Middle Buffalo

Pretty sure all the national parks charge something. Looks like Grand Canyon is $30 per vehicle. If you plan on visiting more parks in a year, it's worth it to purchase the year pass. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/fees.htm

It's great to be stacked with good players and have versatility, but at some point guys are not going to want to sit or play out of position. Bryant's not going to like it when he pulls a hamstring chasing down a ball in the outfield. Fowler won't like it when he's rested, and then his replacement gets hot and Maddon can't take him out of the lineup. I'm sure there's a bit of jealousy in my thinking, but I also think the Cubs rode a magic wave last season, and it's not always easy to recapture that.

I'm not super upset that Fowler didn't sign with the Sox. I think the Sox needed to add an outfielder, but the only ones I would have been willing to part with a pick for signing were Cespedes and Upton. I'm ok with crossing my fingers and hoping Avi makes a leap this year and Melky has a better year.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 27, 2016 -> 04:12 PM) I hate bumping old threads, but I also hate when posters rip a move with the benefit of hindsight. I think it's Ok to bump this. I only read the first page and it was mostly positive reviews of the signing. I would love to read a column that reviewed someone like Mel Kiper's player analysis prior to a draft compared to their subsequent career achievements. Too often, people are quick to point out their correct predictions while completely ignoring their misses. I think SoxTalk posters' reactions to front office moves are fair game in the same way.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Feb 5, 2016 -> 05:14 PM) I'm just tired of celebrating a 30 year old team. While I somewhat agree, there really hasn't been anything like that team in my lifetime. It was the perfect storm of hungry city, unbelievable team, and unmatched personalities. I don't feel like I'll ever see anything like it again. I'll add that it's funny to hear anyone (especially Chicagoans) criticize the Panthers for being arrogant or celebrating too much. No team celebrated more than the '85 Bears. And we all ate it up.

Is it just me, or do most of these big recruits look like they're in their early 20s?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 02:55 AM) By definition, can we accuse the Yankees for not spending this offseason? I say we do it! You start. I'll second the accusation. The rest of you guys chime in alphabetically.

So, one of the rules of QB play is that you never throw across your body to the opposite side of the field, right? Isn't that what analysts say every time a QB throws an INT on a play like Palmer to Fitzgerald in OT? Oh, it was successful? Great play then! I always laugh at the inconsistency of the criticism by analysts. Successful result = good play. Unsuccessful result = bad play. Great ending. I'm a Bears fan. Respect/don't hate the Packers. I find it really hard to root against Rodgers, but I'm glad the Packers lost.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 11, 2016 -> 12:01 PM) I'm looking at it from this standpoint, changing it to the Bears for example. My wife knows who Jay Cutler is. My wife has no clue who Sherrod Martin is. If Cutler has a similar history as Ben, I have to answer to her as to why I'm still a Bears fan. If Martin has that history, it never becomes an issue. I also know who Jay Cutler is and have no idea who Sherrod Martin is. Asking for a friend, are HickoryHiskers and Middle Buffalo a couple?

I don't get the LHolmes love on SoxTalk. He just seems like the biggest nerd.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 11, 2016 -> 08:34 PM) Bama scores by going hurry up, which Saban wants to ban. Hypocrisy in the NCAA? Do tell.

QUOTE (Doc Edwards Shot @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 12:47 PM) I totally agree. They should just have a baseball history museum that covers facts and historical events in the sport without the whole individual plaque concept and the idea that players had to be great citizens off the field to be mentioned. The visitors to the museum could decide for themselves whether a particular player was an asshole or not. Just like if you go to a car museum. They'll have an exhibit showing small cars, then one with huge cars from certain eras with an explanation for why that was, etc. They could have a whole display about the 90s and Sosa/McGuire/Bonds and how steroids fueled incredible home run hitting feats. It would be kind of difficult to have a museum that tells the history of Pete Rose if Pete Rose never truly comes clean regarding his gambling. Same goes for the PED users. I'm not sure Bonds would be cool with the idea that I tell his story and allege that he was a PED user. It might make for an interesting museum, but until the players come clean, I'm not sure you can actually tell the story. I think I'm at the point now where I'd be ok with Bonds, Clemens, et al. coming forward and telling the truth about their usage. A huge percentage of players cheated. Allow them to be judged on these merits with the idea that they did indeed cheat. Also, allow that as a consideration when evaluating their peers who did not.

On a bit of a holiday movie kick with the wife these past two weeks: Star Wars (no wife for this one, took my 11 year old) - nice return to the feel of Eps 4 & 5. I feel good about the series going forward. I wasn't a huge, huge fan like most kids my age (43), but it was undeniably an important film series to my generation. The Martian - Saw this at the $2 theater. Pretty predictable, but worth seeing. The Big Short - My wife loved. I thought it was just ok. I read the book, though, and that usually has an impact on seeing the movie version of the story. They did a good job of explaining the real estate meltdown - which is something we should all be much madder about than we are. Book was really good, but it's a pretty tricky read because the subject is pretty complicated. The Danish Girl - Good movie. Eddie R. will be nominated. He does a really good job of showing how confusing gender identity is for some people. The Hateful Eight - Not Tarrantino's best. I put it below my favorite 4 (Resevoir Dogs, Pulp, Inglorious, & Django). It was a little slow, and I didn't find any character especially likeable. And, I mean likeable in the Tony Soprano sense of a bad guy that I like and root for. Spotlight - I really liked this. An expose on the cover up in the Catholic Church priest abuse in the Boston diocese and even higher up. Really well told. Good acting. And I think it's a good representation of the way absolute power corrupts absolutely. In this story it's the Catholic Church. But it's applicable to so many other things (Government, Wall Street, Police Departments, etc). The average citizen is pretty powerless against the machine. And the powers that be know how to distract and divide the people that are being screwed.

QUOTE (Tannerfan @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 06:11 PM) Pale Hose Talk. Sometimes I hate autocorrect. Fitting, considering most visitors to this site type in Sextalk and get redirected here by autocorrect.?

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 05:58 AM) I had forgotten that snippet from Barry's past. Never understood it, because he married white chicks and certainly had a bunch of white friends along the way. Still, he said it. Some of my best friends... Bonds was/is an ass. That's not why he shouldn't be included, though. If the standard is cheated or not, he absolutely cheated. That's pretty easy to deduce by looking at his stats pre- and post-1999. There's a hundred years of data that shows guys don't get better from HOF level in their mid 30s. So, he didn't get caught, but everyone knows. I'm at the point where I really don't care anymore. And, I think that's ultimately how steroids ruined the game for me. I grew up a numbers freak. I used to love looking at the stats leaders and practically memorizing the backs of baseball cards. Now, I don't care because I don't know. And I won't - because the numbers aren't real. And greenies does not equal steroids. Just look at the power numbers. Players didn't suddenly learn how to hit HRs in the 90s.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 06:00 AM) Agreed. I love the message that some drugs are better than others and being a racist gets you rewarded. The baseball hall of fame should definitely be about sending a message! Barry "I don't sign for white people" Bonds?

I wasn't super excited to see this - probably a result of hating much of the prequels. My 11 year old wanted to see it, so we went today. Most shows were sold out except for the first row, so we sat there. I have to say, I thought it as great. On par with Eps IV and V. I understand some of the complaints here, but the one great thing is that it doesn't have the Lucas influenced cheesiness or over reliance on special effects. Just a simple story. Normal dialogue - not the stilted crap from the prequels. A nice recovery for the franchise. Oh, and I think I ate my weight in popcorn today.

Wow! Let's view all organizations through the prism of Cubbiedom. That interview was embarrassing in many ways. They basically ambushed Hahn with the KW line of questioning, and they barely touched on the Frazier and Lawrie deals. Those two moves should help fill a couple of big holes without costing the top young prospects in the organization, and they are both pretty affordable. The Sox don't need to do a total tear down. They have good young pitching in Sale & Qintana. Rodon was pretty good and looks to be really good. And they have a few more young arms on the way. They have a few good position players at the major league level (Abreu & Eaton). If they add a few more, they can contend. They just have to be able to identify players who will play to their historical numbers. They've missed badly on Smardijia, Dunn, & LaRoche. A few guys like Avi haven't had enough time to really evaluate, yet. The idea of gutting this team is silly. 3/4 of the Sox infield looks to be good. The catcher position is probably on par with most teams. Starting pitching is decent. The bullpen is decent. They need an upgrade at one of the outfield spots, but I don't think they should be desperate and trade young talent or go overboard in paying a huge contract to Upton or Cespedes. They've had a good offseason. I think Hahn should be commended for it.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 13, 2015 -> 03:19 PM) You don't know the Chicago Media very well. I listen to the score interviews on podcast, and I don't think I heard anyone (host or Bears analysts) criticize him last week after missing two chip shots. I used to listen to ESPN 1000 full show podcasts daily, and Jeff Dickerson was on the Bears' beat, and he has a man crush on RG. So, like I said, I doubt they'll be too hard on him. But, it could be that I don't know the Chicago media very well.

Jay has to hit that pass to Alshon at the goal line that he under threw. He tends to short arm those for some reason. After that, he should have been rolling out on the pass that was intended for Royal. Oh well, the media likes Gould, so he'll probably get a pass again.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 05:18 PM) Marty Bennett placed on IR This guy is such a knucklehead. Good, but a knucklehead. Misses the Packers game with an injury. Says he didn't watch it. Complains about not getting the ball enough. Is limited in the game ten days later. Is placed on IR. Does he think maybe his lack of targets is a result of his inability to get open due to his injury? Maybe the defenses are blanketing him because he is the best receiver available for most of the season? Nope. Not the Purple Unicorn or whatever dumb nickname he gave himself. He's just not getting enough targets. So, by all means, complain and put it into the QBs head that you want more targets. That way he can try to force balls to you instead of throwing to the open guy. Great teammate. Brandon Marshall-lite.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 5, 2015 -> 06:45 AM) That is why I feed them to our frogs I think crickets are the only animal that doesn't flee when in danger. They just jump around randomly.

Crickets are really dumb.

I've always maintained that a man needs two things to be truly happy in life. He must be in love with his work, and he must be in love with his wife.

It would have been nice to see the goal line view of the Eddie Lacy TD a time or two. Every time they showed the play, it was from a slight angle near the end zone. Replays were bad all night. I wonder if the NFL wants cooperation from TV to no show controversial plays over and over because of the amount officiating has been criticized this year.