caulfield12

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 13, 2016 -> 06:19 AM) I think you've asked about that specific website before, and yes it is steaming garbage, and no claufield it is not comparable to nyt. I wasn't referring to quality...it's more filled with "conspiracy" type stuff. Just saying that no Republicans would put much stock in what the NY Times has to say in terms of its opinions or editorial board. There really isn't a direct "left wing" equivalent of a website aiming at the investor/business class audience yet really liberal in orientation. It's a much less competent and even more opinionated version of Forbes.

Not the best match-ups for the White Sox rivals. Minnesota for the Indians, Braves for the Royals...thankfully DET plays against the Orioles, hopefully you can stick a form in them early so we can start padding our victory total later in the year against them. Odds are we won't have a winning record against all four teams, but 14-5 or 15-4 against MN and maybe 13-6 against the Tigers would go a long ways to making the playoffs even with a .500 combined record against CLE/KC.

And to think, one of those election years, didn't Obama win North Carolina or come very close to turning it...2008?

Ynoa's control is about as predictable as Miguel Cleto's...well, maybe not THAT bad. But I wouldn't bet on it being Ynoa. Too inexperienced.

Fwiw, Rick Thurman is his agent.

Well, they have always been anti-Democratic Party, so if you consider the NY Times "fair" to Republicans or Fox News or Forbes fair to Democrats, lol...

FoxSports still reporting that same story...Giants/Angels/White Sox as the three finalists. Wonder what the benefit to the White Sox of "being involved" is if there's no legitimate interest? Is it really going to make a difference to drive up his price a couple of million for the Angels, who realistically only have a 10-15% chance at competing for a wild card spot?

Hawk has his favorites, for sure. I doubt he would have done that for a Gordon Beckham hitting .182 and the team 10 games under .500, but everyone has a right to get caught up in the excitement at least a little bit. It's a season and a needed fresh breeze compared to the past three seasons, and Frazier's been a huge part of changing that clubhouse environment and team "grittiness/grinderishness."

5 over CLE, 6 1/2 over KC, 7 1/2 over DETROIT High water mark for Sox was 6/7/8 after Monday. Cleveland's got a three game series in Minnesota, and we have Tanaka Sunday...so wouldn't be shocked to see the Indians pick up at least one game. Then again, the Twins have to beat SOMEONE this year. Yankees have won 5 of their last 7.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colum...512-column.html Kind of a fluff piece from Haugh, but worth reading if you're interested in what Sale does to prevent himself from getting injured and strengthen his frame.

Not completely the end of the Spurs' run...but getting close/r. Kudos to OKC for winning the series, especially on the road (twice). Billy Donovan seems to be doing just fine, but obviously that team is all about Durant and Westbrook feeding off each others' strengths. What happened, btw? J4L must have guaranteed the Spurs would win, right? For the sake of the NBA, it would be great to see OKC beat the Warriors and then the Cavaliers and then you'd have the offseason drama about where KD would end up...also willing to bet that the networks were pretty upset not to get a weekend Game 7 in this series, but so it goes. The unpredictability of sports.

This might be nearing the official end of the Tigers' ERA in the ALCD... Had a 5-0 lead at Balt with Pelfrey pitching his first decent game of the year and the bullpen's copied the White Sox fiasco in TX (granted, they're actually using their "best" relievers and still getting rocked). 7-5 Orioles going to the top of the 8th.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 12, 2016 -> 12:08 PM) trump's long-time personal butler seems insane, going so far as to call for the US military to assassinate Obama. Seems? Or just being intentionally inflammatory/race-baiting?

I doubt Ranaudo's being linked to the Lincecum signing (or not). If anything, they need another reliable arm or two in the bullpen. I guess we'll find out, depending on whether he's pushed into the Charlotte rotation. Right now they have Johnson, Turner, Volstad and Marin. Beck in AA might be bumped up again.

Calhoun will not come that cheaply... They will start by asking for, let's say, Adams and Hawkins (if they think they have a fix).

Lincecum TOPPED out at 92. He was consistently at 89-91, lowest fastball was 88.

Well, yeah...cursing out David Robertson for the "double blown" save when it was 95% caused by Jerry Sands was a bit much. The previous blown save, you had Navarro making an errant throw leading to that tying run. (Of course, you still have to pitch over them and I can't begin to count how many 2 out runs have scored against the Sox in the past couple of weeks). At any rate, there will always be some skepticism about the Sox ("mentally soft," "mental midgets") until they make the playoffs again. The word "choke" was thrown around a lot in 2012. Others would just argue the more talented team finally showed up when it counted and that the White Sox and their 11 rookie pitchers were gassed. But yeah, the cursing/expletives thing (look at me, I'm seeking attention just like the comments thread for a yahoo or TMZ article) has to go. At least try to provide SOME level of analysis or active reasoning/engagement.

I have to agree with Dick Allen (unfortunately) on this one. Look at the recent stories with Peyton Manning, Maria Sharapova and the same gambling/cheating allegations with Phil Mickelson (money laundering, etc.) The Tiger story was about bringing down and destroying a brand because that image was so carefully cultivated by Nike, by his agent/s with IMG, by his caddie (who conveniently now regrets protecting him, lol)....he was going to break Nicklaus' record, etc. Part of it has to do with the interracial nature of these situations, the fact that his wife was/is a model and the majority of the 100+ girls he was cheating with were white. The whole randomness of it, like the Perkins girl and Rachel Uchitel...a whole media industry was born from that original scandal and blossomed. And, as noted, that it ran completely contrary to his image (until that point) as a golfing robot who was always on message and frustratingly boring and focused. Of course, he never has won a major since that time and is unlikely now to ever be the same physically because of all the torque that swing put on his knees and back (and partially from bulking up with the weight lifting there for awhile). Jordan is bulletproof because 1) he always came across as more likable/popular than Tiger (or Kobe), 2) he was more media savvy, like Tiger, never one to offend any of his customers or utter anything remotely shocking or that could be construed as political advocacy (shared that with Tiger, whose dad made the famous comment he would make more of an impact off the course than Gandhi, which he did in a way with his sordid stories), 3) Dennis Rodman was successful at deflecting some of that media attention away by his utter craziness.

If you want more speed, Leury Garcia and Shuck are the best options. The problem is Garcia gives you the same positional versatility as Saladino/Sanchez (maybe can play OF more), but his bat doesn't play and he doesn't have the "automatic" basestealing ability of a Gore to just will himself into scoring position every time in the 8th or 9th inning as a PR. Plus, replacing outfielders in the late going defensively is not as much of a critical need this year, which is part of the reason why Shuck is probably in Charlotte instead of CHI. If your one tool is speed, it better to be ELITE speed, where it can be used as a weapon. Like if we had Billy Hamilton in that role coming off the bench, for example.

Why is it NOT a surprise this announcement comes from a Southern state? And to think, NC is supposed to be more progressive than the Deep South, what with all the transplants living in relatively cosmopolitan Charlotte.

That thing with May is a hard one to figure. Sure, he might be most comfortable down in the order, but it seems pointless in a 142 game schedule to give up an extra 75-100 plate appearances for him. Maybe they think it's best for his development, I don't know. Probably were he to ever start with the White Sox, he'd be exactly in that spot (the Austin Jackson one currently, when he's not hitting 2nd).

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ May 12, 2016 -> 02:11 PM) Don't get why the Cubs have to come up every other post here. Who cares? Because there's nothing inherently terrible/bad/negative with wanting to get better? What team is completely satisfied with where they're at...? I hate that argument, that we should just be contented and that looking for ways to improve and make the team even more competitive is a bad thing? Or even worse, that we're not supporting Sands/Carrol/Sanchez/Erik Johnson/Saladino if we're talking about trading or replacing them? It's kind of like that old axiom about "supporting the troops" but not in general being for war. Just because you're thinking of ways to get better doesn't mean you're a "bad" fan or whatever. Just like those folks who don't want to see war after war bristle when they're called "unpatriotic." There are always two sides to every coin.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ May 12, 2016 -> 12:03 PM) The Sox win and people want to get rid of players The Cubs are on track for a historical season and STILL talking about adding guys like Braun or Trout...or trading Soler to improve the team. That's not a bad thing to have high standards and want to improve a team or make it even stronger to get through the inevitable rough patches and stretch out a divisional lead. How many times have we heard "Well, our leaders Thome/Dye/Konerko got together with KW/Hahn and convinced him we have enough horses in the stable to win this thing..."? Of course, part of that's PR spin to convince the fans to buy in when money hasn't been spent in an attempt to improve the team. And you do have to give them credit, they did everything they could in 2012 with Liriano (flop), Myers (flop), Hudson (won a couple of games in the late innings but in general was toast) and Youkilis (great three weeks and then just couldn't hold it together health-wise)...2010, with Manny Ramirez, that was almost kind of insulting.

Pretty sure that's his way of also pointing out the ridiculousness of a 75 year old man in declining health being forced to report on the Frazier situation (wouldn't happen in Cubsland!) With all the money involved in professional baseball and broadcasting, they really can't afford one? I can understand the cutting back of beat reporters (especially on the road) because print media is dying out slowly but surely, but not having a CSN sideline reporter available during games is BS. If you look at the Red Sox, they have a "team" of reporters and their typical "sports babe/host." We don't need a three ring circus, but CSN should at least pretend like the White Sox matter as much as the Cubs, even if they don't (to the station).

Yes, but you're not taking into account the collapse of the 2006 team and then an abysmal 2007 team. That's why 2008 was down. They make the playoffs two years in a row, and at least win one series to get to the ALCS, then you don't see the combined effect of that huge dropoff. Unfortunately, the Tigers and Twins just blew right past us and we were gassed. Typically, teams see a five year window of benefit from a World Series title, and that's EXACTLY what happened with the White Sox. They had very strong but decreasing ticket sales because of the disappointment just mentioned and the up and down nature of the 2007 and 2009 seasons (remember the Rios flop that year, and replacing the popular Dye? Peavy was more hype/talk than reality, etc.) Sure, the 2008 season had a terrific/exciting finish, but it was marked by a declining team (injuries to key parts like Linebrink and especially Quentin and even then you had guys like Swisher and Cabrera scuffling/fighting with Ozzie) in the second half of that season just barely hanging on and literally surviving by the thinnest of margins...as compared to, let's say, the 2003, which clearly was more talented, or even 2004. It's not like the White Sox were playing "great" baseball for much of the latter half of those summer months. They were hanging in there, and Quentin was carrying the team offensively until he got hurt. And obviously they fell off from 2011 because the 2010 had a very strong 26-5 stretch in May/June before once again succumbing to the Twins in the end AND you had the excitement of Adam Dunn's signing, which obviously didn't last very long into 2011. What happens if the White Sox make the playoffs in 2006 or don't completely wet the bed in 2007? Then you sustain your season ticket base for a longer period of time and can much more easily ride out 2007 because your fans have experienced consecutive playoff seasons and it's easier to overlook. If they made the playoffs in 2010 instead of getting Twinned? (I know your argument will be that they supposedly got past that one with the Blackout Game, but...not really 100%) If they hadn't made the worst free agent signing in history and instead opted for Victor Martinez? If Carlos Quentin hadn't self-sabotaged the 2008 season, taking quite a bit of the excitement out of the playoffs, where it just felt inevitable we'd get rolled on the turf in Tampa? It's back to the same argument...there aren't very many teams out there that can successfully survive 7+ years of non-playoff baseball (with the last three being borderline terrible/unwatchable except for the presence of Sale/Eaton/Abreu) and still sustain their previous level of fan support. The ones that do are the exception to the rule.