southsider2k5

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 04:27 PM) Anyone win the lottery to get tickets for the Milwaukee series? I didn't Me neither.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) I love when people apologize for "if my remarks offended you," and not for their actual remarks. I know that is the new "apology" but it is complete bulls***. If you add qualifiers, you aren't actually apologizing. You are basically being an arrogant prick.

Happy Birthday Steve!

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 03:13 PM) Nah, Gathright�s a freak athletically, Owens is just a guy who runs really fast. Both aren�t very good ball players. As for the bench scenario, I think we should go with 12 pitchers. We have enough depth in the organization that this move can be justified, especially because Carrasco, Richard, Russell, and Poreda/Marquez can pitch multiple innings pretty much every time out. Ideally, the bench would go something like Kroege, Stewart, Betemit, Getz, but in reality, I think we�re going to see Stewart, Betemit, Lillibridge, and Anderson. The problem being is that we don�t have a whole lot of pop coming off the bench. In the past, we could bring in a guy like Ross Gload and think we have a decent shot of extra-base hit every once in a while, but the real weakness�ll be trusting Stewart to give us anything offensively. Results wise, what does Gathright do that is much different than Owens? They are both slap hitters with zero power. They both get bad reads in the field, and make up for it with their 80 speed. Maybe Gathright as more of an arm, and is a little better bunter, but they are identical players.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 12:55 AM) It seems the amount skimmed is pretty limited...well, in the overall scheme of things. Something like $200,000, most of it from the bonuses to Juan Silverio and OF Rafael Reyes. I'm sure $50K plus changed hands with Reyes, too. That's $100,000 right there between two players. Other players that I've heard or logically deduced were Anderson Gomes and Paulo Orlando...any Latin American player that received $100,000 or more in a signing bonus would draw a red flag I guess over the past 3-4 years. We lost the money to essentially pay one or two high round draft picks. I don't the organization was decimated like it could have been, and KW has recovered pretty nicely. I think it's safe to say that the new emphasis on the minor league talent side might be directly related to the whole Wilder situation, and the realization that none of his prospects were ever going to pan out, that they were essentially fool's gold. Seems that most of the problems were in 2005-2006-2007, so more recent...probably related to his Club Burn leaking cash like a sieve. Must have been pretty desperate to hatch that idea, or think he could run a successful club of that nature while also being the GM of a team like the Boston Red Sox. The amount of money runs more than just what was skimmed. The players they gave it to seem pretty much like lost causes according to what I have read. That couple of million dollars we handed is gone, as are the prospects that we could have been paying the money to instead. We have a half a dozen more duds that we have wasted roster spaces and organizational resources on for a few years now. Its bigger than just the money that ended up in Wilders pockets.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...T-sox24.article

QUOTE (NorthSideSox15 @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 02:18 PM) Portland is the biggest market in the country without a major league club. In 2002 when the Padres and the Mariners had an exhibition game in Portland, it sold out in 15 minutes. Its definitely the largest metro area in the country with only one pro franchise. As far as the fan base is concerned, its hard to tell. Over the years Portland has had trouble maintaining a fan base with its minor league clubs, but maybe minor league clubs get minor league fans? In 2001 and 2002 Mariners broadcasts in Portland got 4.3 and 4.5 ratings from the Portland area, which was better than 19 major league cities, including the Cubs, Yankees and Giants. And during the 2002 World Series, the Portland area had the 7th best viewership for any city watching, and 3rd best for a city without a regional interest. Lastly, according to a 2003-04 poll on ESPN Portland has the highest %age of major league fans for city without a team (72%). Now, these numbers could be a bit skewed. First off, I got my info from a site called http://www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com/. Now, I don't have more current numbers, because these are from the proposal made to MLB when the Expos were on the move. Thats why the numbers are a bit dated. Also, the TV numbers for Mariners could be a bit inflated because thats when the Mariners were winning 116 games and Ichiro was a rising star. The 2002 World series also featured 2 West Coast teams as well, which could inflate the numbers a bit. But it definitely shows that there is a market and people are interested. I know I'd go to games if they brought a team here. Portland summers are great, it barely rains and it never gets too hot or humid. All we're missing is a ballgame. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents to the discussion. It'd be cool if MLB relocated a team to PDX, hopefully it'd be a National League team, but it'd make more sense to realign the divisions and have 6 5 team divisions. Unless you have interleague play everyday, this would be impossible as each league would have an odd number of teams.

QUOTE (letsgoarow @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 02:06 PM) Ill mention it to him lol. Hes from my home town, and played baseball at East Cobb forever where my Best Friend played and i umpired. Then he ended up playing for the Danville Braves when i worked there. Even if he doesn't want to post, we'd love to interview him for the site. If you find out he is interested, contact one of us and we will get it arranged. Thanks!

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 01:58 PM) Does anyone think that another team would pick up Owens if he throws out a sub-par spring? Wise as well. Joey Gathright did, I see him and Jerry as pretty much the same type of player.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 01:54 PM) LOL, RedBox bags another sucker every minute! Eliza Dushku is super hot, but good lord she picks some stinkers. Of course, I have yet to see her stray from the moody b**** who acts like a spoiled teenager Totally. I love the reserving and paying on-line, and not having to wait in line. Plus the $1 a day thing is way cheaper than $4 each at Hollywood. As for the movie, I want the two hours back. Here's a crazy idea, wait until there is a break in the case to make the damned movie.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 01:48 PM) if they screw brian over by not giving him a job then he should be traded somewhere that he'll get the chance to play every day. I really don't give a s*** who has options left. How about you just put the best team out there? If there was anyone offering as anything for Anderson, he would have been gone years ago.

Happy Birthday

The Alphabet Killer was one of the worst movies I have seen in a while. I'll be honest when I say I am pissed that I wasted $1.07 on it.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 22, 2009 -> 04:11 PM) And if anyone can name this blast from the recent past It'll earn you a few cool points: I love that Rowand pic. It is one of my all time favorites.

There are somethings in here I don't like, but in general, this is a WAY better plan then the POS we got. http://www.americansolutions.com/General/?...a7-367da48a1430

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 22, 2009 -> 02:07 PM) Is this the year Dotel is dominant? There were a lot of Dotel lovers on the site last year. Six innings from our starter or seven. Then Linebrink to Dotel to Thornton to Jenks. Or let Thornton finish it off the days he's nasty. Those other guys are all hacks. These are the four guys to work with. Dotel was fine until Linebrink got hurt and he got overworked. You could see the life go out of his arm the last month or two of the season.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 21, 2009 -> 07:52 AM) If the White Sox released him, they still would have had to pay him either 20% or 25% of his contract, which would have been $2 million minimum. I can't remember which. Walker got released after winning arbitration. He did file a grievance that went nowhere due to the fact he hit about .100 in spring training, and signed a minor league contract with Oakland after he was released. Its pretty much a lock if OC accepted arbitration and played poorly enough the White Sox released him before the season started, he would easily get a major league contract with someone, probably, and ironically, Oakland. A grievance would have been filed, and I think, especially if OC had a similar season to 2008, he would have had an excellent chance to re-coup most, if not all of the money lost due to the release. Bottom line is if he is about the money, he screwed up. I still don't understand the entire concept of sitting out until after the draft. I can't see how that is going to open purse strings unless the Yankees need a SS or 2B. He should sign with Oakland before their offer goes to minimum. OC has supposedly dropped his price to $5.5 million. Still, no takers. At this point he almost has to wait and hope someone gets hurt to open up a job for him. Otherwise he might end up making about 10-20% of what he made last year. Amazing.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 10:25 AM) Imagine if we'd signed Juan Silverio for $1.4 million and ended up not having enough money for Viciedo because of it? You have to feel sorry for the Washington fans, at least the damage done by Wilder to the White Sox seems to have been contained and those acting in a criminal fashion were dealt with quickly and harshly. They also ended up not signing their first rounder (Aaron Crow), and some of the skimming might have led directly to that eventuality. Was Wilder also responsible for perpetuating the "legend" of Anderson Gomes as a legit prospect as well? It sounds like the Sox lost years worth of real players and money because of this. I believe having a good product on the field made the problems appear not as bad. Plus Williams has now bent back the other way to really restock the system both at the top and at the bottom.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 09:59 AM) I could see them implementing similar security measures for a high speed rail system. Especially since if there was any upsurge of traffic, it would make them a much more attractive terror target.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 09:54 AM) Locally, yes. but many people prefer to fly to take business trips and vacations. My wife and I have friends in St. Louis who we'd love to go and visit more often. but there is no way we can afford to fly... and the idea of driving 5 hours for a weekend visit isnt enticing. However, a 4 hour train ride where we can play card,s read, or nap... now that is enticing. And if there was a way to link the Chicago hub to the Florida hub and have some sort of a high speed line from Chicago to Orland (DIsney)... man, I'd be in heaven. That would be something like a full day on a train, correct? I don't know that Americans are ready for that. They want to be there now, which is why the car wins out over the train most of the time.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 09:48 AM) but, in what time could a return be made on that investment? I mean nuclear energy is through the roof to install, but many in the country find that worth it, in what time in America could this be made up, especially with a proposed rise in gas the next decade (forever) You would have to convince an entire culture to shift how they move. This country is 100% about the car. Unless you can change that, you are going to have a really tough time pitching anything that isn't automotive related. People want to be able to jump into their cars and go.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 19, 2009 -> 05:51 PM) A year ago, there were more than a few silly people, some perhaps posted in the early days of these threads, saying that Global Warming had stopped, because last year's January was significantly colder than the January the year before. Panic! Come on, I read weather.com... That makes me a meterologist!

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...UTO01/902230327

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Feb 22, 2009 -> 09:18 PM) Remind me next year to sell my tickets when the Wild come to town. They're f***ing boring and frustrating to watch. But you have seen in a nutshell how to beat the Hawks. Slow, methodical, physical, and 60 minutes. These are the type of teams the Hawks really need to focus for an entire 60 minutes to beat. I will say they deserved better in this one though. They played a good game, and had a bunch of chances. Their goalie stood on his head, and that high stick goal I still don't believe. I wonder what they were looking at in Toronto to count that one.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 09:19 AM) Hopefully they've planned for such circumstances and have 6-12 months worth of expenses saved up so that in the event that they are unemployed, they aren't missing payments after only a month or two. This is America, the home of the 1% savings rate. That isn't realistic at all.