NorthSideSox72

There were a couple mentions that Po-Yu Lin is in minor league camp for spring training this year, but I cannot find any further information than that. If anyone knows a way to get any stats or results from the minor league camp, I'm sure that would be handy for Lin and a lot of other AAP's (like my other AAP, Donny Lucy, for example).

QUOTE(Brian26 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 10:57 PM) If it's all about Sox history, there's no reason to promote your website on every post. There are people on WSI that have contributed a thousand times the amount of information you have over the years....for free and without trying to promote their own agenda. Many of us quite like StatMan's posts, and in fact he was nominated for best thread-starter in the annual awards for this site. His blog is full of great Sox stuff. I think we'd all appreciate it if you refrained from jabbing him.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 08:45 AM) 2 day Fed meetings are the absolute most boring days in the world to work in this industry it needs to be 1:15 already But I have a feeling that PHT will be hopping today, with the roster reduction to 28. So at least you have some distraction.

Sorry, I just realized this was mentioned already in the Catch-All thread late last night. Seems like it might need its own thread anyway.

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) I don't think defense in CF is something nobody cares about. But I also feel Erstad, who's won gold gloves in CF, may know a little more about defense in CF than AAAnderson, and you, for that matter. Bottom line, at least I'm waiting to see what Erstad can do before I hang him. You are speculating based on stats -- which is fine -- but based on stats, we should have made the playoffs last year, at a minimum, if not returned to the WS. The "nobody cares" line was a quote from you. Anderson is already better defensively than Erstad is right now, and results in ST (stats and watching him hit) indicate BA may have turned a corner and started hitting. Plus look at Erstad's last few years. I am not opposed to BA going to AAAto refine his hitting if we have some clearly better option on the team, but Erstad is not that option.

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 08:27 AM) And I look forward to saying, "Hell, even *I* could have made solid contact with that when BA strikes out on a hanging breaking ball..." See how that works two ways? I'm sick and tired of the BA love around here. It's disgusting. Go get a room. And yes, I realize this villifies me around here -- OMG he said something negative about BA so he's on the hate list! So f'ing what. BA sucks...and this insane BA love sucks even more. I'm tired of it. The wheels fell off that bandwagon before it even started moving. Call it a hunch, but I'm gonna go so far as to say this BA bandwagon full of Soxtalkers are secretly WISHING Pods and Erstad would fail just so they can claim how right they were about BA. I doubt anyone will hate or villify you for disliking BA. They just won't take your comments seriously when you, apparently, think that defense in CF is something "nobody cares" about.

The more I see pics of Uribe looking in better shape than last year, and read abot him legging out doubles, the more confident I am that he's headed for a big year.

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 08:20 AM) Personally, I think some of the BA love around here needs to be called into question. He's done nothing but fail when the team gave him more than a few chances to succeed. You can make up excuses, compare him to Crede, Konerko, or a plethora of other major leaguers that took years to develop, but the fact remains -- he's not any of those players -- he doesn't have the same personality, and apparantly, he rubs people in power the wrong way, so all comparisons fall short. He's not Pods, Konerko, Crede and he's not Erstad...life isn't fair, but he's not going to get the same treatment as they do, period. So please, do everyone a favor around here and stop the constant b****ing, moaning and crying about it. It's almost as if BA promised to share some of his contract with you BA bandwagoners with how blindly you support him because he's good defensivly. Great. GRAND. Nobody cares. If BA was the guy you all claim he is, the orginization would probably be in love with him...but based upon how he's treated, not only by the manager but the general manager and most of the local Chicago media, I'm gonna have to guess BA did something, said something, or just outright makes people dislike him with his attitude and personality. Some people rub people the wrong way. BA seems to have done that. To F'ing bad. Like I said before for all you BA supporters and BA himself...life isn't fair. Cry more. Re-read the part in bold. Out loud. Then think about Mack in CF last year. Then ask yourself why people might care.

Article from the Trib says Mack is maybe drawing trade interest, and that scouts like his bat and versatility. He mentions the Brewers and Brady Clark, specifically. Just to throw another variable into the outfield picture. I had said earlier that Mack was a given on the roster. That may still be true, since it sounds like its other teams asking the Sox about him. But what do people think about having Clark instead of Mack?

I personally love the back and forth on here, positive and negative, when there are logical reasons and facts associated with it (as many others have said). But I do also agree, BearSox, that how this season goes is still very much up in the air - the CF job and Erstad's role, the final couple bullpen positions, the 5th starter, and how the starting pitchers will fare. That's why I want to wait until 4/1 to make any predictions about the season. My wish list: --Anderson starting in CF --Erstad playing 3 to 5 days a week, backing up at CF, LF, RF and 1B --Gooch in the 2-hole against ALL pitchers --Pods healthy and not trying to steal too often --Aardvark sent to AAA, Haeger in 6th pen spot --Floyd as 5th starter, giving Danks at least a few months at AAA --Move Rogo/Tracey/Phillips for any kind of young pitching or middle infield talent they can fetch Give me all of that, and I feel pretty darn good about this season. The only big questions at that point would be the starting pitchers' fortunes, and the team's health.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 05:00 PM) Who would have ever thought after last year that we'd be starting 2007 with Pods in LF, Erstad in CF, and a clusterf*** in the 5th starter spot, while our bullpen isn't improved? I did a double take on the bolded statement. Have to disagree there. I think this bullpen looks like it will be significantly better than last year. I am assuming that based on it being Jenks-Thornton-MMac-Logan-Masset-Haeger (if Aardvark is there, I'm a little less excited).

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 05:06 PM) Do you believe, despite all the media chatter, that Anderson has a legitimate shot at taking the CF position? From everything we have heard it seems that Erstad is the one who is pretty much walking away with it. Do you have inside information we don't? (I am just curious as to why you think the playing field is more level than we seem to think) I sure hope so because I would really not enjoy seeing Erstad in center every day. Read the Sun Times article posted earlier today about Erstad and Anderson. Despite all the positive talk about Erstad, there are clear signs in Ozzie's words that Anderson still has a chance. No one knows how much of a chance though.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 05:00 PM) I really hope Pods kicks some major ASS this year to shut all you up. Actually, if he hits .280 and has an OBP of .345, I think all of you Pods haters are going to have to eat some major crow. C'mon, Ozuna and Mack with Guch leading off? No bueno. I said myself a few days back, I think Pods could have his best year yet this year. But that best year, basiically, is a .350 OBP, 75% SB rate, no power, and defense in LF approaching average. A combination of Mack, Ozuna, Gload and/or Erstad would beat that, except not as many steals on a gross basis. Overall, Pods' career year is not as good as that combo could have been.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 05:03 PM) Ah, I understand now. Ideally I would like to see them break camp with Anderson as the starter in CF, and Pods in LF, and Erstad doing a sort of super-sub thing playing in CF, LF, RF, and 1B to give guys a day off here and there. We could even work it so that we see Erstad about 5 days a week if Ozzie wants to give him his ABs.... something like two days at CF, a or day or two in LF, and a day a 1B (spelling Konerko one week while PK DHs, and Thome the next) and then PHs ABs and defensive substitutions as needed. Anderson would still get his 5 starts a week, and Ozzie would get his grinder fix. I am not sure if the problems with Anderson have been corrected or not, so I don't know if this is even something taht is being looked at seriously. I like that scenario as well, and I'm hoping that's how Erstad gets his 400-500 plate appearances.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 04:56 PM) A Mack/Ozuna combo in LF would have been perfect. I would have no problem seeing Mack in the two hole, with Gooch leading off vs. RH. Darrin would be great to have off the bench, used in the certain situations. Sorry to beat a dead horse, but once again, Pods has no spot on this club. Expect he will, and probably get over 500 AB's if healthy. I'd have been happy with any combination of Mack, Erstad, Ozuna and Gload (pre-trade) as the starting LF, over Pods. Heck, three of those four (except Erstad) would be good leadoff guys anyway, and Mack/Gload could be 2-slots as well.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 04:55 PM) if the spot is for the 25th man, keep Terrero in Chicago, and let Anderson play everyday in Charlotte. one sure way to stunt his growth is to put him in the Ross Gload move of playing once a week. Sorry, I was also assuming, as Oz and I think KW have said, that Anderson only makes the roster as a starter. Therefore, I'm hoping he makes the roster as that starting CF, with Erstad being the backup CF, 1B and other assorted OF.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 04:52 PM) Perez and Anderson should make the team. Terrero and Prancer should be finding new careers. Erstad can leadoff and be our LF for all I care. Platoon him with Ozuna. I wouldn't mind Ozuna/Erstad in LF, but, Pods is a lock for the roster. So I'm focused on that 25th spot. The only real considerations for it at this point, I think, are Terrero, Anderson and Perez. Of those three, I'll take Anderson in a heartbeat.

Well, Terrero o-fers on the day, 3 AB's, 2 K's, then Anderson walks. After a hot start, Terrero is looking like himself. I'll definitely be upset if Terrero and/or Perez make this team and not Anderson.

EDIT: Nevermind, that's part of MLBTV.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 03:07 PM) Can't guarantee I'll be able to sit @ the computer for the whole game, but I'll contribute what I can. Gameday Audio I'm on, appears only the Oakland feed is available today. Ozuna goes 2-0 and doubles to teh wall in LF. Cintron can't get a bunt down, but grounds out to 2nd. Runner to 3rd. Balta - where are you seeing Gameday audio?

So, how are people planning to watch the box score? Anyone know a more real-time way than the MLB.com scoreboard?

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) Terrero is staring in CF today against Oakland. Good to see that we are really getting to see what Anderson can do, and allowing him to fight for the job. ST so far... Anderson = 36 plate appearances (AB+BB) Terrero = 26 plate appearances Considering they are both playing for roster spots, I think they are both getting their chances, and Brian even more so. BA started yesterday. What is more bizarre to me is why Erstad has 51 AB's (53 plate appearances), more than anyone else on the team, whether or not they are going for a roster spot. The next closest is PK with 41 (48 plates).

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 12:42 PM) Correct, but the people who are unequipped to handle those jobs still feel as though they are entitled to the higher pay that goes with them. So, can we abolish the NEA and actually start teaching kids things that will let them compete in the world economy, or are we gona keep teaching them that everyone gets an award just for competing, that they are 'special' , and that it's just fine that Jimmy has 2 mommies? The NEA isn't the problem, and I fail to see how 2 mommies is the slightest bit relevant to the discussion. But I definitely agree that our schools in general are pretty poor at preparing kids for a positive future. Worse, there are plenty of good schools out there, but they are outweighed by the majority of schools that are not so good. Just a quick look around the Chicago area will show you a range of schools, from New Trier to De LaSalle and everything between. There is a huge range in the quality of schools.

I just checked a bunch of April games, and sure enough, for games other than the opening series, there are lower deck tickets still available.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:08 AM) This would be a great topic to sit around and talk with you about over a couple of beers, but I don't think typing words here could do it justice, at least for me. Back in the day when I first graduated college and was looking for gainfull employment, I was pissed that the best I was finding was about $19k per year, when autoworkers who can barely read were making $30+ an hour with benefits. (I know that is an unfair statement, but at the time, that is how I felt) This country became great because we had a huge middle class, which was possible when a large part of our economy was in manufacturing. Back to autoworkers, I know of Ford employees who have second homes, boats, new cars every few years and are retired. Not bad for someone with no degree. I just think that those days are over since our economy has shifted is base away from manufacturing. too much 'keeping up with the Jones'es' going on for people to feel secure with what they need, they have to have 'more' just to keep up. Man, this is just too big for my sleep-deprived brain today. Manufacturing is not needed for a middle class to flourish. In fact, as we move more and more away from manufacturing and towards technology and business, there is maybe even more opportunity for middle class incomes. Look at India - they basically had NO middle class (even though that had plenty of manufacturing) at all until the tech boom, which created one for them. Those auto workers at Ford are the exception to the rule in manufacturing. Most manufacturing jobs in the US do not pay anything like the 100k a year plus great benefits that many of those guys are getting.