Balta1701

QUOTE(AbeFroman @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 04:41 PM) Wow.... I know you need to be careful about these things... but with the detailed information they state, it has the indicia of reliability. I've also heard it from multiple sources and that suggests to me that something may be up as well...I don't know if they were independent ones, but none of the sources Judith Miller used for her Iraqi WMD reporting were independent either, so if the NYT can do it, why can't I? Like I said...take it for what it's worth...I just like being the first to post things if I'm right about them.

I bet this was some guy who was googling John Titor for some reason (along with some other random word appearing in this thread) who managed to find our page and decided to post in this thread.

"Well it's the fans game, and if the fans want Mike Piazza to start at catcher or if the fans want to vote for Nomar to start at short, why can't they" -Paraphrasing the statements made every year by people justifying why undeserving all-stars get voted in.

Well...since this is the internet...and I can always just blame bad sources or totally ignore this post if it doesn't happen... I have read rumors from multiple sources that Chief Justice William Rehnquist may be ready to either make a major speech of some sort or simply outright announce his retirement tomorrow morning. Here is one source. Naturally...since I'm a mere White Sox fan in California, I can't confirm this...but if you like paying attention to random rumors that rapidly circulate through the internet...here's a good one for you.

Keith Foulke had surgery on one of his knees today.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:48 PM) (Heck, if I were an Angels fan, I'd be pushing to improve the starting pitching too.) Just like they should have in 2002...they had plenty of prospects to trade...I'm sure someone would happily have given them a veteran starting pitcher for this rookie named Francisco Rodriguez sometime in July that year.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:59 PM) Well i'd be worried about a guy that only seemed to be successful with one team his entire career and had been mediocore with every other team he was with... I'd be more worried about a guy who has a Juan Rincon style jump in performance all of a sudden when his fastball dramatically improves and suddenly he becomes a strikeout pitcher... SO 97 136 98 158 99 148 00 51 01 142 02 196 03 208 04 251 Sudden jump in 2002 out of no where, and he goes from being a .500 pitcher to a near-20 game winning pitcher? I don't like the phrase "4 fluke years" better than anyone else...but come on...i'm not going to say the real word myself.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:20 PM) I'm not buying SF's and the Sox' denials about Jason. This deal still makes the most sense for both teams, including the swap of shortstops. (And isn't it just the kind of deal KW would pull? After all, hasn't he added a middle infielder and starter at the trade deadline just about every year?) He added a starter last year. He added Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett each of the last 2 years.

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:33 PM) I quote; Behold Britain now, ablaze with fear and terror, horrified from its north to its south, from its east to its west. Er hardly. May I refere these tossers to my previous comments. You may refer them to the infernal regions for all I care. (I just ask that you give them a trial first)

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:27 PM) That's all I need to know. But Vafan thinks he can't outpitch the mighty Paul Byrd. Assuming SI.com's numbers are right...the mighty Paul Byrd is 11 and 10 Career in the postseason, with an ERA of 5.20. link

Well...if we can believe anyone when talking about Boston...

I don't know if anyone else is interested in this...but in case you're curious...here is a translation of hte purported Al Qaeda message posted on a website this morning by a previuosly unknown group claiming responsibility.

QUOTE(moochpuppy @ Sep 18, 2003 -> 11:04 AM) If a major nuclear war "happened" in 2012, how the Hell was he able to construct a time machine only 24 years later? Hey, in the Star Trek universe, we go from a postatomic horror (600 million dead) in the 2050's to launching our first warp ship in 2063. How the Hell did someone find this thread to bump it anyway?

Loaiza's problem last year was that he couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark when he wasn't pitching in a pitcher's ballpark. This year...he's in more of a pitcher's ballpark, and keeping the ball in the park more. In fact...he has a 5.24 ERA outside of Washington.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 03:02 PM) I heard Kevin Millar also wants to be traded since Olerud is taking up his time. Any idea where you "Heard" this at? Millar's another one of those guys who's numbers have taken a severe hit this year compared to last. Season G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2004 150 508 74 151 36 0 18 74 57 91 1 1 .297 .383 .474 .857 2005 72 249 28 68 13 1 4 32 25 35 0 0 .273 .351 .382 .733 You know...looking at his numbers, I can't find anything that tells me he's gotten less playing time than last year...we're barely over 1/2 way through the season, and he's 5 at bats away from having 1/2 of his at bats from last year. His slugging is also way down this year...less power, lower average, and it seems to be stuck that way. I wouldn't be surprised if Olerud took more of his playing time the 2nd half.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:51 PM) I think what you will see next year is Dye at 1B, Anderson/Everett platoon in RF and Konerko gone with Frank as the DH. I don't think there's a chance in Hell we'll be re-signing Everett to a contract in the offseason. I think there's a decent chance KW might trade for him again, and that's being completely serious...especially if Thomas or Dye goes down with an injury. I also think that Gload might get the shot in the 1b hole before Dye...and Anderson could pull off something of an Everett type role this year if he doesn't get traded this year.

QUOTE(He_Gawn @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:50 PM) ^ You mean Ryan Howard? They would trade Thome before him. That's not what i've heard at all this year...back when the Phils had their winning streak it seemed left and right almost everyone was feeling like Howard was a piece that they would deal to try to improve their team this year...particularly their pitching staff.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:49 PM) I am assuming you mean Ryan Howard. Yes, thank you...we may very well have an open slot at 1b next year...I think he'd be a tolerable fit and he might be able to generate as much offense as Konerko...and I doubt he could run any slower.

I wouldn't mind seeing if we could do something with Borchard and a pitcher not named McCarthy or Gonzalez to the Phillies in exchange for that Wagner kid who's stuck behind Thome. I believe he's out of minor league options as well, or nearly so.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 11:30 AM) He had a stretch of 4 starts where he pitched poorly in 3 of them. Besides that, he's been good. Once again, nobody uses a 5 man rotation in the post-season. Contreras would be in the pen. And you do know El Duque's career playoff record is like 9-3? Jose has had 2 pretty good starts against the Angels this year. He's given up just 5 earned runs in 13 innings. And yeah, the Red Sox have owned him. But like I said, he'd be in the pen come playoff time anyway. El Duque is 16-9 in 33 career starts, 35 career postseason appearances. His postseason ERA is 3.59.

QUOTE(DukeNukeEm @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 12:16 PM) I hope the Red Sox totally blow it, Tampa Bay comes back, wins the division. Then, in the West, Seattle trades all thier good players, but then wins the division because some strange, I dont know. Then, Detroit comes back to win the Wild Card. Sox v. DRays in ALDR Sox v. Detroit in ALCS Schweeeetttt. While we're at it...can we get Kansas City into the wild card instead? We haven't lost to them all season.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:31 PM) You all seem to miss the point. Let me make it easier. To win a series against Boston or the Angels, our chances will improve greatly if our 4th starter has a significant edge against their 4th starter, rather than a disadvantage, which is where we stand now with Contreras/El Duque as our two options. I strongly disagree with your statement that Contreras/El Duque do not match up well with other teams 4th starters. 1. Contreras will give you good starts probably about 60% of the time, if not more. Against another team's 4th starter...it is insanity to expect better. 4th starter games come down to how well each person pitches that day and how your offense responds. 2. Let's take a quick look at this quote. Why exactly do you think that you can give David Wells another level in the playoffs, but you cannot give another level to the guy on our staff with 33 career postseason starts and a 16-9 record...El Duque? I think El Duque will be our 4th starter when playoff time comes personally...if he's healthy. If he is...I'll take his experience in big games over just about anyone. Let me be very clear on this...THE ONLY REASON WE NEED ANOTHER STARTING PITCHER IS THAT EL DUQUE SIMPLY CANNOT FINISH THE SEASON. If that is the case, we need another starter. If he can...he is as good as we will find, as is Contreras.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:19 PM) Sorry, but he has the slightest bit of trade value, he ought to be shipped to Washington for whatever KW can get. You know how Bowden loves those toolsy OFers... But seriously, there isn't a whole lot of room for JoBo. We already have Pods/Rowand/Dye, and Anderson is next in line. And after that Sweeney. And I'll lay you 2 to 1 odds that KW Trades for Everett sometime next year anyway. Borchard is 1 guy who I'd really love to see succeed, because he has a decent shot to turn himself into an Adam Dunn kinda player...but I just don't think the Sox have the time to keep spending on him...he's out of minor league options after this year, so basically he's either with the big league club next year or he's gone.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:16 PM) I'm not blaming MLB or whomever for Wagner being chosen, but they can chose another 3B. They already have another SS in Felipe Lopez on the team. Plus, there's also a DH this year. Ensberg could've subbed for whoever takes that role. Pujols?

Ok...I have one more thing to say...have I mentionned lately how despicable Fox News is? Fox News...you heard it here first...these attacks are a good thing for the western world.