caulfield12

Michigan inexplicably takes down OSU in Ann Arbor. And Iowa up 30 over Nebraska, ON THE ROAD. I don't think ANY team has been that dominant in Lincoln all season. So beat UNC in Chapel Hill, OSU twice, have MI down 20+ points in Ann Arbor and pin one of their worst home losses under Beilein, wipe out Maryland by double digits and ahead by 20+ in the first half...but lose at home to MINN and at Northwestern to ruin all positive momentum. What an inconsistent team. They'll probably lose to Illinois at home, win at PSU, lose at IND and beat NW by 30+ at home and then lose in the 2nd round of the B10 tourney and be firmly on the bubble. In many ways, that Illinois at Iowa game next week becomes another play-in game for the Illini, like tonight's game against MSU. Only two of Illinois, Purdue and Iowa will make it imo. Although OSU now is 8-6 too with that inexplicable loss to MI. Parity.

It would be nice if Iowa could find a young PG with athleticism, too.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 22, 2015 -> 10:23 AM) For once this random point appears accurate, down just about 75% and apparently one of/possibly the largest week to week drop in movie history. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 22, 2015 -> 02:21 PM) If Jose Quintana threw 95 and had exactly the same stats he has had, he would be considered ace like. If Samardzija is what everyone hopes, and Rodon is what many expect him to be, that is almost as stacked as it gets. He does throw 92-93 MPH pretty consistently. He's just not a media darling/personality, is not particularly flamboyant, he pitches for the Sox, English is his second language and he's not a strikeout machine, consistently get 10+ K numbers that look nice on SportsCenter. To me, because his change-up isn't dominating, he's more like Johan Santana-Lite. It will be nice to see how he responds to pennant pressure...he was awesome the first half of 2012 and faded a bit like everyone else in the 2nd half.

Another example would be the KKK or John Birch Society perverting Christianity...or the polygamous branch of the Mormon Church deviating from the norm. There was a recent episode of The Blacklist (The Ken'yon Family) dealing with this topic. It's not so much a particular religion, it's the extremism of that religion, used to justify horrific acts. Would the US government state that extremist misinterpretations of Christianity are the root of many domestic anti-government and militia groups throughout the country? What comes first, using the Bible or religion to justify their cause...or their cause justifying their beliefs?

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 22, 2015 -> 04:32 AM) CSN really seems like the best place for the latest Sox video. Also video with Rodon talking , Avisails new diet, Jim Callis talking to Dan Hayes about Spencer Adams. Hayes has improved, IMO, partially because the system and major league team itself has improved so much. It's difficult as a reporter to do much with the 2013 season....but the additions of Abreu, Eaton, Garcia, Montas, Danish, Tim Anderson, Adams, Rodon...and now Duke/LaRoche/Samardzija/Robertson/Cabrera/Soto, this organization has become so much more interesting to follow. When the team you follow is in the mid 20's for record, attendance and minor league talent, what can you say positively? Kind of like all the hype about college football and basketball recruiting...having Jim Callis in-studio to interview also adds some credibility/legitimacy to his "insider" reporting style that he didn't feature previously.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/20/politics/giu...rica/index.html Giuliani stands by Obama comments Obama Haters: It's Becoming Crazytown http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/02/21/sm...ry-02212015.cnn Maher: Obama Sounds Like the NRA http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/02...-sounds-nra.cnn

http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/how-do...&ocid=yahoo And he's joined the world in getting an I-pad...proving that even leopards can change their spots.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Feb 21, 2015 -> 08:44 AM) I can see one scenario. Rodon expldes in the minors and is put into the rotation and the Sox are in contention but have one major hole. Say Alexei or Flowers ( positions the Sox may not have a reliable back-up for) goes out for the season and they can get a ML ready prospect for Shark. If the Sox think Shark is going anyway, they could deal if they got a top prospect back. But how likely would they be to put a prospect into the middle of a division/pennant race in that scenario? I can only think of the opposite examples, like Hudson/Holmberg for Ed.Jackson. It's easy to imagine them hesitating on promoting Tim Anderson when he's slated to be in BIRM this whole season, but I think any Samardzija deal would have to give the Sox players back similar to a Semien/Bassitt with limited experience or some veterans on expiring contracts. Of course, there's the issue of the compensation for that draft pick which comes from holding onto him to consider, versus the return at mid-season.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 21, 2015 -> 06:18 AM) So you're looking at the Central being winnable with fewer than 90 wins? Yeah, all four teams beat on each other and get the majority of their +.500 factor against Minny, Texas, Houston, TB and the NL. 87-89, 86 is really pushing it, but not impossible to conceive.

Who's the best collegiate catcher? Anywhere close to projecting at #8? From looking at draft boards, it looks like a ton of collegiate pitching, middle infielders and some outfielders. Is there anyone who has spent some time catching in the past but has been playing 1B/3B/DH/LF like Schwarber last year? http://m.mlb.com/news/article/107044448/20...top-10-catchers Here's the Top 10 prospects for catching list. The Mets seem to have a surplus, then there's the oft-mentioned Gary Sanchez. Justin O'Conner with the Rays is a really interesting prospect as well...but their incentive to deal a top prospect these days has to be pretty darned low.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 07:36 PM) Kinda silly of RV to set himself up for failure like this. Be optimistic and all... but man... it would literally take career years out of a number of our guys for us to reach the playoffs. It would take a 2005-style feat. I'm not sure about that, but Verlander/Sanchez having more health problems and another bullpen implosion there wouldn't hurt. As it is, Victor Martinez won't be 100% on opening day in terms of his timing and rhythm, it's quite possible he ends up having his own version of a Kendrys Morales 2014 or Adam Dunn 2011 season.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 03:49 PM) Meh. Sometimes I feel like people get way too excited about transfers. Sure sometimes teams strike gold, but a lot of the time, there is a reason why the school is letting the kid transfer in the first place. See Iowa State. Or UNLV/Cincy in the 90's. Lon Kruger, wherever he goes.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) Long term, I see Montas being the bullpen piece and Danish being the starter. If both, even end up being productive major league pieces, that's a huge win for the Sox. I just think that's what both of them are best suited for IMO. Except unless he's as good as Wade Davis in the 8th or Herrera in the 7th, he's not going to be the closer with Robertson under contract for at least three seasons. They'd be much better off with him making it as a starter, since back-end rotation depth is one of their 3 most critical issues to address, along with C and the middle infield positions going forward.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 02:43 PM) i really don't care what vegas says, and i will stand by my comments till the end of the season. the sox is a playoff team and has a good enuf chance to make a run for it. however in the playoff, without another sp addition, well i let you fill in the rest. remember, i stand by predictions and am going to enjoy drinking my sox kool-aid. If Rodon's halfway as good as most are projecting, then we have four for the playoffs. That's all you need. Look at what the Giants survived with after Bumgarner...Peavy, Hudson and Vogelsong. You can't seriously think that Quintana, Shark and Rodon aren't better than those three? With the Royals, you had Shields, Ventura (who really was their ace in the playoffs), Vargas and Guthrie. Same comment as above. Now they have Ventura, Volquez, Vargas, Guthrie and Duffy/Medlen/Finnegan/Hochevar. That rotation has more overall depth but the only "sure thing" is Ventura, and his arm was tender at times last year (same with Duffy) and they'll both have to deal with innings ceilings in all likelihood to protect their arms.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 03:10 PM) The responses don't have to be exactly the same, but when it comes to expressing to the American people and world your disgust/condemnation, I don't see why leaving out motive when it comes to terrorists is a bad thing. Everyone knows they're a religious based group even if it's a distorted and twisted version of one. Hell, express that in the same statement as you explain how the targets were not random but intended based on religious beliefs. It'd be one thing if we didn't know who committed the crimes or why and were just guessing that it must have been wacko Muslims. But that's not the case here. And it's not a legal case. There are no sides. EVERYONE (with sanity) agrees that these acts were terrible and should not have happened. EVERYONE (with sanity) agrees that targeting people based on their skin color, beliefs, backgrounds, etc. is terrible. Couching the response is unnecessary when everyone is on the same side. There wouldn't be any wars/conflict/strife/terrorism if that last sentence were in fact true. http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/20/politics/pol...bama/index.html Rudy Guiliani...does he really believe what he's saying? "I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe the president loves America," Giuliani was quoted as saying by Politico. Asked by Fox News host Megyn Kelly Thursday whether he wanted to apologize, Giuliani replied: "Not at all. I want to repeat it." "I don't feel this love of America," Giuliani said. "I believe his initial approach is to criticize the United States." Giuliani dug in further in an interview with the New York Times, rejecting the idea that his remarks were born of racism. "I thought that was a joke, since (Obama) was brought up by a white mother, a white grandfather, went to white schools, " said Giuliani. "This isn't racism. This is socialism or possibly anti-colonialism," said Giuliani. How many times have we seen these same sentiments posted...the whole "anti-colonialism" thing started strategically with Thomas Sowell, a fellow African-American who gave fellow conservatives SOME political cover. It's the main reason that 25% of America, and roughly half of GOP voters.....believe/d that Obama is a practicing Muslim and not a United States citizen (the Birthers). OMG, he doesn't wear an American flag pin everyday...so he must be trying to elevate a caliphate nation in Africa instead of helping the American people, etc. He can't act outside of the political lens his father adopted in the 60's and 70's, etc.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 09:41 AM) We should hear today just about every player is in the greatest shape of their lives. The had Gillaspie on CSN yesterday. He drove 18 hours straight from Kansas and arrived yesterday. Why wouldn't you break that up a little bit? Because he's as intense as Ryan Gosling in "Drive" and his g/f has already seen the Grand Canyon?

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 09:02 AM) You obviously don't understand probability and statistics because each events probability is independent of the prior events outcome. You probably bet red on roulette when you see there has been 3 black in a row, too, because it is 'due'. It would probably be 50%, lol, although odds say getting four in a row would be 6.25% At any rate, I guess you missed the humor.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 08:38 AM) I think the most I would be willing to go on Samardzija (unless he truly becomes an ace this year) would be around 5/100. I don't think that would get it done. If he leaves in free agency that would still leave us with Sale, Quintana and Rodon as a very solid front 3. Then maybe go and try to sign a mid level guy to a one or two year deal and then by 2016-2017 hopefully 2 of Danish, Montas and Adams will be ready. That's where guys like Latos and Fister would make sense...just like Anibal Sanchez and Fister did for the Tigers to fit in as 4th starters and provide additional depth. They'd be affordable, because of that top 3. The problem right now is the Danks contract also being on the books. Adams' earliest arrival date is probably late 2016/early 2017. As with the Tanaka interest, the White Sox don't see like the type of team to play it in-between, which is what Samardjiza is....being paid as an ace or close to an ace with the numbers being bandied about here, well over $100 million. Danks was the only time they were willing to go long-term and it bit them in the butt, so they're going to have to be 100% convinced Shark is the guy going forward that's worth that type of investment with Noesi/Beck/Johnson/Montas/Danish/Adams all in the pipeline. Personally, I'd rather invest that money into solving the catching situation once and for all.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 07:52 AM) That is crazy. The market will be flooded with pitchers next offseason if no one extends before that. Price, Zimmerman, Cueto, Latos, Fister.... He won't command anywhere near that on the open market. The market next year isn't really THAT amazing. It might change a bit, if Greinke becomes available. Price is likely to stay with the Tigers (at least better than a 50% chance). That leaves Zimmerman and Cueto as the two premium options, which is essentially the same as Scherzer/Lester/Shields...once again, unless Greinke is also on the market and all four of those top guys are free to sign anywhere in the offseason. If you include Samardzija as well, sure, it's better...but there are still 20 teams chasing the same 3-5 pitchers. Latos and Fister will be lucky enough to gather the "table scraps" remaining, ala Shields this year.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/19/politics/ter...rity/index.html Threat from domestic right-wing anti-government groups might be a greater...

Or it simply means the next time arson is claimed/insinuated it has to be the correct call.

Think of it like the NCAA Tournament. ISIS/ISIL wants to establish credibility, they're a bubble or mid-major team. The only way they can do that is by being perceived as "beating" or at least confronting the US directly. The difference is we don't want to give them an opportunity to play. It's the same reason that the University of Illinois has no advantage in scheduling SIU, Illinois State, etc. If you beat them, it's expected by everyone. If they upset you somehow, it's a disaster. And everyone likes to root for the underdog to take out the big bully team, the Dukes in bb or Alabamas in fb. If we "take the ball away" like Lucy with Charlie Brown, refuse to offer them what they want in terms of anti-Islamic sentiment...in other words, we simply will not acknowledge they're a real power or on anything approaching equal footing to the established superpowers that lead the UN/G8, then what is the effect? They obviously need "victories" and they need allies/financial assistance. Here's an article about how China is pivoting towards Afghanistan/Kabul/Pakistan with the U.S. pullout. http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2015-0...nt_19621445.htm

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 19, 2015 -> 04:34 PM) Shoulder surgery for Jurickson Profar, sidelined indefinitely. 18 months ago he was considered one of the top 5 prospects in the game. Hope he makes it back, but you never know. This would definitely seem to push him to 2B when he does come back.

Micah doesn't have the upside of a Ray Durham (overall), but look no further for a player with all the physical tools who had his fair share of defensive struggles. There's the mental side of things to always take into consideration at that level...he was probably Top 5 in the history of the game at 2B in being able to chase down balls in the outfield and down the foul line, but the routine play, that was challenging for him and he'd lose focus, just like Alexei drifts sometimes. With Sanchez, you just have the feeling that, while he won't kill you on a really good offensive team, he's going to start to weigh down the bottom of the line-up and he just doesn't have anything about his game that really stands out. If the Sox still had Eduardo Escobar on their roster, I think they would start him at 2B over Sanchez. Faint praise, indeed...and, with all that said, they seem to be weighing the ability to manufacture runs and wreck havoc on the basepaths more than defense at this point. Of course, it also wouldn't be shocking if somehow Beckham ended up starting again...sigh.