YASNY

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 10:42 PM) I hardly ever post because there are much more knowledgeable posters than me, but i also do not like reading through 100 posts that say the same thing over and over again and i would hate to contribute to that. However, I come to this site every day and if i lost it today I'd go insane. This is easily the best sox forum and its gotta be one of the best in the MLB. I don't need 800 pages of idiots giving their opinions and changing the subject when i can come to soxtalk and read quality posts from reliable sources. If you've been a soxtalk member since 2003, I'm sure that you have acquired a wealth of knowledge. Please join in and add your opinions to the site.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 08:19 PM) ESPN Radio had some stupid poll of who is greater Phelps or the cubs. The cubs were getting 64% of the vote, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP! This is just totally f***ing ridiculous!

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 10:56 PM) This place has changed a lot over the years. I dont think that I will ever consider it small because I can remember when there were not that many who posted here. Prior to 2005 the whole board had a different atmosphere as the board was filled with people who loved the White Sox no matter what. Most of us had barely seen any success in the playoffs in our entire life time, so most of the threads ideas were always upbeat dream scenarios about how the White Sox would some how do it with limited payroll. Its hard to remember what it was like to be a White Sox fan and expect so little. I still read almost every thread, I just dont post that much (well compared to others I never really have posted that much) because it seems more people are quick to get down on the Sox and not enjoy the ride like they used to be. You know what, you just summed it up perfectly. So many are so critical of any particular failure that they fail to see the big picture and enjoy the fact that Sox are a pretty good team. A team that can break our hearts or send us to an '05 like ecstasy. Either way, we were picked to finished in about 4th place and are now in an exciting race for the postseason. Fans can choose however they want to approach this season. I'm not going to change anybody's mind, so I have basically just shut up about the negativism. But for me, I'll just enjoy the ride, wherever it may end.

It's good to see Javy put a couple of strong starts together. If he's back on track, it can be huge for the Sox down the stretch.

After battling traffic, my father and I walked into Comiskey during the bottom of the first inning. We entered the park on the 3rd base side, but had seats down the right field line. So we walked toward our seats peaking in on the field to keep up with the action. When Allen came to the plate, we were right behind home plate. Pausing to watch, and how could you not, Allen stepped into the box waving that massive piece of lumber that became so familiar to Sox fans. Allen got that big bat into a fastball and hit a screaming line drive toward center. The pitcher, whoever it was, reached up in an attempt to catch it, but was woefully late. That baseball was over the fence in the blink of an eye. It hit the brick wall at the back of the centerfield bullpen and bounced of the wall back onto the field of play. Think about how hard that ball had to be hit to do that. The centerfield fence was marked at 400 feet. The wall behing the pen had to 40 to 45 feet beyond that, yet that ball had enough on it to bounce back over the fence and into centerfield. I've seen some monster shots in my time, including a rooftop job by Greg Luzinski. But, I have never seen any ball hit harder than that one was.

I keep waiting for the Sox to play in St. Louis again. I want to see the new ballpark, but I want the Sox to playing when I do. Maybe I'll go see the Cubs, but wear red.

Luis was one of the most exciting and skillful ballplayers I've ever had the pleasure to watch.

Call it a hunch, but this Phelps guy just might show up on some Wheaties boxes.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 10:46 PM) Phelps is the only swimmer to win 8 medals in an olympics I believe and he won 8 golds not just 8 medals. That is absurd. Didn't he win 8 medals (6 gold) in Athens?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 10:21 AM) If I were to put a label on this team, based on their expecations, it would have to be overachievers. NO ONE expected this team to be here at this point. Perspective can be a wonderful thing.

The US women's hoops team getting their first real test right now. They lead Spain by 5 at the half. Of course, I have no idea if this game is live. It might be over for all I know.

QUOTE (DABearSoX @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 09:07 AM) I have a hard time labeling any team as "worst franchise" Money ball is the name of the game now....the Twins are an oddity however, best scouts in baseball if we looked at all American sports however I would have to pick the Chicago Blackhawks...even though they did some good things this offseason Soon to be usurped by the Chicago Bears.

QUOTE (ChiSox35 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:50 PM) CC wins another. It's so fun to watch when he's not in the division. It would be fun to watch if he was in the division, but on the right team.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 08:41 AM) Could you imagine the board implosion if we had soxtalk back then? I don't even want to think about it.

QUOTE (DABearSoX @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 08:41 AM) Where's Danny Wright? Exactly where he needs to be.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 08:02 AM) It seems that many of the people who contributed lists confined their selections to players who they actually saw play. Which makes perfect sense to me. After all it is about favorites. Fans like Yas and I have forty years of players to choose from, and quite frankly, at least for me, childhood memories are pretty cool. Nostalgia sells. I also wonder what '77 would have been like if there had been a Soxtalk. I probably would not be looking back with such fondness. The sheer repetitiveness of posting everyday how much the team now sucks and will miss the playoffs would have left a terrible mark. Instead, I did not have that avenue to reinforce my disappointment and really only remember the curtain calls and singing with Nancy. Other than the uniforms, that was a fun team to watch.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 08:13 AM) I don't think crede is going to get a big contract because of his back. I think Fields will be there, but he looked awful for us this year. Garret Atkins or Beltre would be nice. I love to hear what Ozzie said to Fields when he was sent back down. Probably something along the lines of get your head out of your ass and learn how to play 3B.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 12:25 AM) Amen. Great post!! I can totally see Pods making it. I can totally see somebody listing him as one of their FAVORITE PLAYERS. I mean I had guys like Chet Lemon and Gary Peters 1-2 on mine and they didn't contribute near as much on a significant level as Pods. He was sensational during our title year. I wonder why some members of the 05 Sox aren't nearly as revered as members of the 1985 Bears. Ridiculous to hate on these guys. I don't get it sometimes. I'll answer that question, at least give it my opined answer. A lot of posters here do not have the perspective of history in their baseball knowledge set. This isn't a criticism of younger posters at all. My earliest baseball memories, and I mean solid memories, come from the 1964 World Series. Well, 2005 was the first time I ever saw the Sox in the World Series. I mean I literally bawled when I knew the SOX WON THE PENNANT!!! .... That's just the AL pennant, man. When they won the Series, I was with as much family as possible at my parents' place. Shared that special moment with those I love most. Now Pods had to compete against some childhood favorites to make my list, and I'll be honest I don't think he did make it. But that certainly doesn't mean that his contributions aren't held in high regard in my little corner of the world.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Aug 15, 2008 -> 08:05 AM) My first cut off was players I actually saw play. I certainly can appreciate people putting him on their list. That was my first cut off as well. Joe missed it by this much (think Maxwell Smart).

I'll never forget Jose doing the Sosa kiss routine in the dugout at Wrigley.

Two words is all I need to describe Tadahito. Consumate professional.

QUOTE (scenario @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 11:10 PM) I found this article from Rob Neyer helpful to clear up alot of misunderstandings about options, waivers, and other transaction rules. Rob Neyer's Transactions Primer Here's the section on Options: "Options" After three years as a pro, a player must be protected on a team's 40-man roster, or he is eligible for the Rule 5 draft (more on that later). Once he's served those three years, and assuming he is added to the 40-man roster, his club then has what are called "options" on him. When a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the 25-man Major League roster, he is on "optional assignment." One common misconception about the rules is that a player may only be "optioned out" three times. Actually, each player has three option years, and he can be sent up and down as many times as the club chooses within those three seasons. When you hear that a player is "out of options," that means he's been on the 40-man roster during three different seasons, beginning with his fourth as a pro, and to be sent down again he'll have to clear waivers (more on those below). I'v had that bookmarked for a couple of years and have linked to it here on Soxtalk a couple of times when these kind of questions arise. It has come in handy. Good info there.

QUOTE (knightni @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 04:21 PM) People overreact way too much around here. I have to admit that even I started thinking that we had to bench Paulie. Right after I had that thought, he started hitting.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 02:10 PM) This is some f***ing ugly baseball right here. I love it when you analyze.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 01:04 PM) If anyone here didn't think those signings were not gonna get done, are simply out of their mind. Congrats. Sometimes, s*** hits the fan. I'm glad to hear it's a done deal.