Balta1701

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 09:44 AM) And yet so many people held it against them, and seemingly still do in some cases. That is the saddest part of all. Most had no choice but to go. And here people are 40 years later still trying to blame them for something. And here people are 40 years later telling the liberals how they stabbed them in the back.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 09:46 AM) Or most likely prospect do, what prospects usually do, and they go right back to trading off guys and floundering in the bottom of their division. And in that case, they wouldn't have competed this year anyway, and they'd probably wind up having to cut back further on salary to make up for it.

If nothing else, we've seen Alex change his approach several times, with limited/no success each time. Things have changed with him, the changes just didn't produce success.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 09:34 AM) I wonder if something just clicked for Rios or did he decide to start trying again...or were the last two games just a fluke? He looks totally different at the plate, although we haven't seen opposite field work much. His legs are back involved in his swing.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 09:43 AM) How many chances do you think a team that has been in perpetual sell mode gets? If they put together a decent core, 3-4 consecutive years (See: Tampa). If they don't put together a decent core, then they can make a run for it and set themselves back another 5 years.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 10:31 PM) The White Sox are 8 games under AT HOME and 5 games over .500 on the road, strange. Didn't we do something very similar last year also?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 08:59 AM) Pittsburgh screwed up taking the half-assed way out at the trading deadline. They had better hope that these kids do gel, or they are going to be looking back at 2011 the way we look back at 1994. You really think that there was anything the Pirates could have done that would have made them competitive with the Phillies/Giants/Braves, or hell, even the Brewers now that they're pushing away?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 08:40 AM) I don't get what "proof" you are going to have of something like this actually happening, other than eyewitness testimony, which is completely disqualified in this case. I also wouldn't expect the newspapers to be covering the homecomings like they do today. With the absolute hatred their was towards the war, and the demonization that took place of the military, why would they? Who is going to be turning out welcome back the "baby killers"? Returning from Vietnam was a traumatic experience for the boys coming back. They were scorned and shunned. Being in Vietnam and fighting an illegal war should probably have been considered a pretty traumatic experience for most of them as well.

QUOTE (The Sir @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 11:46 PM) Agreed. Everyone realizes how bad those actions look in hindsight, and now anyone who could possibly accused of being involved wants to erase those actions from history. But it's about as effective as the USSR erasing people from photographs after said people fell out out of favor. Just own up to it already. I'm not going to own up to something that is factually very unlikely to have happened more than a handful of times. If you're not willing to actually consider evidence then why are you even here?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 08:34 AM) So the markets are sitting down a little under 2%, or pretty much where they opened up Sunday. The ironic part? The dollar is up 1/2%, so the energies are all down big. Looking at where we are at, we should be seeing the national gas average push back to at least $3.50, but maybe even $3.25 very soon.

QUOTE (jenksfart @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 12:03 AM) 1. Success should not be something to frown upon. 2. Who am I to tell someone how to enjoy their success? If they want gold ice cream, I don't see the harm. If the poor want gold Ice cream too, then become successful at something. I agree. Who are you to tell the Iranians how to enjoy their success?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 09:13 AM) This is a franchise that hasn't had a winning season since Barry Bonds was skinny. If they missed their window, they might as well move the team. If this was their window, then they're totally screwed anyway.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 10:04 PM) The Pirates screwed up by not taking the opportunity that they had to run after this division. IMO, you simply could not possibly be more wrong.

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:49 PM) Great, like we need another one of Ozzie's spoiled kids bad mouthing the organization. Maybe Ozney should shut his mouth until the silver spoon is out of his mouth and esophagus. Look, KW Jr. and now Tyler are terrible at baseball but at least they don't open their mouths. So...we need to give Ozney and Oney AA and AAA level at bats and signing bonuses to keep them quiet?

MG

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 09:37 PM) Thank you. That's exactly why batting average means something. I'd take a team of .290 hitters because there will be plenty of guys on base and guys knocking them in even if it was a whole team of Juan Pierres and Brent Morels. Well, let me edit this slightly...I'd take a team of .290 hitters if they were all 24-25 year old rookies/2nd year players, because 2 years down the road, a lot of those guys would be putting up big numbers.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 09:10 PM) On another note, play Tyler Flowers more Ozzie! THis is the first game AJ Pierzynski has not played in since the AS break.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:51 PM) If he is hitting an empty .290, what's the point of even using that statistic in an argument? I mean he could be hitting .310 with the same secondary statistics, and he would still be an awful player. Batting average is a pretty poor indicator of really anything anymore in baseball. Because that tells you a lot about how he's developing. The dude makes a ton of contact, doesn't strike out much, and has good enough bat control that you don't have to worry about him flailing uncontrollably at things. The issues he's missing...patience and power...those are things that he can develop. His strong point is the thing you want to be strong for a rookie with his pedigree.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:47 PM) What union is this that youre talking about? The Endorsement Union or the NBA Players Union? Clearly the players Union. The players union isn't harmed by actions outside of the Players union. In fact, it is strengthened by it.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:40 PM) But in the end, I'm willing to bet this was just a ploy by the union in hopes that the owners get worried. And from the way Stern is talking, he and the owners are seeing through it. Of course the Owners are going to push them. It worked last time, it's up to the PLayers to prove something is different this time.

QUOTE (jenksfart @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:37 PM) with gold. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle...UmwI_story.html Yeah, what kind of horrible society would allow that kind of inequality, where services get cut for the poor while the rich eat gold-encrusted ice cream?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:39 PM) Is Morel going to be the same as Josh Fields? A lot of hype and struggles I'd say Morel has had considerably less hype than Fields. If nothing else, 3rd round pick versus first round pick. Morel's also hitting .290 since early May. Yes, it's an empty .290, so don't waste my time pointing that out, but his numbers are dragged down by his bad start.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:33 PM) So a group that consists of a 10-15 players going to Europe because their skill set allows them that opportunity is best for the union? So a group of 10-15 players signing big shoe contracts because their skill set allows them that opportunity is best for the union?

QUOTE (jenksfart @ Aug 7, 2011 -> 06:28 PM) what ever you do.... don't buy the dip. But how will I add flavor to my chips?

AA also signed Bautista to a 5 year/$64 million deal that really does have to be viewed as a gamble. If nothing else, since the AS break he's put up a .725 OPS. If you'd asked me which contract was the bigger gamble coming into the year, that or Adam Dunn, everyone anywhere would have said Bautista.