ChiliIrishHammock24

QUOTE (TomPickle @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 10:59 PM) Reported deal of Greinke and Betancourt to the Brewers for Escobar, Cain, and Jeffress. Seems like sort of a b.s. made up deal to me though. I saw that. Skeptical due to no one else picking up on this rumor. I'll wait until Heyman or Olney say something....

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 02:05 PM) In what world is a .306/.364/.449/.813 opponent's line "nails"? On top of the blown saves and outing in Minnesota where he handed a blown save to Santos he also entered 5 tied games and left with the lead only twice. According to fangraphs, here are his numbers in low, medium, and high leverage situations.... low - 3.80 K/BB, .271 AVG, 1.30 WHIP, 2.54 xFIP med-2.13 K/BB, .311 AVG, 1.88 WHIP, 3.78 xFIP high-5.00 K/BB, .227 AVG, 1.09 WHIP, 1.90 xFIP

I hate peeing in stalls, my johnson always touches the toilet bowl water.................ladies.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 01:37 PM) Yeah, but what I'm saying is there are a couple additions, but dropping $60 on basically a brand new game won't make much sense. Last year I had to do it for Gordon Beckham's mug, but this year I think I'll be a-ok with downloading an update, making personal modifications, and going for it. Well then you certainly aren't exploring hardly any of the game if you think the only addition last year was Gordon Beckham's face. It's fine though, if want to wait another year, then thats fine.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 04:15 PM) this isn't sour grapes because he isn't here anymore, but he was bad last year, and they can spin it anyway they want. Actually he really wasn't. Lot of bad luck, and most of his damage came in low-mid leverage situations. He was pretty nails in the clutch.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 10:17 AM) Count me in the group that will be skipping this year's game, to be honest. I'm not too keen on analog controls for pitching, and I can just download an updated roster set prior to the season for MLB 10 and it'll still look great. Nothing has been removed from 2010 to 2011, only additions. That means all your settings and buttons can be set back. I personally will only be using the analog controls for batting. I prefer pitching and fielding with normal buttons.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 11:06 AM) Did they foget about the Lee guy leaving like $50 million on the table? Or...how about when Kerry Wood didn't settle for less money 2 years ago when he decided to LEAVE the Cubs and go to Cleveland for a 2 yr/$20M deal. So, Wood is an amazing guy for leaving $2M on the table to sign with the Cubs, but the $8M or whatever he would have sacrificied to stay in Chicago and not go to Cleveland was not worth it? Seems funny to me that he can leave for more money, and then come back 2 years later and would praised for coming back to his roots. It's not like he was TRADED to Cleveland. lol, I'm sorry, it's just so stupid to me so see Rosenthal hail Kerry Wood for this and claim how touching this is. I do applaud Kerry for going back where he started, and for taking less money, but it's hardly "touching".

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 10:39 AM) How did it originally end with Wood in the past. Didn't the high paying cubs choose to not sign him and thus he went to Cleveland. That was a business decision that he is now passing over in the name of loyalty. Although he wet his pants the last time he pitched at wrigley so maybe he really truly loves everything about that situation. It seems to me he could have gotten a much better deal but he really feels bad for the cubs. Loyalty is one thing but come on, some of it reeks of loser to me as that is the position he is in. Yeah, the Cubs said they couldn't pay him, so he went to Cleveland. Now Ken Rosenthal just wrote a sob story about how amazing Kerry Wood is for taking less money ($2M? Not a big deal for a guy who has made over $70M) and even went as far as to say that Kerry Wood re-signing with the Cubs is the most touching story of the off season, and only a great guy like Wood and a team like the Cubs could make this possible...... I'm not a Cubs hater, but that is just ridiculous.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 07:54 AM) Thank you both for the great insight. That was exactly the kind of information which I was seeking. I did see somewhere that he is trying to acquire a good splitter. That's a much less stressful pitch than the slider, and very effective, isn't it? Split-finger is the pitch that I saw him looking to acquire, yes. I have no idea how it effects the arm injury wise. I would assume not much since it's a pretty much downward, normal type of wrist movement, maybe?

Oh boy.... Joe Mauer will be the cover star for a 2nd straight year. Little disappointed. Was looking forward to Hamilton, Cabrera, Konerko, or some other AL slugger that had a great year. It's alright, I like Joe Mauer. Anyway, ESPN released an article today about the game.....here are some highlighted new features - Analog control (pitching, batting, fielding all will use the right analog stick) - Dynamic rain and clouds (rain will effect on-field play) - Co-op play (online and offline, up to 2v2. Customizable duties) - RTTS 5.0 (More in-depth reward system and progressively difficult training exercises) - Challenge of the Week (short challenges every week that will earn prizes) - 3D capability - "Move" capability for Home Run Derby - Fake throws (tap button twice to pump fake to trick aggressive runners) - Custom camera angles (Can play from any viewpoint in the stadium) That's about all I can remember. The weather and Co-Op are the most exciting IMO. I have been dying to play Co-Op since All-Star Baseball games like 5 years ago. So pumped.

I guess Witesoxfan beat me to it.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 05:29 AM) In reading the blogs, and articles on the Crain signing, there doesn't seem to be anything that addresses what accounted for Crain's second half season performance last year? Did he acquire a new pitch? Did he change his approach? From June to September, he faced 132 hitters and allowed just just 2 extra base hits, 1 double and 1 triple. That's pretty remarkable. Was his dominance a fluke, or can we reasonably expect him to continue to perform anywhere near that level? Of course, he will no longer be able to pad his stats versus the White Sox. I wonder if Konerko, A. J. and others were consulted before Kenny "pulled the trigger" on this signing. In that he seems to be equally effective vs left handed hitters, he could be a good candidate to close. Thornton and Sale could close in special situations, such as vs. the Twins when the scheduled hitters in the 9th inning are the big left handed bats in the middle of their order. The organization has already hinted that might be their thinking. Has anyone seen an explanation for why he improved so much during June to September? Maybe someone for savvy with Fangraphs can get monthly splits on his pitch usage, but according to his year-by-year usage, I did notice this.... He threw his fastball about 35% less this year than in years past, his slider he threw about TWICE as much, and his change-up about FOUR times as often, and he used his curveball slightly less. Now, the opposing batter contact % was the best of his career, as was the swing and miss %. Again, I don't know if I can find a monthly breakdown of his pitch usage, but I would think that from June and on he was using his offspeed pitches a lot more. A lot more use of his slider and changeup, and a lot less fastballs.

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 05:03 PM) With all the money the Sox are throwing around this off-season, I think this might be the highlight so far... http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_..._video_13066619 oh my god. Awesome.

Wow, $1.5M? What a steeeeeeeaaaal for the Cubs.

Red Sox are trying to trade Papelbon somewhere, and I assume Bard or Jenks would be their closer.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 02:06 PM) The only way I can kind of explain it is this- that there is some pride involved with breaking stories early that most men may never understand. I know I won't ever get it. Most men spend their days creating things, but then there is the other kind of man who doesn't create, a lesser man who has to analyze the moves of other, greater men. This is what a Cowley does and also some posters on here. If they find out a story a whole day before the rest of the world, then in their minds they can gloat for that 1 WHOLE day...until of course everyone else finds out and it becomes just old news. But I kinda get it- I can picture these men drooling over their precious early knowledge like it was a chest of gold...so sad. If only they liked their lives, none of this would be necessary. It's more of a failure to fully develop than anything else. Just let it be. I agree. I was so pumped when I was informed that Brent Morel was flying north to meet the AAA team in Pawtucket. It wasn't a huge deal, but to me it was very cool knowing about a player getting promoted before anyone else did. I am pretty sure I even came here and told everyone. lol.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 03:09 AM) Antoine Dodson is the first webredemption on Tosh...Can't wait Oh god.....I have a feeling Tosh is going to dress up as him/her and it's going to be awesome.

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:34 AM) Best part of the deal is that Crain not only generated those numbers against us... but he did it for the TWINS!! Not having him pitch for the Twins against us is a double win. And his numbers are pretty solid at US Cellular, so it's not like he was just doing well at the spacious Target Field vs. us..... 23 1/3 IP, 13 H, 4 HR, 6 ER, 9 BB, 15 K, 2.31 ERA, 0.94 WHIP

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:04 AM) Under Ricketts, they've been much more responsible with their money. They just gave Carlos Pena $10M.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 15, 2010 -> 11:58 PM) I can't see Cubs spending 6 million or so on a 6th or 7th inning reliever. lol what?

Isn't it crazy that about 6 months ago we were looking to tear this team down, sell everyone, and start over with a ton of prospects? Then all the sudden the team goes on an insane run, acquires Manny Ramirez, and makes a push for the playoffs. The offseason comes, and all the sudden we start piling on the free agents, and if we can add 1 more quality bullpen arm, the Sox could be a top 5 team in baseball. Isn't it crazy?

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 15, 2010 -> 11:11 PM) Despite an increasingly bad track record, nothing gets this board rocking like a tweet from Joe Cowley Hey man, news is fluid. You can either report on it as it happens, or after the fact. Cowley does the former.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Dec 15, 2010 -> 10:51 PM) (he did do the towel drill too though) anyways, i dont like wood at the 2/12 that he wants, hes just now reliable at all. i realize u can say that about any reliever but i rather stay away, esp. since he doesnt want to be here. I want Wood (teheheh), but also not at the 2 yrs/$12M price. I would be ok with 2 yrs/$9M, but not anything over that.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Dec 15, 2010 -> 08:54 PM) 3 yrs/$13M? Please? Looks like I may have called it.....

I hate to say this, as I don't like sounding like a homer, but I think if we add Wood, we are a legitimate top 5 team in baseball, and top 3 in the AL.