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QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) Thats like saying why would McDonalds care if there is a BK across the street. There is a limited market of baseball fans in Chicago. Any acquisition that can tip fair weather fans from being "Cub" fans to "Sox" fans is a huge deal. With the decline of the Cubs, the Sox could easily make huge headway in the city. More fans= more money. Its not like the Sox are selling out, they need better attendance. This is an under rated idea that many fans don't get. The sox don't want to beat the Cubs in players or headlines because of the on field competition. It's because of the competition for fans and fan dollars. The Cubs are starting to lose fans and the Sox need to convert them before the Cubs start winning and bring them back.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2014 -> 01:09 PM) If there was ever a time to over pay it would be for a young potential international superstar while denying your in city rival. I would say if there is ever a time it would be with a proven MLB pitcher such as the LA did with Kershaw. I would take a chance with Tanaka but it's not my first choice.

Not real current but Grapes of Wrath was always one of my favorites. for biographies if you want a fun and a look behind the scenes of hollywood over the years, the new Tim Conway book is extremely funny.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 02:56 PM) I know some Americans that have a hard time with English. My son got a B in English this semester even I as a medical professional can't read his writing.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) This is not quite true. Due to inflationary reasons, we can make a safe assumption that teams will pay more for WAR as the contract goes on. By the end, teams may be paying $6.5-7 mill for 1 WAR. Spoken like a sports agent.

QUOTE (saabturbografx @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 06:19 PM) Scotty Po-Po did nothing but hit for a good average and steal bases with the best of them. Why do you reckon he bounced around so many teams and is currently a free agent? He seemed pretty reserved and enigmatic when he played for the Chisox..maybe not the best club house guy? He is a really good guy. It's definitely not a clubhouse problem. Maybe he is smart enough not to bring his wife to some clubhouses.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 11:42 PM) I feel like even if the Sox don't get him, they are planning a fairly big move for shortly after Tanaka-thon ends. I don't think so. JR has a history of allowing money for a special player but not willing to extend it for someone else. They must think Tanaka is a special player. I don't see any other current free agent as a "special player." I think the only thing that may happen if the Sox do not get him is a trade for a catcher, if that.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) By this do you mean that his stats, his performance, in 2013 (and 2012 for that matter) outshine or speak more loudly than his tools? Not arguing with you on this, but I'd be interested to know how many middle infielders playing at age-appropriate levels put up OPS numbers of .833 and then .880 the past two years. Would the people making these lists argue "yeah, but his tools don't say that he can keep doing that"? My reasoning is that many of the people who create these lists look at his tools will translate to the MLB level as well as his stats. All of his tools have been rated as average to slightly above average, with none really being a plus tool other than maybe "batting eye" or OBP. This type of player typically does not make a top 100 list. Personally, I like him alot and think he will be a good player not an all star but good. However, with his tool set, I can see why he is not on top 100 lists.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 03:25 PM) If every one of his other skills is average or better and he has the ability to play premium positions, then possibly. I agree that possibly is the answer. I don't agree with the post that stated he is definitely a top 100. He looks like a possible good player in the MLB. Not necessarily one of the top prospects, nothing jumps out as "this guy is going to be really good."

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:39 AM) I have always wondered why having someone around you hope you never have to use and if he's used he will most likely be terrible is considered "depth". My definition of depth would only include useful players. From Axelrod's stand point, there are worse jobs than pitching and living in Charlotte. Beats having to work for a living.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) I've been there but haven't had a burger yet. Speaking of Plainfield, Moe Joe's has a wild boar burger that is unbelievable. It has pretty much becaome my staple meal when we go there. That is the only thing I've had there and it is outstanding.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 06:38 PM) He had a .420 OBP in AA with more BBs than Ks. Plate discipline may not be a tool, but it is a skill and Semien demonstrated it extremely well last year. Given the value of OBP, I'm not sure why this skill is less important than any physical tool. Is one good skill worth being in the top 100? This is the question you need to ask. That is what they look for when making the list.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 10:26 AM) I'm sorry. Jammin' song that it is.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 09:32 AM) While I don't agree with his #2 ranking, I do think he's being underrated by a lot people. The kid absolutely dominated AA in an age-appropriate season, while demonstrating incredible plate discipline. Maybe I'm wrong, but prospects that can show that kind of plate discipline at the higher levels typically fair better against major league pitching. Also, in terms of comps, he was better offensively than other top 100 prospects like Joc Pederson & Arismendy Alcantara. Unfortunately, John Maneul said in his Sox chat that Semien won't be cracking this year's list. It really bothers me that Baseball America believes there are 100+ prospects out there that are better than a 22 year old middle infielder that posted a .903 OPS & 167 wRC+ in AA. Semien doesn't really have any outstanding tools. He is above average on just about everything. These types don't generally make the list.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 11:31 AM) I agree. Get the next one. I think it's obvious to everyone on the board that the Axelrod signing was an indication that the Sox weren't getting Tanaka. Move on to the second best pitcher on the market. They will not sign a major free agent pitcher if it's not tanaka.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) Second kid was obviously an 'Oops' Just re-married a younger woman and stared the little blue pill.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:54 PM) Damn man, how old are you? I've been around longer than I thought.

QUOTE (staxx @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 02:13 PM) really cool, thanks for sharing. remember the days of going to the mothership of USCF when it first opened Yeah, the seat I was in for the very first game doesn't exist anymore. They were in the far corner of left field where they took down some of the rows.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) St. Patty's Day? And yes, might as well travel as much as you can. I tend to do plenty of spur of the moment trips. One of the nicer benefits of being single. Just do whatever, whenever. The one piece of advice I give to all young single/couple is to not make yourself house poor so you can travel. My kids are 15 and 13 and have been to 36 states and Canada. edit: still not good with numbers after all these years of research

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) Going to Denver/Keystone next month, Zion/Bryce Canyon in May and my wife is still trying to convince me to do Olympic/Mt. Rainier in August. You need to do Mt. Rainer. We stayed at a B&B near there and stayed in the area awhile. It's worth it. You sound you go to places similar to what we like. Have you been to Crater Lake? It is a definite must.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 01:58 PM) Has any team ever tried running a substantial amount of Cover 2 out of a 3-4 base? It's tougher to do as the two LB's in the middle may not have the athletic ability to get to the deep middle zone. They can do it at times but it would be tougher to do as much as the Bears have in the past.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 11:12 AM) You realize how ridiculous that is right? I'm 27 and I still get acne on occasion. Why have none of those reports come from teammates? Why has no one gone on the record? Anecdotes are anecdotes - likely coming from someone who just didn't like Piazza very much. My point in all this is what's the difference between Piazza and Biggio? Piazza and Bagwell? An anecdote from an off-the-record somebody about back acne? Really? You realize a LOT of things can cause you to break out. Maybe he drank like crazy one night and ate a whole pizza! Listen, frankly I don't even care if he used or didn't because I've moved past caring. If everyone used then the playing field was level right? It's just inconsistent to say "no one from the era should be in the hall" but then want Frank in. However it's also inconsistent to say "i wont vote in anyone who was suspected of PEDs" and then vote in Bagwell/Biggio... or frankly ANYONE not named Frank Thomas. He's literally the only person in baseball who has remained consistent in his stance against PEDs. I don't even know how you can vote in Maddux and Glavine. Why are they immune to suspicion? At the end of the day, Piazza played in NYC. If he'd stayed in LA his whole career or gone to a media market not named NYC he'd be a hall of famer right now. But there's always someone looking to "get ya" in NYC when it comes to pro sports figures. As for Andro - first off it was legal at the time and secondly I will refer back to my position about Hank Aaron, Willy Mays and Gaylord Perry. All "cheaters" who are still in the hall. Explain? You've never seen the acne from someone abusing steroids then. It's not occasional acne. It's worse than most acne you've ever seen. It's really obvious.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) Honestly I doubt he was 100% clean, but the problem is you can't make HoF votes based on doubt and suspicion, because that's a slippery and clearly unfair slope. The hall is FULL of cheaters - why are steroids any better or worse? They aren't. It's simply our mass media and access making it such a big deal. Do I wish players had never used? Yep. Do I hate Barry Bonds? Yep. But there's literally no fair way to say who should and shouldn't be in the hall, so in light of that, I don't see another option besides voting the players with the best stats into the hall. They are worse. It is the variable which significantly makes you a better and different player. The other variables may help you play up to your potential (greenies) but steroids change your potential in an unnatural way. The other aspect is health. If you concerned about head injuries in football that is nothing compared to what these will to your body.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 05:11 PM) The Sox have already chosen to rush this rebuilding by choosing to trade for near-ready prospects. The Tanaka signing 4 years down the road will be the least of this team's worries if Abreau, Garcia, Eaton, et al flop. I disagree. The Sox are trading for prospects not MLB level players. We will not have all of these young players coming through early in their careers. You are still looking 2-3 years down the road with all of the young players already acquired.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) Wow horrendous roughing the passer call. Um I'll take it though. Carolina deserves it I guess. Just the makeup call so it doesn't look too one sided. This is an awful game from the refs stand point.