lasttriptotulsa

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 10:34 AM) And the funniest thing about both of those teams is that they have eliminated their own ability to improve with the draft. The Nets really screwed themselves big time. They set the franchise back years just to have an outside shot at a title this year and next. We see how well that has worked out so far.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 5, 2013 -> 11:26 PM) Yup, it's sad and infuriating. I don't care about Wiggins, Parker, Randle, etc. That's not gonna happen. But there's some serious impact players outside the top 5 and you know we're going to miss out on all of them because we have to play hard and with da heart and all that other lame s***. I understand the theory of losing to get a higher draft pick but there is almost a zero chance the Bulls will be a lottery team. The way the season is going, it might only take 30 wins to make the playoffs in the East. The Bulls will win 35 by accident even without playing their best.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 09:37 AM) He has never played more than 90 games in a season. I'm not certain playing 160 games is best for his confidence and long term health. I guess I should add, I don't think the signing was essential, but I also don't think it's the worst thing ever. Having someone like Konerko mentoring him has some value. Konerko has gone around the league playing the field a few times and I am certain he can offer some valuable insights. This signals to me that Abreu's development is the #1 priority for the team this season and they are willing to pay Konerko a few bucks to do that. If Abreu has a Konerko+ career on the southside that would be a very good thing. What I would like to see now is someone, anyone, willing to take Dunn. I agree with the statement that he shouldn't play 160 games, but I don't want to see him playing less than 150-155. If he starts to wear you've got both Konerko and Dunn who can play first for a game here and there and have Abreu DH.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 09:20 AM) Both Sharpes were absolute beasts. Shannon was amazing, imagine if he was utilized just like Gronk? Sterlings neck injury was a damn shame I always respected Shannon as an amazing player, but never really like him as I thought he was kind of a loud mouth, arrogant d-bag. He did gain a lot of respect from me after his HOF speech when he said "I'm the only player, of 267 men that walked through this building to my left, that can honestly say this: I'm the only pro football player that's in the Hall of Fame, and I'm the second best player in my own family."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 07:59 AM) There are a whole f***ton of great wide receivers who would have insane numbers if their careers took place in the past 5 years...that's one position it's really hard to adjust for. Exactly. In this new pass first era, I'd have to think that almost all of the passing/recieving records are going to broken by somebody. Even 10-12 years ago, 4000 yards in a season was the bench mark of the top quarterbacks. Now that is pretty much the standard with the top QBs passing for closer to 5000 or more. All those passing yards have to go to somebody. Its just really hard to compare todays recievers of the past couple generations (Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Sterling Sharpe, etc.) Its really almost like apples and oranges. And even though he played in a prior generation, I would have loved to see the numbers that Sterling Sharpe would have ended up with had he been able to play with Favre in Favre's prime. Sharpe was an absolute beast.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 12:23 AM) Native Americans was a war of conquest that they lost. Back then wars for land happened, if they wanted it so bad they should have fought harder for it. Did you seriously just say that? The ignorance of some people just blows my mind. You honestly think that the Native Americans "lost" because they didn't fight hard enough? It had nothing to do at all with the fact that the whites were far more advanced technologically and vastly outnumbered them in almost all instances? That's seriously like the United States overtaking a third world country and saying that they last because they didn't try hard enough. Please just go away.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 6, 2013 -> 01:24 AM) How can I wreck it for you?? People ask me to back my arguments up with stats, I do so, and it's still never good enough. You might use stats to try and back up your argument but you state Paulie's stat line and act like it's plenty good enough to hang around in the majors, but when someone posts Dunn's stat line, which was much better than Paulies, you dismiss it and call him a bum. I don't see how anybody could get pumped to watch Konerko bat anymore. I don't get real excited over bloop singes to right. I'd much rather watch Dunn at the plate. Sure he's going to strike out a lot and not get many hits, but there is still that 1 in 15 or so chance that he is going to hit a moon shot.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 5, 2013 -> 10:23 AM) That would be a huge upgrade over the past few years. But all things remaining equal, where does Gillaspie figure into all this? Is it still his position to lose at this point or is it Keppinger's? Pains me to think this is the only competition for 3b. What a gaping hole that is. Semien either starts at third or is in AAA in my opinion. That is, of course, unless we find a team to take Beckham. I don't know how it's going to work but I see, and kind of hope, it plays out like this. Infield of Semien, Ramirez, Beckham. Gillaspie and Keppinger are traded. Garcia is the lone backup. I like both Gillaspie and Semien, but do not see room for both on the roster with the re-signing of Konerko. It is in the best interest of the franchise to go with Semien over Gillaspie. To me, Semien has starter potential and I really think Gillaspie could thrive in a super-sub role on the right team, but at this point I just don't think that's the Sox.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 4, 2013 -> 11:47 AM) SOA is the king of the implausible reality but it was really good again last night. One thing that drives me nuts about Sons is why the hell does Tara still have an office and pretty much free reign at a hospital she no longer works for? Especially with the trial she has hanging over her head. I can't imagine any hospital in the country would even allow her on the premises, except as a patient, in her current situation.

I guess I don't really have a huge problem with it as long as he doesn't take away too many ABs from Abreu. With Konerko on the bench, they really need to find a way to get rid of Keppinger. Maybe a bench of Konerko, Garcia, Danks and backup C. Where does that leave Semien? AAA? Or do they plan on just going with a 11 man staff and having 5 on the bench. With a spot taken up by a pinch hitter who can only play one position they almost have to have 5 on the bench.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:50 PM) Yep, it gives you someone that can face tough righties and not have Flowers or Phegley severely over-matched in those situations. If this trade happens, I could realistically see a 2.5 - 3 WAR out of a Flowers/Lobaton platoon if they are used correctly. That's not too bad at less than $2 million in combined salary.

QUOTE (GoGoSox2k2 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:36 PM) has he posted anything on here recently that I missed? i was wondering why his mention came up a couple of posts ago? QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:38 PM) As for that, I have no idea why he was brought up today. Yea no new news from him. Somebody just brought him up out of the blue for whatever reason.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:44 PM) Fathom, rebuilding with guys like Loboton?? Cmon. It's better than rebuilding with guys on their last legs like Konerko and Pierzynski. Lobaton is a decent player with 4 years of team control left. I for one would be okay with this trade depending on what we would give up which can't be much.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:32 PM) Trade Lobaton to the Royals to back up Sal Perez for a possible bullpen arm and we start Phegs. Lobaton will assure me not buying the MLB package this year. It's like we are trying to lose games rather than spend some money and make a splash and win. Chicago is a big market city. Time to win again. FYI Greg, last year Lobaton had a 1.4 bWAR in just 100 games. The almighty Pierzynski that you were dying for the Sox to re-sign had a 1.6 bWAR in 134 games.

I honestly wouldn't mind a Lobaton/Flowers platoon with the ABs being split almost equal. Definitely an upgrade over last year.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 02:02 PM) I'm not trolling, I'm very angry that a team with Bill James as an adviser (admitted the best sabes talent evaluator) recognizes the value of an AJP and people on this board who actually got a WS title in large part because of AJP think Salty is a better option. Geez. I get the feeling some think AJ is some old hack who can't play, when he WAS A MAJOR LOSS to our team last season. Phegley and Flowers combined for a -.6 bWAR last year. Pierzynski had a 1.6 bWAR. But you're right, we should have kept him, paid him $7 million and lost 97 games instead of 99. That would have done us a lot of good.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 01:51 PM) Very disappointing we moved away from the AJ era so fricking early!! Boston the Bill James team realizes AJ is special. Just very disappointing we elected to go away from AJ and lose, oh, 99 games or so. Really ticks me off. Flowers was so bad it's laughable. Hope Phegs has what it takes. What's laughable is the fact that you think the loss of AJ is the reason the Sox lost 99 games. You put the blame on guys like Flowers, but completely deflect all blame from Konerko who was more responsible for the Sox suckage than Flowers was. Honestly at this point you're just trolling right? I mean you have to be, nobody could possibly be that clueless.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 01:34 PM) The Marlins have offered Saltalamacchia a two-year deal with a club option for a third season, according to Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN. If a guaranteed 3 yr deal is all it takes to get Salty any chance Hahn jumps in ? With the way Miami treated its last bunch of free agents, I think any player would be a fool to sign with them unless the contract is overwhelmingly higher than any other team offered.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Dec 3, 2013 -> 01:23 PM) Oh I get it, Hahn meant the trade market was heating up in general. Ya it is, fun to watch. You're just now figuring that out?

I also don't get the hate for Dylan. Obviously he is not a top of the rotation major league starter, but honestly who expected him to be? He was a fringe prospect who got paid the Major League minimum. He's not a guy like Navarro who comes in with a big salary and blows. Those are the guys that should be hated. For as little "stuff" as he had, I thought he did perfectly acceptable in a good percentage of his starts. I would almost bet money that he ends up back with the Sox on a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite.

I have no real issues with Morris. He was a hell of a pitcher, but there is a big difference between being a hell of a pitcher and a Hall of Famer. I wouldn't have any real issue if he did get inducted as he wouldn't be the worst Hall of Famer, but where does the watering down of the Hall of Fame stop? In recent years they've inducted guys like Rice, Dawson, Sutter and Santo. None of which I would consider Hall of Famers. I've read that something like 1 in 100 MLB players is worthy of the Hall of Fame. In a way that means that a player would have to be one of the top 7 or 8 players in baseball for the majority of their career. Guys like Morris would probably not rank in the top 7 or 8 players in baseball for even one season, let alone long to enough to be considered one of the top 1% of all players to ever play. Sorry for the rant, but I just have really high standards of who I consider to be Hall of Famers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 2, 2013 -> 01:46 PM) Agreed 100%. I saw both of their careers. They were both really, really good, heck, amazing for some stretches. Hall of Famers? No. Neither ever stood out to me as being dominant for any real amount of time, like say a Frank Thomas or Greg Maddux. Mattingly really only had a 6 year stretch where he could be considered HOF level. If that 6 year stretch had lasted 10 years, then maybe I coul see him being in. Other than the obvious post season performances, nothing really stands out about Morris. He has a fair amount of wins but all his other stats are rather pedestrian. If Morris gets in, then come 10-15 years from now, people better be talking about Buehrle getting in.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 2, 2013 -> 01:32 PM) I think Morris falls short, and they go Maddux, Glavine Thomas to get in. Too bad Dale Murphy dropped off, he's my crusade. My ballot would be: Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Morris, Biggio, Raines, McGriff, Mattingly, Trammel, Martinez. Hard to leave it at 10, would love to add Smith, Mussina and Walker. Piazza is also an iffy case, PED-wise, so that's a tough one. No matter how hard I try and no matter how many times I look at their stats, I simply cannot come up with a reason as to why people think Don Mattingly and Jack Morris are Hall of Famers.

QUOTE (woods of ypres @ Dec 2, 2013 -> 12:34 PM) They'll probably want Quintana. They can want Quintana all they want, but I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell the Sox would give him up for one year of Headley. I would love to see Headley on this team, but if they're giving up anything significant I would like to see one of those 24 hours to extend him contigency type deals.

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 26, 2013 -> 02:15 PM) If I could vote for 16 players: Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Glavine, Kent, Maddux, Mattingly, McGriff, Morris, Mussina, Piazza, Raines, Schilling, Thomas, Trammell I'm easy, but I wouldn't vote for Edgar Martinez, Larry Walker, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, or the rest. Edgar Martinez has a .300/.400/.500 slash line. That's good enough for me.