whitesoxfan101

NIU basketball got a verbal from a wing named Tony Nixon from Seton Academy. This isn't really a surprise as I was told this would happened a while ago, but damn he's a good get for us. He has around two dozen offers, including Drake, Fresno State, and even Gonzaga. We already have a small forward who averaged 11 points a game at Colorado who will be eligible in 2009-2010, but add Nixon to that mix and that's a tough guard for most teams in the MAC. We could be pretty damn good in the near future between these two kids and some of the other very good talent Coach Patton is bringing in.

The problem is that if there were 4 drunk girls in the car, it's likely at least one and maybe two of them threw up. That's a real deal breaker IMO.

Maybe they should get Z on the Rich Harden rest plan. It'll be interesting to see how they throw in the playoffs, that's for sure. It seems like Dempster is the only guy they can count on when on regular rest. As for Cubs fans dislike of Derrek Lee, it's simple. He had that once in a lifetime career year in 2005, and Cubs fan refuse to/are unable to realize that what he did in 2004 and what he's done last year and this year is more of what Derrek Lee really is. He's a victim of unrealistic expectations.

I met Chauncey Billups today. Nice guy.

Things were pretty bad around here about a week or two ago, but I actually think they have calmed down quite a bit over the last several days.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 03:37 PM) It's the same as saying terrorism helps Republicans. It's harsh sounding and it's not really something to bring up casually as a candidate but it's true. Agreed, it's the truth in both cases but people are just afraid to say it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 03:34 PM) Dead cat. Yeah you are most likely right, but it was still bizarre to see that today.

Obama is getting a nice bounce from the bad news on the economy right now IMO. Sounds a bit brutal, but bad news for the economy is good news for Obama.

The DOW was up over 400 points today (410 as of right now) at the closing bell. How the hell did that happen?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) He could of been taking the "who gives a flying f" approach, similar to what Yost did with CC. I believe Harden only has an option left for next year, and I don't think it's for huge money (if anyone knows what his contract status is, please provide). The Cubs might just say f it, let's see if he can hold together for 2 more months and make the best run we can at the WS. I understand your point, but they need Harden healthy for THIS October. I don't know if he's healthy as it is right now, but letting him throw 115 high stress, wild pitches in only 5 innings could hurt his chances at being healthy next month, which is really all they do or should care about. QUOTE (The Critic @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) Sounded like the Samardzihnfskaliadhaja love is fading just a tad, huh? Well to be fair, all those runs scored with 2 outs and there was an error by DeRosa earlier in the inning, so without that none of those runs score in theory and they are unearned. But yeah, the love for Samardzija has faded lately.

I had my say on how Harden has looked his last two outings, both on extended rest. But another big question here is what the hell is Lou doing? Letting Harden throw 115 pitches over 5 innings in a relatively meaningless game is pretty damn stupid in my opinion. Actually, to let anybody do that under these circumstances is pretty damn stupid, but REALLY damn stupid might be a better way to describe it when a fragile guy like Harden is the one pitching.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 18, 2008 -> 02:54 PM) Harden's going to have 2 weeks before his next start, according to the radio this morning. With Sheets likely out for the year, I'm hoping the Dodgers/Mets/Phillies make the postseason, with the Cubs drawing the Phillies in the opening round. I honestly believe the Dodgers are the best bets to beat the Cubs though. I don't know if they can rely on Harden much right now. If I'm the Cubs, he's either my 3rd or 4th starter on the postseason roster. And I still think the Phillies would be the Cubs toughest matchup on the NL side.

I understand the innings and runs look good, but Harden has shown nothing to make me think he is anywhere near 100 percent his last two starts. His control wasn't too bad last outing (6 innings, 1 walk), but he was pedestrian by his lofty standards allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, and only having 3 strikeouts, plus his velocity was not very good in game game at St. Louis. Today on 6 days rest, Harden had his velocity back (fastball was 92 to 94) and only allowed one run and one hit in 5 innings, but he wasn't himself at all otherwise. Harden had to throw 115 pitches (many of them high stress, Lou left him in way too long) to get through the 5 innings. He only threw 68 strikes out of the 115 pitches, and his walk total of 6 would have been much higher if the Brewers hadn't chased pitches (and his admittedly impressive 7 strikeout total would have been lower). He has shown the ability to have control and velocity his last two outings, but not both at the same time, and he's not the same guy if he can only have one and not the other.

Dye is hitting for absolutely NO power this month (.352 slugging, 4 doubles, 5 RBI, no homers in 14 games). His inability to stand out since Q got hurt has killed whatever small chance he had at MVP. And yeah, Longoria is ROY and it's not really even close. You don't hold the time missed against Longoria because it was later in the season, while at the same time ignoring all the time on the bench Ramirez had earlier in the season, it's not fair to look at it that way. I think Ramirez probably should finish 2nd over Galarraga, but not over Longoria for 1st.

Deadspin is a great place for funny commenters who don't know a lot about sports, but not trolls. I enjoy reading their site though, it is funny. Not a place to go for any sort of real important sports information, but they realize it. It's definitely not a place for trolls at all though, a troll is a completely different thing. It's really the only sports website where I do read the comments because the section is NOT infested by trolls.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Sep 17, 2008 -> 12:00 AM) Hells yes to that Hawkeye's win. Whose going to start at QB this week? Christensen apparently played pretty solid in relief of Stanza. Good question. Iowa looks to have a pretty solid plan on defense, special teams, and in the run game. But if you've got two quarterbacks, you've got none and their wide receivers aren't very good. I think they are in good shape to make a bowl this year though.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 16, 2008 -> 04:50 PM) don't know where to post this, but Cowley is saying Marrioti has been hired by the trib. Cowley right on the money again, as tonight the tribune has a story near the top of it's sports page on the website saying Mariotti is not joining the tribune. Stay hot Joe Cowley!!

What a big night, come on Indians and sweep these effers!

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 16, 2008 -> 02:25 PM) White Sox: "One and Done" is a hell of a lot better than you'd thought we'd do! Winner!!

Ok, Mark had 101 pitches after 6 last night when he came out tied. Gavin has 97 pitches after 6 and a 2 run lead. Let's hope Ozzie learned his lesson.

I can't take much more after that 5th inning. There is nothing quite like important baseball late in the season (well, there is one thing even better actually, important baseball in the postseason).

I'm going to do my best John McCain impression and say "I don't know anything about the economy", other than the fact it's bad right now. But shouldn't the government stay out of stuff like AIG and maybe even Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? It seems weird to have them involved in things like this. But again, I know nothing about the economy and realize I could be very wrong. Somebody please help me out and try and explain this.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 16, 2008 -> 02:46 PM) The year the Sox drafted Carrie Schueler, and it was later than the 36th round, they drafted at least 4 players that played in the major leagues, including Placido Polanco, who obviously didn't sign, after her. Carey Schueler, who is of course the daughter of former Sox GM Ron Schueler, was a 43rd round pick in 1993. Frank Menechino, who played parts of 7 major league seasons for Toronto and Oakland and actually was a decent player, was drafted by the Sox in the 45th round that year. Mario Valdez, who played in 54 games for the Sox in 1997 and 37 others for Oakland in 2000 and 2001, was drafted in the 48th round in 1993. Finally, Placido Polanco (the only of these three who didn't sign with the Sox), was drafted in the 49th round with the Sox finaly pick of the 1993 draft. He was drafted in the 19th round and signed by St. Louis in 1994. The other 3 picks after Schueler by the Sox that year never got past A ball, but your point is well taken. The Sox also drafted Brandon Berger in the 41st round that year, who played in parts of 4 seasons for the Royals (he didn't sign and was a 14th round pick by KC in 1996), and Jeff Abbott was a 32nd round pick that year and played in parts of 5 season for us and Florida (we redrafted him in the 4th round in 1994). http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/teams/1993_7.shtml

I thought this would be an interesting thread. The campaigns have their ways at trying to convince undecided voters to vote for them. But to be honest I think you, the supporter of the Obama or McCain campaign, could do a better job. The reason I bring this up is actually quite personal. As much as I am obviously a righty on this board, I mean it when I say I only slightly lean to the right. In all honesty, I have become an undecided voter. Truthfully, I was 18 and registered to vote on election day in November of 2004. However, I ended up not voting because in my heart, I couldn't in good conscience vote for either candidate. I am starting to think the same senario will play out this year, with the exception of the fact I am now 4 years older. I feel that both parties are ignoring how I feel and don't understand my values and what I want. I would imagine there are others like me as well, who think the republicans are too far right and the democrats too far left. I figure since neither party can convince me I am wrong to think they are ignoring me, maybe somebody here can.

Nothing makes a manager look dumber than having a bad bullpen. We saw it with Ozzie in 2007, we're seeing it now late in 2008, and we're even seeing it with Ron Gardenhire in Minnesota. It's not the fault of the manager when his bullpen sucks either. You can't keep the starter in all game as it's not 1979, and there isn't much you can do if almost every different person you bring in sucks.