Texsox

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 21, 2008 -> 07:04 AM) Boy he really went out on some limbs there... They might not win the division, but there is a chance! The Sox won't maintain their HR/allowed rate! I was surprised he didn't go really risky and say that AJ probably won't hit .350 for the season this year, or that Floyd won't finish with an ERA of 1.5! You know how we are, any positive coverage has us drooling with excitement. And negative has us gnashing our teeth and calling the writer a moron.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 08:02 PM) There are companies now that actually check to see if applicants have a MySpace or Facebook and try to read up on them. The second I heard that I realized it was time to get the hell off those sites even if it was mainly to communicate with people I had lost touch with. Or to polish your image. They can be good or evil.

QUOTE (Soxpranos @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 08:50 PM) An ACE can get you out Yep, he sure can. I do not think they give style points. It's get them out, who really cares how? And what we always debate, isn't Mark's talents, but the definition of ace. Some people define it to the point where every #1 in the rotation and half of the #2s would qualify, and some define it to the point where one or two guys in the league *may* qualify in most years. Mark has been the man for the Sox for most of this century. He is a winner, a classy player, plays to the crowd when he can, always a fan favorite, someone Sox fans can be poud of, and a credit to the franchise. If that's an ace in your book, you are welcome to that definition, if it makes you feel better to only call two guys aces, then you are welcome to that. I find the people who are the most restrictive are the ones that try and impress people with their knowledge.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) I hate all-time comparisons in a way. Simply because things have changed so dramatically. How can we know how Babe Ruth would fare against todays pitching? Did Babe Ruth ever see a 100 mph fastball? What would Frank Thomas (in his prime) have done against 1920 pitching? We can also start tossing in conditioning, video training, computer models, better youth coaching, better high school and college programs, equipment, etc. What we can do, and I think it is valuable, is compare them to their peers while playing. Baines and Ventura, while outstanding players, are not names that would come up in discussing first ballot or not. Frank is. That tells me a lot.

They need to change the name of Golden Glove, or have another "all around" award and get back to some defensive recognition. But clearly glove is misleading in who gets these awards. even factoring in "clutch" fielding.

QUOTE (the People's Champ @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 07:34 PM) Sorry Tex..............I'm gonna be needing that trophy back, PRONTO

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 07:25 PM) Seasons that Thomas played over 49 games at 1B with the Sox: 9 Seasons with the Sox: 16 Great stuff in this thread, and who would have thought such an over covered topic would produce that? I would have guessed 5 seasons or less at 1B.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 07:12 PM) Overall, Shoeless Joe played for the Sox for only like, 4 3/4 seasons. That point is not brought up very often, thanks for mentioning it. As I posted above, there should be some minimum tenure. An entire career would count, a guy who was traded around I would think 5 years? Majority? Then someone like Bo Jackson comes up. More years with KC, but he was 3 seasons with the Sox and his career ended with the Sox (can't say retired).

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 07:07 PM) Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, Robin Ventura... Some of the same names I thought of and it definitely nails the past 40 years of "Sox" players. And I think you have to have played some minimum of seasons. I respect the hell out of Belle's big season but he just doesn't seem to be a Sox player. From purely a spot in the batting order basis, I would take Frank. Some personality differences and similarities there.

An argument can be made anywhere in the top 5. His lack of defensive opportunities is problematic when comparing him to other players, which will be the issue with Hall of Fame voters, especially from NL cities. But he carried the load for some bad Sox teams, sold a bunch of tickets, and was one of the few players that would stop conversations in bars and in homes to watch him bat. The best batter and one of the top three hitters, I've ever seen.

As I mentioned, there is room for him to pitch better. But Mark needs to be near perfect to win games. Having some run support hides some problems.

Thank you, thank you very much. I am certain they will always remember with fondness the four days they were team mates.

And Mark again will probably be near the bottom in run support. He should have an easy extra 10-15 wins in his career with even average run support. He still has to pitch better, but it is a shame.

Didn't we sign Thome forst, then release Frank? That would make them former team mates. Pass me the trophy . . .

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 20, 2008 -> 12:29 PM) What a warm welcome we give the newcomers. I was thinking who would start a thread like that? All I could think of was

I wonder if the same people that think he should just cash the checks and not care if he is playing or not, ever criticize a player for signing a big contract and not caring? GMAFB. Criticizing a player, any player, for wanting to EARN his money silliest thing I've ever heard. I wonder what Dick_Allen would have posted if Frank was heard saying, play me, or not, I don't care; I'm picking up 8 million for the season so I will just stfu and keep my jersey clean.

QUOTE (Shadows @ Apr 19, 2008 -> 01:06 AM) Well thank you for being the only one to realize I said I hope that wasn't the FULL thing and that I wasn't dismissing the whole event Actually Shadow, I wish that was the full thing, sadly, it wasn't. I know what you meant.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 19, 2008 -> 11:33 AM) New Rule: Listening to a anti-catholic bigot like Bill Mahr who believes that chickens and dogs should live over people is dumb. "To those people who say, `My father is alive because of animal experimentation,' I say `Yeah, well, good for you. This dog died so your father could live.' Sorry, but I am just not behind that kind of trade off." -Bill Maher, PeTA celebrity spokesman Also bringing the catholics into the FLDS story is akin to Mariotti bringing up the Ligue incident when describing the Cubs throwing crap on their field. My church has problems, and the priests who poke kids should be excommunicated and locked with with the key thrown away, but I am sick and tired of having my religion raked over the coals and brought in as a side cart comedy act when another church is brought up.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Apr 19, 2008 -> 05:55 AM) But like Jim said, it's a symbol that's representing an important symbol. Is it not a big deal to use someone's picture on a dartboard or tear it up on national TV like Sinead O'Connor did with the Pope? Destroying a picture of something is a bad as wiping mud all over another image IMO. Correct. But as far as the most accepted flag etiquette, items like patches on uniforms, those decals on cars, etc. are not treated the same as an actual flag.

They should post a warning that these ranking are for amusement only. For over one hundred years they best ranking of a team can be found in the newspaper, it is called the standings. And last I checked, we're the top in the AL Central. At this point in the season, no other ranking really matters.

QUOTE (mreye @ Apr 18, 2008 -> 10:13 AM) I didn't feel it, but my wife felt the earth move last night. I hate it when she brags about me like that . . .

I keep thinking why would a guy who has a regular column bother posting here? Then I remembered Mariotti

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 18, 2008 -> 06:48 AM) Well, one is the symbol of our nation, and the other is merely the symbol of the symbol of our nation. See Simple. Wow, you should be like a teacher or something

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Apr 18, 2008 -> 05:43 AM) Make sure you get all the mud off your shoes! Today's civics lesson: Technically, that is not a flag, that is the image of a flag. Same thing for patches and the like. Far different animal, but I honestly have a hard time understanding the distinction.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 09:46 PM) Right... That's not like really getting beat up . . .