Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 12, 2007 -> 11:04 PM) Schoenweis actually looked good as a starter for like 2 months, than all downhill from there. I'm not sure what numbers you're looking at, but he had a 5.59 ERA in 19 starts, so I don't think he ever really looked good as a starter...

I read somewhere that Beckham won't be paid 200 million by the Galaxy but that that figures contains all his endorsement deals and stuff and that his money will be about 400,000 a year from LA Galaxy. Sounded crazy. Is it true, though? Which is it?

QUOTE(G&T @ Jan 11, 2007 -> 04:20 PM) I don't have any respect for Murph's opinion, but he is about the only show that talks baseball this time of year. That said, he did talk to a minor league analyst from BP and his opinions were: a. That Haeger should be the fifth starter. b. Even if Floyd wins the fifth spot, he's nothing more that a place holder (barring a Coop miracle). c. Danks is a top 5 or 10 lefty prospect. Not a top 2 like KW says. (everyone knew that I guess) He had some other things to say that I can't remember particularly, but I was most surprised by the Haeger comment. I know some people here like him, but this guy liked him a lot. There are quite a few people out there -- not just crazy SoxTalkers like me -- that believe Haeger can be, and is, the Next Great Knuckler.

Anna Nicole Smith in her prime was hot.

Blylevin too.

When McCarthy gave up that game-winning shot in Boston, I knew the season was over for us, in my gut, but worse still was that game where the Indians beat the hell out of us, knocked us officially out of contention this year, and then played "The Night Chicago Died" during a pitching change. Best moment? So many.

I'm mainly bowing out, Shoota. I'll just say that I respectfully disagree on most your points and leave it at that. However, I must say that I think it's nonsense when people say Javier Vazquez was mishandled by Ozzie Guillen by letting him out there until he either succeeded or failed. Toward the end of the season we saw, I think, that Javier was growing as a player from the confidences shown him and I think we'll see a very good year out of Vazquez next year partly as a result. All the same, I think it's crazy when people say, "He should've been pulled in the sixth, before he imploded!" as if that's practical in any sense of the term. That's crazy, I think, with no disrespect intended.

I'll take a quick crack at a few of these. Also because he sucked for much of the year. Also because he couldn't hit the broadside of Blalock's ass, his control is so bad. You understand that Tracey is nowhere near ready for the Majors, right? That his control is terrible? For that alone he deserves to be sent down, and he especially deserves it when he blatantly disregards his manager's order. Right. Guillen's the only manager who ever took his player's opinions into regard. It be much better if he left them off the ASG Roster (like Garner) or spread rumors about them to the NY Media (like Torre). Personally, I think Ozzie handles a pitching staff that way it should be handled. Yet he shouldn't be angry when someone fails to protect his players when he sends them to. This one is the least subjective of them all. I clearly remember that Ozzie called a team meeting to discipline Freddy after he showed up Iguchi and I'm sure it happened the other times, too. It's his fault that Jim Thome got tendonitis, Joe Crede's back flared, the offense disappeared and each pitcher disappeared for significant portions of the season.

I wonder how true that is. The, "Most alderman are hos" part.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2007 -> 02:35 PM) The only thing the Twins could do which would hurt their baseball team more than letting Santana walk for only draft pick compensation would be to just contract the damn team. I know they can't afford to keep him past his contract but I really doubt, for a variety of reasons, that he leaves Minnesota early.

The mere existence of the no-trade clause, along with the fact that he's taken mild discounts, suggests he enjoys his time in Minnesota quite a bit, and the organization gets on well with him. They bought a firetruck for his hometown together, so I imagine he'd like to stay for the remainder of his contract. Of course he'd leave if they were offering him such a massive extension but I'm pretty sure he isn't going anywhere.

Santana has a full no-trade clause for 2007. Winning the Cy last year triggered that clause. If he finishes in the top three in 2007 -- which he will, barring injury -- he'll have it for 2008. Ouch. Here I was hoping he'd be traded far, far away.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 9, 2007 -> 11:52 PM) No one can be sure exactly when McGuire started on the roids; many mocked Canseco when his book came out, yet now he looks like the one source of honesty here. Regardless, if you look at McGuire in his glory days with the A's, he was a big man, but more like a Richie Sexson build. Then his career started tanking. Then all of the sudden he is Paul Bunyanesque proportions and his career is rejevenated. The guy had nice slugging numbers from 88-94/95. Then he starts struggling with injuries. Then all the sudden, he manages to not only stay healthy and avoid the injuries, but he starts putting up whopping slugging %'s in 95 until 2000. We are talking about a guy whose slugging percentage increased from about an average of .480 or so during his great years with the A's to about .690 during his great years with the Cards. Now no one here will seriously debate that McGuire was using performance-enhancing drugs, but the point is that he probably saved his career with them. The McGuire situation is entirely different than the Bonds situation, where Barry had HOF numbers prior to getting on the juice. McGuire had the numbers only AFTER he got on the juice, and that's why he should not be allowed in. In fact, in the book "Game of Shadows," the authors even make the argument that Bonds only began juicing BECAUSE of McGuire and Sosa and their ridiculous home run totals. I'm sorry, but I would let Pete Rose in before McGuire. Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. Period. I'm with you completely on McGwire/Bonds, though I wouldn't vote for either of them first-ballot, second or third. Let them rot until the Veteran's Committee reaches them. But, then again, I've always believed that disgraced/banned players who deserve it should still be allowed in. Even cheaters, although I'd like it a little more if there were mention of it toward the end on their plaques as opposed to just ignoring it and voting them in. Whatever's done, though, I don't think Great Players should be ignored by the Hall and kept out of it just because they disgraced themselves or even the game.

I'm pretty steamed that Bert Blyleven didn't make it. But I'm real glad that Ripken and Gwynn did, though there was never any doubt. Ripken was one of my favorites.

Hideaway, Shack, I love you guys. I've been making the same points about McGwire not being a HOFer, at the LEAST not a First-Ballot HOFer, because of his one-dimensional nature AND steroids for quite awhile. Glad to see someone else who not only agrees but puts it out there before I jump into the thread. I believe that. I believe Canseco. Also, there's the FBI. Glad to see that he didn't make it. Wouldn't want him to have to talk about the past. Also, I would like to say: this guy is obnoxious for publicizing his blank ballot. But I have no problem with voters who believe that no one should be unanimous because no one's ever been. It's the clear publicity-seeking-nature of this whole thing that bothers me.

Southside Sox. Southsidesox.com

North is obnoxious sounding. I've never listened to him before, but man, listening to this interview for the first time -- ouch.

It's on ESPN Insider, too.

I meant that relatively. I suppose I should've said that I think AJ will be our most consistent.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 05:34 PM) I don't agree that AJ is untouchable even for a fair price, but I completly agree with your reasoning. AJ is the heart of this team and gives the Sox a mental toughness that White Sox teams usually never have. To me, he is very much like Olin Kreutz, the glue that holds the team together. In a fight he is the first guy out there to help protect his teammates (even if that means getting involved in the fight). He really should be co-captains with Paulie. I just don't think I'd trade away Pierzynski, not just because he's so valuable as a glue but because we haven't got s*** to replace him with. (Toby Hall would not be a good answer, IMO.) I suppose, that with an offer on the table and the right deal, I'd trade him, but in my mind he's untouchable. Probably because nobody else really wants him.

Honestly, I think that only AJ is untouchable on this team unless we received a package of Nathan, Liriano and Bonser-proportions, but that won't ever happen. But even then, I'd be upset about losing AJ.

I'll bet he has a career year. With the added rest, and fewer games against left-handers. I also believe that catcher will be our most productive position. And that AJ Pierzynski will continue to be the heart and soul, if not The Balls, of this baseball team.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 02:16 PM) haha well thanks i appreciate it. and i figure if that doesnt get him suspended it gives me one free pass to say something suspension worthy right? No problem. I just want you to know that you're more than welcome in the Big Kid's Club. Even if it is going to get me yelled at.

Does he have to work his way up, from the Palehose forum, too?

But I am the President. Even if you refuse to recognize that. /tongue in cheek