Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:25 PM) Actually, I'm kind of glad it was a guy who sucked. I'm under the impression that the percentage of White Sox who have used steroids is about the same as the percentage for every other team. I would/will be very dissappointed if it comes out it was one or more of the core guys who I have cheered for. I suppose I'm just taking the naive approach . I promise that your favorite players have used steroids. Not from any inside knowledge -- or at least that's not the basis of my claim -- but because I think it's clear. With millions at stake and everybody doing it.

Aaron Harang is a choke artist.

Just tell me how Ozzie Guillen is responsible for Jake Peavy's "choke-job." I just think you're upset because your best friend on the Reds is having his CY Award stolen from him by The Choker!!!!11

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 08:48 PM) Tonight was a classic choke by him, just like his first 2 playoff apperances. How many bad games in playoff situations will it take to convince you guys? And wow, what an inning by Hawkins. Eat that s***, Cub fans. Frank Thomas was a choker until 2006. Barry Bonds until he juiced up and went back with the Giants. What you're saying is reactionary, ridiculous bulls***. "Peavy's a choker!!!!" Give me a break.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 08:42 PM) Correct, however that first ball to CF is a triple IMO even if he plays it properly with as easy as Smith made it to third. The problem was the Tulowitzki ball is an easy out he turned into a triple, that was Mackowiak-esque. Fortunately for the Padres, it didn't cost them a run. Hey Hammerhead, is Peavy a choker now? 6 innings, 6 earned runs in a 1 game playoff to go along with that sparking 11 playoff ERA. Peavy left no doubt tonight either, as he both came out and dug an immediate 3-0 hole and then screwed his team that bailed him out over by turning a 5-3 lead into a 6-5 defecit. LaTroy Hawkins?? Uh oh...... Give me a break -- Peavy's not a choker because he's had three rough games under the age of 27.

Brady Clark is just as bad as Rob Mackowiak, holy s***. People wanted this guy for the White Sox centerfield spot? Nobody is this bad "just one game" of the year. There's something seriously wrong with him.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 08:15 PM) Slightly off-topic, but looking back, Buccholz, Hirsh, and Taveras for Garland would be pretty nice. I remember when I was an idiot for not liking the deal.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 08:09 PM) For your next trick, convince me that the NHL still has a hockey franchise in Chicago.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 08:06 PM) It's hard to be perfect. Just ask Mike Mussina.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 07:41 PM) also, I find it hard to believe that Jason 'French Upper Middle Class' (The smart ones here will get it ) would just be released when he is a good player to have down in the minors and if Pablo isn't the same next year Bourgeouis would be the likely candidate to replace (similar players). As for Anderson, I see him Atlanta bound. What, exactly, do you expect from Atlanta for Anderson?

Let's go Rockies

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 07:54 PM) Perhaps if ESPN spent a little less time worshipping at the alter of the Red Sox and Yankees, I might know a little more about them. But just like the Chicago media puts the White Sox 2nd, the national media pays almost no interest to an alleged baseball team in Colorado. Pick up sports magazines, check the box scores and get BP/BA.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 07:49 PM) Do you not like Bonds because he's a prick, or because of his suspected steroid use? That italicized quote is shameless as hell. And I dislike Bonds because he disgraced himself and dishonored himself and knows it. Besides that, I've always acknowledged that most players are juiced up. I'm not stupid, but Helton is a good hitter whether or not he used steroids and he's had some back problems that may have more to do with his decline in power than anything else. But even without his homer power, he's still doubling like mad.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 07:44 PM) I have some massive doubts about his drastic power decline. He's still a very good hitter. Lots of doubles. Even with his back problems.

Todd Helton is good. I don't care what people say about his Colorado stats.

Just fight, Rockies.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 07:10 PM) Ubaldo Jimenez has some nasty stuff, and could be a major factor for them. It's a shame Cook and Hirsh went down. The Rocks have a nice little thing going in Colorado. That game Hirsh pitched on a broken leg was sick.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 05:10 PM) I think he'll probably do a lot better than that. He's not Gustavo or anything. At each level, he has eventually trended up to that .265-.275 level, with a wee bit of power, and a little speed. That, with hopefully plus defense, would be not too bad at all, if he can do it at the major league level. I think his AFL season and how he does at AAA next year will tell us if he is capable of that. If you are "trending up" to those levels at his age and at those levels, you're probably not going to have much luck hitting .220 in the majors.

Don't worry -- we have some very good hitters who had unexplainable bad seasons. Next year, all the young guys will improve very much and the old guys will revert to form. We will be fine. This team is one player away. That player is Babe Ruth, who'll pitch for us and hit for us.

Ask about John McCain's first wife. That's the more interesting story.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 03:28 PM) For a AAA team, that is a tough pitching staff. Heck it might win the NL Central with a decent offense.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) I think thats overly presumptious at this point. Let's see what Suzuki and Lucy can do in a full season. Suzuki put up OPS' in the low 800's for the heart of his minor league career full seasons (.818 at A+, .807 at AA - didn't play much AAA), which is roughly 80 points higher than Lucy at the same levels (.724, .733). Significant difference indeed, but neither of those sets of numbers indicates a hitter likely to be an offensive juggeraut at the major league level. Add into the equation defense (where Lucy is far superior, from what few stats and scouting reports I can find), and speed (Lucy was 13 of 14 this year in stolen base attempts, Suzuki didn't steal a single bag all year), and suddenly the gap narrows. Is superior defense and a little speed at catcher worth 80 points of OPS? Maybe, but its not definite thing. The one thing that Suzuki definitely did that Lucy did not was all about time - he is about a year ahead of Lucy in terms of development, give or take. And that definitely has big value. Lucy pays the price for playing behind Garko in college and for a hand injury in 2005, which has put him behind schedule. I am not saying Lucy is better than Suzuki, not at all. But to say that Suzuki was clearly the better choice, at this point, is premature and may turn out not to be the case. Come on. I know he's your adopt-a-prospect but this is silly. There was no genuine reason to take Lucy over Suzuki and in your heart you know that.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 12:42 PM) Maybe their scouts have a great eye for relievers, but none of their star relievers were sure things when they were acquired. Linebrink was taken off waivers. Bell was acquired in a minor player/spare parts trade. Meredith was acquired along with Josh Bard when they had the Red Sox over a barrel (the second Mirabelli trade). Even Hoffman was acquired, way back when, in the middle of his rookie season. I'm only defending the overall strategy of getting good, cheap, young players, as opposed to getting vets. Obviously the Sox didn't acquire the right young pitchers. (Though I still like Aardsma, long term.) But the solution isn't to acquire 'reliable vets'. Bell looked a lot more risky than Aardsma to start the season. Towers always talks about how you should look for pitchers who throw strikes, first and foremost, when building a bullpen. I think I concur.

I didn't read the whole thread but someone had to have pointed out that there was really no reason to extend him. We can wait for his last season and then sign him accordingly, depending on how he ages and whether or not his attitude holds up. I understand we have, at best, Henry Blanco in our system and so we have no future catcher but that doesn't mean we should sign him for two more years when there's really not a big reason to.