Princess Dye

'09 is against us.

Awful throw to 1st but still Dotel moving like he's on the banquet diet

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Sep 15, 2009 -> 11:16 PM) Out of what? Well just point being that once the media gave up on em, they played better. I'm aware that the math is looking tons better if we have a win here.

I know way too many posters try to get inside players' heads.... but jesus they look so much more relaxed now that they're (semi)out of it. How much of this thing was mental?

AJP!!!!!!!!!! What a year. Lets hold onto this one, I want to be there in person for a halfway meaningful first ever Peavy start.

Could CJ Retherford be our utility guy next year? I have a wish to have Flowers DHing some nights and thus we'd need an emergency catcher in our utility guy

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Sep 15, 2009 -> 10:59 PM) I find it hard to believe there's enough money to spend on Beltre and a power hitting OF. Perhaps. I hate to say it, but I have a feeling we're going to see a moderately priced power hitter acquired. Pods Ks on a nasty nasty pitch.

Like the start of this inning.

Shawn Kelley, chubby ERA but slimmer WHIP

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Sep 15, 2009 -> 10:52 PM) If he will sign for $2/12 or cheaper then I WANT him here. The best way to complement a strong starting staff is with a strong defense and bullpen, so that's where we should look to get better. Beckham can move to 2B and stay there for the next 10 years. With Beltre's off year this year, i bet he'll take a one year, or perhaps something cheap with a player option in case he busts out again. of course for that they might have to unban PEDs...

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Sep 15, 2009 -> 10:51 PM) As of now we're way too right handed going into next year. Beltre doesn't seem to fit our needs. I'm envisioning lefthanded RF and DH. With regard to the infield, I want stellar defense foremost--and I think we maximize that (and Beckham's worth) with Beltre3B, Beckham2B

Curious, what will Beltre command in FA? I'm not 100% positive yet I need to have Gordon at 3b (or should I say Getz at 2b)

Kotsay's last two months Aug: .333./.389/.467 Sept so far: .346/.414/.692 Jermaine looking horrible.

Wow, no throw into second. Couldve pegged him if theyd tried w/ a perfect throw

Great bunt by Pods. How can this hitting talent exist side-by-side with such an ugly-son defense.

I have no problem with Hudson learning some of the AL batters in a relief role. The pen needs some live RH arms

If the Sox want to raise payroll, then overpaying for Rios is fine. If not for our talented pre-arb guys, I wouldnt say that. But we really are in a position to take a chance and still be able to spend. If payroll has to be lowered in 2010, however, then this move was a serious mismanagement of resources. You cant really get too upset about this before you know what else they're going to do. We have the next two offseasons to upgrade not-so-hard-to-fill positions: DH, RF and 1B...and a lot of money will be coming off the books. Granted other guys need raises, but there will be enough money available to make up for the Rios signing with above-average hitters being around him. I personally think we could look back on it and see we got a great defensive player in CF and an OK bat. When you win, overpays get forgotten. Rios may be the kind of hitter, when he gets straightened out, that doesnt get on-base a ton, but will hit enough doubles to be a positive force for the lower part of the lineup.

I dont know if most here agree... but to me.. baseball can really drag along if you dont have a rooting interest. Football draws in casual viewers like crazy, b/c it's a fast-paced game with a defined time limit. Plus fantasy and gambling considerations.

Also I'll add two more things: 1) I'm aware these rankings probably dont control for all kinds of other factors I'm not taking into consideration (changes in how Americans spend their entertainment dollar) 2) TV ratings arent the end all be all--no this isnt a major topic. But Cubs fans gripped onto this fact in Nov 2005 as their one source of happiness. And also your team's popularity correlates to what yr owner wants to spend on the roster. Usually.

Even though we right away kept hearing that the '05 series ratings were record lows.... looking back, we're the highest ranked Series in the post-steroid era. (EDIT: Post-steroid-naivete, i should say) Right about 2005, people nationwide were just extremely sick of this sport. In a way, I have to admit I kind of like it. I'd rather have the diehards than all those casual fans creeping in when its fashionable. Kind of related to how basketball fandom has changed post-Jordan era. A great telecast like NBA on TNT is possible because basketball now is more of a niche sport. It doesnt have to have mass appeal to dumbasses. I love arguing with knowledgeable Cubs fans. When I'm confronted with a vitriolic Cub fan who doesnt know baseball, it's borrowing Betamax tapes. Pointless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings

QUOTE (G&T @ Sep 10, 2009 -> 06:04 AM) Uh...this thread seems to forget that the Sox are in fact in third place. The Twins have to suck ass too. Twins pitching will find a way. That isnt to say we cant find a way either, but hey, I'm fine with all three teams being in it at the end. Way better than what we have now. And actually that's our best case scenario, since for this to work, we need to root for Minn over Det in their head-to-heads

Everytime I try to get out, they keep pulling me back in. LAA is throwing two lefties against our very righthanded team. Meanwhile, Detroit will shortly face Halladay and Romero. Why cant I just give up on this thing.

AJ great year, Paulie pretty good year. Pods shocking year. But Quentin, Dye aeh

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Sep 9, 2009 -> 04:47 PM) I just watched that video and that was the final straw for me. AJ shouting "Go White Sox!" and flicking off the Cub fans with his World Series ring was one of the greatest moments in Chicago sports history. So f*** off Tyler Flowers, I hope Kenny trades you! I don't EVER want to see AJ leave this town! He's my favorite position player on this team and I really don't give a rats ass if anyone thinks we need to turn it over to Flowers. If Kenny trades AJ I will forever hate him. Kenny Hates Prospects Hates Prospects.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2009 -> 11:29 AM) Frankly, they ought to be. The only positions we're really in need are the 3rd righty out of the bullpen and a corner OF/DH. The only corner OF out there worth a ton of money is Holliday, but personally, I have no interest in being the team bringing him back to the AL to watch him repeat his performance from Oakland this year. The only way some major FA signing would make sense is if there's a big trade of one of our current starters to clear a position for someone. You're not benching Beckham, Rios, Getz, Quentin, Alexei, AJ/Flowers, or Konerko next year. This is factoring Dye and Pods both being brought back? Something tells me KW will find a way to do something to get more left-handed. That to me is a need, albeit not positional. Perhaps he turns Dye into Abreu. Here's hopin' at least