RockRaines

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 11:14 AM) And I would like to keep feeling it for years to come Actually I would like to take this chance to issue a challenge to those who think Bat-girl is somekind of a no-talent clown. I want any of your to start your own blog, post the link here, and out do her. I want to see something original and funny, just like she does. If anyone of you can come up with something better, I will accept you talking bad about her abilities. Until then, this is your official challenge to put up or shut up. I dont think anyone can. Her blog is incredibly original and written in the voice of a made up character. Bat-girl comes to life as a totally independent being, and expresses herself better than most real fans.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 12:21 PM) Saves for a non-closer is a worthless and misleading stat. As a set up guy, you never get the chance to save games, only to blow saves, so your numbers always look awful. But ERA isnt.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 12:23 PM) Milkman was being sarcastic! ah ha, a little groggy today.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 11:48 AM) Um, Jeff Bajenaru is quite possibly the greatest minor league reliever in baseball. I don't know why the f*** you're including him in that response. Hes completely worthless to other teams. He's old, a non-prospect and was s***ty in MLB action. And Quick, I didnt know you were still around?

Great article it proves my continuing statements of Marte being the worst arm out of the bullpen Vizcaino's ERA over his last 19 outings is 0.92 (two earned runs in 192/3 inning Marte has a 5.14 ERA (four earned runs in seven innings) over his last 10 outings. He is 3-for-7 in save opportunities.

Wow, sucks to be on the mets.

Trade: • RHP Orlando Hernandez, SS Juan Uribe, RHP prospect Jeff Bajenaru and OF prospect Jerry Owens to the Texas Rangers for SS Michael Young and a prospect to be named later Eh, not really mutually beneficial. Texas doesnt want to trade one of the best SS in the game for an overage pitcher, a nothing, old prospect, a decent OF guy, and Uribe.

QUOTE(heirdog @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 10:45 AM) Thanks. I was thinking that you guys saw him with a lunch bag full of stanozolol or something but didn't want to call out one of our ChiSox. But its good to see that twizzlers, mars bars and m&ms are his "protein." I suspect lots of pieces of double bubble as well.

QUOTE(TheDybber @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 09:54 AM) Thanks for putting that image back in my head. Eeeeeee. Get well soon, Cam. yeah, that and watching Ed McCarffrey snap his leg are burned into my brain forever.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Aug 12, 2005 -> 09:58 AM) CLE still requires a family move so I don't think it's proximity to CIN will have any bearing on his decision. Though Cashman said the NNY$ would not put in a claim you can't rule out a trade. They would need to involve a 3rd team because they can't contend with the White Sox talent pool. As for his home in Orlando you can't rule out ATL, HOU, or STL. ATL & HOU in particular play ST games in Orlando. Cleveland takes the same amount of time to get to as Chicago from Cinci.

Well, with the offer that was on the table before, and currently, we would be paying Griffey less than big Frank who is not helping us at all, and is probably done with his career in Chicago. I am all for this, I just hope Chris Young doesnt turn into a damn superstar.

That was one of the most brutal collisions I have ever seen. It take second place to watching Robin crush his ankle.

Its nice to see Broadway is the pick that we all thought he would be so far. I wouldnt mind seeing him pushed up another level to see what he can do. Owens is def the PODS replacement whenever that day may come. I really like Anderson's improvement over the years and the past few months, it shows he is working on his game, Young: man I kinda hope we dont trade him. BTW, it would suck royally to get plowed over by Rogo, he is a beast.

Remember though, the angels could afford KGJ too, and that could make them a very dangeous team.

Griffey is our next DH. I love Frank and all, but his career is most likely over. KGJ for the DH would be a nice fit, especially without Carl's and Frank's contract on the books.

we should be more worried about cleveland than the twins IMO.

I want to face off with Oakland for sure. We have to beat the best to be the best. I want to face every challenege and make all the critics shut the f*** up.

We need to win this series, if we do, I would feel like our momentum is going to pick up and start to make us hot just in time.

Seriously, I will chip in some damn money to pay for Griffey's salary, please get him, please

wow someone lock this thread fast. This is turning into a horrible discussion on normality and homosexuality that should not be argued on this section of the board nor in this thread. Many opinions differ on both issues and neither side is correct at this point. Drop it, lock the thread and kill this discussion, please.

Even after shoulder surgery I can still tackle mid eighties. Best pitch is a knuckler however

How worthless of a writer do you have to be to print something that had nothing to with the game, nothing to do with you, and was basically said out of jest. You are a bush league no talent assclown. These are the types of stool pigeons that get bullied as kids because they dont know when to keep their nerdy ass mouth shut. I award you no points and may god have mercy on your soul.

amazing the effect of playing one series in NYC

another.. As Boss burns, cost-efficient Sox make cents August 11, 2005 BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST Advertisement NEW YORK -- The $252 million deodorant pitchman was talking by his locker about the $2 million flyhawk of the White Sox. Alex Rodriguez didn't mention Aaron Rowand by name, quite possibly because he doesn't know his name. And the surprised tone in his voice suggested he'd never watched Rowand play much before this week. But the words? They exploded with respect like a ball off A-Rod's bat. "That center fielder put on an absolute clinic,'' he said Wednesday after another Sox victory. "I was impressed by their team over there. They pitch well, but they play defense very well.'' I invoke salary figures because the Sox, the Best Team Money Can't Buy, have just finished beating down a Yankees cyclops that carries the burden of a $205.3 million payroll and the accompanying wrath of an increasingly bitter George Steinbrenner. Please don't confuse this as another sappy Chicago-media attempt to curry favor with Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who has lowballed his payroll for years and, by no coincidence, hasn't appeared in a World Series in a quarter-century of ownership. But in winning two of three at Yankee Stadium with their clever, industrious, wear-them-out style of ball -- while exposing the Yankees as an uptight, bloated and broken-down blob -- the Sox finally seemed to be making Reinsdorf's point for him after all these seasons of also-random. You can beat the behemoths without blowing the bank account. "We find a way to win without scoring any more than you have to,'' said Rowand, the working symbol of South Side cost-efficiency. Money doesn't matter -- for now Of course, if the Sox fall short in the postseason, it might have something to do with not making the Ken Griffey Jr. deal. Or the A.J. Burnett deal that had to include the fat contract of Mike Lowell. But for now, sit back and enjoy how Neal Cotts, the $330,000 reliever, was the winning pitcher while future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, at $10.5 million, took the rare loss. And how Juan Uribe, the $2.15 million shortstop, started the winning rally with a 10th-inning triple while Derek Jeter, he of the $19.6 million salary and $189 million contract, struck out with a runner on first in the bottom of the 10th and went 1-for-12 in the series. And how Dustin Hermanson, at $2 million, notched his 30th save in 31 opportunities amid lingering back soreness and doubts his health will hold up in October. And how aging Bernie Williams, the $12.3 million center fielder, couldn't reach Uribe's liner in right-center and lobbed the ball into the infield while Rowand attacked the vast landscape like a kamikaze pilot. Say, wouldn't the Human Crash Dummy somehow have caught the ball that Williams waved at? At first, manager Ozzie Guillen said no, acknowledging that he is a friend of Williams. But as usual, further contemplation melted the Blizzard of Oz. "I'll say yes because I want my guy to win the Gold Glove,'' said Guillen, whose recent contract extension, by the way, still places him far behind the $6 million annual salary of Yankees counterpart Joe Torre. Don't laugh yet, Jerry. The Sox haven't won anything except an impending division title. But like the Florida Marlins of 2003 and the Whatever They're Called Angels of the previous year, they're trying to win it all with a slightly-above-average payroll -- $75 million -- that ranks 13th in the major leagues and well behind every other big-market franchise, including the $100 million Cubs, who've never stunk at a higher price tag. A World Series wouldn't excuse Reinsdorf for his blunderous history as a baseball owner, but it would, for once, validate his economic approach. If the Sox do win the American League pennant at the expense of Steinbrenner, while spending $130 million less this year, Reinsdorf will be grinning all the way to his grave. They have a contentious history, remember. In the 1980s, Boss George drew a fine from commissioner Bowie Kuhn after referring to Reinsdorf and fellow owner Eddie Einhorn as "the Abbott and Costello of baseball.'' Reinsdorf fired his own memorable shot when he said people know Steinbrenner is lying "when he moves his lips.'' When he led the charge against excessive spending during the 1994 labor impasse, Reinsdorf essentially was leading the charge against Steinbrenner. But when it comes to results, Jerry has been embarrassed by George. In 32 years of ownership, Steinbrenner has won six World Series and 10 American League pennants. Reinsdorf is 0-for-24 in both categories. And for those who say Reinsdorf is the better businessman, consider the Yankees have increased more than 100 times in value from Steinbrenner's original purchase price of $8.7 million. Even if the Sox win a world championship, don't even begin telling me Reinsdorf is his equal as an owner. That said, the developing story line is juicy. The Sox keep winning the smart way, the proud way, the feisty way -- symbolized by Uribe sneaking his foot under the shin guard of catcher Jorge Posada and scoring the go-ahead run in the 2-1 victory. At one point, the Blizzard of Oz had Scott Podsednik try a squeeze bunt to bring home Uribe from third, but he fouled off the attempt before hitting the ground ball that led to Uribe's slide. This was the same Uribe who struck out three times against starter Aaron Small, yet another scrap-heap arm serving as a Band-Aid for a battered Yankees rotation. Steinbrenner still steaming Wisely, Steinbrenner avoided all reporters afterward. The night before, he couldn't avoid ripping into Torre -- he of the four championships and cool head -- after he stuck with left-handed reliever Alan Embree to face Paul Konerko in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game. Never mind that Konerko had been hitting .209 against lefties. With the Yankees scrapping for their wild-card lives, the Boss apparently wanted Tom Gordon or even Rivera. When Konerko crushed the game-winning homer beyond Monument Park, Mt. Steinbrenner erupted again. "I'm not pleased with the manager,'' harrumphed The Boss, 75 now. "I don't know why they left the left-hander in. He had a good inning, and they kept him in there. He should have never pitched to Konerko -- he's their best hitter.'' Torre, who is getting too old for this and probably won't make it to the end of his contract in 2007, responded Wednesday with typical poise. "At this time of the year, the last thing you want to do is take away from what we're trying to accomplish,'' he said, ever the stoic. "This is my job. The best way to deal with [steinbrenner's rant] is to concentrate all efforts onto the field.'' The contrast is unmistakable. While the overpriced Yankees sweat, strain, snipe and try to survive, the underpriced team from the Midwest keeps winning and having fun. While Torre fends off Steinbrenner, Guillen is hosting "This Week in Baseball,'' a show that better have a dump button. "When I was a player, I always dreamed to be on it,'' he said. "To have that tribute to myself, I think that's nice. I'm going to enjoy it.'' Why not? The Sox are spending about $1 million per victory so far. The Yankees are spending more than $3.5 million per victory. In Reinsdorf's world, that's revenge. Jay Mariotti is a regular on ''Around the Horn'' at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Send e-mail to inbox@ suntimes.com with name, hometown and daytime phone number (letters run Sunday).

and another... Rowand covers ground Email this story Printer friendly format BY JOE GERGEN STAFF WRITER August 11, 2005 The series ended the way it started, with a long drive by the Yankees dying in the glove of Aaron Rowand on the warning track. Less than 48 hours after the White Sox centerfielder ran down Derek Jeter's bid for a triple leading off the first inning Monday, he hauled in Robinson Cano's attempt for a tying extra base hit with two out in the 10th inning yesterday. advertisement advertisement The Yankees lost two of three one-run games when they could least afford it and the most significant difference between the teams may have been the play of Rowand. Even Bernie Williams, who couldn't catch up with Juan Uribe's triple off Mariano Rivera in the top of the 10th that led to the winning run in Chicago's 2-1 victory, acknowledged that his counterpart short-circuited the Yankees' offense with his glove. "He was all over the place," said Williams, who won four Gold Gloves as a centerfielder. "He was a big part of his team's success for the whole series." It's no secret that the position has been almost as much a problem for the Yankees this season as starting pitching. Yet, even when the Yankees got superb efforts from castoffs Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small against the team with the best record in baseball, they couldn't capitalize. Once again the problem was centerfield, but this time it was the ability of the opponent. Rowand covered too much ground. "That centerfielder over there put on an absolute clinic," said Alex Rodriguez, who sent the outfielder to the wall with a long drive in the first inning. Yet, he wasn't sure how to pronounce the man's name. "Roland?" he guessed. Rowand remains largely anonymous even after enjoying his first big offensive season - 24 home runs, a .310 average - last season. In manager Ozzie Guillen's opinion, he should already have won a Gold Glove. "That probably would be the best honor anyone could bestow on me," Rowand said, "because I take pride in my defense." At 27, he has plenty of time to turn heads. And he knows enough about history to appreciate the stage on which he excelled. "My first time here, in 2001, I got chills thinking of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and the great players who had played there," Rowand said. Four years later, he played the position as if he owned it. "The type of opportunities I got here don't come along a lot," he said. "I'll go two weeks without getting balls like this to catch." His favorite? "Probably the one against Jeter," Rowand said. "I'll put that one in the memory bank." So will the Yankees.