flavum

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 12:05 PM) The NFL has a league most similar to MLB's and they generally keep teams in common areas in separate conferences. New York/New York, Jacksonville/Tampa/Miami, Dallas/Houston, Baltimore/Washington, Philadelphia/Pittsburgh, San Fran/Oakland...why would you change that? I understand that some of that is historical, but the NFL plays by the same rules in both conferences and they don't do any of that. If you were to do that you'd oversaturate the local markets and you'd lose money, long-term. There's simply no way in hell that you'd see a major realignment nor the Cubs and Sox ever in the same division. I hope you're right, but the way they want more games within the division so there are more games within the same time zone for TV revenue purposes, it scares me they'll just blow it up and make it even more regional. This is year one of Astros and Rangers in the same division. I think the Diamondbacks would have moved to the AL, but MLB wanted to use Astros/Rangers as a test to see what happens with attendance and TV ratings when they play each other head-to-head 19 games a year. If there's a noticeable spike over the next 5 years, then we'll see what happens. Personally, I would have moved the D-backs to the AL, eliminated divisions, and played a more balanced league schedule with 18 interleague games, and top 5 of 15 qualify for postseason.

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 11:35 AM) Of the two biggest spenders this off-season who makes the playoffs and who tanks? I think the Blue Jays will make the second wildcard, and the Dodgers just miss out on it. I'm rooting for the Angels and Dodgers to miss the playoffs. Nationals too. Blue Jays are going to win 90 games if their bullpen isn't awful.

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 11:31 AM) I can't believe they instituted year round inter league without making the DH mandatory for both leagues. In just interleague games or NL goes to fulltime DH too? I see both sides...fans like what they're used to. I kinda hope they keep it the way it is, because if they ever have the same rule in both leagues, then they would be one step closer to radical realignment where the Sox and Cubs would be in the same division--and I would absolutely hate that.

Another reason why Sale should start the opener...it takes the bat out of his hands in Washington. Start him Monday and Sunday in Chicago, and let Peavy, Floyd, and Quintana/Danks hit in Washington.

Interesting... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/t...ng-projections/

Dunn and Carlos Sanchez D'oh https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30283...6393344/photo/1 https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30283...3379201/photo/1 Watch your back, Beckham https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30283...6896641/photo/1

Rick Hahn on Talking Baseball said Hawkins "could very well start the season at High-A Winston-Salem".

You gotta be some kind of arrogant to get off on a technicality, lie right to public while your teammates stand by you, and continue to juice. We'll see what happens, but there's just way too much smoke with this guy.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 15, 2013 -> 02:32 PM) He is the fifth starter in the spring rotation right now. It's minor leaguers and bullpen guys the first 6 ST games, and then March 1-5 it's Sale, Quintana, Peavy, Danks, Floyd. Hopefully by OD it's Sale, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, Quintana, and they're all ready to go 31-33 starts.

30 Clubs in 30 Days schedule. Sox next Thursday 2/21. Fri., Feb. 15 - Cubs Mon., Feb. 18 - Rangers Mon., Feb. 18 - Royals Tue., Feb. 19 - Rockies Tue., Feb. 19 - D-backs Wed., Feb. 20 - Padres Wed., Feb. 20 - Mariners Thurs., Feb. 21 - White Sox Fri., Feb. 22 - Indians Fri., Feb. 22 - Reds Mon., Feb. 25 - Dodgers Tue., Feb. 26 - Brewers Wed., Feb. 27 - Athletics Thurs., Feb. 28 - Giants Fri., Mar. 1 - Angels Sat., Mar. 2 - Blue Jays Sun., Mar. 3 - Braves Mon., Mar. 4 - Tigers Tue., Mar. 5 - Pirates Wed., Mar. 6 - Orioles Thurs., Mar. 7 - Astros Wed., Mar. 20 - Yankees Thurs., Mar. 21 - Rays Fri., Mar. 22 - Phillies Sat., Mar. 23 - Red Sox Sun., Mar. 24 - Twins Mon., Mar. 25 - Marlins Tue., Mar. 26 - Mets Wed., Mar. 27 - Cardinals Thurs., Mar. 28 - Nationals

MLB Network Schedule. http://www.mlb.com/network/schedule/Spring_Games.jsp

It's kind of a nothing story, but truthfully I'd rather have a manager that really aspired to be a manager after his playing career. This is rebuilding without saying it, so they'll put a decent team on the field and a likable manager in the dugout and in front of the microphones, and try to get the farm system rebuilt on the fly without doing a complete tear down, because economically the Sox can't afford to do it.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Feb 14, 2013 -> 11:38 AM) Good to see Danks back. Is he going to start pitching in live games right away or will the Sox wait till later in spring training? Supposedly it's minor leaguers and bullpen guys until March 1st. Then-- 3-1 Sale 3-2 Quintana 3-3 Peavy 3-4 Danks 3-5 Floyd

Danks throwing. We're going to need him. https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30210...9209217/photo/1

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2013 -> 01:18 PM) Any idea when the first televised game is? http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87856

Keppinger http://instagram.com/p/Vrj4rhFsc2/ https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30175...8471168/photo/1

Yes, Cooper is wearing 99 for Hickey. Daryl Boston takes 17 from Flowers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2013 -> 10:19 AM) Comiskey Park Hitmen ‏@CPHSox Mystery solved. Bobby Thigpen will wear # 58, the number he wore his rookie year with the #whitesox. Thornton will retain # 37. Some other sites have numbers listed for some guys-- 5- A Sanchez 7- Keppinger 18- Tekotte 20- Jor Danks back to 20 21- Flowers (not sure what Coop is doing, maybe 99 for Hickey?) 27- Lindstrom 36- Phegley 39- Anderson 40- Troncoso 54- Heath 60- Gray

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2013 -> 09:07 AM) I don't think you can really argue with the results. Ventura took a team that lost TCQ and Buehrle and led them to 6 MORE wins. While I think they overachieved last year, I don't know how much it had to do with Ventura. He made mistakes with the lineup and bullpen, but we'll see if that improves. Bottom line for me...if the Sox organization is always "win now", then win.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 13, 2013 -> 09:05 AM) Players, managers, executives all get offered extensions all the time, and it is actually quite common they get turned down. Examples of managers under 60 years old and executives?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2013 -> 08:17 AM) Well that is the most bulls*** statement of all time. The Sox won 85 games last year and nearly won a division with Dunn as a 3 hitter. And what is this college of coaches? And wanting Mark Parent to manage? And not knowing if Ventura is in charge??? #1) Good managers surround themselves with good people. #2) No #3) Ventura was obviously in charge last year. Why would he suddenly not be in charge this year? He commands the clubhouse's respect and does everything he can for the players. Ventura is a good manager, and reading ANYTHING into that contract extension is merely pointless and worthless speculation. I must have missed it when the Sox were celebrating on the field when they made the playoffs. The Sox weren't a winning team last year. 85 wins in the AL Central in the 2-wildcard era isn't good enough. If they stick with Dunn batting third, they won't make the postseason. Again, Ventura may be a good manager...and he may not. I have no idea. You have no idea. The results will be on the field, but competing but coming up short isn't good enough no matter who the manager is. It's just weird that we have a manager that was offered another season on his deal, and he turned it down. That's not normal.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) Its all about the product on the field. This actually looked like a baseball team for the last season. They could do things like hit the cutoff man and run the bases. And they made mistakes too. They stuck with Morel too long, especially when he was batting 2nd. And Dunn can't be a 3-hitter for a winning team. I'm not going to knock Ventura for one season of managing, but I have no idea if he's a good manager yet. It all seems like a "college of coaches" scenario, with Robin doing the pre- and postgame media sessions. I just don't feel like he's the guy in control yet. And when he turns down a contract extension, I have to question how much he wants to do this. Truthfully, I'd rather have Mark Parent managing since he paid his dues in the minors, and has a good reputation.

I have conflicting feelings about Ventura as a manager. You can't help but like him as a person, but do we really want a 45-year-old manager that would turn down a contract extension? Just win, man.

Still no update on the roster numbers on the Sox site, but it looks like Phegley got 36 and Bryan Anderson is 39. Didn't see a 37 hanging between 36 and 38. They're not making Thornton change for Thigpen, are they? It would appear Flowers changed his number as well. Not 17 anymore. https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/30140...9034880/photo/1

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 12, 2013 -> 11:36 AM) I wanna start seeing pics! http://instagram.com/p/VpATQlr5QN/ https://twitter.com/DanHayesCSN/status/3013...8511104/photo/1