caulfield12

Volstad the next to go or Bummer to get more work in Charlotte?

0/6 2 k’s, bb

But Madrigal came back from injury and hit .406!!! In all seriousness, is anyone watching on MILB or watching live and can give some feedback about how he’s looked defensively and his running times to 1st base?

Not according to Rabbit’s “gender fluidity” definition....

Bust. Cut him. Get back the $63 million. Robert, have a feeling, is going to be really streaky this season...at least he’s making contact.

Apparently the Trump White House has the paperwork in place to pardon “dozens” of people...headline chyron. source: CNN.com

He seems right now like the kind of hitter you’d predict 8-12 homers per year....and not be surprised five years from now when it’s closer to 15ish, especially playing 81 home games at Guaranteed Rate Field where a lot of his homers would just barely clear the fence (whereas in Minny, Det or KC, loud outs.)

Hard to say how much of that is chaos with Greitens scandal and/or Hawley seemingly running a terrible/non-existent or overconfident campaign up until this point in time...but yeah, in general, the “Show Me” signals keep trending blue overall. Here are Howard Schultz’s credentials (should he pursue higher office)...must be putting out feelers since national reporters are starting to at least consider it a possibility https://finance.yahoo.com/news/howard-schultz-runs-president-credentials-212211806.html Schultz was a confidante of Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, and private advice he gave to the candidate leaked when hackers published hundreds of emails from the account of John Podesta, who was chairman of Clinton’s campaign. “The campaign feels ‘yesterday,’” Schultz wrote in one email to a top Clinton aide. “It’s too packaged and prescribed. … Her inner circle and the powers to be need to … understand how brands (and she is a brand) in the world we now live in are built. It requires a vision for the future that is steeped in truth and authenticity and builds an enduring emotional connection with the voters.” In another email, Schultz wrote to a Clinton aide, “We are seeing a seismic shift in consumer behavior and in the attitudes of the American people. We’ve seen it … in our core Starbucks business … and, it certainly is acutely present in this political presidential primary season.” How right he was. Now he must decide whether to do something about it.

Can’t be any worse than our last Univ. Of Arkansas pitching stud, Danny Wright...

I think Hahn is smart enough to know that they need to start adding a BIT on the periphery (bullpen is ONE place to start....not a closer like Robertson was in 2014, but a couple of middle relievers to replace Nate Jones) because we should have almost zero confidence that either Giolito or Fulmer is suitable for that role. Gio COULD do it...but certainly not with the worst walk rate in MLB. We keep listing all of these guys like Fulmer, Guerrero, Adams, Stephens...and just ASSUME they can fill important pen roles, but almost every playoff-contending team has had to rely on a few veterans (see 2008 Rays) to put them over the top (and also for leadership/“been there, done that” purposes.) Fry SEEMS like he COULD be a guy...but it’s STILL way too early. Same with Bummer. Probably you get 1 of 2 to stand the test of time. There’s still a lot to heavy lifting to do for about 5 spots, not really being concerned with the long-man/swing role as much until 2020. Hamilton looks like he has a good shot to make it, but that’s still 3. Burdi would be another. One will the the closer, added after 2019 unless they feel the set of options available this offseason (Britton, Kimbrel, Miller, Herrera) makes it worth pursuing sooner rather than later. So I’d love to sign TWO non closers AND/OR the right closer depending on going market costs in February/March 2019. I’m also not going to assume someone like Bruce Rondon or Vieira makes it...for every Kahnle/Swarzak we’ve come up with from the scrap heap, we’ve probably gone through 8-10 guys for every big reclamation project payout.

They’re going to have to start adding EACH offseason begin with this one...putting all of the focus on now waiting for Arenado and the 2019 class, when 2 of the Top 5-6 big market clubs are going to exhaust the majority of their FA spending pools on Machado and Harper would be pretty dumb. There were so many bargains available that a team close to contending (like the Twins or M’s this year) could have gotten over the top...but, of course, it would have required the RIGHT set of FA moves, which the White Sox have been unable to come up with now for nearly a decade (hitting on a majority of their $5+ million/multi-year acquisitions).

They both have “infectious” personalities? Except Madrigal is always dead serious about winning, unlike, say, Melky Cabrera.

Maybe if you take away the $35-45 million the White Sox have been getting from 2016 - present for generating such low attendance/gate revenue? (Either way you penalize someone, it’s going to be disproportionately more (or less) of an impact for mid-market vs. large/r market teams. Now, as far as what’s “IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BASEBALL.” Well, you can argue that MLB is more successful financially (ratings/sponsorships) when the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, etc., are in the World Series or at least the ALCS/NLCS. (You might even argue baseball would be better off having the Yankees and Red Sox in separate divisions or leagues, but that’s an argument for another day, like the DH). It’s the same argument going on currently about the NBA, with even this year’s obvious mismatch basically drawing the same ratings/market share as the 2017 beatdown in 5 games. People love to watch historic franchises, superstars and/or budding dynasties. Even teams like the Giants and Cardinals, certainly the Astros or Royals...just don’t register on a national basis. They’re regional alliances...whereas the four I listed are all “nationalized” fanbases. I bet only about 3-5% of baseball fans could even name the 2005 White Sox as the World Series champions that particular year. Finally, you MIGHT be able to argue for the Angels being #5 now that they have Ohtani and Trout, but those two superstars might be enough to have pushed them over into this special status. I do think if you started pulling revenue/tv/gate revenue sharing, you’d see franchise like the A’s, Rays, Marlins and potentially Pittsburgh (under present ownership) forced to either move to other markets or sell to deeper-pocked, more long-term oriented ownership groups. Manfred has already been pushing for at least one team in Mexico and going back to Canada (Montreal, probably).

The difference is that he can bunt a LOT better (great, I bet everyone’s saying to themselves, unless Renteria’s still around) than Yolmer, has much better flat out straight ahead speed for stealing bases. For OSU, he often calls pick-offs on the infield before the manager/coaches notices what is going on....he also calls a lot of the mound visits, pep talks for pitchers. He’s like another coach on the field...and I think his enthusiasm/work ethic/seriousness about the game will rub off on other more physically gifted players like Moncada, Anderson and Luis Robert. Throws to the right places, hits to the opposite side to advance runners or dials up XB power, always is looking for just the slightest bobble so he can take the extra base when he reaches. Like Omar Vizquel, he’ll make the entire infield better from a defensive standpoint. I know we heard in 2008 that Gordon Beckham was going to be the Jeter of the White Sox and the face of the franchise, but Madrigal represents what it means to be a White Sox fan. Always the underdog, always undersized, having to prove himself to doubters....blue collar work ethic. The only thing those two have in common are uncertainties about their eventual defensive positions and being the best collegiate draft classes (although some argue that even as a HS senior, Madrigal was the best pure hitter but MLB teams were afraid to draft him too high because they hadn’t seen what guys like Betts and Altuve could do...how good they were going to eventually be.) Between him, Anderson and Abreu (for now), you’ve gotta 3 different types of leaders...and Shields for the pitching staff, although he won’t be around too much longer. He also noted for how his teammates have to drag him away from young fans clamoring for autographs because he’ll stay and sign for everyone if they let him. That’s rare in this day of “what’s in it for me/me first” type of players. A throwback, old school type like Nellie Fox or Bill Mazeroski.

Through 2023 is either 3 or 4 years in the Sox competitive window for Moncada.... Abreu and Rodon are big ?’s.

District 10 (CA) Looks like the only race where the Dems COULD (eventually) be locked out of the general because of too many running against each other in the primary... Republican Jeff Denham is running for reelection in this district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democrat Michael Eggman lost to Denham in 2014 and 2016; five other Democrats, including investor Josh Harder, entered the race. Candidate Votes Pct. Jeff Denham* (R) 22,272 38.0% Josh Harder (D) 9,014 15.4% Ted Howze (R) 8,406 14.3% Michael Eggman (D) 6,290 10.7% Virginia Madueno (D) 5,326 9.1% Sue Zwahlen (D) 5,256 9.0% Mike Barkley (D) 1,473 2.5% Dotty Nygard (D) 567 1.0% *Incumbent 70.6% of precincts reporting

Ultimately, you SHOULD have Luis Robert and Madrigal battling it out over the next two years for "top prospect." Jimenez will be #1 going into next year. Kopech MIGHT be graduated...we shall see. Then you have Collins, Cease, Hansen and Dunning somewhere in that next grouping or tier. And then the survivor/s of the Adolfo/Rutherford/Basabe/L.Gonzalez OF battle/s in the next tier, alongside Burdi.

Somehow I'm not surprised Rep. Steve King is getting almost 75% of the votes in his IA district primary. For the time being, California Districts 39, 48 and 49 APPEAR like they won't have Democrats locked out. That Paul Kerr who spent over $5 million attacking fellow Dems is at roughly 5%. Talk about a waste of money... I assume you're referring to D'Alessandro? Yeah, you'd think with One Revolution's/Sanders 2016 Mailing Lists, he'd be able to do MUCH better than that. I hate to judge candidates on appearance, but he's right out of Chris Christie Casting Central. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/04/25/democrat-pete-dalessandro-exploring-congressional-run-iowas-3rd-district/306376001/ As to your final point about "sharing" success...I think you might be onto something there. I will never admit this to Greg, but I actually watched a Christian movie called "I Can Only Imagine" about the origin of that song and the story of the group MercyMe (particularly lead singer/songwriter Brad Millard) and there's this powerful scene where Amy Grant is about to take his song and debut it in Nashville and she changes her mind at the last second and invites him to come up on stage and perform in front of a huge audience (because it's his story, a personal one about his father). That's what has to happen here as well, politically speaking. Sanders and Elizabeth Warren need to pass the torch on to SOMEONE on the progressive side...because neither one of them alone can carry it and win the Democratic nomination. Most importantly, the future will be about technology and how it affects American workers...we need YOUNG/ER leaders who really understand how tech works, about the arguments for and against Universal Basic Income, who can speak intelligently to Silicon Valley leaders about AI/AR/VR/robotics and (specifically) about how to address the needs of Millennials. Simply being much more palatable than a centrist/moderate in HRC doesn't mean you can win a general election unless you offer "REALISTIC" opportunities but not "FREE GIVEAWAYS" because investing in the country wins an election...but WASTING precious resources on BLAH/ILLEGAL people is going to be a position that the Dems have to fight back against (that particular GOP branding) and counter-punch hard.

Well, obviously Obama put himself on the map with that Democratic Convention speech (Purple States, not blue and red ones)...he had his autobiography out there, I remember distinctly thinking when he was in Kansas City in 2006 helping McCaskill out that HE WAS THE ONE. Don't have that sense that there's an "anointed" guy on the Dem side yet, kind of like Rubio was SUPPOSED to be on the GOP list coming into the last election cycle. It FELT like one of Gillibrand/Booker/Harris was being forced into that role, but they haven't fully earned it quite yet. FWIW, I pay attention to Loebsack and Bustos, being from the Quad Cities originally...but no so much what happen west of Des Moines (unless it's Hawkeye FB/BB recruiting).

Haven't heard as much talk recently about focusing on sinker ball pitchers with high K rates for those 81 home games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Right now, the Democrats don't have ANYONE that could beat Trump...other than POSSIBLY Biden. Even then, it wouldn't be a slam dunk with how close the generic Congressional ballot is, under 4% from what used to be a lead well in the mid-teens. I don't think Schultz can win simply because 1) he hasn't even decided to run (for anything, officially), and 2) the Trump baggage of billionaire/businessman/politically-inexperienced mixed with "politically correct/socially conscious at the cost of profits" will be a turnoff to enough people he won't actually stand a chance. But I think having more "WELLSTONE-IAN" voices like Sanders, Schultz, Sherrod Brown, wherever they come from...is probably a good thing for the party.

Muhammad Ali? Arthur Ashe? Billie Jean King? Lebron James?

Arrieta "peavy-ied" the Phillies to a series-opening victory over the Cubs...

2001-2010, with the exceptions in 2005 and 2008 Like whenever we had to play at Anaheim or Oakland in that same era...or Toronto. At any rate, without the Blackout Game and the last week of that regular season, make-up game against DET, some of us might still be haunted.....if not for the fact the Twins started to suck so bad in their new stadium and the other three AL Central teams fielded much better teams.

Fernando Tatis Jr. was named a Minor League Player of the Month after producing a 1.054 OPS in May. The Padres prospect tries to stay hot for San Antonio tonight against Midland.