Greg Hibbard

QUOTE (BobDylan @ May 11, 2009 -> 05:51 PM) Thanks for crossing the line here between message board life and every day life, bud. I'm calling you out specifically, and nobody else. I've seen you on more than one occasion back up your pessimistic antics with nothing more than, 'I'm a realist and you're not.' That is not an exact quote, but I'd prefer not to go digging around for your quotes when you know what you've said. Not only only do you slap the face of every optimist here, but you call them ignorant and blind at the same time. So here's my point: I did not misunderstand what you said in the slightest bit - I'm telling you to read what you say and understand it for yourself, instead of spouting off and calling foul any time somebody calls you the f*** out. Look dude, I apologize. You are correct, I went over the line. We're all frustrated. I just don't understand how I'm painted as a pessimist when from very early in the 05 season through about september of 06 I was one of the most optimistic people on this board. My pessimism began in early 07 - for which it was justifited. I didn't see how they were gonna do it last season, but they did it anyway, which I'm happy to admit I was wrong about, but it was very clear that the reasons they did it last season was because of exceptional years by more than a few players who might not have the potential to replicate. The pitching staff suffered at least one major subtraction in the offseason and the additions were questionable. Moreover, I made it clear many times that I bought into the BABIP theory with Floyd and it seems completely relevant after all, and that extension looks about as bad a move as we could've ever dreamed because of it, which is something I was really afraid of. I could not see Alexei and Quentin being that good, especially Alexei in the clutch with his 1,000 grand slams. One month in, it's even worse than I thought it was going to be, and more wheels are falling off by the day. Are there solutions? Absolutely. The solutions are to bag this season, because this team sorely needs to reconfigure. There are several things that have needed addressing for several years - the abundance of dhs, the backup catcher question, CF, and dealing pieces at the deadline to get the talent we need to move forward is the way to go. To that end, I am out - way out. This team has so many fundamental things wrong with it that I can't imagine fixing one or two of them, let alone twenty. For many teams, optimism would seem appropriate, in particular the 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and after a few weeks, the 2008 team. For the 2009 team, I have simply not seen a team look this bad since very early 01 or late August 99 and I fear far worse is yet to come. Go blackhawks.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ May 11, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) That would be the pessimistic point of view, yes. But it is almost entirely speculative, which is not realism. I don't need to argue semantics with you on this, the dictionary has already done it for us. I'm assuming every time someone slightly misuses a word in any way you have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. It must be incredibly difficult for you on a day to day basis; for that you have my sympathies. I'm also assuming that every time the phrase "a realistic prediction" is used on sportscenter, you must be frothing at the mouth, jumping up and down, and screaming at the top of your lungs "SPECULATION! SPECULATION!"

QUOTE (BobDylan @ May 11, 2009 -> 02:42 PM) Neither, pessimism and realism have very little to do with each other. And please stop claiming that they do. Don't take this to say I am telling you to stop being pessimistic. Continue on with that, if you like. It's possible to have a negative prediction of a course of events that happens to be more realistic than an alternatively positive prediction. As of now, this team is not playing well, and their roster and inconsistency would suggest that a negative view of the remainder of the season might just be more realistic than a prediction of a runaway first place finish. You know what I meant. Let's not do this dance with semantics.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ May 11, 2009 -> 10:16 AM) You missed the joke Apparently so did half of the other responders.

I don't really get threads like this. If I have skepticism regarding the team, how should I vote? If I think they will finish in 4th place or worse based on what I've seen, does that make me an "outie" Am I "realistic" or not a "big enough fan" if I have a pessimistic view of this season? I think this is the worst Sox team I've seen in a long time.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ May 4, 2009 -> 11:32 AM) I will take my ridiculously optimistic attitude over your piss poor pessimistic attitude every day of the week If being ridiculously optimistic includes being desultory and condescending as well, I guess I'll just be thankful for my "piss poor pessimistic attitude" having SOME perks.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ May 4, 2009 -> 11:18 AM) Good, you know everything and everyone else doesnt. We are settled then I never said this.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ May 4, 2009 -> 11:08 AM) you dont believe the Sox have a shot. We all get that, as you have been repeating it for the past 2 seasons(maybe more). How about I dont tell you that you have to believe in this team, and you dont tell me that I shouldnt believe in this team, we can agree to disagree and move on. I told you mid-last season I thought the White Sox would probably win the division and then get swept in the playoffs. Sorry I was one game off, but I think my projection was pretty damned realistic. 2007 was an easy read for almost anyone. I believe in components of this team, but I'd like for us to approach this season in a different way. I do not see any equity in trying to get in this season by trading away prospects for quick fix 3 month rentals this July. I'm much more interested in developing Beckham, for example, and seeing what other guys like Poreda etc can do at this level this season. Contreras and Colon are anathema to my philosophy about what the White Sox should be doing right now. As I said, this was always a rebuilding year, it's too bad that Ken Williams is dressing it up otherwise.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 4, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) Maybe I just remember the 1987 Minnesota Twins and the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. I will never get sick of the White Sox making the postseason where anything can happen. Who knows, if Quentin doesn't get hurt and the White Sox are able to align their rotation correctly in the playoffs, what happens last season. You don't have to lead everyday like the 2005 White Sox. If the ball doesn't go through Graffinino's legs in 2005 and El Duque is left off the playoff roster like KW wanted and most of Soxtalk wanted as well, the White Sox probably don't make it out of the first round then. Anything can happen, any team can get hot. I don't think this team is good enough to win, but if they get there its not like the NBA where only a couple teams have a realistic shot. Look at how many wildcard teams have won it all. If the WS title is the only thing that floats your boat, 1 in 92 years must make you very ornery. I know a quick exit sucks, but at least you have a shot. There is nothing to indicate the White Sox are on the verge of a long run of winning WS. There is a lot of luck involved. The 1987 Minnesota Twins and 2006 St. Louis Cardinals are two examples out of the last 30 or so years of seemingly bad teams getting in that won it all, and probably the ONLY two teams among many. You asked "how many WC have won the world series?" How does this apply? The WC team could have the second best record in the league. The worst division winner cannot - and that's the scenario we are looking at here. Can you please tell me how the wild card will be coming out of the central this season? How about this instead - since 1995, how many times has the worst division winner in either respective league won the world series? How many times has a team that has won less than 90 games won the world series? I'll bet it's less than 10%. You're saying that banking on that 5-10% or so statistical historical chance we would have to win the World Series is a mindset we should have year after year after year....are you serious? I'd ask you if you treat similar statistical chances in the same way? Just so I have this straight- in this same paragraph you assume that if we lose game 3 of the first round of the 2005 divisional playoffs while up 2-0, we probably don't win the series whatsoever. That is what you're saying, right? probably. Is this like saying if we win the division with 83 wins this season, we probably win the world series?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 4, 2009 -> 09:42 AM) I agree. 1.5 games out with only 138 left to play. Its time to pull the plug and think about 2010. No, it's time we were realistic about what this team is capable of. I suppose if you feel division titles are some sort of accomplishment, then this season probably has some meaning for you. As all the rosters currently stand, any team making out of the Central probably gets utterly smoked in the postseason. I don't see the point of division titles, personally, but whatever floats your boat.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ May 4, 2009 -> 06:42 AM) I just don't get why so many people are acting surprised about this team right now. We all know this team will NOT compete this year and really this season is for us to see what the kids can do. If we wanted to win then Kenny would of pulled some triggers on some deals this offseason and Ozzie wouldn't be so damn inconsistent with his lineup selection. Yes - for those fans who carried a ridiculously optimistic attitude into this season, given this obviously flawed roster, I think a more tempered outlook might serve you better. When I read that some people on this board were picking this roster to win 90 games I could not believe what I was reading, particularly because such a large proportion of the board seemed to be thinking that way. This comes as absolutely no surprise to me. We went into the season without a complete major league rotation, without a major league CF or leadoff guy, and relied on a bunch of guys who had fantastic years last year to simply deliver on exactly the same level. Feels more like 2001 to me than anything else. And make no mistake - this team will be in it all year because the division is so bad, but the ceiling is about 83 games as the roster currently stands. This is a rebuilding year in disguise, always has been.

Mark Buehrle's numbers: 68 starts 28-21 record (.571 winning percentage) 39-29 team record in his starts (.574 winning percentage - which btw translates to a 93 win season if extrapolated) 1.29 WHIP 3.68 ERA I just love this guy more and more every year. I know it's a long shot, but given the fact he just turned 30 and he's got hopefully several more years of pitching ahead of him, a shot at 250 wins is not entirely unrealistic and may earn him HOF consideration. The reason why I wanted to start from 2007 is because I personally think his anomalous 2006 numbers were the result of fatigue from pitching almost 300 IP and almost into November during the 2005 season.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 04:22 PM) That's the beautiful thing about extrapolating numbers from small samples, isn't it? Chris Getz is going to hit .340; Carlos Quentin is on track for 64 homeruns. Zach Greinke is going to finish the season with a 0.00 ERA. Etc., etc., etc... It has to be. Because things are going to stay just like they are right now, right? I actually exaggerated Floyd's WHIP a bit, it's 1.77. Your argument is a strawman. I did not say this was going to be his WHIP for the season, I asked "at what point do we begin to worry about it should it continue" My next sentence was merely truth - should he give up close to 2 hits per inning in June we can expect atrocious numbers from a flyball pitcher in a hitters park. perhaps you'd like to answer with how many starts are NOT a small sample.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 03:58 PM) also not worried about Floyd...dude gutted through a game when I'm sure he didn't have his best stuff and still provided a quality start. At what point does his 1.9 season WHIP become disconcerting to people If he has anything close to that when the weather is warm look for his ERA to approach 8.

Really worried about Floyd though.

Anyone else want to tell DJ where he can shove his f***ing analysis of that situation "only a matter of time with those quality hitters in that linuep..." f*** you and your losertalk

the good news is galarraga is at 83 pitches already

strikeout.

works it back to 2-2 FLY BALL PLEASE

fly ball please

successful sacrifice please. We need a lead.

No farmio, I actually would not give up a run to get an out here. I'd prefer a strikeout.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 08:12 AM) You do realize that the Twins were incredibly lucky last year, the Indians have no 3, 4,5 starters, the Tigers have pitching question marks, and Brandon Inge playing third, and the Royals are well, the Royals, right? I can see putting more faith in Liriano, Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, and Perkins, but Lee, Carmona, Pavano, Lewis, and Reyes? Or Verlander, Jackson, Bonderman, Robertson/Miner, Willis? Even Meche, Greinke, Hovecher, Davies, and Ponson are in no ways leaps and bounds over what the Sox have. We have legitimate change of winning this year with this roster. Even if we didn’t have Q, or Konerko, or Dye I’d still have hope. Why? Because we have Kenny Williams. Our rotation has as many question marks as any other in the division.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 07:48 AM) Its easy to make your own predictions without ripping on anothers. If you dont think the Sox will do well, thats fine by me. I didn't rip. I said "I can't understand." Honestly, I can't. Ripping would be "you're f***ing crazy" or "you're an idiot" I've been around the block long enough to know that I'm often wrong, this is just my take.

I just can't understand how anyone could pick the Sox to finish in first this year given this team's overperformance last season and the current roster. 4th place, 79 wins. Disappointments: Colon and Contreras don't even equal one starter, Floyd has a major regression, Danks not quite as good, Ramirez not quite as good, Quentin has an off-year recovering, fifth starter hell. Surprises: Brian Anderson finally proves he can do this by hitting .250ish for an entire season, Getz has a good year, Broadway and other minor league arms make major strides after we fall out of contention. Hopefully the Sox finally address having 3 DHs in the lineup this season at some point.