NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:57 PM) If he plays like he did in 2007 he won't be. I think he'll be a pretty good player. I just don't know if he'll be all that good in 2008. KW said he's going to play some RF and DH so even he hasn't penciled him in as the everyday LF. Owens will get time in LF, and probably will see some time in CF after Rowand busts up his face crashing into something. When KW says Quentin will play some RF and DH, to me that means he is the starting LF and will also play RF and DH to keep him out there as often as possible.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) My new voting policy: Vote for the person that annoys me the least when I hear them talk on the radio because I will forced to listen to THAT VOICE for at minimum the next 4 years. That's some strategery right there. Strategery is what they call it, when... they do that.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:46 PM) I like the Quentin trade, but how can anyone expect him to be a stud in 2008? He was bad last year and is coming off surgery, now people around here think he's the second coming. Who is making him out to be the second coming? Or saying he will be a stud in 2008? People just think he's a significant upgrade over Owens or Pods. Do you disagree?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:34 PM) What is an appropriate percentage for us to start worrying then? You keep ignoring part of my posts. I think we should WORRY now, its a significant number. What I am also saying is that out of a billion muslims, we shouldn't indict all of them based on the actions of a few percentage points of them. Why is this so hard for people to understand? That the entire religion isn't evil, not even the majority, but a notable and growing minority? Why does it have to be that either I think the religion itself is morally bankrupt, or that I am somehow defending all of them? Reality is between. I'd be curious to see how people react if I point out that EVERY major religion has people, right now, doing awful, inhuman things in the "name" of that religion. What percentage of each? I have no clue, and frankly, neither does anyone else here. I think its safe to say that Muslims have a bigger problem with extremism right now than, say, Buddhism. But even that I can't say for sure - its a guess.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:40 PM) So, because the LAA were willing to over pay for Hunter at $18M per for 5 years, Williams mismanaged? Seriously, that seems to be the verdict for some. In reality, I am sure he, like every other GM, never goes in with only one planned acquisition. Too many variables. He has layers and layers of plans - or branches, or whatever imagery works best for him on his "big board". Hunter was obviously Plan A. But I am sure there are at least a handful of other roads left to travel for a CF solution.

QUOTE(NCsoxfan @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:34 PM) How are the Cubs allowed to shell out big contracts with the ownership position in limbo? Its not as if they are without an owner - the Tribune Company still owns them. And since they are spending what is basically someone else's money, and making the team look higher profile doing it, its not surprise they are spending like crazy.

QUOTE(quickman @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:22 PM) For a team that is suppose to be going for it, I would rather he get a legit leadoff hitter. thats all, I realize that O cab can ahndle but its not optimal, its better than owens any day but neither are great for that slot. My point is, kw talks a big game but he has alot of holes. Maybe he fixes them. Maybe he doesn't but as it stands right now its not a great leadoff option eitherway. He's already improved the team significantly at LF and in the bullpen, let loose a bunch of junk (Erstad, Pods, Myers, Phillips, Cintron) and the winter meetings just started. And he's done all that without spending any of the money that had been set for Hunter, which he can still spend on CF or elsewhere. And you keep at this thing that he has mismanaged the whole situation. So far, as far as I can tell, he's made a number of very good moves, with more to come (we hope). What has he "mismanaged"? Because I don't consider things he hasn't yet finished to be "mismanagement".

QUOTE(quickman @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:10 PM) well if thats the route, then KW missed again. Its like putting Iguchi at leadoff. not the best solution but serviceable. I realize owens blows, but he is on this team above anderson and sweeney because he can hit leadoff and he runs fast. eitherway my point is KW mismanaged the whole thing. So, you would rather have this: 1. Owens 2. O'Cab Than this: 1. O'Cab 2. Quentin Seriously? I realize that having some speed at the top is good, but its not the end all of everything. I think that the lineup is far, far better with Quentin in it than Owens, and that is far, far more important than having more speed from your leadoff guy.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:07 PM) Romney is about to make a major speech on religion. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/04/rom...eech/index.html This should be interesting. I think his religion will play a major role in his possibility of being elected - more so than other candidates who may be various sects of Christian or Jewish. A lot of people don't see Mormonism as a real religion at all, and the evangelicals and christian coalition types certainly don't see it as a type of Christianity. Here is another wildcard for him. I think its possible that a lot of people still don't know he is a Mormon, and there is yet another batch of folks who don't know anything about it in any case. I think he's decided that his popularity is at a peak, and these things are going to come up anyway, so best to get it out there now. I will be very curious to see how its reacted to, and how his numbers start to look once its more well known what his beliefs are, and once more people start finding out a little more about the Latter Day Saints.

QUOTE(quickman @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 02:05 PM) Because we do not have a lead off guy, who is your leadoff guy? O'Cab

QUOTE(ballyb11 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 01:50 PM) Levine is a hard working, very knowledgeable, well connected reporter. Far and away the best in Chicago. Welcome to the site. 2 tips... 1. Levine isn't well-liked by everyone here, so be ready for some flak. 2. If that was sarcasm, we usually use green font here so that it can be distinguished.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) This really didn't have a whole helluva lot to do with the original post. "Much more serious" doesn't do Dukes justice. Seriously... A rap album and consentual sex (as an 18 year old, no less -- cripes) is in no way comparable to what Dukes has done. Thus, the parallel sucks because it was pointing at their 'off-the-field' issues. And I'm just going off of what the people who follow the team as much as I follow the Sox have said, and that's basically that these 'issues' are waaay waaay overblown. If Milledge and Dukes are a viable comparison, so are Brian Anderson and Dukes, Brandon McCarthy and Dukes, and basically any young player who has been called out by management for not going about his work in a "veteran-y" way. OK dude. I'm just saying, its a decent parallel, and I think to make the huge leap to saying its about race is kind of ridiculous. Which is not to say that what are referring to doesn't happen, especially when talking about how players "look" or their "style" of hitting, fielding or whatever. In that vein, I would certainly agree, people tend to make the comparisons in recially homogenous groups.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 01:03 PM) I think everyone has, but KC wasn't interested in trading for him. However, Moore's in a situation where he can possibly get the two guys he wanted to get more than anyone. I just hope they don't mind the suspension that Guillen will get. Gload can play LF until Guillen returns. He actually got halfway decent out there in 2007, and he's not a bad bat for a temporary solution.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 01:02 PM) I think Owens will still get a lot of time in LF. Even KW said that Quentin will not only play in LF, but he'll get some games at DH and in RF. Well sure, Guillen being Guillen will always play his bench guys more than folks here would like. Owens will probably get in 30 games in LF against tougher, more angular throwing righties. And Quentin may relieve Dye in some of those games too. But Quentin will play 130+ in LF, I'd bet on it. Owens, if he stays as 4th OF (this is assuming they get a better CF), then he plays 30 in LF, 30 in CF and pinch runs occasionally.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:46 PM) Rosenthal said today that the Guillen deal wouldn't cause them to stop pursuing Jones. They'd probably end up trading DeJesus along with a salary guy in order to clear some payroll. Interesting. Didn't you say at one point you were interested in DeJesus coming to the Sox for CF?

QUOTE(quickman @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) No because owens will play left field. If they sign Rowand who is your leadoff guy? Did you miss the Quentin trade? Or do you think he won't be healthy?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:37 PM) That's quite ridiculous and you damn well know it. There's no reason to lump in Milledge with Dukes, other than... well, skin color, really. And... --they're both major league baseball outfielders --both highly touted talents with minimal real experience --both highly sought-after this year and traded this year --both players are tempermental and tend to have "issues", though Duke's are clearly much more serious I'd say its a very good parallel, and believe it or not, I wasn't even aware of Milledge's race (until now), since I've never seen him before.

ESPN update on Bedard sweepstakes... If Mets are one club, who are the other three?

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:37 PM) That rumor came out before Guillen. Yeah, it would seem hard to believe that KC would make both those huge splashes this year. That would be really weird for them.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 12:23 PM) He could have went all Musharref on them. Except I am not sure Chavez has that much control over the military. In fact I'd bet he doesn't.

There is no question in my mind - this team is significantly better than the 2007 Sox. The question is, is it better enough to contend for the division? Right now, the answer I think is still no. If they get a significant upgrade at CF, like Rowand or Fukodome - and I do not consider Crisp that significant - then that gets them closer. If they do that AND add a decent starter, so that we have only one of Danks/Floyd in the rotation, then I think you can start to see the team as a contender. Someone like Burke to shore up 2B a bit and as insurance for Richar helps a little bit too.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 11:55 AM) Now you're just trying to stir the pot, because you know that's not always right, and that it wasn't the case in 2006. Sometimes he sucks, sometimes he's good, and I'm just really tired of him on the White Sox period. I still don't have any fear that the Sox will end up with Owens or Burke in CF next year; my only fear is Crisp or Patterson at this point. Not so much pot-stirring - more emphasizing that MacDougal isn't in the same value category as, say, Thornton, IMO. Well, maybe a little pot-stirring. Sorry.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 2, 2007 -> 01:49 PM) Mitchell Report to come out in a week, supposedly. I honestly find it interesting how certain players are getting less attention than others. I wonder if these owners, like Moreno, know more than they're supposed to right now. ESPN reports it will be released during the 2 weeks prior to Christmas. So, I guess that means it won't come out during the GM meetings, but shortly after. Could be some really disappointed fan bases, magnified by any of the names that may have been recent signings. Merry Christmas!

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 11:41 AM) no way we win in a bidding war for him May not need to. I think the Sox may just be in this thing. Still a long shot, but, may happen. If the LAA deal fell apart, and there are only a few teams willing to shell out the right prospects, including a higher end 3B prospect like Fields... they have a chance. I apologize in advance if this was already stated, but... is Cabrera a Boras client? Or someone else?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) I am shocked he didn't rig this. He may have tried to, and that may have resulted in it being so close. It may have been a landslide against him, and his efforts to push the election just weren't enough.