southsider2k5

Kane/Toews presser happening right now.

Now he is effectively free. MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 56m The #RedSox announced that they have released A.J. Pierzynski: http://bit.ly/1mMJlN7

Some scouting stuff... http://www.faketeams.com/2014/1/13/5293504...tler-david-dahl http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/whit...om-rockies.html

WHITE SOX CLAIM RAUL FERNANDEZ OFF WAIVERS FROM COLORADO CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have claimed right-handed pitcher Raul Fernandez off waivers from the Colorado Rockies and assigned him to Class A Winston-Salem. Fernandez, 24, is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA (21 ER/27.0 IP), seven saves and 20 strikeouts over 29 relief appearances this season with Class A Modesto in the Rockies organization. He has converted seven of his eight save opportunities. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Fernandez spent the entire 2013 season with Class A Asheville, appearing in a career-high 35 games in relief and converting 16 saves, the third-most in the Colorado system. His best season came in 2010 with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, going 4-3 with a 1.52 ERA (11 ER/65.0 IP) and 46 strikeouts over 12 games (11 starts). Fernandez, a native of Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, spent the 2008 season as a catcher before being converted to a pitcher full-time in 2009. He was originally signed by Colorado as an international free agent on November 13, 2007. Fernandez is 13-15 with a 4.85 ERA (141 ER/261.2 IP), 27 saves and 225 strikeouts in 145 games (25 starts) over six seasons (2008-14) in the Rockies system. Following the waiver claim, the White Sox 40-man roster increases to 40.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 02:28 PM) If Hibbert and George play like all stars then that's a 2nd round capable team. Of course, I'm counting like 5-6 2nd round capable teams in the East and can't figure out who will get beyond that at this point. (Cavs, Bulls, Pacers, Wizards, maybe Bobcats, Heat, maybe a surprise or two somewhere). It will be interesting to see if we get a bounceback from a lot of their key guys with Stevenson gone.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) If that's true, that's just horrible of Ozzie. I mean you can't wait til you get to the hotel to drink some beer? It's even worse than texting and driving, though not by much. Very very dangerous to drink/text and drive. I thought all teams got rid of alcohol in the clubhouse. Is your story true? As far as Ozzie, I won't go into all the reasons I love him again, but BRING HIM BACK. He's a winner! As far as Ozzie again, tell the truth would you rather have Ozzie as your manager right now or Robin?? And why? I'd take Ozzie for reasons you probably don't want to hear again. Ventura, by a landslide. A guy like Ozzie might work with a veteran team, but I think for what we are doing now, we need more stability and leadership at the top.

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 3m Also hearing Pacers are expressing serious interest in Rodney Stuckey to fill backcourt void created by Lance Stephenson's move to Charlotte

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:30 PM) How Danish has recovered after his rough start with WS http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...lb&sid=milb The highlight of the article for me...

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:42 PM) I bet his wrist had a lot of influence over his wrist I don't buy it.

How Danish has recovered after his rough start with WS http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...lb&sid=milb

FutureSox.com ‏@FutureSox 35m The AAA All Star Game is tonight, 6pm CT, on MLBN. Josh Phegley is the lone Sox (Knights) rep. Tyler Saladino will miss the game w/ injury.

Comcast SportsNet ‏@CSNChicago 50s Chris Sale's pick for AL MVP? #WhiteSox teammate Jose Abreu: http://bit.ly/1p9cRuh (@ChuckGarfien) #WhiteSoxTalk

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:19 PM) I think circumstances led to his demise. If the Sox don't win the World Series, Ozzie, who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, isn't subjected to the constant butt kissing, and praise and talk about his genius. He doesn't get into the war of egos with KW. He isn't educated. He isn't very bright. IMO, he is the easiest type to get caught up into the hype. It's one reason I find it incredible DRose has never gotten a huge head. One thing if I were making decisions I could never get past, was his putting trying to embarrass KW over winning. (Not that I don't think KW didn't deserve to be knocked down a couple of pegs) But a lot of players liked him. Start out small, maybe a Soxfest appearance, spring training instructor. See how those go. If he returns to what he was when he left, pull the plug, but if he is willing to toe the line, he could be an asset. Ozzie is like an alcoholic. He will fall back into the same patterns and behaviors when times get tough. He always has acted this way. If he was willing to toe the line, he'd still be the White Sox manager... or the Marlins manager. This might change him for today, but his history dictates that once he gets back in, the cycle will repeat itself.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:16 PM) One of Pau / Mirotic wouldn't be here. Salary-wise, I think both wouldn't be here.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:12 PM) That's pretty well said. Do you think if managers selected the entire roster, with only the goal to beat the other league, we would see some epic games that the fans would actually enjoy MORE? 3 game series? It shouldn't matter how the roster gets selected. I know it makes for great twitter fodder, but at the end of the day, the ASG should all be about the individual players, and not winning a game.

Baseball-Reference.com Just now · MLB batters have a .316 OBP this season. The last season with a worse OBP was 1972: http://gadel.me/1qfNFaX

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 06:30 AM) I have zero problem with Wainwright grooving a pitch to Jeter. The problem is that the All-Star Game shouldn't count. You can't have it both ways. Every team must be represented and 40-year old Derek Jeter can lead off, but game 7 of the WS is on the line. That's silly. An All-Star game should be about the top players and stars being honored, having some fun and showing off their skills to the fans. Just like the other major sports do it. Preach. The Cal Ripken ASG was one of my all-time favorite all star memories. Why ruin it? The ASG shouldn't count. It should be what is always was... a chance for the best in baseball to make us go wow.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) It was worse when he left as a player, but many, including you, had a very positive view of Ozzie when he returned, for several years. Ozzie, like Ditka, bought the hype. He was thought to be some uneducated genius, but that turned out not to be true. I really think he realizes he screwed up. I would never make him the manager, but I think he would be fine in a lesser role, one where if the Sox ever won again, no one besides Cowley and Ozzie's family would say he was the reason they won. That should keep him in check. And guess what, we were all wrong, as proven by Ozzie himself. He wasn't humbled. He is looking for a job, and will say anything to get it. There isn't a doubt in my mind that the pattern of his life would repeat itself again once he was slighted in his own mind. He sure didn't realize he screwed up as a player. I can't see him getting it at 50something years old now.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 11:19 AM) Now that is funny. Some people need to get burned more than once before they realize that the stove is hot. I can imagine that as he was leaving Chicago towards the end of 2011 his ego was so peaking; for some reason (KW) he felt under-appreciated in Chicago, so naturally, the fact that another team wanted him enough to trade for him and subsequently throw money and years at him vindicated those feelings. When that same team wanted him out (enough to eat the rest of his deal) just one season later, that's a pie in the face. I don't think that it's a stretch to say that he took a long look in the mirror and concluded that maybe he should have done things differently. I'd be happy to have him back in the organization. He did the exact same thing when he left as a player. It didn't change him one little bit.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 10:53 AM) By definition that is the exact type of locker room that should be able to handle a guy like Stephenson. The Pacers thought the same thing...

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 10:27 AM) That is awesome.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) Just once, ONCE, just for kicks, I'd love to see Gasol run a pick and roll with Noah. I'd love to see a team try to defend it.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 09:46 AM) I'll say it 100 times, I'd rather have Lance then Pau. A lineup with Lance in it is better then the alternative. A wing starter who can score (and in this case also play lock down d) was a far bigger priority then another big. I like the Pau move and I think the Bulls are better but Stephenson should have been a higher priority, especially at this money. Plus, Stephenson is a bigger asset moving forward to help you from the perspective of potentially trading for a star. That said, I think Pau is a great fit, its just with Mirotic on board, I'd have rather upgraded our back-court some more (although I love the depth we have down low right now and I also don't know enough about Mirotic and what Bulls think he's capable of early on, but they are paying him to be a productive player from the get go). The Bulls locker room is a pretty clean and tight unit. They have a clear leadership, and a clear expectation of how to handle yourself. A guy like Stevenson could well destroy a lot of that. It is hard to account for that.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 09:42 AM) In a world where Marvin Williams gets $7 million, I'm amazed 23-year old Lance Stephenson only gets $9 per. I have to say, I think there was a lot of GM chatter about Stephenson. He is the next Dennis Rodman or Ron Artest. There is a subset of teams that won't touch him, no matter what the price. That limits his market greatly.

FWIW, I found the articles gave great context to the situation at hand. Knowing that stuff makes how the Astros got into this mess a lot more clear.