Flash Tizzle

1. Indians 2. Tigers 3. White Sox 4. Twins 5. Royals We often talk about "window of opportunities" with professional teams, and I realistically believe 2007 may be the ending of ours. Unless current starters remain consistent, and our minor league system produces an immediate contributer, I could realistically see us dropping to fourth. Liriano will be back for Minnesota. Detroit has Andrew Miller. Indians have Adam Miller. It's not going to get any easier. The expectations I place upon whichever prospect replaces Buehrle next year will be ungodly. Can't wait.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 10, 2007 -> 02:34 PM) It's also worth noting that Miguel Cabrera is going to be a free agent in 2008-ish. The Sox will have a ton of ontracts coming off the books. JR has been known to throw loads of money at hitters.......just sayin Which would be convenient for the Yankees if Rodriguez decides to opt out of his current contract. What I feel is, IF Crede/Buehrle/Dye all depart within the next two seasons, we'll reasonably need to acquire atleast one superstar calibur player. Especially if payroll figures remain high and the team is still competitive. As just as his reaosns may be, Williams can't let all three leave within a short time frame without finding viable replacements. Fields, Sweeney, Danks won't be enough. We all assume Anderson will remain, but what if his 2007 is terrible and no obvious improvements have been made? That would be yet another position to fill. These are goals I'd like Williams to meet these upcoming seasons: -Trade one/two of Garland, Vazquez, Contreras before their contracts expire. If none of our pitching prospects are able to replace departing starters, that should be about that for a large group of our minor league staff. Kick their asses out the door. -Trade Crede after next season. Either fill via FA, trade, or Fields -Let Dye walk unless he's willing to except a reasonable deal, which I don't think he will, and I can't blame him. Sign a FA for either LF or RF, with Sweeney occupying the remaining position. -Resign Iguchi -Resist signing scrub players to "push" Anderson. Give him full playing time in 2007, so we know without question if he's terrible or not.

Interesting how so many people here have their own stories. Here's a recent news story worthy of this thread -- UFO sighted at O'Hare airport. http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/a...,5874175.column

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Feb 9, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) Wow I won, cheers fellas. I feel a bit of a fraud because I've hardly posted over the last few months. I'm afraid I've been busy with other stuff. Rest assured I'll be back full time when the season starts. Anyone interested in any more of those game by game starting pitcher banners again? Or do you still blame them for last years slumps? You feel a bit of a fraud? Did Goldmember even post here in 2006? He received 20 votes just on reptutation alone.

QUOTE(TheBlackSox8 @ Feb 9, 2007 -> 06:28 PM) If they exist, who says that they're light years away? What if they're nothing more than a solar system or two a way....what if programs just couldn't track or find any evidence of beings being that close. It would take 100,000 years for light signals originating from Earth to reach the outer limits of the Milky Way Galaxy. Nearest solar system is far, far away from here.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Feb 9, 2007 -> 04:28 PM) It is the vastness of the distances that have to be traversed for anything to get to us that makes me doubt we have been visited. Short of alien races accomplishing theoreticals like folding space (with or without the aid of Arrakis spice), wormhole travel, etc., ain't nobody been here to see us. I feel similar sentiments when confronted with the technological advancements required for space travel. For any alien species to successfully venture across the solar system , they'll need to possess a blueprint of how our universe functions. More than merely identifying dark matter and its supposed awesomeness. What is contradictory in my mind is how unknown creatures can solve the perils of space travel, yet can't hide their spacecrafts from view? Why continue the debate -- just land on the front lawn of the White House. No one could stop them. However, even with this, I fully believe intelligent lifeforms exist outside our planet. I'm a little less willing, although certaintly open minded, to the idea of UFO's flying around Earth. It was an History Channel special I viewed recently which lowered my skepticism a little bit. Yeah, I know; don't laugh. It wasn't a feature on UFO's, but USO's -- Unidentified Submerged Objects. There were numerous accounts of sightings aboard the U.S.S. Franklin Roosevelt by a sizable amount of respected naval officers. Other individuals reported sighting which couldn't be explained as scientific instruments. Eye witness accounts often describe detail colorful, orbital objects diving into and out of the water. I don't know what it is, honestly. Because when you think about it -- the sheer depths of our planet's oceans would be a convenient place for shapeships. /X Files theme

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Feb 9, 2007 -> 02:23 PM) I got a total of 4 votes for biggest pessimist, and 3 of them are not by me! Maybe next season I can go the distance for sure You don't stand a chance if I'm still around.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 09:47 PM) i really like the sisco deal too. but i think a great way to get him to reach his potential is put him in the pen for some solid late/middle relief appearances. i have feeling the guy could strive in that type of role on this team. I'm not a fan of this. What worries me about a bullpen spot for Sisco is it eliminates one more option once Buehrle departs in 2008. As I see it, I'd prefer every available starter competing for the position next season. If Sisco is in the bullpen, sporadically pitching one/two innings, we're pushing back his place in the rotation ANOTHER season. Why pull this crap? Watch McCarthy this year -- unless Texas abuses him, he won't touch 170 innings because of his inconsistent workload under Guillen. You can't just jump from 70 IP to 180+. And, let's be honest here -- we'll need a dependable starter to (reasonably) compensate for the 220+ innings Buehlre averages. If I were managing Charlotte, I'd stretch Sisco out to ~ 90 innings. Ideally --if everything goes well -- in 2008 he could be expected to exceed 120. Not exactly Buehrle's level, but better than what he could reach after a bullpen role. Honestly, I don't believe there's anything wrong with giving Logan the remaining spot in the bullpen. If the bullpen reaches half its potential, even a struggling Boone can be accomodated during mop-up duty.

I loved watching Access Hollywood earlier. They approached her death entering the break as some celebrity gossip feature. "Next, the TRAGIC death of Anna Nicole Smith;" which sounded more like "OMG, this is great news!"

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 04:41 PM) Do we have any idea if this was accidental/suicide or homicide. Two suspicious deaths in 5 months makes me start wondering, of course that is just the investigator in me talking. That immediately came to my mind as well; but reasonably, would any assailant risk murdering Smith in the wake of heightened media attention? Who knows, though. If the biological father could possibly inherit the money from her previous marriage with the millionaire, it would definitely establish a motive. Although, again, could anyone be that dumb? He'd be the first suspect.

Has anyone read some of the comments made by NBA players in response to Amaechi? One player in particular from Philadelphia (don't recall his name) said, when asked about someone coming out -- "don't bring your gayness onto me." Earlier on Jim Rome, he quoted an extended quote from a player (may have been the same Philadelphia 76er) who basically called the act of homosexuality disgusting. Now, what I want to know is when the outrage will begin? These are much worse than Guillen calling Mariotiti one three letter word.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 03:39 PM) barbaro, anna nicole...what bizarre "celebrity" will complete this trifecta?? Select any pro wrestler featured during the late 80's/early 90's. I've always held this belief Hulk Hogan won't make it past his 55 birthday.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 03:29 PM) That's not it at all. If you want me to say it again, I feel no remorse for her death. She led a sad life. Actually, that's all I want -- for people to post their true feelings and not what the board feels is appropriate. I'm satisifed; no more needs to be said.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 03:24 PM) I edited it for a reason; so I didn't need a quote of it out there after the fact. I'm not trying play some stupid game. I know you did. You edited it because Steff called you out. You don't 'feel any different.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 03:20 PM) No matter what, she was incredible in her early days. She fell into a wacky world, obviously helped along by all sorts of abuse (drugs, booze, food). Was she selfish? Eh, I never knew her, so I couldn't say. But in her early days...man... RIP.

What the hell? Seriously, don't delete my posts because you're not man enough to stick up for your comments. Atleast you bothered to post your true feelings -- until called out.

I believe it'd be a rather appropriate moment for those damn paternity tests to come through. Most familar with the situation believe Smith's lawyers successfully blocked such an action because she's screwed so many men, and it's possible Howard Stern was not the true father. Now, atleast let the child grow up with their biological father and avoid further media scrunity. Also, you know the family of the wealthy man Smith married several years back are more than happy to hear about this.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 02:53 PM) CNN front page. If I were to believe local sports radio hosts Boers and Berstein, she has since died. What's important here is that national news outlets not jump to conclusions. You just don't spread false rumors concerning the death of someone of Nicole's stature. Hell, spontaneous vigels may be arising right now as I type this.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 7, 2007 -> 12:05 AM) Torii Hunter circa 1999 both offensively and defensively. I'd like to believe he's capable of reaching those statistics -- but I can't. Atleast this upcoming season. .235/.309/.380. I'm not upset with these predictions, either. If other positional players with more experience hit, at the least, around career averages (esp. Uribe), our already potent offense won't be effected. Even if one reasonably assumes Thome/Crede/Dye are due for a dropoff, I'd say Anderson/Uribe could compensate for a little bit of the regression. Toby Hall should make a hell of an addition as well.

I seriously doubt Sweeney replaces Dye unless a major upgrade is made at another position -- ideally LF. If we were to have a decent OBP/20+ HR threat from LF, Anderson (conservatively) with 15+HR, and Sweeney with ~10, we're hardly worse. A lot depends on how Anderson improves this upcoming season. If he's hitting

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Feb 5, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) I'm personally surprised Rex isn't getting more large scale heat, maybe sleeping for 14 hours I missed it. I haven't picked up a Sun-Times or Tribune yet, so I can't be for sure. Daily Southtown justly criticized him, but it wasn't plastered over the front of the Sports section.

Things I miss? Teams finishing the job once reaching the championship game -- unlike a certain other team playing off the lakefront.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 5, 2007 -> 09:19 AM) I know people don't like to blame one person for a loss but Rex was with out a doubt the main reason the Bears lost this game. The Bears defense wasn't great at all but they were keeping the Bears in the game before Rex completely gave Indy the game. I mean Rex had 3 turnovers, he was absolutely pathetic. Rex's Super Bowl effort was in a class of its own. People, ideally those with limited football knowledge, will probably blame him alone for losing. While it's obviously false, he IS to shoulder the largest percentage of it. Think about it like this -- years from now, will the public consciousness remember how the defensive linemen couldn't touch Manning; or will they remember the exploits of Grossman? If we fail to reach another superbowl within a reasonable amount of time, this town will never forgive Grossman. Never. Personally, I've already lost all hope he'll progress into a decent, consistent quarterback. I suppose all those who think otherwise, including the Bears organization, will have to go through this all again next season. They'll learn eventually.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 4, 2007 -> 10:19 PM) And Rex Grossman, thank you for sucking so bad! No problem. The rest of the league will be relieved to see him return next season as well.

Forty more minutes of this crap? I feel like I'm watching one of these odd variety shows on Telemundo.