Jake

FWIW, I think we probably burned a bridge with AJ. Signing him to a one or two year deal at $3 million per would be just fine with me. Maybe kick it up to $4 for just one season.

I used to be a very good catcher. I still wonder what would have happened if I had stuck with it. I was also my town's best pitcher (take note of big fish, small pond). When I was younger, middle school and early high school, I got freaking abused. I would catch one end and pitch the other end of all doubleheaders. If I pitched on Thursday, I'd catch both ends of Saturday's doubleheaders. Screw that. I tore my groin playing basketball and I hung it up, as far as catching goes. I still struggle getting into a decent looking squat position. But yes, catchers should be exempt from running. My asshole middle school coach used to make me run with my gear on.

I think this coming year is a transitional year or whatever you may want to call it, but I also think that Hahn isn't willing to go into the year with a position like catcher unaddressed. If, as we think, they don't see much room for improvement from what was literally league worst from those two...I think he'll pursue short term options. That is, he'll pursue short-term options if he doesn't like any of the long-term ones. No reason to be horrible for s***s and giggles. You're not going to give a guy like AJ an amount of money that will make you think twice and at his age, you'll want to give him more rest anyway. I don't necessarily believe that having him or someone similar around precludes seeking a young, long-term replacement

Four stars? Bleh. We only roll with five stars now, suckas!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 08:08 PM) Again, why? How does it make sense for the white sox to sign a 1-2 year stopgap if they don't obviously have a guy in the minors coming up in 1-2 years at that spot? AJ makes sense for this team if they're looking to compete next year. If they are going to sign Ellsbury or something like that fine. To rebuild, the sox would be better off long term giving Phegley that playing time. If he has a 5% chance of becoming a solid player in 2 years...Pierzynski would have a 0% chance of being this teams long term catcher in 2 years. If Phegley has a 1% chance of becoming a long term option that still is a better chance than AJ. The main thing is because: 1. Whether Phegley/Flowers deserve any developmental time is highly debatable. 2. There is nobody else that deserves that developmental time in our organization. 3. AJ or similar player would provide a substantial marginal gain over the other options and has a decent chance to outproduce Saltalamacchia. 4. AJ would be cheap. 5. You get 2 years to find the team's next catcher. If someone appealing reaches FA a year from now, you can make a move on that player. 6. Saltalamacchia has spent about 4-6 months of his life as a player that looks like he deserves a 4 year contract approaching $10/year value 7. Salty is a low OBP, extremely high K player that seems contrary to organizational goals. So, I find myself asking the question: would I rather have 2 years and $20 million remaining on a contract for Saltalamacchia, who will be a .240/.290/.450 bat on the wrong side of 30 in 2 years if he still at all serviceable....or would I rather say goodbye to a vet like AJ who will probably provide similar value at far less price and have the expectation of sharing time with any hotshot young guys throughout his stay? Hahn wants long-term guys, for sure. He keeps saying that. Do you even want the good version of Salty long term at top market dollar? I'm not sure if I do. I'd like to have a non-horrible, league-worst catcher over the next couple years, but there are limits to the amount I will invest to do that.

I've been critical of the pass blocking, as have the analytics services, but they definitely came to play last night. It's great to see a scheme and quarterback that can account for the breakdowns and blitzes as well.

I write left-handed as well as do some other stuff with my left. When I was little, I would pick up baseballs and throw them with both left and right arms. My dad, after 3 other sons, decided I should throw with my right hand since we already had gloves for right-handed throwers. I'll never forgive him!

Shea McClellin!!!!!

Wooton!!!

Gotta love the trumped up penalty call

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 10:29 PM) My favorite Jon Gruden story tonite "I was a coach with Trestman...I don't know where or when" There was a hotel room in Nashville...

An asterisk on this win because Rodgers went down. WTF?

When Jay went down, I said some good things about McCown. I said he was a really solid, fearless, and smart veteran who wouldn't lose us any games. I was wrong. He's winning us this game.

Also, Jon Gruden: http://www.alshonjefferies.com

Shades of not Marion Barber

Julius talking mad s*** at the LOS

Peppers with the one finger sack

On another note, I think I'd hit Chris Sale better than I can hit a pitching machine. I could never time them up for some odd reason

What is the PFF value for breaking Aaron Rodgers?

McCown looks absolutely phenomenal.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 08:11 PM) s***ty special teams strikes again. "Joe DeCamillis is one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL" Dante Rosario has determined that was a lie

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 04:02 PM) During my last baseball playing experience, I was the Loaf. It was the summer after freshman year and my family was in the process of packing up to move out of town. I played 2B and was basically a backup. Between innings of games you didn't play, you had to run poles from the dugout to the foul pole. We had practices every day, but my coach basically just hit us grounders, let us hit quick, and we were done within an hour. I missed a doubleheader that he supposedly told me I was supposed to go to but I had no idea (because rather than having a list, he lined us up and, from a distance, pointed and said "You're going/not going, eh, no you're not going/going, eh, nevermind you are going/not going") and he made me run 28 poles, 1 for each half inning I missed. I ran 20 of them and called it good. I'd play once every 3 games or so and just generally could not get in a groove. Finally, I have a game I get in and I've played fairly well up to this point (meaning I haven't screwed up). There's a grounder to short, I cover 2B and go to fire to 1B to turn it, and this dude is still standing up coming into the base. My coach yells "Throw it anyways!" so he's mad at me for not throwing it. Runners on the corners now, 1 down, and he calls a bunt play...which we've practiced like 3 times 2 months prior...and I mess it up simply because I have no idea what's going on. I cover 2B when I was supposed to cover 1B. Everyone's safe. They score like 4 more runs. He comes up to me between innings and says "You're out. Go hit, and then you're out." I went up to the plate and singled to left, stole second on the second pitch, advanced to third on a ground ball, and scored on a wild pitch. I think it's pretty heady baseball and grab my stuff to take the field. He comes up to me and says "no, you're still out. Go run your pole." I'd had it by that point, didn't run my pole, and basically said "f*** it." Took my jersey and belt off. He approached me the next inning and said "Why aren't you running your poles?" I just looked him in the eyes, tears running out of mine, and said "I can't take this bulls***. I quit." I was playing club ball on a team that had an absolute stud at shortstop. He was about 6'3" and was clocked at 96 throwing across the infield at a showcase. I never believed the arm of an infielder could really play a big role in a game, but his was constantly getting us extra outs because nobody expected him t make the throws he did. Anyway, we had that situation. It's actually a fairly close play, but the kid stays high trying to break it up. He takes a 96 mph heater right in the chops. It was so point blank that a couple people in the bleachers thought that he didn't even release the ball and had just punched him. Nope. We couldn't even figure out where his mouth ended and his nose began. After we got him off the field, we had to rake the area near second base because of all the blood. I know you're supposed to throw it, but I know my buddy at shortstop didn't feel much better about it just because he was supposed to.

Welcome to s***tybackupland, Green Bay. I know it's been like 25 years since you've known it, but I hope you can get used to it

That McCown throw was absolutely amazing. That's a movie scene throw

I think if we signed AJ to a 2 year deal instead of Salty to a 4 year deal, we're probably in a lot better position in two years