NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 02:46 PM) They're applying the same strategy in Afghanistan as they did in Iraq. Good to see its working. Not at all. The Iraq "surge" was multiple parts community policing, working with religious sects and local groups, getting out of the compounds, and getting cooperation from the right factions. This current wave in Afghanistan is about isolating baddies to certain areas, trying to empty out civilians, and then crushing the area militarily, while working with neighboring countries like Pakistan. The strategies really aren't anything alike.

QUOTE (Cowch @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 12:26 PM) For us who are just starting up on twitter can anyone provide some sort of list of people/sport updates to follow? I'd rather not have to go through pages of searching for some of them... thanks in advance. SoxNet FutureSox OzzieGuillen ESPY_Teahen MDGonzales There's a start for you.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 12:41 PM) It really is a shame what money does to politics. No doubt that politicians need money to get elected and re-elected. Also, if, for example, you are an alernative energy company and NSS (a strong advocate of alternative energy sources) was running for office, you would damn sure want him elected and would probably donate to his campaign. He in turn would be grateful for the support and easily accept your donation with a very clear concious. Later, if an alt energy bill was being debated, and the dollars were displayed, it looks bad. I don't think it looks bad, or good - I just think its good to have the information out there. If I was in that position, and some alt energy companies donated to my campaign, then put it out there. No problem by me.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 10:15 AM) The Sunlight foundation is streaming the summit. And they're using modern technology to display, ever time a person speaks, the campaign contributions they've receivedf from the Health Care industry. That's actually pretty cool.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 09:00 AM) It's not 3/4 lefties and 1/4 righties, that's my point. It's 52% lefties and 48% righties. OK, fine. Again, what's his overall result? And will Threets do better? It frustrates me that Ozzie doesn't use *OOGY's properly, but the reality is that he's going to have a lefty one, period. So saying you don't want Williams on the team can only mean you want a different LOOGY - how would Threets do against that matchup situation?

A few Trib articles... Rios on getting back to form, and the fact that he expects Jones to challenge him for the CF job (???) MB on the retirement debate, again

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 08:14 AM) Which, therefore, becomes an argument against Williams, because that's what he is. You have to work within the parameters of reality here. Ozzie wants a second lefty to specialize in getting lefites out. Sometimes he'll use them that way, but occasionally, he'll keep them in for longer. There is no changing this. So the better way to look at things is... how did Williams do overall last year? And how do we think Threets would do in the same situation (facing 3/4 lefties and 1/4 righties, give or take)?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 08:03 AM) Because our manager doesn't understand that when a guy gives up an .868 OPS to RH hitters and a .549 OPS to RH hitters, he shouldn't have 37 PA against RH hitters and 43 PA against LH hitters. That's not an argument against Williams, that's an argument against Ozzie, or against having a LOOGY at all.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 10:22 PM) Thanks!! I just hope Randy Williams does not make the team. At this point, his only competition is Threets, who hasn't exactly been uber-successful. Williams has the inside track, and will probably make the team. Why do you hope he doesn't?

Sort of useless if you are using an outside source of energy - its just adding a middle layer that costs money. Really only useful if you are going to buy fuel cells for it, use them, and get new ones. Therefore, makes more sense to be used commercially, not residentially. I'm way more psyched about the new solar wire-grid tech that gets 95% efficiency.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 12:11 PM) I think the issue is...he can't do that on his own because that is collectively bargained issue, while he may well be able to do that for the minor league teams. He can if its not per se prevented in a valid, legal contract. None of us really know exactly what that contract says. And furthermore, I believe the current overriding contract for the league is expiring after this season, right? I'd be this is something that changes, at that time.

The Lincoln Park property you guys are referring to, I think, is the current Finkl steel plant, which is closing this year. Its like 8 acres, in the middle of west LP. Its also not particularly close to any El stop, and the roads around there would be an abject nightmare if they put a stadium there. Also, the land is worth a looooooooooot of money, so I don't know who would be able to buy it, considering the length of return for that sort of thing.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 11:49 AM) I think Kyle Bellamy could be a big surprise in camp. The org likes him, but he didn't get a big camp invite, so I'm pretty sure they want him in AA this year.

Hope you don't mind, scenario, but I added a poll to your thread - who do you think will win the spot, at this point? We can re-ask in late March when we've narrowed it down.

Let's look at the picture here. These guys are set for the pen, barring a trade or injury: Jenks Thornton Putz Pena Linebrink LOOGY So for a 6 man pen, the only actual contest going on is for the LOOGY slot, which is Williams and Threets. If they take a 7th man for the pen (which I think is silly), you have these candidates; Cabrera Santos Hudson Nunez Dolsi Hynick Torres That's a lot of arms for one job that may not even exist.

I think its noteworthy that there are two NDFA's in the Top 30 list there. How many teams can say that? And is that a reflection of really good post-draft scouting, or an indication of how weak our system is? I'm guessing some of each. QUOTE (SoxAce @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 11:32 PM) I like the list. Glad to see my boy Trayce Thompson getting some love though I'm shocked Clevelan Santeliz is that high on the list. The Sox as an org are high on him as well, that's the impression I've gotten.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 08:28 AM) The thought that Chicago is higher priced than Vegas is kind of a myth. A company I worked for used to do shows. Although pricing in Chicago was higher than I thought to be acceptable, we were also charged $500 a day to access Wi-Fi on the convention floor for a show in Las Vegas. Its not that its higher than Vegas. Its that they prefer Vegas, so Chicago needs to be significantly cheaper to keep the business.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 05:19 PM) Just wondering: Did he just save the bank the price of having to demolish what I can only imagine was a total dump? Empty land is a lot more liquid and easier to sell, right? I mean as long as the land is worth what he owed the bank they weren't going to see any of the money from the house anyways. He did them a favor? Either way, complete idiot. Nowadays, with new home construction in such a shambles, open land is not terribly liquid. If the house was liveable, its worth more intact.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 03:55 PM) I don't know how it'll go down, but that stadium isn't going to last forever, and the price of legit restoration of a historic building in the middle of a city is going to be huge. Just bringing it up to code. Its on the same scale as a new stadium ground-up, I've seen the numbers in various articles. The Cubs are already planning piece-by-piece renovations of the stadium, over time. When they get to a point where even that won't do, they'll spend 1 season milling around The Cell and other stadiums in the area, and then get the new one in Wrigleyville the next spring. You know me Balta, I'm usually a shades-of-grey analyst, but on this one I am 100% sure the Cubs will not leave Wrigleyville, unless that neighborhood turns into a war zone.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 03:24 PM) Abolish the DH once and for all. poll now up in Diamond Club.

How does the SoxTalk crowd feel about the DH?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 03:24 PM) Abolish the DH once and for all. I'd be in favor.

The Cubs will never, ever, move out of Wrigleyville. I don't understand why people still think this could happen. the Cubs live and die with that field, in that neighborhood. Moving the suburbs makes no sense for them under any circumstances. And LOL if the Bears expect public financing for a new stadium less than 20 years after they just got a new one, spaceship or not.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 03:20 PM) Agreed. I also don't understand hitting Ramirez 8th. He's a better hitter than Teahan and Rios. I can understand the desire for a lefty to hit 5th to break things up but I was hoping that would be the DH. I can't see any other team using a DH as the 9th hitter. Perhaps we should move to the National League! I'd be willing to bet that, all things considered, Rios and Teahen both put up better offensive numbers in 2010 than Alexei does.

Its Keith Law, he really does seem to dislike the Sox, or just not understand them, for whatever reason.