Balta1701

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jan 21, 2008 -> 01:32 PM) I don't think he is an idiot, but he did run an idiotic campaign. One thing to keep in mind is that 9iu11ani's "Focus on Florida" strategy was never actually his strategy until he was left with nothing else. He put a lot of time and money into New Hampshire. But the reality was, every time he spoke in New Hampshire, his numbers went down. Being that he had been mayor in a state in the NE, focusing on New Hampshire made sense for his campaign. The problem is...he's a horrific candidate and might well be the only man alive who could be worse than GW. His idiotic "Focus on Florida" strategy came about because that was about the only other place where he had moderately good numbers once the folks in New Hampshire got fed up with him.

So, ESPN finally has something up, and they seem to be saying that there's smoke but no fire yet. I'm starting to think it isn't official yet.

As far as I can tell, this is only currently being reported by Rosenthal. It's not up at Whitesox.com, Chicagosports.com, or the Sun Times. Has anyone heard a confirmation on the radio?

In terms of the renting/buying debate, IMO, right now is absolutely the time to rent, at least for the next 6 months. The housing market is going down dramatically and right now shows no signs of hitting the floor. The fact I see is this...If you were to buy a place for about 200k or so right now, there's a decent chance that if you tried to sell it 1 year from now, it'd be worth $180k or less. Conversely, if you rented for 1 year, there's a chance you could pay $5000 or less in rent, and if the housing market keeps contracting, you could find a place a year or two from now that you'd be paying 10-20% less than you would for it than if you bought now. Combine that with the fact that you're not sitting on a gigantic downpayment right now, and you're pretty much set up perfectly to take a year or two, rent, and then be ready to buy once the dramatically bad news stops pouring out of the housing market on a daily basis. It's not the same in every market, but if the Chicago suburbs are following the general trend in the nation, there's a good chance that housing prices have 10 or 20% more to fall before they finally reach an equilibrium, bottom point. Maybe even more if things turn really bad, which there's a finite chance they could.

Well, I've never been a big fan of Dotel, especially as a closer, but at least he doesn't have to close, and he's put up solid numbers in some of the better hitters parks in the league. So on this one, in Kenny and Cooper I will trust. So, that leaves us with the unenviable task of trading Joe Crede, Juan Uribe, David Aardsma, and Nick Masset to whoever will take any of them.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 21, 2008 -> 10:25 AM) I was turned off by Rudy from the moment he filed. Never have liked him. Must be candidates from New York. Don't think I have anything against candidates from that state, in fact, if the nominee for the Dems winds up being one, I'll be hoping that a 3rd person from NY gets in so I have someone to vote for other than Stephen. I think the thing that turns me off about 9iu11ani is the fact that he's certifiably, batsh*t, 9/11, in-9/11-sane.

Heheheheheheheheheheehehheheheheheheheehehehehehehehehe. Link

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Jan 21, 2008 -> 10:04 AM) Well, it's definitely NOT obviouos that Colon would be a downgrade from Danks and Floyd. I believe that it's very likely that he would be an uograde. But, the point of the post is not to debate this. I only phrased it this way because these are the 2 guys that KW appears to be trying to acquire now in hopes of adding pitching. So, just for the sake of conversation, assuming these 2 guys are added would that make the Sox realistic contenders for the division title ? I think we're contenders if the guys we currently have step up. I think signing Colon makes us take a step backwards, because I really don't think he's going to give anyone anything of value this season other than L's, and the games you lose seeing if he's healthy are games you don't get back.

QUOTE(klaus kinski @ Jan 21, 2008 -> 10:01 AM) No Colon, please. Do we still have Andrew Sisco? Wouldnt he be a slightly better option than a puss arm like Colon, if we have him? Sisco is likely to start the season down at AAA, still working as a starter, and is under the Sox's control for 1 more year. Down at AAA, that gives us Egbert, Broadway, Haeger, and Sisco right now to my eyes as potential replacements if one of those guys flames out or gets hurt.

IMO, signing Colon only makes this team worse. This team can hang with the others right now if Contreras, Danks, and Floyd are decent. I think that if the Mets and Royals have decided they have no interest in Colon, it's pretty bloody obvious that he's only going to downgrade even from the young guys we have.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jan 20, 2008 -> 08:17 PM) I was at the game last night. At least there is still hope for Thabo, I just wonder why he hasn't gotten more minutes much sooner. I don't understand this teams trance over Detroit in the regular season either, but it was nice to watch an enjoyable Bulls game again, and in person no less. Because it's impossible for a team to win and play its young guys at the same time. Totally impossible. If you want to win, you have to play your vets. Playing young guys is a recipe for disaster. (Casually pulls a gun, begins gunning down fans of Portland).

Quentin hit 9 home runs in his first stint in the big leagues in about 160 ABs. If he's healthy, he's not only hitting "13". Fields hit 23 in 373 ABs. 28 I could buy, but that pretty much assumes he doesn't improve at all next year and hits some major sophomore struggles.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 20, 2008 -> 02:18 PM) You cannot play him and Hinrich in the same backcourt together however. They'll get abused by bigger guards and wear down over a season (just look at Hinrich this season, the effect of season's past). It's kind of like Ellis and Davis in Golden State. It's also why I think Gordon probably bolts at the end of the season. I think that Pax almost will have to let him go unless this season turns dramatically around. Either that or no one offers him jack squat and he takes the 1 year tender to try to put up some non-terrible numbers. Deep down, I'm kind of hoping we'll be able to package him with our pick and maybe pick up a player or move up in the draft.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Jan 20, 2008 -> 04:29 PM) Royals just signed Tomko so you can probably cross them off the list of suitors. So...in addition...you can also figure that the K.C. Royals took a look at Bartolo, evaluated his health and asking price, and decided that giving $3 million to Brett Tomko would be a better decision. That's the last place team, the team that spent $55 million on Gil Meche...turning their back on Bartolo Colon, and deciding that Tomko would work better. Please just stop asking for this guy people. The ROYALS don't want him. Please keep that in mind.

Only 12 more months...

QUOTE(hogan873 @ Jan 20, 2008 -> 11:11 AM) Okay, I'll insult myself right now. I guess we're looking at if the season started now, and Ramirez hasn't officially joined the team. Answered my own question there. Beyond that, after the Swisher deal, the only place Ramirez could play as a starter is at 2nd base...and not only did Danny show a lot of promise there last year, not only did we give up a solid bit of talent to get him, but we also have Uribe there needing playing time for now too. Unless someone gets hurt, I think Ramirez has a good chance at starting SS for us in April of 09.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 19, 2008 -> 06:54 PM) nice try balta cfaace. See, you responded. You said you wouldn't. Balta wins.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Jan 19, 2008 -> 06:53 PM) Thompson is entirely the reason that McCain won in SC. Thompson sucking out about 20% in a lot of districts that Huckabee is what saved McCain narrowly in SC. Had Thompson dropped out after Michigan, McCain would be drifting to obscurity once again in the Presidential fight. A 2nd place finish would still be interpreted as a win for McCain. Because everything is.

After today, John McCain has 32 delegates. Mitt Romney has 72 delegates. Romney's lead is actually going to grow today. Clearly, today is going to be interpreted as a huge win for McCain. Just watch.

*hollers*

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 19, 2008 -> 06:24 PM) Honestly, I would like Richar to break out and hit like he can hit, then I would have this: 1. Richar 2B 2. OCAB SS\ 3. Thome 4. Kong 5 Dye 6 Swish 7 Crede 8 AJP 9 Quentin I dislike that for the simple reason that even in the best situation, Richar and OC are never going to give you the OBP of a guy like Swisher or (hopefully soon) Quentin. And if we're playing moneyball in terms of the bloop, walk, blast...You want Swisher's OBP in front of Thome, Konerko and Dye. Swisher has to hit either 1 or 2 in my book or there's no reason to have gotten him. You put Swisher in the 2 hole, with Thome in the 3 hole, if we get even decent seasons from Konerko and Dye and limited injuries, then you're looking at a run producing, pitcher destroying machine in the early part of our lineup. 1. OC/Richar 2. Swisher 3. Big Jim 4. PK 5. Dye 6. Fields 7. AJ 8. Quentin 9. Richar most games. Honestly, I'd love for Quentin to play well enough that we could move him up to 6th to take advantage of the fact that he can get a lot of hits and take a walk as well...thus maximizing the run-producing ability of the 30+ home runs I'm hoping Josh gives us.

AP calls it for McCain.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Jan 19, 2008 -> 06:11 PM) Yeah, but I could vote for McCain without needing to vomit while doing so. Not so with Clinton, Romney, Bush or Kerry. Since, IMO, the Democrats are going to strengthen their power in Congress, I'd like to see a moderate Republican in the White House. I'd be the opposite...I'd be unable to vote for McCain or Clinton without vomit. McCain flip flops just as much as Romney, he's just as inconsistent, panders just as much, is dramatically more insane on military issues...but because the press fawns all over him, no one pays attention to how he goes from bashing the right wing to courting them like crazy, from supporting an immigration bill to opposing it, how he violates campaign finance clauses that he personally advocated with his campaign, and on and on and on. At least Romney has some bit of a sane record from MA. McCain mixes in enough sane rhetoric to get the media to fawn over him, says the exact opposite when it's politically convenient, but never, ever, ever gets called on it. And he thinks its a good idea for us to be in Iraq for-freaking-ever.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Jan 19, 2008 -> 06:05 PM) It's going to be very, very hard to ever top Kerry vs. Bush in my mind. Clinton vs. Romney would give it a run for its money, though. Clinton v. McCain would be absolutely horrendous...between the media's dislike for Clinton and the media's unbelievable fawning over everything McCain does. At least with Clinton and Romney the media hates both of them, so there'd be a bit of balance that way.

The only way Owens starts over Quentin is if Quentin is hurt.