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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 10, 2013 -> 12:40 PM) This reminds me a ton of the discussion about high/low ceiling pitchers. In 2005-2006, KW was drafting pitchers that were "low ceiling" guys, guys like Broadway, who had long college careers but didn't have the kind of stuff Chris Sale brings to the table. The idea was to get them up to the big leagues fairly quickly and possibly have them set up as trade bait. People got mad because the Sox were taking "baseball" guys rather than drafting guys with big time talent and trying to develop them. This strikes me as people being mad over precisely the reverse. Going after toolsy, high-risk, high-reward players is exactly what people spent years demanding the Sox do. I was going to post the same thing. I guess if you've been around long enough the pendulum swings all the way to the other side. I guess the underlying theme is that whether you pick the "baseball" guy or the "athlete" you need to pick the right ones or develop them properly. Maybe it's the development piece.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Sep 5, 2013 -> 04:10 PM) Skin was also stitched together I heard. My sources said stapled. Yours must be idiots or LIARS.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 30, 2013 -> 08:36 AM) seriously. No admission of guilt, and this pittance of a settlement(comparatively). They really did win this Some of the settlement may that that there was a new study in JAMA that found the incidence in brain changes was no different in a control group of 60 year old males than in the experimental group of ex-NFL players of the same age.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Aug 28, 2013 -> 09:19 PM) Both Garcia's bring so much to this team with their energ. Energy doesn't matter in baseball you meathead! Only OPS,OPS+and EIEIO matter in this game. Signed, Keith Law

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 27, 2013 -> 02:34 PM) It increases concentration (it changes the way your brain goes into and out of "concentration mode"; the way your brain acts when you're focused is different from when you're not, and ADHD people have a higher threshold for activating that functionality) but it also absolutely functions as a stimulant, at least in adults who are heavily on the "AD" side and not the "HD" side. This is why you need to choose the client carefully. An AD only or ADHD. The true ADHD is the student who cannot sit still and is disrupting everything. What sense would it make to give this person a stimulant?. Its because thiese certain drugs act as a calming effect for this population. Its also why it increases the hyperactivity for those who dont truly have it. This is where it can be a stimulant and can help or hurt a players performance.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 27, 2013 -> 01:37 PM) Well, it also definitely functions as a powerful stimulant regardless of whether or not it helps you concentrate. Not for the true ADHD. For them it acts as a calming agent. This is why it's prescribed. For the people faking it, it does add a stimulant effect but can "overdo" it to the point of loos of focus.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 26, 2013 -> 03:13 PM) I've read multiple times over the years that the rate of diagnosis for ADHD among MLB players is way higher than the general population rate. The belief is that they seek this diagnosis so that they can take the various highly stimulative drugs used to treat it. A modern, completely legal alternative to amphetamines. It's not for the stimulant, it's for the increased focus component that works with ADHD. If you have ADHD the drugs decrease the hyperactivity and allow the student to focus. The problem is with people you don't truly have the ADHD it can cause increased hyperactivity (similar to the stimulant) however, it cause many to lose focus and just be hyper. So many try but many also stop because it doesn't help.

QUOTE (TheBigHurtIsBack @ Aug 24, 2013 -> 08:09 AM) Sure, it was illegal. My point is it was in no way related to his production on the field, at least in terms of raising his ceiling. PED's can do that, gambling can't magically make you better than you are. Pretty simple concept. I am pretty hefty on morals, believe it or not. But in my opinion it's irrelevant. Granted, and I meant to say, "supposedly" when referencing him being clean, but as long as he's been around there's been no proof so we can't hold that against him, otherwise by that logic no big hitter would be above suspicion. It may be worse to intentionally throw a game because of wagering or in the case of managing wear out a pitching staff because you have to win the bet on the game today. PEDs can alter your ceiling physically. Changing the way you play because you placed a bet is a mental way of changing the performance. Either way you changed the way you would normally play. Both are really bad for fair competitive based sports.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 23, 2013 -> 09:19 AM) Why are we assuming Rose wasn't using some form of PEDs? Wasn't the use of amphetamines/coke pretty common back then? Amphetamines were very common even into the 90's. When I was working in the clubhouse there would be two coffee pots. One labeled leaded, one unleaded. Most people would assume it meant caffienated and decaf. It really stood for amphetamine laced or not. There was really mixed opinion on whether it helped. It helped to keep you going during the long season especially at the end. However, it also made you "jumpy" which didn't always help when trying to hit. I said when the PEDs were banned that banning amphetamines would have a grewater effect than others because of the widespread use. I though it would take out older players because of the long season. I'm not sure if it's true today but I think the age is getting younger.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 24, 2013 -> 01:04 PM) Most of the first round picks, even high schoolers, start in Low A the next season if they played half a season at rookie ball after drafted. Hawkins is only 1 level ahead of his curve, and yet as many had point out, the difference between talent and experience is marginal between the two levels. 19 year old first round picks don't normally struggle like this, even if he is a bit inexperience for this level. Even if he was in rookie ball or Low A, once the pitchers start to exploit his weakness, he probably won't fare much better than he's doing now. I heard Bell's interview on the radio a few months back, and I strongly disagree with the approach. Given the Sox have nothing to show for in offensive development for the last 10 years, they shouldn't be continue to experiment this approach on a highly touted prospect, one that they, or anyone, have yet to have success with. True however this is why you give him another year. Just because he hasn't progressed like most others doesn't mean he is a bust yet. I never said I agreed with him, I just that is what they are doing so don't write him off yet. If they change things he has time to work them out.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Aug 23, 2013 -> 11:49 PM) And yet, he probably could've been had in the 3rd round. No matter how good Long looks, you do not draft any guard in the 1st round of an NFL draft. Stories after the graft had the packers and one other team ready to take him in the first round. Guys like Alan Faneca did well being drafted in the first. Besides in 2 years he will be the left tackle. He is only at guard to learn how to play O line.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 24, 2013 -> 08:37 AM) It's so easy to jump on Hawkins these days I have been refraining myself from doing so for the past two months. But I wish people would stop using age as an excuse. The biggest reason Hawkins is struggling this bad is his inability to read and hit the breaking bad. Pair that up with a long and lousy swing, and poor hip rotation, he has no chance to make any contact with the ball. He had an impressive debut last year, but I believe pitchers didn't figure him out at that point. Almost every pitcher Hawkins faced this year in High A have been exploiting his weakness for breaking ball. Check out Nathaniel Stoltz's video scouting on Fangraph. Using the logic that people keep throwing around, that there isn't that much of TALENT difference between High and Low A, would you think Hawkins would have fare much better in Low A? Heck, if words got out last year that he can't hit the breaking pitch at all, I don't think he would have gotten out of rookie ball. We get that he's still 19 years old. But in the history of the minor leagues, there's probably only 1 player who had the strikeout rate that Hawkins has, and a comparable batting average, who turned out to be a successful major leaguer. Even that player hit .210 that year, and that's like .030 higher than Hawkins this year. It's not as much age as it is the experience it implies. Give players out of high school 3 years to look at progress. The sox have a different approach then many other organizations, this may be why they don't produce hitters. Bell has stated that they are allowing Hawkins to do it his way and make his mistakes. If it works fine, if not then they will begin correcting his flaws. August stats seem to say that Hawkins worked on the his power but saw it didn't help his average. No he sacrificing some power and working on others things to help contact.

Anyone know if there is a way to print from a Galaxy Note 10.1? I love the device in general but I think this may be a weakness.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Aug 22, 2013 -> 03:37 PM) Pre-roids Maggs had great gap power. Garcia hits alot like him and has more athleticism. I think he started them in the minors, Right after his AA season. He wasn't much of a prospect in the low minors just moved at a regular pace. He exploded in AAA.

QUOTE (SoxnGiants @ Aug 21, 2013 -> 07:12 AM) Is that something that will stretch out over time? Or is it a permanent thing? It will stretch out to a point. It will largely depend on if he changes anything in his motion. The "new" capsule will be stronger than the old one.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 21, 2013 -> 08:29 AM) Hits in 7 straight games. Triple slash with White Sox? .341 / .386 / .850 But don't trade Jake Peavy - the fans will stop coming!!!!! Still tough to trade proven major league pitching for prospects. However the Sox had a number of good starting candidates and the offense needed desperate help. At least the Sox got a couple of possible arms back as well.

QUOTE (Noonskadoodle @ Aug 20, 2013 -> 10:48 PM) His BLAH ERA is a bit deceiving. He has went at least 6 innings in his last 11 starts & only has given up more than 3 runs in 3 of those starts. He is so much better than I expected him to be this season. It takes a while to "learn" how his shoulder moves after this type of surgery. The surgeon had to tighten up the shoulder capsule when he repaired it. This can change the motion available for the shoulder rotation and effect all of the pitches. The fastball may be slower because he can't "reach back" in the literal sense. This is why the quality of the surgeon was so important. He needed to tighten it just enough. Danks is not all the way back but he is progressing well.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 20, 2013 -> 12:24 AM) That has nothing to do with it being "the only stat that matters." How are you going to analyze player performance? How easy would it be to put together a winning team if you ignored every stat except wins and losses? I've said it a million times -- statistics exist to answer specific questions. If you insist on ignoring their intended uses, you shouldn't be surprised that they aren't that useful for you. But you should also not be surprised that others are finding them extremely useful -- to answering specific questions. I never said that other stats aren't useful or should be ignored. I'm not sure where you got that. Of course they are useful. I said they are an important piece and in my view is where you start for starting pitcher. If I'mgoing to spend money on a freeagent. I want a pitcher who knows how to use his stuff not a guy who has stuff. So the underlying stats are important however I start with wins. Take Javier Vasquez vs. Mark Buerhle. One has better "stuff" the other knows how to use it. Most of vasquez stats are better. However, we've seen both pitch and who would you rather have. Edit: Looking back I did see what I said. It didn't come out the way I meant it. The only stat that matters was in reference to a season or career and as a primary variable with some hyberbole.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Aug 19, 2013 -> 09:27 PM) What? Did you just compare team w/l to a pitcher's w/l? Yes. Because he has the most control over it. Does he have it all, no. However, he is the most significant variable in it. It obviously doesn't tell everything and can't be looked at only for individual games but needs to be over a season and multiple seasons. The advent of specialzed relievers has made it less important as the starter pitches less.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Aug 19, 2013 -> 05:59 PM) W/L record for a pitcher is pointless, it's amazing how many people still use it as a important metric. Because it's still the most important stat in the game.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 19, 2013 -> 05:40 PM) Right except it absolutely doesn't, lol. It tells you which teams have played the best relative to the ones they've played against. If that's the question you're asking, then yes, it tells you all you need to know. Considering that's what we base a good or bad season on and who goes to the playoffs, I would agree it's the most important.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 16, 2013 -> 10:28 AM) That's great, but a "guy in his late 30's trying to heal up his back and come back for 1 more year" really wouldn't have any place on a team like where the 2014 white sox will be. The 2014 White Sox seem like every guy on their Roster should be someone that they're stuck with because of contracts (Danks, Dunn), someone who has a future with the team (90% of the roster), and maybe a bullpen or bench guy veteran thrown in to be a veteran and possibly be traded at the deadline. I'm not saying it's the right move, just that with JRs loyalty I wouldn't rule it out.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 08:44 PM) I still don't know what kind of power he has because of that wrist injury. It's going to cost him power all year, that was said when the injury first happened. Could be true. Although it should have started to rebound by now. Maybe he is just getting comfortable again.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 16, 2013 -> 08:10 AM) Then we can give him a standing O when his new team comes to Chicago, as long as someone convinces that manager to let him start a game that series. I don't know. He has shown he can come back strong from injuries. His back has been bothering him all season. If it gets right he may be able to do it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 04:25 PM) Only on Soxtalk would there be a serious conversation about Adam Dunn's HoF chances. Anytime someone gets near 500 HRs, 3,000 hits or 300 wins for a pitcher there will be HOF talk.