Texsox

Of the teams in the Central, after the Sox, I'd rather see Detroit win, followed by KC, Cleveland, finally the Twins.

I was a big Clemens fan. It makes me sick he cheated.

Why the f*** did Oz start Danks?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 07:59 AM) That's how I see it. These guys had track records. You could argue that they were taking a chance on Rios returning to his career norms, but with Peavy and Dunn, there had been no real down time in their performances before they got here. It wasn't like Kenny was buying low on them. They got here and they flopped to this point. Heck you can throw Nick Swisher into this category as well. The only difference between these results and for most other teams, is the Sox are playing at a higher income level. On middle of the pack payroll teams there are guys making half or a third of these guys sucking as well. If they happen to be 1/3 of the starters, you finish 25 games back instead of 15 games back.

Why the hell did Ozzie start Danks tonight? f*** if KW never signed him we wouldn't have this problem

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 01:54 AM) Do you realize what you are saying? To bench Rios and Dunn with the money they are making? You don't magically pretend Adam Dunn does not exist. No this is about the same as a video game.

QUOTE (Real @ Sep 1, 2011 -> 11:09 PM) I don't put any blame on the GM for acquisitions that I, as a fan, was happy about, namely all 3 of them, and I know I'm not the only one here who was happy when all 3 of those contracts were signed, especially Dunn and Peavy Go back and pull up the Peavy acquisition thread, and look at the posts in that thread, people were happier than pigs in s***, same with Dunn Not everyone was on board for the Rios claim because of how much money he's owed, but after his "decent" year in 2010, with the defense he played, nobody really b****ed about it in the offseason Only this year, have people wanted KW's head on a stake because all 3 of them have underpeformed At some point, you have to start looking at the coaches and players Those signings were not horrible. And as noted, if one or two of those guys play 85-90% of their historic levels, this team is leading the division. Not a bad season for the GM who has to play the game on paper.

I am convinced there has never been a manager that could have gotten this team to first place right now. Swap out Oz, swap out KW, and this team still finishes out of first place.

In today's excerpt - one of the great American stories that has been told and told again, including on these pages, is about when Jackie Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey and broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947. However, there is almost always an untold part of this story. In the mid-1940s, the Mexican League, led by legendary multi-millionaire owner Jorge Pasquel, started aggressively signing black American baseball players. This put pressure on American team owners to move on this issue or lose an opportunity for the better results associated with these players, since Jorge Pasquel's motivation for signing these players was the same as Branch Rickey's - to win ballgames and increase revenues for his team: "When the black players started to play in Mexico, they were often followed on the street by curious Mexicans who had not seen people of color before. 'I saw them as extraordinary, almost extraterrestrials who came to play here,'recalled baseball Mexican historian Jaime Cervantes, who used to go to games in the forties with his father, Leopoldo, who played for the Puebla team in the Mexican League. 'We saw the black players as gods. We sought their friendship. We wanted them to recognize us and to talk to us. They were fleeing from racism and sought refuge here. I have fond memories of when I was a child and saw the black players play.' The African American players found a familiar sight in Mexico: as in the Negro Leagues, the fans dressed up to go to the baseball games, considering them as much a social event as a sporting event. ... "Jorge realized that the black players had to be treated better than most. They had to have a nice home, a nice car. That way society [perceives them to have status and] automatically changes its attitude. ... Pasquel encouraged the players to bring their families to Mexico. He either gave them housing allowances or provided them with apartments. Delores Dandridge recalled that Pasquel provided her father, Ray, with a six-room apartment overlooking Chapultepec Park, the Mexico City equivalent of a Park Avenue apartment overlooking New York's Central Park. Pasquel provided a tutor for the children and a maid to do the housework. ... "[but even in Mexico there were occasional problems.] When Sug Cornelius returned in 1940, he was denied a room at the hotel where he had stayed during the previous season in Mexico City. 'I asked the hotel manager why, and he said, 'Well, you know, we have a lot of tourists come here, and the whites say they don't live in the same hotel with you in the United States.' I told him, 'If that's the way you want it, that's okay.' [Pasquel] got me a nice apartment.' ... "Willie Wells, in an interview in Mexico City with Wendell Smith of the African American weekly Pittsburgh Courier, said: " 'I came back to play ball for [the] Veracruz [team] because I have a better future in Mexico than in the States. Not only do I get more money playing here, but I live like a king. I am not faced with the racial problem in Mexico. ... "I mean that we are heroes here, not just ballplayers. I was going to stay in the States and play for Newark, but I think a ballplayer, or any workingman, should take advantage of better opportunities. I didn't quit Newark and join some other team in the States. I quit and left the country. "I've found freedom and democracy here, something I never found in the United States. I was branded a Negro in the States and had to act accordingly. Everything I did, including playing ball, was regulated by my color. Well, here in Mexico I am a man. I can go as far in baseball as I am capable of going. I can live where I please and will encounter no restrictions of any kind because of my race.' "Catcher Bill Cash, who played for the Mexico City Red Devils, shared Wells' views on Mexico. 'The fans loved us there and treated us like kings,' he said. 'It didn't matter what your color was. Mexico and Canada were the two places where there was no racial discrimination. You'd be thirsty in Mexico and see a water fountain and look above it for the 'White Only' sign and there was none. Water never tasted so good.' " Author: John Virtue Title: South of the Color Barrier Publisher: McFarland Date: Copyright 2008 by John Virtue Pages: 86-90 Suggested by a delanceyplace.com reader South of the Color Barrier: How Jorge Pasquel and the Mexican League Pushed Baseball Toward Racial Integration by John Virtue by McFarland Paperback If you wish to read further: Buy Now

f***, I expect to be swept. Oz is taking some pressure off the team.

I have a real hard time blaming KW for the production of Dunn and the injury to Peavy.

About 20 years ago I was signing a birthday card for a guy I worked with. Everyone was writing the usual pleasantries. I wrote f*** You. Pretty soon it became a tradition, and we thought it was funny. I woke up this morning to a text message. Through bleary eyes I read "f*** you". I'm thinking my ex finally found my new number or something. Just a birthday wish.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 1, 2011 -> 04:26 PM) The Forbes article points that out. If it's revenue-neutral, it's because you're shifting a huge portion of the tax burden from the very wealthy (who control most of the income and wealth) to everyone else. Not necessarily, which is why I would like to understand the plan better. How many billionaires have we read about that pay zero taxes? How many corporations receive more than they pay? I don't mind an overhaul. But it will never happen. It would put too many accountants and lawyers out of work and perhaps cause the wealthiest to pay more, and they are the usual donors.

He's a grinder! Lifetime record 10-0; Here are the stories from his crushed foes . . . http://www.texasmonthly.com/2011-09-01/feature7.php

I'd need to take a better look, but haven't we discussed before how deductions and credits dramatically lower the rate for the wealthiest Americans? If it is revenue neutral or even results in incremental increases, I'd be for it. Across each stratus of tax payers.

Plus what KW's plan is going forward. If he can inspire JR, if he can convince him that his strategy is sound, he probably is back. I would imagine that startegy and vision will involve a bew manager and at least some change in the coaching ranks (Walker?)

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 31, 2011 -> 11:08 PM) 1. You realize they both are AR, right? . I was reading the thread backwards and got to this and thinking wtf is AR? Average Righty? I really hate trash for trash trades. It's like having a garage sale to buy the crap at your neighbor's garage sale. I'd prefer the return of Rowand just because he's easier to cheer for than Rios. But as far as baseball production, it just won't make a difference.

I've been laughing all morning. Thanks.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Sep 1, 2011 -> 12:39 PM) IMO, KW will be bumped upstairs to Pres. and Hahn would take over as GM. Good call. That has the right JR feels to it.

Basically it seems they have been trying to throw each other under the bus all season. Ironic if they tossed each other under. I'd like to see a change at manager and a shake up of the coaching staff. I could support leaving K-Dubya in place for another season. It would be interesting who, if any, of the staff is (are?) retained. I wouldn't mind LaRussa, but I really don't see it happening.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/...E77U3JZ20110831 As part of the potential merger AT&T agreed to pay $3 billion and other considerations if the deal fell through. So it is potentially a nice payday for T-Mo. Is four the magic number of national cell providers in the marketplace and not three? Tough to say. On land-lines we learned that one wasn't enough.

Because some on the board realize that players have to play. couldn't win consistently with the types of seasons some very key players have had.

Bottom line, I never would have thought in June that I would be paying attention to the scoreboard in September. IF they pulled it out, it would be one of the most thrilling regular seasons in modern Sox history. I'd hate to miss it because I was thinking they don't have a chance and basically crap over all the optimism. Realistically, I really doubt they can pull it out. But I gave it zero chance a month ago.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 30, 2011 -> 07:57 AM) You named your kid Tex Jr? You are really trying hard to pull off the native Texan thing, aren't you?

QUOTE (farmteam @ Aug 29, 2011 -> 08:42 PM) Welcome to FERPA. It's the same reason you can't call and ask what his grades are, unless he's given explicit written permission stating the names of people whom the school is allowed to share such information with. Exactly. I understand why they do it, but at times it was crazy.