almagest

I just noticed this. Thanks guys! Scored a retro red white and blue jersey with the SOX logo across the front for the big 27.

I'd give it to Gadget.

Good read about those Nasty Nats.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 10:21 PM) You've explained to me why the D-Backs would want Brandon Allen. Now, please, explain to me how Tony Pena is a max return.He's been an above-average reliever for 3 of the 4 years he's been in the majors (the one year he wasn't was his rookie year at the age of 24), posting an ERA+ of 144, 106, and 107. He has a very good arm and will likely replace Dotel next year, freeing up money for other players. He's only 27, and under team control for a while. Now, please tell me what's so good about Brandon Allen? He's had exactly one year (2008) where he produced numbers you'd expect from a good 1B prospect (for comparison, Ryan Howard never hit below .270 in the minors, and never had lower than a .460 SLG.) His 2007 campaign was decent, but unspectacular (~.820 OPS), especially for a 1B. This year, he wasn't showing the power that got him on the map in 2008, even with an excellent offensive team offering protection, and was horrid in 53 AB in Charlotte, with absolutely no power (.358 SLG in a bandbox). Again, I liked Allen, but he's SEVERELY overrated on this message board.

I'm almost certain we got good value for Allen in this trade, and I liked him a lot. Conor Jackson is hitting .182/.264/.253/.516 this year, and was solid but unspectacular the past 2 years. Chad Tracy and Tony Clark aren't doing anything, either (.206 and .175 avg respectively), so the DBacks have no good option at first base right now. They don't have anything worthwhile in the minors at 1B either, AFAIK. Allen fills a big hole for them, meaning we're probably seeing the max return for Allen at this point in his career. I don't have a problem with that.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Jul 6, 2009 -> 03:39 PM) Halladay's average fastball last season and this season has been 92.7. He hits 95 multiple times a game. The real point is throughout the whole thread halladay has been vastly underrated... and unfinished products in a middle of the pack farm system have been equally overrated. I love it. What do you think is a fair deal on our part, and what do you think the Blue Jays would ask for?

QUOTE (Nunnigan @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 01:32 PM) My weirdest flight wasnt as bad as that, but it was real embarrasing. Two years ago, my family and I were flying back from Phoenix. Halfway through the flight, I woke up from a nap and noticed some 40+ year old lady was sitting right next to me, hitting on me. Before you even say "What's the problem?" she was absolutley plastered, smelling of alcohol and about 20 years older than me. She was very flirtatious and very touchy-feeley. Approaching Chicago, late at night, she told me that she wanted to see the city lights because she's never seen them before. I told her if she wanted to switch seats since I had the window seat, but she said she was fine sitting where she was. At any time the plane flew over city, no matter how big or small, she would always lean over and ask me if that was Chicago. Getting fed up, I signaled to my brother and mom, who were sitting in the seats across the asile, to bring over a flight attendant. All they did was laugh at what I had to put up with. As the plane was making its decent into O'Hare is when it really started to get awkward. Like you all know, you have to remain seated, with your seatbelts fastened, while the plane makes its decent, this lady however ignored such rules. The flight attendants have to remind her several times to fasten her seat belt, until finally there was an argument between the lady and the attendants. She was removed from the seats next to me, and the attendants apologized to me for over serving her, and for her actions. When the plane landed, everyone on the plane was laughing and joking around with me for all that I had to put up with. This was perhaps one of the most embarrasing moments of my life. I still don't understand what the problem was, especially if it was Kathy Griffin.

Hopleaf in Andersonville. Good food, absolutely amazing beer list.

Zito showed tonight why any team should be happy to have him... NOT! (LOL) Gave up eight runs in three and a third.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 11, 2009 -> 02:48 PM) If it was Wise I'd boo him.I'd wait until he saved me, then boo him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 9, 2009 -> 09:38 AM) The White Sox could be trading a reliever. Everyone needs them and teams will overpay. Hawk and Stone were talking about it the other day saying teams would have to pay double to get a good reliever. Maybe they were hinting at something.I was thinking the same thing. I really wouldn't be surprised at all if Jenks were traded.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 02:13 AM) one of my favorite games. I'm really excited about ffxiv all though ffxi took a ton of my time away.I didn't much get into xi, but I'm still very much looking forward to xiv. Also been playing Final Fantasy IV:The After Years, which just came out on WiiWare. Sequel to my favorite SNES game of all time (Final Fantasy II/IV).

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 03:32 PM) 9 hits in his last 41 ab's is ok i guessssPlayers have bad streaks. He's still vastly improved over last year. Alexei isn't a problem.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 03:25 PM) well thats the way some people are, always wanting to blame ozzie. ___is alexei doing better now than earlier in the year? yes but he still isnt doing that good..298/.347/.415/.761 in the last month.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 03:16 PM) 2 for last 49 with RISP. This is eerily similar to our stretch of 0 for against relief pitchers in 2007.That's absolutely amazing.

Suggesting that the Sox need to hit MORE homeruns? Someone here is going to have an aneurysm.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 04:23 PM) I was going to make the comparison between hitting guys we've never seen before and winning in Minnesota. Both have become mental issues it seems.I'm inclined to think it's a mental issue, since it's much harder to believe that the Sox scouts are simply unable to provide a decent report on opposing pitchers, and no changes have been made if this is the case.

I blame the shutouts on injuries, and having guys like Lillibridge, Betemit, Miller, Ramirez at the beginning of the year, and Fields during his horrid stretch in the lineup. I imagine Walker will be fired at some point this year if this continues, though, since someone has to take the fall. I also wonder if it's the scouting contributing to this inability to hit pitchers they've never seen before, or if it's a player mindset, like "we can't win in the Metrodome"?

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 02:49 PM) His ERA coming in to the game was still around 5.60 thoughHe's been up and down this year -- pitched well vs. Texas, Tampa Bay, and Seattle, poorly against Anaheim, Detroit, and Texas.

It'd be nice to see an aggregate ERA for pitchers making their first start in the majors, and first start against various teams. I wonder if other teams struggle as much as we seem to.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) Beckham making the pitcher work.K. Farmer seems to think the pitcher is working us over pretty well, and I'd tend to agree, based on Beckham's performance.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 02:28 PM) It lead to a three run homer after the walk. They put pressure on the pitcher especially in a 1-0 game as oppossed to stepping up and swinging at the first pitch (i.e. AJ) and popping out or grounding into a DP. This team has scored 4 runs in 27 innings against these pitchers and have yet to have a rally. Anyone have AJ's numbers when he swings first pitch? So Buehrle walking the leadoff batter, the third batter, then giving up the home run didn't lead to a 3 run homer, the sacrifice bunt did? That was the key to the inning? Really? Okay... whatever you say. I'm not continuing with this absurdity.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 02:21 PM) So Beckham is going to step in save the team with his offensive prowess got ya. The bunt there did not manufacture a run it manufactured three. Sacrifice bunts are also three run homers. Got ya.

Here he is again! ...And there he goes.

Here we go!