Balta1701

QUOTE (saabturbografx @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 07:45 PM) That is exactly the scenario I remember from the 2005 season. Wasn't that team winning in every game at a high percentage that season? The problem was he pulled a hamstring in late July, missed like 3 weeks, and when he came back suddenly he was a much easier out on the basepaths because the injury cost him some speed.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 03:43 PM) Freedom Industries, the company behind the W.Va chemical spill, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today. http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201401170030 The company lacks umbrella insurance and does not appear to have adequate coverage to pay the many claims that will be heading its way. http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201401160158?page=1 And so the businesses who lost money because of their failure will wind up being the ones who are screwed. Because freedom.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 04:12 PM) So we are just saving humanity! In 1800 you might well have been correct.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 03:42 PM) That's a silly place to keep thunder, he should just keep it in the sky.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 03:40 PM) Time heals all wounds. Note that no one is saying they want him as a closer, because then we would get upset. This same ideology is also directed at a certain Venezuelan born mustachioed manager who were number 13. Also a big difference between $25k and $10 million a year.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) So...we've made things slower/more stable than they otherwise would have been? Not sure I'm understanding. Yes. From neolithic times until 1800, the climate was exceptionally stable compared to what appears in the geologic record of the last million years. As a species we're used to a stable climate but that's not the norm geologically - the geologic record is one of much more dramatic climate shifts than we're used to.

QUOTE (Whitey @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 02:17 PM) Even if Tanaka were an average pitcher, I think it would be a wise business move to make. There is the international appeal, the mainstream attention, and the competition for top team in Chicago. It would be a huge attention grabber, ticket sales would increase, and their TV bucks go up... Not to mention, he could be an elite arm that is worth every dollar he gets. Seems like a solid business move to me. The problem for the Cubs is that "Ticket Sales" only get them so far. That ballpark stays 90% full anyway right, and they don't have luxury boxes that are going unsold. If you sell a handful more tickets, that doesn't generate $20 million in revenue per year. TV bucks yes, that's a solid point and that one they probably will take into account. But if you compare straight up to the White Sox...if the White Sox made a world series run next year they could legitimatley think about having their ticket sales go up by 50% or more. The Cubs could see a 5% increase.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 01:20 PM) Other than light reading here and there, I still won't pretend to know much about the actual science behind global warming/climate change, but would it be fair to say that seeing as that we're coming off an ice age (~11k years ago), this warming period is expected, however, perhaps we've accelerated it during the industrial age? To put it another way, it's like winter changing to summer -- it's going to get warmer -- but we've made this change happen faster than it normally would have? No. In fact it's the exact opposite. Over the last 800,000 years, there have been cycles of 100,000 years of ice cover followed by about 20,000 years of melting before the ice sheets refreeze. This cycle has clocked perfectly with "solar insolation over canada" - the amount of sun hitting Canada. When that peaks, it changes the stability of that ice sheet, ocean currents change in response, CO2 spikes, and the ice sheets collapse. It has happened >5 times on this cycle. The peak of solar insolation over Canada was 8,000 years ago. It is actually declining right now and has been for a long, long time. If the globe were repeating what it had done in the last 5 cycles there would be the beginnings of advancing ice sheets in Canada and in mountainous regions in Europe right now. They wouldn't be at their peak, but at this time in previous cycles there is clear evidence for the beginnings of ice sheet formation (changing compositions of ocean water, requiring removal of enough ice to change the composition of the ocean). There is good research to suggest that the reason why we're not in that cycle is humanity. Starting when the ice sheets collapsed, humanity became a feedback in the climate system. When humans expanded too far, cut down too many trees or put too much CO2 into the atmosphere, the end result wound up being climate shifts and droughts that killed off a lot of people or forced them to leave areas. The climate of the last 8000 years has actually been remarkably stable compared to what we see in the geologic record and it's very unique compared to the processes controlling the climate over the last million years.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 01:00 AM) I mean if the dude is willing to take a minor league contract and can legitimately show that he deserves to be back in the bigs, why not with us? If he sucks, let him retire. Sometimes people need closure and sometimes stories like this have happy endings. It's no risk and could be a decent reward. It could depend a lot on personal issues too. If he has the same issues that people have suggested the team helped cover up for him in his later years with the Sox, you could put him on the minor league team and actually have that hurt the development of those minor leaguers. So it's not "no risk", it'd be the same reason the Angels let him go in that case. I'd be happy to give him a shot but from the GM's chair I'd want to sit down and talk to the man about how stuff went down the last time first.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 01:16 PM) Let's go back and remember all these "AJ's OPS is so easy to replace" arguments where posters put forth the idea that Flowers would be a better player than AJ and blah blah blah it would all happen so quick. I really want to point that one out because that was really dumb and lasted for a while. Not as bad as the Dan Hudson love fest though. I was definitely in that group.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 01:28 PM) Looks like the Sox have 14 players signed at 73.425. So probably low 80's by opening day. Unless... The B-R counter would put them at $86 not counting Abreu's signing bonus.

I thought the 2013 white sox would be competitive and continue their strong fundamental play we saw in 2012. However, I was saying in 2004 that there was a monstrous credit bubble building that would seriously damage the economy before 2008, so that's still the flower in my cap. And I also drunkenly ranted in March of 2005 how I really loved the setup of that White Sox team.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) I always liked Ethier, but in 3-4 yrs he will be an albatross, getting in the way of developing some unknown young OF. Still, trading Dunn for Ethier straight up solves the money problem mentioned above. Dodgers probably have a couple of young outfielders who will be ready for roster spots in 2015, too, so they might be motivated. Geez, if Sox were a legitimate contender in 2014 (and they might be if Abreu really hits), it would improve the DH spot as well as OF depth. And also if we take 1/2 of Ethier's contract off the Dodgers' hands, it clears things up for them to sign Tanaka and pretty much removes the White Sox as a legit contender, which is great since we're Dodgers fans.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 02:34 PM) Marcus has definitely shown some nice pop. His bat and OBP skills, if he maximizes his potential, fits great as a 2 hitter, at either 2nd or 3rd base, maybe SS if he's up to it defensively. Sanchez really needs to stick at SS as an average-plus defender, and show consistent OBP/BA skills. Again, the statement that Sanchez's bat would be too weak to stick anywhere other than SS just doesn't match up with the modern league. Last year the average OPS at 2b was .707 and it was .681 at short. He might not take 2b away from a guy like Marcus, but if he has good enough bat control to hit .300 and takes an occasional walk he'd easily put up an above average OPS out of 2b even with very little power. That's the league we're in these days.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 12:57 PM) I learn something every day here. So, since he was a Rule 5 guy, he has to be on the 25-man roster? Unless they acquire him some other way. Well, only time will tell, but if he's as productive as Flowers or Phegley, the Sox are propbably better off with him and Phegley (or Flowers) because he's young and can hit from the left. Regardless, it looks like there will not be a big upgrade at the catcher spot. Could just be an investment for the future. Yes, if the White Sox want to take him off the roster, they lose him and send a $25k check to Washington as penance.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:51 PM) No, I saw some speculation that it could but I don't think I posted anything here. It's hard to link any specific weather phenomenon to global warming. There is research suggesting that it could be easier to knock big waves into the jet stream as the arctic warms and the contrast between the arctic and the mid latitudes declines, however I'm not 100% convinced and it is controversial. If you look at it a different way, this cold snap wasn't bad at all. It broke almost no all time records anywhere, and cold snaps on that scale typically happened once a decade or more. That one was very weak compared to actual historic ones and it's been like 2 decades since the last one. From that perspective these snaps have gotten less common and all that's happened is that people aren't used to them any more. That of course doesn't mean that things couldn't change again in 5 years and suddenly North America gets those all the time, but I'm leaning the other way at present.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) Is one good skill worth being in the top 100? This is the question you need to ask. That is what they look for when making the list. If every one of his other skills is average or better and he has the ability to play premium positions, then possibly.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) The Decision is history. But you know what? We just talked yesterday about how the existence of these super-teams is destroying the NBA because it's no longer entertaining to watch unless 1 of the 2-3 super teams is playing each other, and even then in the playoffs we know what's going to happen. Regardless of how he "announced it", that backroom deal has made the league into a terrible, unwatchable show.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) I think the Yankees are in for some dark times ahead. Too much money tied up in players that are not worth what they are paid. They still owe A-Rod ~$94M through 2017, even with him being suspended for this season. Add in Tex, McCann, Ellsbury, and Sabathia they are going to struggle to field competitive teams if they are going to continue and try and stay below the luxury tax. I don't think they have any intention of trying to "continue to stay below the luxury tax". They're getting out of it this year to avoid the multi-year penalty and they'll be right back over it next year.

Not quite sure who that last one is.

If you read that last post, it's kind of remarkable watching a person give a team credit for the feel good part of the under the radar story and then deny the bad part of it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:39 AM) I have always wondered why having someone around you hope you never have to use and if he's used he will most likely be terrible is considered "depth". My definition of depth would only include useful players. Being able to have your AAA team include guys who have been in AAA before, have had a stint in the show, maybe even have friends in the show, have heard suggestions from the major league pitching coach, and can help your AAA team actually win games and have a shot to go to the playoffs...all those are good things.

Even if I want to quite badly?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:18 AM) Really because I'd give him next to no chance. And that's from someone who despises Flowers. You think they're going to send him back?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:55 AM) Is there going to be room at Charlotte? By my count you are probably going to have Stewart and Axe, plus the loser between Surkamp and Rienzo. Once Paulino is healthy, that pushes the other one down in all probability. You also still have Charlie Leesman and Simon Castro in the mix. That also doesn't leave any room for someone like Snodgress (26 starts in 13 at AA)who should also be ahead of Bassitt (8 starts at AA in 13). If Castro is there I'm guessing he's in the bullpen. Possibly Leesman as well if they think he could contribute as a reliever.