Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 09:39 AM) Having to watch him in game 3 of the Cubs series was enough torture. From hoping to God that he doesn't lose the game or else the world will be over?

What was Hogan's role?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) You could say that, I suppose, although I wouldn't agree with it. I don't think his bat speed is slow -- it's just the loading with the hands (or whatever it is -- "cocking" , whatever the term is) that seems slow. In any case I think you're much too harsh on Fields, although I suppose we shall get a pretty good answer from a full-seasons worth of at-bats in 2008. I'm not harsh on him. I say I like him and he's got good potential but he needs to learn how to play defense and prove he can hit the fastball; especially with the latter, he will prove himself a real player. Otherwise he is a fluke, a nothing, who can not play professional major league baseball for long. You must hit the fastball and hard or else you'll get it inside and never produce. The league will soon adjust to him; he has to, too. But I think he can do it. I really do. I'm just saying -- if the dude doesn't, he's got no MLB future. He's got significant room to improve, and much room to fall backwards. It's a very easy fall, too. I agree his bat's not slow, just his loading and his beginning.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 06:36 PM) To be fair, Fields isn't a dead pull hitter -- better than 25% of his homers at US Cellular were to right or right-center. Most of his other homers were to left-center. He only had one homer that ended up in or over the top of the Sox bullpen. Indicative of an inability to really rip the fastball.

1. Nobody said that he had never had good innings or even a few good "years"; I said McCarthy had had good, sustained success in the minors and good success in the Majors and so the situations were different, so let's not mischaracterize the declaration. 2. Floyd doesn't have anything notable in his repoitoire. A curve that is nasty one time out of ten, a flat fastball with no speed, and all of his pitches die from the stretch. EDIT: For that matter, McCarthy has nothing noteworthy in his repoitoire, either.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 05:38 PM) Stuff wise I don't know if there's a huge difference, B-Mac probably has a better change, and he's certainly proven a bit more. But we'll see how Floyd does. He's basically at the same situation where B-Mac was coming into 2006, except he's not getting moved into the pen. They're in the same basic situation in the same way that they're two pitchers. The key differences between them are that Brandon McCarthy had pitched some FANTASTIC innings for the White Sox and not only pitched fantastic innings but was during a World Series hunt and excepting the fact that McCarthy was always very good in the minors, too, so he had sustained some good success while Floyd hadn't.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 05:24 PM) that's still to be seen... I've always thought McCarthy was overrated. I definitely agree. I've been very vocal about that -- but he's still much better than Floyd.

Brandon McCarthy isn't that good, either, but he's much better than Floyd.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 11:01 PM) Not sure on this deal, but would like to expand on it. While the Sox current system lacks depth of quality prospects, I try and trade Gio this off-season. Granted his 2006 warranted a repeat stop in AA for 2007, but I really think the Sox were scared to put him in AAA, decreasing his value. I just have never trusted Gio as a legit prospect, and think his value is at an all time high. If you can move him for the right package, you do it. Poop-colored glasses. Really, I don't consider Gio much of anything, either, but he might make an interesting trade chip.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 04:44 PM) 1.Poop colored glasses. 2.Yes. 2a..Damn Detroit and there big fieLdzzz. I suppose I should throw out all of the home starts of Bonderman,Verlander, Rogers, ect? because of the park they play in? I had no idea Detroit wasn't "regulation size". Oh, and the lineup featured Sizemore-Hafner-Victor-Garko-Lofton. Check the box. 3. I wish I had someone as faithful as you to defend me whenever someone hurts my feelings. 1. Anchorman! "Poop...poop mouth!" 2. Setting and circumstance is integral to judging; Floyd was beat up by a bad team and escaped homeruns because that field is huge. PS: there is no "regulation" size, but there's clearly a difference between pitching for the Tigers and the Padres and other teams. Anything else you draw from that is an inference you're making to defend Floyd because heaven forbid someone say he sucks. (The Cleveland game was in the hard rain; circumstance favored him very much.) 3. You do have nice tits. I'm happy to look. Addendum: DA = smart, 2004 September = good, Floyd = bad, 2007 September = 2004 September = jack.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 04:27 PM) 1.) Charlotte is a bandbox. 2.) Poop colored glasses a.) Because the Tigers and the Indians took the month off because everything was already decided. b.) You hate him, so again see #2 3.) 1. So? Timo was the All Star MVP, wasn't he? And Heath Phillips dominated that league. It is an atrocious league, and he makes starts in places other than Charlotte, sorry -- that an "old" (age and experience) pitcher beats up on that league means s***. 2. No. a.) The Tigers lineups, and the size of that field, helped Gavin more than you can now; and Cleveland? They faced him in the rain -- the fortune of circumstance! (I also believe many starters were out.) b.) I don't hate him -- I just know who he is, and I'm not going to pretend that him starting for the White Sox is anything but trouble. 3.

QUOTE(scenario @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 02:52 PM) I don't agree. He had an excellent season in Charlotte and made significant improvements as the season went along. Check out his game log. The huge improvement in K/BB clearly demonstrates improved command and confidence. And in his last 6 starts with the Sox, his command and his curveball were very impressive both from the windup and the stretch. (His curveball was downright nasty.) 3.40 ERA in those starts? 5 quality starts in 6 outings?? Will that carry over into next year? Who knows? But let's hope so. 1. Charlotte, and the IL, are lousy; plus he's old, in experience and age, for that league. Heath Phillips whooped that league in 06. 2. I disagree that he looked nasty and impressive in his last six starts, but everybody here goes after me and DA when we pointed out that a) September starts are generally meaningless B) He really didn't look all that hot watching those games, even if you're not counting "September stats for a loser" 3. I concede, however, that there is "hope" for Floyd to have a good year next year. There is always hope...

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 01:25 PM) Actually Gavin's curve is good, has good tilt to it, and has a sharp break. Gavins problem is throwing it for strikes, and getting ahead of the hitter. If he can throw strikes, and get his curve over he will pitch fine. Danks needs to hang with Mark this ST and work on that cutter. The cutter can help him out a lot. He needs to throw strikes, and use his changeup more. He has a good curve, but his curve and his fastball are both hard hard. He needs to use his change more to offset his fastball. The minute he learns to command a cutter he will dominate. But if he cant throw strikes, he will get rocked. His fastball is good, but not good enough to blow hitters away. Gavin's curve is good one out of ten times; most of the time he doesn't throw it right and forget about him ever throwing a curve from the stretch. He has no consistent command of any of his pitches.

QUOTE(AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 11:59 AM) I'm not overpaying for a waterboy. Nope. You'll be overpaying for a cheerleader.

hour is such an ugly word

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 11:39 AM) Pratt's going to jump on me for it, but I actually think that it's Floyd. He has a pitcher's frame, which should let him throw a lot of innings without tiring, he's 25 so he's approaching the age where he will hit whatever his peak actually is, and he may finally have built some confidence at the end of the last year. Honestly, despite what that logic tells me, I'm hoping that it winds up being Contreras...because if Jose could have a good 1st half, that would be the best thing for the team in the long run, as that would help rebuild Jose's shattered trade value and maybe make his contract moveable at the deadline. I'm not going to jump on you for it; I know full well that you enjoy predicting positive things for Sox players, particularly young Sox players. I will say that I don't see what you see and think you're wrong as hell...and I'll joke that I think Floyd hit his peak in High School...but we'll see.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 11:36 AM) If that were the case, and you were completely right, that Gavin would start hot this year entirely due to the weather...then the best thing to do to help the team out would be to plan for this hot start, and plan to move him sometime in early/mid may after he's come out, won 5 games in a row or so, and rebuilt some significant trade value for a team looking for young arms. I didn't say he would; I said it's more likely than not that pitchers would have more success in Chicago in the cold but I add the caveat that if Gavin's curveball sucks and has no control, as it frequently does, and he's still losing 5 MPH whenever he goes into the stretch it won't matter if he's playing against polar bears on melting ice caps.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 11:30 AM) Already building in your excuse in case he succeeds, I see. It's pretty hard to hit heat in the cold; if April this year is like last's, it'll certainly make sense that Floyd would be able to succeed for a little but then again, Gavin doesn't throw all that hard so it might not help that much. But yes, if Floyd is starting in really cold weather, I don't expect him to fall all the way apart; instead, I expect it to happen once it heats up. I guess I'm just making up the "cold"/hitter's situation or something.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 11:02 AM) You're certainly right that between Floyd, Danks, and Contreras, the odds are high that at least one, if not 2 or even 3 of them are going to fall flat on their faces. The problem is...I defy anyone here to predict exactly which one is going to do so and exactly when. As I keep saying, right now, thanks to the weakness of our system, our only way back into it this year would be a lot of luck, and our only way to rebuild rapidly is to squeeze every ounce of value/talent out of the guys we currently have. We at least have 5 talented starting pitchers and a guy who we thought of 2 years ago as an incredible pitching coach working with them. If somehow all 5 have good years, we're right in this thing. If not, then we take a look at who blew up and replace them when it happens with Gio, Broadway, or Egbert. And if by some chance we see some success out of a couple of these guys, then we evaluate our position at the trading deadline w/regards to whether or not we hold onto them. I.e. Contreras has a good first half, but we're down in the division due to something else, like more bullpen failures, etc. At that point, you see that maybe Jose has rebuilt some trade value, and then you decide it's time to move him for some actual talent. You could even say the same thing about Floyd or Danks. Floyd will fall apart sooner rather than later; if he starts well, it'll be because it's cold, but I doubt even that helps him. There's one prediction; I'm not comfortable predicting what the other two do although I'd bet that Contreras gets worse as the year goes on, what with his health, and Danks gets gassed late in the summer (I, for one, still think Danks is a good young starter, but the innings scare me)

I, for one, am only cautiously optimistic.

Belichick on Anthony Smith: "He's just not very good." I love it. It was pretty cool when Brady got in is face in the first quarter, too.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 05:35 PM) 1. Favre was playing terrible in that game before he got hurt. Rodgers played much better when he came on. So Favre was hardly a "weapon" in that contest. 2. Dallas is still 12-1, unimpressive or not. 3. The Cowboys will have home field advantage it appears. That's an advantage against the Packers. 4. You're trying to make this a Brady vs. Romo argument, saying how Romo ain't that good. Brady's had an amazing season, and is surely the MVP. But any other season, Romo's close to putting up MVP numbers. He has a great supporting cast, but his ability to avoid the rush and make plays on the fly makes him one of the top 3 QB's in the NFL. 5. Well with the way the Pats have looked recently, you can't take anything for granted. The Cowboys just need a 3rd CB to cover Wes Welker, and I think they could give them a run for their money, but we'll see. Okay.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan99 @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 05:22 PM) Things getting interesting in the Pats game. Just had a small fight. Patriots run it up and this could get real interesting. When I was on my College radio show, I told my co-host that I thought Pittsburgh and NYJ the likeliest teams to hurt Brady if anybody was going to do it. I still don't think anyone will, especially not on Pitt., but it's possible.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 05:21 PM) Well you can only beat the teams that are laid out in front of you. The Packers are decent, and do have a good pass D (CB's are better than the Pats). Did the Cards prove anything in 2006, even though a lot of people consider them one of the weakest teams to win a World Series of all time? All I know is, Romo is a better QB than he was last season, there is absolutely no doubt about that. He was terrible for the most part in that Seattle game as well, missing a lot of throws. It shouldn't be hard for him to play a better level in the playoffs than that game. The Packers lost their best weapon midway through the game; and no, baseball does not equal football. Dallas is a rather unimpressive team, especially compared to the big AFL teams...unlike baseball, the better team with a better idea will win much more often. Besides, I didn't start this to talk about the Cowboys as a whole -- just Romo. He isn't all that hot, and I still remember him as the crybaby on the sidelines. We'll see what happens, but I'd be surprised if Dallas beats Green Bay in the playoffs and they definitely won't beat the Patriots unless Belichick and Brady and Moss all have heart attacks before gametime.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 05:15 PM) A good team. Ok so let's say the Cowboys make it to the Superbowl. Romo still won't have proven anything because he hasn't beaten a "good" team in the playoffs yet right? That's truer in football than any other sport, yes.