Vance Law

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 7, 2007 -> 11:09 PM) f*** THAT BULLs*** ARGUMENT! Nobody with a quarter of a brain argued that, and if you don't know that, then I'm sorry for you. I can't vouch for the size of people's brains, but Pods was certainly right at the top of people's (on this board) complaint list above Buehrle, Garland, Vazquez, Garcia, Cotts, etc.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 7, 2007 -> 11:08 PM) I remember our offense being amongst the worst in the majors during the 2nd half of the season with Pods as the catalyst. Yet the 2nd half of 06 offense still slaughtered the entire year 05 offense.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 7, 2007 -> 10:59 PM) Why are they working on slug bunts with Prancer and not with Owens. I don't know that "they" are working at it. I have heard them say Pods is working on it in bp and games. That's the second time I've seen him do it for a hit this week. Yes, yes the injuries suck and all that. There's a huge difference between the confidence, ability, and technique of 30yr old Pods and a rookie. Remember how Pods' .330 OBP cost us the season last year but the team 4.61 ERA didn't?

Are you kidding me? Pods rules. You guys suck ("you guys" refers to nobody. just a generic "yeah Pods! Screw you everyone!") .

No wonder I didn't see a game thread. Disregard my post in the Trade Winds forum. and...... Damn. This was the game to be at. GrindErstad!!!

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Sep 6, 2007 -> 01:12 AM) Nah, you sign someone to a major league contract and you have to keep them until like around June 15th. Damn. You all up on top of the rules, whitesoxfan.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 4, 2007 -> 03:58 PM) I agree. I will not however, get into any arguments over managers and coaches. It's just such a tired, old and boring debate and there's NO tangible evidence to work which makes it that much worse. It would be nice if people would just avoid these boring debates and instead realize that some people are just not going to like a manger and some are going to love him and just let it be. There's just no way to make an airtight argument either way. The distribution of blame argument is one that's filled with circular logic and assumptions which makes for some seriously boring discussion. ding. ding. ding. best post yet.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 4, 2007 -> 09:05 AM) If Sweeney is indeed still healing, or if recalling him would somehow screw up his arb clock, then I can understand those reasons. I just didn't see indications that either was the case. Thanks for the info. Sweeney shouldn't be up. Maybe not getting called up can motivate him to make himself better than a guy who can only hit for a .750 OPS in the minors whilst not having great speed, power, or play an elite defensive position.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 6, 2007 -> 05:11 PM) Does Ozzie seriously make these lineups? I think my dog could make out better lineups? And what the F is wrong with Dye now? Quad. Happened a couple nights ago. It was, like, in the news.

Please. He got to a ball that was hard to get too and made a jumping/turning throw that was inches too wide for Konerko to get.

Oh my- Pods, Erstad, Cintron, Owens, Richar (round). Woah daddy.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Sep 2, 2007 -> 04:09 PM) Hell yes...especially if the Sox used him to replace Thome who would be moved for younger prospects, use Abreu as his replacement (even though Thome is probably better, Abreu can play LF, run a bit, and still would be productive...but more importantly he has not shown to be injury prone and would allow the Sox to get a couple good prospects in the system to fill other needs). Come on Santo...u know I'd have to bring Thome into this somehow . In all seriousness, I'd be all for giving Abreu a 2 or 3 year deal at a price like 11 mill per year. We could also sign Abreu and then immediately trade him. We keep the superior Thome and get these good prospects of which you speak.

QUOTE(michelangelosmonkey @ Sep 5, 2007 -> 11:29 AM) I think the goal in drafting is to acquire a star. Yes, sure. Um, how do you make sure that you've drafted the guy who, in the future, is going to be a star? Seems like if you can master that, you could go right ahead and draft only superstars which would give you a leg up on the competition, who are inexplicably drafting not superstars.

QUOTE(michelangelosmonkey @ Sep 4, 2007 -> 03:41 PM) As you point it out to me...it HAS been kind of a freakish year. Looks like 95 losses might get you the number one pick...when most years you need more like 105 loses. So yeah dumping may make sense in this year. Still...from your list of number ones overall you have 3 stars out of 12. PLus a couple of good players. I'd put post 2002 in the "unproven" box. Then you have: Joe Mauer career OPS .854 Adrian Gonzalez career OPS .830 Josh Hamilton--nothing yet Pat Bureel: career .848 Matt Anderson 15-7 5.2 ERA Kris Benson 68-73 4.4 ERA Darin Erstad--grinderstad...753 career ops Paul Wilson 40-58 4.86ERA Arod...superstar Phil Nevin career .815 OPS Brien Tayler--no appearance. Chipper Jones Star Go back to every #1 overall pick since 1965 and there are only THREE with career OPS over .900...Ken Griffey Jr, Arod and Chipper. And not a single pitcher with +20 wins over losses in his career...only a couple with 150 victories...maybe the best Andy Benes? Floyd Bannister? Seems like about once a decade you get a dream player. Seems just as likely to get him at #7 like Frank Thomas or, say Jake Peavey in the 15th round. This is interesting stuff. I'd be interested to know if there were more than 3 .900 OPS guys taken at other spots in the draft. I posted this in another thread last week, but may as well mention again as it's germane here. I looked at position players taken in the top 10 picks from 1977 to 2003. At the various slots, it ranged from 10 to 18 position players taken over that span. I looked solely at whether or not a player reached 3000 at bats in his career, and with younger players like Delmon Young, Nick Markakis, etc, I used my judgement and gave those players the benefit of the doubt that they'd reach 3000 (true, they might get injured, but whatever). Of those 10 draft slots, in 7 of them, the percentage of players that DID NOT reach 3000 at bats in their career was 50% - 70%. The #2 and #3 picks were both at 41% NOT reaching 3000 at bats. The number 1 pick however had just 11% not reaching at least 3000 at bats. Just 2 out of 18, and none since Shawn Abner was taken in 1984. Perhaps the guys who become superstars are randomly distributed among the top half of the first round of the draft. I don't know. There have certainly been a lot fewer complete busts at #1. There clearly has been a much higher percentage of guys who, even if they don't become superstars, manage to have a career of at very least 5 years, which is really quite rare among all of the players drafted. While not a superstar, a guy like Phil Nevin who manages to get 4000 plus at bats with an .815 OPS is actually very rare.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) I wish our players had half the intensity that Hunter plays with. A.J. intentionally stomped on the Indians third baseman who was on the ground in 2005 while coming around 3rd to score.

Anyone have a comprehensive list of the free agents that were signed last year/offseason? Obviously you can't judge the contracts after just one year. Off the top of my head though, the biggest $$ signings were the worst. bad Barry Zito- 4.56 ERA in the NL Vernon Wells .734 OPS Alfons Soriano- good numbers but injured at least a month good- the much less heralded signings Ted Lilly 3.89 ERA Gil Meche 3.85 ERA

......I was dead wrong.

I'm with DJ, since we're already leading, no pressure on Uribe and......

The "terrible" line-up is doing exactly what it was put in there for. Be left-handed. Get ass-ton of hits off Westbrook.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 2, 2007 -> 12:10 PM) Sure Hawk. they just showed it again, it wasn't close, worse than the one at Pods ankles

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 2, 2007 -> 11:58 AM) Hawk: You dont see Darin Erstad like that very often. After he takes a pitch down the cock for strike 3. Me: LOL That pitch was 9 feet outside

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 05:30 PM) Dodgers probably figure based on the starting pitching market a healthy Elo could be dealt in the off-season or they could always afford him in the rotation (when he's healthy he's more than serviceable, especially in the NL). He also is coming off of two very good starts and bottom line the Dodgers are desperate. This also tells me that the Sox could probably get someone do to a similar deal for Contreras (ie someone to pick him up) but Ken Williams is going to try and get something for him (as opposed to just completely letting him go for nothing..even though I still say addition by subtraction because having that payroll off the books is very valuable). Picking up 8 mil for Loiaza is different from 20 mil owed Contreras.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 11:45 PM) Hmmm the way he's playing in Philly he looks like a guy a team would want to sign for next year. Yet we just assume the cheap ass White Sox couldn't afford him. It would make sense for you to look at where the Sox rank in terms of payroll among the other teams. You are uninformed.

QUOTE(Yossarian @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 11:54 PM) Sorry I will never agree with just giving a player like Iguchi away. Also, Richar despite his two hits tonite looks like another horses*** White Sox "prospect" to me. Iguchi, if he stays healthy has a couple more productive years in him. I don't romanticize Rowan, or any other ex Sox player. The Sox got something for him. I know Iguchi started off bad, is at the end of his contract, blah blah blah. I still wanted more for him, and no amount of torture will change my mind. 2B looks like another gaping hole in the wall. You do realize that the baseball players play under "contracts," right? Iguchi's contract is up at the end of this year, and this year does not matter at all. Plus, plus, plus, and here's the thing- because he came over from Japan and has not been in MLB enough years, LOSING HIM TO FREE AGENCY DOES NOT GET US AN DRAFT PICKS IN COMPENSATION. As Kalapse said, there is absolutely no reason at all to keep Iguchi and major reasons to get rid of him- get a look at top prospect, Richar and have the Phillies pay the $1 million left this year owed to Iguchi.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 1, 2007 -> 11:37 AM) I haven't seen anything official on call ups, just speculation. I will be surprised if Bourgeois isn't added to the 40 man and called up, in my opinion they should give him a good long look. I would bet he is better than Andy Gonzalez at just about any aspect of the game. How is Bourgeois at the exact one aspect of the game that is the reason Gonzalez has been on the team- his ability to play every position on the field except catcher (though I understand he was the emergency catcher once Mack was traded). fun fact Gonzalez has more walks than Fields in 1/2 the plate appearances.