southsider2k5

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 08:18 AM) The problem is...I think he thinks he works hard enough. Remember the 3 pages or so of people defending how insane his workout/yoga routine was we had in last year's thread when this same topic came up? He really is an idiot if thinks Yoga is more important than a post up game, and that pretty much proves the point.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 07:51 AM) Um, what? Konerko may be good, but he's not in the same world as Cabrera and is old as f***. No one is going to take on Rios or Peavy's contract just to get Konerko. If you move Konerko, you take the best prospects available. Outside of a huge package, I'd be hesitant to move him though, since I think with a few personal changes and a new manager we can compete in 2012. Freeing up their contracts is probably better than any prospects you would get for Konerko.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 08:18 AM) Mitchell is definitely a KW pick. Same with Thompson and Jordan Danks, to a lesser extent. Walker has more of the Guillen/Pierre/Pods/Owens tendencies. His ceiling is pretty limited. Of course, they compared Alexei to the likes of Ramon Santiago, Pablo Ozuna and Omar Infante, so who knows. I will give you credit. You managed to find by far the worst draft statement about Keenyn Walker.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 08:17 AM) Midseason where the team is under .500 after going "all in behind the manager"? Even Ozzie and Oney aren't that dumb. You give them more credit than I do then.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 08:06 AM) Don't forget the duct tape, MacGuyver. In all seriousness, you could make a serious case that we'd be better off with either Brian Anderson (defensively) or DeWayne Wise (for some pop and the same amount of speed on the basepaths, maybe 5-7 fewer steals but less caught stealings and a better arm) in LF, three years after their White Sox shelf lives expired. It's almost maddening. One year it's the Thome/Kotsay thing. This year, there's another insane personnel decision that's clouding the entire season. Actually, two. Because the combination of Thornton (when he wasn't suited or prepared to be closer) and Pierre defensively led directly to that 4-18 streak and season-long purgatory, seemingly. I suppose someone will argue that the only reason we're still in this thing is Santos and Humber, and give credit to KW. Which will then lead back to the retort, what about Peavy/Beckham/Dunn/Rios/Pierre/Teahen/Linebrink/AJ? Thornton is revisionist history. People had been trying to make him the closer for a couple of years now. The vast majority of people thought that was a good move. It is nothing like the Pierre thing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 07:59 AM) I don't even think that's an Oney source one, that's "trying to take the fact that there's a marlins vacancy and using it to see if you can make Oney or Ozzie go off." You don't think this is Ozzie through Oney trying to get a big money extension? It is pretty obvious that is what is going on to me.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 08:02 AM) There was a time when the fact that they clashed was a benefit because it wound up producing a more balanced, capable lineup, rather than the type of 2003-2004 lineup we saw where there were 4 monsters in the center surrounded by 5 weak parts with a depleted pitching staff. For the last few years though, the small quick guy that Ozzie has wanted has not been MLB-worthy. That's the biggest problem...etiher KW isn't getting him guys who deserve to be on a baseball team or Ozzie is asking for guys who don't deserve to be. An interesting thought is looking at who we have drafted the last couple of years in Mitchell and now Walker. It finally looks like we are trying to bring Ozzie style players into the system.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 02:25 AM) Would love to see that, but it won't work financially. On a subject of which I'm not so sure, how would the cap hit work for next season (the last of the current deal) if Sharpie signs a contract extension this summer that increases the annual value of his deal? Would his cap hit be the same as it currently stands next year, then increase to whatever the deal is when the new one starts in 2012-2013? I'm not overwhelmingly familiar with how that works for extensions done in the summer. Guys like Kane, Toews, Keith, and Seabrook, of course, all did their new deals during the regular season. I'm am pretty sure the cap hit starts when the new contract starts.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 02:25 AM) Would love to see that, but it won't work financially. On a subject of which I'm not so sure, how would the cap hit work for next season (the last of the current deal) if Sharpie signs a contract extension this summer that increases the annual value of his deal? Would his cap hit be the same as it currently stands next year, then increase to whatever the deal is when the new one starts in 2012-2013? I'm not overwhelmingly familiar with how that works for extensions done in the summer. Guys like Kane, Toews, Keith, and Seabrook, of course, all did their new deals during the regular season. Besides didn't Richards turn down the chance to come to the Hawks a couple of years ago in order to go to Dallas?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 11:12 PM) Which you can interpret as a good thing or bad thing, besides for Kobe almost all of the legendary NBA players played at the college level. A great majority of them having played in Championships in the NCAA. Maybe Lebron is a better player today if he was coached by a Dean Smith, its not always for the best to be rushed into everything. And I don't doubt this at all. A year or two with some real coaching, and some discipline would have done him wonders.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 09:15 PM) Where he should be at? Hes not even 30, has multiple MVP's and regardless of how underachieving he is, I doubt many people have him outside of the top 10 current players. Its easy to see his physical ability, but what about where he is mentally? The guy can shoot a thousand jump shots, practice his post game all night long, but it wont change who he is. Some people live for the pressure, when the chips are down, when its the moment, they take it to the next level. Some people are born with it, I just dont think Lebron has it at the moment. But that doesnt mean he cant get there, its just a terrible scenario with Wade, because at the end of the day, one of them has to be the man. People are just way to hard on Lebron, just because you have all the physical gifts in the world doesnt mean you have the mental toughness to put it together. The guy is still young, he just needs someone to bring it out of him, it may never happen, but people just expect to much from the guy. It makes sense to me that he isn't tough enough mentally, which is why he isn't achieving his full potential on the floor. This is a kid who has always been the best, and has always been told so. It takes some adjustments mentally to realize that you need to grow up and work harder.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 11:47 PM) This story isn't going to play well on soxtalk. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/cowley/6074...-just-bolt.html Save your time. Comments coming: -- Fire him now. -- Let the big mouth go. -- How much more can Jerry take from this guy? -- I'm sick of Ozzie and his kids. Florida just take him now!! You can have him!! Key the reaction in three, two, one ... Boom sox fans go get Ozzie. Ah yes, the old Oney source for Cowley.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 10:56 PM) Thanks. Man, Mariotti has slipped since leaving Chicago. Does he even have a job anymore? He is too busy trying to beat up his girlfriend.

If the Sox do sell off, you have to imagine Pauly at the top of the list of players teams will want. If the Sox were smart they would try to package PK with one of the bad contracts (Peavy or Rios) to blow a hole in the payroll, ala Florida with the Cabrera/Willis.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 06:38 PM) lol. Yeah. Everybody knows what they're "supposed" to do in that situation until it's happening I guess. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people ride out stupid trades and turn them into margin calls, or worse.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 06:34 PM) It just looks really... strange seeing LeBron go towards the basket, then see the lane sealed off so he stops back and pops off a jumper. What the f***? He's like 6'8" 260 lbs, bigger and faster than most of the guys defending him, why doesn't he post up? I don't really understand. If he did that then he would pretty much be unstoppable. And if we want go back to MJ, thinking back to when he broke into the league, all he had was his driving ability. Later on he added the ability to shoot from the outside, the ability to post up, and also that ridiculous fadeaway. He also was no where near the defender he ended up being when he broke into the league

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 04:25 PM) Your basic argument seems to be that because he's on track to be "only" one of the 10-20 players of all time instead of #1 makes him a massive underachiever. That is patently ridiculous and I shall not be commenting on this line of discussion anymore. Also, Zach Randolph isn't really THAT big an underachiever. He's been putting up 20-10 for years even though he can't jump. Outside of trying a little more often on defense, there's really not all that much more you can expect him to do. He was never going to be a Tim Ducan-caliber defender, which along with a bad attitude have been his main issues. The basic argument isn't where he is at, it is where he should be at.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 06:06 PM) Well, the Marlins aren't going to (and probably cannot) comment on Ozzie publicly. ESPN, and I believe Heyman too, were saying the Marlins were interested, as in they knew something. This is a lot different than speculating that they should/would be interested It would be tampering. Ozzie is under contract.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 06:15 PM) When you buy $5000 worth of stock that you realize is going into the toilet and probably won't recover, do you: a) try to get rid of it as fast as possible, to cut your losses b) hold onto the stock while it plummets closer and closer to $0 because you're waiting for a "return on your investment" The funny thing is 90% of people don't sell hoping their stock recovers.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:51 PM) I like Pujols less and less with each new subject about him. Wait until Poo-Watch starts when he hits free agency.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:48 PM) Specific much? This is just silly. This very well could be the man's potential, and his potential is elite. I outlined some of the things in his game that bother me. He could fix those, and not change his stats a bit. That's why the stats are pointless. I don't think the game he has now is as good as he can be. Listening to others talk, I have yet to hear a single person say that LeBron shouldn't be better.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:36 PM) Why do threads about Ozzie always end in swearing and name-calling? What are going to do when Ozzie leaves? Ozzie will turn back into an idol within a year of his being gone, if not sooner.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:33 PM) Not really, he's been a multiple NBA MVP and quite amazing. What do you want? 35/10/10? His numbers don't matter to me. I want him to play up to his potential.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:33 PM) But would MJ have fit that bill too at that point in his career?? That's my point. He is 26, you need a breadth of a career to establish if someone is truly an underachiever. I honestly remember MJ coming back from most off-seasons with a new facet to his game. I never remember seeing him quit on plays and games. I remember his very well working on his game. I don't ever remember looking back at any game or series and thinking "if only Michael had..."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 20, 2011 -> 03:29 PM) I'm just asking how much better you think he should be? Because for him to be on an "All time underachievers" list, he needs to be significantly above where he is now. You are looking for an exact quantification of an obscure individually determined ideal? Yes, this thread has been Balta'd. I think he should be 11.23 better. All of these numbers are just noise. John Paxson has three rings. He isn't one of the greatest players of all time. Players have scored lots of points, all while underachieving. Players got lots of rebounds and assists too, it doesn't mean they were the players that they could be. Take a look at Zach Randolph. Looking at his numbers he has always put up impressive lines. Does anyone doubt he was an underachiever until the last year or two? LeBron disappears during vital sections of the most important games of his career. He hasn't added to his game in his eight years in the NBA. He takes long stretches off on the defensive end of the floor. I honestly feel with his potential he should be at the top of the greatest of all time list. He has physical gifts that make MJ go "damn". To me, he is still an underachiever just based on what he should be doing.