NorthSideSox72

Watched the last hour of the debate. Need to go back and watch the first parts. Quick impressions... --Lincoln Chafee was in over his head in a way bigger than any candidate for either party I can remember for a long time. Just clearly didn't belong on that stage. Laughable. Won't make it to the first primary. --Jim Webb is a courageous guy, he's honest, and he's the most centrist of the bunch (a centrist Dem today is of course a mainline GOP'er from 20 years ago). Normally that might make me like him. But he's also a guy whose approach and bearing scream litigator and legislator - not executive. His complaints about unequal time came off badly too (even though he was right). Didn't show terribly well, though I did like that he basically said he killed his biggest enemy, haha. --Clinton was certainly the most Presidential on the stage, was the most comfortable and smoothest. Not a surprise, but there it is. She was pretty wishy-washy on a lot of policy points though, and deflected a LOT of questions (they all do some of that, she just did it more). Basically the debate didn't change my view of her, good or bad. --Sanders is certainly interesting. I think he may be the most honest, and earnest, candidate in either party. A little like Kucinich was. Similarly though, he's attempting to campaign for getting from A to C, skipping B. He's willing to point out things other candidates are not, about the money in the system for example, and even that voters themselves are partially responsible for the mess. But his ideas would involve substantial tax increases and siesmic shifts, and I just don't think he can get any of that done. He's likely to make gridlock worse. But he's got my attention. Whereas Clinton is too wishy washy, Sanders is too overreaching. --O'Malley has my attention now as well. He's optimistic and positive in a way almost no one else is, and I like his policy ideas in a lot of cases. I am not sure he can make a real run at it, but I do think he'll get a bump from his very nice performance in the debate (from what I saw of it). I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Our new AZL correspondant, Kim Contreras, spent some time watching the 50 or so younger players and rookies in the Fall Instructs at Camelback. She also talked with Nick Capra and other front office folks along the way. You can read her observations here, where she also explains just how the Instructs work. This gives a nice inside view that few prospects sites get into the "training" league in fall ball.

Game one underway in a few minutes. Here is our preview of the AFL. Here is a link to the Gameday for today's tilt. Engel leading off and playing left field. Let's go!

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 13, 2015 -> 11:52 AM) We already did that in 2008, see what it got us! (You set that up too good) Fair enough. Though I think everyone (other than greg) sees my point. Obama, warts and all, understands policy. As do most of the other candidates. Trump (and Carson) aren't even trying to do so.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 13, 2015 -> 11:21 AM) In the article, it states that they are just downsizing. I should have noted, I don't consider either pieces of information I posted to be a sign of impending departure. Though they do keep adding little bits of tinder to the fire of him making his way out of town. I think he's ready to move on, but hasn't gotten the right opportunity yet.

Kenny's Gold Coast home just went up for sale. Also, separately, his son Tyler was released by the Sox this week.

First game is today at 2:35pm Chicago time (12:35 in Glendale).

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 12, 2015 -> 01:06 PM) What we have now isn't working. I'd give Trump/Carson ticket a chance. Like I said if it doesn't work, at least it's entertaining. Give the newbies at shot at ruining everything. What we have now (Robin Ventura) isn't working. I'd give Chet Coppock a chance. Like I said if it doesn't work, at least it's entertaining. Give the newbies a short at ruining everything. See your logic? Current is bad, so let's go with an unqualified loon. Seems silly to you? That's for a manager, not the President.

The prospect-heavy AFL starts play tomorrow (10/13). The White Sox are sending at least 8 players, maybe 9. Rob has the write-up on who is going, and why. Anyone whose performance you are interested in from this group? It is one of the more prospect-heavy Sox contingents they've sent in recent years.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 02:20 PM) I know you will just ignore this as you always do when it doesn't match your agenda, but here are the yearly murders in Chicago: 1970: 810 1971: 824 1972: 711 1973: 862 1974: 970 1975: 818 1976: 814 1977: 823 1978: 787 1979: 856 1980: 863 1981: 877 1982: 668 1983: 729 1984: 741 1985: 666 1986: 744 1987: 691 1988: 660 1989: 742 1990: 851 1991: 928 1992: 943 1993: 855 1994: 931 1995: 828 1996: 796 1997: 761 1998: 704 1999: 643 2000: 633 2001: 667 2002: 656 2003: 601 2004: 453 2005: 451 2006: 471 2007: 448 2008: 513 2009: 459 2010: 436 2011: 435 2012: 516 2013: 441 2014: 432 lol go away with your "facts" and "numbers" The city got better economically, and murders went down. No surprise. The recent years with small spikes like 2012 and 2008 were unusually warm years - also no surprise.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 03:23 PM) Hail, Ceaser! looks amazing. Looks fun.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 02:01 PM) He's a writer for Deadspin that I've been reading for years. It's in the same voice as most of his stuff. I didn't really think twice about it really, whether it was in GQ or not. Yeah, forum is important though. I would sure hope that CNN, Fox, MSNBC, NPR, BBC or other relatively professional news sources wouldn't publish such a thing. When it appears in GQ, I don't really care.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 01:12 PM) What is racist about that article? When did gq become a publication of the democratic party? Those were my thoughts. I mean, I don't find it professional, but it is GQ. We aren't talking about a major news outlet here. Carson is a doof. His race is not factor in said doofiness, and I don't see any hint of that in the article either. It is a garbage article I wish I hadn't read, but frankly I've seen similarly ugly articles written about multiple candidates across party lines in various rags. They may just have not used the F word in there. It is disrespectful, but I guess I don't care.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 04:11 PM) mccarthy in phone intv: asked if house is governable? "I dont know. sometimes you need to hit rock bottom" — Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 8, 2015 A 9% approval rating for Congress isn't rock bottom?

QUOTE (Jake @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 01:30 PM) I thought it was impossible to shoot to wound, that's why police officers always kill people who they are moderately afraid of lol wut

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 10:53 AM) Oh I know. I'm just reiterating it. I have a bad feeling that the Sox will f*** up this pick somehow. They've done quite well with their #1 picks lately. Not sure what makes you think they are likely to screw it up. Anderson, Rodon, Fulmer is pretty hard to beat from any other team. In fact their last three drafts in general have looked pretty good to me.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 11:21 AM) Carson: I've Had A Gun Held On Me And I Told The Guy To Attack Someone Else (AUDIO) He also yesterday made clear he doesn't understand what the debt limit is. Just a weird dude.

We will have a preview article up on Monday.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 05:28 PM) Guys, most rational people agree with me. America is not safe. America is less safe than 20 years ago. Cmon. Do you guys live in a bubble? I give up. Time to move on to those who acknowledge reality. You are beyond repair. Or an amazingly elaborate troll artist. Not sure which.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 02:52 PM) I didn't get the impression that the Sox thought much of him. Even when he was up here, he barely pitched. Clearly he wasn't a big deal to them. I still think, an arm like that available in AAA has value to the club. That said, we'll see what other players end up taking those 40-man slots. They may or may not seem more valuable.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 02:47 PM) Given Guerra if I remember right missed most of last year (can't remember if it was an injury of drug related), I don't think its much of a loss. Mark You are thinking of Onelki Garcia. Junior Guerra pitched 2014 in Italy, and also the VZWL. He's not a big loss - but a loss nonetheless to the system. I think he could have been a good relief arm maybe. Here is our profile on him, if it helps.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 02:03 PM) The world maybe. America? Safer than before? Cmon. You can make any stats fit any argument. America is a dangerous land. greg laughs at all of your "facts" and "numbers". He knows the score.

QUOTE (flavum @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 01:48 PM) Adrian Nieto outrighted to Birmingham Junior Guerra claimed by Brewers Nieto not a surprise, no one would claim him or Rule V him (again). Guerra is a loss though, I thought he could be a potential 2016 bullpen piece.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 01:01 PM) 7 and 5. Mine are 6 and 3. I've learned that nearly any place that serves food (so in other words, everywhere but dive bars really) can be good for kids. There are kid-oriented places like Rainforest Cafe, and they do have a bar but choices are somewhat limited. Those can be fun to sprinkle in, but that's a place that is on the pricier side (as family chain restaurants go) and the food is pretty meh. You pay in part for the experience.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 05:24 AM) My last ticket I was going 35 in a 25, cop pulled me over and said he and his partner saw me talking on my cellphone which is why I was pulled over. I tell him my car has blue tooth and what you guys saw was me eating a bagel, he decided to give me a speeding ticket instead. lol, someone quick, invent a bagel-shaped cell phone!