had it others haven't. There currently is no causal effect of CTE and any behaviors. So before people overreact and ban everything, there needs to be real evidence. That being said it's pretty obvious that multiple concussions are a bad thing. I think the general rule of multiple concussions with significant symptoms would definitely keep my kids out of "contact" sports.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 11:34 AM) They've been learning that for many of these cases, it isn't the concussions. It is the accumulation of sub-concussive blows. I went to a seminar put on by the leading CTE researchers from Boston and they're saying the picture is rather bleak. However, most (roughly three quarters) of these damaging, sub-concussive blows are occurring in practice. That, we can reduce drastically. They said youth football leagues are typically the worst offenders due to lack of training and care. Did they address the steroid issues. One of the things that many of the former NFL players who participated in the studies had in common was steroid use. I think this played a significant role as well. Also much of the research shows that there isn't much higher incident of "brain trauma" symptoms in thispopulation compared to a "non-NFL" population. It did show that it had an earlier onset however.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 08:32 AM) That's not why an "Extra DH" was signed. Konerko was signed because he the owner didn't let his baseball people do their jobs in this instance. JR said Konerko could come back and since he wanted to come back, he's back. It has nothing to do with Dunn or anyone else regardless of what the team or media says. Hahn had his arms tied behind his back. i think I believe Hahn when he said he wanted PK back for his veteran leadership as well. This is looking to be a young roster. When the young players go through a prolonged slump, who will they look to on this roster who has gone through the same thing and has had prolonged success with it? I think PK is definitely here to be a "player-coach" for the promising young players and there will be alot of them this year.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 08:29 AM) I do not like Keppinger in that role for this team. We have the perfect guy for that in Garcia. While Keppinger can play multiple positions, he is not really good at any of them and is slow as dirt. I like my backup IF/OFers to be plus defenders and have speed. I agree overall with this concept. However, another quality that I think is the most important for the utility guy is being a veteran. They have a better chance to play and hit well with extended time off. I prefer inexperienced guys like Garcia to be in the minors in case someone gets a major injury then you call them up for extended playing time. with the way this roster is looking you have a young 3B and 1B who will need to work through slumps and learning at the MLB level. They should not get too much time off, barring injury. So the sub will not get much time.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 05:46 AM) That is a very compelling argument, with which I totally agree. I don't know why people don't concur. Everyone talks about what a "crap shoot" the baseball amateur draft is, and then they proceed to insist that "you take the best available talent". "Best talent" based upon what exactly? Of course, it will be a while before some of the draftees would be ready to be added to the roster, and it's true that the roster could look very different. However, why continue to stock pile a particular position, when you might have a choice to add a player where there is an obvious dearth of future candidates in your organization? As long as there is no clear consensus as to who is the third best talent in the draft, why not pick one of the top candidates based, at least in part, upon perceived needs? When in doubt go pitching. About half the roster is pitching. Most position players have limited flexibility in positions. If you stock pile pitching, you can always trade it for position players (Reed for Davidson, Santiago for Eaton). Every team needs pitching all the time.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 05:48 AM) Agreed. Although I wonder if I would like his clown act in a Sox jersey. As long as he was successful, he would be considered fun. As soon as he went into a bad spell, he would be considered a jerk and a distraction to the team.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 06:32 AM) I'd say there is not a very good chance that Keppinger is still with the Sox come opening day. If Davidson makes the team, there is absolutely no room for Keppinger on the roster. I bet the Sox dump him even if they have to pay a good portion of his salary. He would be able to play the position was is best suited for. A super sub who can give rest to any infielder and fill in for stretches when one is hurt.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 10:04 PM) There's not a doubt in my mind that the ball had way more to do with the era than the juice. Guys have been roiding for decades and still are. The ball is what turned warning track power into tiny SS's hitting 25 HR's a year. I disagree. The ball made a difference. However there is a reason that power hitters have historically been the biggest and strongest players. Strength plays a major factor in HRs.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 03:14 PM) I wasn't making an argument about PEDs exclusively. Just that Dunn's one of the only baseball players who can hit 30 home runs. Period. edit: I haven't given any thought to a de-juiced ball theory, but I don't think that would explain why strikeouts have increased so much. I think it explains some of it. Players don't have the "strength" they used to so they need to lengthen the swing and pull the ball more to try to hit the HR. The big contracts go to the HR guys so this approach increases the Ks. It's like before the rampant PEDs, the HR hitters were high strikeout guys. It was rare to have high ave., OBP and HRs.

I like the trade as well. But I'm always worried when young effective MLB pitchers are traded for unproven hitters. Hopefully, Davidson will keep the K's down.

An interesting thing to watch this year will be the injuries with Team USA. I received an email a few weeks ago begging for volunteer medical staff. With the new healthcare system in flux clinics are not allowing staff to leave for the extended period of time. The USOC doesn't have the staff that it normally does.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:01 PM) It's putting all your eggs in one basket for sure, but if these position players live up to their expectations they'll have sustained success. Not without some pitching it won't.

If they would just enforce the current rule where the catcher cannot block the plate until he has the ball, it would cut out most of these plays.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:04 AM) It's funny, but my guy said almost the exact same thing as Dunn and Beckham. Last I checked, those guys ARE in the clubhouse. You are just some internet tough guy that USED to work with a team. And you have a lot of people here kissing your balls. I never met AJ, so I will never know the truth. But I do take my friend's word for it. He knew AJ for his entire stay with the team. Ok. That's fair. It's your opinion. I would be very careful about using quotes that players use in the public and print however. They usually don't tell much. Even Dunn's assessment wasn't positive just "no bigger than anyone else." He was avoiding the question. I do like being referred to as a tough guy though. That term has never been applied to me. I think I'll use it on my students.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 10:13 AM) Ok, I asked someone I know that has dealt with aj while he was on the team. His reply. "Not an asshole but he had his moments" I'll take that over some guy who worked for teams that aj never played for. Good way to look at it because the junior medical staff never works with or sees with players from the other teams. They don't discuss other players either. I hope your friend spent alot of time in the clubhouse working with players on a daily basis. Pick your sources as you see fit.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 09:16 AM) They should all take a picture standing next to Adam Dunn. There was a picture of the Sox in the 90's with all the small guys. I think they called them the smurfs or something. It had Joey Cora, Scott Fletcher, Cangelosi, Ozzie and a few others, I think.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 08:00 AM) Well it was just a thread about AJ doing something nice and some will have nothing to do with that, they have to slam him every chance they get. It would be like next month with Frank gets his HOF election thread and a bunch of people went on there to say he was really an egotistical, crappy teammate who was only concerned about his stats. It would be uncalled for. The thread was about AJ possibly wearing Hawk's number, not about whether or not he kneed a trainer 10 years ago. Seriously, as bad as some think AJ is, probably most of the guys they never say anything about are worse. Just to clarify, I do think he is doing a good thing for a friend and he could be good to his friends. But to say he was a good team mate or would make a great manager because people respect him would be wrong. You will that stuff about Frank because it's accurate. I personally don't consider a guy worrying about his stats a bad team mate but some people did and do. He was egotistical but again I think most athletes at the top of their profession need to be because it comes with that overwhelming drive and determination to be the best. Again, I don't consider that a bad team mate either. I think he was one of the best ever and not a bad team mate or person. He was and is actually a good person. People use these exact same characteristics to describe Walter Payton. AJ didn't knee a guy he punched him. But that is an old story and just a tip of the iceberg of stuff he did. This has nothing to do with that incident just about a person with a certain attitude.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 08:08 AM) Cool ptatc. Thanks for the info. AJ is a dick, but I've also been around sports figures and met so many who are assholes I don't consider it a real problem. It is great when you run into some nice ones. I don't know why he'd be mean to medical personnel who are trying to help him. I would think medical personnel would have the upper hand on AJP so to speak since they are the ones curing whatever ails him. I believe he's a dick. I just know there are many in all clubhouses. How many would you estimate ptatc? Are 1/3 of a clubhouse total assholes or closer to half? I guess it's a different perspective. I think many of the players just ignore or are too aloof to people. They treat them like they are too good for them. I guess I consider that more of just being an idiot as opposed to going out of your way to treat people badly. You can just ignore them as well and there really isn't a problem. Most of the players don't go out of their way to do that. This is a whole different category. These are just bad people not the pampered ones. This is mostly in the majors. In the minors there are alot of fun guys. However, you are right when you say the really good ones do stand out as there seem to be fewer and fewer anymore. A couple of the best that really stand out were Robin Yount and Ryan Dempster.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 07:18 AM) Rangers like them some catchers who swing at everything. As long as he brings the future wife along it doesn't matter. He didn't swing and miss there.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 10:09 PM) Ptatc is one cool customer. I would've went off on that clown. Years of dealing with athletes especially professional athletes teaches tolerance and patience not to mention I'm old and things like that really aren't worth the aggravation anymore.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:28 PM) And who the f*** are you? Are you a sox employee? Or just someone who claims to know behind the scenes info?t I worked on the medical staff for the Brewers and Marlins and a few minor league teams and still have a number of friends and colleagues who still work in MLB.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 9, 2013 -> 10:58 PM) I believe you pt, but what is a bad person? Do you agree there are major assholes all throughout baseball? I mean these are rich, spoiled individuals who have been stars their entire lives and I'd assume at least 50 percent are total jerks. I do believe you ptatc; I think you are one of the best posters in the history of posting. But what constitutes a prick? What has AJ done that would vault him to the top of the prick list in a sport full of jerks? I define it as a guy who goes out of his way to be mean or belittle people, especially the ancillary non-baseball people around people like the clubhouse people and the medical staff. Obviously, I'm sensitive to the medical staff who work their a** off to keep these guys on the field. He's not like Bonds who is in a different a** class but would ignore most people. AJ would treat people poorly not necessarily other players, although he did that too, but most commonly the others around. This is what I call a bad person. He is not the only one by far, I've seen worse than him but he is in the team picture.