NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 02:38 PM) Let me know where you're getting a "top 20 hitter" for Floyd or Thorton. I personally think some combination of Danks, Quentin and/or Thornton should get you a LF that produces a lot better than Pierre did. That would be my goal, along with trying to get that from someone in pre-arb or arb years. If they are expensive, then you might as well stick with Quentin and put him in LF. But I agree, a "Top 20" hitter in baseball is not something the Sox can obtain with any of those guys.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 02:16 PM) Give it a little bit more thought though. All of our OBP is concentrated in Konerko and Dunn if De Aza isn't around. Maybe some of the other guys can provide some, but there's no one with a big history of it. Alexei, Morel, Viciedo, Quentin, AJ, Beckham...that's a very swing-happy lineup. You may not like the thought of looking for a leadoff hitter, but there's no one there who really sets up the lineup in front of what hopefully should be the boppers. There's no obvious speed threat and no one who you can count on to put up a .340 OBP unless someone hits .330. And if any of them (Beckham, Morel) struggle...then that is a lineup that is weak both at the top and bottom. If the lineup as a whole lacks OBP, then go get someone with OBP. If you want more speed, then go get that. But the artificial limitation you are placing just doesn't make sense, IMO.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 02:18 PM) The problem now is that the pit-bull has figured out that he can bribe people to take the leash off. I agree, that is part of the problem. But getting rid of your pit bull, as SS has suggested, means the other dogs attack you and you are defenseless. That is what I was responding to.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 10:33 AM) Marx was right; capitalism will eat itself. Capitalism is the engine, and the hunter, and you need it to grow. But like any aggressive creature, if you want to stay alive around it, it needs training, and a leash. Both are needed, not one or the other. A toy poodle on a leash means you get stomped. A fight-trained pit bull with no control does the same, just in a different way.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 01:16 PM) The other thing to think about De Aza vs. anyone else is...if not him, who leads off? Look at any of the other roster concepts and tell me that there's anyone who could fill the role of even a quasi-traditional leadoff hitter. Beckham? Quentin? Viciedo? Morel? Alexei? Rios and De Aza wind up being about the only options unless you want to try to move Alexei there. I hate this argument... who leads off? You don't build a roster looking for a leadoff hitter. You build a roster with the best players you can get for each and every slot, then after that is all set, you make the best lineup possible. Introducing the lineup location earlier in the process is just artificially reducing the potential talent pool to build a team from.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 01:21 PM) Trade Quentin, Danks or Floyd, and AJ if possible (by eating some salary). Trade Ozzie to the Marlins for one of those frozen Mai Tai backpack contraptions. Tell everyone to hit better. Maybe Vance Law can be the new manager? Are you available, Vance?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 08:13 AM) At least in a pitching/athletic performance sense...yeah, kinda. I think that's absurd. Saying intelligence and maturity are the same is like saying physical tools and statistical results are the same. They of course are not, though one tends to lead to the other. What I've seen so far, I think Sergio is actually a pretty bright kid, but he is still learning and maturing as a pitcher. Right now, often times, he is still just a thrower. That doesn't by any definition make him stupid, or a mental midget.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 08:07 AM) I dunno, one might consider those 2 things identical. You think maturity and intelligence are the same thing?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 07:46 AM) I'm kinda iffy on this one. It'd be nice to see Sergio get through a game where he has no control on his offspeed stuff and has to just get outs with fastball control. That's not lack of brains, that's just him being immature as a pitcher. This is a guy who didn't pitch even a full season in the minors, let alone college or beforehand. What you are describing is a perfect example of a learned pitching skill.

QUOTE (OilCan @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:31 PM) *sigh* yeah, I know Danman. Just hate it that the Sox have a better signal-caller in Flowers yet they want to play the Vet/one who stinks behind the plate. Bolded is a key here, in that the game calling is probably the biggest reason you don't rush in a new catcher if you can avoid it. Flowers has done well so far, but I would rather see AJ continue to start this year, and next. I wouldn't be 100% against trading him for the right offer, but I doubt that happens, so I'd rather see the team with AJ and Tyler in 2012, with Tyler getting a third of the playing time and spending some time at DH to get the at bats.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:23 PM) Some saves are padded. Me might have decent stuff but not the brain to match it. How does a blown save go with brain power? And what have you ever seen or heard Sergio say or do that leads you to believe he is a "mental midget"?

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 04:12 PM) Looks like tomorrow is finally the day college football is turned on its head. SEC is supposed to vote unanimously for A&M's entrance. The next likely moves are... UT, TTU, OU, Okie State to the Pac 12 Mizzou, Kansas, KSU, and Iowa State to the Big East The only school left would be Baylor, and they aren't happy about it. So the football schools to the Pac XX, and the basketball schools to the Big East, pretty much. Except maybe KSU is more football. Was this something you read somewhere, this configuration, or just your guess?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 05:31 PM) Rebuild the pitching staff mostly through those trades. If Beckham, Rios, and Dunn don't hit again next year they aren't winning anything with Danks, Floyd, Ramirez anyway. If they do hit, I believe they'd at least be able to contend while rebuilding their staff. Lillibridge doesn't have to stay at short, but it would be where he would be the most useful. The pitching staff, particularly in terms of starters, is the team's biggest strength. That is what you want to rebuild?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 04:48 PM) Deal them for who or what I do not know. The best package you can get is the easy answer. I wasn't necessarily looking for specific player names... more, what positions are you trying to upgrade? Because your team as stated has a bunch of downgrades and no upgrades. Only way that works is if you think Lillibridge can do better overall than Alexei, and if you think the great majority of players will bounce back and improve next year.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 03:56 PM) I'm still having a hard time with trading Carlos Quentin leading to the Sox being better in 2012. He's one of only two guys who has consistently produced this year. I know that Viciedo is up now, but with Juan Pierre hopefully gone and Morel and Dunn being so bad, there has to be some way to work both into a lineup. I see something more like: DH: Dunn/Quentin platoon LF: Quentin/Lillibridge platoon CF: De Aza/Rios platoon RF: Viciedo 1B: Konerko 2B: Beckham SS: Ramirez 3B: Morel C: AJ/Flowers platoon I also have Dunn and Rios on a short leash, especially if De Aza, Lillibridge, or Flowers hit like they did this year. There is enough flexibility to switch any of those platoon players over to full-time, and I have no problem getting Flowers some DH time if he and AJ are both hitting. Starting pitchers: Buehrle/Danks/Peavy/Sale/Humber Bullpen: Santos/Thornton/Crain/Ohman/Frasor/Stewart/??? So I'm advocating re-signing Buehrle because, like Quentin I don't see how you improve by letting one of your best players go; also re-signing Frasor, and trading Floyd. I don't know if Floyd can get an upgrade at 3B because I'm not sold that Morel will ever hit. Also need a utility IF younger than me, but I haven't really looked at who is available. Yes, this is a high payroll, but not as high as 2011 and All-in is supposed to be for more than one year, right? Pretty sure the salary of that team would be substantially higher than the 2011 roster. QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 04:11 PM) LF De Aza SS Lillibridge 1B Konerko DH Dunn RF Viciedo CF Rios C AJ/Flowers 2B Beckham 3B Morel Rotation: Buehrle, Peavy, Sale, Humber, Stewart Pen: Reed, Crain, Ohman Deal: Danks, Ramirez, Santos, Floyd, Quentin, and Thornton Deal them for who/what? Which of those positions are you going to upgrade? Hopefully SS, because Lillibridge would likely be a disaster there. Without whomever you get back in a deal, that is basically the 2011 team except a severe downgrade at SS, a downgrade in the rotation, and a bunch of holes in the bullpen.

Way too hard to tell what WILL happen at this point... so here is what I would WANT to happen... Fire Ozzie and basically the entire coaching staff (Except Cooper, who I would strongly suggest the new manager retain) Promote KW to some Team Prez type position, bring Hahn to GM, and let him pick his staff, including #1 input on new manager and coaches Let Pierre, Castro and Pena go If the new manager is OK with it, offer Vizquel a position as a bench coach or base coach, and de facto infield coach Re-sign M56 if at all possible (I will assume in this scenario that it is doable at about 3 years) Keep PK14, Beckham (whose chances I like to improve with the bat), Alexei, Viciedo, Rios (who I think is basically untradeable and may improve with dfferent leadership), Dunn (also untradeable), De Aza, Lillibridge, AJP and Flowers Rotation of M56, Peavy (who I think will be better next year), Floyd, Sale, and one of Humber/Stewart (with the other as the 6th man, and long man in pen) If you can trade Ozzie for Lo Mo, do it. But I will assume not, so... Use Thornton, TCQ, Danks and Morel* as trade bait to get a strong LF (and possibly upgrade 3B if you can, in which case, trade Morel) Try to trade one of the experienced and semi-expensive bullpen arms (Frasor, Crain, Ohman), as part of the LF and 3B upgrades Bullpen of Santos (closer), 2 of Crain/Frasor/Ohman (2 setups), Santiago (left specialist), Reed (MR), Stewart/Humber (long man and 6th starter), and either the remaining Crain/Frasor/Ohman or Infante or some other acquisition as the other MR Bench of Flowers, Lillibridge, Tyler Kuhn and Alejandro De Aza (who would pretty much platoon with the other OF's, making a 4 OF rotation of sorts) ...By my math, but trading Thornton, TCQ and Danks, you save about $18M-$20M in 2012 to go towards M56 and the new LF. I figure M56 will get $12M/year for 2-3 years, if I had to guess. If the new LF is a younger guy and not a pricey free agent, that should be plenty of money to cover. And that leaves the team, more or less, at an even salary level with 2011. Not sure if JR will go for that much salary though. Just what I'd hope is all. AND MY QUESTION TO THE BOARD... who are some good OF candidates that might be available in a trade involving some or all of TCQ/Danks/Thornton?

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 12:46 PM) I do know no one said that just like no one said the manager makes no impact on the game and doesn't matter. Of course the manager has an impact, it is the level of impact that the argument comes from. I place Oz 4th or 5th on the responsibity list, others place him higher or lower. Players can overcome bad decisions better than managers can overcome bad players. So what exactly, in your view, would be the types of things that would make you start to put problems onto a manager?

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 10:35 AM) Split about another 2k on F, GE, DE, MMM today. Trying to diversify my portfolio a bit and I really see some growth possibilities in these companies, especially Ford where they performed pretty well lately and imo is undervalued at about $10.13 per share. QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 10:37 AM) Also, what do you guys think about BAC? Is that a stock that will keep going down or is it a decent risk at under $7 a share. The entire markets are undervalued. I just saw a quote today from a money manager, saying that he couldn't remember a time when stocks were so cheap and no one was buying. That means, short term, things might get ugly... but long term, this will be looked back on as a huge buying opportunity.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2011 -> 12:21 PM) The author of this piece is a recently retired Republican staff member who spent 28 years on the Hill working for budget and defense committee members. So, lifelong Republican. It'd fill up 6 pages if I tried to excerpt everything. It appears to be a legitimate, cathartic rant about the people who are taking over the party he worked for. That's pretty much a description of my political feelings as well. I was a pretty reliable Republican voter for my first few election cycles... until the GOP took a hard right turn and decided science, intelligence and true fiscal discipline were all evil.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 5, 2011 -> 12:39 PM) I'm uncertain what those symbols are supposed to be. Rhombuses? Not equal to

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 4, 2011 -> 02:29 PM) So the 2005 team won despite Oz and the 2011 team lost because of Oz. 2005 Ozzie 2011 Ozzie also... 2005 team situation 2011 team situation

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 02:56 PM) Good timing with a pretty terrible article in ultra-conservative blog American Thinker: If that's not bad enough, here's some of the comments: I don't know how long you can keep claiming Republican voting law changes just happen to disproportionately affect the poor and minorities when there's vocal strands of conservatism that actively promote disenfranchising the poor or basing voting rights on income levels. Who is claiming that? And furthermore, do you really think these wing nut whack jobs represent the entire GOP?

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 01:19 PM) Shane Lindsay should be intresting. I agree, I am really curious to see what he looks like out there. Also psyched to see the other two.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 11:49 AM) I just read today where regulators are requiring firms to turn over their proprietary algo's. I predict a zero percent chance that it will be that simple or that blanket. No way the regulatory agencies can ask for proprietary strategic information without incident-specific cause. Won't survive a court challenge.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 11:38 AM) That was just smug defense of my own job! but I'm assuming you're referring to dodd-frank? That, plus there are a number of other pathetically bizarre attempts and derivative rules beyond that, plus the FRB and other banking agencies talking about capital reserve requirements and lending requirements - all very basic stuff for a lot of shops. As everyone here knows, I personally was fine with TARP, in fact it was quite successful. The problem is they didn't follow it up with the right regulations, and when things finally started being put down on paper, they are all so vague as to be useless. They completely failed on post-TARP. This should be among ObamaCo's top priorities in his administration, is getting these regulations solidified and codified. The vagueness actually gives him oportunities to do a lot with it too, without Congress, but for whatever reason, he's punted it over and over again. This could give him some very good political capital, if things can get done, that he can show the voters, and put the onus back on the industry itself.