Flash Tizzle

I was very surprised to hear the news of Contreras' signing several hours ago. Personally, I assumed he'd be traded before the season began (obviously not feasible at this moment), shipped midseason for whichever components of our club needed an upgrade, or would merely continue his contract through 06' and seek alternative options as a free agent. 29mil/3yrs is an appropriate amount within the current pitching market for a starter possessing his talent. I'm not particularly satisfied with the price, but then again, he's certaintly proven his worth to this organization. I wouldn't count on McCarthy going anywhere, either. Not many pitchers could equal his value when you add together proven MLB success (albeit limited--he's shown ability), salary, and projection as a front-line starter. Other organizations eyeing McCarthy should forget dangling relief pitchers or closers--he's still more valuable than ANY available. I'm serious about that. Even pre-2005 Gagne wouldn't have swayed my opinion. If I'm Williams, I'm beginning proposals with , "You want McCarthy, give me a proven veteran starter." Even as a walking telephone poll he's excelled--imagine a few MPH on his fastball. I just hope this bullpen destination isn't more than a 2006 experiment. I'd rather trade Garcia next offseason then hold McCarthy down in the bullpen. Williams goal, IMO, is not to be held hostage with an exceedingly ludicrous market. We would have been fine without Contrereas' 07 status assured, but now with him signed for three years, we're allowed flexibility. Helps create leverage when you have several quality SP's signed for extended contracts.

This will officially be the 5th or 6th 'shark' The Simpsons have jumped.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 31, 2006 -> 05:52 PM) He's the bigtime stud prospect of a division rival, "lock him up and throw away the key" more than likely comes from a White Sox fan's desire to have a possible future stud of the Twins be ineligible to play for an extended period of time. Those are exactly my sentiments. I love watching the kid pitch, but spite Sabean every day for trading him from the National League. What I wouldn't do for Williams to trade for a Lirano, or draft a pitcher with even half his talent....

Is the Budweiser label on the beer can sitting next to the sink recent?

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 03:53 PM) What are the best places to go to in or around the city? It seems like we need to visit an fine establishment now that we are 18. What did u guys do once you turned 18? When I turned 18, I spent my birthday immersed in school material. However, several weeks later I attended my first strip club, and couldn't say I enjoyed the experience. Not because I dislike objectifying women , but I don't share the excitement others feel. Straddling suddenly became less enjoyable when the prospect of paying money was introduced. Difficult to appreciate a lapdance as well when nearly half the room is comprised of unemployed, depressed, middle aged men. It felt more like an rite of passage than an activity I'd consider repeating. You want a true experience? Find yourself the dirtiest prostitute and have all your friends take turns. That's what I really should have done.

Anyone else notice Freddy is pitching with a "don't give a s***" attitude? It doesn't bother me, but you can tell he's just going through the motions. EDIT: And on cue, Hawk/DJ bring it up.

Can't blame them. An organization which develops quality prospects who continually produce should ensure security with their players. I didn't expect the Indians to let him go. If their payroll increases subtantially through the next several years, coinciding with the numerous low-paying positional players occupying their roster--and prospects ready for the majors--they're going to have a LOT of money available to sign quality free-agents. It would helpful if several infield prospects stepped up within our system. Or outfield prospects developed legitimate power potential. Even if Anderson reaches 20+HR expectations one day, Owens (if you believe he's Pods heir--which I do) won't supply much whereas Dye won't remain "dirt-cheap" (Jabs favorite line) forever. Who's currently the closest to the majors now--Josh Fields? And he's not replacing Crede anytime soon. Owens? Replace the catalyst of our ballclub and perhaps the most difficult to emulate. Sweeney, if his wrist recovery continues unscathed, may develop power potential--but he'll have to prove it to me this upcoming season. If our payroll exceeds it's current level we should remain alright, but balancing a steady influx of prospects and smart FA signings will keep a club in contention for a long time. Indians looked primed for such an event.

QUOTE(JoshPR @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 10:28 PM) Why do you guys even pay attention to them? I mean.. They miss every year... There just wild gueses like someone said based on there biased opinion. The games are played on the field not what the ESPN morons say. How can you possibly suggest something so absurd? Oh.

The hell would Guillen care about one more loss this spring. As if 12 games under five hundred is different than 13. If anything, Baker looks worse for actually caring about a tie in spring training. Does the extra 1 after his record suggesting a tie game make The Dude upset?

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:59 PM) Better pitching anywhere near MLB-ready? Ummmm... "ok"... I have no idea who the Royals top pitching prospects are, but if they don't have any available which are close to MLB ready that's absolutely pathetic. Especially considering they've been a fixture within the top five in the draft for who knows how long. I often criticize our development of pitchers, but atleast we have an excuse. It's difficult to find your studs drafting 12-18 every year for over a decade. Royals ineptness doesn't really compensate for our lack of pitching depth, though. Even Gonzalez and Haigwood, both regarded as top pitching prospects within our organization, wouldn't have been expected to earn a spot on our clib until 08' at the earliest.

Queen, you must have missed my extraction enduced rant within the Catch Everything Thread. I can't find my posts within the thread, but I'll tell you this--it was, without a doubt, the most painful experience of my life. One particular wisdom tooth was located below my gums, so my dentist needed to actually cut through to properly extract the tooth. Others had already pushed through, and didn't hurt when pulled. I thought (incorrectly) it couldn't be much more of an inconvenience Whether the novocaine was inproperly injected I don't know, but it was a prolonged throbbing pain in my jaw that was nearly unbearable. Didn't help the f***ing tooth needed to be broken apart, which took an additional several minutes. All I have to say is if the teeth your dentist plans on extracting are already fully visible through the gum line, then it shouldn't be a problem. But if you're in a situation where the teeth are below the gum-line, or even partially exposed, seriously consider anesthesia.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 09:45 PM) Wait, you agree that it's true he's a lously regular if he has no speed then you trash the people that gave that opinion--which you just agreed with. That doesn't make any sense. No, I “trash” them because Rotoworld has–in my estimation–an agenda against the White Sox. Thought this would have been clear if you continued reading past the first sentence. I don't know how you and Jabs concluded my posts as implying anything differently. I invited anyone willing to browse through their comments section and locate such quotations matching the criticism seen in Podsednik’s box. Not merely the "lously regular comment," but ANYTHING which insults a player. Ok, so Gagne wouldn't be a lousy regular as I referenced in my post--he'll still be a far shadow of his old self. Where was Rotoworld to call Gagne a medicore pitcher when he was hitting high 80's several weeks ago? My purpose was not to suggest Rotoworld has the audacity to post truthful statements. I’m noting their biased attitudes. If they fairly critiqued other players aside from ours I wouldn’t have a problem.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 08:52 PM) I don't want to sound like an ass or anything but you're just wrong here. There is no way the Twins finish under .500, it's not going to happen. I'm wondering why the hell Francisco Liriano is in their bullpen. Must be due to a desire to limit innings, because it sure as hell isn't performance based. A rotation of Santana/Liriano/Baker/Radke/Silva sure as hell beats Santana/Lohse/Baker/Radke/Silva Liriano will do well no matter where he pitchers, but it's not like comparing our situation with Contreras and McCarthy. Lohse won't confuse anyone for an ace, and Liriano could definitely be counted upon to provide better numbers.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 08:07 PM) Lousy regular? Harsh, but true. True, yes--but far from unusual. Rotoworld has taken every opportunity to insult our ballclub the last several years. This isn't merely a conspiracy theory--I'm positive someone working for the website despises our ballclub. Just look at their comments section from the last week and locate one comment where they judge another player based on a perceived injury and label them as a "lousy regular." It's really a "no s***" situation. Remove the most important attribute of someone's game and their bound to become a "lousy regular." Will Gagne still remain a dominant closer without a 98 mph fastball complimenting two outstanding offspeed pitches? Yep, just another Sox-hating website.

Of all the players I'd like to see decked in the face, Gathright is defnitely near the bottom. You have to feel for any young player stuck for atleast five years in baseball purgatory.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 12:20 AM) Well, here's another one. These are perhaps the most explosive accusations. Provoking confrontation with assassinations? Not the sort of information you hope is released--especially from the leader of a nation promoting Democracy across the world. Regardless of this report filtering through Liberal headquarters in the New York Times, I believe it. Difficult to allege conspiracy or suggest typical Democratic posturing when report after report after report questions our reasons for entering an Iraqi conflict. Military families--especially those who've lost loved ones--have to be growing VERY fed up. I, for one, am a Republican anticipating the departure of Bush from office. Every day it's something: if not a new report concerning pre-war intelligence, it's another White House scandal.

If Thornton hadn't have been traded for it would have made a reasonable gamble, but Jabs--I don't know if the Sox risk losing Thornton through the waiver wire. Not since they appear willing to work with him.

Thanks for the information. Atleast we'll have Lance Broadway available to counter those future studs.

Nomo, Redding, Lopez should be the remaining three cut off the roster. Of the three, I'd only bother assigning Lopez to Charlotte. I've seen enough of Nomo's BP fastball, and Redding's rolling curveball.

Was browsing Detroit's MLB forum looking for information on these two pitchers earlier and came across an insider article posted by Jayson Stark. It's not copyright infringement when you cite an MLB thread which may or may not have the information in question. http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp...g=19427.1&ctx=0 (2nd post) I'm interested in any thoughts from members familar with either pitcher--whether it's long term projections or testimonty to their talent. Sounds like several Bobby Jenks clones (stuff wise) are earning positions on the Tigers pitching staff.

Did McCarthy get hit around or what? 2IP, 5H, 1BB, 2ER. That's terrible. Definitely some control issues need to be resolved. And it's strange looking at Thornton's line and noticing the one occasion he pitches two scoreless innings is the one with no strikeouts. Perhaps Cooper told him there's more to baseball than striking out the side with a 96 mph fastball. Nearly 8 years and Kerry Wood still hasn't realized this concept.

This reminds me of something. Anyone else recall last year ESPN was supposed to be filming a documentary devoted to our historic "collapse." I haven't heard s*** concerning it lately. Whether they threw the project away or modified it, any documentary beginning around the Indians' surge would be interesting to watch.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Mar 26, 2006 -> 01:21 PM) So wait, since I wear North Face, I'm a douchebag. Wow, great logic there. Unless someone said something more specific concerning North Face that I missed, I said there's a large number of douchebags who wear it. I didn't group everyone together. Honestly, I don't care what people wear. Everyone poses their personal style off of someone else. I only buy Abercrombie jeans--not becaues everyone else wears them or some gay model told me to, but they happen to be the brand which fits best. Similarily, more people likely purchase North Face clothing because of it's durability than the notion popular students prefer it.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 25, 2006 -> 04:47 PM) The Cubs combined to throw 9+ innings of hitless baseball against the A's today. Somehow, I think these two performances are related. They're related if you happen to believe both are performances which are unlikely to occur again. Problem is, I wouldn't count on the Cubs pitchers repeating their feat, whereas our minor league scrubs and ST invitees could easily match today's 19run/21hit parade.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 25, 2006 -> 03:35 PM) If Jenks is pitching 3 innnings (48 pitches) in AA games, they are worried about his conditioning and arm strength. But..But...But..you can expect he'll be ready in 10 days, right?