Jake

Relievers are notoriously fickle and you aren't paying him that much. Get him out of these situations for now, see if he pitches better, put him back into high leverage spots when/if he pitches better.

I don't like to hang out in game threads and complain about every last thing, but Zach Duke is literally the worst player on the team. I do not say that to exaggerate. Please quit using him in situations like these.

NFL is not a big priority to me, but there's nothing I care less about than college football. The bowl system in particular kills my enthusiasm for it, but in general I just don't get that excited to watch a bunch of not-the-best-players-in-the-world play

Cubs and Astros haven't done anything yet except have an alright half-season. Twins haven't done anything at all unless you're talking about something that happened a long time ago. Royals missed the playoffs for a quarter century. Do you want that?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 2, 2015 -> 10:57 PM) Forgive me. Didn't understand the joke. I can be slow. There was all kinds of speculation about whether she was lying about having sustained a concussion during some Benghazi hearings. First it was all about her faking it and later it was about her being permanently brain damaged and therefore being unfit for office.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 05:26 PM) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/06/c..._n_7738724.html Proof of that in practice in Colorado... Edit: The funding for this program was cut... go figure. For those who don't like to read the links, that is a 40% reduction in births among teens and a 42% reduction in abortions among teens in just 4 years(!!!), largely attributed to a program that provided IUDs free to women. The reductions were nearly identical for another key demographic, single women under 25 who have not finished high school. It's truly astounding how large of a drop that is at comparatively little expense. The Obama administration recently told insurance companies that IUDs must also be provided free under the ACA, not just cheaper, oral options.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 05:25 PM) They are potential lives. That being said the part I dont get about the Republican anti-abortion sentiment is the cost of abortion is far less than the cost of supporting someone for 18 years. Potentially 300k+ mouths to feed each year would be a significant burden on social services which would mean higher taxes just to keep similar services. At the end of the day abortion is a personal decision and no one seems to be stepping up and saying "Ill pay for those 300k+ potential lives each year" and that is not even counting all of the medical bills that go into having a child. I think a good first step is providing birth control for free. Well those who are anti-abortion are probably not fond of placing a dollar value on what they feel is a human life every bit as viable and important as yours or mine. And that is also of course why most don't feel that it's just a personal decision.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) It makes me sick to see how high that abortion number is. Someone might go, well our population is huge so relative, but man, that is 327,000 lives. Okay...I am probably assuming high since some won't end up going full term and miscarriage, but even then, you are talking about 300,000 lives. I won't force the hand of other people and what they should do, I just wish 327,000 people weren't in a position that they were doing that. And lets be honest...number probably isn't 327,000 as I'd presume their are some repeaters on that list (sadly). I don't really see it that way, but I included it because I knew that number would be important to those who do. I'm not sure, for the record, if that number is indicative only of completed procedures or if it would include consultations or what. I doubt they'd report it in a way that inflates the number, but I don't know for sure. For the safety of those involved and for clearer moral decisionmaking, I'd love to see the number go down (but only as a result of fewer unwanted pregnancies). As StrangeSox mentioned, Planned Parenthood spends a great deal of resources on sex education and that is no small part of the organization's societal value.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 04:49 PM) So what do they do there that can't be done elsewhere thanks to Obamacare? And I like the way you counted the STD tests at the top. So if they run a test for several of the most common STDs, does that count as 7 services? One test, one count. Basically, every time you visit PP counts as 1 for the most part. If one service required multiple visits that would just count as one. It does appear that HIV tests are done separately and are not part of the standard battery of STD/STI tests, probably due to cost. They served between 3 and 4 million people, so on average people don't come just once. ACA should reduce the need for places like PP and they have never provided one-of-a-kind services (other than the price factor). PP provides value beyond just that there are services performed there that might be available at a doctor's office and maybe at similar expense. If you want to get tested for STD or pregnancy or need birth control (especially Plan B) in short order, you can rest assured that you can go to PP and get it taken care of without a ton of paperwork and waiting. Planned Parenthood is almost everywhere, tries to locate in high-need areas, and has the benefit of name recognition and reaching out specifically to people who wouldn't be likely to know how to get these services without being told about it.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 04:55 PM) His numbers were better than too though, his value has not increased since he allegedly refused that offer, the AL has not been kind to him. He will go to free agency, but I am not going much more than 4/$66M with the bevy of options that are going to be available on the market. The market is going to be a little crowded with SP: Guys without draft pick compensation: David Price Johnny Cueto Scott Kazmir Matt Latos Mike Leake Guys with draft pick compensation: Jordan Zimmermann Yovani Gallardo Ian Kennedy Jeff Samardzjia Brett Anderson Shark is going to be the ninth or tenth rated SP on the market in terms of value, so he is likely not looking at the contract that he was a year ago when he was considered the Cubs "ace". Just going to annotate these SP FAs with some numbers. Pitcher - 2015 WAR/2014+2015 WAR, career FIP (age in 2016 season) David Price - 3.7/9.8, 3.24 (30) Johnny Cueto - 3.1/7.7, 3.79 (30) Scott Kazmir - 2.6/5.8, 3.89 (32) Mat Latos - 1.5/3.2, 3.40 (28) Mike Leake - 1.6/3.8 4.17 (28) Jordan Zimmerman - 2.4/7.7, 3.33 (30) Yovani Gallardo - 1.6/3.3, 3.73 (30) Ian Kennedy - -0.5/3.0, 4.03 (31) Jeff Samardzija - 2.4/6.6, 3.74 (31) Brett Anderson - 1.3/2.3, 3.54 (28) (note -> last season before 2015 that he threw 100 IP was 2010) Does Samardzija really look like the worst or second worst of those groups in terms of market value? Price, Cueto, and Zimmerman are the only ones who I'd say are a lock to earn more. Let's not forget that Samardzija also has the sort of name recognition that tends to make guys money.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) Really? Got a link for that? What else do they do, mammograms? because according to this, they don't operate ANY mammogram facilities. http://thefederalist.com/2015/08/03/guess-...arenthood-runs/ Well, in 2014, here's how a breakdown of their services looked. This is one a per-service basis; that is, if I came in and got 1 STD test, that would count as 1. If I got a second, that would also count as 1 for a total of 2. 41%, the largest portion of all the categories they have, is devoted to STD testing and treatment. The vast majority within are tests for common STDs with quite a few HIV tests as well. 34% of services are for birth control. Most of these are "reversible" forms of contraception, which is anything other than a sterilization. They list emergency contraception separately, which is a large portion of the birth control services that they provide (this is the Plan B pill). In case you were wondering, they performed 3,749 vasectomies in 2013. Based on a formula for likelihood of pregnancy, they estimate that they prevented just over 500,000 unintended pregnancies in the year. 10% of services are cancer screening and preventative services. There is a near even split between pap smears and breast exams. And no, they do not provide mammograms. Clinicians will do manual examinations and people can come to PP for subsidized referrals to mammogram providers. HPV vaccinations and some other procedures are also provided. 90,000 people had their cancer detected via PP services in the year. 11% are "other women's health services", which is almost solely pregnancy tests. They also give some prenatal care to expecting mothers. There is 1% that falls under "other services," which encompasses 41,000 people who received family practice services from a doctor, 53,000 people who were treated for urinary tract infections, and a few who were sent to adoption agencies or received other services. And of course PP provides abortions, which account for 3% of all services rendered. 327,166 people receive abortion procedures in some way, shape, or form in 2013. And to be clear for another poster who mentioned this, Planned Parenthood is a non-profit. The vast majority of revenue comes from private donors and government grants.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 12:51 PM) How far are you willing to take that "not a lot to dislike" comment? Would you go 7/$140+? What's your limit? I have a hard time saying I'm comfortable with giving any player a 7 year contract, but I'd be thrilled if we signed Heyward for $20M/year.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 3, 2015 -> 11:21 PM) If the power struggle is true, Hahn must be laughing his ass off to KW, who wanted to buy. If you were on the pro-buy camp, wouldn't you just say that swapping Avi for [good hitter] would win you this game?

Pretty indefensible decision to send him home, but McEwing was on an absolute roll lately. I'm more angry about the constant f***ups of Zach Duke and the fact we keep seeing him out there in key situations

I think Samardzija--at least, forgiving his last outing--has pitching really quite well this year, probably a little bit better than I expected. With that said, his drop in velocity and strikeouts makes me worried about committing a lot of money to him. I'm also not a firm believer in the "he has a young arm!" business

The FG article about Sox hitters was written on July 23rd. The two big numbers were -3.4 WAR (collectively) and 78 wRC+, both good for last place by far. Just 8 days later, our season WAR for position players has leaped to +0.9 and the wRC+ to 85. Still last in WAR, but no longer last in wRC+. We are 2nd in WAR over the last 7 days and respectable 16th over the past 30. Hitters don't have to be great when our pitchers are 6th in WAR for the season, 1st in the AL. 2nd in WAR in MLB over the past month.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 1, 2015 -> 02:53 PM) And he'd have a lot more opportunities and margin of error to work on that pitch in Triple A if given a proper game plan. Personally, I think it's silly to let a pitcher learn a new pitch on the fly in the big leagues, especially if he's only a 2-pitch pitcher so far, it would do damage to his confidence if he struggles, and I think the team will wants to go after the WC spot. He's not learning a new pitch. He had the changeup in college as well, he just didn't need it much just as he arguably doesn't need it much here (though it certainly would be a long term difference maker). His problem is chiefly fastball command and this is the level where he is most likely to improve it. He could get better command in the minors, but this is the level where hitters are most likely to punish you for your mistakes. When a guy has stuff like Carlos does, he needs to pitch against big talent or his mistakes may not get exposed.

He really hurt himself by holding out for a MLB deal. After well over a month of no action, he went to AAA and struggled a lot.

I would skip his next start and give to EJ without sending Rodon down. I would then put Rodon back in the rotation, demoting Danks to the long relief/starting purgatory that we had with Noesi to start the year. Carlos needs to take his lumps up here. If he's going to be an automatic loss every start, then we just won't make a playoff run. We're within striking distance of the wildcard, but we're not in a position to jeopardize the development of one of the most important players in the organization. Rodon is just one of those things that needs to "go right" for us to make a run.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 09:31 PM) Ignoring Greg for a bit, Hillary released current medical records today, which is something I actually do care about for a person running for President at ~her age. Hyperthyroidism, seasonal allergies, couple things on the longer-term record but nothing serious, no heart issues, exercises, no evidence of cancer. Anything about...CONCUSSIONS?!?!

Remember when we went for the rotating, guys who can play defense DH? They were crap then, too. What's Thome up to?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 09:10 PM) Spent a fortune this offseason and is very likely going to have another .500 team with a mediocre farm system. Hahn talks a great game, but he has not done a very good job so far. I think there has been some changing of the guard in the KW to Hahn change but we have done nothing like hiring a new GM (and I'm actually more or less okay with that). With that said, I think people really need to get it out of their minds that there is some meaningful line of demarcation between the KW tenure and the Hahn tenure. And if there is, are we sure we wouldn't want KW back?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 09:03 PM) Maybe the most disappointing thing of the last 6 weeks or so was Hahn seemingly not trying to unload LaRoche on the Cards or Pirates. It's pretty obvious LaRoche is a terrible fit here. In what bizarro world could we have managed a deal of LaRoche and gotten anything of value? He went from modestly underperforming to free-falling after signing a market value deal. I don't know why anyone would have wanted to trade for him. If what someone said in another thread is true, seems like he needs to spend a little time on the DL

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 09:06 PM) Hahn's resume looks mediocre? He's taken an awful team and made them mediocre in 2 years. That's harder than it looks when the main farm additions are Carlos Sanchez and Carlos Rodon. You know who's resume looks awful... the guy... that would be KW. Carlos Sanchez is a KW signing

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 08:56 PM) Rodon needs the experience at this level. I like to think back on John Danks' first season in the big leagues. It was a real struggle and got worse as the season wore on. I was thinking he needed a complete rebuild of his mechanics because his command was just crap. The next year he came out and really kicked some ass.