NorthSideSox72

We donate to a dozen or so different charities a year, some of them are ones people would be familiar with: St. Jude's, Mercy Home (Park Ridge). Another couple are specific places where we know people involved - my wife's uncle runs a Haiti mission that has built a school and some other stuff (I also went to Haiti myself once and helped them set up the first internet "cafe" in the entire province, in the school administrative building. I tend to favor environmental causes, but a lot of national organizations (Sierra Club for example) spend a TON of their money on lobbying and the like. There is one exception though - The Nature Conversancy. They also do some lobbying (they all do), but to a much smaller extent, and they use a different model for most of their spending. They actually go out and either outright acquire, or purchase easements of different types, for land they want to protect. They use their own or other scientific resources to study the land to see what it needs to be healthy, comes up with a future plan for it, and the plan dictates who the sell it to and with what easements. Once the land is sold, they move onto the next. I just really like that, instead of spending most of their money complaining to other people, they use most of it to actually DO something.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 13, 2014 -> 12:06 AM) Alexei Ramirez is one of the most underappreciated White Sox players in a long time. He's a been an asset for us for six years already and a feather in the cap of Rick Hahn. He hasn't been able to get all facets of his game working at once, but he has always made himself a productive player. Doesn't hurt that he's been clutch and a firey player throughout. I'll be rooting for him after his time here is done. Still one of my favorite White Sox pictures, ever.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 13, 2014 -> 07:08 AM) Good morning all !!! As we come close to the start of another yr of sox baseball, I can't help to get excited about all the new players we have. What I trying to figure out is and I thought will be a good eval of our prospects, after the season starts, some of our top 20 prospects gong with the parent club up north, how does the next group of prospect looks. Which players to start getting excited about, and lastly which players will slide to the new order.... which I am not even adding how the draft will add to that pool. to everybody, have a blessed year !!! Well, if you look at the Top 25 list, and eliminate guys like Abreu and Johnson who will be going north with the team, that gives you some idea. As far as guys outside that list that may "pop" this year, we did a couple "Next Wave" articles - one is pitchers, the other is position players. We also took a look at some guys in the LatAm pipeline who you may see with affiliates this year. Give those a read.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) That's pretty much what I thought you meant...and yes, that is definitely one of the incredible things about living in Chicago, or most major cities, for that matter. Chicago has an incredibly rich culture in terms of those things you highlighted. I don't think you're ever going to replicate that unless you move to another major city, such as NYC, LA, etc. That being said, you do have quite a few major cities in Texas to get your "fix," and I do think cultural diversity is fanning out further and further every day, especially as more and more folks are exposed to it as a result of tv and the interwebs. Missing out on the culture of Chicago is certainly the toughest thing for me. Ultimately, there are going to be pros and cons to any decision to relocate, and you're just going to have to see what you value more. Like I said, it was a tough choice, but in the end, I don't regret leaving. Typically that is the case, larger cities have more of that. But I've travelled the US enough to see that towns, even smaller ones, can sometimes have a wide difference in that sort of thing. For example, I could look at a town like Taos, new Mexico, which is pretty small, but has a ton of art, music and culture, and a wide variety of people. Then I could go 20 miles down the road to another town nearby, of similar size, and it is quite the opposite. My idyllic, fantasy-land picture is a smaller community, next to or surrounded by natural areas of some kind (ideally with some mountains and water), in a warm or semi-warm climate (at least less snowy and grey than Chicago), with a diverse community, a short distance from a larger town or city with more to do. Am I asking too much? LOL

QUOTE (Señor Ding-Dong @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 01:56 PM) I see no point in keeping Zaleski and Pena Jr. in the organization any longer. That still leaves a ton of guys though. Zaleski is kind of a fun story. Dude is going into his 11th year with the same org, all in the minors. How often does that happen? But yeah, he doesn't seem to present any value beyond novelty.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 01:49 PM) Move to Denver. Its 300 days of sun, the city has become very habitable and progressive and the burbs are great. I fully recommend it. I've already lived in Denver, many years ago before married life. At that time (mid-late 90's), LoDo and Denver generally were really just starting to flourish. I think if I'd move out to one of those states, we'd be on some mountain property, just outside of a city like Denver, or Colo Springs, or Portland, or Albuquerque/Santa Fe. Be able to enjoy nature a bit more, but still be a short trip from lots to do. That is my ideal.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) Don't liberal social habits/customs generally rise from liberal politics? I'm not really sure I understand the difference all that much...but assuming liberal social activities means what I think it means, one would think having Austin nearby would be fairly ideal and provide for you and your wife a wonderful outlet for your social life. As for the weather, I am not quite sure I have ever heard of a woman enjoying humidity, but at least you guys have the "warm" part right I can't tell you how much more I enjoy life living in an enjoyable climate. I can't rule out moving back to Chicago, but after experiencing "nice" weather, I will say that many many things would have to align for me to move back to that god forsaken weather you guys have. I generally try to stay out of the business of telling people what to do with their lives, but I will say you don't know what you are missing... Yeah, I'm probably not wording this well. Forget "liberal", that was the wrong word. What I mean is, Chicago is a diverse city, with people from all walks of life, and the culture follows that. Lots of variety available in music, food, social events. Also means that people just tend to be more open-minded, and are themselves from lots of different backgrounds and beliefs. That's what I'm afraid we may lose in Texas. But again, I could be totally wrong on this. I just haven't spent much time down there.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 01:45 PM) yes, please Hard because aside from a few cousins/second cousins here and there, all of our relatives are clustered in and around Chicago and mostly in the SW-W suburbs. That's a major reason for not moving now, for us as well. Not just that we have careers and need to educate our kids in good schools, but both our sets of parents are in the Chicago area, along with other relatives, so leaving would be really hard for all involved.

So, my wife and I have joked around about what warm place we might move to later in life when the kids are out of the house. I like the southwest and mountain west - sunny and usually dry. She likes the southeast with all its humidity. The place in between is.... Texas. I've spent time in El Paso, San Antonio and Dallas, and driven through parts of North Texas. None of those much appealed, though San Antonio was fun. I stumbled across (online) this area of south-central Texas called the Hill Country. It sits basically between Austin (which I've heard is a great town) and San Antonio (which we liked visiting). It is mostly smaller towns, rolling hills, warm but only sometimes brutally hot in summer, pleasant in winter, wonderful in spring and fall, moderate humidity. Low cost of living, good outdoor opportunities, not far from a couple cities... sounds pretty idyllic to me. But to be brutally honest, as my wife and I are native Midwesterners and liberal-leaning SOCIALLY (not talking politics here)... I have concerns about being in a place that's maybe too closed-minded and lacking in the types of people we usually hang out with. Perhaps that is just my unfair perception of Texas. Anyone been in the area? Any thoughts on it? Is my perception unfair or incorrect?

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 12:51 PM) I think I'd get bored of Hawaii after a while. You'd also barely see friend and family, so I don't know how easy that would be. It's like starting an entirely new life. I'd always been telling my wife, after the kids are out of the house (youngest is about 2, so we've got a while, LOL), I really want to move somewhere warmer, sunnier, and with more outdoor opportunities. New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado all in the running, maybe even Texas hill country (though maybe not a great cultural fit for us) or Arizona. She was not so apt to go along with that... until this winter. Now she's on board.

It is still super-early, but I am feeling Beede for the Sox right now. Just a gut reaction.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Mar 10, 2014 -> 11:22 PM) I know a guy who confided in me he has $200,000 total. He is divorced but wife remarried and he has to pay no money to her. He is employed and currently healthy but we know how health can change in an instant. He wants to know what he should be doing with the money to make some rapid gains in his total wealth with about 10 years left to retirement. I had no idea what to tell him because my brother the tax lawyer has mapped out a plan for me. He wants rapid gains. What should he do? At that level, he could potentially be considered a sophisticated investor (this is a LEGAL term, not making a subjective judgment), and he could in theory enter into some hedge funds. But the reality is, there simply are no reliable outliers from the simple concept of risk versus return. Hedge Funds, even really good ones, can tank in a hurry and then those people lose a LOT. Same with any individual stock. Stock funds or ETF's and the like, the potential returns are more subdued, but with significantly less risk (and still can make good money if you invest smartly). Or you can buy bonds and make small returns with minimal risk. The key is horizon. A 10 year horizon is long-term investing. That means, probably, a diversified group of funds/ETF's are that person's best bet, IMO. QUOTE (greg775 @ Mar 11, 2014 -> 11:39 PM) Do any of you think the economy will flourish ever again, enough that everybody is fat and happy again? Did you not read SS2K5's post just a little ways up? The markets have gone crazy the last few years, with immense gains. Now, if you are talking employment and adjusted wages, that is a different issue.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) Yes, and a heading of 265-275 would be NNW. Actually, 270 is precisely west.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 11:40 AM) Will Hawkins and/or Mitchell ever reach the show with us? For me personally, I think Mitchell gets a cup of coffee and that's it. Hawkins is still so young and underdeveloped as a player, it is really hard to say. His ceiling is still quite high. Here a FutureSox piece looking at projections for those two, along with Thompson and Walker. Might help give you some background.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 10:24 AM) OOOOh I forgot about Danish, I'll put him at a 7, he's my favorite spect in this system. Forgot Hawkins too but won't predict that guy. Boom or bust & not any info yet on how his new attitude is going to translate in game. The fact that the Sox on multiple occasions basically came right out and said the kid was a headcase is concerning, but maybe last year really was what he needed. This season should give a pretty good clue as to his future path. The three I added are all still so early in their development, there is a ton of distance between their floors and ceilings. But they should all be in a place 5 years from now where we have a decent idea what to expect.

I added a few prospects (the rest of the T10 basically) to the list who I think may have an impact... Here's a scale to use: 0 = never plays in the Bigs 1 = cup of coffee/outright bust 2 = useful role player or specialist for a couple years 3 = very useful bench/backup/utility/MR option 4 = borderline starting position player OR high quality setup man OR 5th starter, several seasons in the bigs 5 = average starting position player all around OR quality closer OR #4 type of starter, several seasons in the bigs 6 = above average starting position player all around OR dynamite closer OR #3 starter 7 = generally an All-Star level position player OR #2 type of starter 8 = perennial All-Star position player OR true ace SP 9 = HOF candidate Here are the names, no particular order: Jose Abreu -7 Keon Barnum - 0 Rangel Ravelo - 4 Marcus Semien -6 Micah Johnson - 5 Carlos Sanchez - 3 Leury Garcia - 2 Cleuluis Rondon - 0 Connor Gillaspie - 2 Matt Davidson - 5 Trey Michalscaweersdfski - 1 Avisail Garcia - 6 Dayan Viciedo - 4 Adam Eaton - 5 Jordan Danks - 3 Jared Mitchell - 1 Trayce Thompson - 3 Keenyn Walker - 1 Adam Engel - 3 Jacob May - 5 ***ADDED... Tim Anderson - 5 Courtney Hawkins - 4 (with high variability) Tyler Danish - 4 --- Chris Sale - 7 Jose Quintana -6 Erik Johnson - 6 Chris Beck - 5 Scott Snodgress - 3 Daniel Webb - 5 Nate Jones - 5

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 09:38 AM) BBC has confirmed the contact by the oil rig worker with Vietnamese air traffic control http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26541057 So, that would make the Malaysian Military wrong.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 12, 2014 -> 06:44 AM) Well, we now have this report from the Malaysian military that the plane made a left turn of about 130 degrees right after communication was cut off. If there had been a massive depressurization, the plane would not have turned but kept going. I've heard two plausible theories about why the plane cut off contact and then turned. (1) Either by their own choice or by force, the pilots deliberately cut off communications and then re-routed the flight (2) There was a massive electrical failure that cut off all systems except the emergency navigation backup. The pilots re-routed the flight to try to return to Malaysia to land but did not succeed. #2 seems the most plausible to me.

Read it here. Should be interesting to see what happens to all these guys.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 11, 2014 -> 08:27 AM) Unfortunately though, if he's a step below those guys both with the bat and with the defense...he might be able to hold down the starting 1b job on a club that just needs a cheap 1b, but he's not going to carry a team to the playoffs and he's not going to have a lot of trade value either. It's plausible the Chisox could wind up in the mode of needing a cheap 1b at the end of their lineup in a few years if Abreu moves to DH, but even in that case they'd probably be keeping their eyes open for an upgrade. If anyone has any sort of scouting reports on his 1B defense, I'd love to hear them. He's new there so I certainly don't expect him to be especially good, at least not yet. But if he had the athleticism to handle 3B for even a little while, that bodes fairly well for him at becoming a decent 1B.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 11, 2014 -> 08:14 AM) This thread had drifted into a conversation about the missing Malaysian airlines jet a while back. Maybe it needs to be split into a different thread. OK, I see it is discussed in various places. OK, I'll see if I can do some thread surgery.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 11, 2014 -> 08:08 AM) Also, he wouldn't need to be as good as those guys to be a very solid player. Well yeah, I certainly wasn't saying Ravelo would have a career like any of those three. Those were All Star level players for numerous years. Was more just coming up with top-of-my-head examples of high-average, so-so power 1B's of a different era. Ravelo could perform significantly below that level, even as a 1B, and still have at least some value to a major league club.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 10, 2014 -> 06:15 PM) s***, we have an open DH spot next year. Wilkins has always been perceived to be a low-talent player, so I doubt he could ever have much value unless he produced in MLB You may be thinking of Dan Black here? Wilkins was a 5th round pick, drafted for raw power potential, ranked among org Top 20 each year through 2012 according to BA and our own rankings. His trade value isn't much because he's an "OK" 1B prospect who is 25 and blocked, but he was never what anyone would consider "low talent". In fact, a strong year at Charlotte and a mid-season trade of Dunn likely means Wilkins in Chicago this year. Black is more the mold of what you are referring to, in terms of being a guy whose tools have never stood out but has performed along the way anyway.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 10, 2014 -> 05:18 PM) Different one, thank god. Correct. This one is a converted infielder, was a starter at Charlotte last year. He's org filler, but they re-signed him.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 11, 2014 -> 07:12 AM) So the two guys who were using stolen passports have been identified. They are both Iranians, and according to family members, they stole passports in order to get into Europe where they were going to seek asylum. It is possible that their families are covering for them, but a Malaysian jet carrying mostly Chinese citizens does not seem a likely target for Iranian terrorists. Most likely just a coincidence that they were on a flight that went down. In other bizarre airline news, North Korea conducted an unannounced missile test that happened to come close to crossing paths with a Chinese passenger jet. That's pretty dumb on NK's part. If they piss off China, they pretty much cease to exist. Was this meant to be in another thread? Or is Malaysian Airlines a favorite of yours?