Harry Chappas

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 10:07 AM) Hawks debuting the new 3rd sweater tonight. Basically its the "Winter Classic" uni without the Wrigleyish patch and with a more retro-looking criss-crossed tomahawks over the "C" on the shoulders. http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id...vid=DL|CHI|home Of course, I won't be able to watch the game thanks to the continued DirecTv/Comcast pissing match overs Versus. A blacked-out home game, talk about "retro." The NHL has to really rethink their network package if the best television provider is not carrying their games.

Time to get Jarron Gilbert some playing time. Also when does Gaines Adams report to the Bears?

Sergio Santos making best pitch to stick with Chicago White Sox Converted shortstop made rapid progress through system By Mark Gonzales Tribune reporter November 27, 2009 E-mail Print Text Size Sergio Santos had brief doubts last summer about a transformation that took him back to where he started his professional career seven years ago. "I was lying in bed as I thought about being back in Class A," Santos said. "I asked myself what I was doing, playing with guys just out of high school and college. But at the end of the day, I asked myself where I can be most successful while providing for a wife and two kids." That meant being a pitcher after spending most of his baseball career as a power-hitting shortstop. He hadn't pitched regularly since his freshman year at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, Calif. With the aid of a fastball clocked as high as 98 mph and a willingness to learn quickly, Santos displayed enough talent and promise for the White Sox to protect him on their 40-man roster last Friday. Although Santos, 26, is out of options and must make the Sox's Opening Day roster or be exposed to waivers, his quick ascent is one of the more remarkable achievements in the organization. A veteran scout for an American League team said he would have recommended his team pay $50,000 to select the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Santos in the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 10 if he had been left unprotected. The scout said he was more impressed with Santos' fastball and hard slider that produced 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings than his 6.14 ERA for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, the final test that determined Santos' placement on the 40-man roster. It also validated Santos' decision to convert to the mound after failing to reach the majors as a shortstop with three organizations, even though the Diamondbacks had made him a first-round draft selection in 2002. "I went through every avenue," Santos said. "A higher power was telling me this was not the direction to go toward." Santos credits the Sox, particularly farm director Buddy Bell, for the support that enabled him to make a position change. Santos was one of the first cuts of spring training in March but threw a bullpen session in front of several team officials before Bell asked him his preference. Santos wanted to give the infield one more try, so he was dealt to the Giants for future considerations before encountering a position logjam that resulted in him returning to the Sox to embark on a pitching career. "To this day, I'm thankful for Buddy Bell," Santos said. "He's the best guy I've run across in baseball." Santos' full-time pitching journey started last May at Kannapolis before he advanced to Winston-Salem and finished the final six weeks at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He had a combined 8.16 ERA with 20 walks but struck out 30 in 28 2/3 innings. The Sox have been interested more with Santos learning the nuances of pitching than with his results. "They look more for improvement, like throwing four sliders and making sure at least two of them are strikes," Santos said. "I'm now able to throw first-pitch sliders for strikes and on 3-2 counts, and changeups on 2-0 counts. "It's a daunting challenge, but I've learned in four months what other pitchers have done in their entire careers." Santos, a lifetime .248 minor league batter who hit 20 home runs for Toronto's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates in 2007, said he learned quickly to trust his instincts and not think like a hitter while on the mound. He also plans to pitch later this winter for Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League so he will be ready to compete for a spot in the Sox's bullpen. "It was funny to be in the Fall League and see a lot of scouts who watched me in high school," Santossaid. "They were excited and happy for me."

Valentine's Day was good for getting some action in college. Now I just get in trouble for forgeting it.

You hire Martz and then you give Lovie one more shot. If Martz succeeds but the defense fails, he is either the HC or OC under a defensive minded coach that you hire, or you gut both. I like Angelo and just feel that the player development is horses***.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Nov 25, 2009 -> 09:53 AM) This is easily the most anticipated game of the season for me. The game doesn't start for 12 hours, but all I can think about is Kane-Toews-Hossa. That my friend, is the stuff that dreams are made of. 9:00 start on a nice party night...or for us older folks sitting at home with everyone in bed and an ice cold 12 pack.........good to have hockey back in town

What if you package Sharp and Campbell? I know that is a lot of cash but that is still pretty good talent especially for a team that has the cap room.

Sadly the MVP thing should be 3. I think he should have beat Giambi anyway.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 25, 2009 -> 08:51 AM) Look, you havent been here very long and posts like these from you seem to be the norm, stop with the condescending remarks. He has been here almost two years and it is a very valid point. Crisp is exactly what this team needs. An actual MLB player. Some folks seem to think that the cub marketing free agent signings are the way to go. Peavy and Rios were this guys. If the roster the way it is constructed now plays to their potential I think they are a lock for the central and will have a shot at the world series. I stand by the statement that pitching and defense win games and last year the Sox tried to do it with pitching alone as their defense was terrible. Their bullpen pitched "hard" innings almost every game as the offense did nothing. I am liking the idea of getting guys that can hit .270/.280 and play good defense. Crisp is a better player than Pods no doubt about it. Also there are plenty of DH bats out there and the Sox will pick one up on the cheap later. I also think Dotel and Dye are offered arbitration with Dotel coming back.

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Nov 24, 2009 -> 04:51 PM) Yea, I didn't understand that either, why they didn't try for more yards when they had a TO left. I knew Brown would miss that FG, typical of him, just had a feeling he would. Looking forward to some Thanksgiving football even though there are no real good matchups. This game could be a trap for the Packers, Detroit will throw Stafford at them for the first time and without Harris and Kampman, things should be close. Regardless, this is a game they have to win. Stafford is out.

Frank Thomas will have the opportunity to make a HOF speech for all of the baseball purists in regard to PED's. I hope he does not seek the advice of Michael Jordan's speech writer.

Huge Frnak Thomas fan here and I sure he gets in but maybe not first ballott. My question, did the steroid scandel actually escalate his status as his perceived cleanliness and being in front of the steroid outcry overcome his sullen reputation. Will voters and purists take a more favorable look at him now than compared to if there was no steroid scandel? Also if he retires after 2004 wouldthe higher batting average have helped or are the 500 homers more important? I belive his career average may have dropped almost 20 points from 2000 but I could be wrong. Look at that rankings above and see how many of those guys are steroid guys. Although I think Bonds was clean up until 1998. It will be interesting to see how the McGwire, Bonds, Palmerio, Sosa voting plays out prior to Thomas becoming eligible. Maddux, Biggio and Thomas would be a great class although I think Clemens is in there as well.....or is Clemens with Bonds??? Also Biggio and Thomas may not be first ballot.

Has Jay Cutler ever had a winning season as a football QB? Can somebody send me his record while residing in Santa Clause Somebody mentioned this on the SCORE this morning and I found it interesting. I like Jay and am giving him a pass but I think he is trying to get Olsen involved too much as I think Kellen Davis and Des Clark are better TE's.

That was what they said last night as well.

I want to bring this up again when people talk about Angelo. When Lovie got his deal a part of what that he would have more of a say in personnel decisions. This staff seems to be unable to develop players and most seem to regress after being here for a while.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 11:43 AM) Our former all star SS manager couldn't help Alexei improve his D so what exactly will Vizquel be able to do in that department? Thank you. Cora was a middle infielder as well. This move makes no sense.

I'd like to see a movie with some Juliet or Kate nudity.

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 08:45 AM) Anybody watch the cook county prison special last night on Discovery? Some pretty eye opening stuff. I flipped it on at like 11 before I went to bed and watched about ten minutes of it. To me it looked like a Tom Dart documentary but I would like to see it again as I said, I only saw a few minutes of it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 09:41 AM) Hossa has been skating with Toews and Kane in practice... commence drooling. Q will have Hossa, Kane and Toews all on different lines to start and then put them together when he thinks it will be advantagous throughout the game.

Huet is doing what he needs to do, keep his team in the game. He is being paid to win games but he only needs to keep them in it and not lose. Teams will have to defend the Hawks and will be back on their heels thus the offensive rushes should be few and far between. The supporting cast lit it up last night which they will do more often as the top defensive pairings will have to play Toews/Kane. The defense 1 through 6 is as good as anyone. The Swedish Hammer (I love that name) could be as good as Keith which would be sick. Nice to see Ladd light the lamp. I'd also like to see Versteeg stay at C. He Kane and Hossa coudl scare the s*** out of teams especially on the PP. With Brower playing better or BYf a second or first line of Sharp/Towes could be sick. This team is looking scary right now.

Soxnet has declared war on Joe Cowley awesome. Now let's go after Star Trek.

They see dead people.

Joe Cowley wants desperatly to be the next Kotex Boy, Mike North or Dan Berstein. Instead he is left doing a job he seems to kind of like but covering a team he has not interest in at all. On top of that he thinks he is funny. I thought he was a pretty decent writer with the Southtown but with the Twitter platform and his SCORE gig he seems to think he is above being a beat writer which is what he is. I am certain there is going to be a book from this douche one of these days slamming the organization from everything from being cheap, the treatment of Kotex Boy, the politically incorrect Ozzeroo,etc. By the way, I hate Star Trek.

I find it completly acceptable to boo Ryne Sandberg at a Hawks game if I do not like him. I find absolutly no reason for him to be there unless he is from Toronto or something. The Marketing for this Hawks is getting a little out there. JR heritage night? In a couple of years that would be cool.

If the John Danks extension is not going well he could be going with Konerko to the Angels for a ton.