caulfield12

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/42160142/v347...-by-ford-part-2 Well, at least Frank Thomas is still making some money, haha. I guess the JB guy is the agent from Million Dollar Arm? Nice segueway to Harrelson at the end.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 09:46 PM) So I should probably catch a game in Des Moines? Did they raise ticket prices at Iowa with all the top prospects they have there? More interesting than the major league club for the moment.

That comes back to the point of how much can you blame someone for being racist when they were inculcated with that trait by their parents and grandparents? It's not so simple. Or how much should African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans get blamed for dealing with the institutionalized racism over the last 200 years....reverse racism, somehow sociologists are usually quicker to defend those who are the victims of discrimination and prejudice...those with the power are blamed, etc. If you turn it into a religious argument, then we all know people who go to church every Sunday and tithe, and yet cheat on their wives or have never done any real volunteer/community project (faith without works is dead) of significance but perhaps they give a ton of money every year to the United Way or show up in the society pages at a non-profit fundraiser. Christians might say atheists are "bad" even if their motivations were 100% aligned with the "Golden Rule"/10 Commandments, etc. I'm not even sure that sometimes people are bad as much as the fact that trust has eroded over time. We don't trust picking up hitchhikers or accepting candy (even at Halloween) without thinking it has been poisoned. We've been taught to be skeptics, that our government or some nefarious group (Trilateral Commission, etc.) is out to control the world and screw over the middle class. There's no longer a sense that we're all in it together, rather the young are placed in opposition to the old (respect for elders is something you hardly ever see in the U.S., compared to China) and we're all broken down into demographic groups that seem to only unite for things like the Olympics, World Cup or 9/11 type of event.

And I wouldn't count on Hahn addressing the closer role going into 2015, either. In that conference call, he used the examples of Jim Johnson, Nathan and Frieri as being struggling or deposed closers on the 3 best teams in the AL. Further irony would be that the team leading the AL East dealt their closer, the Orioles, and it turned out to be a wise move. You're not going to see Hahn spend money on a Soria or Papelbon deal, or prospects for a Huston Street.

Trading Lindstrom? When is he going to be able to pitch for the first time? August? September? I guess someone might take a flier, like with the Crain situation, and hope for the best...but it's going to be a salary dump. Wonder why DeAza wasn't mentioned? He's playing arguably the best of all of our trade bait, other than Putnam and Petricka, if they're going to be included on the list.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 21, 2014 -> 10:34 AM) I really liked Boyhood. May resonate more with some than others. Seeing the predictable "okay but it WASN"T a masterpiece" reviews and "I wish it was something ELSE" reviews, because the only reason to watch something is to validate other peoples opinions of it. Linklater's dialogue of younger people has always been incredibly realistic. So few movies focus on kids, and if they do they are props for the adults. Or when they are main characters they are given adult dialogue. I liked it because he was effective in making me remember and feel what it was like at those points as a kid, but I could also appreciate in an adult lens again. It especially may hit home for those with single parents and remembering how "in it together" you were with them, which wears off when you move on from childhood. Those movies, when they're done well, like Stand By Me and Super 8 to a lesser extent...tend to resonate for much longer. Another one that hearkens back to childhood is The Tree of Life (Malick/Pitt/Chastain), but that one felt familiar more due to imagery/cinematography than any particular dialogue since my father was nothing like the Brad Pitt character.

So then the only way that would work is going the F.Garcia trade path...seeing if Price would be amenable to a "reasonable" contract extension as a condition of a possible trade. Obviously, if he wants to hit the FA market after 2015 and offer his services to 30 clubs, just depends on how serious he is in his public comments about being interested in coming to the Cubs.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:42 PM) Yeah but they have a huge payroll. Back in their peak from 1994-2002, the Indians had some pretty big payrolls as well...although the majority of them were pretty reasonable lock-ups of their younger players.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) To me, a monster trade of Baez and others (Almora, Vogelbach, P. Johnson) for David Price makes a lot of sense for both teams. Price has hinted he'd be interested in pitching for the Cubs, so an extension might work out. Who has been playing middle infield other than Zobrist for the Rays? TB is also looking into moving Desmond Jennings and possible Loney, so they could clearly use all the young offensive talent they can get. They might prefer Edwards to Johnson, although Baez/Almora/Edwards would be a huge price to pay...that might be the going market. Guess it depends on how the Cubs feel about Soler/Almora as well...if they value Soler's power at the corners or someone with speed/defense who can play CF. A lot of people think Alcantara could play CF. Then you have McKinney (A's trade), not sure what his best position is...but keeping Castro and moving Russell to 2B or vice-versa could be the solution.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:37 PM) The weaker hitters are always easier to pick when the rest of the lineup isn't doing anything. Today's game is just another example of the Royals owning the Sox. Taking a series just wasn't meant to be. You need to add the Tigers from 2006-2014 to your signature quote about the ALCD.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) He's been atrocious in the 7th and 8th spot. Moving him around to get him out of a funk is fine, especially when his only upside is trade bait. And also, nobody else hit today, so not sure Beckham was the issue. Except for Tyler's offensive show, haha.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:30 PM) Batting him in front of Abreu? I think it's a good idea for a guy to see more fastballs when he's in a slump. And he came into the game hitting .303 against Shields with 3 doubles and 2 dingers in 33 AB's. There is some exciting talent on this team but they are far outweighed by some very subpar talent. I can't lay all that on Robin, sorry. And I agree with your point about the mule. When Gordon struggles, that hitch in his swing we've been talking about for years becomes more pronounced and it's harder and harder for him to catch up with 93+ fastballs. He's more likely to get hot against a Bruce Chen type (although I think he was 2/30 coming into yesterday against him) than someone with higher-quality stuff like Shields or even Guthrie.

I guess we can send Viciedo/DeAza and Ramirez to the Mariners for Walker...and gamble he doesn't go down to injury. The M's have all kinds of offensive holes. Other than Cano and Seager, that lineup's a complete mess.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) Seattle losing again The dreaded "players only" meeting has worked for the first time in recent history. At least, it does when you're facing the White Sox. I think KC still has another good run in them. The problem is that Ventura hasn't been the same pitcher since that early-season valgus/elbow concern and skipped start. They're stuck in no man's land at this trade deadline.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) The Mariners aren't exactly in the market for a 2B. Not really..and they have Franklin playing 2B at AAA. But a trade along the lines of Borchard/Matt Thornton...we might as well include Mitchell so there are two first-rounders going, and, what the heck, K.Walker, so we can clear the decks on 3 drafts.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) With Rizzo quickly turning into a superstar, the Cubs offensive potential in a few years is scary. If they were smart, they'd keep Alcantara at 2nd and keep Baez at SS and then trade him for a young pitcher. Trade Baez or Castro? The problem with that strategy is that teams will want to see proof that Javier can play SS at the major league level...because there are lots of LOUD whispers and concerns about his defense. He's still valuable from a trade standpoint at 2B, but not like if he could stick at SS. That's why you have the Cubs preparing to move Alcantara all over the field, CF, 3B, LF, etc.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 03:15 PM) I'm all for Semien or Sanchez getting at bats once the deadline hits. Beckham has played himself into a DFA candidate. Except it's the White Sox and Gordon is still a fan favorite to little kids, so they won't do that in all likelihood. It will be something like Beckham for Smoak/Montero/Ackley to attempt to save face for both organizations.

This trade deadline sucks....when Alejandro DeAza after the way he started this year has arguably the most trade value (after Alexei). It's pretty pathetic when the only thing to be excited about for 2 months other than Rodon/Sale/Quintana/Eaton is whether we'll finally be able to get rid of Adam Dunn and who will be the starting SS in 2015. Fwiw, it's still way too early for Micah Johnson. He needs to stay at Charlotte until the end of August, then you can give him some spot starts and PR/PH duties in September just to get his feet wet. You can let Saladino/Semien/C.Sanchez take most of those starts...with Leury mixed in if you still feel he has a future with the organization in the face of all those similar players coming up behind him.

Dunn now with 9 K's in 12 career AB's against Holland. HA. Just go away and leave the White Sox in peace.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 02:57 PM) Horrible technique by Flowers. Everyone else did their job, great pitching great throw, s*** job by the catcher who is covered in body armor. Not so sure about that today. DJ now saying you can't expect Putnam to lock down the opponents every game, haha.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 02:57 PM) Horrible technique by Flowers. Everyone else did their job, great pitching great throw, s*** job by the catcher who is covered in body armor. DJ and Farmer are blaming it on the fact that catchers can't block the plate anymore...although the replay of course showed that it was simply knocked out of the glove by the knee of Moustakas. Rongey will probably stick with that excuse for Tyler, though.

Of course. Eaton throws him out by five feet and the knee knocks the ball out of Flowers' glove. Hahn better do something about the bullpen and catching situation heading into 2015 or they're going to have 1.25 million for attendance.

Guess first-pitch hunting is the book on Davis... Beckham, sheesh. Has he ever been this bad? Surprised he's not getting booed by now. Just walk Abreu. Wade Davis channeling Cliff Politte 2005.

Why wasn't Ramirez at the bag? Could have had the DP...but Beckham couldn't go to 2nd. Ramirez was shifted too far away from the bag for Perez? Surkamp vs. Ibanez. Uh-oh. Sox baseball this year means a 150ish hitter will get a clutch RBI in the late innings against our relievers. Wow, it actually worked...

What the heck is going on with Beckham? Hosmer is seemingly hurt...guess Yost wanted Ventura to bring in Surkamp but they didn't bite, so Butler PH. Belisario creating his own jam. What else is new? Sox-killer Salvador Perez, of course.