Harry Chappas

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 25, 2007 -> 09:45 AM) Well, they have all taken the blame for the disaster which was 2007, every one of them, from Reinsdorf on down, including Hahn. Actually the farm system does fall under his umbrella. Quoted from his bio on the White Sox site: "Hahn’s primary responsibilities include assisting Senior Vice President/General Manager Ken Williams with all player acquisitions, evaluations and contract negotiations, as well as with overseeing all elements of the club’s baseball operations, including the scouting and player development departments. Williams credits Hahn with negotiating multiyear contracts with several current White Sox players, including 2006 All-Stars Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski." What is fair to note though is he was promoted to Vice President and Asst. GM from just the Asst. GM title before the 2007 season. I'm not certain but I believe the oversee responsibility of the scouting and player development departments were added last winter. If my memory is correct, he's only had that responsibility for one year. I do know he's been a strong voice to make changes to scouting and player development, many of which are being implemented now, plus we all know about Duane Shaffer and some other changes. So, not to quibble at all, but because he's been a big part of what's going on down there, he does IMO get his share of the blame. I do agree though, he has done a fantastic job on the contract side and if he is in fact a motivating force behind changes in scouting/player development, more power to him. Not to mention, his Harvard Law degree and other things on his resume are extremely impressive. Anyone who I've talked to that's met Rick is very impressed. I have been lucky enough to meet him several times and in addition to being impressive (what he knows and how he expresses himself), he is a genuinely nice guy, for what that's worth. I can see why other teams would be interested. Doesn't LaRussa have a Harvard law degree? As far as contract negotiations, the guys wanting to stay and come here is the first thing which I think is more Williams and Guillen than Hahn. The extensions worked for both teams and all appear to be fair.

There is a part of me that hopes if the Blue Jays and White Sox are out if it come September of next year some sort of trade could be worked out to get his final at bat in a White Sox uniform if he intends on retiring. I think a decent year next year and he returns for the money. A career .300 hitter is much better than a career .295, not by much but for HOF voters it could be.

I have an innocent yet what I feel is valid question. Why doesn't Hahn get any of the blame for the failing of the team. Was he not the Asst GM of a terrible $100M payroll...... BTW, I like Hahn and think he did/does a great job. For those 80's/90's Bears fans, Hahn seems to be the Ted Phillips of this organization more than the Jerry Vanisi (sp?) but I could be very wrong.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 24, 2007 -> 04:09 PM) Jacob Rasner. AAP Page. Went 7-11 with a 6.83 ERA at Kannapolis this year. Wasn't he part of hte Chris Stewart deal or was there another terrible single A pitcher in that deal. To skew things even more compare who they had to pitch against. I think Danks really ran out gas or he really benefitted from the cold weather. Funny how bad April was and beautiful October was/is.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Oct 24, 2007 -> 08:09 AM) Is it fair to judge Matsuzaka after one year though? Maybe the estimates of revenue are grossly overestimated, but I think Dice-K should be given the benefit of the doubt in terms of learning the league and what it takes to get through an entire MLB season. We can all see he has hit some sort of a wall similar to rookies coming up from the minors. IMO, next year will be much better in determining Dice-K's actual worth as a pitcher in the MLB. At $20M a year there is no learning curve. The rookie wall is explained by increased workload. I thought he threw a greater workload in Japan then he would here. I see your point though and it could go either way.

You're f***ing kidding me. Jenks Heat

I wasn't that big of a fan of last year's set up and now to get in Friday I need to pay $250 if I am reading right. I think I may have to pass this year. Oh well, I guess.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 22, 2007 -> 05:43 PM) BACK TO THE TOPIC ALEX RODRIGUEZ, BORAS, MONEY AND THE WHITE SOX ... From Baseball-Fever Et tu, A-Rah-rah-rah? That is because Dice-K was not the second coming of what they thought he was. The Japanese hype is tappering off as these players are not all Ichiro, they are showing themselves as solid major leaguers that have some success and some failure. Remember in April when ESPN grossly over-hyped him. Ichiro is a superstar. Dice-K cost $105M, that is a a-lot of money, and he is not a superstar. I do not think he will be the be all end all that Boston expected and they were stupid to buy into the Scott Boras hype machine. Scott Boras hype for A-Rod is entrenched in the home run chase to overthrough Bonds and soolidify the record as "clean" that is assuming A-Rod is clean. A-Rod catching Bonds could be more important to the record book and more watched and rooted for than if A-Rod was chasing Aaron.

-On MacD, How can you have confidence problems, and an oh well attiutude? Aren't those kind of contradictory? If you are having confidence problems you are obviously worrying about your preformance. I am not sure that makes sense to me. I thought the same thing.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 19, 2007 -> 09:31 AM) I'll take that bet. The article definitely seems more like theorizing than having any actual information. But I do think they will make an attempt at him, if he leaves NY. Its not outside the realm of possibility he ends up with the Sox. Just a long shot. And by the way, as for jerseys and other A-Rod gear... if I recall correctly, the Sox don't get any money directly from that, unless its through the vendors within the ballpark. The money goes to MLB, and is not sent to a specific team for their specific merchandise. I think the team gets a greater percentage and then the rest is shared evenely as "revenue sharing". I could be completely wrong though. I thought that was why teams change their look so ofter to get people to buy their s***. Anyone that buys stuff at the park should be shot. I would put the Sox at even money to get him unless some team does something stupid.

Baseball in Chicago is bigger than in Texas. Therefeore he can generate more PR and ticket revenue in Chicago. I still think 10/$300M will not happen. I do believe the White Sox will be major players though.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in '05 @ Oct 18, 2007 -> 09:19 PM) What happened earlier in the game? They just showed the benches clearing. I must have missed it. Lofton thought he drew a walk and flipped his bat and was called back as the pitch was a strike. Beckett was yelling at him and Lofton said something back. It stemmed from the Dice-K game and Varitek and Lofton jawing as Lofton wouldn't get in the box. He then homered. A couple of things from watching the game last night; Great pitchers are awesome to watch. Man Beckett was filthy. Sabathia was on the ropes most of the night and Boston kept letting him go. Buck and McCarver were praising him a little too much. The umpire's strike zone was really tight. Manny is really good ever when he halfasses it. Ortiz has a really, really good baseball IQ. The inside-out swing to left was great. I wonder if Thome saw that. This after he flashed the bunt. I wish Lofton would've dropped the fly ball he made the basket catch on. Dice - K, Drew, Lugo and Crisp are not nearly worth the money they get. These guys would cripple any other team. Lugo and Crisp look really bad right now. How does Boston produce incredible young talent not only their own (Pedroia, Youkilas, Ellsbury, Papelbon, Buchholz) but Freddy Sanchez, Anibel Sanchez, and Hanley Ramirez. I am not really sold on Cleveland. Their bullpen is not as concrete as it appears. Sizemore and Sabathia are studs but Martinez and Hafner could age some. Carmona could have a set back next year. They are solid though. McCarver has just about lost it. Buck is just as bad. I hate FOX, they have s*** graphics, terrible announcers and braodcasters and the breaks kill me. What are are the baseball promos intended to do? Get me to watch baseball..................while I am watching baseball. They really like to dump on Manny while Manny is carrying the team. Sorry for my man crush on Manny but he is fun to watch hit.

QUOTE(rockren @ Oct 17, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) Did somebody really say we could trade for Braun? Braun will probably hit 40 bombs a year at Miller and make around 300k for the next 4 years doing it.... I'm sure the Crew would move him for NOTHING WE HAVE. The point was that Braun is somewhat out of position and as bad as the Brewer defesne is, what would he garner as far as young starting pitching is concerned to go along side Parra and Gallardo. Go back and read the post that the green Uribe quote is listed in. I believe defense cost the Breweres and it isn't going to get better any time soon. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE BREWERS WILL TRADE BRAUN but they could and they could improve their ballclub by doing so.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 17, 2007 -> 11:05 AM) Yes and no. There are two things the White Sox and Atlanta have in common: 1. No no-trade clauses. 2. No highway robbery. But these things in common don't match. 1. Atlanta doesn't even give out partial no-trades. (But they assure big-names, "We don't trade away superstars. We sign them for a reason, and it isn't to trade them," and people believe that from them.) 2. They'll deal with Boras on a big name. Like Greg Maddux. We won't ever bid on a big name Boras client. We'll deal with a small-timer like Crede, but not Rodriguez or Maddux, that's for sure. Besides that, the Braves can get away with refusing to give out money because they pump out talent every single year. We? We're lucky to develop someone who might eventually become a good bullpen arm for hte Washington Nationals. And Schuerholz is thoughtful and brilliant by all accounts not just because of these things but for a variety of reasons that are unique to him over just about every other GM in baseball. I'd guess over every GM in baseball. Weren't the White Sox right there for A-Rod and when Hicks made the move Reinsdorf responded with something along the lines of new owners regreating the moves that they as new owners make.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Oct 17, 2007 -> 11:02 AM) Yes, I am placing all human life on the same level. So sacred that men in government have the same rights to take that life as men on the street. If he was murdered before trial, would you not prosecute the murderer? There is no higher value that I can place than on human life. It is impossible to calculate, and therefor can not be placed in a hierarchy. Innocent until proven guilty and all appeals and stays of execution have been extinguished.

Why aren't people allowed to make their own decisions? Unless the guy is deemed mentally incompetent why should the ACLU be allowed to step in? If the guy feels he should die for his crime as the courts state, why not let him. A tortured life of having to live with the horrendous crime you committed sounds a little like cruel and unusual punishment, does it not? Also, doesn't it cost more to execute someone than to give them life without parole due to the legal costs associated with the appeal process?

The Brewers problem is Braun is a terrible thirdbaseman. Hall would be a good option for third if Braun could be moved to the OF ala Josh Fields. The Brewers problem is defense as Hall, Weeks, Hart and Braun are all below average and Fielder is average. I think they move soembody possibly Weeks to move Hall to second. Imagine the young pitching they could get to go with Gallardo and Parra if they moved Braun. If A-Rod left the Yankees think Hughes for Braun........ The Brewers could move a young position player and have an incredible rotation for the next 5 years not even looking at the Suppan, Bush, Sheets, Capuano debacle.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Oct 17, 2007 -> 08:38 AM) right. as i said, that was my first time looking at him and from what i saw in that moment, he looked very familiar to what we saw out of our relievers this year. in terms of being the second best arm in our pen, that's your opinion which your of course entitled to. Second best arm in Sox pen is nothing that great. Manny Ramirez is an incredible hitter. The thing I recall is when Crede dropped the foul ball and then he hit a ball about 500 feet. I think one of the best right handed hitters in history. Thomas was as good but not for as long a period of time.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 16, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) Boston is apparently going to stick with Wakefield tonight. I don't like this decision at all, as if Beckett pitches tonight, he could pitch game 7 on regular rest (and I think there is a great chance this goes 7), and to me Wakefield's back is a bigger question mark than Beckett on 3 days rest. Although this might be a moot point, because Boston is in deep doo doo if they lose tonight either way. They SHOULD pound Paul Byrd in theory with as much as he's in the strike zone, but then again he won't issue the walks that Boston thrives on, so tonight should be interesting and likely high scoring. Beckett came out of the pen to beat the cub in 04 he may come out tonight for a few innings. Imagine seeing him after seeing Wakefield a time or two?

Michigan 35 Illinois 13 Sorry, I actually like Zook bringing an SEC flavor to the Big 10 which will help in the next couple of years.

QUOTE(knightni @ Oct 12, 2007 -> 02:41 PM) Where's Lance Johnson when we need him? Baines and Boston are about the last guys you'd want showing the kid the outfield. (Baines was "ok" before his knees gave out, I guess.) Kittle might be a decent LF trainer, but he got DH'ed fast after Luzinski retired. Kittle was a terrible outfielder. Boston was really good and Baines was above average.

Comparing older parks to newer parks are like comparing cars, television and the rotary to the touch tone phone. The older stuff is nice but it becomes out dated and should be replaced. Yankee Stadium, Fenway and Wrigley are testaments to history but each are uncomparable to a modern park. If you think an average seat at Wrigley is better than an average seat at Comiskey, you are wrong. The amenities also can not be compared. The UD at Yankee Stadium is identical if not a greater slope than blue seat Comiskey. Fenway and Wrigley have a quirky feel to them and that feeling is not comfort. I liked Chicago Stadium but the UC blows it away. I'll save the history of things for Ken Burns documentatries and museums. IMHO. Go Tribe I guess.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 12, 2007 -> 01:50 PM) Who knows if it is true or not, but the Yanks have said if ARod opts out, they are done talking to him. Without signing an extension the Yanks lose Hicks $10M a year. If he wants to stay there they have the upper hand with a extension. If he does not take an extension the Yanks get screwed.

The Braves and Cardinals continue to weaken the National League with their ownership issues. Maybe baseball isn't as well off as believed. Attendance is up yet the D'Backs had 4,000 tickets available for tonight's game. This should make the cub sale a bit more interesting if teams are finding themselves strapped after an ownership change.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 08:13 PM) Well, from what I can infer (OPINOIN ALERT - NOT FACT), PK is the "captain" and can't stand any personalities that overshadow his. Frankly, if that's the case, if there are any big names coming this way, PK is going to have to go. It sounds weird, but if that's the case, a change up is needed. PK has no personality to overshadow. AJ dwarfs his personality and Thome is a better player as are Jenks and Buerhle.