southsider2k5

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 12:14 PM) That's not true for public institutions. U of I is getting my tax dollars regardless of my current opinion of my alma matter. I'm only stuck with the current politicians in office until the next election, when I will again get a voice in the matter. I will never have a voice in wealthy alumni using their donations to influence how our public universities are run, though. By your logic, you vote for different politicians to influence school policy.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) No. But public officials are at least ostensibly accountable to the citizens; we all have some say in who gets elected. Private wealthy donors are not. Except you have the choice to go to or support another university. You don't have the choice for another politician. The one in office is the one you are stuck with.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 11:55 AM) What do you mean conspiracy theory land? There is an ongoing case in the real world where an academic hiring is being reversed due to pressure from wealthy alums. There was also the eventually failed attempt to remove UVA's president in 2012 that was at least partially influenced by two wealthy donors. I don't think running public institutions on that sort of patronage system is a good model. It leads to corruption and undue influence. I see no reason why a donation to UIUC should buy you a say in who they hire. You do know that most (if not all?) public schools have had their funding cut repeatedly over the years and that rising tuition rates reflect that, right? There are other causes as well (bloated admin salaries and head counts), but loss of public funding is a major part. This was done in IL by many politicians. Should we remove governmental oversight of the public schools?

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi 2h Alexei Ramirez has most infield assists of any MLB shortstop this year. Career-high OPS+, as well. Excellent all-around season.

Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 1h Tyler Flowers has 2 bWAR and 1.4 fWAR despite a less than league average showing on offense. Enough to convince you? http://bit.ly/1qoqppi

Awful Announcing ‏@awfulannouncing 22m Vin Scully plans to only call games in Los Angeles in 2015 http://dlvr.it/6pG5mP

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:30 AM) Speaking of UIUC, they've opened up a s***storm of academic/professional backlash against the administration there over their decision to "dehire" a new professor who had accepted a tenured position over some harsh tweets about Israel/Palestine. There was a big document dump of emails thanks to some FOIA requests, and what's pretty clear is that some wealthy donor alums have enough power and influence over educational institutions that they can control academic hiring decisions. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/201...onors-fury.html We've seen the same thing with politicians in IL as well. This is about the least surprising thing ever. Colleges are just well paid whores anymore.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) really, i didn't know that. wow, whom ever suggested it, was really thinking about the big pict. It was referred to specifically when Sale was in his first full year as a starter, the team (Coop specifically) talked about some of the other stuff they cut back on to give him more chances to pitch in real games.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:28 AM) The question is how much of your remaining talent you are willing to give up for the right to offer him that money. Would I part with a 2nd round pick for the right to offer him that? Yes. Would I part with Tim Anderson and a large number of other talented guys? Much more difficult to do. I need some of those guys to be successful in order to afford to give contracts like the one to Stanton out. Except things are much different when it is just one team negotiating versus competing against the entire marketplace. That could cost you another $50 to $100 million for a guy like Stanton.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:09 AM) A year or so ago, I got to see Back to the Future on the big screen for the first time since I first saw it and didn't regret it. I'll probably go to GBusters this afternoon. It is crazy to think that next October is "the future".

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) Does anyone honestly think they're going to pay Mike Stanton $200-250 million? C'mon...there's just no precedent for it, other than Albert Belle, and I think that was actually to make a point to other teams about the dangers of signing that kind of contract, which luckily had the escape clause. The Sox were in the Arod bidding at some level.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:14 AM) If it's for cheap, they take a bad contract (Danks?) back and send money over, I would gladly take Kemp or Hamilton. But my preferred choice would be Kemp. Hamilton this year (been injured for a good part and turning 34 next year) 262/330/418/748 10 HRs 44 RBIs Matt Kemp this year (Turning 30 in a month, this in a HUGE ballpark.) 281/346/475/821 17 HRs 66 RBIs 32 2Bs 48BB This is the type of scenario I am thinking of. Another name that hit me yesterday, but isn't very likely because of the rivalry is Joe Mauer.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:11 AM) I do not believe the Marlins have ever been a team to give a re-signing window to the new team. They do not want to be put into a position where they attempt to trade someone and then have the acquiring team end up backing out because they couldn't reach an agreement. In that instance, it kills all the leverage the Marlins have because it's really hard for that player to go back without being disgruntled. If the Sox were to acquire someone of the ilk of Giancarlo Stanton, they'd have a pretty good idea that they'd be able to extend him. Absolutely. There are back door ways to find out those kind of things. If nothing else they can get an idea of what the dollars and years are that he is looking for, and know from there how close they are.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 10:06 AM) Flowers isn't going to be replaced. I think he has earned himself another year or two. Even Hahn has said that himself that he's been happy with Flowers development and how he has been good defensively and how he has handled the pitchers this year. I don't think it is a top priority, but I would bet that if Hahn saw a shot at a top level catcher, he would do it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:55 AM) Depends on what they're willing to spend in the offseason, and also whether they're willing to 1) trade Alexei Ramirez, or 2) trade Anderson/Hawkins/Montas/Danish. I still think that Viciedo's going to come into the season as the 4th outfielder/back-up plan/occasional DH and depending on what happens with players like a Garcia or Wilkins or whatever bat they get for DH, he could still end up with 400+ at-bats in one last ditch attempt to see if he can put it all together for the Sox. Viciedo would be a terrible bench player. He has no speed,and he can't play defense. All he can do is hit for occasional power. We have 4th OFs on the roster in guys like Danks or Mitchell. Listening to Hahn talk, we are going to look at players with big contracts, and might come here for a really cheap price in terms of a trade. Guys like Kemp and Hamilton come to mind.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:41 AM) I'm not gonna cry over kids that can afford to pay their own way and are "qualified". Those kids are going to find a college. If they were passed over for the sake of "diversity" they were on the fringe anyway, with the same resume as 5-10k other kids. Talk to someone in college admissions. Every kid has the same resume, they are shooting fish in a barrel. Oh, no, you had to go to Iowa instead of Illinois? Your life is over! You will die, you poor child who probably were born to a well off enough family to go to a good school and will leave college without debt, WHY IS LIFE SO UNFAIIIR WHYYYYYY Sounds like separate but equal to me.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:47 AM) Argue special circumstance, the Astros are dicks, and then subsequently lose said case. I see no circumstances under which MLB is willing to open even the possibility of that happening. They do not want to give that kind of latitude to any draftee. Even if it starts as a special exemption, the next guy now is able to come along and argue that he deserves the same considerations.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:46 AM) I think you will have to deal with him for at least another year. I think he goes this off season. I predicted both De Aza and Viciedo wouldn't be back next year. So far I am half right.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:38 AM) It was also reported that, if he were to sign, Aiken would insist on a sign-and-trade deal. www.cbssportsline.com Dayn Perry You can't trade a draft pick for a year. How do you get around that?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:39 AM) If that's true, than "star quality" doesn't correlate heavily with doing what it takes to win ballgames. Call him what you want, Quintana is a top 25 starting pitcher in MLB today whether most people recognize it or not. Lack of an elite tool doesn't change the fact that the total package is highly effective at preventing runs. Call him whatever you want to call him. Quintana is the type of pitcher that 29 other teams in baseball are looking to find.

And I really get the feeling that we make a move on a LH bat to hit behind Abreu, and it will probably be someone who plays either LF or RF.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 2, 2014 -> 09:28 PM) You realize that he missed the entire 2012 season with injury so his numbers that season include 0 hits, 0 home runs, 0 runs scored, and 0 RBI? His numbers last year included a 112 OPS+. He only hit 14 home runs last year, 28 this year. His numbers this year are spectacular. His numbers last year contributed about as much offensively as Adam Dunn the last couple years. The year before that, injured. The sad thing is that even with missing an entire season, Victor has generated 6.2 WAR during that time. Our primary DH? 1.3.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 3, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) I'm not sure if he'd ever be anything more than a .260-.270 hitter, even at his peak, because it seems his hand/eye coordination is fairly weak, but there's enough talent there that he could hit 30+ home runs and make it worthwhile. He looked good last night, but it seems that he'll look good for one game and the next 5 be terrible. I agree though, if he focused on just hitting the ball to right field, you can force guys to adjust and when they start coming in, then you get the quick wrists out to hit bombs out to left. In the post steroid era, .250 with 30 homers is a star.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Sep 2, 2014 -> 11:05 PM) I must say, the English in this thread has been abused to the likes a red headed step child has not yet seen. Truly an educational experience.

QUOTE (1dog @ Sep 2, 2014 -> 09:14 PM) Sorry for the dumb question, but could you explain how you came by that particular date? I know it has to do with service time and when he becomes a free agent, but someone else guessed May - just trying to learn some of the particulars. It is a guess, most years it falls around that date.