Pants Rowland

QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 10:21 AM) I thought "Vass-Kez" was the proper pronounciation? At least thats how I say it as well. If I recall this lesson from Spanish correctly, the vowels "e" and "i" after "qu" automatically make the pronunciation "kay" or "key", respectively. This also applies when using "gu" followed by "e" or "i". In order to break the rule, you would need to place an umlaut over the "u" as in the spanish word for penguin, which is spelled pinguino (assume umlaut over the u) and pronounced, peen-GWEE-no. If you want to be really technical, most native speakers would pronounce Javy's last name "BAHS-kez", where the "V" at the start of his name is more of a "b", the "a" is said like "ahhhhh" when we go to the MD, and the "z" in the middle is more of an "s" sound. That would be a little over the top for native english speakers, but I would think so-called journalists would generally get it right and not call him Vass-kwez.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 03:39 PM) www.hotsuburbanmoms.com Thanks. I needed that. What were we talking about before again?

QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 03:26 PM) I'd perfer not to. I've already seen some other big mouth on another site talk about the event I was at, and I don't want to risk ever being accused of repeating things and not being invited back. Sorry. So can you tell us the site, thread and date?

QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 01:28 PM) I think it would be inappropriate to post specific comments and actions. Sorry. I understand why you won't get into details, but as another poster inquired, I too am curious about your connection to the Sox. You have been pretty adamant dispelling certain myths in the past such as Reinsdorf cheapness, why Rooney left, the whereabouts of Andy the Clown , etc. What makes you know so much? BTW, while the teams from 1986-1989 were some of the worst in my lifetime, they paved the way for drafting the likes of Thomas, Ventura, McDowell and Fernandez as well as trading Baines for Alvarez, among others.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jun 19, 2007 -> 06:55 PM) I agree with you whole heartedly...until the poorer sales at the gate. I might even add Vazquez as your #4 starter. Buehrle, Garland, Danks and Vazquez is a pretty good rotation. I can live with Vazquez until his contract expires...and they should let it expire, hopefully to be filled by another promising young arm such as Gio. As far as the gate dipping, you may be correct, but I could se a small contingent being turned off by a loss of Buehrle and not coming out as often. Moreso, the loss of 1/5 of the rotation and 220+ innings will probably take a further toll on performance, which is where I was equating loss in gate sales. Maybe you are correct however. I personally would love to organize as many season ticket holders as possible to cancel their seats if Buerhle is not on the team next year.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 19, 2007 -> 12:21 PM) An $85M payroll with Buehrle taking up $15-$18M of that just isn't going to work, I don't think you can field a competetive team under those circumstances. Can you field a competitive team without Mark? How about without Mark and with Jose and Javy in the rotation? I believe the Sox will remain competitive for years if they hang onto Buehrle, Garland and Danks for as long as possible. Those two veterans are going to continue to provide stability and leadership while Danks is really showing the guts and smarts to have a nice career in baseball barring injuries. They might not be as talented or overpowering as the Braves staffs of the 90s, but they are all still very young and would keep the Sox in contention year in and year out. I contend in the long run the Sox can not afford to let Buerhle leave. It will cost them far more in intangibles that will result in poorer sales at the gate.

If this miserable season has any bright spots it would have to be the pitching of Buehrle, Garland and Danks. As much as he might be able to bring in return via prospects, I think the Sox would be very foolish not to resign Buehrle. Someone mentioned that Ichiro pays for himself. I think with his personality, the no-hitter, his WS save, etc., Mark Buehrle has become a guy that people specifically pay to watch and makes it easier for the Sox to market themselves to their fan base. I would not be surprised if average attendance in Buehrle's starts is better than every other starter on the team, especially after the no-no. The guy is a White Sox product and has performed well just about every step of the way. I am tired of the Sox continuing to cite the Jaime Navarro debacle when letting pitchers walk over a year or two extra on the contract. I know it is a business and the process needs to be given time to work itself out, but they need to give him what he is asking. It is not unreasonable.

I would be interested to see how many inherited runners the BP allowed to score for Mark and Jon. They have each had one or two shaky outings but overall, I have seen them pitch deep into games and at the point of departure, have given up 1 to 3 runs by the 7th or 8th. Maybe my memory is weak, though.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jun 13, 2007 -> 02:26 PM) Just f***in pathetic Score?

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Jun 13, 2007 -> 11:23 AM) The bigger story is why was Marianne Rowand not with her husband? Cindy Sandberg? QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 13, 2007 -> 01:54 PM) Didn't Patti Labelle try to seduce a young Fresh Prince? I thought that was Paula Abdul.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jun 4, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) Like RME JICO said, Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez can lead all the stat categories they want, they don't have a World Series trophy. True, but Magglio did win a pennant last year and looks poised to make another postseason appearance this year. He is solid ballplayer that I would not mind seeing on the Sox in some capacity. Lee is another story.

QUOTE(HoosierSox @ May 30, 2007 -> 05:48 PM) Warren Newson, I still remember the game where he clanged one off the foul pole. It was one of my first games at then Commiskey. Loved the Deacon! Also liked the Pope, Don Paul. Guy got hosed at the trade deadline back in 1993 if I recall correctly. Others on my list... Fred Manrique Bill Almon Mike Huff (NU grad who now works in real estate down in Dallas; really good guy) Juan Agosto

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ May 23, 2007 -> 10:14 AM) He won't have the sexy numbers every game, but you'll get that consistent start and that to me is as important as anything. To me that is far more important than anything else. The innings that Buehrle eats and efficiency with which he does it is what makes him so valuable. He keeps the defense alert, the bullpen fresh, and during his starts the lineup backing up his performance is usually at the plate far more than the opposition. If Danks can replicate that mold and mix in an extra strikeout or two when he needs it...look out. It will be interesting to see his second half when the scouting reports on him get a little more precise

QUOTE(WCSox @ May 22, 2007 -> 05:08 PM) I'll have to second that. They were definitely the Sox's rivals from '94-'00 and then in '05 again. And it was a pretty nasty rivalry back in the mid/late '90s, especially when the Sox signed Belle. The Twins deserve special consideration as well, although they haven't won a pennant since '91. The Tigers haven't been thorns in our side for long enough to qualify (although the bench-clearing brawl back in 2000 deserves mention). And I can't even remember the Sox having a clear-cut rival back in the '80s. Maybe the A's or Twins in the old AL West? Or maybe the Orioles, after what happened in the '83 ALCS? Given the bad relationship between the Sox and the perceived pro-Cubs Chicago media bias, the mutual disdain between the fans, and the results of the '03 and '05 postseasons, the Cubs are definitely the Sox's greatest non-divisional rivalry. And I certainly wouldn't call a Sox fan a "moron" for enjoying a regular-season victory over the Cubs a little more than a regular-season victory over the Indians. My baseball roots go back to the old AL West. Without a doubt the top rivalries for the Sox were the Athletics, Royals, and Twins in that order. The Royals were once a very proud and competitve franchise and gave the Sox fits. Despite losing in '83, I never recall the Orioles being really hated. I really hated the As, though. Talking to my father, whose roots go back to the pre-expansion AL, the true league rivals from the 50s and 60s were the Yankees, White Sox, Tigers and Indians. Those teams were always fighting it out for the pennant with the Yankees frequently (and sadly) grabbing the crown. The Orioles were a non-factor until the late seventies, the A's were in KC and floundering (with the exception of three games late in 1964, ugh!), and the Angels were also a second tier team. I believe the Twins were still the Senators in D.C. and not much to speak of either. What is interesting is the Red Sox were a total joke and never really competed for the pennant until they miraculously won it in the late 60s. As a fan of the game and history, I lament the loss of some of those rivalries that even still existed after the divisions were formed. The unbalanced schedule and interleague play have marginalized some great old rivalries that should still be in place, in particular, White Sox-Yankees, Indians-Yankees, and Tigers-Yankees with special mention to White Sox-As. 37% may say the Cubs are the White Sox' biggest rival, but I would love to eliminate interleague play and start playing the AL East and West more frequently via a balanced schedule. It would definitely make the wild card victor far more deserving with such even criteria.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ May 16, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) ...dollars to doughnuts, Sweeney, in a starting situation, out-produces Melky Cabrera--even in 2007. IMO, that's what makes the Yankees and Sox poor trade partners. What about Melky AND Sweeney in the same outfield? I know that increases the OF logjam there but the Sox have some marketable boppers and bench players that can be parlayed into prospects or maybe something else that might be needed. Probably adds too much inexperience to the team, but could be a decent short term gamble for long term stability in the OF. On a defensive front, Sweeney, Erstad and Cabrera would really tighten the gaps and control the baserunners nicely. Defense taking away runs might be the best you can hope for with this team this year rather than waiting for the offense to wake up.

QUOTE(TheOcho @ May 16, 2007 -> 03:35 PM) I'd enjoy having Cabrera on this team. That is what I have been thinking as the Sox have been so short on offense and need some legitimate OF for the coming years. I thought the Yanks need for pitching could make them decent trade partners. This just feels like one of those series where a player wearing the Sox uniform ends up traveling with the opposition on getaway day. Melky might be a good gamble but he also may be the overhyped prospect mentioned earlier.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 16, 2007 -> 03:28 PM) Melky is .148/.374 OPS vs. lefties, .253/.648 OPS vs. righties. You might want to keep Matt in, but I could see the logic either way. Obviously these numbers do not look impressive, but does Melky look comfortable in the OF this year? How about his presence at the plate? He looked like he was a real keeper last year but I have not tracked his progress since the Sox and Yanks last hooked up. Any thoughts?

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 16, 2007 -> 03:25 PM) I'm taking a lot of classes for journalism and broadcasting. Makes me more qualified and better at it than Ed is, lol. BTW, that Phelps homer was slightly oppo, to the deepest part of the yard (just right of center) and went 3 or 4 rows up, just to the right of the batters eye. And into the wind, 415 feet. I am impressed. 2-1 count to Abreu, lines it RIGHT TO CREDE. Good job Matt, 5-3 Sox after 7 and a half. I think if you offered Jerry and the Score a hometown discount, they might just show Eddie the door and pair you with Singleton.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 16, 2007 -> 03:19 PM) 2-0 count to Matsui, and a rare borderline strike goes our way, 2-1. Godzilla barely foul tips a high gasser, 2-2. Breaking ball misses, full count. Fouls off a heater to keep it full with Phelps on deck. NASTY fastball on the hands turns into a groundout to Gooch, 2 gone. Thanks. If only Ed Farmer could paint the picture of the game like that.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 11, 2007 -> 01:22 PM) There are A LOT of people out there and on here specifically that think homeruns are a bad thing. There's no way for me to know if you're one of them and just in case there were some who read your post and agreed that homeruns are bad my reply was meant to set them straight. I totally understand. I do think that Sweeney's lack of power works to his advantage on this team. AL pitchers will pitch to contact more with him and allow him to spray the ball all over the field with the hope he gets himself out. I see him continuing to work counts, walking, and finding holes rather than lifting fly balls to the warning track. Hopefully this allows the rest of the lineup to see more pitch sequences during the game, drive in more runs, and get to the other team's bullpen faster. He appears to be a smart competitor that will only get better with experience and as his frame fills out.

I agree that a most players are grown men physically, but that does not equate to mental maturity. There are a lot of kids in the sub-25/26/27 age range that really haven't learned how to be responsible on many fronts, including drinking. There is a big maturity change that takes place somewhere in the mid-20s and many change their approach to drinking at that point. I am not sure if I agree with a clubhouse ban, however. In fact, alcohol in the clubhouse may be a better way to regulate binge drinking versus guys going and drinking on their own without their teammates around to watch out for them. I am amazed at the perks these guys get, though on top of their salaries. Beer, food spreads, tobacco, etc. I should never have given up on my first career choice when I was 11.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 10, 2007 -> 07:44 PM) There's a difference between hitting for occasional power with a good approach at the plate and swinging for the homerun on every damn pitch. Homeruns are a good thing, s***ty approaches brought on by the desire to hit more homeruns than you're capable are a bad thing. If Sweeney were to hit 20 homeruns this season it would greatly help the team. I knew my oversimplistic sarcasm would be jumped on immediately. I agree with you 100% that Sweeney will need to fill out physically and learn to drive the ball with more force. It will only help his game and increase the number of threats he presents. However, I love that he plays within his current capabilities and gets on base the way he knows how. He also works a count and forces the pitchers to exhaust their arsenal to get him out. My stance is if the other guys are going to swing for the fences, it will be great to have Ryan on base for a 2 run shot rather than another solo HR. I will reserve judgement until he gets around the league once or twice, but right now he is one of the better looking all around OF prospects I have seen the Sox bring up since...who knows? Lance Johnson, maybe?

QUOTE(BearSox @ May 10, 2007 -> 06:13 PM) The only thing he has done wrong so far is not hit for power, but that will come. Oh No! Not that! How would the Sox survive without another guy swinging for the fences?

QUOTE(klaus kinski @ May 10, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) By the way-does anyone miss Anderson? Who?

QUOTE(RME JICO @ May 10, 2007 -> 08:44 AM) Erstad Iguchi Thome Konerko Dye AJ Crede Sweeney Uribe I like that lineup, although I prefer to move Jermaine to 3 hole and shuffle Thome and Konerko to 4 and 5, respectively. Left, Right, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, repeat. Perennial contenders always infuse inexpensive youth from the farm system. With Danks and Masset (although technically from another farm), you have that in the pitching staff. Sweeney is showing that in the field right now and is getting on base and driving in runs. I do not see the reason why you would mess with the groove he seems to be finding. If any move is to be made to improve the team, it would be to trade a left handed hitting reserve. While the obvious choice could be Mackowiak, purely because he only hits lefty, I would actually prefer to trade Cintron for a scrappy right-handed bat. Maybe even trade him for a prospect and bring back Eduardo Perez to fill the roster spot. This further cuts payroll and you still have Mack/Ozuna/Perez off the bench. There is enough versatility in Mack/Ozuna to compensate for Perez's one dimensional game. If Toby Hall does in fact return healthy, the Sox would have a nice insurance plan to counter the tough lefties in the league. If Sweeney is still performing at current levels when/if Pods returns, you probably would be best served trading Pods away as well. I know it won't happen because of Guillen's love for him, but it would further free up money for a potential trade come the deadline where the Sox could take on a little more salary, rather than trading away that extra prospect like they always seem to have to do to save a couple million $$$.