shoota

Dustin Hermanson, World Champion. Thank you for sacrificing your health in exchange for a chance to win.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 10:20 PM) After the second bean, both teams were warned. There's no way that Ozzie would've had Javier suspended over it. Just wouldn't be worth it and there's no reason to when you've got a minor leaguer there. As far as Garland -- it's general knowledge that Ozzie stuck with Garland longer into games while Jerry "dicked around" with him, taking him out at the first sign of trouble and messing with his confidence. Like Guillen, you're misinformed. After the game, Vazquez stated he believed AJP's first HBP was intentional. Neither team received an umpire's warning after that HBP. At that time, Vazquez had the opportunity to retaliate in defense of his catcher without risk of suspension. He chose not to. You're wrong to state Vazquez had no reason to hit a Texas batter when the Sox had an expendable, rookie bullpen pitcher in Tracey. The reason for Vazquez to retaliate and hit a Texas batter is to possibly protect Pierzynski from receiving his second intentional HBP. As the pitcher in the game during the HPBs, Vazquez was the only man on the Sox who could have protected his catcher. He chose not to. I strongly disagree with your philosophy of a manager treating his players with varying levels of respect based on talent level. QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 10:22 PM) Check your PMs. I'm interested too. Would you mind forwarding that information to me?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 07:32 PM) Both BA and Bmac had reduced playing time because they were very inconsistent, and downright horrible at times. Bmac could not be depended on for long stretches and had many chances to succeed. BA did better in the 2nd half. Yet hardly enough to play every game no matter the circumstance. It sounds like BMac was told to stop by the sox, based on BMac's comments. Maybe it's just me, but a fine brings a lot of unwanted attention from around baseball, and could hurt the players value and careers. Trying to keep issues in house and quiet seems like a far better way to go about the "partying" issue. Sorry, but blaming Ozzie for the sox not repeating because he didn't play Bmac and BA?! I'd go with guys who weren't playing well but trying and going about their business in a professional way over guys who weren't playing well and "being irresponsible". Sounds like what Ozzie did. I don't believe the Sox would have been guaranteed to repeat had Guillen used BA and BMac more. I do believe Guillen hurt his team's chances at making the playoffs and repeating by diminishing the playing time of BMac and BA. We're looking from different perspectives. You say BMac was "very inconsistent and downright horrible at times," and I believe he had the starting ability to outpitch Buehrle in the second half, giving the Sox a better chance at making the playoffs and eventually repeating. BMac could have been a better option than Vazquez, Garcia and an injured Contreras over parts of the season. I never said BA should have played every game in the second half, but do believe Guillen should have started him more because on most days in the second half, BA was Guillen's best option in center field. QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 08:29 PM) Its very apparent that Ozzie is going to be given the bait almost everytime he gives an interview to say something outrageous. It appears he can't help himself and will spout off. It will eventually lead to his demise, and a lot of people will be shocked. I won't. Guillen's decision to take the bait is very telling of his maturity and intelligence.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 06:55 PM) Paul had two yrs of Ozzie--more than enough to know how Ozzie can affect a team. Ozzie just didn't start talking out of his --- the last yr. Sure, but it'd be understandable for Konerko to have a change of opinion after Guillen's most recent negative comments about Konerko's teammates. QUOTE(beck72 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 07:10 PM) The fact that Bmac himself "admits to being irresponsible" and that the sox had to ask him to "slow down" is very important to this discussion. Sure Ozzie overreacts and talks way too much. But if BMac had the results the sox expected of him--to be a reliable bullpen arm--he would have slack cut to him. [Though, IIRC not a hint of this talk came out last yr. And I don't know a coach worth a damn who'd coddle BMac and not focus on the negative if he was having trouble being "irresponsible".] Ozzie probably got mad that BMac dissed the "old, married" players and went off on BMac. It doesn't help anything. And makes Ozzie look stupid and unprofessional. But I can see where Ozzie is coming from. And in an odd sort of way, protecting his "old" players like PK and Thome who are being responsible. If Anderson was out with Bmac being "irresponsible" as well, when Ba was hitting .167, Ozzie has a legitimate beef about BA not deserving playing time. And that Ba shouldn't expect CF handed to him this yr. From the sounds of Ba himself, he admitted that he had some things he needed to change. Whether or not BMac and BA were irresponsible outside of work should not have diminished their playing time. Guillen's most important job is to win, and he jeopardized his team's ability to win by punishing those two with reduced playing time. If Guillen had not approved of the after-work business of BMac and BA, he should have told them to change how they spend their free time. If the two players continued to act in a way Guillen believed was irresponsible, they should have been fined. There is no excuse for Guillen to hurt the team's chances at winning and repeating as Champions.

QUOTE(HeGone33 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 04:52 PM) I understand your point as well and I think it just comes down to the individual. For example, my former manager where I work was also my mentor. I came to this job as a college grad who had tendancies to still go ut and party and what not. Well, after missing some days of work, my boss and mentor threw it out there that I miss work for party reasons, in one of our meetings with many higher level people. I was present at this meeting. Granted he said it in a joking matter and everyone more or less got a kick out of it. But to me, inside, I knew he had a point, and that I had things I needed to fix. I don't care one bit about the way he went about saying what I did wrong, it just motivated me to hurry and get it right. Knowing that he cares enough about me and my success to send out a little message here and there, ultimately made me feel good. Just a week ago ozzie was saying good things about Brian, and I highly doubt he doesn't want him to be successful, he just has his own way of doing things and I think we all have to respect that.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 03:02 PM) We have zero proof of this. And it's not like he could get away from playing them because they have SUCKED? That wouldn't fit though I guess. If they are good, they play. If they suck, they don't. Vazquez and Garcia didn't suck last year? An injured Contreras didn't suck? Buehrle's second half didn't suck? McCarthy had the ability to outpitch them all during stretches, yet Guillen didn't give him the chance. QUOTE(beck72 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 03:09 PM) Konerko, who re-upped for 5 yrs knowing full well what Ozzie is all about, showed by signing the deal he doesn't care about Ozzie's comments. Konerko knows he isn't a target for Ozzie's media rants. The key is why. He doesn't disrespect certain players because of the way those players go about their business. Konerko signed after the 2005 Championship season. It'd be understandable if Konerko had a change of opinion of Guillen after witnessing his manager's disrespect of his players from 2006-present.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 03:01 PM) I'll never forget the look of disgust Dye had when he saw Ozzie b****ing out Garland in the dugout for not hitting a Rangers hitter. Do you have any stills of Dye's reaction? I remember the discussion of that but never saw it.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 02:23 PM) He's just being honest. No one should be upset with him for saying what he thinks when people ask him a question I'm not upset with his honesty as much as I'm upset with his incorrect evaluations of the talent on the team I care about. Had Guillen started McCarthy over Buehrle in the second half, the Sox make the playoffs at minimum, repeat as champions at maximum. Had Guillen started McCarthy in place of Jose Contreras when he was injured and ineffective, or had BMac switch roles with Vazquez (who was very effective the first two times through a batting order), Guillen's team would have had better chances of making the playoffs and repeating as champions.

QUOTE(knightni @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 07:30 PM) 4th worst in the majors? That would be a hell of a draft pick (if KW can sign them)! him, not them. "A draft pick" refers to one person, while "them" is used to describe more than one person.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 12:35 AM) Link? I don't have an internet link because that fact came from radio. It was reported by a reporter with the Sox who had locker room access.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 01:32 PM) Frank has not always been nice to the media, but I have never once heard that he was a bad teammate. I love the man and always will, he will always be my favorite player in a White Sox uni and favorite baseball player ever. Can't wait till he is enshrined in Cooperstown. Yeah you have, in the '01 season. Many of Thomas's teammates wanted a veteran to speak out against Thomas, and David Wells obliged.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 03:59 PM) Man Survives 16 Story Fall and thanks God. Wow, that's original. Welcome to Tex's God talk of the day. If, as this man believes God has a plan for him and wanted him to survive. That's wonderful. But ask yourself, did God's plan call for you to get so f***ing drunk you run through a window? What, is God hangin' with some buds and says, hey, I got a plan for this guy, but first, I'm going to really f*** with him. Get him all liquored up and have him take a 15 story plunge, and break his leg and two collapsed lungs and a torn trachea . Nice plan there skipper. If I was this guy I'd be thinking God has a plan for me but I don't want to play anymore. Perhaps the man's fall was the religious epiphany he needed to save his soul. If he was living a life without Christ before his fall, and now lives his life with Christ, his fall was certainly worthwhile. So in other words, his literal 16-story fall could be what prevents a fall into eternal damnation. It's a beautiful thing.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 06:35 PM) Rather than convert them from 3-4 bulbs to one, why not just spend a few extra bucks on long lasting bulbs (halogen, I think?) that are more energy efficient. It would be expensive at first, but save on energy and they last several years. Just a thought? Compact fluorescent bulbs. I forget the numbers, but they last longer and cost much less to operate than regular bulbs.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 07:48 PM) All info in one place (predicted 25 man roster): phenomenal.

I would appreciate a single reference listing Sox players' contracts in a simple format: Player's name; what season's he's signed through; current season's salary owed by Sox; present arbitration year. Jermaine Dye; 2007; $6.75 million; n/a Joe Crede; 2008; $4.94 million; 2008 Tadahito Iguchi; 2007; $3.25 million; n/a If anyone wants to add, I'll edit my thread.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 11:22 PM) Ugh, this season has the potential to be even more maddening than last year. Just kill me now so I won't have to suffer through the insanity. Guillen limits the ability of this team.

QUOTE(CryptviLL @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 05:55 PM) haha. not when you have curly hair . I think i'll be getting a hair cut tommorow and gelling it up. My buddy who also has curly hair swears by using hand lotion instead of hair gel to style his hair.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Feb 19, 2007 -> 03:24 PM) He reminds me more of Roger Maris. I'm guessing you say him play Maris in 61?

This actor always reminds me of Foulke. http://imdb.com/name/nm0001608/

QUOTE(bad at best @ Feb 17, 2007 -> 06:19 PM) Yeah that offer had to be a wake up call for Buehrle that his days with the White Sox were numbered. Personality wise, i've always thought Mark represented the average White Sox fan well. He has always struck me as passionate about the game (its refreshing to see a ballplayer that is still having fun) and not afraid to speak his mind about things he believed in. Always thought it would be fun to grab a beer with him. I'll be sad to see him leave. And he will. Nice avatar. How'd you get than hue in the picture? What's the background?

QUOTE(rowandrules83 @ Feb 17, 2007 -> 08:19 PM) check out the website mobile17.com...you can take your mp3 files and make ringtones out of them for free. it lets you even pick out what part of the song you want to start and end at. And since its your own song files the ringtones are very high-quality f***in right. thanks bra.

How can I acquire ringtones for my phone without paying for them?

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 16, 2007 -> 02:19 AM) In the same exact context, I could not only argue, but I could prove with numbers that Mark Buehrle was, beyond a doubt, in fact the WORST pitcher in all of baseball by using MORE than half the season (82 games). Remember, I'm not defending Buehrle's miserable second half, but contesting Rogers's statement stating Buehrle wasn't as sharp in 2006 as he was in 2005. Rogers's statement, as written, reads as if Buehrle was less effective in 2006 over the course of the entire season. Rogers makes no acknowledgment of Buehrle's tale of two halves. A more accurate sentence would have noted how Buehrle continued his sharp 2005 pitching into the first half of the 2006, before crumbling with the worst half season of his career.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 16, 2007 -> 12:22 AM) Even when you broke the season in half 81/81 it didn't make sense since that Cubs start came on game 81 so you can't disregard it. Regardless, this whole thing is silly since breaking the season up into arbitrary segments makes absolutely no sense to begin with (oh I agree with you ptatc.) and since Mark Buehrle put up a 93 ERA+ last season and a 143 in '05 he was most definitely not as sharp last year as he was during the championship year regardless of how successful his first 18 starts of the season were. As I explained, my motivation for dividing the season in halves was as an attempt to disprove Phil Rogers's statement that Buehrle wasn't nearly as sharp in 2006 as in 2005. Buehrle's performance through the first 80 games (3.22 ERA) proved that he did perform for a sizable portion of the season at the high level he did over the entire 2005 season (3.12 year-end ERA). The same sharpness was present in both seasons, it just continued for a longer period of time in 2005. Rogers's comment suggested Buehrle was consistently bad throughout the entire season, which is not true.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 16, 2007 -> 12:18 AM) Typically, first half and pre-ASB are considered one and the same, even when considering that the halves are not divided equally. And even when using the first 81 games, Mark Buehrle's first half - as you pointed out - was not spectacular. I'm aware the part of the season occurring before the All-Star break is commonly referred to as the first half. I'm also aware half of 162 games is 81.