iamshack

QUOTE (Ranger @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 12:06 AM) 2) You basically make my case that this team will live or die with the pitching. They don't pitch, they won't win. The Sox are definitely not going to outslug the rest of the AL (even if they were to have added a bat at the deadline). It always has, and always will be, about pitching this season. They're gonna score enough to win, but if they don't pitch well, they can forget about it. This is absolutely ridiculous. Baseball is not a zero sum game, Chris. The offense is responsible to carry its weight, and that means picking up the slack a bit when the pitching does falter. Just because we can't hit with the Yankees or the Rangers every night does not mean that the offense gets a pass and is not responsible when we lose a 5-4 ballgame. Last I checked, there are some pretty solid hitters on this team, minus Mark Kotsay of course. But you are right in the sense that the offense needs all the help it can get. Depriving it of a run producer in favor of Kotsay is wasting some of the few offensive resources we have in the name of Mark's practical jokes.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 12:48 AM) So Mark Kotsay may cost the White Sox the division all by himself? That's ridiculous. Again, these season will be won or lost on pitching and there's no way around it. If they don't pitch well, they will not win anything. So, the Sox are only in first place by 1 game because of Kotsay? (He doesn't play every day, by the way). And, no, he's not killing them. Killing them would mean that they're losing a bunch of games because of his presence. Are they losing a bunch of games because he's on the team or in the lineup? Well, obviously not because they haven't been losing much at all for the last two months. I don't have "Kotsay blinders". That's stupid. What I do have is the recognition that there is some importance to clubhouse presence and the importance of his influence on younger players. They like him. He helps them. And the players want him there because they think he makes a difference. You can argue that part of the reason they even made a turnaround in the first place was because that clubhouse is loose, and he is a giant part of that atmosphere. Obviously, it would be amazing to have a lineup full of guys with OPS's above .900. But since they aren't New York, some intangibles are gonna have to make a difference. You can choose to believe it or not, but intangibles do make a difference. Don't think for a second that team psychology doesn't matter. To reiterate a point from above, they've lost 11 games since June 9th. How many of those losses do you really think were because Kotsay was in the lineup? Honestly. And tell me specifically how he cost them. Because from what I see, most of those losses came because the pitching failed them in some manner or another (blown saves, starters lasting 3 innings, etc). For example, they gave up 17 runs in their 3 losses in the recent trip to MIN, and one of those losses came because of a Jenks meltdown. That's Kotsay's fault how? And you mean to tell me that the loss in SEA was his fault too? That one was another blown save. And I realize he went hitless in that game but so did everybody else except Beckham, Vizquel and PK. Their last loss to OAK? He didn't play in that game...therefore, not his fault. The Sox are hitting pretty well overall in the last two months, even with Kotsay on the team. He isn't costing them anything. I'm sorry, shack, but I just don't by into this idea that one offensive player is going to cost them. If that were the case, then they would be losing a bunch right now, but they aren't. When they were hitting like garbage in April and May, It was because EVERYBODY but 2 guys were hitting like garbage. When 78% of the lineup is not hitting to your liking, you're gonna lose games. When 2 or 3 guys aren't hitting, you're probably still gonna get by if the pitching is good. Don't know what else to tell you. So what you're saying is that one player could cost us a bunch of games, but not just a little? I don't understand that logic whatsoever. Maybe the fact that he is taking up a roster spot is costing us? He doesn't have to even be making outs to cost us, because by him being in the dugout, it is preventing someone else from being there. And how you can somehow immediately chalk any failures up to the pitching 1) before these hypothetical failures occur; and 2) after the performance of this staff over the past two months, is incredible to me. How can you possibly know this? So if we lose 1-0 games to the Twins where Kotsay leaves 7 men on base you're going to blame that on our pitching? Look, I buy into the chemistry s*** more than most people, because I have managed groups of people before and I see how people who aren't necessarily tangible difference makers can be huge intangible difference makers. For all we know, Mark makes Alexei relax and hit as well has he has over the past two months. I really can't say. And if that is the case, then I will agree with you, the guy should probably be in the clubhouse and the dugout. As a COACH. Or put him on the DL with some imaginary ailment and let him hang around the ballpark. I don't care. But to send down Lillibridge, after the guy has delivered in nearly every big situation we have asked him to? To send down Viciedo, who has hit the ball harder in his few weeks worth of PAs than Kotsay has all season long? It's just really difficult to stomach. And it goes against all logic. And there is no room for it in professional baseball. I don't know what this guy has to do to make you think that he is costing us. Does he explicitly have to come up in the 9th inning with the game on the line and fail time and time again to make you believe he costs us games? Even the cumulative effect of having him in the lineup as a .650 OPS player as opposed to someone like Dayan or Teahan would probably calculate out to double digit runs, which is worth a a win or two. You can't continually look at things and say "one player won't cost us," because one player does cost you over the course of a season. It all adds up, Chris. There are numbers that support it. And there is no denying them. We have a 1 game lead in the standings. Having him on this roster is risking him costing us a game every single night we play. And that is one too many unnecessary risks.

QUOTE (Sox72 @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 12:08 AM) Yeah, maybe I'll give that a try. The dumbbells that I want are the adjustable bowflex ones because I don't have room for a set in my apt. I guess I could save up for them eventually but it doesn't make as much sense when I have a free gym to go to. Are the bands working for others? I've used both, and I like both. I think each have benefits for different things.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 11:29 PM) 10. If it makes me shallow, then whatever. No one sees a person & says "Damn, she looks like she'd be interesting as hell to talk to!" Well, since everyone is out there dating supermodels, then I guess we all must have much, much different ideas about what is attractive....

QUOTE (Ranger @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:19 PM) Kotsay isn't going anywhere. I could be wrong, but my guess is Viciedo is back to Charlotte when Teahen is back. Konerko is getting quite a few off days from the field (he's already 3 games away from his single season high of games played at DH), and Kotsay is the only one that backs him up. If they decide to move Viciedo to first base, it won't be done at the ML level this year and they certainly won't want him playing there down the stretch in a playoff race. I understand nobody likes Kotsy and he's everybody's favorite target, but he isn't killing them and he isn't going to cost them the division. If they lose the division, it'll be because the pitching failed. I think I cut Kotsay more slack around here than most, and that is because it seems like the 30% of balls he doesn't hit directly to the second basemen, he hits pretty hard, but it is getting more and more difficult to defend the guy with each passing day. And I don't know how on earth you can continue to claim that one guy isn't going to cost them the division when we're leading it by the slimmest of margins. It could be any minor thing that costs us this division at this point, and we need to eliminate every weakness possible. Now we just eliminated Daniel Hudson, who had a much bigger claim to being on this team down the stretch than Mark Kotsay. So what is the excuse for not eliminating Kotsay? Because he is well-liked? They need to suck it up, tell Kotsay they love him, offer him the opportunity to go down to Charlotte and play for a month, and then come back up on Sept 1 when rosters expand. Things can then be re-evaluated once the season is over. But he does not have a place on this ballclub right now over Viciedo or Lillibridge once Teahan comes back.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:52 PM) I think you're really the only person that can answer that when you're talking about someone you want to date/marry or whatever. Ahhh! You guys are no help!

QUOTE (Sox72 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 08:18 PM) Yeah. And I'll use the green one and try to make it as taut as possible, but it's just not good enough for some exercises. For others it's decent. Can you afford more bands?

QUOTE (G&T @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 08:30 PM) I really don't see the point in being with someone if you don't find them attractive. I don't mean that you are necessarily unattracted to them. But say they grow on you in that sense over the course of time...

QUOTE (Gregory Pratt @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 01:23 PM) A story that relates to what you're all talking about: I love how he takes that shot at Andy Garcia. Great article. Thanks, Greg.

QUOTE (Sox72 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 08:02 PM) I've been doing it for 2 weeks and I kind of feel like it's worthless without dumbbells. Problem is that I can't afford to buy a set of dumbbells. Do you have the bands?

On another note....how important is immediate physical attraction in a relationship, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being of the utmost importance.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 08:40 PM) There's a whole segment of the population that isn't allowed to but that's another story. There really are smurfs? No, seriously, you make a good point, Sqwert.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 07:29 PM) collision? Yeah, he and Ryan Kalish.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 07:27 PM) Bren you're not alone. I believe in marriage. No need to try and convince those that aren't though. To each their own. I'm not necessarily saying I don't "believe" in it. I was just hoping to stimulate some thought-provoking discussion.

QUOTE (G&T @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 07:24 PM) This is a fun thread for those of us about to get married. You can still change your mind...

QUOTE (girlslikebaseballtoo#26 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 07:47 PM) HAHAHA you don't know anything about me or Chase. If you spent a week with us, you would see where I was coming from! I am not one of those people that think it's right for everyone, I do know how I am and how I feel though. I come from a broken family, Chase's parents have been married for 28 years and only dated for 5 months before they tied the knot and they get along better than most couples I know ...that goes back to, when you know, ya know!! I won't be "coming back" in a few years ...I will still be here in a few years and you guys will see! I'm sure a lot of people have said the same thing, but those people weren't as dedicated as I'm willing/going to be. I fought with all I had to keep a relationship together that wasn't worth s*** ..Chase treats me like I'm God's gift to him so I don't see me ever finding anything better. Why would I trade down? And if he should some day decide that he doesn't want to be with me (never going to happen) ..I will stalk him!! LOL JUST KIDDING ...kind of! I don't care if you guys believe in marriage or if you don't ...I do and I'm happy so whatever your preference, if that's what tickles your pickle, great for you! Now ..I would like to karate chop the guy who even brought this subject up right in the ear! Let me put it to you this way, Bren. Say Chase said he didn't believe in marriage, because he was raised not to (or because he believed he would turn into a smurf if he got married, it doesn't matter). But he still wanted to spend his life with you. Would you not be with him because he didn't want to get married? Would your relationship with him mean any less to you?

Does anyone else find Matt Garza to have some of the most disgusting mannerisms a person can possibly have?

QUOTE (girlslikebaseballtoo#26 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 06:11 PM) If there are problems that are so horrible that you need to get a divorce over them, more than likely they existed before the marriage and should have been dealt with way before they even considered the thought of marriage. That's what I mean when I say people don't take it seriously ...I have been in bad relationships, ok relationships and relationships that I thought were good ...I have been proposed to more than once, but never felt that it would work with anyone except Chase. It didn't mean that I didn't want to be with those people at that time, just that I didn't see it lasting forever. I didn't say "ok, yeah I'll marry you" just because I was happy at the time and hoped it would last ..I want long term happiness and with them I just didn't see it going that far. I have zero reservations about marrying Chase because I know how we are together, I know how happy I am when I'm with him and there's not a place we go that people around us don't see it too. I know him well enough to know that nothing we encounter is going to be enough to make me want to break my commitment to him. Basically.. I believe, when you know, ya know. I don't believe that everyone that gets married enters into it with as much confidence as you should have when making that commitment ..that's why people get divorced. I couldn't tell you how many divorced couples I know that say "I knew from the beginning, blah blah blah" ..IF YOU KNEW, WHY DID YOU DO IT?!?!? The answer is always the same ..."I hoped he/she would change." I would never commit my life to someone in hopes of anything. Bren, That's great! But you didn't answer any of my questions!

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 06:00 PM) Have they said how long Teahen is going to be down there? He hasn't played in the field yet. Tonight will be his third game at DH. It may be a good idea to get him some field time too....not that it will help much. From what I have been able to piece together, it looks like they are going to keep him on the rehab until we return from this roadtrip.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 05:47 PM) So basically, you're saying that if D1 wants to get paid, he needs to kick some major arse in his 25-27 year old seasons, just like the other guys did. You know, I could totally go for that. Well, he will get paid, because he is young, durable, and has been a very good AL pitcher in a hitter's ballpark. That will probably get him in to $12-15 million range. But to get into the $15 million to $23 million range, you've got to be absolutely dominant for big chunks of time. Johan was famous for his second half dominance. CC put teams on his back at times, especially the Brewers in the second half of 08'. In his three seasons leading up to FA, CC put up ERAs of 3.22, 3.21, and 2.70. The other thing is, as much as we all want to laugh at the W and L statistic for pitchers, it does come into play in negotiations, whether we want to admit it or not. CC was 45 games over .500 when he hit FA. As of today, Danksy is 42-41. So Danksy needs to do quite a bit if he wants to get into the $20 million territory. He also has to be willing to go to Boston, NY, the Cubs, or LA.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 03:45 PM) Interesting. I'm surprised the results of a single published study may result in the lumping of the two putative species, but if it happens I'm glad triceratops will prevail as the senior synonymy. Well, considering I've been lobbying for this realization for years now, I'm not surprised at all...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 04:34 PM) The average player salary has not declined year over year since 2004. The rate of increase slowed this year, probably recession related. The only thing that is going to cut the amount spent on contracts is the Yankees deciding to pull back...but...the luxury tax level goes up every seaosn, so the Yankees are penalized less every year. The money has dried up for the veteran players...they are no longer getting the 4 and 5 year deals worth $35-50 million for guys like Mark DeRosa and the like. Now, they are lucky to get 2/$12 or 2/$14. But the premier free agents are getting just as much or more as they always have. If Johnny hits the market, he will be a premier free agent.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 04:30 PM) CC's first time with a WAR over 5 was when he put up a 5.5 in 2006 at age 25. D1 is well on his way to his 2nd season with a WAR of 5 by the time he's 25. Danks does not have the accomplishments that either CC or Johan had. He has been very good in 2008 and again this year, but he is not the kind of dominant pitcher that those two have been. What he does have, is youth. But keep this in mind...they mentioned it last night on Sunday Night Baseball, and I don't know if a more accurate and concise way of putting it exists....in baseball, you pay for past performance. And Danksy will get paid on his past performance moreso than his projected performance, and that simply does not match up to CC or Johan.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 04:27 PM) If someone is willing to offer that security up front with that sort of huge money, he is signing it. What, the 4/48 or the 8/160?

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 04:19 PM) So he's going to get more money than Sabathia and Santana even though those guys were the best pitchers in baseball when they signed their contracts while Danks isn't even in their league? You guys need to slow down. Santana signed a 6/$137.5 before the 2008 season, and CC signed a 7/$161 before the 2009 season.