caulfield12

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:51 PM) This prolly should go in the mlb central division thread, but the Royals are the team to beat in our division suddenly, folks. With what hitting are they going to pull that off? They have a great bullpen, pretty good defense, especially Gordon and Cain in the OF and Escobar at SS and Perez at C. If Salvador Perez hits like he's capable of, along with Hosmer/Butler/Moustakas, sure. But how likely is that? Luckily, the Royals don't have Jason Grilli as their closer. God, once again, another one year wonder at closer. That was about as predictable as Tyler Flowers falling off the map hitting-wise. 6 walks in the bottom of the 9th for Pirates' relievers. Sox-like.

QUOTE (OilCan @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 05:53 PM) How To Train Your Dragon 2 is AMAZING. Good story, decent ending...and a curve. Wow. Still think the first one was the second best IMAX/3D movie ever, after Avatar. I'd put Pacific Rim and Gravity up there now as well. Finally saw Godzilla (it just debuted in China this weekend, five weeks late) in 3D and enjoyed it a lot more than online, but still wished there was more of Cranston and less of the lead actor. The whole "family drama," while requisite in these disaster/monster/aliens stories, was just flat from the halfway point of the movie. Ken Watanabe made it more watchable, and the monster battles in the 2nd half were pretty well done, but it wasn't a movie I would want to watch again anytime soon. On the other hand, it is more true to the origins stories (nuclear era experimentation, aftereffects from Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and the idea of rooting for Godzilla is more true to the Japanese vision of him, versus the 1998 film.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:48 PM) Do you think they will put up a banner for that? "Trade Deadline Champion 2013" The Ayn Rand/Galt Banner for Capitalism in their fight for economic determinism with the rooftop owners will look nice.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:31 PM) Carroll's rope has to be getting short. And who exactly deserves to replace him? Not Johnson or Tommie Hanson in Charlotte. Paulino's still out. Other than that, Chris Beck is probably the only pitcher at Charlotte or BIRM with MLB ability...although nobody believes he's ready yet.

Well, Carroll qualified for that $55,000 per year MLB pension with service time. So congrats to him and his family, that's huge.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:21 PM) We should have signed Guthrie a few years ago. Innings eater and White Sox killer. Nah. Half of his stats the last 2 1/2 seasons were put up against the White Sox. He's the guy you add at the very end to a playoff team's roster, but we need one more solid starter (Rodon) to think about adding that veteran depth at the back end and "wasting" that money in the short-term. For most of this season, Rienzo/Noesi have put up basically the same stats (for almost nothing) as typical 4th/5th starters.

QUOTE (1dog @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:22 PM) When he's not swinging at curveballs, he comes out of his shoes to try to go deep. Since the slump started, yes. When he was hitting .340 about six weeks ago, it APPEARED as if a lot of trends had changed. He was walking a lot more and the majority of his base hits were to the opposite field. Of course, everyone's criticizing him now for his power numbers declining (more doubles, but homers down), so he's probably questioning himself. If Steverson was a magician, then he could turn around Flowers, Dayan, Eaton, DeAza, etc. It really seemed like he was (except for DeAza) until Chris Sale returned from the DL and POOF! the offense disappeared like that.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:17 PM) Nieto should be splitting time with Flowers at worst. That's a bad idea for the pitching staff...he's just not experienced enough dealing with all of the starters and knowing the big league hitters. Yeah, Cooper and the coaches can help him out a lot, but I think they'd be more likely to make a trade...release or designate Flowers...or give Phegley another shot before the catching duties are split.

I think the only way they trade Ramirez would be a worst-case scenario where Rodon doesn't sign, and then you trade Beckham as well and the contention window is 100% pushed back to 2016-2018. Still believe Hahn intends to be close to "all in" heading into next season. The other catchers doing pretty well right now are Mesoraco, Norris/Jaso, Russell Martin and Iannetta.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 08:01 PM) When did I guarantee a replacement? Boy you like putting words in my mouth dont you? I said its time to find one. That's the one thing your getting is time. Right now you have no replacement and no time. Flower's is on a 1 year contract and you have absolutely no depth. The free agent market looks horrible for this position. Now what? http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/pos.../OPS/order/true Lucroy's the only catcher with a 3+ WAR. Of that list, Ruiz from the Phillies is the only one who was available...and maybe Jason Castro, who's sporting a 660 OPS at the moment. Unless the Twins are going to offer you a Mauer (willing to return to catcher) and eat 65% of his salary, which won't happen obviously.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:59 PM) Joe Nathan sucked again tonight he has just lost it this year. Can't believe Ausmus used him in a non-save situation. So he had a really bad inning there and just got out of it with one run surrendered?

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:58 PM) Trade Alexei for their entire outfield because ours isn't as good. You might as well ask for the moon.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:54 PM) Alexei makes way too much sense for them Well, obviously they're willing to sell on Tabata now (of course, he looks a lot more like Sierra/Viciedo than the other 3 Pirates' OFers). A couple of seasons ago, before he broke out, we were all over picking up Alvarez on the cheap...we're not going to get anything off their major league roster, so has to be for prospects. (So who are their Eaton/Davidson AA/AAA equivalents that they would be open to dealing?) Hahn has a really difficult decision to hold Ramirez/Beckham together for next year or totally audition replacements in the middle of the diamond...which pushes contending back until 2016 at least if Alexei's gone. As it is, for all the talk two nights ago about Detroit and the WC position, we're also going to be tied with the Indians for last place in the AL Central.

Annual Beckham injury here? Hit himself on the left hand. That would wipe out the Beckham/Davey Crockett Mullet Night promotion. Robbed by Alex Gordon again. Would have made it an interesting game if that one got down and plated 2 runs.

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 04:08 PM) Just taking a quick glance, I'm surprised Philadelphia and Baltimore are that high. And that Kansas City is so low when they have about the same run as the Blue Jays without a playoff team...fwiw, the White Sox and Indians' fanbases have been compared a lot, in terms of sensitivity to winning teams, sometimes contemptuous relationships with the owners (Dolan selling off the team's best players twice in the past 10-15 years, White Flag trade for the Sox), Midwestern cities, more "blue collar" although that stereotype has been changing over the last decade.

So Flowers, Beckham and Gillaspie are the goats so far tonight, along with Quintana? And we're all freaking out about finding a catcher again, one would assume. And someone will name Jason Castro or Yasmani Grandal in 3-2-1...

Sure didn't help with the bases loaded tonight.

Spain has that precision passing game and the dominant midfield...just glad it's a better game than last time. One of the ugliest matches in history, didn't help the sport at all.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) Refs evened it out by missing a handball in the box. On Marquez....guess they missed it or called it inadvertent? I still have no idea what the call was on that corner kick where the possible 2nd goal could have been scored in the first half for Mexico...the first disallowed one was THIS close but a correct offsides call. Neither one of these teams were very impressive, although the weather conditions were obviously terrible. Cameroon has Samuel Eto'o and that's about it in terms of firepower. Pretty nice play by the Mexican keeper on that deep header attempt at the left corner.

I guess we need a Grand Canyon/El Canon in LF for Abreu in the bleachers, like The Trout Pond or Big Mac Land (tied into McDonald's), etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/o...kusaolp00000592 8 movies from the last 15 years that are way overrated...some interesting choices. The one I really agree on was The Hurt Locker. Blue Valentine was just depressing, although well-acted.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 04:23 PM) I think if we want upside out of Beckham we'll have to either get someone else's MLB-ready disappointment or else dip down into the A+ level or below. I'm not sure the Sox "knew" what they were getting with Montas in the Peavy deal any more than they "knew" what they were getting in the 1st rounder Gilmore from the Javy Vazquez deal who never did jack squat. I think it's likely or at least very possible that both results were surprises and as a result I don't expect another Montas type who immediately jumps on to the radar, BUT if one of these teams we are dealing with has an electric young RHP on the farm who is a couple years away at best but shows signs of quality secondary stuff, and who like Montas, has a strong FB and the ability to hold his velocity deep into games, then I think we should be very interested. Not only do we need another RHSP but as a general rule I'd much rather go after pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching and then look to trade excesses of it when they develop, just because I think that's probably the best way for this organization to utilize its strengths. FWIW, Santos Rodriguez was highly regarded at the time of the trade as also possessing an electric arm, although even then most thought his future was as a reliever.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 11:02 PM) Was Hawkins simply enjoying a night off? And are rain outs the reason Montas has not pitched in a week? Who kidnapped Erik Johnson? maybe they didn't want to get his swing messed up by Gio? i would think they would look at it as an opportunity or challenge to see who well he does against MLB competition...

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 10:22 PM) Is there a player at any level struggling as bad as Walker? Jeter, Viciedo, Flowers or DeAza...

Well, the evening started out with promise. But typical Tigers/White Sox result (since late 2010) when we have a chance to really make a charge at them.