caulfield12

Would never have predicted that Gillaspie, Ramirez and Flowers would be our three most dangerous hitters the first week. Abreu started off white hot and needs to get it going again, same with DeAza and Eaton. Garcia's just lost. At least Semien looks better and better, more comfortable.

And you're not going to win if you don't score at Coors Field, anyway.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 07:36 PM) The Colorado feed on the baseball package refers to Paulino's pitches as "batting practice fastballs". If 94-95 is BP speed. Probably, he means the location and movement aren't good, because that's well above average velocity for a starter.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 07:35 PM) This board loved Paulino....for reasons unknown to anyone. Well, if Johnson has another bad start, everyone will asking for him to be sent down or traded, lol. Especially if he's only at 88-91 MPH. No wonder Daniel Hudson didn't last long. At least back then, there were realistic playoff aspirations. Do we really want more Dylan Axelrod or Terry Doyle?

If we're looking for Hanson to be better than Paulino, we might as well bring back Mulder for 2015.

Not the best time for a hanging slider. At 95 with the fastball.

Is there any chance Jackson could be persuaded to go back to catching or he's 100% OF/DH/1B material right now? Has anyone actually seen him play? How athletic is he, in terms of playing the outfield? Comps? Are we talking Brandon Inge?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 05:20 PM) Knowledge and rehabilitation from shoulder injuries has improved over the past few years with the caveat that expectations be tempered. Prior to Santana re-destroying his shoulder, likely thanks a lot to his 150 pitch no hitter, was pitching very well, Danks looks much improved, Chien-Ming Wang has bounced around and could probably stick as a #5 with some team. This is a perfect worthwhile gamble. I think you just doomed Edwin Jackson and Verlander. On second thought, the Cubs might be happier with the insurance payouts and moving on.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/03/14/true-detective-meaning/ Divining meaning/intent/artistic deconstruction in the themes of True Detective, pop culture and how we tend to view modern t.v. programs. Interesting stuff, particularly for T.D. fans. This show has been very polarizing, with a wide array of opinions on how good it actually is...what it is, and what it's not.

Nymphomaniac Part I by Lars Von Trier was a lot more thought provoking and less "pornographic" than it has been made out to be. Staarsgkard was the highlight for me with his style...a bit jarring when you see Christian Slater or Uma Thurman or Shia LeBouf but the story doesn't revolve around them, they're all bit roles. Curious now to see what happens in Part II. Any rumination on morality, the double standard between "promiscuous" men and women, of how we judge others as well as ourselves...it's a worthwhile topic, although certainly not a mainstream one. I'm not even a fisherman, but I enjoyed tying in the analogy of picking up members of the opposite sex to fly fishing, haha.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 04:57 PM) Wish we could package Beckham for some pitching If we're lucky, it's a relief guy...with Webb upside but a couple of years away. We're not likely to get a major league ready pitcher unless Beckham just tears it up for 2 months...in which case they might decide to hold onto him and put Semien at SS, because the rest of the league wouldn't be ready to give an elite prospect anyway based on a couple of months of performance unless they were REALLY desperate. And the Tigers didn't end up making that desperation move for SS, nor have the Rangers at 2B.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) He's the poster boy as to why you shouldn't throw 25% sliders. Take note, Chris Sale. (of course, Randy Johnson averaged 38.6% from 02-09) Liriano finally has bounced back nicely from the surgeries, though. But TJ, not shoulder. Johan Santana's a completely different story.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) He started 0/15. Which means he is 4 for his last 13, which is just under .333. Add in a handful of walks, and his really solid defense so far and I'd gladly wave goodbye to Beckham. And he would have had another hit on the infield single if not for the replay system.

The upper deck was built with that level of slant/rake in order to keep the majorit of UD seats as close as possible to the field. Simple geometry. It's not as much of an issue in KC as Chicago, although both stadiums are virtually identically except for the outfield concourse/fountains.

Someone said OKC and Indianapolis were the two best markets in terms of local t.v. rights/shares. Always thought Charlotte would be viable. Louisville, Salt Lake City and Buffalo used to have the biggest AAA attendance once upon a time. Las Vegas, but they have the same issues with non-permanent residents/tourism as the Florida teams do. And just too hot in the middle of the summer, unless you build a domed stadium, and nobody really wants those anymore. That said, nothing can touch the Chicago media market in terms of competitive advantage, even for the second team in a city.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 6, 2014 -> 11:36 PM) So here's the rub. I don't think Beckham is in the future plans. Flowers, thought I hate him as a player, is an incredible clubhouse guy. I still think he's a future Backup somewhere else. Phegley seemed to have a lot of support. One other sleeper leader: Chris Sale. At his age he has Buehele type influence. He's know as a die hard competitor. Quintana is getting there as well and Danks is highly respected. Lots of room to grow but I like the core. Davidson should be part but EVERYONE love Gilespie. Forgot about Danks...partially because of the fact that we've come to think of someone on his way out rather than part of the future plans. That one could go either way. If they're undecided how to fit Davidson and Gillaspie into the line-up, they can always move one of them over to 1B/DH. The popular line of thinking has always been we need to bring in one more big bat (Sandoval, Rasmus, Morales, etc.) going into 2015, but we'll see. They're definitely going to be better off adding the right veteran into the mix...as they will have one of the youngest teams in the majors when Konerko/Dunn both depart. And then the decisions on Ramirez/Semien/Sanchez. It would be huge if Semien could actually stick at SS defensively. Otherwise, you have to worry about a team without a single above average defender at any position...other than perhaps Eaton and Flowers/Nieto. Theoretically, Semien could get there at 2B, but probably will always be an average SS at best.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 7, 2014 -> 12:06 AM) Yeah. And they rushed there. Don't discount Eaton's effect on this clubhouse. And Abreu for a weak English speaker has already gained Lots of respect. Some people don't realize who really led the 2005 team. And it wasn't Ozzie. Everett and Rowand always, right or wrong, get the most mentions in that department. Then there was that other group...Buehrle/Crede/AJ...along with Konerko and Dye. Looking back, I've always felt Dye didn't get enough credit. And Uribe was kind of the ringleader, the player that everyone loved to have around, the glue that held everything together and was the one player that could go back and forth seamlessly between the white, Hispanic and African-American players.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 6, 2014 -> 10:09 PM) All I've heard from inside is how different this team is. Last yea they supposedly checked out at one point. Eaton apparently wore on the vets on his old team, here he is one of the biggest leaders. That's good for us. Now it's definitely Sale, in many ways...like when he went after the hitter with three inside fastballs until he got warned. It should have been Beckham's role to take, but the results on the field haven't been there to merit a position of leadership...and DeAza and Ramirez aren't by nature leaders. Another natural leader on our team should be the catcher, and Flowers/Phegley haven't performed well in that regard, although Flowers at least has the respect of the pitching staff, seemingly. If you look at the Cardinals, everything flows from Matheny/Molina outward, and that element has been sorely lacking ever since AJ left. In the void/chasm left, nothing filled its place last year and the team just collapsed like a black hole when adversity struck and Konerko was struggling through his worst season ever. Abreu seems a LOT like Konerko, a pretty quiet guy...professional approach, but not a vocal/in your face type. Same with Quintana (or Hector Santiago, for that matter). Hard worker, great kid, but not a born/natural leader. So yeah, it's not surprising that Eaton is already inserting himself into that role...even if right now it's more by his playing style and attitude.

Definitely...it's not like you wouldn't enjoy it, but the two movies have many linkages that wouldn't follow logically without having seen the first one. Especially having to do with the military/industrial complex theme from World War II to post 9/11.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 6, 2014 -> 09:39 PM) Its a bold statement but I am basing this just off of the first week. Our bullpen has been bad but I think it will get better. Relievers are always so up and down, it isn't unthinkable for 3 or 4 guys have a great run in the bullpen. Lindstrom, Belisario, and Downs are all veterans who have had solid careers, Jones has been solid when healthy, and we all have high hopes for Webb, and Cleto has shown that he can be a good bullpen arm as well. The bullpen will come together as the season goes on and if they struggle they will find replacements.. The defense is the biggest issue I would say this team has, hope that comes along and I just don't think it will cost the team too much. The starting rotation has 3 strong lefties IMO, a rookie in Johnson who I think as the season comes along will get better (unless he has an injury), and Paulino is a serviceable #5 and if he struggles we have other options as well. The hitting is what has intrigued me. We can score without hitting home runs, we have a lot of speed, and they don't give up when down like last year. These young guys give a lot of energy to the team and I just think they will surprise everyone. I am probably completely wrong but if I am right I will sound like a genius. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to the attitude of the team when Semien is sent back to AAA for Beckham. As much as Rios had a great set of tools and was an individually-talented player, he never seemed to be a great teammate. A lot of pressure is going to be on the starting staff to pitch over mistakes in the field. They failed miserably at that last year, and there's likely to be even more errors (than 2013) unless Abreu improves quickly on scooping balls in the dirt. In Quintana's start, he really got rattled when he had a strikeout and then picked off the runner and still didn't get the out. That sequence cost them in a lot of ways. They can't have that happening over and over again...or the bullpen blowing nearly every lead. Still, I agree with the premise that Eaton's energy/determination brings a new facet to the offense we've been lacking. It's nice to have a core of younger players to watch, even with their struggles. DeAza isn't old by any stretch, and he/Viciedo/Beckham/Ramirez are the veterans, as Dunn/Konerko are both on the way out.

QUOTE (Benchwarmerjim @ Apr 6, 2014 -> 09:16 PM) The Twins lead the AL in runs scored and runs allowed. The pitching part was expected, even with the new additions. Nolasco should be a decent pitcher, but he's not going to anchor the rotation. And the jury's far from out on Hughes, he's still quite young, but don't get your hopes up too much, even with Rick Anderson still around. Collabello has been one of the pleasant surprises of the early season (of course, if the White Sox had a good RFer defensively, most of his RBI's would be gone). Gibson really needs to develop into a 1/2 type of guy for the Twins to build any type of forward momentum. Same with Hicks in the outfield being an impact bat and not just showing promise/glimpses. The White Sox and Twins both look to have terrible bullpens, but at least you guys have an experienced guy at the back end in Perkins. Matt Lindstrom is unlikely to be closing one month from now...maybe even one week from now.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Apr 6, 2014 -> 08:20 PM) YES------------That means Hahn becomes a buyer at trade deadline and resigns Dunn to a multi year deal and trades several prospects for a few rent a players. What in his trade history so far has shown he would do anything remotely resembling bringing back Dunn?

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/l...y#axzz2yAGQnnD7 Raul Mondesi compares himself to a young Puig. No DL for Puig, thumb ligament strain....the dreaded "day to day" http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/l...y#axzz2yGLaK1G6

Starting like Davis and Upton last year this time. The DBacks line-up isn't so strong that they won't just start pitching around him...although there's also Goldschmidt in the middle. Belt just hit his fourth tonight. Off to a fast start. Don't think he would be easy at all to pry away from the Giants.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 01:08 PM) Hobie Alter died of cancer. He was a pioneer in the surfboard, skateboard and sailing industry. Hobie Cat, right?