Leonard Washington

Got mine today. It's funny how excited I am to read about our awful minor league system. Imagine how excited die hard Royals fans must have been when they got their copy...

I want one of those Che Guevara/ Alexei t shirts that used to be for sale on Sox Machine.

I was actually pretty high on the O's coming into 2010. Nothing really went right for them, but I still like their chances with a few "post hype prospects" developing into what everyone hoped they would. I'm a big Tillman fan. That curveball is something special. Wieters HAS to improve (doesn't he?), and the so on. I feel for the O's fans. They're stuck in an impossible division. The Yankees and Red Sox are given contenders, the Rays are looking like consistent heavyweights, and the Jays are looking like a potential powerhouse too (richest ownership in baseball/smart front office). I'd like to see the Orioles at least get back to respectability. It's always sad when a team with a proud history goes into an extended stretch of being pathetic. The Pirates, for example.

Sometimes I think he says stupid things on purpose just so people like us will talk about him....like a kid who doesn't care if he gets good attention or bad attention. Alexei leading off makes no sense. His on base skills are his biggest weakness.

Other than thinking Alexei is about equal to Tulo, I have no real problems with any of this comments. In fact, it's the opposite. I thought he was sincere and humourous. My only concern is with the Joe West stuff. Again, I think it's hilarious, but at the same time I'm a bit worried about the repercussions. Umpires are a tight-knit group. Of course they're supposed to be subjective, but if you really think they are, you're delirious. Are we getting to the point where we might be facing a somewhat regular disadvantage? I sure hope not, but it does worry me a little. That said, I don't really think West is taken too seriously these days, so it could be insignificant. I hope so.

QUOTE (joeynach @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 02:30 AM) I have not heard of the sox offering anything close to what a pitcher like danks would get. Jon Lester got 5 years 30M, Zach Grienke got 4 years 38M. When the sox offer Danks something close to Grienke got then we can talk for real. Until then all we know is that Danks was offered a 4 Year 16M deal, same one that Flloyd accepted. Shocking that he turned it down, hes about 10x better than Gavin. If the sox offered Danks something like 4 Year 40M right now he would probably accept it, 6M in 2011, 8M in 2012, 12M in 2013, 14M in 2014. BOOM! It would have to be for more than that with his service time. We likely don't have the payroll to up his 2011 salary, so something like this might work. 2011: 6MM 2012: 9.5MM 2013: 13.5MM 2014: 15MM 2015: 16.5MM w/ 2MM buyout club option. 4 years/46MM makes sense to me.

I assume knightni is referring to me, and I think my post was deleted. My bad. I bartend and have a rare night off. I'm hammered. I thought it was funny though. Anyways.... in my mind, a name as lame as White SUX deserves banning in itself. At least have an ounce of respect/cleverness. Twins fans are like early 90's Cub fans. I don't know where they came from, but they're brutal and I just want them to leave.

As insulting as it is....I give Freddy his due for obviously not giving too much of a s*** about salary. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to pitch for the Yankees once in his career. I think it's a cliched and stupid goal, but who am I to judge. He sacrificed money to do what he wanted. Hard to not respect.

I would normally be worried about his age considering he's a SS, but his body type typically ages well. He's the rare Cuban that looks younger than he actually is.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 31, 2011 -> 09:20 PM) That, or the Sox did not want him as much as we think we did. I'm sure other teams would have some interest in him on a major league deal.

Crasnick twitter. He must have really wanted to play for the Yankees if he was cool with a minor league deal.

The Tigers' main weakness to me is their defense. Aside from Inge and Jackson, who stands out as being a plus defender?

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jan 31, 2011 -> 08:19 PM) It will almost undoubtedly be back-loaded but nothing crazy, something like: $6M, $8M, $9M, $9M, $500K buyout. By the 3rd year of Alexei's deal the Sox will only have Rios ($12.5M) and Dunn ($15M) under contract and Alexei's all along in year 4, Rios has a $13.5M team option that season. Yeah something like this makes sense.

Hardball Times named 2005 the most exciting 4 game World Series ever, http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...sics-countdown/

I think Peavy should have the "F" removed from JFP, unless it's being used ironically.

It always amazes me how players tend to mirror their fanbase.

Haha I thought the whole "by the time I get to Glendale" thing was a play on the song "By the Time I Get to Arizona" which is one of Public Enemy's best songs. Highly recommended if that's your thing.

The Public Enemy reference in the title makes me smile a little. So does all the talk about sluts.

I'm writing everything having not read any previous post. But in my mind, what the hell is the difference? Frank f***ing Thomas is a first ballot HOFer. I say that as the ultimate tough guy on HOF ballots. I'm the guy that still says NO to Blyleven and would still say no to MB should be wind up in a similar position. But Frank Thomas is a first ballot hitter if there's ever been one. He's legendary. I'm a Sox fan for life, and I will say this. Sox fans took Frank for granted from almost day-1. it's true. i respect the white sox scepticism, but the bottom line was us underrated Frank. We had the Pujols of our generation, and we never gave him the love he earned. He's the greatest Sox of all-time, and yet he's treated like steve sax. I live and die white sox, but please....give it up for Frank! (as I wrote this whole thing there was a video of Frank, which is gone. So forget my whole intro

The opt-out thing makes it nothing but worse for NY.

That Soriano signing is ridiculous. Not because Soriano isn't a great reliver, but because what other team pushed them to that price? Illitch and the Steinbrenners deserve extra special Christmas cards from the Boras family, tell you that much.

QUOTE (TomPickle @ Jan 14, 2011 -> 09:14 PM) Well yeah, all that is true. I guess I should have said he'll be another mediocre starter that will have the White Sox's number. Or his arm might fall off. Or he'll literally have a White Sox number when we inevitably trade for him.

"I have the ultimate respect for White Sox fans. They were as miserable as the Cubs and Red Sox fans ever were but always had the good decency to keep it to themselves. And when they finally won the World Series, they celebrated without annoying every other fan in the country." - Jim Caple from his latest article updating the team misery indexes. Put this quote in my sig.

I will be totally honest..... I have serious doubts about Sale's ability to stay healthy. I think it's possible he suffers a major injury (Tommy John comes to mind) and he totally recovers, but when I see him pitch I see serious injury risks. People seem to think his adding mass with age will help, but I see the opposite. His type of motion requires incredible flexibility, which tends to come with lower muscle mass. I think he becomes more risky as he fills out. That being said (curb your enthusiasm reference intended), pitcher's injuries are never a sure thing, and I hope with all sincerity he has no serious health issues. I love not only his promise, but the heart he showed this past season.

Vlad did break down in the second half (.748 OPS) but in his defense he had just under 600 AB's on the year. Give Thome the same number (he had less than half of what Vlad had), and I would be my life he'd slow down too.