Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 10:31 PM) I must be the only person, it seems like, who's not a fan of Richar. Let's put it this way: he's been better than I expected. And of course, DA concurs.

The AJ-Walker story's kind of weird: then then oooooookay.

Ben Sheets!

People actually think Harris would have this good a season if he weren't in as good an organization in the Braves? In a place like Minnesota? In a place that stresses fundamentals and is known for excellent coaching and analysis? In, perhaps, Oakland, even if it isn't necessarily known for speedsters? Guess I'm crazy.

Just another guy who is helped greatly from Braves coaching. You really think he's this good? Or that he'd be put into a good platoon situation to be given this opportunity? It's a huge mixture of luck and coaching. The coaching will run out and his limited abilities will take over next year.

If Harris played for the White Sox this year, he wouldn't have done half as well as he did this year.

Come on Sheets, be the man.

I'll elaborate: "pending physical" doesn't necessarily mean a full, MRI physical.

The "innings" idea was a very credible one, and the opposing GM is supposed to let you know if they know or suspect of something being wrong (drugs, injuries, attitude).

Standard practice.

Most trades don't involve a physical, if I recall correctly, beyond the one that they take at the beginning of the year.

I'm not grasping at straws. And actually I'm not a huge fan of Beane but he does good work, that's undeniable. KW traded away the hitting version of Floyd: Borchard. And that was fine by me. And if KW made a mistake like Garcia, I could definitely forgive that. It's an understandable risk, especially with their position, and when you consider that most people think KW could've gotten more, you don't really see it as a huge error by Gillick. A mistake, sure, but nothing fatal. It is telling about the man and the way he works. Absolutely. I've been saying that for awhile, too, but Flash is the king of THAT realm. Disagree. Agree, but don't believe.

Yah. Disagreement.

We'll see. Just furthering the convo and the points made by others on the issue you raised. We'll see what happens, my friend.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 06:15 PM) Nice strawman argument, but that's not what I said. Yep, with a blank check to sign as many free agents as he needed and the young talent that was drafted/developed by his predecessors. Minaya hasn't done anything that the average person on Soxtalk couldn't have done. KW built this piece of crap with a hundred million payroll, so money isn't everything.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 06:12 PM) I agree completely, your points were made very well. I also think they were countered exceptionally well. Bottom line I don't think anyone is changing anyone else's minds here. It is pretty apparant where everyone stands and hopefully a re-hash doesn't happen every day like some topics do. To be sure, I disagree, but the rest is right. "KW builds good teams" KW mediocre teams that lost the Comedy Central time after time "KW keeps us "in the hunt" KW lost the hunt to a bunch of dying dogs "KW is shrewd and aggressive" KW thinks terrible prospects are good prospects, trades for the wrong player and refuses to ever concede errors (Podsednik is one, the whole essential team being brought back after they were clearly AWFUL in the second half is another) "KW doesn't play for them and what does he have to do with constructing the team, anyway?" Everything. "He has a ring. Ergo, elite." Ay ay. "And that's why you're speechless, because you know I'm right."

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 06:11 PM) Of course you won't, because there's no rational defense for your point. But that hasn't stopped you from going on and on and on about it for the past few pages. You've got some nerve considering your entire basis is "KW has a ring" and "KW doesn't play for the players -- but he's responsible for their one playoff success and Beane is responsible for their failure!" and all that. And there's plenty of defense for Minaya. He's rebuilt a Mets team that was bloated, old and mediocre when he took over, but like I said there's little point to defending anything from you.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 06:05 PM) Yes, and when one presents an idea on a message board, the idea is discussed and sometimes criticized. That's the entire freaking point. I'm not begrudging you the right to criticize my point. I'm just saying, I'm not going to debate it with you. I might bite on other GM arguments, but not that one because I don't feel I've got anything to prove in this discussion. I think I've made my points well, and DA has made them well, and I don't think I've got anything to prove on the subject. I might write a thorough article on it this weekend, though, so that I'll never have to post this again. Sort of a FAQ on KWM(ediocrity). Have a nice night.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 28, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) Given Turner Field's reputation as something of a pitcher's park that can cut down a little bit on home runs...I think the Braves and Sox would be an ideal match for a Jon Garland for a shortstop type swap. Esp. given that JS has to expect he'll lose Tex after next year, and thus may have to do a genuine rebuilding program. Following up, I posted on TalkingChop and this is the response I got:

I said, "These are the guys who I think are better than KW." I didn't say, "I'm going to prove how and why each and every one of them are better than Kenny Williams just for WCSox and defend every single trade and move they've ever made, though I could by pointing out, 'At least they never called Gavin Floyd a top prospect' and 'They've never, ever traded for the wrong player. Literally!'"

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) You're right. He included that material to convince himself, rather than the people who read his post. Are you Greg's lover or something? Didn't he tell you we're Toys R Us kids? Guess you don't read what other people post. And no, I wasn't trying to convince myself of anything. I was simply listing GMs better than KW, and you said, "WHY IS HE BETTTER" and I said, "I'm going to decline to get into a debate with you about it" because whatever I say will come down to "The Ring" or "GMs don't cause teams to win!111" or whatever. Maybe a football analogy. And Soxbadger, I didn't concede anything. I was just pointing out that your facetious point was silly and inaccurate, even.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 28, 2007 -> 09:42 PM) I've missed the point? That's funny, coming from the person who said: Can you find for me where I said this, Gregory Pratt? Please. Much thanks in advance. Because if I didn't say it, it really serves no purpose in the thread. That's fine though -- continue preaching why the Braves are awesome. If I have a question Braves, I will make sure to consult Braves Oracle Pratt. Who says I was specifically referencing you?

Billy Beane didn't write Moneyball but let's not let reality get in the way of things.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 11:31 AM) I love you how compare the track record of a guy who's been in the business about 20 years longer than KW to what KW has done in his first 6+ years as a GM. And I love how you're trying to convince me that Omar Minaya's a better GM than Kenny because he's done... um... pretty much nothing with either the Expos or Mets. And that's pretty sad, because I think that Kenny's maybe an above-average GM at best. Outside of your unhealthy fascination with Schuerholz, I don't really understand why you really care where KW ranks among baseball's other GMs. The goal is to win in October, not to have the strongest farm system or even to win 90+ games every year and go one-and-out in the playoffs. I don't think that any Sox fan with more than two functioning brain cells would trade what Kenny did for their team for what, say, Larry Himes did. I don't think any Sox fans here have said, "I'll trade what KW has done for what Himes has done." But why let that get in the way of your strawman? I love the argument you and Northside have put up: "It's the young people that don't value KW." DA isn't young. "It's the ring! Who cares about the rest? it's the ring! Screw Billy Beane." What about Gillick? "Oh, he been in the game so long, oh, but he's not good. Not like KW." Further: I didn't try to convince you that Minaya is better than KW. I said, "He's on my list of better GMs, and most people would agree." And then you guys say, "A GM does nothing. It's the players!" But with Beane? "No, no, he sucks, what's it all gotten him? Nothing!" Sorry, KW isn't very good, especially not compared to the other GMs on the list I provided earlier. And now we're just going around in circles with nonsense about rings, and when someone confronts you with that, you say, 'Well, Gillick traded for Sweaty Freddy, so bleh! Convince me otherwise!" As if KW has never made a bad trade and in fact has so many terrible, terrible trades under his belt that he should be embarrassed, especially that trade for the wrong player. And why do I care about what KW is compared to other GMs? It's important to the discussion that he isn't that good, and there are so many better men out there than him who could lead us, from the GM offices all over baseball to guys who need work (the Dodgers guy, Podesta, comes to mind). If KW is in charge for the future, we're going to have problems consistently. And what kind of person says, "The goal is to win in October, not to have the strongest farm system or even to win 90+ games every year and go one-and-out in the playoffs." as if it means much to this discussion? It all comes back to being able to supplement your team with internal talent. Kenny Williams is closer to Bill Bavasi than Terry Ryan, that's for sure. Of course, if the Cubs win the World Series next year, Hendry will forever be better than GMs who have never won it like that hack in Oakland, eh? Give me a break. Your arguments are getting worse and worse.

I think he was under some influence.