The Beast

I just got through my first few classes today and things are looking good. My economics teacher is hilarious, the english cirriculum here is solid, and the non-western arts course is going to be very informative. My roommate and I have gotten along so far, and we're hoping guys come over and watch the Bears game tonight on the new TV we have. The move in was very easy and coming back from a convention that same weekend of moving in was quite easy. It looks like things are looking better around here.

I've got... -Principles of Macroeconomics -Composition and Language -Nonwestern Fine Arts -Broadcast Announcing -Environmental Life Science -A non credit math course. oh well. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday my first class starts at 9:00 and my last class ends at 3:50. On Tuesdays and Thursdays my first class starts at 8:00 and my last class goes till 4:15. So it's not that bad.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxFan1 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) I understand where hes going but thats not the case. I know shes interested (or was) I just dont know how much. I was told from people that talked to her that she wanted me to make a move, which I did. I honestly think shes playing hard to get, OR shes undecided if she wants a relationship. Then, be a dork, play dumb, and out of the blue, ask her how she feels if you have a chance to on a date.

Is anyone else disgusted by the article and suggestion that Brian Anderson is still in the White Sox plans? He doesn't seem to be progressing very well with the injuries reported earlier on. There is no way I'd give him a chance on our roster before Andy Gonzalez, who also, to me, is trash. Personally I think the Sox will make a splash or two this off-season, although, I do not see them going after a Linebrink, who will command a bunch of money in the off-season. I can see them pursuing an OF such as Rowand or Hunter. I do not forsee them bring back Uribe, but I do not see them going after someone like Eckstein or Rodriguez. I think that Richar is going to be our guy in the future at 2b, and the outfield could be Fields/Rowand/Sweeney, which wouldn't be all that bad. I'm not sure that Crede will be ready by ST, though, so maybe they'll need another outfielder to fill that void. I do see Ozuna coming back next year. As for the rotation, if they could find a way to package JC out of here, I'd say they take it. A rotation built around Buehrle/Garland/Vazquez/Danks/Floyd looks perfectly fine. I'm thinking the Sox will stay in the organization to get their bullpen set, though it could be a surprise to sign a Kennedy, a Beimel, or a Pineiro. Though this could just be wishful thinking for hearing this news, it's good to know there might not be a s*** ballclub next year.

QUOTE(knightni @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 03:38 AM) You're trying too hard and pushing things. She was at the party to meet people and have fun, not to be assaulted by your tongue and harassed via text message. If she wants to see you again, she'll find you. Knightni brings up a few good points, all of which are in "Real Men Don't Apologize" by Jim Belushi. Did anyone ever read this book?

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 07:59 AM) Oh and Beastly, I was similar to you coming out of high school. My advice would be to just have fun and go with the flow. You don't have to change who you are or what you believe in. However, if the opportunity to go out with some new people arises (such as a party) give it a shot. You have nothing to lose. Trust me, even if you don't think so, people change a lot from 18 to 22. You might actually end up enjoying going out. It's nice to hear the reassurance here, because I'm going to be quite lost when I go down there. I'm not wanting to change who I am or what I believe in, I just would like to make more friends, maintain a relationship with someone very close to me back home and just take it easy. I wouldn't mind going to go out and socialize, but I guess drinking and dancing isn't really my thing. Dancing only is my thing when I'm at a wedding or at a school function. I agree that people change a lot but I hope that I'll remain mostly of who I want to be and have some of the same beliefs. I'm sure going out won't be a problem, it's just finding those people who share interests (sports, World of Warcraft, video games, D&D, Warlord the CCG and Magic the Gathering.) Again, sorry for the random posts out to people on the board, but I'm one to write better than communicate my thoughts than through speaking. I'm sure the transition will be an adjustment, but will be a positive one.

I'm quite nervous about college because I don't fit the stereotypical atmosphere. I'm more of a D&D and World of Warcraft guy than a partier. I don't have a problem with people partying but I don't see myself doing it because I just don't like that environment, I'm more of a stay-in and hang with people or my girlfriend kind of thing. I pretty much want to go to study, work out at the gym, start gaming with folks and meet new people, which sounds fine with me. I am going to go to EIU on August 16th, move all of my s*** in, and then go to GenCon in Indianapolis and come back Sunday afternoon/evening for school, which starts on Monday. My roommate hasn't called me back and I haven't even spoken to the guy, perhaps he's on vacation. It will be interesting to say the least. I will be majoring in business but I have a strong feeling I'm going to pursue a degree in secondary education and major in english.

Yes, I know you want to hear something out of everyone, especially me. Can I just say one thing? Run!!! It sounds like she's the kind of girl that manipulates the guy to be her b****. Firstly, why did you make her text first? And, why didn't you just call her? Texting is so lame. Her excuse seemed legit for her family, so I'd take her word. I don't drink or party but the fact that she ignored you after you two were all over each other at the party means you did something that wasn't to be desired by her high maintenanced standards. She is definitely not interested in you when she gave a crappy hug and exchanged a half-ass goodbye. Again with the texting. Doesn't talking to someone on the phone or in person seem to be a bit better? The point is, whatever momentum you had, you may have blew your chance. All in all, however, it seems to be the wrong kind of girl unless you want a drama queen running all over your mind and emotions. Might I suggest instead of running to strangers on the internet for advice (as I once did about four years ago) that you read "Real Men Don't Apologize" by Jim Belushi? You will be in good shape after you read that.

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 01:45 PM) How about bringing back the hot chick contest? I know its been heard over and over but would fill the "SEX" spot in SLAM. I'd be all for it. Do you think Gage would mind if we did it again?

While I do not necessarily care for the trade of Mackowiak, I felt the Gooch trade was needed to see what Richar could do. I am hoping and praying to god that we do not see Andy Gonzalez, Luis Terrero or Alex Cintron ever in our uniform again after this season. Those guys are an embarassment to the way I like to see baseball played. They are garbage at the plate, and that is not good for a team who relies on their offense. Guys like Ozuna, however deserve a spot on that bench and I think that might be what made Mackowiak expendable, Ozuna and Owens. I will be grateful if they bring Pods back in an incentive laden deal and let Erstad go. While I am disappointed in KW's decision of not moving Dye, I am certain that Dye won't find much of a job some place else and will come back healthy and cheap to next years team. Hopefully Juan Uribe gets bought out and gets the hell out of Chicago. I'm thinking we'll see A-Row back next year in that outfield, or at least I hope so. I have a feeling something fishy is going on and that Jose Contreras will be moved sometime this off-season because his value could be better for whatever reason, maybe reason being, it's not in-season then. As for the pen, I think the team needs to take a hard look at f***-b**** (Bukvich), Thornton, and MacDougal. I like what Wassermann has to offer, he seems to be like Kelly Wunsch part II. Haeger is also absolutely siick out of that bullpen. Just a few thoughts is all. I second the motion for a Rick Hahn for GM club.

Just thought I'd let you guys know that the Tigers are getting the s*** kicked out of them by the Angels. It is glorious seeing them fail.

I really hope Kenny doesn't have a hard on for trading with Philly and the Diamondbacks because none of those trades have panned out for us...yet. I'm sure KW couldn't have gotten anything better in return and I just want to see what this "stud" Richar has to offer us. I'm actually fine with this trade. I hope that more people are next to go, I just didn't expect Gooch to be the first guy to go. Maybe we owed them for the 'damaged goods' that we sent with Freddy this year. Is Richar expected in the lineup tonight? I'm also thinking Rowand is likely to stay in Philly and that he will not return to the White Sox this off-season.

Personally, I would bring back Pods under the condition that the contract is loaded with incentives. Give him a motivation to steal and increase a low salary. No team is going to sign him with how injury prone he has been. As for Dye, I would pay him about 3 million less than what he is making at the moment and again, load it with incentives. Perhaps bringing back Rowand would be a good idea, because then you have the outfield solidified. Pods/Rowand/Dye I think Fields is a beast at third base, if not better than Joe Crede, who I'd trade for a bag of baseballs as well as Jose Contreras.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 09:24 AM) Please don't tell me you are seriously comparing this team with the 2005 team. I'm not. I'm just saying you should watch the game because if something really good happens, you will miss it.

QUOTE(SoxPride56 @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 09:12 AM) Reply to the Bold type: I was thinking the same thing at the game. It was almost like a playoff game, the crowd last night. As bad as a season as it has been, its good to see that the fans are still into the game. I even caught myself getting into the game more so then usual this year. Like someone said earlier, all of us here are really sick, and your a fan during the good times and the bad, thats what makes the good times SO good. I think the real point is what you just said. We should enjoy the times that are good and stay with them and find positive points when they are bad. I mean, maybe our fan base should kick it up and I don't know, do trendy fan base things. People go nuts when the upper deck does the wave, but then someone says, that's an Angels thing and we're Sox fans so we do not do that. Last night I was sitting in the upper deck on free tickets from the Sox (Yankees rainout) and in that inning when the bases were loaded, I look down and there is just an eruption of energy, people all at once getting off their asses and cheering these guys on. I mean, if they give a s*** more about their golf swing, fine, but for that moment it looked as though they were all playing as a team. This excited me more than the Cubs series. And tonight, I'm excited because we swept the doubleheader. I thought for sure that they were going to lose when it was 5-1 but each time I turned it on they were coming around. Even if we lose the game tomorrow I see signs of life from this ballclub. Just some positive things I've noticed before I comment more on a few things I didn't like. Positives: I really like what I see out of Fields in the field and as a hitter, there's just confidence there and he looks like he could be the same as, if not better than Crede. He's not as inconsistent as Crede is, either. Despite what many of you folks think of Jerry Owens, I believe that man to have a future on this team, even if it means he's the 4th or 5th outfielder. The guy is seeing the ball well and is really hitting right now. I can't tell you how excited I am to have Buehrle signed because he is great. The game goes along fast and makes things interesting. Wassermann was making some really good pitches last night and that bloop single was luck. Konerko is a beast right now. Right on, Paulie. A few things I do not like... F-bomb female dog (aka Bukvich) is frustrating at times to watch. Or maybe it is Thornton. I hardly can stand anyone out there but Jenks and Haeger. Haeger is the man, "he's my boy blue." Dye and Pods look tired and their arms are awful. Not to mention JD is sooo slow in right field. I don't see why Toby Hall is still catching. The poor guy's arm is going to fall off and I'm worried about his status for next year if something goes wrong as a setback from his shoulder injury. I'm fickle when it comes to Iguchi and Uribe, they are off and on with how they play, so I can't judge. Though Uribe made a nice play and Iguchi got a nice hit. The same goes for Thome who usually has a nice day. QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 09:12 AM) Frankly I don't really watch much anymore. Read the box scores and shake my head. If you do that then you'll end up like me during the 2005 season, that's what I did for the second half of the season and look what happened. I felt like an idiot afterwards and to this day I wish I would have been there watching them towards the end of the season in the race to get the playoffs. (I watched all of the playoffs but it definitely wasn't the same.) So try and watch because they have been exciting to watch in this series.

I honestly don't know why I watch them. I guess I go to the park because of the free tickets, hot dogs, icecream and a date with the girlfriend. Lately the Sox have been second to all of these things because of how bad they've looked. I will say this though, tonight was fun to watch in terms of defense and close plays. Even new "piece of s***" Terrero made a diving catch and Owens looked like a stud in CF. Not sure what was up with Buehrle. But I will say this, when the starting pitcher threw two to the backstop and we had the bases loaded, people were going absolutely nuts and actually were cheering this team on. Anyway, not sure why I still watch them. Wassermann perhaps? He looked decent tonight.

Terrero is garbage, and Gonzalez isn't anything too special either. I would be so excited if they kept Owens (who seems to offer the most out of the three players) and brought up the other two clowns, Pods and Erstad. Is there a way we can DL Terrero (fake injury) and keep him from being claimed for a bit?

I really like what I see so far out of Haeger, perhaps a relief role would be better for him because then people don't see him all that much and know how to hit against him like the last few spot starts he has had with the White Sox. As for Wassermann, are we looking at a Wunsch/Bradford arm? What have scouts said about him? I don't know much about him so if you could fill me in on him I'd appreciate it.

I'll have to mention that to my girlfriend, she and I frequently watch the food network and I'm sure I'd enjoy this rather than Iron Chef or a cake making show. FWIW, that stadium club has some pretty awesome food prepared. I've been there three times and the food is outstanding.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 05:01 PM) And have no fear...the banned list will be moved. Damn, I thought that I could bring back Rauch611 and start posting on that banned user again. Oh freshman year moments on soxtalk. Anyway, I'd be fine if you guys started over but archived some of the best stuff on here and you did it in the off-season. It'd be a whole fresh start and it would be a great thing for our community.

Actually in little leagues, umpires get less than 25.00. I get paid 40.00 because I have been there the longest and I am a supervisor. It is usually around 45.00-50.00 for travel, and for high school it is usually around 80.00-100.00 per game. I think in college and in the minors all the way through the major leagues, they give you a salary.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 01:19 PM) As an IHSA umpire for four years now, I must commend him on his perseverance. It takes a special individual to make it to the major leagues. Umpiring will not be my future career--for me, it is a great chance to work outdoors and participate in some baseball and a nice supplemental summer income. However, for those who chose umpiring as their line of work, advancing past the minor league ranks is a major accomplishment in and of itself. Give him a pat on the back from a comrade in the trenches. I, too am an IHSA umpire for two years as well. I know how hard it can be and I know that it takes a lot to get anywhere, especially to the major leagues. Umpiring is just something I did because I quit baseball when I was a young kid. I knew the rules better than my playing ability so that is why I chose to be an umpire. It is a great game and great to be apart of something in the outdoors while still getting paid and not being taxed on income. It is an honor for anyone to get anywhere such as college, minor leagues and the major leagues. Ditto, give him a pat on the back from a comrade in the trenches.

I don't think there is a need to extend JD's deal. He's going to try and command some market value anyway but with a bad year that he has had I don't see the need to bring him back. I hope we'll see someone like an Aaron Rowand or Torii Hunter, but I can't stand JD's defense in right field. It's not attrocious, but he's definitely slowed down and seems to be a bit out of gas. If the Sox move Contreras and a few other high priced folks, I wouldn't mind seeing some prospects step up to the plate in 2008.

Well, if I were GM : Starting Pitchers: Buehrle (because Kenny finally got drunk enough to give him a NTC), Zambrano (because he's a Sox fan), Garland, Vazquez (because the Sox gave him a diminished skills clause similiar to Frank Thomas'), Danks Relief Pitchers: Linebrink, Jenks, Aardsma (because his name makes him sound like a pirate), Masset, Floyd, MacFrougal Konerko, Iguchi, Uribe, Fields, AJ, Pods, Rowand, Ichiro, Thomas! Man, that'd be a smoking hot team. Minus the crappy bullpen.

Are there any guys in free agency at the moment that would be better than f***b****?