NorthSideSox72

Now that was a fun game to watch. Great stuff all around. Our starting pitching has looked pretty damn impressive since game 2.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 11:04 AM) If Toby Hall was around I could give you a 40 man roster spot we could use, but in this case he isn't so oh well. But I think there are worse guys on the clubs 40 than Haigwood so I do think the club could upgrade. However, I don't expect the Sox to be the team that picks him up. Also something must not have clicked in Texas because when you have struggled as much as they have with pitching over the years you don't generally designate a guy like haigwood for assignment (albeit he doesn't have the stuff that flat out wows you). Haigwood, to me, is a good example of the player who is a victim of overreliance on scouting reports. I think a lot of scouts lose the forest for the trees - they are so caught up in a few MPH of velocity, or a few inches of height, etc., that they don't notice that a player is really good at just getting it done. Some players find a way to be very good despite what the skills reports say. And then the decision happens - its decided that subjective outlook on future skill use is more important than actual results. And so players like Haigwood fall through the cracks. Its sort of sad, because succeeding and finding a way to perform are themselves very important skills that get overlooked.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 11:26 AM) Huh? That's what I said when I read it. It sounds like a joke, but its not.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) The thing is, if they did this at a real job, they wouldn't even get this much consideration. They would be out on their asses after the first arrest. My thoughts exactly. These players are already getting far more chances than they would at a normal job, which I think is the opposite of what should be the case. How anyone can argue that they somehow don't deserve these penalties is beyond me. I have zero sympathy for people who are given the huge gift and priviledge of playing professional sports and then crap all over the game that gave them their success.

So now Bush wants a "War Czar" to oversee Iraq and Afghanistan. Because what this situation needs is another bureaucrat. Nevermind that BushCo consistently ignored the military advice given by generals prior to each war. No, they'd prefer to have that information muddled even further before it hits their ears. Check out the quote from one of the generals who turned them down (Sheehan).

RAGBRAI 2007 starts on July 22nd. I'll be doing the ride with a smallish team of 5. I know there are some folks here who've done it before. Is anyone riding this year? The route gets to within 6 miles of Oelwein, hometown of a certain Admin on this site. Anyone else live on or near the route? Any of you willing to let us camp out on your lawn?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 09:54 PM) Or how about the fact he bats .077 with the bases empty (13 at-bats) and have a .949 OPS with runners on (13 at-bats) ? Now THAT is statistically significant. Its also interesting that half his at-bats are with men on base, which is a lot of opportunity.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 08:36 AM) Do we have a 40 man roster spot to claim him, and a spot in the minors to use him? What are the requirements for the 40 man? Haigwood has no time in MLB yet, has 4 years minor league time, and is 23. Does he have to be on the 40 man to be protected?

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 08:21 AM) At least with social security he proposed a plan that was new. I would agree that Bush isn't the greatest president we've ever had (obviously) but I'm really tired of people blaming him for anything and everything. This does two things: a) continues to give the federal government more power than it should, real or otherwise, and B) makes the executive a stronger branch. If you want to talk about a lack of work how about you look at the Congress. They were called the 'do-nothing' Congress for a reason. And as much as the Dems started out well, they pretty much stopped working as far as I can tell since. All of these issues should be started in Congress, the body that actually does the legislating. They are the ones that can't come up with a good immigration plan, they are the ones that shot down his SS idea, etc. Bush deserves blame for the Iraq mess, I wholeheartedly agree. But everything else that happens in the country (cough*Katrina*cough) is not his fault. Those are some excellent points. The executive branch and the federal government have gotten far too strong, and the intense focus on it only worsens that problem. You are also correct that Bush has been pushing an idea for Social Security for pretty much his entire administration, while Congress (both versions) have been reluctant to do anything at all. My question, though, wasn't asked because I blame Bush for everything. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to focus on what he and his administration had done that was good. Katrina wasn't his fault, though the poor response is partially in his lap (Brownie says hi). If the economy was doing more poorly, that wouldn't be his fault any more than he should get much credit for its strengths. The GOP-dominated Congress' of 2002-2006 did very little, which is amazing considering they had a sympathetic President. The current/new Dem Congress accomplished a number of things early on, so that's good, but they have definitely stagnated and started to weaken since. But even those Congresses have gotten some positive things done, with little or no involvement from the President other than a signature. By the way, I just thought of one more positive he has accomplished in the last four years. The nomination and placement of Roberts on the Supreme Court. Now, I don't agree with some of Roberts' positions, but that said, he is without question an eminently qualified judge, with a very strong record of being reliable and consistent in his approach and views. He was the right choice, and he made it through the process. Now Alito, who is an underqualified political windsock, is another story. But I have a lot of respect for Stephens. So I'll chalk up one more for Dubya.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:34 AM) f*** Aaron Rowand, seriously. Our starting pitching and bullpen (aside from Bobby) look good so far. Hopefully our 1-2 and our manager don't hold this team back. So far, our 1-2 are a significant chunk of our offense.

QUOTE(Brian @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 08:11 AM) The ump said the ball hit Pods when he was out of the batters box, but it hit him while in so it should of been a foul ball, but the ump called Pods out. well that sucks.

I replied in the MLB catch-all thread about it. Definite interest from me. He has an AAP thread already, so that's sort of convenient.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 01:04 AM) Anderson, Iguchi, and Molina will be in the lineup. I really wish Ozzie would, just once, take a look at Iguchi's L/R split numbers. Just once.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:03 AM) Yes... No!!!!!

Well Ozzie screwed up with Pods out there in LF. That said, this loss is on Jenks' shoulders far more than anyone else's. The Pods play at the wall, the game was already tied, and that ball was hit pretty well. If Jenks has his stuff going, none of this matters. This seems to be a pattern with him, not getting his velocity straight away in April, which is not a good sign for his future health. He takes until May to get going, and fades in September, so one wonders if he can make it a full season. I didn't catch the failed squeeze play, so I'm not sure what the deal there was.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 08:36 PM) And where did I say that? I was just pointing out that stating upfront that he has a non-negotiable point is not a bad thnig, but could be a negotiating strategy. I seem to recall Bush 'negotiating' an education bill with Teddy Kennedy, and when Teddy got what he negotiated, he then comes out in the press and slammed Bush for not giving him enough. That's real incentive to negotiate further. That would be right here... QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 05:46 PM) You obviously don't know how to negotiate. You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what the appropriate tactic would have been for some sort of accepted fact. They are not the same. Ted Kennedy was, as all politicians do, trying to make himself look good after the conclusion of whatever work he has done. Bush does the same of course. Are you seriously saying that Bush shouldn't be willing to discuss and compromise because some whiner of a Senator once complained after a discussion that he didn't get everything he wanted? If anything, Kennedy's complaining just made Bush look "stronger" in their view of things, so I don't see the negative. To say its a reason not to negotiate is reaching for an excuse to not be bothered with the niceties of representative government.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 07:10 PM) but seriously, get Haigwood back... can never have enough young lefties w/ potential. Looking at his minor league numbers, he looks like he does something right. His career ERA, from rookie through to AA (2 years at AA), is 3.43, and he had only one season where it went about 4. Good WHIP numbers too. Plus he's only 23, so its not like he is aged. Someone will pick him up I'd bet. I'd be happy if its us.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 07:22 AM) It would be a very sad day if it was proven that Frank had taken a steroid. Balta makes a great case, but if I was prosecuting I would point to a couple unique injuries. Who actually tears a bicep? How about another former Sox 1B... Kelly Paris. I vividly recall him having the injury while playing first base, catching a throw to his left, arm extended, as the runner hit him. Hyperextended his elbow, tearing the bicep.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 05:46 PM) You obviously don't know how to negotiate. Bush learned this from North Korea. If he would have said something like "Come on over and let's talk, maybe we can come to some sort of middle ground", he would have been toast, because the Dems would have taken the middle ground as a STARTING POINT, and worked from there. That's how it works. He simply stated his starting point, 'I am not changing my mind', and then he can go down from there, if he feels like it. Once he starts in the middle, you can't go back. If this President had any history at all of actually compromising on anything, I might believe that he is doing that. History, however, shows that is unlikely. Wait, are you saying he learned his negotiation tactics from North Korea? Or that he learned his tactics from his own dealing with NK? Anyway, what you describe is A way to negotiate, not THE way. I see you have the BushCo line down pat - if you disagree with my way of doing things, you must be wrong. Another way to see this is that if Bush actually acted with some courtesy, and talked about an open dialogue, not going in with these caveats... then maybe the Dems would be in a you-scratch-my-back sort of mood. Instead, he comes to the table with the pieces pre-set, forcing the Dems to take the hard line on the opposite side. THAT is much more like what we've seen the past few years, and we see the results. I'd contend it is Dubya who (in this case) is showing his lack of ability to negotiate.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 04:22 PM) Damn, I can't believe I'm going to be the one to give it up for The Decider here. . . Last year, Bush designated Northwestern Hawaiian Islands – an island chain spanning nearly 1,400 miles of the Pacific northwest of Hawaii as the largest protected marine reserve in the world. The nearly 140,000 square mile set aside protects about 7,000 species, and perhaps 25% of these are found nowhere else on Earth. NOAA chief Conrad Lautenbacher rightly called it the "single-largest act of ocean conservation in history." ^^^^ Good Thing Dubya Done Did. So noted, and agreed. Chalk one up for Dubya! QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 04:33 PM) Flaxx, what the hell have you been drinking? NS, for as much hyperbole, etc. that I have in my posts, I have to agree with your points. He hasn't accomplished a hell of a lot. This is one of those things that the "status quo" somewhat needs to be looked at. In some respects, not changing or "doing anything" hasn't been a bad thing. No changes to the tax law, no changes to the war on terror (although the handling and "spinning" of Iraq is dreadfully inadequate), nothing happening on US Soil is not a bad thing... ... ... Immigration is a HUGE disaster waiting to happen, his impotence on doing anything at all with social security is not a good thing, and the continuing COMMUNICATION blunders on just about every subject is terrible. Part of Dubya's problem is he can't articulate anything and comes across just like you've described him, and that's a condescending jackass. Obviously, that's a problem. I guess I don't see the status quo as particularly good for the country as a whole. The income gap, even on an inflation-adjusted relative basis, is growing quickly. We're mired in a fiasco of a war in Iraq. We've done very little, in the end, in the "war on terror". Same for immigration. The political system is now starkly divided and the idea of compromise has been lost. And violent crime, after declining for the last decade and a half, has started to increase. I only see two positives in the status quo - strong business growth in the economy, and a lack of terrorist acts on our own soil.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 04:33 PM) So what happens when the people in front of him stop getting on base and stop giving him opportunities? Then you're left with a worthless hitter who can't hit his weight (or can barely hit his weight). QUOTE(rangercal @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 04:37 PM) No, the debate was 8 RBI a week. Bottom Line. I think I lost you. Dude, you're hilarious. You debate RBI's, Felix asks you what if no one is on in front of him (which, um, is kind of key for RBI's), and you say "no, the debate was 8 RBI a week". Do you not see the circle you just talked in?

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 04:09 PM) Don't bring an AL player into an NL conversation. Wheeler blows. Game is in Murton's hands. Why not bring in Lidge here? Can't do any worse. Murton's gonna win it for them. Or he'll pop out. Game over, 'stros win 4-2.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 03:45 PM) Christ people, its a freaking week into the season. What exactly are you referring to?

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 03:32 PM) They can go on the every popular Wrigley Field tour and trash the place. Attendance 35K, "a-lot of no-shows" no winner in the Square Deal attendance game, damn. Ig from Orland can play again next time though. Thanks pat. Lidge warming, sweet. 35K? Wow, when was the last time the Cubs didn't sell out on the 2nd game of the season?

As I recall, many power rankings (Sportsline, Yahoo, ESPN) didn't put the 2005 Sox at the top until the 2nd half of the season. I wouldn't read too much into them. For pundits and people like that, they have their predictions to protect. They will stay in denial until they have no other choice, then they'll leap on the bandwagon as if they were always there.