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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 18, 2014 -> 11:47 AM) It would be interesting to see what qualifies as a shift. A step here, a step there may not seem obvious or qualify but make a huge difference, and unless they shifted some OFs to the bleachers when Axelrod and Danks were pitching, I don't recall the Sox being burned too badly by that last year. Actually catching the ball was a problem. ^^^

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 18, 2014 -> 04:30 AM) I've always had a hard time believing in advanced statistics for defense but I'm starting to come around . Yesterday Clubhouse Confidential with Brian Kenny on the MLB Network had on a guy with Baseball Info Solutions. Among other things I learned the White Sox were 2nd to last in the Majors last year on shifts per batted ball in play. Seems as if the Sox front office is a bit slow getting around to the idea that shifts can help the team and in particular its overall defense and pitchers stats. Some other things I learned were only last year did these stat heads start looking at the starting position of a fielder when determining range on a batted ball . Seems they were more interested in the speed and trajectory of the ball. Unless I misunderstood that seems like its an impossible thing to overlook. I think they mostly were using video but now have people at games to track these things. They mostly were talking about DRS ( Defensive Runs Saved) rather than UZR and Andrelton Simmons and Gerardo Parra were tied for the best DRS at 41 runs . The Oriole ,Rays and even the Cubs were among the leaders in shifts per batted ball. They also said shifts can take 30 to 40 points off an individuals batting average. I think we've all seen Dunn have hits taken away so the more prevalent defensive shifting has become the worse Dunn has looked. I tried to find the video to what I saw on MLB Network .com but they look like theyre over 2 months delayed to airing something and putting it online to see at least for Clubhouse Confidential. Maybe its on youtube but I didn't look. Anyone think the Sox may soon address this glaring hole in their thinking . Any signs point to a change in philosophy at all ? Someone please change Solotions to Solutions in the title. Does "shifts" imply that the SS or 3B moves to other side of 2B? I saw Ramierez and Beckham play "in the hole" or "the other way" quite a bit last year.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 16, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) They have five starters without Dempster, so this doesn't change anything. Nothing to see here for White Sox fans. Classy move by Dempster to walk away from $13 million. One of the better guys in baseball. He was at Kane county when I worked there. This kind of things doesn't surprise me from him.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 09:52 PM) But, but, it's baseball, and you know, the grass and the sun is out and, and. yeah, it totally f***ing sucks. Even ST '06 was terrible. Still disagree. I like all baseball. (I like the leading But, But in this thread) Of course if it's his gluteus medius or minimus and not the maximus it's not his butt however those are much less likely.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 04:54 PM) I have absolutely no idea how you'd come to the conclusion that this team has a potentially solid defense since the same guys were one of the worst defenses I've ever seen last year. Weren't those same pretty good the year before though? Which year is the outlier?

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 04:20 PM) I feel like their actual under-the-armour stuff is good, I like it, especially cold gear like long sleeves. It appears their equipment shoes etc doesn't hold up as well. That could be. Other than the running gear, the only experience we have with it is my son's lacrosse cleats. They did fine excpet the little snot grew out of them in one season.

QUOTE (Jake @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 01:05 PM) Yeah, I don't see Martin at fault at all here. He was like prey and was trying to deflect until they went away. They never did. He could have been fine in most locker rooms. The worst is that he did have the courage to confide in everyone that he was having a problem and that only accelerated the harassment. He was basically a "soft" player and the others were told to "toughen" him up. It happens in all locker rooms. Luckily most don't have a moron like Incognito and group that took it way too far. They all should be punished however since they can play all will continue to get chances. Martin I'm not so sure about. He wasn't particularly good to begin with and this won't help. I'm sure someone will give him a chance and it will be up to him to make the most of it.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) Not to beat a dead horse but not upset that under armour sponsored equipment continues to get bad publicity. I hope they lose all of their sponsorships so I never have to see their terrible ideas again. That would suck. I really like their cold weather running gear.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 05:41 PM) If they are performing in different equipment than they trained in, then it seems like they only have themselves to blame. It's pretty common to race in equipment in which you don't train. You want more resistance during training. In track you have spikes just for the races, in swimming they typically will use higher drag suits. However, it's not common to not have done much testing with them and then use them in the most important races of their careers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 10:58 PM) No, because literally only like 1-2 pitchers have had this surgery before and 0 have done so at Danks's age. Pretty much. Although there were some positive results last year with his increased endurance and not needing to miss time due to "soreness" It's a good sign that the surgeon tightened up the capsule enough to create stability but not enough to limit motion and create imbalances. It will be interesting to see if his fastball is back. The capsule may be too tight to allow the motion for it. It may need more time to stretch out if this is the case.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 07:07 AM) His passing is the top headline on espn.com right now. Guess he was more popular than I thought. Excellent manager and an even better person. One of the best people, especially as a manger, that I've ever met. RIP

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:26 AM) IMO, Flowers is already going to get plenty of development time...and I'm not sure he's earned it anyway. Right now he's still the starting catcher unless he's released after ST. And Phegley...phrankly, after his big league performance last season even a good spring training wouldn't convince me that he belongs on the big league team right now. Charlotte for a couple months at the very least seems like a good reaction to how he performed in the big leagues last year. If the White Sox find something of really tiny utility that they'd be willing to give up for Nieto, fine. I'm not even sure I'd give up Jared Mitchell for him right now since all we have to do is keep him on the big league roster. I see what you did there. Nice.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 09:22 AM) What an epic choke job by the USA long track speed skating team in this Olympics. Davis has been the best in the world in the 1000 on the men's side and Richardson and Bowe the two best in the 1000 on the women's side and all 3 come up empty and weren't even competitive for medals. Stricter testing in the Olympics?

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 10:04 PM) You're confusing Charley Lau with Walk Hriniak, although without Charley Lau there might not be a Walt Hriniak because he was a big follower in the teachings of Lau. Lau did most of his great work with George Brett and the Royals in the 70's, and briefly did coach the White Sox until the 80's when he passed away while still coaching. Walt Hriniak was the guy who worked with the Red Sox in the late 70's and 80's and eventually became the White Sox hitting coach (and last guy to wear no. 6 in honor of Lau) right before Frank Thomas came up. Frank Thomas' approach in his early and best years is a great example of how Lau and Hriniak taught hitting (not that Lau or Hriniak were the first to have these ideas of hitting, but they were the first to make it into science). I'm in favor of keeping 6 retired as long as Reinsdorf is around. Lau and his school of teaching still influences baseball today and he died while coaching for the Sox young and tragically, and as you mentioned his impact can be seen with the White Sox player who just recently got elected to the Hall of Fame. I guess I should have been more clear. It was the teaching of Walt and the philosophy of Lau. However, Lau was around alot as an advisor when Walt was around.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 11, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) Bears own 2 of the 8 largest cap numbers for next season. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-footba...-nfl-cap-issues Actually, really smart for the Bears. Get most of the cap hit out of the way so it can be more flexible later on. That cap hit is almost half of the guaranteed money. Edit: the comment was for Cutler's contract

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 10, 2014 -> 05:54 PM) Ivan Calderon. I am a charter member of the Calderonists. We used to do the two man wave chanting III VAN in the outfield at Old Comiskey so I think that could be the best move of all time for the Sox.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 10, 2014 -> 05:40 PM) I would think that Sam would understand it is probably not the best idea to be caught checking out other guys in an NFL locker room Idiots have been calling into B&B making the girl lockerroom comparison, but frankly it isn't even close. If a nfl guy is showering with a bunch of chicks and decides to put the moves on a chick, there is a good chance the chick will have no way to defend herself. Sam would get destroyed This is true to an extent, it's not the actual checking them out or hitting on them. That won't happen. But it is just like a female in the room while you change and shower. It's not how he acts, it's how comfortable he makes the teammates. From all accounts at Mizzou, he is such an out going and freindly guy that everyone liked him and some even went to gay bars to hang out with him. So if there is such thing as a perfect guy to break the barrier, it sounds like it's him.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 10, 2014 -> 05:29 PM) People generally are uncomfortable with change or the unknown. It's human nature. Of course it is. Especially in a culture as tight as a locker room. It's not just conceptual though there is a physical presence in this as well. I am fascinated to hear about the locker room dynamics.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 10, 2014 -> 05:02 PM) I shower in a gym with total strangers, some of which may be gay, and I pay them to go there and have that privilege. Edit: "them" being the gym, that read very peculiar I realized. This always happens, the group having nothing taken from them except allowing another group equal status acts like they are being forced change. This is true but I think it's a little different when someone is there everyday and you know they are gay. I think it will be fine eventually but I can see someone being uncomfortable with it.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 09:15 PM) She looked like she blacked out rag doll style then they let her finish down the ways. Yep, she was out cold. I'm interested in when she returns. Anyone know if she is entered in any of the other snowboard events? I don't think the US medical team would let her continue.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Feb 10, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) And he fired Larussa as the manager. But, it seems to me that Hawk had his hand in a good trade for us but I can't remember what it was Tom Seaver for Steve Lyons? Wouldn't have gotten to see Pycho pull his pants down at first base.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 08:40 PM) A team won their division this year after their #2 receiver publicly dropped the N-word, but a locker room couldn't handle a gay player? Alot of it will be the player comfort in the locker room. I've heard discussions about it and there is some worry. The worry is that it's like having a female in the locker room. A gay male will look at a man in sexual terms like a female would. How comfortable is someone changing and showering in that scenario. Some will be and some won't. It's currently the reason that reporteers aren't aloowed in locker rooms until a certain time.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 07:59 PM) I am not denying anything. Google mlb signing bonus. Click on the angelfire link. They have the bonuses for this decade. I have researched and shown you just some of the stars the Sox passed on to pay inferior players more money. Maybe you can show me the players they would have selected had they allocated more money. I am sure you will not. I suppose if KW wanted a good farm system he would have drafted guys like Ellbury, Pedroia, Wright, Jones, Trout, Cain, but he didn't so we get Fields, Lucy, Ring, Honel, Broadway, for MORE money.My examples are guys that were drafted soon after they White Sox made a dud of a pick and were signed for slot money. Pretty straight forward. Besides, if you look at the guys who were paid way over slot, many didn't work out. The guy thought Jeff Marquez was Jon Garland. He thought Tyler Flowers was a stud. He compared Jon Gilmore to Joe Crede. Traded a pretty valuable trading piece for a bust of a prospect in Nestor Molina who he thought was starring in Winter Ball when he wasn't. The reason the minor league system was bad was certainly not money. Since his background is scouting, it may be that as GM he relied on others to make the evaluations and leaned on thier opinions. It was well known that Wilder tutored him and he really looked up to him. Maybe now that KW is scouting more, they are making better draft decisions.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 10:19 PM) Just glad KW isn't the GM. Hopefully Hahn continues rebuilding this organization over the next few years and we can be serious contenders year in year out. KW would have done the same thing this year. After the way last year went this was the year to blow it up so to speak. There is no telling if he would have made the same moves, although in his new position he is scouting alot more so he may have, but he would have made these changes and gone young. He has stated many times that he considered doing it in the past but didn't feel the time was right. It was right after last year.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 04:49 PM) So at best we can say that Kenny executed an awful strategy just about to perfection as the major league club wallowed in mediocrity even though he tried propping it up at the expense of the farm system. I don't think it was an awful strategy. I think it was a good strategy to build on the enthusiasm of Sox fans after the World Series. For the most part the Sox were in contention and kept Sox fans interested. It is one of the most successful runs the Sox have ever had. I think the Sox were 3 or 4 in wins of all teams over that timeframe.