lasttriptotulsa

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) This is a really stupid question, but does LaRoche's kid go to any type of schooling? I understand wanting to be in a Major League clubhouse with your dad, but the kid was getting really annoying. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-leag...38260--mlb.html "Long ago, LaRoche prioritized bringing Drake with him over traditional schooling. He goes to class in winter. In Viera, he brings schoolwork with him and sees a private tutor at a Sylvan Learning Center. They live in a small Kansas town, and LaRoche arranged Drake’s education with the public school. LaRoche said Drake’s school is fine so long as Drake passes standardized tests."

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:50 PM) I doubt that. From all accounts, both with the Nats and White Sox, this kid is supposedly a really good kid. If he was a distraction, they would want him gone. KW said he just didn't want him there every day. I don't know. Even is he is a great kid I don't think I would want a 14 year old around all the time. I would feel like I would have to watch what I do or say all the time because I wouldn't want to expose a 14 year old to anything he shouldn't be exposed to. (foul language, dirty jokes, whatever it may be)

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:13 PM) Neither at the moment. I've just been playing more since my son gained interest in it and was wondering what kind of score increases I might see if I picked up a ball. I'd definitely consider joining a league, but not until I improve substantially. If you go from a plastic house ball to your own plastic ball and just throw it straight you will see some gains but not that substantial. However, if you can truly hit a 150 average consistently using a crappy house ball you could probably develop yourself into a 180-ish bowler fairly easily if you bought a good bowling ball and spent a little time on your game. And as far as joining a league goes, if you join a fairly easy going, not overly competitive league nobody will really care what your average is. I've bowled in plenty of leagues, some very competitive some not very competitive, and in each one there has been plenty of bowlers who were 150-ish averages. I would just recommend talking to someone at your local alley and seeing which leagues are overly competitive and which leagues aren't. The most competitive league at my alley probably only has 2 or 3 bowlers (out of 40) that are less than about a 180 average. You'll have a lot more fun joining an easy going league than you will in a league where guys think they're in the PBA.

If the kid in the clubhouse story is accurate I can understand it from all sides. I don't fault the Sox or other players for not wanting someone's kid there all the time and I don't fault LaRoche for wanting to retire if he can't be with his kid. It sounds like he chose his kid over baseball and you have to respect that.

I'm probably in the minority here but I kind of hope he doesn't retire. I think he is a good bounce back candidate and a 2014-esque version of Adam LaRoche makes the middle of our lineup very dangerous. Sure having the extra money would be nice but on March 15 with opening day just 3 weeks away there really isn't a whole lot out there to spend it on.

I think the answer to the question of who replaces him is pretty obvious. Hahn needs to get on the phone and see what the Big Donkey is up to these days.

I'm not quite sure I understand the logic in allowing US territories to vote in the primaries but not in the general election.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 09:24 AM) I think people need to stop acting like there's a competition. There really isn't. There is 1 roster spot available and it's for the bench IMO. Petricka or Putnam going on the DL could open a spot for Kahnle. Other than that, the rotation is in some order Sale/Quintana/Rodon/Latos/Danks. The bullpen looks like: Robertson/Jones/Duke/Putnam/Petricka/Jennings/Albers. An injury could open a spot. As far as position players go: Abreu/LaRoche/Lawrie/Frazier/Avila/Jackson/Eaton/Cabrera/Rollins/Saladino/Garcia/Navarro. That leaves one spot. It's probably Shuck as of now but I could see them claiming an excess OF from a team with a surplus and going with that person over Shuck. I really think they would like to keep Turner around as the 6th starter, long reliever but out of that bolded group I just don't know who you leave out. If they dump Turner and go with those 7 guys they are left without a true long man which is something they probably need with Danks and a questionable health Latos making up the 4th and 5th spot in the rotation.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 06:44 PM) You pro-Latos folks are deluding yourselves. Why? He pitched much better than his ERA showed last year as evidenced by his very acceptable 3.72 FIP. In the only place he spend significant time last year (Miami) his FIP was a very good 3.41. If he ends up with a low to mid 3's FIP this year he could be the steal of the off season.

My name will be on my first ballot in April running for village board in my booming town of 1000 people. Pretty exciting stuff.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 11:49 AM) Totally forgot about that. I'm still not sold on Saladino at 2B, but at least they have Rollins as another option. I hope that both of those guys are getting reps at 2B. I'm not the least bit worried about Saladino at 2B. He made the transition to third last year with basically zero experience and handled it fine. He shouldn't have any problems transitioning to 2B where he did actually have 600 innings experience in the minors.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 3, 2016 -> 10:03 AM) MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 2h2 hours ago #Marlins late-inning reliever Carter Capps (elbow) is headed for a visit with Dr. James Andrews. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/cart...-relievers.html … Man I'd like to see that guys bank account. He's been the go to guy in the sports world forever it seems.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 11:33 AM) Lawrie is going to have to play 3B whenever Frazier needs a day off, so the backup 2B will have to effectively spell two players. And if LaRoche ever goes on the DL, Frazier is the only one with ample playing time at 1B, so that would mean Lawrie plays 3B on those days as well. When Frazier needs a day off Saladino will play third. I think it's pretty likely that Rollins is the starting SS and Saladino backs up 3B, 2B and SS.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Mar 13, 2016 -> 10:40 PM) With Morneau still looking for a suitor should the White Sox be considering his services in case LaRoche doesn't get healthy? If LaRoche is not ready at the start of the season my money would be on them keeping up another outfielder. This would allow Eaton to DH more while his arm returns to 100%.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 11, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) We used to stay at Elberts Resort on Little St Germain My family used to stay in 3 or 4 privately owned cabins that were within spitting distance of Elbert's for years until the owners of one of the cabins decided to stop renting it out. Now we've moved over to Leisure Lodge resort on Big St Germain and have been there for 6 or 7 years.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 08:01 PM) I'm trying to figure out why Penn State was invited to join the BIG. Which was it: a) They suck at football b) They suck at basketball c) The massive rural central Pennsylvania television market d) Conference was below its pedophile quota I'm confused. Penn State has been in the Big Ten what, like 25 years? Why are you bringing this up now?

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 11, 2016 -> 08:55 AM) 69. It's silly, but they don't hand that one out in spring training. Personally I think not assigning Charley Lau's #6 is pretty dumb. I get it, the guy died when he was your hitting coach so go ahead and leave it unassigned for a year or two, but it's been over 30 years. Time to move on.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 11, 2016 -> 08:39 AM) No. Right now the only regular baseball number not assigned to anyone is 51. The Sox have 15 numbers they don't assign. Kind of ridiculous it's that many, but whatever. 2 - Fox 3 - Baines 4 - Appling 6 - Lau (unassigned) 9 - Minoso 11 - Aparicio 13 - Guillen (maybe uassigned?) 14 - Konerko 16 - Lyons 19 - Pierce 35 - Thomas 42 - Robinson 56 - Buehrle (unassigned) 72 - Fisk So I've got 13 or 14 if you count Ozzie, what am I missing?

QUOTE (Tex @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 03:04 PM) My family has been going up there every summer for over 50 years. Mine as well. Starting shortly after my grandparents were married. I think this is year 17 for me.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 03:54 PM) The addition of Jackson is greater within the context of our team and it's makeup. 1. The defensive difference between the two is MASSIVE 2. While Avi's upside is certainly higher, his floor is way lower. Jackson has had several seasons as an above average hitter and is a good bet to regress toward his career line 3. If Avi hits, we can still have his bat. He can platoon with LaRoche, replace Laroche completely, participate in a more equal job share with the corner guys (as forward-thinking teams like the Rays nad Dodgers have been doing for a few years now -- there's no evidence that playing 160 games is good for your health; 120 might be much better), or replace Melky outright. Lots of scenarios where he gets at-bats, the good part is that he only gets them if he earns them If Avi and LaRoche are both hitting I think this is what happens. There is still plenty of at bats to go around just using Avi to give rest to all 3 outfield guys (rotate Eaton and Jackson accordingly), give Abreu rest (DHing with LaRoche at 1st) and give him all of the DH starts with a lefty on the mound DH with lefty on the mount - 36 games - 135-155 PAs Each OF spot once every 2 weeks - 40 games - 150-170 PAs Abreu rest twice every 3 weeks - 17 games - 65-75 PAs Total of 93 games and 350 - 400 plate appearances. Obviously the better he plays, the more he takes the place of somebody not playing as well. This would still leave Eaton, Jackson and Cabrera with around 145-150 games (depending on how much you want to play Shuck), Abreu with 145 games and LaRoche with 143 games (maybe a bit much for LaRoche but you can substitute in the hot hand to give him more rest).

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 03:00 PM) Very doubtful. Sox need LH hitting and the Sox just don't cut a $13M salary. I don't really think there is any chance they would cut him, until late in the season, but if Avi is significantly outhitting him he will get more at bats. It doesn't matter what side of the plate LaRoche stands on if he isn't hitting. That being said, I do think we see a pretty sizable comeback from LaRoche this year.

Another nice shot by Avi into the left-centerfield gap. He is absolutely on fire. I know it's a very small sample size but he looks like a completely different hitter in the chances I've got to see him this spring. I really think this is the year he puts it together.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 02:22 PM) They should do that for Quintana during the season once in a while. Yea no kidding. That's been about 3 games worth of runs for Quintana in the past.

Nice 5 run 1st inning for the Sox there.

QUOTE (Tex @ Mar 10, 2016 -> 05:44 AM) June will be two weeks in a remote New Mexico mountain cabin cataloging and possibly editing a deceased author's unpublished works. Late June possible to the Fourth of July ten days in the Pacific northwest hiking and camping. End of July a week in St. Germain, Wisconsin and Chicago with the family. I will try to fit in at least one golf coaches camp. Summers make up for the school year. I'm making two separate trips to St Germain in June. One with friends, one with family.