YASNY

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:52 AM) Nicely put. Thank you.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:46 AM) Hillary is already starting to suck up... That's just good politics.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:39 AM) Wow. That surprises me. His independant streak will help him during the general election, but I didn't think it would be THAT much. That's exactly why I said in another thread the he'd win the general if he gets the GOP nomination. His independant streak. I think most of the citizens of the good ol' US of A sick and tired of this partisan BS. You've got your left wing loons and your right wing idiots. Those are the feathers on the tips of the wings, the farthest away from heart of the American eagle.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:37 AM) i think it's as simple as he cut a deal with Obama so he's dropping out. combine that with his wife's health and the insanity of his schedule over the next week - i mean if i were him i'd just skip it all too. Well hell, if it has anything to do with your last sentence, he shouldn't have been in to begin with.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:21 AM) The Club management may have strongly urged him to drop out. That sounds about right.

I kind of surprised at Edwards timing on dropping out. One more week, and he's got the opportunity grab quite a few more delegates. He'd then be in a postion play to king/queen maker.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 09:36 AM) My resoning was Romney has a much better chance of getting the GOP nomination than Obama getting the Dem. So if he isn'ty going to make step one, it was tough to place him ahead of Romney. Looking at some match ups Clinton - McCain is a race edge Clinton Clinton - Romney is a Clinton winner Obama - McCain is a McCain win Obama - Romney is a race edge Obama I think McCain wins the general if he gets the GOP nomination.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 09:28 AM) I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Johan Santana will throw a no-hitter this year. I mean, think about it... Johan vs. the Nasty Nats?? The Marlins?? He'll throw at least one no-hitter... write it down fellas. Mets pitchers don't throw no-hitters.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 01:54 AM) I dont know if we miss the playoffs or not, depends on I guess who was there instead and his impact. But... Pods was definitely a very important part of that 05 team and when he hit well it made our offense a helluva lot better. Let me rephrase for clarity's sake. If Pods '05 first half was like the rest of his time with the Sox, Cleveland wins the ALC in '05.

QUOTE(almagest @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 11:23 PM) Podsednik averaged 3.89 pitches per plate appearance in 2005. That didn't crack the top 25 in baseball that year -- number 25 was Todd Helton, at 4.03, 0.14 points higher than Podsednik. Also, if you look at the list, you'll find some very decidedly not-good baseball players on the list, who were on some very decidedly not-good teams, so I'm not sure how important or relevant this stat is, overall. Also, I don't understand the unwavering Pods devotion for 2005. Was he valuable? Yes. Did he make or break this team? No. The pitching was far, far, far more important. I think relying on Pods (and later, Erstad) for these phantom, intangible concepts of "grindiness" and "getting in pitchers' heads" caused us a lot of problems in '06 and '07, as well. Whatever. I still stand by my statement that without Pods first half, the Sox miss the playoffs.

QUOTE(almagest @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 11:25 PM) It's not. But the difference in offense from Anderson to Swisher is much larger than the difference defensively from Anderson to Swisher, based on what we have seen from both players to this point. While you may have a point, how much have we seen of Swisher in CF?

I'm hearing, fwiw, that the DNC will in fact allow the Florida delegates to vote at the convention due to the turn out. Considering Florida is a swing state, it might be a major screw up if the party says, thanks for making the effort to vote but we are going to ignore your vote.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 10:52 PM) I don't need to be impressed by Swisher in CF. I know I'll be impressed by his bat, and getting that production from a center fielder will WAY more than make up for whatever degree to which he may be below league average in CF. I know I'll be impressed by Quentin's bat and his defense in LF. Any superiority that Owens has defensively over Swisher does not make up for how much more productive Quentin's bat will be than Owens'. Same goes for Crisp and some of the other "suggestions" I've seen like Dave Roberts and Chris Duffy. There is no sane reason to get any of these players when we have Owens. Owens can play center anytime Quentin, Swisher, Dye, Konerko, or Thome need a day off. Why is a double taken away defensively worth less than a double produced offensively? I've never quite understood this logic.

You guys can throw all the stats around that you want to. But, I agree with ptatc that Pods had a huge impact on the Sox success in the first half of '05. Pods took a lot of pitches, and not just in his first at bat but in just about all of them. He was a force on the bathpaths, and he did get into the pitchers' heads. The Sox built a big lead that cushioned the second half problems the team had and Pods first half was a very important part of that. Stats are fine, but I know what I saw with my own eyes. Without Pods first half, we don't even make the playoffs.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 09:47 PM) Where is the green? No green wanted. I want them to give him a chance to win the CF job in ST, in a competion with the other two young guys. Ih he can turn it around and be even close to what we thought he could be, it'll be that much better for the team. If he fails, send him to AAA or move him to another team.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 09:34 PM) I agree. I would prefer to give Anderson another shot as opposed to him. I hope they give BA a legitimate shot.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 07:35 PM) I'd trust the Twins in how they evaluate prospects. I'm sure the guys they get will develop and kill us. If past recent history is an indicator, you're more than likely correct.

Of course racism is the bigger problem. Doesn't Obama receiving 81% ( or whatever the final tally was) of the AA vote in SC just scream racism?

The last posts by Balta and NSS72 are right on point. Excellent posts.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 07:37 AM) I think we'll have that extra pitcher, as DBAH0 said. My prediction of the bench: Owens Ramirez and/or Ozuna Uribe Hall I think that's your bench, 4 or 5. I think Ramirez is likely to be on the big club. And I think there is a good chance that Uribe or Ozuna gets traded, in which case, you bring up a Bourgeois or a Getz. That group does lack one position - first base. But I am sure Uribe (or Bourgeois) could handle learning it. Swisher can play first.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2008 -> 08:41 PM) I don't believe in Carl Everett. Me neither. He's not mentioned in the bible.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 28, 2008 -> 08:11 PM) It was a joke. But sadly relevent.

QUOTE(soxfandude @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 08:03 PM) the only reason the farm system sucks is a lot of our young guys are in the majors already Welcome to Soxtalk. I hope you find your stay here enjoyable, enlightening and educational.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jan 27, 2008 -> 03:28 PM) what is with all this PK batting 3rd stuff? Did Ozzie say that? Sometimes, I wonder if these guys are watching the same team as we are.