Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 07:58 PM) You'll be feeling pretty damn good. It hasn't altered my mood or mental state, but damned if the pain has considerably gone away.

I love it.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 05:58 PM) When I got hit with a line drive in my foot they prescribed 800mg pain killers to me.......it was khaaraazy! That's exactly what they gave me, man. I just took one. How stoned am I going to be?

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 05:47 PM) I think I'd rather have a knee problem if I had to choose. Groin problems linger on forever. Plus they hinder your SECKS. I was given a new prescription today for different pain pills. They are HUGE.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 04:57 PM) Gregory Pratt = Up-And-Coming Soxtalk Stud If we're talking position players, I want my major defensive assets at SS, CF, C, and to a lesser extent, 3B. Really, this is why Kenny Williams kicks ass. He actually understands how to build. I love it when guys aren't philosophically-challenged. I used to be an up-and-coming stud, before the injury derailed me. I'm glad someone else gets it, and that there are quite a few of you in here. I'd rather have Jeter on my team than Juan, but not because his D's better. Because Derek Jeter is a stud and a future Hall of Famer and is everything that is right with baseball. I'd also rather have Ozzie Smith at Short, Ichiro Suzuki batting leadoff, and Andrew Jones roaming centerfield. We're talking about real, possible replacements for Uribe, and Jeter ain't one of them. Tejada isn't, either. Sorry. I'm the one who thinks Uribe is the best defensive shortstop. Jeter is not better than him defensively. Sorry. There can be a case for some case -- Gonzales, who is Ozzie's pick -- but I can't think of anything that I think is better, and anyone that is is only marginally so. Uribe's fine on my team. I'll bet Kenny isn't dying to get rid of him. Shortstop is the most important defensive position aside from, perhaps, catcher.

Uh, I don't know why other organizations didn't take him, but rumor has it that a few were interested, including LANL. I will say this: wherever the idea that the organization isn't high on Gload comes from, it's probably false. Rumor has it he's in Ozzie's doghouse (or used to be), but I'm not sure I believe that. I do know, however, that Kenny always has praise for Gload, and the clubhouse enjoys his presence, by all accounts.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 01:57 PM) Uribe has the best arm of any shortstop in baseball Uribe has the best arm of any SS in baseball? He might have the strongest arm, but not the most accurage (see his errors). Nah. My own eyes and most statistics tell me that Uribe is the best shortstop in the game, and that his throws are usually right there. I'm not going to get into an argument over him now, however. I don't particularly care to debate how good he is. I will say, however: where in the hell do you get the idea that there are plenty of minor leaguers good enough defensively to replace him? Name one with a cannon and some pop and his range.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 12:57 PM) When did he say that? In college he was throwing gas, he actually told a kid he could kill him with his fastball if he wanted. Where'd you come across that anecdote?

QUOTE(AssHatSoxFan @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 12:48 PM) be glad you didnt injure your groin then I'd rather pull my groin than rip my ACL. Wouldn't I? Imagine that. Being forced to choose between your groin and knee. Ay ay ay, no me gusta!

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 11:50 AM) Uribe has had one good hitting season at the plate. That's it. And that was in the last season without steroid testing. Since then, he has hit horribly. .252 with a .712 OPS is bad, even for a SS. And that was 2005. This year it is .234 with a .691 OPS. Even worse. His defense has obviously fallen off this year as well. In the very least, he's not a "great" defensive SS. So basically Uribe is a very good defensive SS who can't hit worth a damn. That is basically a replacement level player. The minor leagues are full of good defensive SS's who can't hit. If the Sox are content with that level of play, they can get one for league minimum. Uribe has the best arm of any shortstop in baseball, IMO. I think he could nail people from any outfield spot at the plate. Which means I want him to play CF: he did it a couple times for the Rockies! His range is extraordinary, and he makes all the little plays he has to make. His sole problem is DP balls that he rushes, and that's it. The same people complaining about his dropped popup would never say, "Crede sucks because he cost us a game when he dropped Manny's popup last year!" Give me a break. Uribe embarrassed himself that one time, and has thrown a few balls away by rushing. That's about it, and it happens way more often than not to other players. As for you going on about Uribe's hitter, I never said he was a good one. I said he has some pop. And he does. For a few weeks, he's Pujols, but for the rest of the way, he's an excellent number eight or nine to have, considering everything.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 11:40 AM) True, but Ozzie has been and will continue to put in guys like Hermanson, Cotts, Logan, Haeger and McCarthy in close game situations in the 7th, 8th and 9th as well. He's been doing that consistently. There are key situations with the game on the line where we should only see MacDougal, Thornton or Jenks (unless they are completely unavailable) and Ozzie will continue to use lesser pitchers in many of those situations because Ozzie simply doesn't know how to handle the bullpen. He's shown that all season long. My problem with Ozzie + the Pen is twofold: McCarthy should never pitch unless it's LONG relief. He blows out of the pen and is VERY prone to the longball. Second: he should let them rest a lot more. Like Garland's game v. Cleveland, seven runs in one inning because he put in the minor leaguers. I agreed with Black Jack that, in games like that, you rest the pen. I like his handling of the team so far, so that's where this ends. I do think it's fair enough to complain about it, though, and that's your right.

A couple of things I forgot to mention: when they drained me of all that blood, I began to cackle after awhile because of the pain. Better to laugh than to scream, isn't it? Also: the same fellow who took care of my right index finger five years ago is doing the treatments for my left knee. Kind of cool.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 11:23 AM) I think that's obvious. Soxhawk is basically saying limit them to as little as possible. If the Sox are up 2-1 in a tight game in the 6th, and the starter's on the ropes...go to Thornton/MackyD. Do not go to Cotts, BMac, Logan, or Hermanson. It's nice in theory, but it just won't work out. Sometimes, in close games, in earlier innings, the middle relievers/long relievers have got to come in, and that means that Black Mack and Cotts and Logan and Haeger and Hermanson will be there.

What does Mariotti care? The season's over. The Twins and Tigers have emerged victorious.

From the Netherland Dwarf Bunny thread: I cut down an apple tree last year too. bringit.gif

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 10:59 AM) I don't buy into the statement that uribe's defense is poor. He is avery good defensive SS. Hitting is another thing. I liked Uribe more as the super sub infielder. Maybe he should return to that role. Uribe's throws on double play balls have been bad; that's it, IMO. Best shortstop otherwise.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Sep 13, 2006 -> 10:31 PM) That might be true if Ozzie both recognized that these three were his go to guys and relied on them exclusively in close/late game situations. However, what Ozzie will do, regardless of health status, is continue to give too many key innings to guys like Hermanson, Cotts, Logan, McCarthy, etc. You can't rely on three guys "exclusively." You'd kill their arms! Fact is, Black Mack and Hermanson will have to appear sometimes, as will Cotts and Logan.

Where is it going to be?

Somebody take me with you. PS: I think it be delicious if we could knock the Twins out of the playoffs, meaning that we and Detroit make it. Of course, I think it be delicious if we beat the s*** out of Minnesota and Detroit lost to Kansas s***ty. I don't think it be yummy if we lose, but I don't think that'll happen. This is a great ballclub.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 10:56 AM) sorry buddy, I'm leaving to spend my day encouraging young boys to join Cub Scouts and some adults to donate to the United Way. Talk about ****! Not here

I wouldn't lose my mind if we sent Uribe away, but I'm not dying to see him go, either. Listen, man, he's a shortstop with some pop, and he's the best defensively. A little iffy this year, but he's still been great. Really, he needs to work on turning double plays, and that's about it.

So...are we going to watch porn and share Vicodin anytime soon?

QUOTE(mreye @ Sep 14, 2006 -> 09:35 AM) I agree, but I must admit that I thought it was strange how much Hawk was mentioning it yesterday. I'm under the impression that Hawk dislikes Freddy. So, naturally, he wants to jinx him. (No, but seriously, Hawk does dislike Freddy, or at least it very much seems like it. I don't think he wanted to jinx him, though.)

Back. They drained a hundred CCs of blood from my left knee. It's less swollen, but still hurts a good bit. Something's torn "for sure," and they say it's probably the ACL because of the amount of blood. My MRI is scheduled for September twenty sixth, and my follow-up with the Specialist is October second.

My team lost 6-4 without me. Apparently, they won, though, because the other team played ineligibles and will be disqualified. That's what I'm told by the Coach, although I think it's getting out of hand. Both times I haven't played -- due to my suspension and due to the Rape of my Knee -- they've won by disqualification.