[Trade Deadline Top Pitching Targets]

Before the Sox go and mortgage the future on Grienke or Hamels, they should see where they are at in 7-10 days, and whether or not Detroit gets Dempster or Garza or maybe even one of the two aces on the market, as well as where they are in the standings. IF on 7/26/12 they have fallen out of first place and are greater than 2 GB of Detroit, or maybe even in third place, they should sell instead of buy. As a matter of fact, looking at the schedule, they probably shouldn't make a move until 7/29, after which two games with Texas have been played. With Detroit on a hot streak, and per Rongey Floyd likely going on the DL, not having more than 2 or 3 reliable bullpen guys and 3/5 of the opening day rotation hurt or lousy or both, the Sox may be better suited selling than buying. I wouldn't count on either Danks or Floyd the rest of the season given their injuries, and with the young guys in the bullpen getting hit hard recently(Reed included) it might be tough to hold on to first by the end of the month. IF Danks and Floyd were healthy and pitching to their 3 yr averages, then I'd think differently but right now quite frankly I think the pitching outside of Sale and Peavy blows. You might get good performances from these guys once in a while, (like Axelrod's tonight) but those may be few and far between. I am of the opinion to wait at least 7 days to do anything. The Sox are in the toughest part of their schedule right now, and it could be the difference between buying or selling. I may change my tune by next Monday given the play of the team. In order for that to happen they would have to take 2 out of the remaining 3 in Boston and at least 2 of 3 in Detroit. Right now I think there is a possibility that they could be swept by both teams. And I didn't even mention that they are not scoring runs right now.

[2012-2013 NBA thread]

I think that the Bulls having had Michael Jordan play for them may have been both a blessing and a curse. I am wondering if, with the way that the NBA is going right now with your "Big 3/4s" that none of the current stars want to come to Chicago because, in their mind,(and maybe some Bulls fans) the standard is automatically 6 rings. Most think that Jordan is the GOAT. How can you follow that? Whether we want to believe it or not, any Bull is playing in Jordan's shadow until probably 2020 or 2025, when most of the players who were kids in the 90s are out of the league. There may be a hangover a little bit after that due to the aging vets talking about this guy Michael Jordan.

I think that Rose's agent is going to convince him to leave after his next contract is up to get a ring. The winters here don't help either. The Bulls are in NBA hell, and they need more star power. That is going to come one of 3 ways: 1. Free agency 2. Lottery picks. 3. Trading Noah/Deng for one. Given that: a) it seems that NBA stars don't want to play for the Bulls and b) a smart GM would rather have cap space and a bad team for his superstar rather then Noah/Deng, I guess tanking is the only way that Forman/Paxon are going to get it done.

 

It seems that these guys are flocking to warm weather cities with no or very little winning history, and it will be interesting what happens to the Lakers when Kobe Bryant retires. If he gets another ring, maybe they stay away from there and go to the Clippers instead, because of their non winning ways up until this point. The way it looks is that Dallas, Miami, Houston, LAC and maybe NY (who hasn't won a title since the early 70s, s,o the first team to bring the Knicks a title may be embraced by NYC, and it is NYC), LAL, (who knows, maybe KB won't scare them off like MJ did for the Bulls) Brooklyn($$$$$ that their owner is willing to throw around) and Boston(because of the winning tradition and the last of those who watched Bird and co. as a kid are exiting the league over the next few years) will be the new powers in the NBA. I have an idea on how to fix the NBA, but I'm not willing to share it quite yet. Quite frankly, If NBA stars continue to go somewhere that isn't a) cold(that isn't NYC/BOS) and b) where they have to follow a winning legacy, then they are spoiled brats and wimps.

[Work/College/Finance]

Consider consulting work and be open to travel. A lot of companies will take an engineering grad and consulting companies are hiring right now

Don't you have to have a PE to work in consulting? That was the impression I was under.

[Work/College/Finance]

Volunteer. There has to be someone willing to take on an unpaid person for 20 hours a week or something. I know it sucks but since you don't have internships you won't have solid references (I'm assuming). It will be good for your job search, and maybe more importantly, your psyche.

I am a chemical engineer. I have tried asking companies about this before and they shrug it off because of liability reasons. They are too afraid that they'll get sued. It sucks but that is the way it is I guess.

[Work/College/Finance]

I have an engineering degree-and even I am questioning whether or not college was worth it. Due to some personal issues, I was unable to work or get an internship during the time in which I was enrolled. I have student loans to pay and no job. The great majority of the jobs that I find while job searching I don't qualify for because they ask for at least 5 years experience. I have found, while job searching, an average of one entry level engineering job in my field per month. I have applied to them and did not get any response. When I follow up, they tell me either they have already hired someone or they don't need any fresh grads anymore. I don't want to go to grad school because I don't want to go anymore in debt than I already am, but I feel that the economy is so bad that I'll be unemployed for over a year, and will not remember half of the stuff I learned in college. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't feel that I have borrowed too much for the degree that I have, but at the same time the degree is only a piece of paper if I have no job. I am starting to think that even though I have the brainpower to be an engineer, that I wasted the the time that I was in school. It seems that in this economy, a degree is just a piece of paper, and the only thing that matters is the fact that you are willing and able to work for virtually nothing(compared to the market for your profession) and that you have a ton of experience in your field. It also seems that there are not enough jobs to go around for those who are graduating college these days It seems everyone has a college degree now, and it doesn't matter what it is in, all that matters to employers is that you have some sort of work experience in the field that you are applying to. My response to that is "How am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me a chance when I don't have any?" Am I completely off base here?

[5/3/11 GT: SOX vs. Indians - 7:10p CDT - WCIU]

Lol no it doesn't. Ginger kid spelled it out.

man, I never realized it was an acronym, and I've been around here for a while. I always thought it was a running joke when Buehrle got lit up that they were saying that he was pitching like a minor leaguer.

[5/3/11 GT: SOX vs. Indians - 7:10p CDT - WCIU]

I honestly don't know what this means

 

 

WHAT THE f*** DOES THAT MEAN??????

It means that John Danks belongs in AA right now. It was a running joke each time Buehrle got lit up like a Christmas tree.

[Pale Hose vs. Carmines 4/29/2012]

That last curveball to Ross was one of the most disgustingly filthy breaking balls I have ever seen.

[I enjoy this team]

That's what I wonder today... Would Robin be any better or worse than another manager? Is having a manager who is willing to come in and not only preach, but actually teach, what is making the difference, or is there something Robin specifically is doing so far to reach guys that Ozzie seemingly lost.

 

Too bad there isn't a VORM stat

 

 

haha love it

No, it should be WORM.

[4/22/12 GT Sox @ Mariners 3:10pm, CSN]

Danks' fastball has been down all season. I remember for the last couple of seasons it being 91-94. It has been 87-90 today, and I haven't seen one at 92 in any of his 4 starts. Could this be cause for concern given the extension that he just signed? Add to the fact that he has been average to below average in each of his starts. Let us hope that he's starting the season with dead arm.

[GT 4/14/12 - SOX vs. Tigers - 3:10p CDT - CSN]

I hope Ozzie starts DHing AJ or Flowers against LHP to get our best lineup on the field a few games this year.

um......Ozzie is in Miami. anyway then they'd have to carry another catcher.

[2011-2012 NHL Thread]

Just an FYI, the Hawks can now finish no worse than 6th in the conference, due to the point picked up last night. Phoenix and LA have 91 points with 3 games remaining, thus having only 6 points that they can pick up. Now the goal is avoiding Nashville.

[Sox @ Reds]

by the eye test, what would you say Peavy's fastball velocity is at? Same as after his injury or faster?

[The Official Thread for Joe Cowley and his Agenda.]

This is just an awful, awful article by Cowley. I honestly want to give the guy a chance just because he gets buried so often (and I'm a sucker for people who get bashed a lot, even if they deserve it), but he is an inexcusably terrible journalist. The vast majority of his article is unsubstantiated claims made to look like they're backed up by quotes, but even a first-grader's analysis of his logic should reveal a boatload of flaws. He's not a stupid person, so it's clear his poor logic is intentionally designed to suit his narrative. In this case, his narrative agrees with you, Elgin, but it doesn't really support your position much because he doesn't back up his claims with any substantive evidence.

 

I didn't read the WSI post because I don't have an account and don't care to get one. Summary?

The poster there stated that a source said that Peavy considered suing the Sox for making him pitch in 2009. Poster also said that this was before he got injured in 2010.

[The Official Thread for Joe Cowley and his Agenda.]

If you were arguing with me about in the gamethread yesterday about the Sox and the management of his ankle injury, you should read this article. I know you guys hate Cowley(I do too for the most part), but he seems to agree with me on this issue.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/11546180-41...orst-enemy.html

 

Also read Post #13 on WSI in their thread on this article

The poster is a mod. I don't think he would have posted that if he didn't trust his source.

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbullet...ad.php?t=133366

[The Official Soxtalk Predict 2012 poll]

If I had to choose, I'd pick 78-81, but I could see this team winning as few as 70-73 and as many as 90-94. I don't think they'll win or lose 95 games though. They are not that good/bad.

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

This is also a great 20/20 hindsight point. Peavy came out in those 3 2009 starts and absolutely dominated...and I think everyone wanted to see him pitch, Peavy included, to build confidence for the next season. Nobody would have guessed at the time that "Destroying people 3 straight starts" would be a terrible thing for his body.

I remember thinking during those starts that something was wrong because his velocity was down. When he started getting shelled at the beginning of the 2010 season I put the pieces together. Also, does anyone remember the thing about him going to video of his pitching in SD about end of May 2010? After that he was pitching well but then they had to shut him down with the "fluid in the shoulder" but they kept pitching him anyway until the lat tore off the bone. IMO, horrible mismanagement of his injury

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

How did the Sox screw up his arm?

Peavy said in an interview w/Rongey last spring that he shouldn't have pitched in 2009 because his ankle wasn't ready yet. He further elaborated on it saying that he changed his mechanics to compensate for the ankle injury, and that the altered mechanics caused his detached lat. The Sox were out of the race by September 2009, they should have shut him down at that point let him heal. The Padres shut him down for the year after he hurt himself. The Sox tried to rush him back when he wasn't healthy enough to pitch.

 

 

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

Kenny Williams owes Jake Peavy nothing.

That is your opinion. When you take advantage of a player's personality to prove a point to the fans, consequences for the player and your team be damned, I disagree. The Sox organization mismanaged his ankle injury. It is like, hey we f***ed up your arm, now you can't do your job, and we're going to prevent you from trying to do a different job. Good Luck. KW should have been fired over this issue.

Yes, Peavy had violent mechanics to begin with. But when you know that, shouldn't you do your best as an organization to keep your highest paid player as healthy as possible?

They didn't.

 

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

You have no idea about anything to do with his start, except the numbers posted. You don't know if the threw all fastballs, his velocity was down, he threw all off-speed pitches, or anything, but you are willing to jump to a conclusion based on that? Yikes.

You are right, I don't know what exactly he was doing with the pitches. Who throws all of the same pitch even in spring training?

Anyway, I want the guy to come back as a starter, and be that ace we are all wanting him to be. I just don't understand why a major league pitcher gets shelled against minor league hitters, unless the two things I said recently are true or something that just popped into my head, which is dead arm. I guess I jumped the gun on this one. I'm not one who doesn't admit when I'm wrong.

Rule #1-think before you post. I didn't. My Bad.

I maintain, however, that if Peavy has a rough first 7-10 starts and his velocity is where it was last year, that they move him to the bullpen or cut him and let him catch on with another team as a reliever.

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

Why in god's name would you ever do either of the things you're suggesting? If Peavy is incapable of starting, then the season in sunk. The only reason to diminish Peavy's possible trade value by putting him in the 'pen is because you're somehow competing, or he's blocking a legit prospect who needs to be in the majors ASAP. The latter is untrue at the moment, the former is impossible on March 27th.

 

And why just say goodbye now? What do you gain by that? You gain nothing...at all. You've taken your lottery ticket, whose payoff is an ace-level starter, and torn it up without seeing the results. Sure, it's unlikely that he returns to form, but there is absolutely zero upside to the proposals you've suggested.

I guess it is just sad to see a guy who was once an ace get shelled most starts. Especially when you are a fan of said player. I really think that the rushing back from injury ruined Peavy's arm. They should have kept him shut down in 2009 after they traded for him. I really think you could be talking about an ace on the Sox if that didn't happen.

The 2009 season was lost at that point, there was no sense in rushing him back. I blame KW and the Sox staff at the time for rushing him back and ruining his arm. I actually think that Peavy could bring more in a trade as a successful bullpen pitcher than a mediocre to bad starter, which is what he is at this time. Either way, the Sox would have to pick up $$ to trade him. If the Sox refuse to send him to the bullpen, then I think that KW owes it to him to let him find a bullpen spot because of the horrible mismanagement of his ankle injury, which led to the altered mechanics and thus the detached lat.(Peavy himself said this is the causation of that injury last spring in an interview w/Rongey) We saw last year that he can still bring it in short spurts, but cannot do it over 6-7 innings. I could be wrong about Peavy, and he may be back. but this is JMO.

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

Why put more stock in this start than his previous two?

because it is against minor league hitters, and he is getting shelled. I watched the start against the Mariners, they had a bunch of AAAA guys in the lineup, I didn't see the other one, but if I recall that one was against minor leaguers as well and didn't he give up like 3 or 4 ER? If you are pitching against minor leaguers you should have a field day making all of them look silly, unless, of course you either a) aren't trying or b) still working on a particular pitch. Given that Opening day is just a week and a half away, I would think that the latter is probably not the case.

[Sox/Indians spring game thread 3/27]

Mark Gonzales ‏ @MDGonzales

Peavy line: 7 ip, 12 hits, 5 er, 1 bb, 7ks, 104 pitches

If this is what Peavy is doing in spring training against minor league hitters, then they need to either a) consider moving him to the bullpen, or b) just say goodbye now. They have to pay him anyway, why not use that spot on a developing pitcher like Molina, Castro, Axelrod or Stewart.

I have always been a Peavy fan, and have held out hope that he could regain his old stuff back even after the injury, but it seems like you can just put a fork in his starting career. What a major disappointment. I was elated when KW traded for him, too bad that he couldn't stay healthy. He is now a shell of his former self. I don't blame KW for the trade, I blame him for rushing Peavy back from the ankle injury, which basically destroyed Peavy's starting career. JP's only chance is in the 'pen now.

 

 

[Job Hunt Thread]

Don't shy away from positions due to their experience requirements. Keep in mind, that is the ideal candidate the hiring manager would like to find...it doesn't mean those candidates actually exist. As long as they don't require 5+ years in something, I would go ahead and apply. Worst thing they can do is dump your resume. And who knows...all you need is one hiring manager to be interested...

 

Something else...have you looked into working for a public utility? Are you willing to relocate?

1. Not really. I guess working for a power generation plant or water reclamation wouldn't be that bad.(except for the foul smell)

2. I'd prefer to stay in the Chicago area, but I'm open to moving to certain areas of the country if necessary. I realize that the jobs might not be here. I'm giving myself another month or so to look for jobs in Chicago, but if I don't get an interview or even a call back in that time, I'll start looking nationwide for jobs as well, location be damned.

[Job Hunt Thread]

Look into non-alternative energy companies, or those who are primarily non-alt. Places like BP are hiring like crazy, or were, and they love hiring college graduates.

 

Your first few years may be better served to work at a place like BP, where you get paid extremely well, get great experience, and open up doors to the "Senior" positions you desire at companies you want to work at down the road.

I have been looking for those type of positions. I realized about 2nd semester junior year that this was the case with the alt energy companies. BP isn't hiring until September, neither is Shell. I went to their website and it said so on their "Students/Recent grad" tab. I also don't know if they'd even consider me due to the fact that my undergrad research experience was so heavy on alt energy stuff. It just seems like something that they wouldn't want in a candidate to me.