The Ultimate Champion

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 02:23 PM) A TURKEY burger?! What are you some kinda high-falootin' craft beer drinker? Votin' Obama and trying to take the LORD GOD out of the pledge of allegiance? I admit it, you got me. Truth is I am not woman enough to take the full beef, I prefer the turkey. I really do. Chicken as well. I can't ALWAYS live the high life

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 02:06 PM) This is above the mere Mods and Admins. This sacrifice goes to a higher power But what is that power KyYle? I have never heard of such a thing.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 01:57 PM) I think it would be cool to have a pinned thread where you can just add random facts, tidbits, news about the White Sox that you don't think deserve their own thread. I even thought of a catchy name for it: "White Sox Catch-All Thread" Sounds interesting but then what do you do when you want to post random facts and tidbits about things like hard cacks and spicy mustard? To where would one direct his attention? I feel confused. Abused also. By wite.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 01:56 PM) You must make daily sacrifices and prayers. I am about to sacrifice a turkey burger. When I do so I would like all you mods to know that I did it because I felt a Trade Winds forum was necessary.

Just wondering when we'll be opening this thing. There are 30 days in June meaning in 2 days we're midway through June, and mid-June is when the trade discussions really kick into gear right? Every team has 2 points of the year where things get exciting. For contenders it is the trade deadline where you look at adding pieces as well as the last month or so given the potential for the playoffs, and for the pretenders like us those 2 periods are the trade deadline where we want to know who goes and for what along with the September call-up period where we get to maybe see a glimpse of the future. I personally have been waiting for trades ever since ST. I want the Trade Winds forum to open soon so I can think about them officially. JMO. When is this forum going to open?

QUOTE (SmashROT @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) The K-Zone deal is a pretty cool gimmick. I've seen the section near full in the two Sale starts I have attended. With that said, it's 980 seats or something. This really has very little impact on the overall attendance. If say, half of those fans were planning on attending the game anyway, what are we talking about here? 400-500 attendance bump per Sale start? Small potatoes. By promoting the K Zone the Sox are also promoting Sale specifically and by showing shots of the K Zone they are making the game appear to be more special than just one of the typical 81 home games that exist on the schedule. The Sox specifically promoting Sale every 5th start is like having Elvis night every fifth start or dog day or something, it's at least making an association with something that sounds different and exciting, so if you're watching/listening and there is talk about the K Zone, maybe you don't want to go sit there in that section, but you do want to get a seat somewhere because Sale is pitching and that's going to be a fun experience. Or even if you don't go to the game at all, you still HAVE to watch or listen to the game Sale is starting, because that is different and that is special. Really it goes well beyond the number of seats in that zone.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 11:18 AM) This is how we look at it in the minor leagues. Not exactly as "rodents," but as though we're trying to get them to come hang out at the park DESPITE the fact that there's baseball. Winning doesn't affect attendance at all; but tonight's "Set the Guinness Record for Most People Wearing Fake Moustaches Night" is sold out (and I just had a mini panic attack about ten minutes ago when I couldn't find the 7,000 moustaches we bought in the promo closet. But it's okay, I found them). Major League teams seems to have really conservative promotional schedules because the players can be the draw, but as the average fan shifts more toward watching the games on TV, it seems to me like the stadium needs to evolve its model to provide more experiences/food/giveaways that you just can't get unless you show up. ALL OF THIS You never as a business owner blame your consumer for not making a purchase, for not responding to your advertising campaign, for not giving you his/her attention, etc. And you also never assume you are operating in a vacuum or in some static environment where Monday is Tuesday is Saturday is March is July etc. MLB teams need to get more creative IMO, including ours. To me personally I have enough stuff to do (even though it doesn't seem like it via my posting habits) to where I don't need to see X number of games per year. And the atmosphere is one thing, but I really couldn't care less about any of that. I provide ratings mostly and I buy merchandise, as well as promote the team via word or mouth and so on. As a fan I help fill several of the necessary holes even though I am not a season ticket holder. Not all fans are the same, and MLB teams need to identify every possible way of filling every possible void as quickly and as easily and as efficiently overall as possible. Long gone are the days of well-dressed men and women attending games with cigars in their mouths (not so much the women) golf clapping sacrifice bunts and the like, it's a new set of circumstances entirely and the ethics of the journalists covering the sport will tell you as much immediately, and so adaption is necessary. Blaming the fans is stupid. When you are paying superstars $20-30M per year these days you need to make those funds up somehow, so just put those asses in seats, regardless of whose asses they are and what they smell like or where they've been, there's a reason we bolt the seats down to the concrete and spray them off with powerful hoses after the game, just fill them up however you have to, by any means necessary, and pay those bills.

I think it's pretty likely that most baseball "fans" in general aren't hardcore fans, they are just these breathing things that meander around indiscriminately and eventually if hit with enough social stimuli will find their way into the park to buy something. Maybe the Sox need to have a Justin Bieber celebration night or something to connect with all of those kids who will force their parents to take them out to the game and buy them a bunch of crap. Sox maybe should forget about baseball some of the time, just do whatever they have to do to get a bunch of these morons in the seats. I mean like, don't even think about them as baseball fans or even real people, just think of them as rodents, but instead of trying to get rid of them you are trying to attract them. Sprinkle some seed around, throw out a block of cheese, giving them a few hiding places, and let's bring in the rats. Then the Sox can raise the payroll and put out a better product, and I can watch/listen to that higher quality product from the comfort of my own home.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:40 AM) I don't know who you are, but I like your prose. Wait til the dick jokes start flowing. I'm a regular bathroom Shakespeare.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 07:57 AM) Meghan Montemurro ‏@M_Montemurro 8h Nice company RT @BRefPlayIndex Strikeouts thru 560 career IP #WhiteSox Sale 597, Nolan Ryan 548, Randy Johnson 526, Clemens 504, Carlton 421 I was thinking yesterday while listening to the game that we should refer to every day Sale pitches as "Sale Day" and treat it as a holiday. Then we could wish each other "Happy Sale Day!" and so on, and be all festive about it. Because that's how I feel about Chris Sale ATM, every day he pitches is a special day that deserves to be recognized for how special it is. Whenever he takes the hill I think like, "Maybe you guys win, but our guy is still better." Sale is just so awesome I can't believe it.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 07:17 PM) Agreed. I've been agreeing with you so much lately. Come on over to this side of the fence. It's nice over here. ^That guy is here. That guy is GREAT. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 12:34 AM) FWIW, Santos Rodriguez was highly regarded at the time of the trade as also possessing an electric arm, although even then most thought his future was as a reliever. He also supposedly could hit triple digits with the fastball. By the same token, Bartolo Colon supposedly can reach his own back in the shower. Not sure I'd bet the house on either of those things happening.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 07:29 PM) You're just a hater, man. Your stance on this doesn't have ANYTHING to do with beer. ADMIT IT! Beer has everything to do with anything and anything to do with everything, and everything to do with everything and anything to do with anything. If Hahn had put a down a couple refreshing Miller High Lifes ™ prior to calling AA (or more realistically, AA calling him) when AA offered the propostion of Matt Tuiassopsopso for several if not many thousands of dollars of cash money, Hahn would have angrily slobbered out something like "f*** you motherf***er you stupid piece of s***!" or something along those lines. As it was he was obviiously drinking that Crappensteiner junk and thought the whole thing was a great idea. I bet his next course of action (after throwing out all of his razors/shaving equipment and resolving to not only grow a massive beard but to buy organic hemp shampoo for it like a total wuss) was to head out to the nearest Nissan dealership to buy a new Nissan Cube ™ to impress all his other heavily-bearded hipster friends he just met at the last Decemberists ™ concert. Next time you see him he'll be in sandals wearing golf pants and he'll be holding his poodle on a leash talking about penguins or some stupid s***. Thats what happens when you drink that crap.

Tuiasposospo is going to eventually be up with the bigs hitting bombs, Hill will be lights out in the pen. That's just how it's going to go. That's how it goesa with us on waivers.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 07:24 PM) It's called taste. That's called Bud. Life is too short to drink crappy beer. Oh this is just great. So he's a medical Steverson, a love Steverson, a mechanics Steverson, now he's a beer Steverson. Sooner or later you're going to have to be a Walker on one of these things.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 04:07 PM) I also heard he is going to drink really snobby fine beer and said that "Miller Lite is poor man's swill. Only the truly decrepit would drink it." So take that into consideration. That's believable to me. That's the thing about all the hipster beers, they're all sizzle no steak, and people have the strangest habits of rationalizing their purchases. Like I just can't for the life of me understand why someone would want to pay so much for a beer just for the opportunity to talk about drinking said beer with other people who also have nothing interesting to say either. It's probably why these two trades happened, AA & Hahn had nothing to do but jerk off and watch Judge Judy so they get on the phone and start talking about s***ty players and then suddenly Hahn is rationalizing the superficially absurd trade of perfectly good money for 2 s***ty players, and of course AA is all about it too, like "Oh you're gonna love this guy" and blah blah blah. Same thing with the s***ty beer like, "Ooooh, can't you taste the hops? That was brewed in a galvanized bucket behind an old woodshed by a naked man performing a headstand, just as according to custom, and so that's why it's $8 a bottle." Makes no f***in sesne, the beer goes in one hole and comes out another, just get it down and move on to doing whatever you were doing, you're not Sir Isaac Newton you don't need to get sit there and contemplate it, just drink a good beer and that's that. A good honest beer at a tasty price. And if you're Hahn trade for a good honest player at a tasty price, don't just get on the phone with the Blue Jays and have a verbal circle jerk until Captain Waiver Claim convinces your snobby ass that one of his s***ty players is worth giving up perfectly good money for. So yeah I agree with you wite, we're on the same page here. We need to get Hahn some better beer, put his priorities in order before we end up with another one of these guys.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 05:11 PM) The Giants have such a big lead right now they're not going to give away much for Beckham. Of course, the Dodgers SEEMINGLY have to make a run at some point, and the Giants need to improve all-around offensively (other than Morse, Posey, etc.), but we're not going to get anything substantial back from Sabean. The thing is that other teams also would only have him for one season, and historically he's been below average...so you're still in many ways holding onto Ramirez and Beckham and going for it all again in 2015 IMO. As always, if someone bowls you over with offers for Ramirez OR someone just forces their way into the line-up (and Semien clearly failed to do so), then you can be more willing to make a trade. But with Semien seemingly destined for utility work this season at the big league level and Micah Johnson at least 2-3 months away, a trade of Beckham the way he's going right now and with how close they are to the Tigers and WC would be surprising. I think if we want upside out of Beckham we'll have to either get someone else's MLB-ready disappointment or else dip down into the A+ level or below. I'm not sure the Sox "knew" what they were getting with Montas in the Peavy deal any more than they "knew" what they were getting in the 1st rounder Gilmore from the Javy Vazquez deal who never did jack squat. I think it's likely or at least very possible that both results were surprises and as a result I don't expect another Montas type who immediately jumps on to the radar, BUT if one of these teams we are dealing with has an electric young RHP on the farm who is a couple years away at best but shows signs of quality secondary stuff, and who like Montas, has a strong FB and the ability to hold his velocity deep into games, then I think we should be very interested. Not only do we need another RHSP but as a general rule I'd much rather go after pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching and then look to trade excesses of it when they develop, just because I think that's probably the best way for this organization to utilize its strengths.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) How many teams has Tuisososospopo NOT been on this year? Apparently still not enough of the independent ones. In even more exciting news, my sources tell me Rick Hahn is considering a sandwich. Tiuasosopo, Hill AND a sandwich in two days time? Mercy, recline this man's chair right now and fetch him a pillow I swear to jeebus this man must never sleep!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 03:44 PM) They are paid to use their bodies for our enjoyment. So, yes And recently in the case of Rienzo he has been a human shield. DeAza has been a goalie. Too bad when he f***s his reads all up and drops the ball we don't immediately get a faceoff on the pitchers mound for the right to hit again.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 02:46 PM) That's fine, Gorkys can go lorkys himself. "Gork hees? I don't even know hees." TBH I didn't think lork was a word, I even checked on miriam-webster. But according to urban dictionary: lork To be assisted by a female in the act of self-pleasure. After the act, the couple goes to a McDonald's where the female orders McFluries(see McFluries). Frequently, the two have never spoken. Traditionally, it occurs during the Lenten season. A regional custom of Shrinetown, Louisiana. Man 1: So, me and this girl were totally lorking last night! Man 2: So you missed Law and Order! Man 1: SVU!?!? Man 2: Man, I wish I could lork with Mariska Hargitay. Man 1: AHHHHHHHHH!I would lork with her all night long, until the McFluries got soft, if you know what I'm sayin'! by Mark Elizabeth Lorker March 06, 2009 ^So it is a word, however I do believe that the above individual who submitted this definition is a dorkys.

Gorkys Hernandez is the only player in recorded baseball history to play under the name "Gorkys." When you type that into B-R it takes you directly to his page because from there, there is nowhere else to go. There is only one Gorkys and he like his Porkys. And forkys. Also Corky Miller. But not wite.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) One of the Braves top prospect is a 2B in AAA who was hitting ~.300 last I checked. Tommy La Stella is the name. Oh. Well the Giants, Oakland, Yankees, and Baltimore look like they could really use the help. The Jays don't look like they need him nearly as bad, but if AA loves Beckham maybe there's a deal there. The return still IMO should be RHSP with upside, but maybe the Sox would look at one of the Yankees catchers. The Giants always have pitching as well.

Beckham to the Braves makes too much sense not to happen. Uggla has been horses***, Bacon is a Georgia guy, and I think they still have Greg Walker don't they? I don't think they've fired him yet, maybe they have, but if he's there that's another reason for this to happen. I see on B-R the Braves have 3 young LH relievers. If any of them look pretty good I will take one of them at the MLB level now and as a centerpiece the Sox scouting department can find a high ceiling SP prospect. Not sure what their system looks like but there's always pitching over there.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 10, 2014 -> 06:25 PM) I don't want to play hardball with Rodon for this kid, I don't think anyone would risk Rodon for him. I am just intrigued by de Oca because he is the only "questionable" pick left and that is always exciting. I say that because Rodon is going to sign. And I don't care if he signs for 6.5 mill if that's what it takes. Yeah I agree with all this. I want Rodon here sooner than later & I would like it if the Sox can make a good impression on the kid, get the ball rolling in the right direction for the sake of future negotiations should they be necessary. My opinion on MDO definitely changes knowing he only had TJ once. I swear I read 2 TJs somewhere, here or elsewhere. Maybe not, maybe was someone else or someone else implanting thoughts into my brain from afar just to screw with me (caulfield?), but whatever, I definitely would like to sign him now. But also that improves his chances of making it through college without further injury, so maybe it would take more than half a million or so. But no matter what I will be happy with this entire draft should we get Rodon on here pretty quickly, and anything else is just icing on the cake. Laumann said he thought 3-4 weeks, Hahn isn't a-scared of Borass, so maybe we'll get this thing done pretty soon. Ideally that is the case because then you throw whatever your remaining bonus amount is at BMDO along with whatever other perks you can pull together while still sticking to the CBA guidelines, and then you make your offer. Also: I find it interesting that in this pic he looks in his late 30's, early 40's, I bet your average sales clerk would sell him beer without ID before he'd sell to Brent Lillibridge ID or not. Also I bet he buys beer for his friends & in KC he's porbably been buying chew and smokes for his buddies since he was 14. Also I like turtles.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 10, 2014 -> 06:04 PM) He has only had 1 TJ surgery. Hmm, I thought I saw he had that done twice? Well I like him a lot better now then. Still wouldn't play hardball with Rodon over the kid, but I'd be much happier if he signs now.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 10, 2014 -> 05:57 PM) Rodon is as likely to injure his arm as the other guy so you may as well attempt to get both. Whose to say Boras won't ask for more than Aiken as he accepted a deal for well under slot. Why would you say that? De Oca had 2 TJ surgeries and he just got out of high school. Rodon is a college player who has never had the procedure. How are they even remotely close? Also Coop likes Rodon so I'm assuming there's not some serious or at least unfixable mechanical issues there.