NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 08:53 AM) So once again KW is full of crap when he says he is done making any more big deals. Maybe. Or not. So once again, you just can't take anything literally, whatsoever, from KW.

Wow. I assume Abreu can't play CF, right? Therefore, this means someone is about to get traded?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 02:49 PM) I appreciate your subjective review of AJ's hitting, but the fact is, he was a terrible #2 hitter. 2008 hitting 2nd: .284 .307 .407 for a .714 OPS. thats pretty awful that high in the lineup. Thats exactly 5 points in OPS higher than Brian Anderson's stats last season. AJ was last season and always has been the most effective in the 6th spot followed closely by the 7th and 8th. He should be farther down the lineup. Also Alexei was far and away most effective when hitting 9th in the lineup. The OBP is pretty bad, you'll get no argument from me there. And again, I am not saying AJ is some sort of ideal #2 hitter. What people keep missing here, though, is that you have to work with what you have. Assuming Owens wins the CF job, then you can have Getz/Lillibridge hit #2, but then basically have rookies (and not exactly super-touted ones) in your first two lineup slots. Is that such a great idea? And if Anderson wins the CF job, then you really have Getz/Lillibridge as your leadoff, and then what? Looking at the lineup, the options are very limited. Lexi would be my choice, but AJ is a close 2nd.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 08:04 AM) According to the velocity of money, money spent does not have a material affect on the US economy for at least 6 months, and in reality, it is more like a year. Money spent in 2010 doesn't have a material affect until 2011. That is two years from now. If we are waiting for the markets to "price it in" we are in real trouble, because the markets are down about 20% since election day. This is including the period of time where Obama introduced and detailed this stimulus plan, and its passage has become clear. I would say that means the market has spoken quite clearly on its opinion of the plan. The marketplace seems much more interested in the "bad bank" plan, versus the "stimulus" plan. Here is a nice link on the velocity of money, and how much it has slowed in the economy right now. In other words, it is taking longer for money to move through the economy, and we are going to take longer to move money into the economy. Its a recipe for disaster. http://www.urbandigs.com/2008/12/you_want_..._deflation.html I understand the velocity of money - I was refering to the preternature of confidence and perception of reality. This is where Obama needs to be the salesman he is capable of being. People might dismiss it, but it has a real effect. He needs to get a bill passed and sell it hard. People's view will change, confidence numbers will bounce a bit, and the the panicked savings will subside a bit. That small, subtle set of changes will cause the markets to go up. The question is, can Obama sell well enough to make that happen short term, instead of waiting for the actual job and production numbers to increase (which as you say, could be quite a while). By the way, here is a little prediction I'll make. As you may have noticed recently, people are seeing home prices drop more rapidly, and sales numbers (existing homes) actually level or increase a bit. This is the last hold-outs giving in and dropping their prices. If that is the case, and people are looking to save/invest, and if Congress can pass a serious home buyer tax credit... you'll see the housing market start to show signs of resurrection. So, odd as it seems, Housing may actually be what starts an economic comeback.

Already posted in Future Sox.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 07:51 AM) And a columnist finally gets it! Why aren't the banks lending? Its the government's laws that are preventing them! I have only been saying this for months. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28985294/ It should also be pointed out, many banks didn't even want the TARP money, and we coerced into taking it. That's right. Many banks were pretty solid still, and were more than happy to ride it out. But the government in some cases basically told these banks to take the money or else. This despite the fact that the government also said the terms of the money could be changed at any time without notice. TARP was a gigantic stick to wield, when a much smaller one was needed. And the whole program was incredibly poorly thought out. We're going to look back at TARP and realize we needed only a small % of what we spent, targeted to specific areas, and that the government's lack of tracking and control made the program a near-failure. Honestly, as much crap as we hear about this "stimulus" bill (some of it rightly), I think TARP will end up being a much bigger waste of money. I was all for helping liquidity and a net, but, this was just done in a terrible way.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 07:10 AM) And waiting 2-3 years to do it. You keep leaving that part out. The Obama spending plan is not spending that is happening in a timely enough manner to save the economy. If things are really as bad as Obama saids they are, spending in 2010, which will have no effect in the economy until at least 2011, will do nothing to save the economy in 2009. I don't know how much more clearly I can say this... This plan is a fraud. The plan is a wreck, but I wouldn't call it a fraud. Last I saw, a large percentage will be spent by 2010. I am pretty sure this is 2009, and equally sure that the speed at which government could implement these projects (even the worthwhile ones) is not measured in days or weeks - its months. And I am sure you would know as well as anyone, part of the trick here is confidence, and the markets are going to fidget and roll based on the smallest perceived changes (whether real/current or not). The markets move first, and can help propel further confidence. If Obama and Congress can pass a "stimulus" bill that spends a big chunk of money with the perceived goal of helping create jobs, even if the spending is late 2009 or 2010, its going to have a material effect before the money is even spent. Its the mental part of the game. You and I may not buy into it, but a lot of people will, and the markets will price it in ahead of time. Caveat: I am NOT defending the stimulus bill as it stands. Just pointing out that the argument that its material effect is not helpful to the current economy isn't correct.

I am not sure where to put countries like China and India, that are making progress in uneven ways, and seem to sit astride the first and third worlds.

I had a co-worker try to pull me into his Amway racket some years ago. And mind you, I had only been there a few weeks, at my first white-collar job, on the bottom rung, and this guy was a VP.

Daschle, like Geithner, shouldn't pass confirmation. Neither deserve the posts they were nominated to. Unfortunately, both will make it in. Not only is this a mistake from a right/wrong perspective IMO, but it is yet another bit of political damage that Obama has elected to take on, when he easily could have found other qualified candidates who don't have this baggage. He is throwing away small bits of his political capital in supporting these guys, and I can see no logical reason to do so. Daschle may have helped with the campaign, but he certainly wasn't a difference-maker in it. Geithner bought Obama nothing. So WTF?

QUOTE (onedude @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) look about 10 or so posts up I posted about 5 or 6 of the superbowl trailers before the game. Yeah, some of those are gone, as Balta said, which is why I asked if it was new. Thanks Kyyle for the reference on where I can get it as well.

Silverio being overhyped again. He's a 20 year old who struggled at short-season A ball and, by scouting reports we've seen here, was a butcher defensively. There are about 4 shortstops in the Sox system that I'd rather higher than Silverios (Beckham, Miranda, Kuhn, Escobar, in that order).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 12:21 PM) But I think as currently built, the Sox have 3+ guys who would all have to fall apart to have AJ work in that role again. Getz, Lillibredge, Owens, and Ramirez all strike me as better 1/2 spot guys than AJ. Either they are a lot more patient/take more walks, have better speed, make better contract, etc. AJ is actually a decent guy for contact, hits to the right side or up the middle a lot when on the ground, can hit situationally, and is at least a smart baserunner. But he does lack speed and walks, and can't bunt. I'd rather see Alexei there. But as some people have pointed out, that takes away the hitting with RISP aspect for Lexi to a certain extent, and his OBP isn't great. Either one will work, IMO. The idea that one or the other is stupid is just not looking at what there is to work with. Unless Lillibridge converts to CF, you won't have him AND Getz in the lineup daily, so those are really one guy. And I'd like to see Getz, who profiles like a high OBP guy with some speed, lead off. Owens I just think is a weak spot, and should hit 9th, along with Anderson.

So, I missed the Star Trek preview during the Super Bowl. Was it the same preview that has been out there since late last year, or was it a new one?

There are two versions of answers to this question. Also, this is all assuming we don't do any more deals or signings, which is not at all written in stone... Here is WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN: CF Owens C AJP LF TCQ DH Thome RF Dye 1B PK SS Ramirez 3B Fields 2B Getz/Lillibridge (platoon until someone emerges) Bench: Getz/Lillibridge, Betemit, Anderson, Stewart/Armstrong/Lucy Rotation: Buehrle, Floyd, Danks, Colon, Marquez Bullpen: Jenks, Dotel, Linebrink, Thornton, Russell, Richard, Carrasco ---- Here is WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE: 2B Getz SS Ramirez LF TCQ DH Thome RF Dye 1B PK C AJP 3B Fields CF Anderson/Owens (platoon, but if Lillibridge could play CF, I'd want him there over either one) Bench: Lillibridge (if Getz struggles, flip them), Betemit, Anderson/Owens, Lucy/Stewart (Lucy if healthy, if not, then Stewart) Rotation: Buehrle, Floyd, Danks, Colon, Marquez Bullpen: Jenks, Dotel, Linebrink, Thornton, Russell, Richard, Wassermann NOTES: Broadway should be traded to the highest bidder if possible, if not, have him start in AAA again. Poreda should start at AAA to get those breaking pitches refined a bit more, but keep his arm stretched out for starting. Either one could come up quick if Marquez can't get it done, and neither one will benefit from bullpen time, IMO. Wise should be in AAA or gone. Cook should be re-signed for AAA if you can, and he should be the first OF replacement if necessary.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 11:31 AM) And if AJ does bat 2nd again, KW and Ozzie are even stupider then I thought. AJ is not a prototypical #2 hitter, but he did reasonably well in that position last year. Its not as bone-headed as some are making it out to be, when you have a team full of big boppers like the Sox have. They don't really have great options for #1 and #2.

I remember a summer olympics, I think 2004, watching a diving event. One of the Russian divers made his dive - and this guy was considered one of the best in the world - and he immediately snuck out in the back alley to have a cigarette.

happy x3 birthday!

QUOTE (4 points @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 02:45 AM) You think we beat expectations in 06 and 07? Quit tokin on the hype pipe, will ya. You apparently didn't read my post about his 8 seasons, and my use of the word "almost"... and I'm the one smoking something? Besides, '07 was a year the team sucked and most people agreed they would suck. 2006, they failed to meet expecations, no doubt.

I missed the first quarter and a bit into the 2nd. Did I miss any funny ads? Did they show the Star Trek preview yet?

He's actually ranked 4th overall, looking at the list. I might put him 1 or 2 lower, but, overall, that seems about right for him. His team beats expectations almost every year, he has 2 divisions in 8 seasons, 1 championship, and only one season with less than 80 wins. How many other teams can say all those things? I'm guessing the Yankees are about it. and until 2006, he did that with relatively low payrolls.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 11:28 PM) Stop sending money to foreign countries. Reduce the number of Federal employees doing nothing. CUBANO- You can't post in this forum until you read the "MUST READ" thread's first post at the top of the forum, AND post your agreement to it in that thread.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 08:35 PM) I think most people's problem with Owens is his defense. Jesse Owens also f***ing fast, BAD in CF. I personally think he gets slammed here far, far, far more than his play justifies. He does have a noodle arm. But his glove and footwork, his jumps and reads, as 2007 progressed, had all gotten pretty decent. People are just so up in arms about him maybe starting that they allow his arm to color their perception of everything else.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:49 PM) Yes I have said his illegal acts should not be considered illegal, just like I dont think Rosa Parks "illegal act" of not sitting in the back of the bus should be considered illegal. Really? Seriously? You're making this comparison?

Burnt cheese.