caulfield12

Lackey's ERA is creeping up near 5. Can the Cubs last the season without making one major pitching move, or they are simply content to add a Holland/Gonzalez/Shields/Pelfrey veteran rental to get them into the playoffs? Unfortunate/ly they won the WS last year, or there would be more pressure on Epstein this season. And Jose Abreu proving ONCE AGAIN that he doesn't belong at 1B. SIGH. How much longer can this go on?

Greinke starting out at his typical 91-92 MPH early game velocity. Sanchez K's. And Melky as well now. Gets Abreu to commit to the slider, that was fast, only 9 pitches. Not an ideal start against Greinke. Can't let him settle down and get comfortable. Four REALLY dangerous hitters (2-5) in the DBacks' line-up and lot of garbage. Team looks a lot different with Pollock in there as well.

Looks like the Twins will be in 1st place by 1 game after tonight. Big game for Kepler. Anyone think the Yankees are a bit premature installing a "Judge's Chambers" seating section? Won't Gary Sanchez feel snubbed, lol? It's also too bad Matt Davidson isn't playing...hopefully he gets at least one start at 3B or 1B against his former team. Maybe WED day game? Can't remember if Corbin's LH or not. He's going tmrw. Did they announce a starter to replace T.Walker on WED?

Might have to rethink that speech from Sunday in Saudi Arabia... http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option...p;jumival=19149 WARFARE STATE AT WAR WITH TRUMP: So much for Trump/Mattis/McMaster planned war against Iran (or North Korea) It's a lack of I think willingness perhaps to understand the history of what are these intelligence agencies about, and their jobs are and they're run by people whose jobs are to lie. To me, that's an important context for this whole thing about Trump and Russia and foreign policy. One other thing I'd add to this, Paul, is that I fear that quite often we on the left can fall into the media propagandaed idea that it's black or white, a binary, it's either/or, and it can be both. There can these intelligence agencies that want to get rid of Trump for nefarious reasons to perpetuate or fulfill their warfare state agenda, and it's also true that Trump lies methodically and he is incredibly greedy. He's with other people incredible greedy, and they want to perpetuate their accumulation of wealth, and they're willing to do that, and they have no respect for democracy. In other words, I mean the CIA might be framing a guilty man so to speak. Paul Jay: Before we started the interview, we were chatting off camera. We're saying we should look at this whole Comey fight and the Trump war with the warfare state. Look at it not from the point of view of one section of the elite or the other, because there's obviously a great number of fractures amongst the elites. A lot of them are at each other's throats. Through the media and otherwise they would like the people to pick one of the sides of these elites and support them. We're saying well let's look at it from the point of view of the people, what's in the people's interest as opposed to one faction of the elite or the other.

Arrow pointing up Luis Robert, Moncada, Kopech, Lopez, Hansen, Burdi, Micker Adolfo, Dunning (for now, although that could change) Hold/maintain Collins, Fulmer, Adams, Fisher Reasons for concern/incomplete Giolito, Basabe, Jordan Stephens, Trey M., Call, Peter

http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/...hames-hot-start One of the many articles detailing Thames' adjustments/changes in approach...the crazy thing is how the Brewers have stayed in this race while Thames wasn't doing anything and Braun was out. As for Avi vs. Thames, to me a lot depends on Avi's eventually defensive position or whether he ends up at DH. And how that affects him psychologically, rather than being involved in the game every inning. You get the sense he has a ton of energy and needs to be out in the field. How much is the five year age difference worth going forward?

The AHCA cuts Medicaid by $880 billion....is that $1.4 trillion separate cuts or inclusive of the proposed AHCA changes? Still waiting for the revised CBO score this WED. That will be a lovely headline for the GOP to deal with while Trump's out of the country. McConnell better be ready. Ryan, too.

LIFE was a nifty little sci-fi flick, albeit derivative and 95% predictable. At least more entertaining than I expected. Has an unusual twist/ending for those who haven't seen it, at least for typical Hollywood fare. Solid casting, too. Kind of a mixture of Gravity and Aliens.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ May 22, 2017 -> 06:52 PM) How rare is a 60 FV hit tool? Moncada is supposed to be the best talent on the planet that isn't in MLB, and his hit tool grades out 55 FV. A scouting director said Robert is the best player on the planet, and his hit tool grades out 55 FV. Just once I'd like to see a White Sox hitting prospect graded with a 60+ FV hit tool. Hostetler, lol? Would love to get a name to that comment. No more anonymous sources. Unmask the leakers!!! (Just joking.)

Any links to terrorism (as of yet)? The Bataclan in Paris was the first thing that immediately came to mind...or when Russian troops had to storm a huge Moscow theatre with massive loss of life in that one. Between Kim Jong Eun missile launches on a weekly basis and this, bi-weekly attacks in Europe, it seems the world is going off the rails (the Greg775 perception, at least). So much for BREXIT keeping people safe, will be the argument if this turns out to be terrorism-related.

Someone needs to ask his translator about that Instagram "hat switch" the last 12 hours before he signed...if it was intentional or not, the agent's (Mercedes) idea, etc. Reminiscent of one of those college signing day deals where he shows up with a Cardinals hat on and pisses off one fanbase completely, like Michigan and OSU recruiting wars.

Is this the first time Leury has ever hit 6th in the line-up? Seems a strange place for him.

Hard to imagine Handel winning...it's largely a referendum on the past two weeks for Trump, sliding poll numbers nationally and antipathy to the AHCA that Price was the architect of, along with Ryan. Btw, if we listed all the lawsuits against Trump, subpoenas, newspaper FOIA requests, injunctions...SoxTalk would simply implode due to all the character space it would require.

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ May 22, 2017 -> 03:13 PM) Why would the White Sox do this? So you believe Avi has better value (or more worth) than Eric Thames as of today? (The reason I brought this up is we don't have 2013-2016 to use as evidence with Thames that he's below replacement level value like we do with Avi...and obviously watched many of Avi's plate appearances that whole time as well.) I just think it would be interesting to bet from this point onward who has the most MLB homers between the two. Avi's age would seem to give him the advantage, but it's not a slam dunk by any stretch of the imagination.

What should the official protestors' stance be towards the KKK and Nazism? Peaceful accommodation? Ignore them? Why can't we all just get along shrugs? Join their groups as informants/infiltrators? Fight the Aryan Brotherhood networks from inside a prison?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 22, 2017 -> 03:35 PM) I see you personally advocating for violence on a regular basis. Should everyone ignore you? When/where did he do that?

Let's imagine someone is Catholic. The local diocese supports the GOP candidate who is adamantly for the death penalty...a "hawkish" advocate of stronger military/defense spending...and takes Pence-like positions on gay rights or women in the priesthood. Does that make me a traitor to vote for the Dems because of everything Jesus said in the New Testament that was diametricallly opposed to those public policy positions which are largely being overlooked because of the singular pro life/abortion is murder stance? Lots of contradictions there. Wouldn't Jesus be 100% against Trump's new budget priorities and strongly opposed to all the draconian cuts being planned for social programs, especially the ones directly affecting children? What about the directives to care for the poor, the sick or diseased, the meekest among society? But but but....The Old Testament!!! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Not he who is without sin may cast the first stone. Greg, you should protest the Catholic Church because Pope Francis sounds more like Noam Chomsky or George Soros than Pope John Paul 2.

Would the Brewers trade Thames for Avi, and vice versa? Both essentially have three year deals, including 2017. $15 million/3 years is cheaper than we'll end up paying Avi if this continues. Thames is already 30 but LH. Which one is more likely to have "figured things out?" Already subject of PEDs rumors from the Cubs.

Uh-oh.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 22, 2017 -> 09:35 AM) You forgot Claudell Washington and Chet Lemon. Lyle Mouton...

QUOTE (ptatc @ May 22, 2017 -> 09:40 AM) I don't think anyone rated his power above minimal. He shouldn't be on the list. The power of God!!! He does leadership/corporate seminars and training for the LDS Church/BYU out in Utah now.

Victor Mesa will sign for $300k just to play with Moncada, Abreu and Robert...then sign a huge extension like Tim Anderson. Well, one can certainly dream a few Cubans are pulled to the Sox in the same way every veteran bench player wants to go to the Cavs and Warriors.

Supposed five tool Sox outfielders Darryl Boston Mike Cameron Kenny Williams Sammy Sosa Jimmy Hurst Chris Young Brian Anderson McKay Christensen Shawn Lil Abner Anthony Webster

QUOTE (bmags @ May 22, 2017 -> 09:00 AM) For time to first, may have the Tim Anderson problem where he just gets out of box really slow but then has great ability to stretch for another base when he gets to full speed. Well, that's not unusual for a 6'3" guy out of the RH box who might still be growing. Difference between first step quickness getting jumps and stealing bases...and then flat out sprinting speed on a track from yards 30-60. That's where Avi Garcia gets his five tool readings, especially now that his weight is lower. Or same reason Saladino was supposedly the fastest base runner in different readings.

Found him. CFer Ben Badler says is even better than Luis Robert. At least statistically, Robert outhit. 1. Victor Mesa • of, Cuba • Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Listed as the top prospect at the 2017 WBC. The son of Victor Mesa, the former Cuban baseball star who used to manage the Cuban national team, Mesa is the most exciting young prospect in Cuba. A 20-year-old coming off a breakthrough Serie Nacional season in which he hit .354/.399/.539 in 70 games, Mesa is a plus-plus runner who led the league with 40 stolen bases in 50 attempts and plays outstanding defense in center field with a strong arm. He would be a high first-round pick if he were in the draft. Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...uH4W1vrD7ZyA.99