Flash Tizzle

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 07:01 PM) I agree, it makes sense to me, I just think it's hard to blame message boards for discussing it if Disney's out there driving that exact point home through marketing. "Welcome to Narnia. I'm Mr. Tumnus" "Hey gimme back my sock you goat bastard!" Watch T.V.--you'd never guess from commercials there exists elements of Christianity in the movie. Their marketing strategy (of drawing Christians) is not conducted through the mainstream media. It could be Church leaders telling other Church leaders to tell their congregation to watch the film. Different from ABC broadcasting a trailer which draws comparison between Christ and the Lion. If that had been the case, I'd understand people being upset. While I don't guage a message board as a true representation of the public, it's still one area where you can expect honest opinions. And from IMDB, it appears the issue of Christianity in the film has many people upset. As if complaining about Christmas wasn't enough.

QUOTE(Credepopsup @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 05:22 PM) I rate the Czech Republic highly - if their best players stay clear of injury and suspension, they could go a long way in this tournament. From an English point of view, they were a team I wanted no part of in this draw (along with Holland). Relatives of mine are worried about the Czech Republic's grouping. I'm not familar with soccer--at all, but they've assured me the 2nd round, against Brazil, will likely be the death of any team advancing from Group E. Unfortunately for the US, my allegiance in mid June lies with the Czech's.

I was wrong to assume religious themes featured within Narnia were "subtle." Reading Ebert's review, the Lion's ressurrection alone convinces me otherwise. Regardless, unless the movie preaches salvation for those who follow the 10 commandments and regard Jesus Christ as their savior, it shouldn't be that excruciating for any practicing member of another religion (atheists included) to watch this film. Screening Narnia specifically to Christians and Church officials is market driven. Film executives know which audience is most likely to watch the movie.

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 03:36 PM) Did you not see any of the Lord of the Rings movies then? I'm amazed how America has to politicise EVERYTHING. It's just a farie tale, yes there are religious overtones in it, but so are there in many other "much loved" films. On the theme of death and resurection; E.T , Lord of the Rings (Gandalf the Grey / White) and even Star Wars used it to great effect. I'm taking my kids to see it on Christmas Eve. I intended for my post to satirize the issue. I've felt similar sentiments regarding people drawing politics into a fictionalized movie. Specifically, boards on IMDB highlight the odd obsession some have with media outlets heavily publicizing a movie featuring subtle, religious elements. None of which openly promote Christianity.

I AINT SEEING NO DAMN CHRISTIAN MOVIE!!!

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 01:12 AM) You can say that again. Read this: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines Gives you an indication trading Marte and signing Myers was exactly the plan Williams had envisioned. Personally, I never would have made the trade unless I was absolutely sure Myers (my intended target) was accepting our contract offer.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 10:06 PM) WLS says a 6 year old boy in one of the cars involved has now died. Can't imagine driving along a road you've probably passed thousands of times, and seemingly out of nowhere comes a 737 crashing through metal barriers. I've driven down the Cicero corridor of Midway Airport countless times--airplanes appear to scrape the top of your car while landing. Wonder how many people are rethinking their commute after this incident.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 07:43 PM) OMG. That's VERY bad.....I just flew out of Midway LAST Thursday.....scary s***. Fortunately, it doesn't sound too bad. CLTV alledges a car may be trapped. When I heard the news I imagined a plane traveling several hundred miles an hour slamming through the wall and devastating several city blocks.

Holy s***. Reports are a 737 barreled through the wall lining 55th and Central.

Took nearly 40 minutes to travel 2 miles earlier this afternoon. Although this is when the heavy snowfall began, which is usually the worst time for travel. Damn--it appears to still be snowing right now. I hope it warms up tomorrow, because I'm sure as hell not shoveling the snow off my driveway. Too damn cold out.

I wish it would have only taken Munoz, Baj, or Adkins.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 05:31 PM) Does anyone really think Williams traded away Marte with zero plan to find his replacement? Really now, come on. Even the White Sox website says they've lined up a lefty or two with a similar profile to Marte from 2002. How much do you suppose these players with profiles similar to Marte will cost? I'm afraid for whichever pitcher Williams covets we'll be forced to overpay. Likely with our minor league pitching talent-- which isn't exactly stocked.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 05:15 PM) Why? Marte couldnt do either of those, and you claim Marte was "vital" to this team, so why should his replacement? I apologize for generalizing-- Instead of posting a 3.50 as an arbitrary cutoff point, any potential pitcher will have to post a 3.77 ERA. HUGE difference. Why should his replacement post a reasonable ERA or good numbers against lefties? Well, because the alternative is a medicore pitcher with poor statistics. If Williams is looking to just replace Marte with anyone because Marte couldn't fulfill either a 3.50 ERA or good stats against LH's, then just rap up the offseason now. I don't want another Mike Jackson signed to fill a roster spot.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 04:54 PM) ...and where do we factor in the option that the traded player and manager could no longer work together? I didn't factor it in. I realize this team has good chemistry, but sensible decisions still should be made. Such as providing equal return for relief pitchers. And obtaining pitchers capable of replacing the numbers of a departed player. Williams has plenty of time to accomplish the latter, but what will have to be given up for a pitcher capable of consistently retiring LH's? You did mention that as a reason for trading Marte, no? If Marte was useless because of his inability to work with Guillen, and his poor splits against LH's, then surely we need a quality replacement. For all the insults directed at him (myself included), he's not as simple to replace as Blum was Now that I've answered you, answer me: which pitcher would you suggests replaces Marte in the bullpen? How much do you suppose we'll have to give up in a trade? Remember, he must be capable of either posting a 3.50 ERA or owning lefties.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 04:17 PM) The armchair GMs out in force. Damaso Marte--who had a falling-out with the team, as clear as day--could no longer pitch within this organization. The emergence of Neal Cotts and Marte's inability to get out left-handed hitters, coupled with being in a "must move" situation, not only made him expendable, but valuable in the sense of adding a first-class utility player. If Damaso Marte got lefties out, you'd have an arguement on your hands. But, he can't, so, you don't have a leg to stand on. Where are these available pitchers capable of consistently retiring LHH's? Myers fit the billing, but unfortunately, is now a Yankee. If none of the available FA LH's suits our needs, then what are the remaining options? To obtain someone who consistently retires LH's we'll have to overpay. I'd rather have kept Marte, obtained our LH replacement, THEN trade him for whomever. Even if it meant less value. I just believe this trade sets us back further than it helps us. Now, opposed to keeping Marte and searching for a UTL infielder, we've filled our UTL infield position and are left searching for a quality pitcher to replace Marte. Which sounds easier to accomplish in your mind?

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 04:26 PM) Can you count on Marte going back to 03 form? No, but even if he reverts to 2005 form he's still--at worst--an above average left hander. His final relief appearances did give this impression. He appeared defeated. Now, I don't regret trading Marte if a replacement of equal value is obtained. That is, a pitcher capable of posting a 3.50 ERA--at the least. In addition, the capability of holding LH to low BAA's; something I realize Marte was poor at this year. Browsing the thread devoted to LHP's available on the market, it's not a very extensive listing of viable talent. As of now, with Myers a Yankee, I'm just wondering where we go from here? I figure another LH with be obtained, but at what cost? Mack fills a few voids that this team needed to fill. Crede can now get the days off that he needs becasue of his back, we add depth at 2b, and in the OF(where we need it, BAD, IMO) and adds a LH stick which is nice to have when Crede, Iguchi, and Anderson are all RH. Mackowiak could have been obtained later in the offseason. If anything, bench issues are resolved last with a team. Even if a LHP were signed with Marte already on the roster, I'm positive Marte would have been enough for Mackowiak.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 04:15 PM) Maybe I just undervalued Marte last season, but was he really a VITAL piece of our team last season? Really? He was a component of a solid bullpen. Your snapshot of Marte consists of blown saves and various forms of bed wetting. I believe his inconsistency was due to an injury more than mental problems. His breaking ball was consistently flat, and his delivery was ackward. If the White Sox felt it was injury related, and were unwilling to treat his trapezius issues, then perhaps it benefits us. But until information is released which indicates that, I'll continue to hold my position trading him for Mackowiak alone was unnecessary. More than any quantifiable reason for trading Marte (high whip, lack of control late in the year), I wouldn't mind keeping him as insurance. Can you depend on Hermanson, Cotts, Politte all posting stats similar to their 2005 totals?

QUOTE(indyman @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 03:24 PM) No. Should've kept Blum. Marte had a bad couple months .. but in the last two or three years he's one of the best LHRP. Myers isn't coming to Chicago. I just don't understand Williams thought process here. We remove someone, albeit a slight headcase and wildly inconsisent, from a vital component of our team. Who gives a f*** about the bench? I wouldn't have been concerned enough about it this early in the offseason. Oh, but now that we have Mackowiak to solidify our bench there's a gapping hole from the left side of our bullpen. Ultimately, from the merits of this trade, our bench is improved, whereas our bullpen lost a key contributer. I trust Williams finds an LH option, but with Myers gone I'm concerned.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 03:55 PM) There's a lot of time left before the season starts. Should have added this on--of the available pitchers on the FA market who could serve as a lefthanded option, Myers was about it. Now, we're left with Rule 5, in-house options, or creating another trade. I'd rather have spent the money on Myers, overpaying or not, then give up anything else for another relief pitcher. And I'll GUARANTEE Williams will have to overpay. Rather overpay with money than talent.

UH OH! Well, Williams has disappointed me. Marte's trade was not as carefully planned as I envisioned. I thought there would be NO way he'd initiate a trade for Marte unless a replacement were ready underneath. It's not too much to expect this, right?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 12:55 PM) I think at face value its equal. The guy was s***ty last year and got worse at the end. HE had no value because everyone knew we didnt want him. Economics people. If economics were that easy, then Rowand/Haigwood/Gonzalez shouldn't have been included in a trade for Thome. Phillies were desperate to get rid of him and every knew they were shipping him, right? His stats were poor last year, right? Yet a good package for Thome was assembled for Philadelphia. I find it hard to believe NO other team would have given us a better package. Even in his poor years he still was a quality reliever. I would have expected atleast one extra mid-level pitching prospect in any trade involving Marte.

I've learned recently the most important aspect of Williams' trades, atleast those which may appear lopsidded or unequal, are the events which occur afterwards. Trading Vizcaino and Podsednik for a fair priced Carlos Lee didn't apper very equal, but the financial flexibility alloted to Williams gave us Iguchi, Pierzynski, Hernandez. This trade, at it's face value, doesn't do much for me. Marte has proven himself as a valuable left-handed relief pitcher with the ability to dominate both LH and RH batters. Mackowiak, at his best, is a versatile option off the bench. More should have been netted; especially during the current trade market for relief pitchers. Pittsburgh took advantage of our willingness to unload Marte. If Williams signs Myers, however, the trade is justified.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:15 AM) Eagles- "Hotel California" This should be controversial -- it's like the #1 frat jam of all time. It's amazing how Hotel California remains one of the highest selling albums of all-time. I don't dislike The Eagles, as does The Dude, but I never considered them worthy of selling 20 million+ albums.

QUOTE(Middle Buffalo @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:10 AM) "There are some words that do not belong in a rock song." I think that is one of the all-time odd word choices in a song. Or, clinging off 3e8's reference to Touch Me, the line "Stronger than dirt." It comes out of absolutely nowhere and has no reference to the song.

Hate it. When I hear read 'nomore' I think of NOMARRR.