NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:13 PM) Uribe is another example...and this really was POIGNANT during the time where he was involved in the shooting/kidnapping/attempted ransom situation. Someone brought this up yesterday, in terms of their attitude about Venezuela and an incident in Winter Ball...I can't imagine the same thing would be said about Canada or Japan/Korea....maybe even Cuba, DR or Puerto Rico. Is that because of the negative attitude towards Chavez or based on something factually different about Venezuela? I've been in all those countries and lived in Colombia for one year, and Mexico, to me, is a lot more dangerous and 3rd world-ish. The whole situation with BA, he contracted some type of bug/virus (or maybe it was food poisoning), but he was really sick. I think he lost 20-25 pounds, something pretty dramatic. That was also the offseason that none of the Sox players started off very well and there was basically a mutiny against Razor Shines....in the Winter Leagues, if you don't perform (like DeWayne Wise) in as few as 2-3 games, then you will be released from your team. I think this happened with Borchard before. At any rate, all of the White Sox players were considering leaving at the same time to show support for Shines, it was a huge disaster for the organization. What? Uribe was accused of shooting an Italian naval officer - of course he got flak for it, as anyone would. You really think if Anderson did it he wouldn't be treated the same? Actually, since the culture in Latin American around these athletes is such that they are targets of all sorts of crap, Uribe was given the benefit of the doubt. Uribe has been made fun of for his weight, not his hispanic background.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:02 PM) I dont think anyone really fully knocked down the Crede vs. Dye explanation I gave. No one really took apart what went on with Wise vs. Getz and their receptions. Someone tried but I dont know if it was enough to convince me. If what I'm saying is so flimsy and without merit, I should be getting good explanations. Instead it's just anger. People are coming up with some of the greatest White Sox hitters ever to knock down this argument, and mentioning Alexei's unreal rookie year with all those grand slams. But I think that's my point, that the untalented lovable grinder guy very often seems to be a white dude. Not always but it leans that way. I cant explain it but it's there. You got good explanations, they just don't fit your view of things. Crede does not have some gigantic fan following that Dye doesn't, and in fact on this board, Dye comes off better than Crede. Getz is a ROOKIE who has done well in the minors, and his getting his first shot - that is entirely different than a 31 year old who has sucked for years.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:58 AM) When was that post? I think I missed it. Also, I was only basing my theory on two cases: BA/Wise and Crede/Dye. I feel those two cases are more relevant to the original question posed my Caulfield than bringing up other people from the history of the White Sox organization. Although, the Bevington/Guillen point is very valid. And your Crede Dye example is manifestly wrong. Dye has a huge fan following, and is criticized less here than Crede was. As for BA/Wise, just please, take a look at Wise's career results. You will quickly see why people were upset that Wise was leading off.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:59 AM) Yeah, didn't think it was a big deal. It's like at a wrestling event where a certain part of the crowd worships Matt Hardy. Do what you want, I just don't like it. And I have no idea who Matt Hardy is, so, I don't even know what you are referring to there.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:57 AM) It's been a running joke on the board for 4 years and very, very true. I'm aware its been brought up - still classless, IMO (specifically the fatty part). But carry on.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) But if people are booing the front office for not getting a Coco Crisp, if that is what people are arguing... ...then they should boo both "growing pains" and "unproven crap" SouthsideDon and myself have both said the following: We're not calling anyone racist. Put words in our mouth if you want. Here I am, I'm white and I consider myself a well-intentioned guy. I still find myself thinking along racial lines at certain times. I cant help it. I'm saying the fans did this as well with Wise and then heard each other kind of letting out a boo after TWO at-bats...and it reached a groundswell. Pretty soon it was happening each at-bat. If Jeff DaVannon had been called up last year from Charlotte (where he was a AAA backup OF), and asked to lead off, because he was speedy and grindy (but was lousy at baseball), he'd have been booed the same exact way.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:41 AM) Christmas come early for the fat female teenagers of Chicago. Was this necessary?

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:47 AM) The way people treated Uribe comes to mind. Uribe's defense in the infield is as good as Anderson's defense in the outfield. And both has similarily-frustrating at-bat performances. And this board, and fans as a whole, were seeing Uribe as exactly that - he was loved by the fans, his defense was talked up big time, his hitting not so much. Uribe is a perfect of example of a lack of racism, not the presence of it.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:40 AM) I'm not posting anything over the top, race subjects like this is always going through my mind. I'm always looking at the bigger picture, and sometimes people might not like the bigger picture even though it might be close to the truth. And no, I'm not trying to create an impression. I've been here since August, why would I feel the need to make an impression if I've been here that long? Just because I share an opinion that's unpopular doesn't mean I'm trying to make an impression. As I'm typing this on my cell phone, I'm just laying down waiting for the White Sox game to come on. Then perhaps your ire about racism should be directed into the mirror.

QUOTE (Sox It To Em @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:39 AM) Good Lord. What's the point of this? Well, he's better than Owens as a 4th OF at least. If Pods is there to be a 4th OF, then I agree, he's better than Owens, or Wise for that matter. But the fear is of course that he'll start over BA. I just hope that Brian gets a real shot - a month or so would do. If he flops, then he can platoon with Pods.

Holy moley!

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:33 AM) Eh, thanks for the warning. If people want to flame me, they can go ahead. It's not going to bother me because if people get so defensive over me giving an honest opinion, then that kind of make me wonder why they're getting so defensive, as if it struck a nerve or something. I wasn't trying to get anyone riled up, it's just silly how upset people get when people make objective statements. You just said the board behaves in a racist fashion. How do you NOT expect that to create some negative reactions?

This is getting ugly quick. Let's not have to send this to the Buster. QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 11:29 AM) I'm not saying the board is racist, nowhere did I say in my post the word "racist". For better clarification, I think a better term would be "inherently biased". That's it, just biased behavior. Being biased and racist are two totally different things. They are not "totally different", they are identical - biased in regards to race IS racism.

OK, I'm jumping back into this now. Have a new daughter (4 months old), and its not just for me anymore - need to be healthy for her too. Current weight: 252 (was a high of 261 a month ago, before I started working out again) Goal weight: 200 by end of year I'm 6'3", used to lift regularly and have some decent strength still, but lost a bunch. Want to lose 60 pounds of fat and put on 10 pounds of lean muscle mass. My killer: at work, in the office, they have free soda, snacks, etc. Must stop drinking soda. My plan: work up to biking to work every day (by early May), plus upper body muscle workout spread over the week. Keep breakfasts small, snack healthy during the day, keep eating decent dinners (wife keeps me in line there), and avoid the damn pop at work. Also will be playing softball once a week, but that's really just for fun. And... go.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 11:40 PM) I don't have a gut. I'm 5-10, 135....I'm looking for a little more definition in my abs, not so much trying to burn stuff off of a gut. Bicycles and crunches of various sorts, with or without domes/exercise balls, are great. I'd avoid true situps, which are actually bad for your back.

Starting very soon here, I'll be doing something I did years ago, that is a great way to get in better shape, tone lower body and a little core, and get an aerobic workout in while commuting. I'm going to bike to work. My ride is about 6 miles each way. I do it on an MTB with knobbies, which is a lot more work than a road bike with skinny tires, but that is part of the idea. I go basically all out for 30 minutes to get downtown and park the bike at the gym. Do 3 or 4 weight sets (upper body and core), shower and change, walk to work. Go back there to change after work, bike back home. At a high pace of biking for 30 minutes / 6 miles each way, I'll burn 600 to 900 calories (depends on what source you look at), get in two aerobic workouts, save myself the $75/month for the CTA pass, and not add any extra time to my day (since I have to commute anyway)... its fantastic. And I need it, bad. I've gotten into terrible shape the last few years - I clock in at 6'3" and 250-ish right now. Need to be about 200. I figure if I do this all summer and into fall, I should be back down to 200 by the end of the year. If anyone here works downtown and lives somewhere else in the city, I highly recommend this option. Anyone else do this?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 09:16 AM) Maybe their park makes them into a lot better hitters than they actually are? Thus, when they're on the road, they have a lineup full of mediocre to average players? Were you responding to my post, or someone else's? I said it shouldn't make AS MUCH a difference as it does - not that there would be no difference at all. Unless the fences are 100 feet closer, the difference shouldn't be as dramatic as it is, consistently, for their power hitters.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 09:16 AM) No rescinding of suspension. Get a friend, neighbor, or wife to take the daughters. This movie will make your testicles evaporate. You sooooooo don't have a daughter, do you?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 08:59 AM) They score a ton of runs at home because it's the best park to hit at in all of baseball. The infield is like concrete, and the warm weather allows the ball to carry to all fields. They've had a lot of turnover with their team over the last few years, so I'm sure someone would have snitched by now. Don't you think DeRosa would have said something when the Cubs played there a few years ago? It shouldn't make as much of a difference as it does though, I don't think. I am not 100% convinced its going on, but I am leaning that direction.

Anyone know what kind of velocity he had?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 07:58 AM) I thought it was great. Especially because of the size of the font you chose. I was picturing you going Office Space on your printer. PC Load Letter??? WTF does that mean?!?!?!

Well wite, your tribute thread made it to post #7 before it turned negative.

Anyone know anything about this Garrett Johnson guy, started last night for Kanny? Looks like 29th round 2006, the dude is listed at 6'10" and 205 pounds (skinny). Spent 2007 at Bristol in relief, did terrible, but at age 19. Then in 2008 at 20, repeated Bristol and did pretty well, but as a starter (not often you see the move that direction). Now he's at Kanny at age 21, startting again. Anyone have any knowledge on this guy, other than what I can get from baseball cube?

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 10:26 PM) That's funny, given that he had multiple good years, is considered to be a great guy, and has shown very little that suggest he was ever on drugs. I don't want to derail this thread, so, I'll just say that I disagree with your assessment.

Glad to see that BA will get a shot to show his stuff. Hopefully he gets to play regularly for at least a month - then I think we'll have a good picture of where he is at. I have to say though, that rant I had earlier was sort of liberating, even if it was a gigantic overreaction.