NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:40 PM) Extra Base Hits. Stop it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:18 PM) Kotsay 3 EBHs tonight. I'm calling it. EBH? Every-Body Hates? I'd bet there will be more than 3 of those in the game thread alone.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:33 PM) By the way, wanted to post this when other conversations died out. This guy is the Republican Chair of Mr. Obama's long-term debt commission. He's offered up some other ranting emails at other people who dared criticize his opinions about Social Security, but this one was the worst. Mr. Krugman replies: The White House, of course, accepted his apology...despite the fact that he didn't apologize to the white house, and didn't really apologize anyway (he did the ol' I apologize if you were offended). Regardless of his view of reality, which may be somewhat accurate, someone in his position should absolutely not be firing off letters like that.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 11:59 AM) You obviously didn't watch last night. He made Pierre look like a solid #3 hitter. That's true, I only watched a few minutes of last night's game. So I'll take your word for it.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 11:53 AM) I wouldn't mind seeing Alex getting the night off. Probably not a bad idea, though I really do think he's just starting to come out of his slump. He doesn't have the power right now, but is AVG is up a bit.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 11:22 AM) I saw him when he made his one home start with Birmingham. Nothing seemed outstanding, average stuff. He did attack the strike zone. Oddly shaped fellow, kind of stocky in the midsection. he had two starts in B-Ham, didn't he? What was his velocity like? if you recall.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 11:50 AM) Well...I'm afraid i have to ask...which of Angle's supposed "Gaffes" aren't basically explicit tea party positions? I think her views are tea party positions taken to some extremes.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 11:46 AM) Maybe, but I think a lot of voters are against the typical GOP candidate. I don't think they can win if they just take "I'm not a Democrat, vote for me" approach. But that doesn't mean having a gaffe machine like Angle in the general election is an advantage. There needs to be balance. That's what I was getting at. I don't think its a disadvantage to be bear the Tea Party seal of approval, in fact I think it helps more often than not right now. The problem is candidates like Angle who are gaffe machines and just overall terrible candidates, regardless of their affiliation. Then there is the wildcard - some races were won by more establishment type GOP'ers, and the tea partiers in those districts may run as independents, taking votes away from the Republicans.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 10:47 AM) I call it very unsuccessful last 2 series. 3-3 against 2 crap teams is not going to cut it. We need to gain as much as possible while the Twins are struggling and we are playing bottom feeders. Our schedule gets a lot tougher and we are likely to lose ground later. As for Cliff, I have my doubts. I heard he is exhausted and asked out of the game a few starts ago in the 6th inning. Hopefully he can turn it around. Royals series was a disaster, but I wasn't talking about that. I tend to take things series by series. A win here makes it a success - 2 of 3 from a team that came in 13-9 since Showalter took over, and gain 1.5 or 2.5 on the lead. Nothing bad about that at all.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 10:44 AM) This Oriole dude may have lefties hitting a ton against him and his ERA is approaching five, but the Sox have never faced him before and we always seem to make these guys look like CY Young. Let's start the chant now and get the karma flowing to the Sox hitters to clobber this Bird We didn't look good against the Matusz character who had an ERA of near six and we lost two games I haven't seen the numbers lately, but I remember seeing at some point this season that the Sox had beaten all or nearly all the first-timers they saw this year. Something like 7 straight wins against them. This year is definitely not the same in this regard. And Matusz is developing, and had been doing very well lately. He's a talented pitcher.

A win here guarantees not only a winning series (first in a while), which is big, but also guarantees the Sox will have gained at least 1.5 games on first this series. And with MIN facing Cliff Lee, it could very well be 2.5 games. I'd call that a successful series.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:41 AM) Someone asked LAs beat writer what he thought it would take for us to get ManRam, here's his ansewer for alll those who are wondering what it may cost. dylanohernandez @antonioG4L Probably inventory-type prospects... someone in the Jon Link mold... plus salary relief, which is what the #Dodgers really want. about 8 hours ago in reply to antonioG4L I know our system decently well, but not that well. Anybody have players that fit that mold? I also think that the Dodgers would take a lesser package for various reasons; first because we basically gave them Thome last season for their playoff push, secondly we gave them a lot for JP IMO. Finally these teams know each others prospects well, or should, because we share a ST complex and have for the last two years. We also have trade history in each of the past two years. If Manny falls to us I see no way of it falling through because of prospects or mannys requests. This may be a smoke screen to scare other teams away by saying he wants an extension and won't waive his NTC for just anyone. If all they want is Jon Link types, then yeah, we have a number of them, at various levels of readiness. That aspect would be no problem. Seems weird, if LAD really wants salary relief more than anything, then don't bother trading - just waive him to whomever claims him, so that they have to take the full contract.

What does your burrito tell you about the rubber game tonight, oh great one of the stained pants?

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 08:24 AM) Economist poll on Islamic community center Lowlights: - Only 50% think they have a Constitutional right to build it - 19% want to amend the Constitution just to prevent them from building it You have got to be kidding me. That's just flat out embarrassing.

So... Dylan Axelrod. He's too old to be splitting between AA and A+ (turned 25 this season), but his numbers have been all around great since coming to the Sox during 2009. 2009 between A- and A+ was very good, same this year between A+ and AA. 2-range ERA's, very nice K:BB ratios. Is he a prospect of any note? Anyone know anything about his stuff (I Googled, didn't find much)? I'm kind of surprised, with his performance and age, that he hasn't been promoted faster.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 07:08 AM) I've always wondered how a gay person could be a Republican. Man Who Managed The Most Anti-Gay Presidential Campaign In Modern History Comes Out Let me as you something. Do you agree with every single thing the Dems stand for? For that matter, does anyone agree with every single thing that the party they usually vote for stands for? Do politicians in those parties even agree 100% of the time? If his beliefs align with the GOP on 95% of things, then he's probably going to be a Republican, even though the Republican party has been so s***ty towards gay people.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 05:00 PM) It's really amazing that it's even as close as it is considering how bad of a candidate Angle (IMO) is. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/20..._reid-1517.html Which tells me, if the NV GOP had put up a candidate who wasn't nuts, they probably take Reid's seat with ease. Using Angle though, her verbal gaffes will only be amplified as time goes on, and Reid will probably win that seat again.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 04:02 PM) Once it gets past the Sox...the only real legitimate team that might claim him is the Rays. And frankly, if I were the Rays and I could afford the salary...I'd absolutely jump at the chance. Their DH spot has been as weak as ours. Yeah, it makes no sense for the Sox not to claim him if they plan to make a deal either way. They then still get to try for a deal with LAD, before they pull him back. And leaving him to fall risks him going elsewhere. If they want Manny, I don't see any gain in letting him go by on waivers.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:52 PM) It just leaves the door open to fans who are more emotional than logical. Thome's gone. People can't get over it. There are people who still believe getting Thome was one of Kenny's worst trades. I've seen a pattern of former Sox like Betamit and Thome hurt the Sox, but what did a formal Royals do to his team? Didn't he hurt himself? Wasn't one the reasons that Kenny got him was because he hurt the Sox? (still doing it I see) Who on here has ever said that?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:29 PM) So do you think he started in 1994? The guy has been a freaking monster his entire career. Well of course, no one really knows when he started. That's part of the problem.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:22 PM) Anyway, now the issue is I'm back to expecting to move within a year or two and I don't know exactly when. Well for your situation, I know its sort of tough, because you don't even necessarily know where you will be in a year or two. That's a whole different ballgame, and I am not sure what the right course of action is for you.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:24 PM) You said two pages ago that you sure as hell didn't want to sign him for 2011. That's what I am arguing. Correct. Right now, in the waiver wire period, Manny is the only good option. So, I can be on board with signing him for his production. Now in the offseason, its a whole different game. There are going to be moves, and other options, available, than a 39 year old who only plays hard on days he feels like it.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:21 PM) How is asking people not doing research on your own. Most info comes from asking or being presented voluntarily. Really? I always thought that as adults who aren't sitting in classes anymore, most of our learning is done when we go out and find the information we want to find. it doesn't just find you. Then when you hit a wall after trying, you ask someone. In the age of the interwebs, there are tons of resources at our disposal to find this sort of information.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:18 PM) Decades of steroid abuse? Riiiight. The hit when he came off the suspension last year. He's hit when healthy this year. I'm not saying he's the ideal candidate, but for our budget, he's a damn good fit for us. Now I'm not trying to be "pedantic" here, but Manny is one of the hitters of the modern era. His numbers are incrediblty consistent, his knowledge of the strike zone and his pitch recognition are amongst the best I have ever seen, and he will sell tickets. Some of the most vocal opponents of our current DH situation are also the ones who want to be really picky concerning who we bring in to rectify the situation from here forward. Color me confused. No one is saying not to get him (of those currently discussing it here). Where are you getting that idea? Did BS or I say not to get him? I said I was torn, but clearly saw his value. What is confusing?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 25, 2010 -> 01:16 PM) Pierre LF Ramirez SS Rios CF (Last 28 days: .216/.255/.299/.554) Konerko 1B Quentin DH Pierzynski C Jones RF Vizquel 3B Beckham 2B Buehrle P Time to move Gordon up. Rios is killing us in the 3 hole. Too early to give up on Rios, but I agree it might help to move him down - problem is, who do you put in the 3rd slot? And I'm glad AJ is moving up the order a bit, he's been hitting better and better in the past couple weeks. I suspect if/when we get Manny, he takes that 3rd slot with Rios going to 5th.