caulfield12

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 01:16 AM) I can not stand mediocrity. I know we all went over this topic last season around this time as well, but I would rather this team tank the rest of the way, or dominate the rest of the way. I don't want to see a midround draft pick next June. Therein lies the argument. The difference between 80, 75, 70 and 65 wins for a fanbase that knows this is a rebuilding year...in terms of attendance for the rest of this season, selling season tickets for next year and the difference between drafting let's say 4-8 vs. 9-12 in the first round. Half of the battle is getting Rodon signed and and evidence of encouraging results from whatever he manages to do in July and August or perhaps the AFL...they will be attempting to market Carlos almost like he's a free agent acquisition, in terms of "spin" to the media. Does Hahn have the budget (with the season ticket/sponsorship/revenues/attendance falloff) to approach 2015 in the same way KW approached 2011...or will they take a softer, less aggressive approach, not putting all their eggs in the basket of getting back to the playoffs as early as 2015 but pushing the timetable back to 2016-18, when it's likely Hawkins, Anderson and Montas would be arriving on the scene as reinforcements and an infusion of more youth/talent??

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 10:48 PM) Pick a lane, Sox. Go 7-2 against the Tigers, Giants and Blue Jays. Get wiped out by the Royals, Twins and Orioles (granted, we easily could have swept that series). Hard to figure this team out, except for the fact that it's fortunes reside with the back end of the rotation, which is why it's going to be so hard for this team to ever go on an extended winning streak.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 02:28 PM) If Sox finish this year at .500 I'll be very confident in our future. But 75 wins more likely. Except no Avisail Garcia, no Dunn...probable changes in the free agency period, some more trades, you've got the possibility of Rodon, you might be changing your entire middle infield so if that were to take place, their overall season record's obviously going to take a huge hit with two rookies adjusting offensively.

How did Campbell play today for C.R.? I tried to wake up at 4 a.m., then 5 a.m. around halftime and couldn't quite motivate myself to get up...

Something with the hitter's backdrop? Didn't/doesn't this happen with Beckham as well...Quentin? Or, conspiracy theory, he's trying to get traded and will become an All-Star once he leaves Chicago.

Mexico got conservative there at the end. It's the equivalent of the prevent defense in the NFL. Nothing Ochoa could have done on either of those goals. Marquez was a bit lucky he didn't get called for another foul earlier in the game...at age 35, he just doesn't quite have the quickness anymore to stay with Robben one on one. Netherlands has the better team and is still one of the 2-3 favorites to win it all, but close to tragic for Mexico, if there's such a thing in sports (when an entire country's hopes are pinned to a team in a national sport and they seem poised to win).

Ochoa, Neymar and James Rodriguez are the 3 best players in the tourney so far... Where the hell was Van Persie today? Only Robben showed up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) I can't figure out why else a guy who spent 6 innings hitting 93-94 with the fastball regularly wouldn't be able to start missing more bats. See Felipe Paulino at 94-96.

Mexico with a very solid first half but couldn't punch across a goal. Both teams looked very tired at the end of the first (cooling break), Mexico has seemingly controlled 70% of the game. Van Persie and Robben haven't had many chances....a bit of a controversy near the end about a takedown of Robben in box but it wasn't called.

Some of the more interesting names on the market right now (among the hitters) are Cuddyer, Willingham, Seth Smith, Gerardo Parra and Ben Zobrist. Also, Nolan Reimold's about to be released by the Orioles. Career .766 OPS, unfortunately not left-handed. 29 years old.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 07:41 AM) Anyone that takes tmar seriously will be pointed at and laughed at That really stings.

QUOTE (Tmar @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 04:25 AM) Pound the greedy traitor Ummmm..."traitor"? Really? We're better than Indians fans booing Jim Thome, I'd hope. Imagine you worked at a company and your boss encouraged you to look around at other opportunities and admitted they couldn't pay you anywhere close to $56 million over 4 years. Would you refuse his advice and ask to stay for 3 years and $36 million instead? If you want to blame someone, blame Loria in Miami.

http://www.boxoffice.com/latest-news/2014-...opening-weekend Looks like the "China strategy" with Transformers 4 is already paying off nicely. Will end up around $95 million, setting the record in China for Opening Day ($38 million) and opening weekend, and probably beating the US/North America total, which is expected to be in the low 90's. Avatar's all-time is in sight, but I would expect the negative word of mouth to prevent that from happening. On the other hand, there's no way this picture's going to make it to $1 billion. UPDATE: U.S. total now predicted to be $102 million, so Chinese box office will be 2nd.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 09:24 PM) Crain... Thornton... LaTroy Hawkins all come to mind as well. Marte and Howry would be other guys in that category. Then you have those one-year wonders like Hermanson first half of 2005 and Jason Grilli last year with the Pirates. But that success almost never continues for a veteran who rises to closer in the 2nd half of his career after being a reliever or mostly a starter...unless his name is Eckersley.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) Normally as players advance in minors, organizations have them run less (once they have proven themselves) as there are more risks to nagging injuries, etc, and they want to make sure those players (who have legit other tools) are advancing those tools and healthy and able to work on that stuff. Was told that from multiple people back when I spent a few different summers at the various minor league facilities. This included conversations with the Sox minor league coordinator at the time. That's all fine and good, but then Micah Johnson has to be more of a Ray Durham clone (who later starts hitting 12-18 homers per year in the second half of his career) at the next level...if he's not going to be like a Pods or Hamilton that will give you 50-75 steals. If your number 1 asset's speed, then you have to use it to affect the outcome of games or your lack of other tools (defense, power, arm, etc.) will always hold you back.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 08:55 PM) They still had reasonably defined roles when Beli was the closer. They just couldn't handle them. I really don't know why it would freak a major league pitcher out coming in during tje 8th inning vs. the 7th, but if it does, that isn't a guy you want on your roster moving forward. The game will dictate when these guys come in anyway. It even happened with Dotel and Linebrink when they were moved out of the 7th and 8th inning, and they were the quintessential experienced/veteran relievers with a track record and pretty huge contracts for relievers.

Ramirez padding his trade-worthy stats. Hey, a Ventura PHing move actually worked out.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) I love penalties so much. Those last 30 minutes of extra time, obviously they were gassed and Oscar got pulled, but it seems Brazil was only interested in pressing the defense for 6-8 minutes...and Chile was just sitting back for the penalty kicks, although Pinella or whatever was just inches away from knocking out Brazil and then also missed his penalty kick, so he'll be the one with the most nightmares, along with the dude who missed the final attempt (Jara or something).

QUOTE (JoshPR @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 01:09 PM) How many times has Tyler kd today? 2/3, continuing to lead the AL in strikeouts.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 01:09 PM) You have to go with the hot hand when the current closer is as bad as Bella has been. I don't know how many games you allow the current hot hand to blow. It's kind of an eye test thing. It'd be criminal to put Bella out there again. It's kind of a deal where you just "know" if you are the manager. Don't want to keep Belisario, that's not the issue. It's deciding between Guerra, Putnam and Petricka. Today, it seems Guerra will be entering bottom of the 8th.

Those two early saves by Julio Cesar rattled Chile a bit and had them on the defensive. Of course, Willian and Ramires didn't distinguish themselves either, but Neymar came through when it was essential.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 11:21 AM) Are you saying Micah didn't replicate those numbers at higher levels? Stolen bases.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Also, Jays fans must be ready for rip Gibbons head off for that move. Why pull Stroman who has dominated Viciedo in his first 2 AB? Awful decision to pull him there. Harrelson supposedly told the Jays' radio guys that Stroman has the best stuff of any RHP he's seen this year other than Scherzer. Should see a RH reliever against Encarnacion in the bottom of the 8th. Sale's already at 108 pitches. Then Navarro and Glenn.

LOL. Viciedo only 2 for 13 on the series, 7 K's but two huge homers. That's making them count. Guerra's up in the pen. Sale's velocity is down quite a bit today in the late innings. Okay, still at 94-95. Saw a couple at 88. Reyes is undoubtedly looking to go. 16/17. But Sale will keep him close, the left-handedness gives him a huge advantage here.

Things were getting a little chippy in there after Hulk got taken out in the penalty box and Neymar was upended. Brazil controlled the first 30 minutes, but couldn't push another goal across...Neymar's header was the closest. There was another shot from (Alves) outside the box that was right on target high on the goal but got deflected by a leaping one hand save over the crossbar. Sloppy back pass by Brazil's defensive left side opened up that scoring opportunity, didn't react quickly enough to the window of opportunity they created.