Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(Al Lopez's Ghost @ Mar 30, 2008 -> 10:59 AM) The Sox website says there are 3 new food items this year: a foot-long hotdog, being called the Super Comiskey; a cart for hot roasted peanuts; and a stand for barbeque pulled pork sandwiches, and beef brisket sandwiches. Personally, I would have named the foot-long hotdog the Harry Chappas, but that's just me. How much is the foot-long hotdog? 8.95?

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;sportCat=mlb Frank is a much better man than he gets blame for. This is a sad story but not all the way. It's certainly a tragedy, but it's inspiring, and I thought SoxTalkers would "enjoy" reading Frank's role.

QUOTE(JorgeFabregas @ Mar 27, 2008 -> 03:36 PM) 21. And he OPSed .319 in rookie league. Ouch, babe.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 27, 2008 -> 03:33 PM) I would rather have Carrie Schueler up at bat. They are both about as qualified to be drafted. Yeah, but it's not a big deal. Every General Manager and Manager with a son who wants this gets it.

Oney Guillen!

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 06:24 PM) I did hear her mention in an interview in the past that she had a tough choice. and her "future" factored into her staying with him. Now, what "future" would require you not divorce your husband? Senate? naaaa. McCain is there. Working in the private sector? naa... Running for president? YEP! that's it. We didnt know it back then, but even THEN she was planning on running for president. PS: I am currently trying to track down the quote or soundbite from that interview. I have NO idea where I heard it, but I did hear it. If you are interested in learning about the Clinton marriage, I'd recommend reading Anderson's Bill and Hillary: The Marriage. Why do they stay together? Well, why does anyone stay with anyone else? Plenty of reasons. Love, politics (of life and electorate), ambition, family, consistency, bonds created by time and a daughter -- these all play a part. That Hillary ONLY stayed with Bill is simply not true; that it was the primary consideration is up for debate by scholars and biographers and students. Regardless of how important it was, as a percentage, I object to this characterization of her and his marriage. I'm not a big fan of Bill or Hillary, although Bill gets criticized more harshly by me, but that she didn't dump him because she wanted to run for President is unfair.

Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. Back, and to the Left. [in an episode of The Critic, the phrase is parodied when Jay Sherman announces the Director's Cut of JFK with seventeen added minutes of "back, and to the left."]

A friend and I were discussing, via the Internet, a cousin of hers that believed up until recently that the US had gained its independence from the Russians, not the British (what year, I don't know). This was, to say the least, a little upsetting to me as she is not a young woman so she does not have youthful lack-of-knowledge as an excuse but I said, "Well, wouldn't that be something if it were so?" I was thinking about it, wondering "How do I tease and explore this silliness?" and wound up writing up this "History." I hope you appreciate the nuggets in the story and the lump it makes up. (You likely won't understand it all the way unless you have a good grasp of American and Russian Revolutionary history, but even to the normal reader or the casual historian it should provide good humour.) A Brief History of American Revolution The Russian Revolution of America began when American colonists revolted against Russian rule over the Alaskan colony over their refusal to allow them drilling rights. It escalated during peace negotiations, held in Vancouver, when Madison warned Zinoviev against factionalism after the American delegation overhead him conspiring with Kamenev against his fellow Communists. Trotsky shot Hamilton in the ensuing argument for insinuating that there should be a separation of powers to ensure that everyone can co-exist in disagreement. With tensions rising, Stalin brought the declaration of independence to the table and ordered the execution of Jefferson for inciting the people to capitalism; this, he thought, would solve all problems. Washington intervened, thus irking Stalin's pride because the Man of Steel objected to the man whom he had armed against the Spaniards objecting to his peace proposal, and the ensuing war lasted seven years until Dolly Madison and Nadezhda Krupskaya sat down to broker an era of good feelings by which the Canadian provinces would suffice as replacement for the loss of ANWR profits, the American colony would be allowed to spread into what would become the continental United States, but only if they would aid the Soviets in defeating Napoleon's France in Quebec, which they joined the Germans in doing. Unfortunately, a good deal of double crossing occurred when Adams told a young Hitler, fighting for the Allies at the time, that the Russians did not intend to work with the Germans after the rebellion was defeated. Hitler never trusted the Russians again, and when Churchill (in the new world to observe the new world) criticized Hitler's artistry and drank his alcohol, the stage was set for the bloodiest conflict ever known to man. Hitler would never booze again.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 02:22 PM) The good news is that seeing how bad Floyd is makes me realize that Danks could become a good starter in a few years. You think Floyd is bad? We're talking about practice. Practice, man. This is practice.

Same with Magglio? Wanting another payday might be a reason to hold something for another book. I'm largely playing Devil's Advocate here, because Canseco doesn't have much, but the lack of denial and my own senses tell me that Rodriguez isn't quite what he's made out to be. And while Canseco didnt' out Rodriguez before, he certainly made numerous cracks about how he isn't the Saint he's made out to be, in his first book.

Canseco doesn't have any proof, but in his new book he says Maggs was a juicer and he injected him (according to the review out) and he says Clemens was largely suspected but he implies that George W. Bush protected Clemens and he makes suggestions about Rodriguez, including the claim that he tried to have sex with Canseco's wife. Yowza. I know, I know -- Canseco's a rat. And to tell you the truth, this seems to be an incredibly weak book. But do I believe that Rodriguez was introduced? Absolutely, and Rodriguez' non-answer certainly leads to doubt in my mind, but I've always hated hearing about Rodriguez as the great clean hope. Rodriguez is a stretch of the imagination, and Skip Bayless was talking about it, too. He got bigger and he's the fastest to five hundred homeruns -- why? 'Cause God made him greater than every slugger before him? Okay. What does everyone think about this little scandal?

Isn't that what people are saying about Obama?

I generally don't jump into these conversations but I'll share my thoughts of the day on the campaign's turn this week. This is what I wrote:

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 12, 2008 -> 02:47 PM) Mid-card 4 Life! Credit: ProWrestling.NET - You would be forgiven for thinking Vince McMahon may be upset about Jeff Hardy's inability (once again) to follow the company's drug policy, but that apparently is not the case. One source has claimed that McMahon has been waiting for an incident like this to happen and that suspension of one of the company's biggest stars puts WWE in a strong position if Congress or anyone else questions the company's drug testing policy. Hardy is now destined to mid-card status for life, another source claims, with Vince McMahon not even willing to contemplate future creative plans for the former Intercontinental Champion at this time. The same source also claims that Hardy has cost himself a Spring run with the WWE Title. Get well soon, Jeff. I'm just glad you won't be World Champion.

Now now, there's still time before Opening Day. Should we have released Crede for nothing? It saddens me to watch my hometown organization wander in the dark.

QUOTE(max power @ Mar 22, 2008 -> 08:22 PM) At least we have fields tied up for a while. I like Josh, but he's no consolation prize at this stage, to me. At the least we'll get to watch Cabrera quite often over the next few years, but I wish he were a White Sox.

QUOTE(JoeCoolMan24 @ Mar 22, 2008 -> 01:21 PM) Jew-Power!! I think Poreda sounds great and all, but I didn't like reading that he says he wants to throw 70-90% Fastballs, and his secondary pitches are "good enough". I don't think he will be able to survive on 70-90% fastballs in the majors. Big league players can smash fastballs, he needs at least 1 more great pitch before I can see him doing anything in the majors. Major League pitchers throw primarily 70-80% fastballs.

Randy Moss, bad guy? http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x1183938077

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 18, 2008 -> 02:33 PM) I f***ing told alot of people here!! I knew it. You seriously believe he could just rear back and throw that hard if he wanted to? I understand movement and all these things, taking off the ball, but if you have 100 MPH heat you use it. He doesn't have that anymore, until we see it again. That isn't to say he isn't a fine closer, because he is.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 10:51 PM) LMAO at RotoWorld. Gavin Floyd surrendered five runs -- four earned -- in four innings Sunday in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks. The White Sox have been raving about Floyd, and it's easy to see why, given his sparkling 6.55 ERA and 6/5 K/BB ratio in 11 innings. Plus, he only threw two wild pitches today. Is it any wonder he's been promised a rotation spot? From the Sun-Times: I know, I know -- "Spring Training ERAs don't mean anything!" but...

I just mean, I'd guess that Ozzie gave him a hard time sometimes and mocked him. He started to in the press -- "this kid, we can't count on him." It was strange when Podsednik said, "It's time for me to go find a new place," sort of, and I said, "Oh? You've got all you could want here -- pay for nothing, fans that love you at the ballpark," but maybe he was tired of Ozzie or Ozzie tired of him. I'm just speculating on what they've said, but I doubt Podsednik does anything next year. Playing in Coors should be some help, however.

I, uh, I heard that there were easy places to go in the Bay Area if you want to gain muscle mass/strength. Anyone hear that? I wish Sweeney luck and success. I like that guy. As for BA -- I still don't think he's very good, but he looks a little different and he's saying the right things. If he gets a chance and does well, good for him. I don't begrudge him. Although I wouldn't bet on him becoming much of a player, I'm not rooting against him.

I remember Podsednik saying it was time for him to go. I'd guess because Ozzie would always talk about how unreliable he was.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 04:36 PM) When I heard Williams gushing about him yesterday I wondered when did the development of his slider come along. From most accounts at the end of last season, he was simply blowing away lower level competition with a high 90's fastball. Is this something he has been tinkering with over the offseason? Has it really progressed that much? Six spring training games remain to be televised. I have to imagine we'll see him pitch atleast once during this span. Well, it's possible that the slider doesn't exist/is being greatly exaggerated. Wouldn't be the first time we were...mistaken like with Masset's fastball.

Made me happy to hear Oswalt get some praise. Seems like he's underrated lately.