Gregory Pratt

I don't think that Dye is anywhere near as good as he appears. This is probably his career year, you know. He's good, a great value, but I doubt he ever does what he's done this year again.

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:59 PM) How dare he try to make sure people get the Constitutional protections of a defense! So correct. Let's have no more defense attorneys. Let's just have the state charge people and make them disappear sans real trials. I saw that ideology in some old black and white newsreels. Unfortunately I couldn't understand the narration since it was in Russian. I think that's the second time I've seen you use that line, and I love it all the same.

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:57 PM) If he plays 4 more years at the same quality of play that he is now, then yes. But if those 4 years are worthless, then no, I doubt he will be. Ichiro will play fine, barring injury, but I think he'd be in no matter what if he retired today.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:54 PM) Neither is expected to be in the lineup today, especially Thome. Good. We need them rested for Toronto.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 09:21 AM) Thank you for at least being honest about what's really bugging people about Vaz, the $$$ that KW gave him. I'm not angry with him for his costs in terms of money. I'm mad for his costs in terms of wins. As much as I loved it when Tadahito Iguchi knocked in seven runs to erase a huge deficit, I hate it when a pitcher puts his team in that position, and Javier always puts us in a hole. The money doesn't help, though. No sir. That overpaid maniac.

I hope Thome gets the day off tonight, and Konerko, too, if needed. I want them ready for Halladay.

QUOTE(SoxFan76 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:33 PM) Why does everyone have to have lame nicknames. Why not Brandon? Or McCarthy? Or MacDougal? I leave the nicknames up to the expert. (Hawk) I don't think Black Mac is that bad, but I didn't coin it, I just like it. If you don't like it, don't call him that. Jeez. We are not all adults here, first of all. I'm not, but beside me, there's a reason there are swear filters (though I hate the darn things), and that's that this is a site with kids and that'll realistically have kids visit here and there. The way I figure is, if you can comprehend someone's post, it's fine as far as grammar and spelling. It's not like people are posting like they're imbred or in ebonics, so mellow out.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 02:54 PM) If it's true, we can blame Jose's agent for KW acquiring Vazquez. I now hate this man. It's true. I posted the story here initially when it came out, and I've posted it a couple of times since then, too! I thought it was incredible that that agent nearly did that to Jose, and that Jose signed on the spot. I'm tempted to say that Jose is one of the few players I can think of, offhand, that would simply say, "Just don't make me starve," in terms of money, "Because I'm just happy to be here."

QUOTE(Sonik22 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:19 PM) Ichiro is going to be a 1st ballot HOF. Book It. Yeah, I think so, too.

QUOTE(SoxFan76 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 02:32 PM) You're going to be hearing from me a lot then. I mean "Your" going to.... Leave him alone! No reason to be a grammar Nazi.

QUOTE(SoxFan76 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 02:39 PM) From what I've read/heard/seen, New Yorkers HATE sports! Well, at least they hate the individuals who play the sports and the managers who manage the sports! haha Haha, well played!

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 02:07 PM) So basically copy Springfield, Mass and make it a baseball Hall of Fame instead of a MLB Hall of Fame. You won't find anyone to disagree with you. However, I'm sure there are certain obstacles that would have to be overcome. Yeah, actually, I'd like that.

I call Bradon "Black Mack" sometimes, or "Black Mac."

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 01:19 PM) Keep up with that kinda talk and we have a nice facility down in Cuba for folks like you! Be quiet, you Liberal momo. That's traitor talk!

QUOTE(AssHatSoxFan @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 01:13 PM) miami is familiar with robbery...didnt freddy get robbed there last year or in the offseason? Is that the excuse he gives for where his fastball went?

Miami got robbed!

First, let me say that I think the HOF is a fraud in a lot of ways. The fact that someone like Bert Blyleven, Shoeless Joe or Pete Rose can be excluded from the Hall while other people get in is bogus, IMO, but that's the hall for you. But, anyway, I was thinking about Cuba and Cuban players. Orlando Hernandez, Livan Hernandez and Jose Contreras spent the prime years of their careers in Cuba. Internationally, and in Cuba, they were excellent. (I'm only using them two as examples because I've had a softspot in my heart for them for years now, although they had great numbers in those years.) And then I was thinking about Japan, and Japanese players. Clearly, Japan's a different breed than Cuba. You won't be threatened, and your family won't starve, if you leave Japan for the Major Leagues. When Ted Williams retired, he called for MLB to put black players from the Negro Leagues into the HOF because they hadn't gotten a chance but had proven talent with the shots given them. Now, let's take Ichiro: I think that, if he retired today, he'd belong in the Hall, based on what he's done up until now and the many years of success in Japan. Jose Contreras and El Duque obviously haven't dominated like Ichiro has, but I am of the opinion that Cooperstown should give serious consideration to players who didn't get to play here too long but excelled for the years they did simply because I think it's the right message to send foreign players, and because I think it's deserved. Thoughts?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 12:04 PM) Chris Widger is available. Now wouldn't that be hilarious?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 12:02 PM) So, Thornton's left arm is a pastor in the church of Coop? Hahah, yeah, Thornton loves Coop. Didn't you read his perspective a while back about how much he likes it here? The Hometown Heroes Dugout is great, too: http://www.progressiveboink.com/dugout/archive/jon62.html I love the end.

http://palehosesix.blogspot.com/ Well, check out "Gload Saves" then. It's the newest.

I heart this one:

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 11:18 AM) Wow, the Royals' starter has a lower ERA than our starter. How often does that happen? About as often that a prime-years-of-his-career-former-league-leader-in-ERA pitcher suddenly loses his fastball.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 09:48 AM) I would maybe like Dave Roberts as the 4th OFer. He can play CF, right? Other than that, maybe get someone to repalce Riske (or re-sign him), a swingman, LFer, and perhaps Oswalt. Hm, that's actually a lot. Not really. It might be blasphemy to suggest so early, but we're a team in good position to contend for a Threepeat Title. I'd love it if we could get Oswalt or Zito. I don't know anything about the prospects of picking up Oswalt, but I do know that there are a lot of people who don't think we have the money for Zito, or that we should give him his money. I think that, in Barry's case, we let him walk if he demands the arm-and-a-leg expected, but we should go into that hunt. Oswalt would be nice. In a perfect world, we'd get rid of both Freddy and Javier for Mac and someone better. A Left Fielder wouldn't be too bad, and I wouldn't be too upset if Pods got replaced, but I wouldn't jump for joy, either. I like Scotty.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 10:26 AM) It may not be THE factor, but it sure is a contributing factor, along with the rotten staffs that the O's and Royals have. Not having Thome or Konerko in there forces this team to do more of the little things to score runs and not rely on Caveman Jim. Caveman Jim? That nickname sucks.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 10:24 AM) Off the top of my head: - Cubs game on Barrett's triple - Tigers game where he let IRod tag up on routine fly - Orioles game from Sunday More times than that, IMO, but I recall all those offhand. At least his bat is an excellent tool off the bench.