southsider2k5

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 03:46 PM) It's a total kick the can down the road mentality there. There's no easy solution, but doing nothing and watching them continue to build more sophisticated bombs and missiles to deploy those bombs isn't a sound strategy. Especially because they are a huge proliferation threat.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 02:32 PM) Hard not to be excited about Alec Hansen the way he performed this season. Really, almost all of the 2016 draft class gave us a lot of reason for hope and excitement going into 2017. With Anderson and Fulmer graduated, it is easy to make an argument for Hansen as our top prospect.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 01:27 PM) Right, not saying they are harmless, but forceful removal is not an option. Geographically they are easier to handle than Pakistan. China is not irrational. They don't want a west-backed full korean peninsula next to them, or an anarchy they have to take care of. They don't care enough about nuclear NK to force an issue with NK over this, but if NK ever starts stepping on China's toes than we may see movement. The problem that this has been a situation that has been festering for a long time now, and what we are doing isn't working.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 01:21 PM) It's just funny that outputs don't matter in that equation. Doesn't matter that Russia's economy has tanked, that businesses are not investing in it for fear of gov't thuggery taking it over, that they are more isolated than ever. All that matters is maintains his power through force. That's strength! Their psy ops, intel, cold war tools, they ARE all impressive. Their disruption with minimal means IS impressive. But, I don't know, I'd rather have a functioning economy and free gov't. My pref. Russia's economy has taken two really big hits simultaneously. The collapse in commodities prices, and the economic isolation due to the Ukraine stuff are just killing them.

QUOTE (Ezio Auditore @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 01:20 PM) They're not really big on relying on the outside. That's their national identity (juche, self-reliance) Except for how they actually got their nuclear technology...

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 01:13 PM) They are not feckless but the best option is to continue to monitor them, isolate them, make things difficult for them to do everything. But unless China says "yes we are fine with intervention and rebuilding" then it isn't going to happen. The longer they are isolated, the better the chances of their selling off technology is. They will become more and more desperate for hard cash. I see no reason to think they wouldn't sell the tech.

The biggest danger with NK is them doing exactly what Pakistan did with their nuclear technology. The big problem is NK needs the money, a whole lot of countries and organizations out there who would love to have the technology.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 12:55 PM) It was one of those hits where you think" huh, targeting isn't that bad of a rule" It was literally the hit that the rules were written about. It was textbook of what they are trying to prevent.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 09:38 AM) Denver went headhunting all day yesterday and the refs didn't stop it once. Poor show for their concussion safety protocols It was awful. The last hit to Cam would have been an ejection at any HS or college game.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 09:13 AM) Hell I'd vote for Romney or McCain before Clinton lol I'd vote for either of those guys over any of the entire 2016 Presidential field.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Sep 9, 2016 -> 12:34 PM) There's no doubt that Cleveland is a force to be reckoned with but they will still have some difficult decisions to make this offseason - resign Napoli and Davis? extend Santana or let him walk after next season? will Brantley make a full recovery from season ending surgery? can youngsters Tyler Naquin and Jose Ramirez continue performing at this high of a level? will Yan Gomes learn to hit again? They will most certainly enter next season as the division favorite but they are far from invincible. Consider this: the White Sox have a better, albeit slight, non-divisional record than the Indians. That just goes to show how poorly the White Sox have played within the division and how well the Indians have played within it but is this solely due to superior talent? If so, then why do the White Sox have a better record outside the division (43-37 vs. 45-41)? I still contend that filling the well-known gaping holes in this 25-man roster with average to above average talent (second-tier FA if you will) combined with changes within the organization (i.e. coaching, advanced scouting, etc) results in a team with the ability to contend for the playoffs next year. They don't need a top 5 offense to contend, league average will suffice, as long as they have a top 5 pitching staff and defense, which they are more than capable of. One final thought: Our fifth starter this season has a combined W-L record of 3-15 and an ERA of 7.77. So yes, the two starting pitchers that I have suggested as #5 starter candidates Edinson Volquez (10-10, 5.02 ERA) and Doug Fister (12-11, 4.14 ERA) would be MASSIVE upgrades from what they have gotten out of that spot this season. By massive, I mean 6 or 7 wins better just by replacing that one spot in the rotation with an average pitcher while keeping all else equal. In a general sense, one thing I see looking at this team is some really low hanging fruit that can improve the team VERY quickly. The performances that we got out of John Danks/ James Shields/ Raunando is something that can be improved upon greatly, without a significant move. The offense is another spot that is just begging for big improvement all of the diamond. The question would be how do you utilize resources to get those players, and that is what people get paid the big dollars for. But I would content that there are some spots were a lot of improvement can be found.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 06:20 PM) Alexei had 5 seasons with OPS >.700 and exactly 1 > .750. Besting Alexei isn't the highest of bars, and I have little doubt that he will shortly be better than Alexei ever was, if he isn't already. During the most dead era for scoring in baseball. For some reason, offense is back again.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 04:49 PM) Narvaez plus a health Avila would be fine, going for it or not. It's the healthy Avila that is the big if. Such a thing does not exist in nature.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 05:06 PM) Yup. Trump's smorgasbord of embarrassment is the only reason Hillary is still leading. Romney would have a decisive lead if he were the nominee. Trump might be the only reason Hillary can play hide and seek as she continually gets exposed as the most corrupt politician of her generation So much so that the left wasted the right wing label on guys like McCain and Romney, that they had to invent a new label because no one cared about the old one anymore... in lieu of anything resembling the sale of their own candidate to the electorate.

Chuck Garfien ‏@ChuckGarfien 57m57 minutes ago Michael Jordan wrote a letter to the Basketball Hall of Fame in support of Jerry Reinsdorf's candidacy. Chuck Garfien ‏@ChuckGarfien 60m60 minutes ago Jerry Reinsdorf appreciates being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but admits "I still can't quite understand why I'm going in."

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 55m55 minutes ago Strasburg diagnosed with flexor strain, but no ligament damage, #Nats say, with no timetable on return

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 04:03 PM) The bolded in a little debatable, but I agree with Omar has been a pleasant surprise. I hope he gets the majority of the starts the rest of the year, and I'd be perfectly fine with him as the backup next year. yeah, at an .824 OPS, he is out producing any stop he has ever had in his minor league career, and his career average by over 130 OPS points. I don't think there is any chance that this is the real Narvaez.

I think it is clear that MLB would rather have guys throwing 95+ and getting hurt occasionally, versus guys who throw 89-90 but stay healthy.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 03:22 PM) I think you are jumping the gun big time here. Even Gordon Beckham was a world beater in the beginning. He's doing well so far, but jury is still out. Tim Anderson 1471 MiLB PA's. Gordon Beckham 380 MiLB PA's.

QUOTE (Ezio Auditore @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 02:44 PM) This multi-page voter fraud argument has me considering killing myself. Anyone have any suggestions on how to go about doing it? Re-read this thread and die of your head exploding.

QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 02:39 PM) Our last shortstop, who was quite good. If Anderson winds up better than Alexei we should all be over the moon. This too. Alexei was a damned good SS during his peak. If we get that out of Tim Anderson, that is a big win for a team that has a reputation of not being able to develop guys exactly like Tim Anderson... raw, toolsy, athletes.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 02:38 PM) Yep. Talent level off the charts, just needs some time to acclimate to the game. I think he's a future All Star. And the important thing is he keeps getting better, even as he has moved to higher and higher levels.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 01:58 PM) Kinda sounds like our last shortstop. Anderson is about as raw of a player his age that you can have.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 01:25 PM) Scandals have been building far before the primaries and while I am sure you know that, but it should still be mentioned. Kind of like when Benghzai was at its height Hillary ended up in the hospital. At the same time, the Democrat thread is complaining that it's a media conspiracy she's not being covered as much as Trump. In all likelihood, that's what her team wants. Let's have Trump on TV with topics like racism and nukes while Hillary avoids press conferences like the plague. Totally this. They have to love this. The more the election is about Trump saying stupid stuff, the less that Clinton actually has to be a candidate herself.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 12:51 PM) I am not convinced there is a team willing or more likely able to give a major haul for Sale. I don't think Boston , New York or Dodgers will be willing to give up their core of young players now that all 3 are having solid 2nd halfs. I don't think Sale should be traded for prospects only. So I think in the end the Sox will not find a trade partner for Sale that will give them 4-5 MLB players/prospects in return. There are going to be 29 teams that don't win the World Series, including multiple teams out of the group of the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rangers who are deepest in their farm systems. It only takes one to make the move, or another to push the bidding up.