Pants Rowland

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 10:46 PM) How do you do that? Isn't Bridgeport just a nice old neighborhood with very narrow streets, schools, parks, churches, etc? It's just an old neighborhood. What do you mean integrate the park into Bridgeport? The park is kind of an island in a sea of asphalt. You have to go a couple blocks in any direction to find any critical mass of homes, retail, schools, etc. They could have built the park closer to the pulse of the neighborhood. While I wish they had done something like this originally, it should be noted that surface parking lots are nothing more than vacant parcels of land that have no higher and better use to merit new construction. The Sox get good revenue for the lots during the season, but for the right price, I am confident some type of deal could be worked for future development. The fact is the returns on an investment are not high enough yet to merit building a mixed use structure incorporating first floor retail with a multi-level parking garage above and maybe some residential units above the parking component.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 04:48 PM) We really must've hired the world's dumbest architects. They got completely trumped by Camden Yards at the time, and instead of building it in a place encouraging mass transit they invite a gridlock to the neighborhood. Those were the times though. Efficient urban planning has a lot more street cred now. Read this: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/a-new...tent?oid=872282 I am not sure if it is the same article I read a while back, but my understanding is the same firm (HOK?) that designed The Cell actually presented the idea for a retro park in the middle of a neighborhood to Reinsdorf and the Sox. The Sox turned them down cold and questioned the idea in general. HOK took the idea to Baltimore and Camden Yards opened the season after Comiskey II opened its doors. As tough as that story is to stomach, it gets worse. My understanding is Reinsdorf was/is in love with Kauffman Stadium and the symmetrical ballpark style of the 60s and 70s. The design of the Cell originated with the team's potential move to Addison, which was voted down via referendum. He then flirted with Tampa/St. Pete, which built the stadium currently occupied by the Rays to try to lure the Sox south. Once the IL state legislature voted to save the Sox and keep them in the city, rather than pay for a new design, Reinsdorf insisted on using the Addison design with some minor tweaks. So, we got the last of the worst generation of stadiums (see Three Rivers, Riverfront, Shea, Kauffman, Exposition, etc.), designed for a suburban setting, and located in a virtual no-man's land considering its proximity to real neighborhoods and public transportation. The place looks great now and I love the convenience of taking the Green Line there from my house but I still lament how much they bungled the whole thing.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 04:40 PM) Alexei Ramirez confused on a relay? Say it ain't so! I know the horse is dead and the corpse (and my hands) is bloody as hell, but... Alexei sucks bad right now and should get an extended rest on the pine.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 03:34 PM) would rather see beckham at 2b, ramirez Dh and vizquel at SS....also i dont like vizquel leading off but what can you do.... I would much rather see Alexei sitting next to the heater at the end of the bench for the next 6 weeks.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 04:00 PM) It's sadder with me personally. A few Cubs fans I know love USCF cause our field/ballpark is "nice." They actually go to the games too and just try and either heckle people, or wear Cubs gear like they are some kind of rebel... without a cause. They hate everything else about us though. I've seen those guys and never understood how someone could enjoy heckling and being heckled for 9 innings. It just does not fit the culture of baseball.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 03:55 PM) 2-4 with a walk and a SB today. For the season... .452AVG 0HR 3RBI 6SB 0CS .542OBP Ted Williams had better watch out.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:40 PM) You do realize that while bunting moves the runner over it doesn't get them in right? Meaning either way somebody needed to get a hit, which is easier to do with out giving up an out. He meant Quentin bunt with runners already at 2nd and 3rd.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:37 PM) Absolutely not. Bunting there made all the sense in the world. A 2 run lead is twice as much as a 1 run lead. I agree from a situational standpoint, but in what scenario do you ever see Quentin bunting, even on a team managed by Guillen?

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:35 PM) Why didn't we have Q bunt? That extra run would have been huge. Green?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:15 PM) I'd take him at SS over Alexei. Alexei seriously needs an extended stay next to Ozzie.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:12 PM) Is there a pitcher in Chicago more effective than Matt Thornton? No, and you'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful in all MLB, especially from a relief standpoint. The other teams do not look like they have a chance against him. Reminds me of how Jeff Nelson used to own the Sox.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 07:55 PM) Alexei Ramirez....he is bad. If anyone on this team deserves to be benched for an extended period of time, it is Alexei. Can't hit, brain farts in the field, generally unproductive outs. Just all around bad. I would prefer Vizquel's defense and anemic bat. At least he makes contact and can advance runners.

I have been tempted to make a thread and get my ass chewed out for the following idea. Ozzie insists on bunting anytime the leadoff man gets on base, right? Meanwhile, Alexi Ramirez is really frustrating right now both at the plate (warm weather hitter) and in the field (brain cramps all year long), right? Why not bench Ramirez and put Vizquel at SS as well as the 2 hole. Move Pierre to the 9 hole, Beckham leads off (I know what his obp is right now, but there really are no great options on this team), and every time he gets on base, have Vizquel bunt him over to 2nd or third. Beckham won't be wasted sacrificing all the time, Vizquel will be doing what he is still capable of (defense and bunting as well as mentoring Beckham in the field) and Pierre will be a nice alternative to Teahen in the 9 hole. So, your lineup would be.... Beckham Vizquel Quentin Konerko Pierzynski Rios Jones/Kotsay Teahen Pierre Alternatively, since everyone thinks Teahen is god awful, flip him and Pierre so he can be available to sacrifice Pierre to second or third and set the table for Beckham to get the RBI. Maybe better yet, when the weather heats up, bench Teahen and put Ramirez at third base (batting 9th with Pierre 8th) so that Vizquel can mentor both him and Beckham in the field. I personally think Ramirez is better suited for 2nd or 3rd base where he will have less responsibilities on any play in the infield. I know it is still not a great option, but if we are going to waste outs bunting, why do it with one of the few bats that can produce in the lineup? Flame away.

Malcom McLaren of Sex Pistols fame http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/n...64-1939621.html

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 11:23 AM) It's funny because he'll have to keep up an absolutely torrid pace like nothing he's ever done before over the next 5 years to even approach earning that contract because he's killing them on defense. He's 31, There's 5 years, $96.5M left on that deal and he's no longer capable of playing CF, in fact he's awful out there but when you pay a guy $126M to play an elite CF for the next 7 years it doesn't look great to move him to a corner position 2 years into the deal. Stop making sense.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 09:28 AM) What is worse Kotsay batting 5th Grabow setting up ...and death is not an option.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 6, 2010 -> 05:48 PM) Because we already have the answer. The President was celebrating the one hundreth anniversary of the first time that a US President threw out the first pitch of a game in Washington DC. April 14, 1910 by William Howard Taft, our 26th president. It was in that same game that the 7th inning stretch originated when the portly Taft got up to stretch his cramped hocks. If the president gets up, everyone gets up and a tradition was born. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/7...g_stretch.shtml

Krause had a few problems that ultimately led to his undoing with the Bulls. He definitely inherited Jordan, who was very critical of Krause. That was a huge shadow Krause always tried to get out from under with little success. Krause was responsible for acquiring Pippen, Kukoc and Rodman. If I recall correctly, the draft day trade for Pippen was criticized by many due to Central Arkansas being something of a backwater school. Kukoc was a huge gamble coming from Croatia and the players openly criticized picking an untested player who would not be available for two years. Krause prided himself on such discoveries and thought he should be given a lot more credit after they panned out. The problem was he tended to overdo it. For every Kukoc there were a handful of Dragan Tarlacs and for every Pippen, there were the Brad Sellers type of selections. Krause also had potential players undergo lengthy written tests that at times could be insulting. On that note, he was very hands on in contract negotiations and would try to play mind games with the players, insulting them and their abilities to try to get them to back off their demands. That is why Horace Grant despised him so much and lobbied to become a part of the Orlando Magic. Jordan made fun of him incessantly, nicknaming him "crumbs" Krause due to his penchant for doughnuts. Phil Jackson hated him as well and started making new demands, including wanting control of personnel decisions. Krause took a hard stand and was prepared to replace him, ultimately with Tim Floyd. Jordan issued a very public threat saying he would not play for any other coach and went even further to suggest Krause should step down and go back to scouting baseball so Jackson could be coach/GM. Reinsdorf stood by Krause, causing Jackson to resign and Jordan to retire again. Krause desperately wanted to win a championship without Jordan and Michael did everything he could to prevent that from happening, including disparaging Krause and the Bulls to free agents so that they would sign elsewhere. I am not blaming Jordan for Krause's failures. Krause made plenty of mistakes on his own and his reputation with the players was earned beyond Jordan's scorn. However, to blame Krause entirely for the Bulls atrocious record since 1998 would be unfair. It is impossible to build a good team around B grade free agents and rookies. He was a pretty good evaluator of talent but a flawed individual that was not really good with people. This proved to be his undoing and the reason many think so poorly of him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 08:54 PM) I agree 100%. Wise's catch is the best defensive play in maybe Sox history. Juan Uribe's catch in game 4 was pretty damn good as well even with the 3 game cushion in the series.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 07:28 PM) But Im glad that people are standing up to management and not supporting the team. /shrugs If you dont want to be part of the blackout or support the team, that is fine, but really what are you gaining by being defiant? Lets not support the White Sox winning! Who cares if we win opening day! Its just silly. QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 07:51 PM) I still think if our GM calls for a blackout, you answer the call. UGH! Why is it paying fans who are clearly at the game to enjoy baseball and support their team need to be told how to show their support? Further, what would make an intelligent educated person think that the attire of the fans in the stands has any impact on the outcome of the game? Do you think Ozzie and the players looked out and were saddened to see so many fans defying the GM? Did it make it difficult to focus on the game? The blackouts in 2008 were cool, but it is not like wearing any other color on Monday would have caused a loss. In fact, the Sox looked better today than they did throughout the playoffs in 2008. Maybe we should do away with blackouts altogether.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 05:39 PM) Yep. They showed it on WGN News. They were booing him. Also showed Buehrle's play. Now that my friends, was spectacular. Only play possible comparable was Tad Iguchi falling on the ground and throwing a strike while in the air horizontally. That play was nutsssss Only difference was Iguchi did not need to do that. He could have regrouped and gotten the out. Buehrle needed to do everything possible to get the runner by a half step.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 2, 2010 -> 05:20 PM) I still find a lot of Pants Rowlands managerial moves to be questionable as well. Watch it!

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Apr 5, 2010 -> 11:24 AM) Ozzie's opinion of himself as a player always amuses me. I did not see him when he was young (saw him from '93 on), but it seems to me that he would be a bench player if he played today (despite the ROY, GG, and All Star appearances). All OG said was the trade was a "win". On that note, Krause traded a troubled Lamar Hoyt for a minor leaguer that went on to win the ROY, GG, appeared in a few ASG, tore up his knee, then worked his way back and was the SS and leader of a division champion in 1993. He went on to become the first manager to lead a White Sox team to a title in 88 years. There is no bigger face of the franchise than OG right now. I am not sure what Hoyt is up to these days, but I think that trade worked out in the White Sox's favor.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Apr 2, 2010 -> 09:31 PM) Nope. He was fast. He had make-up speed but he never had great route instincts. Rudy Law? Or do we need to go back to the days of Ken Berry or Jungle Jim Rivera?

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Apr 2, 2010 -> 09:28 PM) He's the best CF on the team. He hasn't had to dive, he gets to almost everything that's catchable in time. Seriously, Sox fans haven't seen a real CF that takes perfect routes like Jones in forever. One Dog?