Balta1701

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 11:31 AM) I would dump half our payroll to sign him. he is that good. I understand where all of you are coming from, and I understand why someone will probably give him 8/200 or more, but still, I think you always have to be conscious of the injury issue, even with pitchers who have been healthy for several years.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 10:50 AM) Ironic that Britney's bodyguard's surname is Camera.... Glad I'm not the only one who caught that.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 10:31 AM) Today, insurgents drove a tanker truck loaded with explosives into a crowded gas station. At least 60 people are dead. And, in what is perhaps a more important development (yes, more important than the deaths of 60 people), the Sunni block has once again suspended its participation in the Iraqi parliament, which will throw yet another wrench into even the first little beginnings of political reconciliation in that country, since that's one of the 3 big groups we keep talking about. And it may also be enough to once again prevent the parliament from ever reaching a quorum.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 10:24 AM) 8 years, $200M. How does that sound? Like less than he'll actually get.

I think even I'm going to have to throw my hat into the disappointment group on this one here, because even though I've been one of the guys arguing that KW has done better than we think, and that we should still hold out hope on guys like AArdsma, Floyd, and even Anderson, but even I have to admit, I'm dumbfounded by the seeming lack of direction of this team. Here's how I see it: coming into 06, we're looking to stay competitive for several years. We add Thome to fix the biggest hole on the 05 team, and we bring up our top prospect to try to start adding some youth to the team, the usual Braves formula. The pitching staff unexpectedly implodes top to bottom. Ok, we take some more "Win now" type steps to fix that midseason, like adding MMac and Thornton. Turns out to not be enough, but we still win 90. Coming into 07, we still have the look of a team trying to "Win now", but then KW does some odd deals. KW spins off Garcia for 2 pitchers who aren't likely to help the Sox that year. KW then spins off McCarthy for 2 more pitchers, only 1 of whom might help the Sox that year (Masset). Danks winds up in the rotation sort of by default, and is basically told to work it out as a rook. Ok, that's tolerable, sometimes you strike gold by just plugging in a kid like that. At least we're still trying to add youth but still win. But then we bring in Erstad, and bring back Podsednik, and then take no other moves to upgrade. Erstad isn't exactly a spring chicken there, so all he does is maybe block someone like Anderson, Sweeney, or Owens. So we're subtracting big league guys, but adding youth that might not be ready and adding guys past their prime? Ok, this is starting to seem like an odd formula. Then, the 07 team falls apart. And so what do we do? We have IMO 3 things we can do; try to completely rebuild by selling off what we can for low level minor leaguers and draft picks, try to retool for next year and hope for some luck from the guys we have, or try to set ourselves up for a push in FA this offseason. For the first one of those, deals like Mack and Iguchi make sense; you create a roster spot, you clear a little salary, you give Richar a chance for a few months, and you pick up a minor leaguer who might someday do something. Holding onto Dye also makes sense, because if nothing else you get a few picks. But if you're totally rebuilding, why in the world do you hold onto Guys like Garland, Vazquez, Thome, Erstad, Podsednik, AJ, Jenks, etc. I can see holding a couple of those guys, but if you want to do the full rebuilding route, and do deals like the Mack & Gooch deals for low level minor leaguers, or let people like JD walk for draft picks, then why do you hold onto so many big name, high priced guys who only have a couple years on their contract? If we're trying to just retool for next year, clearing a spot for Richar makes sense, but then why move guys like Iguchi and Mack for such low level minor leaguers? Even if you just get a AAAA reliever, it might help you more next year. And if we're trying to set ourselves up for a FA run, why are we holding onto $45 million + in starting pitching alone? We needed to clear some salary if we're looking to do a one offseason rebuild. I just can't see how this team has any direction at all right now, and that concerns me.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 10:04 AM) I didn't. But I did say he was there. Even if implicitly, he was there, and a part of the larger Al Queda structure. I know that's subtle... but the larger point remains the same. Which is exactly the dodge the Bush administration used. You prevent Saddam's forces from going into an area of his country, allow a group tentatively linked to Al Qaeda to set up there, and then say "See, there's an Al Qaeda linked group in Iraq". Never mind the fact that Saddam has nothing to do with that group. Seriously, how in the world that could have been used as a justification for a war would absolutely bewilder me, if not for how I already felt about this country's news media.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 10:02 AM) Your last paragraph, I agree, largely, but how do you get these people to want to invest in their future? That's part of the BushCo problem as well. So, I think we're coming to an agreement on that part, but it's going to force me to ask this question; if the thing that each leader in Iraq cares about is himself, his sect, and his future power, and they have therefore very little reason for reconciliation, and at the same time even Petraeus is saying that the most important thing is political reconciliation...aren't we pretty much just screwed? If they aren't going to do the single most important thing, what else is left?

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 09:40 AM) If you put him in the bullpen, he becomes MORE of an injury risk. Because he takes so long to warm up and the bullpen can't handle someone like that. Bullpen duty would make him worse, if you ask me (which you didn't). Put him on the DL for exhaustion or something like that. And let him work out his issues on the side. Well, hasn't the team said before that they'd actually like him to shorten up his routine? I could have swore I read that somewhere. Just because he's adapted to one thing throughout his career doesn't mean he won't be able to adapt at all to changing a few things.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 09:45 AM) He is pissed...and I don't think Minny was going to sign him anyway. Although I would be surprised if they didn't hold on to him just for the picks in 2009. And Jimbo...did you just see that the Pirates picked up Matt Morris? MATT MORRIS!!! I don't know, but Rajai Davis is supposed to be a decent prospect, BUT the Pirates took ALL of Morris' salary. Now THAT is a bad deal. I mean, why? I think Littlefied has Kenny trumped BY A LOT!!! I think the Twins would be absolutely insane to hold onto Santana for only the picks. He could net an absolute king's ransom in a trade this offseason. I mean the kind of ransom that sets a team up to compete for 5 years. He could empty Boston or NY's minor leagues. You can't just let a guy like that walk for draft picks. He's just worth too much.

But here's the issue...you can't bomb away an insurgency! No country has ever been able to successfully do that. Because every bomb you drop, every home you destroy, every person you kill winds up creating more insurgents than you kill. That's why the army has had to avoid casualties...not because of those nasty, mean Democrats. The Bush administration stopped the first assault on Fallujah back in 04 not because of those mean Frenchmen or those mean Democrats and their nasty words; they stopped it because it was creating so much more hostility towards the U.S. throughout Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Couple other points; first, it is simply foolish to do things because it's the opposite of what an opponent says they want you to do. Heck, I can produce as many quotes from Al Qaeda leadership saying they want to bleed the U.S. dry in Iraq as you can produce statements showing that a U.S. pullout from Iraq would be claimed as a victory. And next...ok, fine...so what evidence do we actually have that Iraq itself is going to do its part? In 4.5 years, their government hasn't done jack. Their leaders are vastly more interested in keeping their own positions strong than in maintaining that country. Their government has made virtually zero progress on any of the benchmarks set for it by us at the start of this year, and is now on a monthlong vacation. As far as I can tell, that country and its leaders pretty much just preparing for the bigger civil war to follow, and aside from the people currently running the show, virtually none of them have anything riding on the success of that government.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 06:02 AM) First, Stevens is a dirty assbag (not a clean one mind you). However, the one thing that I don't think should be messed with is a Senator's ability to travel to his home state, even if it is the farthest from DC (Honolulu not withstanding). That kind of reeks. Kind of like Stevens. All the lobbying bill says about travel is that they actually have to pay for it. From the linked piece 2 steps above:

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 09:36 AM) And most, if not all, of this link is pure bulls***. Zarqawi WAS affiliated with Al Queda, and he WAS in Iraq... so that part is bunk. I could counterpoint all of this, but that's a worthless endeavor. "could never be confirmed" is my new favorite phrase of the day - again - and I'll be VERY clear here, as my first post was - Al Queda had operations in Iraq. But that is MUCH different then saying Iraq (i.e. Saddam Hussein) was responsible for 9/11. Wow. Seriously dude. Zarqawi's group was actually in the area of Northern Iraq where they were only fighting the Kurds at the time of the invasion...and tha area of Iraq was basically a no-go zone for Saddam's entire armed forces because it was protected by the No Fly zone. And beyond that, MSNBC reported a few years ago that the U.S. had plenty of chances to go after that group before the war, but chose not to do so. Blaming Saddam for Zarqawi being in Iraq makes about as much sense as blaming the U.S. for 9/11 because the hijackers were in this country before they did it. He was not operating at all in cooperation with the Iraqi government; he was only able to operate at all because of the no-fly zones.

QUOTE(Colorado Sox Fan @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 09:00 AM) No. This isn't the NFL where a top draft choice can turn around a franchise. I want to see the team finish strong. Justin Verlander says hi?

QUOTE(whitesox1976 @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 08:55 AM) Jose will probably finish the season in the bullpen. Very doubtful he will be on the roster next season. I am starting to think that he lied about his age when his contract was extended. You know what? Even with Jose's long pre-game rituatl and the fact that he wouldn't be used to it, how in the world does it hurt to try him in the pen at this point?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 08:26 AM) Maybe on Gonzalez. But I think Cintron is gone. And Cintron isn't a very good thirdbaseman Well, we may very well be carrying 2 starting 3rd basemen next year anyway, so that might not be a huge issue. But anyway, when has "he's not very good at position xxx" stopped us from putting a player there?

Beltran to the DL. Yeah Mets, I'm sure that decision not to give up talent for an extra OF is going to do wonders for you.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 03:05 PM) Iverson + Anthony > Allen + Pierce, no doubt. Garnett > Camby by quite a bit, though Camby is the superior defense. It's a very similar case. Boston will make the playoffs but they won't make much noise. But ESPN will hype the living s*** of them. Let's also remember that they only have to win the Atlantic division as well. So their competition is the 76ers (rebuilding), the Knickerbockers, the Nets (still trying their 3-play), and the Raptors (Genuine good team).

Seriously, this guy has some Balls. That's an alpha dog of the week right there.

So basically the argument is that: a. We should accept it being bad, because it might become worse if we got ourselves out of the way. b. 4.5 years into this, it's time for a plan. c. Because some people hold up Bush=Hitler signs, everyone who is vocally against this war is therefore wrong and has no standing on anything. Now here's my counterpoint: Is it worth $125 Billion a year and 1000 American lives per year, plus however many hundred thousand Iraqi lives, to make sure things might not get worse? $125 billion could save several million lives per year if it was put into sanitation, malaria nets, and anti-malarial, anti-AIDS drugs, just as an example. This is a monstrous undertaking, and I think that context is important. So, it's time for a plan. Ok...I'll be willing to say it's time to wait if someone can explain to me one thing; how exactly our presence there is going to be able to accomplish something significant and positive that is worth $4,000 a second and about 2-3 American lives per day. I refuse to accept the argument that it is worth that sort of expenditure on our part because things might be worse than the absolute disaster they are now if we leave if there is no evidence whatsoever that our efforts will make things better. Every step of the way, it has gotten worse and worse. Wiht every life lost, things have been made worse. So just saying "if we leave things will get worse" doesn't argue a thing to me, because every year we've stayed, things have gotten worse and worse. And an additional point: for 4+ years, the military and this administration have gotten EVERYTHING, every single thing, they could have possibly wanted. The Republicans in Congress gave them everything for 3 years, and the Dems caved on the funding bill earlier this year. The Administration had absolutely no one to account with for 3+ years, and somehow it is politics that is holding us back from a successful plan? Seriously, tell us what it is the French or the U.N. have done to stop the U.S. in the last 4 years. Has there been a resolution opposing the U.S.? Have the french sent troops in to fight us? Have we done something to appease those organizations (other than showing up there and begging for help?) The only thing that has encumbered this administration at any point in this war is basic humanity; because no one else has done jack to stop them. And I'm just going to say the fallacy phrase "Group guilt" and ignore the continued bashing of the people who were right before this started.

QUOTE(kane0730 @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 12:52 PM) Anybody know how much the Sox are saving the rest of this year moving Tad/Rob? About $2 million or so, give or take.

I find it interesting that so far, none of the guys KW has acquired seem to have a chance in Hell of helping the big league team next year.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 12:51 PM) i've seen this posted a few places here but has it been confirmed anywhere? Yes.

Don't like the age number, but everything else on that stat sheet looks really good if that link guy is the guy. Low walks, more than 1 k/IP, low ERA, nobody hitting him at all, couple more Hr's than I'd like to see.

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) In actuality who really thought KW would improve this team at the deadline this year? He didn't do anything to help it last year at the deadline and we were in a pennant race. So to me this is no surprise at all. Bringing in Mike MacDougal wasn't helpful last year?

QUOTE(Balance @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 12:41 PM) Offman on the Score says no deal for Dye and probably no contract extension, either. About half an hour to go before the deadline. And remember, sometimes it takes a while even after the deadline for things to be reported, given issues like physicals, no trade clauses, and the Commish's seemingly very slow fax machine.