iamshack

QUOTE (fathom @ May 30, 2009 -> 09:02 AM) If the Sox didn't take Broadway, they were going to take one of the local boys: Carrillo or Bogusevich. Broadway's actually been better than both. Yeah, I remember a lot of people pulling for Carrillo. Poor kid's dealt with nothing but injuries.

Pretty big game for us today in terms of momentum. We win today, we win our fourth consecutive series, and get back to 3-4 against the Royals on the year and just two games back of .500. Lose, and we probably lose the series considering Greinke is on the bump tomorrow, which could drop us to 2-6 against the Royals on the season, and back to five below .500.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 30, 2009 -> 09:08 AM) I said during the entire Peavy situation that I'd take my chances of one of Poreda, Richard, and Hudson (if he was included) being better than Peavy by 2013 when Peavy would have been making 20+million. I'd much rather have KW have some payroll flexibility for once and see what else we can add. I didn't share much of my opinion during the whole Peavy drama because I wasn't certain what it was. I would have been willing to take the gamble to acquire a guy with that kind of arm, youth and history, but it certainly was entirely possible that the deal could've ended up biting us in the ass. I still would probably include Richard in a deal for Peavy at this point, but I would be extremely hesitant to include him in a deal for Oswalt. The good thing about all this is that now that he has shown some flashes, Richard has increased his value tremendously. And given the fact that there are still 2 months before the trade deadline, we should be able to see this guy for at least a handful more starts to get a better idea of just what we have in him. Let's hope he continues to put up good outings.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 30, 2009 -> 08:59 AM) I'll say it: Richard should be untouchable right now. A lefty starter who can throw 94 mph with potentially an above average change and slider (holy cow, that thing was filthy) should not be traded. Poreda needs to be the chip we use in a trade. Yeah, we're walking a very thin line right now. Lefties with that kind of velocity are extremely uncommon. The question is, can he continue to develop those secondary pitches and become a solid #2 starter in the league, or is he going to always be a guy with primarily just the heater and be destined for the bullpen. At worst, I think he has Matt Thornton potential. But his celing is starting to look higher and higher. And if that is the case, why trade him for ANY of these guys when he'll make between 5 and 10% of their salaries for the next 2-3 years?

QUOTE (G&T @ May 30, 2009 -> 09:02 AM) That's because he is going to the opposite field on fastballs. I don't think he will ever be an elite power hitter but he looks like a doubles hitter with solid speed, and home run potential on breaking balls. He can absolutely be an elite power hitter. He has all the power in the world. He's one of those guys that just needs to realize he can hit home runs without even trying. If he will just continue to shorten that swing of his he has a future, if he does not, he'll be looking for another career. Big game tonight. Need to get this one against Meche because we have Greinke to deal with tomorrow.

The only cause for concern would be how Jerry has a team that plays in the United Center, and would then own a visiting team that would also come to play in the United Center a few times a year. Other than that, I see nothing that has much to do with the Bulls and White Sox.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 28, 2009 -> 02:53 AM) f*** me! I hate when I do that. Well he has 3 more errors than home runs in his very brief minor league career. That's a start. He's now in the beginning stages of learning a new position (and at least judging by the error count, he wasn't fielding his natural position all that well). That's something that I would imagine could take a little time. And recent history says he's not ready. I agree with you for the most part about him not being ready. On the other hand, he seems to have the makeup that he could come up here and struggle a bit and not let it get to him. I have no concerns about us "ruining him." And to be completely honest, could he really be much worse than Josh at this point?

Honestly, this stuff is still widespread. It's just like steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in baseball. A few schools have dirty programs, and then others become dirty because it is the only way to compete for the best recruits.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 27, 2009 -> 05:28 PM) Fields is the opposite of what Beane wants. Billy Beane wants anything that is undervalued by the marketplace. Josh is definitely that. Not saying he would pay a king's ransom in return, but a decent OF prospect may be able to be had. Although I can't imagine the breeze generated by having Jack Cust and Josh in the same lineup...

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 24, 2009 -> 01:03 PM) Freakanomics and Post-American World are sitting on our end table. I'm debating whether or not to start either. The Post-American World is a great read! Zakaria is a brilliant guy. The book is a smidgen outdated I suppose, because it was published shortly before this depression or recession or whatever it is, but most of what he says still is pretty relevant. I'd definitely recommend it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 20, 2009 -> 09:44 AM) Last few years, I've read more non-fiction than fiction. Anyone else read any substantial amount of non-fiction, particularly history-related books? -- Here's a seperate question. Name an author who you like that you'd call a guilty pleasure. Something you know is not great literature, but you just enjoy it anyway. I'll throw one out there: Tony Hillerman Hah, I know I will catch s*** for this, but I have been reading the Twilight series. I resisted for a long time, but I work 12 hour night shifts several times a month and so I need something to make the time pass. I love vampire lore, so I figured what the heck. Picked up the first book in the series and have been hooked since. Another solid vampire book, for those of you into that sort of thing, is The Historian....good stuff.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 22, 2009 -> 09:36 PM) get outscored 20-3 in 2 games and go 1-1... i'll take it! And 26-16 in our last 4 games and go 3-1. Even better!

For those of us that did not get to see the game...I saw Alexei hit a homer tonight. Did he have some good ab's? How about Q? We need these two guys to come around if we are going to win anything this year. Looks like Alexei may be coming on at a similar point as he did last season. Now what's the story with Q?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 22, 2009 -> 05:45 PM) I think the point he was making was Jake Peavy couldn't care less about the guys in AA. If the plan was to bring them all up next year or the year after, chances are the team will struggle. Rookies struggle. If I were Peavy and if they tried to sell me on the AA guys, I'd be thinking their up in the majors in 2010 and/or 2011. It takes them a season or so to get their feet wet. If all goes well, they become solid championship-type contributors in 2012/2013. What's up until then? All this money coming off the books? How will that be spent? Will it be spent? Does my salary count towards spending it? What if the current crop of youngsters on the big league club continue to struggle? How long do you stick with them? Can you bring in someone better if they can't do the job. Can you do a little better than Dewayne Wise? We have a bunch of talent at AA isn't going to make Peavy hop on a plane. I don't fully agree with this. Peavy himself was an AA ball player before he came up to the major leagues and stuck in a major way. I'm not saying he's going to choose which team he goes to based on which franchise has the best AA team, but he specifically was weary with the trade the Braves were going to make to get him because he was concerned they were giving too much of the young talent they needed to succeed (with him on the Braves) away to the Padres in return for his services. I think the guy is looking at the big picture, in terms of talent a franchise has on its mlb team as well as guys that have potential to contribute while he is under contract with said team. The number of young players who have made immediate impacts in this league over the past few years is astounding. To claim that a franchise's farm talent doesn't factor into his decision is being pretty dangerous with your speculation for a guy that is still just 27 years old. When it comes down to it, I think he wants to go to a good city, preferably in the NL, which has a good outlook both now and in the near future. We do not fit one of those criteria, and that is a big criteria right now. We'll see if that changes though as he gets a better idea of what his options are come the trade deadline.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 22, 2009 -> 02:01 PM) Why hasn't anyone picked up on this??? Without a three way deal, sending some very good players out of Wrigley, the Cubs can't afford Jake Peavy. Heck its not even that they can't afford him, they don't even have anyone to ask if they can raise the payroll right now. Do you really think a bankruptcy court is going to authorize the Tribune to spend $11 million without any extra revenue coming from this deal? Uh, no. Ricketts couldn't do anything even if he wanted to, until the deal is approved, and from the sounds of it, he is having problems raising the billion dollars or so that they bid for the team because of the recession. Peavy's options are a lot more limited than he thinks right now. Believe me, I am sure the Cubs have told the Padres this and the Padres have relayed this information to Peavy. But if he continues to ignore those facts, he can continue to claim them as an option, along with the other options he seems to be claiming that don't exist either. Bottom line is, Jake seemingly would rather stay in San Diego than go anywhere other than a handful of clubs, and so the fact that the options are more limited than he is letting on only plays into his hand. The true loser in this is all the other clubs willing to make a deal for Peavy, that he does not wish to go to (i.e., the White Sox, any other club that he has vetoed a trade to), as well as the Padres, who desperately want them off their payroll. Another factor in all of this is that it doesn't hurt Jake to bide his time now and hope that some suitor he approves can make something happen. He has two + months to hope something else can shake itself out. If and when he sees that no other options are presenting themselves, he may ultimately bite the bullet and go somewhere such as the White Sox. Until then, we can only speculate what is going on in his mind.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 22, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) Axelrod said that Peavy asked KW some pointed questions. About Dye being traded, Thome's Future, ETC, and was well aware of Danks' and Floyd's potential. IT was also said that Peavy picked up the phone ready to say no, and that KW nearly convinced him. The interesting thing about this point is that I don't know how you question Kenny's desire to build a winning team. First of all, if he is acquiring you, the $17 million a year pitcher, he obviously is committed to winning. Secondly, the guy has a track record, perhaps more so than any other GM in the game, of stepping up and trying to acquire impact players (impact superstars, actually), including yourself. Thirdly, he brought a World Series title in 05' to a City that has not had one in a bazillion years, and follows that up by trading for Jim Thome less than a month later. The desire and capacity to produce a winning ballclub is clearly there. I dunno, I don't blame the guy for making the decision he made. I agree with Jason...the guy has earned the right to make these sorts of decisions, and any one of us would have exercised that right had we earned it in our jobs. And I guess I don't blame him for asking about personnel decisions on our side....but if the question is whether Kenny wants (and will do what it takes) to produce a winning ballclub, then man, I think I would have been tempted to buy into the guy.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 22, 2009 -> 05:25 AM) I'm actually rooting for Peavy to shutdown the Cubs, for the Sox to win convincingly, and for that to leading towards a bridge being rebuilt. I don't think this has been visited for the last time. Yeah, I am on this train of thought. The comments from Kenny seemed to suggest the same.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 22, 2009 -> 05:55 AM) Maybe he knew what he was doing? Runs scored/runs allowed differential 27. San Diego Padres -44 28. Chicago White Sox -47 29. Baltimore Orioles -51 Washington Nationals -51 One thing is for certain, Ozzie Guillen will win the Pythagorean Manager of the Year award this season... Is this updated after yesterday's game? If so, isn't that a bit skewed considering 19 of those runs occurred in one loss?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 21, 2009 -> 04:51 PM) FWIW ESPN.com or si.com isn't reporting it, may be a matter of time, but not yet ESPN is really slow to confirm things like this. I would expect them to be last in reporting anything "official." Man, I really, really have a hard time actually reading your posts on the account of your avatar...

Well, not going to take Cowley's word for it just yet... But this doesn't kill me. I would have liked to have him in a selfish way, but I do agree with many that this deal very likely could have spelled trouble down the road...

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 21, 2009 -> 04:30 PM) interesting, must be the NTC and other extras, and if the option issue is settled for both sides, then I see this happening and the extras will fall into place Yeah, I don't know...this is contrary to everything that's come out in the previous two hours. Not sure if it is technically the option being discussed, but I think they are definitely trying to sweeten the pot in terms of guaranteed money.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 21, 2009 -> 04:25 PM) yeah, that's probably it until his final decision comes out... seems like Sox send him a reworked option pickup and he's chewing on that Olney just claimed the holdup isn't about the option...that they aren't even discussing that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 21, 2009 -> 04:14 PM) The Padres really don't have money to be kicking in right now, otherwise they wouldn't be doing this in the first place. They should have around $3 million this year if they move him now.

This would be just what the Dr. ordered.....just please don't include Beckham....

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ May 20, 2009 -> 04:58 PM) Teams never fire their managers over poor managing or the team being s***? Look at JR's track record. He's about as loyal an owner as there is in sports. I agree with Dick.