bigruss

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 03:40 PM) Interesting reading that some of the big Illini boosters want to get Weber canned after this season. That would be a brilliant move by the Illini, as they could get some good candidates and recruiting will go nowhere but up as long as Howard stays. After this season I really cant argue against having Weber be fired. It's up to the players to perform, but the fact is the team hasn't done really anything impressive since the title run. Since that season they haven't won the conference, haven't made the sweet 16, and have missed the Tourney twice. To me, that's unacceptable for the program. I don't view them as elite, but they are a top program and should be in the tournament every year (with the occasional exemption due to injury or something along those lines). They also shouldn't just be making the tourney, they have to do better than just winning one game and that's it.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 03:22 PM) Catcher: Matt Wieters First Base: Derrek Lee Second Base: Brian Roberts Third Base: Mark Reynolds Shortstop: J.J. Hardy/Cesar Izturis Left Field: Luke Scott/Felix Pie Center Field: Adam Jones Right Field:Nick Markakis Designated Hitter: Vlad Not a bad lineup if they get production from some underacheivers like Hardy. They may be a team that scores a ton of runs...but they'll need to. Not a good rotation at all. They HAVE to go after one of the remaining FA starters like Bonderman, Millwood or even take a flyer on Sheets. I would have about as little faith of one of those guys being as good as their young SP prospects.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 04:43 PM) I gave his Wikipedia page a quick read. It mentioned that the other players didn't like that he high-fived some fans on his way back into the field after hitting a big home run, and that it caused some of the veterans to give him s*** for it. Sounds pretty weak to me. From what I remember of that story the kid just looked pumped after that HR. It looked like it was all in good fun but you know how some traditionalists take things sometimes (and Im more baseball traditional when it comes to actions too, but the whole situation looked harmless on the field).

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 02:39 PM) is there room for Stealth Elf, Omar and a 4th OF? Lilly is what he is but at least he can back up IF and OF. I hope the Sox realize that no matter the amount of positions you can play, if you suck you hurt the team while youre on the field.

Love these types of moves. Great job KW and co.

QUOTE (kevo880 @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 05:38 PM) It was incredible the amount of tigers fans that came out of the woodwork when they started doing well in '06. It was hard to cheer for maggs at that point even though he was one of my favorite players when he played for the sox. Yup. Most Michigan fans are really big bandwagoners, when the Pistons were on their run they were the talk of the town, they fall out of contention and nobody even aligns with them anymore. Same with the Tigers, they start winning and suddenly everyone is acting like theyve been a fan their whole lives, but when they sucked no one really ever claimed to be Tiger fan. Of course you have the die hard fans here and there, but it was unusual to find a Tigers fan before 2006. The only pro team the city really supports through thick and thin that I have seen is the Lions. They pack Ford Field pretty much every week, and those fans are always overly optimistic.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 10:40 PM) Did you live there during the WS? Cuz I only remember meeting 2 sox fans while I lived in Ann Arbor, and I met them both during the 2005 WS in the place that's on top of Good Time Charlie's. Yea, I lived there 8th grade through high school through 2008. So I was a sophomore when they won the WS, I was the only Sox fan that I encountered in Ann Arbor, but then again I wasnt going to bars to watch the games. There were actually a few Astros fans lol. The worst was 2006 when the Tigers became good again, talk about bandwagon fans. And some of the dumbest fans out there too, went to a few games at Comerica and every pop up all the fans thought it was a HR, even on ones that didn't leave the infield.

Snow? What snow? So glad Im away thesee 4 months and dont ahve to worry about this craziness.

QUOTE (kevo880 @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 04:21 PM) My hometown is St. Joe in southwest MI and went to college at Western in Kalamazoo. In southwest MI it's mostly cubs fans with Sox and Tigers fans being the minority. I live in Denver now and see Sox hats on a weekly basis. Unfortunately I was in Southeastern MI, in Ann Arbor. I was one of 2 Sox fans that I met (Im sure there were a few studnets at UMich that came from CHicago and were Sox fans) but 99% were Tiger fans or Cubs fans. Gross.

This thread is slacking! CLubs in Europe are fantastic, along with the girls.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 01:59 PM) I don't think you understand quite how much the cold weather saps intellectual knowledge. I was actually going to attend Harvard until I had to shovel snow 5 times a week in North Dakota. Then I ended up going to school in South Dakota. Not to get off topic, but Wite do you know anything about Black Hills State College? My friend just decided a few months ago to transfer there (he wants to work outside and was interested in their Park Ranger program).

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 02:02 PM) Which of these guys do we think might be best out of the bullpen, since that's their ultimate destination (that, or DFA I guess)? I'm thinking Bondo, maybe? Stay away from Bonderman, his arm is falling off along with his mental state.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 12:17 PM) That must be nice. No luck in your situation? What did the professionals have to say?

When I was in Michigan it was practically empty of Sox fans.

330 am here and cant sleep. I hate getting dead tired at 9pm, starting to get ready for bed a bit after that, and by 1130 wide awake again.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 30, 2011 -> 02:49 PM) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8913084255008000794# a clip of what goes on at Microsoft meetings. that's the CEO giving an inspirational speech. That is one sweaty dude.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 29, 2011 -> 11:25 AM) My family constantly winds up at the Blue Chip and the Four Winds. The Blue Chip was very nice on the hotel part. The Casino Floor at the Four Winds was absolutely ridiculous; that was like 3 Vegas Casinos stitched together. Oh, and in the summer, you can get to Redamak's easily from either. I hate you for bringing that up now.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 10:03 PM) I'd like this code. Thanks in advance. Here you go!

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 09:18 AM) I thought he was terrific in an atypical role in Stranger than Fiction.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 06:35 PM) White Sox ZiPS projections are out: http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/...cago_white_sox/ Im confused, why does he have Escobar getting over 600 ABs, or am I not reading this projection in the right context. He also has Jon Adkins pitching for us, did we really sign him?

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 02:56 PM) If you're in Warsaw hit me up on a PM, I'll have a beer with ya. Oh sweet, definitely will do if we end up there!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 01:46 PM) In 2014? I guess. Alexei is already 29, so he would be up there in age.

I have a code for 10% off American Airlines: Let me know on here if you want the code.

You can easily walk on that injury, most people can walk relatively easily on a torn ACL. You just have to be careful and dont have as much mobility though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 02:07 PM) I really want to see Pompei and Herculanium. Saw Pompei, and it was fantastic. Very very cool place to see. It's amazing how well preserved some things are there. It's also amazing how short Romans were judging by the size of the doors and buildings. If you go down to the Pompei/Naples area, you have to spend atleast a few days on Capri, one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been.