whitesoxfan101

The other thing about the Marlins is that they indeed do it a lot different. I'm not really sure WHAT it is that they do different, but they are like the Twins with their scouting and young guys, only they do the small market thing even better and with much less money. It's simply phenominal, they are like moneyball in terms of how different they are, only with rings, betters players and depth, and 1/3 the money.

Unless he finds steroids again, this is not very significant.

I already posted in the all MLB thread they'll win the Wild Card, and I firmly believe that. Also, the fact that their entire scouting department isn't taken by other teams for promotions is bizarre, their scouting work is simply unreal. To have a 15 million dollar payroll with that kind of talent is just amazing. Obviously 2003 helped, but I just love watching the Marlins play anyways. The 5 young starting pitchers are all damn good, the lineup is developing, and the one old guy (Borowski) is doing great as closer.

I'll post it now so that when it happens I get some dap: The Florida Marlins and their 15 million dollar payroll will win the NL Wild Card. They have the best talent in that race, and despite the youth, will win it due in large part to everybody else sucking.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 3, 2006 -> 09:59 PM) Hawk is nowhere near the tool Ron Santo is. Which is why Santo is far worse. However Hawk is just as big a homer as Santo, which is why I don't like him very much.

Actualy the Beckett story is very simple. You look at his splits this year (batting average against, strikeouts, walks, hits allowed) and they are identical to last year and his career numbers? The difference is the AL and DH obviously hurt him A LOT since the NL is so bad, and also, he's not in Florida anymore. That 1 flyout a game in Florida that went 405 feet is a home run in the AL, hence his home runs allowed total is so high obviously. And there you have it. Beckett had an epic run in 2003 as I said, but that really was a mirage and a hot streak. A VERY VERY WELL TIMED mirage, but still a mirage.

Some guy named Choo Choo hit a grand slam off of him tonight as Boston fell 7-6. His ERA is now right about 5, and as we know very well as Sox fans, that SUCKS for a starter. His win total is an illusion created by that offense. Last year was the first time he ever won 10+ games (and even last year, he had those blister issues and pitched in a great park for his craft), and although he had an EPIC run in the 2003 playoffs, he has yet to show anything besides that. He's the starting pitcher on my all overrated team.

They are asking for trouble if they send him out after the delay. The games start was also delayed by rain, and he sees the heart of the order if he stays for the 7th. Recipe for disaster, but we'll see what happens.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Aug 3, 2006 -> 07:42 PM) I bet the hawkaroo would say the same thing Which is why I strongly dislike both of them (although Santo is far worse than Hawk, but then again he has had diabetes for decades so I guess that's understood).

Once you get to 40 is when it would actually get interesting. He's also 10 away from breaking Pete Rose's NL record of 44.

"With all these teams losing in the NL, even the Cardinals.....we're still in this thing!" -Ron Santo during game 2 of the doubleheader today. He's aware the Cubs would have to play 20 over the rest of the way (which is only what, 52 games? So that would be 36-16?) to go 82-80, which still isn't good enough, isn't he? (And before you say it, I only heard it on accident because I was changing the station and passed 720, lol).

Just doing what all the other major programs do, however sucks for OU he got caught. Although I never thought Bomar was worth a damn anyways at QB.

QUOTE(Spiff @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 12:42 PM) You don't sound arrogant at all. Haha, I am on this topic. Chicago is so much better than anywhere else when it comes to sports, even if our newspapers are atrocious.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 12:37 PM) Hudson has 4 quality starts in a row. This one will not be a cake walk (are they ever anymore?). Add to this that we'll see Halladay on Friday, let's hope we're not about to hit another "bump" in the road... Hudson has been pretty good lately. You want to jump him early in the count because he throws strikes and doesn't have overly impressive stuff, and he does still have an ERA of a hair over 5 and a half at home this year.

QUOTE(That funky motion @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 12:01 AM) Well we are tied for the Wild Card with them as of Aug 1 . This could be good for us. I dont think they will miss Varitek bat, but they will miss him calling the games. I still think Boston is the weakest of the teams racing for 3 spots in the Central, East, and WC, and maybe this injury will expose some weaknesses. Varitek isn't hitting, but they will miss him badly calling the games, and that affects their whole staff.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 11:26 AM) Off topic, but Ortiz is baseball's best clutch hitter. I'd rather have him up in the clutch since he's a better hitter, but in my opinion Crede steps it up more in the clutch than anybody in the game. Ortiz is just so damned good that he's always hitting if you pitch to him, the 9th or 1st or otherwise. Although I think for the most part clutch hitting is a bit of a myth, there are a few guys that step it up when it's money time, and Crede is at the top of that list. Am I a homer? Of course, but Crede has been so money in the clutch for several years now, even when he was very young and never would hit.

Heath Phillips will save us all, YEAH!!! *hides*

http://www.sportingnews.com/features/best/ Really, we should win every year, as anybody who has traveled even a little bit to other major cities knows that. But I guess it was easy this year between the Sox winning it all and having a 2 million plus fan parade, the Bulls making the playoffs again and adding Ben Wallace and 2 first round picks, the Bears winning the NFC North and not losing any starters, the Cubs DO sell out every game and play at Wrigley, which helps in this kind of thing even if we hate it, the Fire just opened an awesome new stadium, the Rush won the AFL, Northwestern made a bowl, hell even if you count DeKalb somehow (an hour drive away only if it's not rush hour ) NIU won it's league in the MAC in football and basketball this year. Just a great year for local sports all around, enjoy the success is all I can say to the uber local homers around here like I am.

It's a job that somebody has to do, and to say irony bit him in the ass and imply that he almost got what he deserved is disgusting Nuke. Come on man, you know better than that.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 08:34 AM) I hope something good comes of this. People like Jose Contreras deserve to be able to go home. Miami is going to be an interesting place when Fidel dies and whenever the hell the overthrow occurs in Cuba....

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 11:07 AM) So, the lineup will probably look like... Pods Gooch Pierzynski Dye Crede Uribe Gload Mack Anderson I'm guessing. With Mack or Dye at DH. Maybe Mack and Uribe flipped in that order, though. I think I saw somewhere that he was back up at 91-92 with has fastball in his last start, instead of 86. Maybe he can get back to 94 again. He's been A LITTLE better on the gun with his fastball lately, but he's still not throwing enough fastball, and the ones he do throw still don't exactly pass the eye test. I hope your right though, if he can get his stuff back somehow he'd be WAY better off obviously.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 11:03 AM) I agree, but Freddie has been known to step up in tough games ... see Game 4 of the Series ... and maybe, just maybe, getting into a tough game may make him realize he's been skating and working hard enough. I hope that's the problem, and not the fact that he's unable to pitch anymore. I think he can still pitch, his stuff just isn't good enough, which terrifies me. At least with Buehrle, I know his problem has been location and there is hope for him to turn it around, I'm MUCH more iffy on Garcia.

I like Lugo and Matthews, but they are both going to be overpaid. I also like Catalanatto, but then again I've wanted him for 4 years so maybe that's just me. And for reasons of which I'm not sure, the Zito whispers are starting to be heard. I hope THAT is true, but I'd be shocked.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 11:00 AM) I like our chances against the Royals. This may set the tone for a classic Freddie Garcia 'step up' game without the big guns in the lineup. Yeah, with the day off tomorrow and the flight to Canada, I'd be shocked if we don't just give Kong and Thome today off. Hopefully the offense and Freddy step it up, although as long as Freddy is throwing a Greg Maddux velocity fastball, I'm still worried about him.

Yeah, it's just a contusion, it originally looked like he might have got it on the funnybone, but in fact it's a pretty good bruise. Knowing Ozzie, Kong might get the day off tonight however, which means Freddy REALLY better be on his game if Kong and Thome are out. Or Joe needs to go 4 for 5 again.