Harry Chappas

Is Bentley still with us?

QUOTE(hi8is @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 11:28 AM) give me a f***ing break I said this after the Q & A session, "This f***ing guy has balls. I think if he keeps grounded this could be a great thing." He and Williams have great prescence in a commanding way. YOu know who the boss is so don't f*** around. It was great to see.

Two years ago Manny was owed $100M now he is owed $60M. His production has not tapered off so he is close to worth it.

He played for the Sox accomplished something very cool for them. That milestone was a great moment in White Sox history as was Bo Jackson's homer in the clincher in 94. Great moments. The White Sox are not erecting monumets or anything, should he be part of a historical recount of the White Sox, yes. As should Ivan Calderon standing on the top of the wall at Tiger Stadium making a catch and Daryl Boston diving headlong into the seats. These are moments and players in White Sox history. If George Foster hit his 500th homer it would be a hi-lite. Come on.

I think Hermanson will be a second closer for us. Jenks has trouble on back to back days and will again this year until he gets used to it. This gives Hermanson this opportunity. He was a great closer with the Giants after mving from the rotation. He is no longer a starter and if healthy can be a top notch closer. He had a 21 inning scoreless streak not sure that was an accident. The year before HE was the Giants bullpen that was in it until the end. He was throwing 2 innings almost every day. He was brought up by the Padres to be their next closer and was dealt to the Expos who needed starting pitching thereby putting him in the role he held for the next ten years. If he is healthy he can be as good as anyone out of the pen and can spell Jenks. I am not sold on Jenks being able to handle the workload he is not the same guy on the second day and Politte and Cotts are not closers. Also Jenks arm had some issues. Dustin is a great option. McCarthy is the 6th and 7th / long guy. Politte and Cotts 7th and 8th. Jenks and Hermanson the 9th. When Hermanson wasn't finishing his pitches, lefties lit him up.

As I read this article I continued to ask myself, "What is the point of this?" Where is the Sox fan newspaper that touts the Trib only covers the cub? As I was reading this it sounded like an 8 year old was writing this. It had no direction or point. I kind of laughed because I don't care anymore the cubs and their fans are a great source of humor.

During the Q&A session with Farmer, Singleton, Mack and Thome someone mentioned Rooney. Farmer says, "John quit, he was offered a contract and turned it down." It was very cold no sugar coating it. This did not seem like a company line it was harsh. Also Singleton was very impressive. Maybe the SCORE got it right, wouldn't be the first or last serving of crow for me. Farmer and Singleton did a great job of keeping the players from saying anything questionable. It was a great session, not as good as Ozzie, KW and Hawk. All three had awesome presence and are right on. Ozzie has a future in anything he wants.

QUOTE(easyw @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 12:57 PM) Jenks Heat - I totally agree with you on the fans. But I have less of a problem with people who are seeking merchandise in an effort to resell it at a higher price - to me, they're just working. I put myself in the fan category as well - I went for the beer, the broads, the Q&A, thew winter baseball fix,... I met some of the players, but the last thing I would ever consider is asking them for is an autograph. I got there late, so I didn't experience any long lines to get in. I did hear that was awful. they should change the venue - that place smelled like ass. Palmer House next year according to the promo material.

Soxfest is three different groups of people. First off you have your collectible broker folk that are looking to get memorabilla to sell for a profit. They wait in the long lines and try to get as much stuff signed as they can. These I think are the scarier folks. Second you have your autograph seeking fan. They want their 20 seconds of face time with a player and something that they can get to attach themselves with the team. Your third group, the one in which I catagorize myself, is the simple fan. I go mostly for the Q&A sessions, beer, baseball fix in the winter, and see what White Sox cool memorabilia I can get my hands on and what shops I will go to after the fest. The thing that gets me is the long wait to get in. I waited for 4 hours then got into the opening ceremony. last year I waited 2 hours jsut to get in. I think they need to change somthing. I also think the venue blows it is like a warehouse and very crappy in the basement. The ballroom floor is good. Seeing as it is moving next year maybe this will change.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 09:53 AM) All right. T-minus one day and counting.... Its now time for final roll call just for ease of finding names. I'll be there Friday. If anyone wants to say hey, I'll have on the old school Ventura 23 jersey from the early 90's sans the name on the back. I am also going to go with the 1926 style hat (blue with two white socks cross) which is pretty nasty looking. Look forward to seeing everyone! I love that hat.

A couple of thoughts. This guy is a horse. He is built like a brick s***house, not sure what that means but I like it. Phsically I think he is all there. If he is as old as we think he his, wouldn't his agent be inclined to rush into signing a long term deal as an injury now could end his career. I therefore do not think he is that old. When he defected he was thought of more highly than any Cuban defector, he is not a flash in the pan. Hispanic players struggle in NY and he seems to have turned it around. Trading him now will not get what you could get from him. We do not need to gamble on "sure thing" prospects which we probably wouldn't get anyway. I think they ride him out and if he pitches lights out, good for us. I think in the end we get a discount. I think it is a risk for him to ask for more than 3 yr or $10/M a year but if he pitches like he did last year, look out. This guy could cost Cashman his job.

Ben Grieve was signed to fill the need of spring training player to eat innings. He will be nowhere near the opening day roster. Maybe AAA. He is Chris Widger from last year BUT without a shot at a position. Borchard will get a flyer before him and even Owens.

If he likes Chicago enought and the Sox succeed and cubs falter could he gun to play for Ozzie. Imagine if Ozzie could reel in all Venezulean pitching????

Correct me if I am wrong. The Bears play a very vanilla defense called the Cover 2. In this defense there is no man-to-man coverage and there is no double teaming. A player is given an area to cover and there is no real double coverage areas. Blitzes and what not result in adjustments but for the most part you are responsible for a gap or an area and go from there. I assumed this was why nothing was done to stop Smith. All he had to do was find a area to get to and that was that. Tillman should have worn cleats, that would've helped. Vasher is a cover two corner, Tillman is not.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 09:59 AM) It's not legal. He was already conivcted of that crime. No s***, how long was he in for.......18 months?

QUOTE(Steff @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 12:01 PM) Despite offers from me to meet up with him, I never met him in person once. He talked a good story and was never really dumped on by those trusted on the various sites so I tended to believe him. I just assumed you knew him, huh. He seemed to pick fights with those I didn't really like so I had no problem with him.

I was out of touch while all of this happened. I always thought he was tight with folks like Steff and what not and believed him. Wow I thought he just got made and left I really believed him. Man do I feel like a fool. I thought there was more tension to the issue and why it was never brought up. Kind of like whatever happend to Hot Sox Chick??? The guy seemed to be decent enough but I guess I am really gullible. This sounds pretyy interesting, who ratted him out and why???? He seemd harmless enough.

How isn't the guy that had two kids with his daughter not the bigger issue here? How is this legal? Steve Dahl was going into this yesterday. The rape is bad enought but there is something more unsettling with the fathering of the daughter's kids.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 12, 2006 -> 05:36 PM) :uhoh Singleton does not have an excitable personality. He may be great, my point is this is not a breading ground, somebody more established should have been brought in.

I like to listen to games on the radio. I am not a real big fan of DJ. I look at how bad the cubs radio braodcast is. It borders, no it is laughable. The SCORE is taking a risk by bringing in someone that is unproven. This should not happen in a major market like Chicago, especially with the medium (XM Radio) bringing in more potential listeners and fans. You can attract fans this way and I feel the SCORE is looking to get someone as cheap as they could. With Lyons and John you knew what you were getting. With Singleton you are completely blind and Farmer is not that strong to begin with. Farmer needs a good partner, Harrelson does not. This has nothing to do with how good of a person or player Singleton was. This has to do with the fact that games could be real hard to listen to because of this selection and that ticks me off. I really think this is not a point to just brush aside. This is the SCORE going on the cheap, as cheap as they could which is their history.

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Jan 12, 2006 -> 12:07 PM) FYI for all those who get up in the morning simply to rip on the Score, Chris Singleton will not work for the Score. The Sox hired him. He is a White Sox employee. The team has the final say on all on-air candidates. He is a SCORE employee not a Sox employee. The Sox have a say in matter but not much. The SCORE pays the bills the Sox get the money.

Wow, the SCORE shows again that if you work cheap enough, talent is not an issue (Murphy). Advertising money is all they care about. They can not go more then 10 minutes without a break. I am anxious to see how many "adds" are thrown out there during an inning. This Little Guys, Bueno Beef, Celozzi Ettleson pitch is brought to you by STATS Inc and Berland's House of Tools. Here is the 0-1 pitch brought to you by Brown's Chicken and Wings. and the 1-1 pitch for tickets call 864-1000. here is the 1-2 and he strikes him out courtesy of Terminx. With one out in the first inning which is being brought ot you by Miller Brewing here is the number two man in the lineup sponsored by.... Wow Kittle, Cangelosi and what not must ahve wanted to actually be paid. This is a disgrace and now the Sox will be really tough on the ears. As good of a guy that he is, he has no experience whatsoever.

The Tribune yesterday reported that due to raises for current players, the Twins have no cash to spend and Batista is their 3B and they are basically done. If they traded for Koskie, Lohse would've had to have been moved and they would have to go with two rookie starters.

My two cents 1. KW is showing with money what you can get. Last year was when he earned everything and made his job easy. I will say this, the guy (Wilder?) giving him advice as far as minor league players is incredible look at Jenks, Cotts, Uribe, etc. He also gives up guys that are not the world beaters they were thought of Anthony Webster. 2. Shurholtz has Cox. That is a huge help. 3. Beane, I hate him but gotta admit he wins. 4. Theo and Cashman have the money, like Hendry. They are on a different level like KW this offseason, riskier moves are easier to make.

It is very easy for Ozzie to not play either of these guys in the spring knowing all they have is an outside shot. By quitting on Cora they did quit partially on the organization. It was not the organization that said they were fine with it. It could just be Cora being upset as it was his team to manage. Ozzie controls their opportunities in the spring, we will see what kind of shot they have. Don't be so sure this is not an organizational thing. How much baseball experience does Owens have? He needs all of the AB's he can get. How long has Chuck been throwing the kunckleball? He needs all of the innings he can get. I understand their points but the organization has ideas too.