iamshack

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 04:12 PM) So it does have to do with Thome, because they quite clearly had a lot invested in Thome. That isn't at all comparable to Crede -- the only investment the Sox have in him is ~$5 million (a marginal amount) and our GM's ill-conceived perception of said-third-baseman's value. I'm not arguing, nor have I ever, that this is the "ideal" situation for Fields. What I am arguing is that it is pure fiction and ridiculously uninformed speculation to suggest that Fields' career will be retarded by going back to Charlotte to work on some things.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 04:10 PM) last time I checked, Howard didn't have a great rookie season, and then get sent back down to AAA. No, he didn't get as many ab's in his callup in 04' because of Thome, but he still posted an .897 OPS in the limited time he did play. That, combined with his numbers in the minor leagues until that point, certainly didn't provide any proof whatsoever that he wasn't ready. And yet he went down to Scranton, tore it up again, and *somehow* managed to still be one of the best young hitters in baseball when he returned to the big leagues again later in 05'.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 04:03 PM) Josh Fields AAA at-bats - ~670 Ryan Howard AAA at-bats - ~320 Howard got a cup-of-coffee in Scranton (Philly's AAA affiliate) in 2004. In 2005 -- the year Thome got hurt -- Howard started off the year in AAA, which is justifiable given how much the Phillies had invested in Thome and also given that Howard only had a little more than 100 at-bats above AAA. How, again, are these situations comparable? Howard dominated every step of the way throughout his minor league career. And pretty much every baseball fan on the planet earth knew he was ready for MLB after 2004. And yet, sitting in Scranton for another 210 ab's until Thome was too hurt to continue playing in 05' certainly did not stunt his growth or retard his career. That, again, is how these situations are comparable. The only reason they may not be comparable is because Fields had nowhere near the minor league career Howard did, and yet, people claim he has "mastered" the level and has nothing left to learn.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) I have such a problem with playing a guy you know won't be back with the organization in 2009 for a guy who should be a cornerstone of the offense for the next 5 years. Honestly, for someone who has SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE of baseball, I have an incredible time understanding how you honestly think that our entire season, let alone the first month of the season, is going to be decided by who starts for us at third base in April. It's pretty damn apparent to me that the fortunes of this team are going to be decided by our starting pitching- and therefore the defense behind that pitching- along with the guys at the top of our order, and not whether Josh are Joe are in there to begin the season. This is not Game 1 of the World Series, and this is not sitting down Jim Thome and Paul Konerko for Brad Eldred and Paul Phillips for the month of April. Now you know I absolutely hate the fact that Owens is going to get the starting nod over Brian Anderson to start the season, but in all likelihood, these moves are not going to be the ones that determine whether we are winning and losing.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 03:53 PM) For the most part, he's not going to see "average fastballs" in AAA. He's going to see below average fastballs, outside of your occasional top prospect. He'll be seeing lots of the Tim Reddings and Wade Millers of the world (for the most part). There's so many things wrong with the Ryan Howard situational comparison as well. First there's the fact that Crede isn't even close to comparable as Thome. A healthy Crede, at his best, is probably the guy we saw in 2006 -- average-ish bat (slugging % heavy) with plus defense and well below-average baserunning. That's a very replaceable player and certainly not someone who should be blocking your top prospect. Thome, quite obviously, is a top-30 bat in the game when healthy. And there was a LOT more invested in Thome than there is in Crede. Talk about an apples and filet mignon comparison there. If there is anything minor league pitchers can do, it is throw "average" fastballs. It's the secondary pitches that they can't throw. My comparison of Fields to Howard was not a comparison of the situation. My comparison is that a guy who had "mastered" the minor leagues FAR MORE than Josh Fields has managed not to have his career stunted or retarded, or any other ridiculously hyperbolic verb you want to attach to the situation.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 03:47 PM) I don't know if you noticed this or not, but the talent level between AAA and the MLB are completely different. Fields can't improve on what he needs to at Charlotte. He needs to face MLB pitching. Are you kidding me? Honestly? How come all the people who have actually played baseball are saying the exact opposite of this? Stop painting Josh Fields as some Frank Thomas manchild-type hitter, because he isn't close. He's got some major power, but he is nowhere near a complete hitter. When are you going to face these facts?

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 03:39 PM) Wouldn't it have been so much nicer to have an outfield of Quentin, Anderson, and Fields, while saving the money on Dye's contract and not having to trade 3 prospects for Swisher (I like Swisher). I'm not saying we need as many OF's as we have right now, but I can only imagine the reaction 2 months ago had these guys been announced as the frontrunners for our OF....

Ok, I'm f***ing tired of people claiming Fields has NOTHING to learn in Charlotte. BearSox, you actually stated that he has "mastered" that level. When are you guys going to address the fact that he can't hit an average fastball and he has major strides to make defensively? How is working on those things going to retard his growth or "ruin" him? Ryan f***ing Howard stayed in Scranton (Philly's AAA team) until the age of 26, while the big league club figured out how to move Thome, and it certainly didn't ruin him. As a GM, you have to maximize your resources, especially considering we don't have a whole hell of a lot in the farm system right now. We have a guy coming off an injury that just a few years ago, was a pretty damned good player. We're not going to lose games because Joe Crede might start out a bit slowly instead of having Josh "Arod" Fields out there corkscrewing himself into the ground 2-3 times a game. Let Crede try to establish some trade value, or value to this team. Fields will be back soon, I promise you all.

Didn't we already have this blowout once already? Honestly, the amount of time spent around here on trying to paint Fields as the next Mike Schmidt, and Crede as a never-was-has-been and vice versa is quite astonishing to me. We knew this move was coming a week ago. We also know Owens will be the starting CF. We also know Uribe will be the starting 2b. How about we talk about how this team will lineup against other teams in the month of April, and how Fields, Anderson, and Ramirez might somehow augment the team and help us compete as the season goes on?

QUOTE(Pants Rowland @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 02:48 PM) Whatever happened to Bureau, anyway? Did he catch a lot of heat from his employer for posting here? Or maybe he wasn't exactly who he said he was...

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 01:12 PM) Tuesday at Colorado Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Today's Lineup Ramirez, CF; Cabrera, SS; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Fields, 3B; Quentin, LF; Uribe, 2B; Buehrle, pitching. Also throwing: Logan, Dotel, Jenks, MacDougal. Meeting As you probably read in the newspapers, our staff meeting started early today. As clubs near the end of spring, conversations about players, roster fits, etc. take longer and longer as KW, Rick Hahn and our coaching staff review all of our options. It's really beginning to frighten me that they just keep throwing Ramirez out there in CF...

I'm glad this is where are police resources are being employed.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 12:16 PM) How'd he do? He was 0-3...I thought he hit a homer in his first at bat for a second, as I was laying in bed listening to the game, stupid Gary Thorne yells out "And this one's hit a millllleeeee.......high into right for the third out of the inning."

Anyone catch any of the Sawks-A's this morning? Nice to see Ryan Sweeney get the start today...

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 11:49 AM) Don't call me out on distorting the truth if you don't want to hear the truth. Ok Col. Nathan R. Jessup.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 11:41 AM) It's not a distortion. The man was a member of that church for over 20 years. Personally, when he says never heard that anti-American rhetoric, I think he's lying through his pearly whites. If he did hear it, he should have instantly walked out and disassociated himself. This is an issue that needs much more scrutiny, not just an "oh well". Sorry, but this man is trying to become POTUS. If he can't stand the heat, he needs to get out of the kitchen. Why don't we bring this issue into EVERY thread in Soxtalk. I can't wait to discuss Obama's pastor in today's game thread.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 11:21 AM) One last time. I have said that in my opinion the thesis, AA thing is a MINOR issue and not the basis to the crux of my opinion. I have also said that I'd be willing to drop that part of the argument because it is such a minor issue. However, you seem to have your claws in this issue because nobody will elaborate on the point. OK dude! I don't care. I concede that damn point to you. Now, as for your remark about this should be an extension of whatever thread you mentioned and not a separate thread, it wasn't a seprate thread when it started. It was part of one of the Democrat threads ... Dems only or Dem candidates, I don't recall. However, if you go to my first post in this thread, you'll where I started and have not swayed from that point. Every post I've made on this topic has been supporting the fact that if McCain would have had the history Obama had, he'd be fileted and grilled by now ... and/or parrying off the ridiculous posts that attempt to pick and choose minor issues and won't accept the overall crux of my point. I still insist that the overall body of evidence raises many red flags as to Obama's stance on race. This nitpicking on your part is no longer necessary and I gladly yeild and concede the relatively, in comparison, minor point to you. I give. You win! Now go pat yourself on the back and feel good about winning the point. Congrats. Well, my apologies then, YASNY. I guess it is a minor point to you. I'm not sure if that is the case with DrunkBomber. But to me, it's not a minor point to accuse people of racism because they are outspoken about race relations or their country.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 07:23 AM) If you are going to stoop to the point of implying that I'm not using logic, then okay. You win. I quit. End of discussion. I've asked both you and DrunkBomber now several times to explain to me how Michelle Obama's senior thesis, her possibly being the benefactor of Affirmative Action, and her not being proud of her country make her a racist. Neither of you have yet to attempt to logically claim how you've come to that conclusion. Rather, you're basing it entirely on the Obama's involvement in their church and with their Pastor, which I have not challenged. But if that's the case, this entire thread is nonsense. Neither of you have addressed that point, or my plea for a logical explanation. So it isn't me who is "stooping" to anything. It's you and DrunkBomber who are "stooping" to accusing Michelle Obama of being a racist because of the aforementioned reasons in this thread without logically explaining how that is the case.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 12:08 AM) Yeah it has nothing to do with Anderson's GG-caliber defense in CF or his better all-around game than Owens. There's also a reason Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid player in the game and not Juan Pierre. Yeah, but it just goes to show you some dumb team will pay a guy like Pierre $9 million a year...

Perhaps some of the ladies that frequent our site would like to offer some advice...

Anyone heard of The Blood Arm? I'm diggin' the s*** out of them lately, especially "Do I Have Your Attention" with the French chick...

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 24, 2008 -> 11:36 PM) I have to go to work, but I'll say this real quick. At one point in this campaign season, Obama was a viable option. No longer the case, however. Well, I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion on anything, so that's entirely a personal decision of your own. I'm just looking for some logic.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Mar 24, 2008 -> 10:28 PM) Affirmative action isnt evening a score. Who are they evening the score with? White people? I have zero control of what ever score needs to be settled. Since were using definitions and you say that you say that you didnt use any prejudice lets think about what it means. Pre judging someone. Like judging a white person as someone born on the top of the totem pole that has everything handed to them. That is prejudice and thats the problem. If people want to get rid of the resentment blacks and whites have with each other both sides need make sacrifices to look past the issues. That prejudice is a form of racism and is a stereotype. Stuff like school funding shouldnt have anything to do with this conversation because it isnt something only black people have to face. Its a matter of economics. If people that are in poor areas arent happy with what the hand they are dealt then maybe they should try to overcome it instead of blaming it on others. There are poor white people in those neighborhoods too but there are no white people moving ahead in line to get in college because they live there and that isnt fair. To be honest I would think a minority would find affirmative action offensive because its basically saying they need a head start. Everyday there are people that work their way out of poverty, white and black, instead of blaming others. With the strides this country has made in terms of equality and race relations making it sound like white people have all these doors open to them that minorites dont is ridiculous. In this day and age it is the exact opposite.. Affirmative Action is absolutely an attempt to artificially "even the score." And yes, they are trying to even the score in regards to the socioeconomic advantages white people (or other people with socioeconomic advantages) have in terms of opportunity. Yes, the fact that you have little or no control over what situation you were placed in is a key argument against Affirmative Action. I don't know that there are many people that suggest Affirmative Action is the ideal situation, and many people think we would be better without it, but it is a way to artificially speed up the process a bit. And don't think I am some raging proponent of the system either. I went to law school. The application process is fairly cutthroat. Don't think for a minute that I wasn't denied admission to law school in lieu of less-qualified candidates because of racial quotas and diversity. But it is what it is and I accept that. If it's a price I have to pay for having many of the other advantages in life that I have, than so be it.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 24, 2008 -> 11:14 PM) I'm not taking the church participation out of the equation because that IS part of the equation. That's a big part of the equation. You keep harping on the one minor point and ask how that makes her a racist. It's a small part of the equation, one that I would be more willing to disregard than the church issue. I'm not going to get into a pissing match over this relatively minor issue. It's whole body of the equation that makes me jadedly look at the what comes out on the other side of the equal sign. If that's the case, then this entire thread is duplicative of the "Obama's Pastor" thread and therefore, should be merged. If you or DrunkBomber cannot point out to me how the senior thesis, her possible benefactor status of Affirmative Action, and her comments about not being proud of her country have anything to do with her being racist, than those issues have no business even being part of the equation. As I said earlier, I will not criticize anyone for being leery of the Obama's being part of that church. It doesn't particularly bother me, because people do all sorts of weird s*** when it comes to religion, but I can understand how some people would be somewhat concerned about it. I guess I agree with NSS- it doesn't change my opinion, and most of those making the biggest fuss about it probably weren't going to vote for Obama anyways.

Honestly, this crap is all so superficial. Whether the guy used drugs 30 years ago has little to do with his ability to be the Governor of NY. I have to agree with the European viewpoint on government leaders and their private lives- if it doesn't interfere with their ability to do their job, it shouldn't be a big deal.