NorthSideSox72

Here's a nice group of posts to look at about Semien and Bassitt, for some background if you don't have it, from FutureSox... Our Bassitt Profile w/ links to videos, etc. This is an article Chris Bassitt actually wrote for FutureSox last offseason, so you can get a 1st person view Interview with Bassitt, 2013 Interview with Semien, 2013 Our older profile of Semien, not updated since a year ago but good background

Just noticed this, Iowa State and UNI don't play each other this year? For some reason I thought the 4 DI Iowa schools (Iowa, ISU, UNI, Drake) always all played each other every season, Kind of a shame that isn't true.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 03:45 PM) In all likelihood, it is both Phegley and Smith. Given the Sox current roster composition, Smith will be repeating AA as a 27 year old while Nieto is starting at AAA, Phegley has no spot now that there is a platoon partner to back up Flowers. Smith will start next season at 26, turn 27 around all star break time. I think Nieto is in AA where he belongs (remember he hadn't been above A+ before last season when he barely played, whereas Smith proved he's past AA bat-wise) and Smith in AAA. But both is certainly possible. Not the likely scenario in my view, but possible.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 03:28 PM) Unless Smith is part of a trade, and the other team really likes him. Did you read my post before replying? Because I said that. Pretty much exactly.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 02:58 PM) Seems like a guy they brought in to compete with Phegley/Nieto for the backup spot with Smith likely gone. Wouldn't surprise me to see Brantley open up the year as the back up though. Nieto did the best he could last year, but it was pretty clear he didn't belong in the majors so he'll likely be Charlotte's catcher next year. No clue how Brantley's D compares to Phegley, but I imagine whoever is the better of the 2 will win the job. It is possible someone comes in and makes an offer for Smith that seems worthwhile and they take it. But barring that, it is almost assuredly going to be Phegley. First, look at the signals the team has sent. Phegley has been, multiple times now, sent to minor league camp early (spring training), benched for undisclosed behavioral reasons (twice during last season), and the team has multiple times had quotes out in articles talking about his shortcomings. On the other hand with Smith, they haven't said much of anything, but the did invite him to the special pre-spring hitter prospect camp last year, did send him to AFL, and did just add him to the 40. All the signals say they prefer Smith for value. Second, they are actually similar as prospects in many ways. Both are bat-first guys with some power, both are seen as weaker defensively, but both have a strong arm. It's just the "other catching stuff" that is key here, and Smith gets better grades for pitcher handling. Third, simply put, Phegley has had two shots. Smith none. So unless a team offers a significant prospect for Smith, which isn't likely, I am quite confident Phegley is the one who will be gone.

I think Semien and one of Beck or Bassitt gets it done for 1 year of Shark. And I'd be OK with that. I like Semien, I think he's likely to be much better than we saw of him in the majors, but him plus one of those other two is what gets it done. I'd prefer it be Beck (as opposed to Bassitt).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 02:09 PM) Probably means Phegley is about to go or maybe Nieto. Betting Phegley. I was saying that before this claim even. I think he's had his shots, and the org has sent signals multiple times they didn't like his approach and attitude. My guess is he's gone.

LOL, apparently drunk Tex gets shorter as the night goes on.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 5, 2014 -> 04:30 PM) There is another Yoan that is also subject to the penalties, 21 year old RHP Yoan Lopez. The 21-year-old is a flamethrower who can hit triple digits on the radar gun. He fashioned a 3.12 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 11 walks over 49 innings for Isla de la Juventud in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. That was his last season before he defected from Cuba. He was previously declared a free agent by the Major League Baseball. Lopez, who has residency in Haiti, must be cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury before he can sign with a team. He held a showcase on November 8 and will show off his talent in front of big-league scouts next week. Lopez is 6-foot-4 and weights 190-pounds. He offers a cut-fastball, changeup, curveball and a slider. Reads like a copy - can you link the source please?

It does bother me that this guy got hired after this performance in the last department. Background checks need to go beyond electronic criminal checks when it comes to police work. That's a process problem for this PD. QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 5, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) Police have always been authoritative assholes, and it's been made worse with the government giving them military gear. I'm guessing a large number of police these days are ex-military, especially police classes that have graduated in the last decade. The ex-military thing is not new. Police work has always been heavily populated with ex-military types.

Sox also signed RHP Arcenio Leon. 28 year old, was a ranked prospect in the HOU system at one point. Last with Brewers org, is playing winter ball down in VZ right now.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 5, 2014 -> 01:28 PM) Well, with all your training, you'd know. While I doubt there is a specific guideline on this, it is certainly true that from the training (and experience) I had, there is no good reason to address the suspect in the way they did. Driving up within a few feet like that was, in my mind, poor tactics. That said, I think there is a lack of understanding in this coversation (here and everywhere) of the difference between bad tactics resulting in tragedy, and crime resulting in tragedy. The New York situation is a perfect illustration. The guy was put in a choke hold (which is a desperation move and should be avoided), and not let out of it (terrible idea), and died. Was it murder? Absolutely not. Should the cop lose his job? I'd say so. What happens in between is the grey area - was it criminal to any extent? Maybe involuntary manslaughter? Not sure, that's hard to decide.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 5, 2014 -> 05:52 AM) Jai Courtney is the actor. I do not what is fascination with him as an actor. he is Eric in Divergent. however it for me, it looks interesting. this is my opinion only. For some reason, there are some actors in certain roles that I just have a really hard time imagining anyone else in. For me, Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese is one of those. And I'd go so far as to say it would be tough for most Hollywood types to get him right - the tendency will be to go too pretty. Everything about the Reese character is the opposite of some sort of sex symbol, or should be.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Dec 4, 2014 -> 04:35 PM) Maybe Danish? If Micah is Top 100 then it doesn't mean much to be top 100. A little hyperbolic, no? If Danish is there it's fine, but if it is Micah, it sullies the whole list?

In a cruel twist of fate... Four Denver PD cops were injured, one critically, while they were escorting and protecting Ferguson protestors in Denver today. SOME of whom were verbally berating the cops for being there. Conflicting reports on what caused it (driver may have had a medical issue), but a driver sped through an intersection and slammed into them, dragging one of them some distance before crashing into a parked car.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 4, 2014 -> 02:11 PM) Happy Christmas party? That should be me tonight. They are doing it at Shay on Ontario tonight. Never been there. Sort of. Post-work thing. 4 7-point beer pints on an empty stomach. Oops. QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 4, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) It really was a shame no one was here to console you. Instead you just started sending out absurd tweets from the FutureSox account. We had to claim that the site was "hacked". LOL, I remember thinking (in a haze) that I needed to be careful not to do that.

Pretty sure they're high

Just ate two McDonalds cheeseburgers. And some fries haven't had mCD in years. Tastes pretty good. Pretty sure that's the La Fin Du Mond talking.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 3, 2014 -> 08:48 PM) This thread is really pretty pathetic for all of 2014. No s*** Sherlock! I'm posting in a drinks thread for the first time ever and no one is here to converse with me. This train ride is boring.

Never trust a man in a hat.

Took me 4 tries to log in on this fixing phone. And why is this thread on the 2nd page? Losers.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 3, 2014 -> 12:57 PM) Beane gave 4/5 stater Kazmir something like 2/$18 (I'm sure we'll read of the clamor to rent his services soon enough). He's overpaid in terms of salary for a number of players over the years. REcently he's giving more than he's getting in trades...Donaldson trade was okay I guess but he probably got the short end; he way overpaid in Shark #1. We'll see about Shark #2. Hopefully some other team will give Beane that "high value" 1 year of Shark deserves. Wrong thread?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 3, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) another read on the contract offer process. http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/non-...tting-salaries/ highlight We pretty much wrote that exactly in our article on this as a possibility. So did Larry from South Side Sox.

Want to do a scouting trip for Future Sox to the DSL affiliate in Boca Chica Baseball City, DR. Also want to see an Olympic event, doesn't even matter to me which one.

I have family in the Phoenix area. Their neighbor one day opened their front door to find a Gila Monster sitting along the door sill, just looking at them, blocking their way out. They elected to go out another door.