StrangeSox

QUOTE (scenario @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:36 AM) If by out-produce, you mean score more runs on average over the course of a season.... yes. But consistency of production is just as important in producing wins as raw numbers of runs scored. For example: Look at the Tigers this year. They were one of the top teams in baseball in runs scored. But they also lead MLB in the number of times they were shut out. Score 19 runs in one game... zero in the next. Boom or bust doesn't get it done when it comes to wins, no matter how impressive the total number of runs put up at year end. I agree there. Consistency is very important. Still, a small ball lineup that consistently puts up 3 runs a game isn't very good. I don't know how the statistics break down here, and I would be curious to know. Does Baseball Prospectus or anyone else do a "consistency" analysis? As for Detroit, they would have had a much better record, even with that inconsistent-but-powerful team, if their team ERA (4.90) wasn't 3rd to last in the AL. Same with Texas (5.37). QUOTE (YASNY @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:37 AM) Because with a runner on second with no out in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, you want to get that run home. Putting him on third with allows him to score on a wild pitch, pass ball, sac fly, grounder ball to the right side, etc. Everybody that regularly has a bat in their hands and is on a major league roster should have the ability to lay down a sac bunt. I've already said there are some exceptions, 9th/ extra innings in particular. On the other hand, in the bottom of the ninth with no outs and the heart of your order coming up, you have three chances to score that run on a single. If you sac bunt, you only have two chances. If the next guy after the bunt K's or pops up, you're in the same situation as a runner on second basically - you need a base hit to score him. Again, it would come down to individual situations, not just broad "never bunt!" or "always bunt!" decisions.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:28 AM) A major league ballplayer should know how to put down a sacrifice bunt, unless it's a pitcher that never has a bat in his hands. But that gets back to the issue - why would you want a good hitter sac bunting? You slightly increase the potential for one run while drastically lowering the chance for more than one run.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:16 AM) I agree. And the statement that having someone who can bunt is worthless is also an educated guess looking forward. If the lineup is a power hitting lineup, bunting is silly. But the question in October is thus, should the team make an adjustment and move slightly away from power hitting by adding some speed and small ball capability. Obviuously some people believe no, that bunting is always a wasted out. Others disagree. Statistical data would show that power hitting lineups tend to out-produce small ball lineups, no?

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 10:19 AM) So the press will not mention this if McCain were to win, right? The press loves to mention plenty of stupid things. I'm sure we'll hear about it before and after the election, regardless of who wins. Maybe if Obama turnout falls inline with polling, we'll never have to hear about it again.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 07:40 AM) Last April, stats also proved that the Sox were a third or fourth place team this year. Those are educated guesses looking forward, not statistical analysis of what has happened (and, if Detriot and Cleveland had performed as expected, the Sox would be a 3rd or 4th place team with this record). Historically, bunting has *usually* been a bad idea because you give away more potential runs than you gain. There are situations where it makes sense (bottom 9th, extra innings where one run = win/tie vs. lose), but bunting a runner from 1st to 2nd in the 5th inning? In a power-hitting, HR dominating lineup? That's just not very smart. Having a little speed is different. It's frustrating to know that it'll probably take 2-3 more hits to score Thome/ Konerko/ AJ/ Dye/ Hall/ others from 1st.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 08:37 AM) I bet most people have never used the word "folksy" in their entire lives. All of a sudden it's a household term. She has an accent/dialect/regionalism, whatever you want to call it, so that makes her uneducated??? So she says "you betcha" and "gosh darn"... Sorry those phrases dont' fit the elite, but they are simply just that...phrases. It says nothing about a persons intelligence. Yes she is different from many of us...she hunts, ice fishes, is a member of the NRA. For that she has been called white trash? Are you kidding me? Talk about bigots. People were swinging from Obamas jock strap without knowing a god dam thing about him, other than he could read a teleprompter, but Palin is a white trash uneducated moron because she talks different. Hypocrites!! I guess it's ok to be a bigot if you're talking of someone from a different party. I'm guessing the same people that are saying this are the same ones who feel people with a southern accent are just dumb country bumpkins. I don't have a problem with regional dialects or accents. That doesn't make someone uneducated. I have a problem with it being such a blatant gimmick. She is just over the top with it. *wink* I also have a problem with her ignorance. That is not to say she is stupid, dumb, a moron, or anything else -- just uninformed or not knowledgeable about national/ international issues. Her interview with Couric was an absolute disaster. Her debate was nothing more than reading a stump speech from note cards. Out on the campaign trail, the only thing she talks about is Obama. No doubt their are people out there saying some pretty dumb things about her. It's unfortunate, but some people will root for their "team" no matter what and will try to disparage the other "team" as much as possible, well beyond the point of rational/ reasonable disagreement. On the other hand, how many have trashed Obama and his accomplishments? Who wouldt't be proud to have their son graduate Magna Cum Lade from Harvard Law, win a seat in the state Senate and then the federal Senate, and Teach at the University of Chicago? How many still think Barack HUSSEIN Obama is a secret Muslim that hates America? How many ridiculous accusations have been laid against him? I think her speeches and the reactions she is drawing from her crowds lately are shameful.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Oct 8, 2008 -> 07:22 PM) You'll be shocked to know that I agree with you for once on this type of subject. I think that Sarah Palin's portrayal is all an act, a gimmick, to "groud out John McCain to the right wing side of the Republican party. She's doing exactly what she's told, and when to do it, and the right wing people are eating it up. You all know me well enough to know that I'm a conservative, but I'll tell you that Sarah Palin RIGHT NOW is in way over her head. WAAAAAAAY. Much like I get on RSO about lack of substance, Palin's worse. The pick was nothing more then sticking it in the eye of RSO for not picking Hillary (which if you want really tinfoil hat stuff, just wait)... ... Anyway, Sarah Palin has sold herself way short, and not really done anything about it other then hang out at the cool halls and stuff. She is not about substance, that's for darn sure. I think she could have been someday, but right now, no way. You betcha! Her folksy bulls*** has made me despise the McCain campaign.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 8, 2008 -> 03:28 PM) The Bradley Effect is a load of horse s***, in my opinion. Agreed. Obama typically did BETTER than he was polling in the primaries.

Bad wording, but good point. Just because factcheck.org (or Snopes, or wikipedia, etc.) says something is or is not true does not necessarily mean it is or is not true.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Oct 7, 2008 -> 12:07 PM) Like in 2006? And 2007 was... um... We won over 90 games in 2006. I've purged the 2007 team from my memory.

I grew very tired of watching him make bad first pitch outs this season.

I'm always for more fans filling the stadium and larger payrolls as a result. QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 7, 2008 -> 10:55 AM) South Paw is awesome. My girlfriend calls him the White Sox Garbage Monster. What the heck is he supposed to be, anyway?

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Oct 7, 2008 -> 11:07 AM) The rules favor Obama's position in this case. Questions are prescreened and preprepared. Mikes are cut off by the audience members so that no follow ups can be asked, and Brokaw can't challenge either candidate, and neither candidate is supposed to be able to challenge the other either. So this event may end up being extremely boring and with little to change the outcome. That's not a debate at all. It's a joke. I doubt I'll tune in to this one. That was a big part of the problem with the VP debate -- if Sarah Palin felt like talking about energy policy or "Mavericks!" instead of whatever the question actually was, there was nothing Ifill could do.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 10:26 AM) Based on his "I'll be laying on the beach with millions after retirement" comment makes me wonder if he really is oblivious. He's not oblivious, he just simply doesn't care. He's set for life regardless of how he pitches from here on out. that sort of attitude behind awful performances deserves to be booed. And any player that can't take being booed for sucking probably shouldn't be out there, anyway.

Down, down, down she goes. We're off another 5% or so today, dipping below 10,000.

In case anyone wanted a copy, Ultra Foods at 75th and Lemont in Downers Grove has several copies of "This Is The Year!"

Unless space is really at a premium, why not just got a larger CRT TV?

I am so f-ing sick of Cabrera's first pitch outs.

Works himself outta that one nicely with no damage done.

Awesome work there

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Oct 3, 2008 -> 07:58 PM) Did you watch Kazmir pitch. How many runs do you think we should of scored on him with the way he threw the ball today. 4+ in the first and second. We've left so many on. This game was the Sox for the taking.

HI-larious.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Oct 3, 2008 -> 07:50 PM) Sorry, I saw nothing wrong with any calls...in fact the 1-0 pitch that WAS called a ball was VERY CLOSE....it could have been called a strike. Swisher has to swing the damn bat in that situation. I'm sorry, but you must be blind. QUOTE (The Critic @ Oct 3, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) Again, with two strikes you have to protect the plate. Strike one and strike two don't get you called out. I agree there -- bad move by Swish to watch a close pitch. Still...

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Oct 3, 2008 -> 07:48 PM) Im watching the damn game...and the curve to Swisher was a strike. If you have some extenstential view of it that gives you a better view than I then Id love to see it, but the pitch to Swisher was STRIKE 3... ...after ball 4 and ball 5 on the previous 2.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 3, 2008 -> 07:48 PM) If you missed the Iwamura pitch before the homer, then please just shut up about this, as that was one of the worst non-calls you'll see. that. Yeah, the offense is still to blame for leaving all of those runners on base, but Buckner has been absolutely terrible tonight.