NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 09:29 AM) Absolutely not. They need to set a precedent with that guy. If they do just let it go it is a way of condoning what he did and saying that actions such as his will be tolerated. Not the right way to handle it at all. Especially since it was on ESPN for the entire country to see. Completely agree. The organization and the police are doing the right thing to try to find this guy and set an example. The small minority of fans who do this s*** ruin it for everyone else, and I hope they find him and prosecute him. I hope they publish the picture soon. And you really can't fault the Cubs organization here anyway. Some jackass fan does something stupid, security (who doesn't have immediate video access) tries to clean up and gets the wrong (but also bad) guy, then they are trying to fix the mistake. I really can't fault the Cubs or their security here.

QUOTE (G&T @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 06:55 AM) Beckham on deck. Carlos in the hole (instead of Dye).

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 12:06 PM) My gut feeling is if we're re-signing Pods to be the regular everyday LF, we're going to see a 2007-type situation. He's still a 4th outfielder in a perfect scenario. Hudson and Figgins will both be huge FAs and I expect a bidding war, but we will need one of those guys (or Carl Crawford) for 2010. I don't think Dan Hudson will be ready. I expect a $1M retread like El Duque or Colon in the 5 spot. Really, with the quality of the other starters, all we'll need is an innings-eater. I'm in favor of resigning Dotel, or paying another good reliever his $5M. Leave Flowers in AAA til 2011 - sitting as a backup is not a good idea I don't think. How could you possibly think that this team, plus the talent waiting in the wings, will have a 2007-like season? I mean anything is possible, but every indication is that the team gets better next year. Heck even just doing the same would be a low end way to finish. But going 72-90? Simply because the team might have Pods in LF (meaning Rios in CF, CQ in RF, and Dye to DH I assume)?

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 10:55 AM) I'd imagine Jimmy Gallagher will start next year with B'ham. I assumed he would be in the OF.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 10:36 AM) Zilch. I got zilch. And we begin again?

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 10:29 AM) I wouldn't say Loman is old for A ball, he is still only 23. Seems like the Angels gave up on him a little too quickly. In regards to Schnurstein, I could tell by his demeanor last year and from what I'd heard from BamaJason who had talked to him, that his heart wasn't into baseball anymore. He chose not to accept a demotion last summer. I think Brandon Short of Kanny should get some love. He's averaging a RBI every other game. Now that I go back and take a closer look at Schnur's numbers, I take it back. Loman's numbers, while similar in K and BB ratios, are far better in core results. I'd have to assume that Loman will be the 1B in AA next year, assuming he doesn't leave the organization. Castillo isn't going to double-promote. I'll be interested to see what Loman can do there. With good numbers there, he'd be 24 at AA and only maybe a year older than typical for the level... you'd have to start thinking about him. Does anyone have a clue as to his defense at 1B?

QUOTE (Tex @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 10:26 AM) Try this on for size . . . LOL, only true since about 2006. Someone has a short memory.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 08:08 PM) Right field outfield seats. I know they sell a limited amount of tickets that allow people to accompany their dogs - def not just season tix, but they do go fast. I've gone just to walk through and visit with the dog lovers out there. It's really weird but fun weird. Actually its the left field bleachers, only. And definitely they go fast, and there are a very limited number of tickets.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) But sometimes they become ridiculous. Can you not be a party pooper?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 08:57 AM) And look where he's at now. A lot of things will have to go right for Loman to ever enter the prospect picture IMO. Yeah, that was part of my point - I'm on the fence as to whether or not to call him a "prospect" at all, though I think at the least he is worth keeping an eye on. As I said, if he can put up gaudy numbers in AA, and/or improve the walk rate, I think he starts to get interesting.

So... is it time to talk a little bit about Seth Loman? He's old for his level, but it looks like he had one bad year in Rookie ball in 2006, but then has raked when repeating Rookie in 2007, put up big numbers in Independent ball in 2008, and now big numbers at two levels of A ball. If he can put up similar numbers in AA late this year or next year... he's a lefty power-hitting 1B, which we seem to need. His walk rate way too low, but his K rate isn't terrible. His numbers remind me a bit of Micah Schnurstein.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 01:12 AM) Best I can come up with is panama or hong kong but those weren't sold really Shortly after the wall crumbled and the USSR did the same, Japan offered to buy Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands (which Japan had at one time owned anyway) from Russia in exchange for a whole lot of money. Seemed like an win-win deal to me, given Russia's extreme lack of capital and Japan's extreme lack of natural resources and real estate. But alas, Russia felt such an act would hurt their national defense, so they opted not to do it.

Jeez, we've already got posters at each others' throats and the game isn't for another 6 hours. Can we all cool it a bit?

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:18 PM) Yes, he is better than Kotsay as a late inning defense replacement. I think an extra arm in the bullpen would be more valuable than wise though. Our bullpen has been s***. They need all the rest they can get. I'm not sure Wise is better than Kotsay defensively. Kotsay doesn't have the range, but he is a guy who knows the position really well - he'll take better routes, get better jumps, and has a better arm. I'd take Kotsay over Wise defensively, though its close. And with the bat its not close at all.

QUOTE (watchtower41 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 02:42 PM) The flying Elvis' fly in on parachutes during the national anthem and afterwards right before the firwork display (fully equipped with roman candles coming out their arses), at least they used to jump before and after games, not sure anymore. They also have an Elvis look-alike parade along the warning track, and a bunch of cover Elvis acts. Looking forward to our annual patio party! Then after the game, before the fireworks, they do a looooooooooooooooong, painful tribute show with an Elvis impersonator doing like a 10 song set, before they even start the fireworks. It was way too much last year, took like 45 minutes, before they even started the fireworks. Hopefully they shorten it this year.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 02:07 PM) oklahoma Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooklahoma where the wind goes blowing down the plaaaaaaaaaaaaaain....

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 01:41 PM) Just say no to Pods. With Rios in CF and Quentin in LF, there's no room for Pods. He's going to get 3-5 million this offseason, and with his mediocre defense and bad base running, he's just not worth that. bad base STEALING, yes. But as for getting on base with his speed, taking extra bases, tagging, etc., he's actually still a plus baserunner in my view. But in general I agree, he probably has no place on the 2010 team, though you never know what changes may occur in the plan for KW.

QUOTE (chwhtsox @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 01:25 PM) In 2005 my wife told me, "I hope the Sox win the superbowl"...god I hate being around her when I'm watching a game. This reminds me of a great quote from the movie The Abyss. Points to anyone who can guess it.

QUOTE (tonyho7476 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) I hope he gets caught with a bag of blow in his back pocket, while playing the outfield. That would be cool. As we said, obviously you do care.

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:56 PM) Indians. witesoxfan. snow. wheat. lots of cheap booze.

QUOTE (tonyho7476 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 11:43 AM) Why do I care if this guy can't control himself? There are a lot of f***ing people who can't control themselves. Get your s*** together. I don't fell sorry for him or give two s***s about him. I got enough problems taking care of myself. Oops...I got drunk and did shots off young girls, while my wife and kids are at home. F him. No one expects you to care if he can control himself or not. But see, you DO care, because you said you couldn't wait for him to f*** up again. There is not giving a s***, and then there is rooting for someone to fail, which is what you did. That is what other posters were calling you out on.

I'm leaning towards preferring to sign Thome to a 1 year, sub-$6M deal. We need that power bat, we need the lefty bat, and he's going to be a big fan draw as he approaches 600 HR. But you don't necessarily have to not sign both. Pods is not likely to be the same guy next year - this has been an amazing comeback for him, but it seems hard to believe he can do it again in 2010. And TCQ is a health risk. You may see Dye AND Thome back next year, potentially.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 11:35 AM) I've heard the same thing, and was going on what I've seen and read. I'm not saying he WILL lead off, but he can. He's got decent speed. He's not a true power hitter by any means, and may be a #2 guy. I suspect, however, that we will see him lead off this some this season...maybe even this series. If Pods is in the lineup, he'e leading off. I don't think there is any doubt of that. When Pods is NOT in the lineup, I'd like to see Getz leadoff on those occasions, to see how he handles that. But I suspect that is where you may be right, that Rios would lead off when Pods is out.

QUOTE (suicidesqueeze @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 11:35 AM) Dye should come back for a 2 year deal, with a team option on the 2nd year. Maybe $9 mil per would seem to be a good fit. He can still play outfield for maybe 30 or 40 games, and be the main DH for the remainder. Although he is getting old, I feel that playing RF every day is the main reason for his finishing like a dog last year down the stretch and the current slump he's in this year. He's just too old to play RF everyday, plain and simple. Thome is a great guy, HOF, etc...but a one trick pony. We have been extremely lucky that he hasn't broken down at some point during his tenure here for an extended stop on the DL, and he's only getting older. You can't play him in the field for even a single game. For those reasons I say they should keep JD and let Thome walk. Welcome to the board! I agree with your first graf, and an argument can be made for Dye being the better option. But Thome has two tricks - OBP and power - and he is very good at both.

For those of us who cannot do audio at work... what did he say?