flavum

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 06:51 PM) Are you sure that was Paul Konerko and not Robin Ventura? Oh snap. If anything good comes out of Konerko watching a lot of baseball this year from the bench, he'll probably know if he ever wants to manage someday.

Since it's Hall of Fame season, I'm going to vent a pet peeve....misspelling common baseball names... Maddox, Clemons, McGuire, Trammel. Stop it. And if you still write Alexi Ramirez, you need to be punched.

The Tribune writers took the death blow to Piazza. I'm still saying Biggio is going under 75%. I also think Sosa, Palmeiro, and maybe McGwire go under 5%, which would be great. Updated: Jan.4 - 1:45 ~ 123 Full Ballots ~ (21.6% of vote ~ based on last year) 100 - Maddux 97.6 - Glavine 91.1 - F. Thomas 81.3 - Biggio ——————————— 71.5 - Piazza 64.2 - Bagwell 61.8 - Morris 60.2 - Raines 41.5 - Bonds 40.7 - Clemens 39.0 - Schilling 31.7 - Mussina 25.2 - Trammell 24.4 - E. Martinez 22.8 - L. Smith 15.4 - Kent 13.0 - McGriff 11.4 - L. Walker 9.8 - McGwire 7.3 - S. Sosa 6.5 - R. Palmeiro

This is pretty cool...grading each writer's ballot, with links to their columns and/or list of votes. http://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/artic...ect-hof-ballots

The Tribune writer's picks are in: Voting for 6, 7, or 8...I just don't get it. Some truly awful ballots. https://twitter.com/RRepoz I wouldn't be surprised if Fred Mitchell voted for Kent as a favor to Mark Gonzales, who is a Bay-area backer.

Frank 103/114 -- 20% of the ballots 100 - Maddux 97.4 - Glavine 90.4 - F. Thomas 81.6 - Biggio 72.8 - Piazza 65.8 - Bagwell

This Garry Brown guy voted for Morris, Raines, Bagwell, Biggio, and Edgar Martinez last year. So he voted for Biggio on his first ballot, but not Frank Thomas.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 06:08 PM) If this is the Gary Brown referred to in the twitter link , what did he ever do to deserve a ballot in the first place? Lol http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXminorsXXplayer.cgiQQid=brown-001gar It's Garry Brown. http://connect.masslive.com/user/gbrown413/posts.html Been in the BBWAA since 1977.

Thomas-less ballot: https://twitter.com/RRepoz/status/419252914310217728 Turned in a ballot with 9 names. No room for Frank. Old guy, by the way. Retired a few years ago. As far as I can tell, Frank is at 101/112- 90.2%

Pitchers and catchers report in 6 weeks. So we got that going for us, which is nice.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 02:04 PM) Joe Borchard, Brian Anderson, Josh Fields, Tyler Flowers, Brent Lillibridge, Brent Morel, ....just some names that BA had ranked just as high as Matt Davidson as prospects at one time. It's really not that crazy to think Charlotte might be a logical place for him to start the 2014 season. That may be true, but I think they acquired him with the intention of him being the OD 3B. No harm going to spring training with everyone--Keppinger and Gillaspie included, and make some deals in March if Davidson plays like he's ready.

99/109 for Thomas. He's getting in. Voters were more than happy to get three no-brainer candidates without ties to roids. Interesting, next year is Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz (with Sheffield). So the same thing may happen next year. 100 - Maddux 97.2 - Glavine 90.8 - F. Thomas 80.7 - Biggio ——————————— 73.4 - Piazza 66.1 - Bagwell 60.6 - Morris 56.0 - Raines 46.8 - Bonds 45.9 - Clemens 39.4 - Schilling 33.9 - Mussina 22.9 - Trammell 20.2 - E. Martinez 18.3 - L. Smith 14.7 - McGriff 13.8 - Kent 11.0 - L. Walker 11.0 - McGwire 8.3 - S. Sosa 7.3 - R. Palmeiro

Opening Day - Gillaspie different team. Keppinger different team. Unless Dunn is traded, which isn't likely. Davidson- 3B in Chicago.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) I am sure it would be on a minor league deal, which is OK by me. Yes, and better than Axelrod.

Omogrosso returning? https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/419180159934017536 Funny reply from the player himself.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 12:34 PM) The reporter on scene is almost in tears over a 20 year old minor league park. Saw that. Get a grip, man!

Minor league park in Michigan burned down on the 1st base side. http://www.wzzm13.com/video/livestream/live.aspx

If Sale, Quintana, Johnson, and Danks make 32-33 starts each, they'll get by with Paulino/Rienzo/Surkamp. Santiago is an ok pitcher, but it was more important to get high upside offense. Who knows, maybe they get a 1(b) ace pitcher five months from now in the draft.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) Is it wrong that I really like "Ground Floor"? It's watchable. Good eye candy.

Brawl down under. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...rawls-australia

The first few innings of the last night game at Comiskey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zduJfQWKxA

Frank---94/104 Not sure if this is a bold prediction, but I could see Biggio fall under 75%. I definitely think Piazza stays under 75% 100 - Maddux 97.1 - Glavine 90.4 - F. Thomas 80.8 - Biggio ——————————— 73.1 - Piazza 66.3 - Bagwell 60.1 - Morris 56.7 - Raines 45.2 - Bonds 44.2 - Clemens 39.4 - Schilling 35.6 - Mussina 23.1 - Trammell 19.2 - L. Smith 19.2 - E. Martinez 15.4 - McGriff 13.5 - Kent 11.5 - L. Walker 10.6 - McGwire 8.7 - S. Sosa 7.7 - R. Palmeiro

Joe Posnanski's Blog. http://joeposnanski.com/joeblogs/the-massi...l-of-fame-post/ I don't agree with everything, but if I had a vote, I might actually come up with the same 10.

https://twitter.com/AdamSpankyEaton/status/...844321320669184 I love baseball rats. This guy is going to expect to play 162.

Sox leave Arizona 12 weeks from today. Opening Day can't get here soon enough.