bighurt574

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 17, 2012 -> 01:54 PM) I can't see a scenario where the NL ever adopts the DH and I can't see a scenario where the AL ever gives it up. At least not in the next couple decades. The AL has the Union on their side (since it extends guys careers), while the NL has tradition and history to not having it. I don't know, seems like we're entering an era where the pitchers have the upper hand again over the hitters. If owners want to generate more offense, the DH is a good place to start, at least in the NL.

QUOTE (59th street @ May 17, 2012 -> 04:47 PM) Sorry, I did not mean to imply that you thought there was no advantage. Yes several have stated they felt little or no advantage and I thought your comment was a nice set up for my side of the discussion. I don't think anyone said that there's no advantage to batting a DH over a pitcher (I'm assuming any team can plug in a DH who will outhit just about any pitcher). They were just comparing whether it's harder for AL teams to adapt to the NL rule or vice versa.

The ultimate solution is a uniform DH rule for both leagues, either keep it or drop it entirely -- what other sport has such a key rule difference between leagues/conferences? But as long as it's split, you have to give the home team its set of rules, you can't just say DH in all those interleague games, that's just catering to the AL.

The whole thing is bizarre. I'm glad Sale's agent is speaking up. The guy should be a starter. I have no idea if this had anything to do with Sale's elbow issues, but I was surprised to see such a high pitch count from him right out of the gate -- 100, 102, 110, and 101 in his first four starts. Seems like he should be the 5th starter this year, skip him every once in a while, and watch his pitch count. There's really no need to send him to the minors to transition to a starter, he's going to have to throw those same pitches whether he's in the majors or minors, might as well be here since he gets people out, just use him a little more wisely.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 11, 2012 -> 10:23 AM) I's ridiculous to even think about making moves right now. Until the Tigers show they can go on a run, the Sox aren't out of it. I assume that if they were really looking at Youkillis, it's a move to improve the team this year, not a salary dump.

We have an awful minor league system, and no major league trade chips that are going to bring back top prospects that could reasonably be expected to power a relatively-short rebuilding job. Whether we go into sell mode or not, it's hard to imagine building a consistent winner until we fix our draft issues. And draft position doesn't even mean a whole lot if we're not willing to invest the $$$ in our picks.

If Peavy continues to pitch well, that might make him tradable without having to eat most of his contract, but it's not going to bring back some massive package of quality talent.

The problem is that most of the parts we have to sell don't have all that much trade value.

At this rate, Phil One (No) Hit Humber

The way I see it, Cowley is a professional writer, his entire job is using words to convey thoughts. If he's not smart enough to know that his alleged attempt at humor (if that's really what it was) could be misconstrued, he's an idiot and could be fired for incompetence.

QUOTE (PolishPrince34 @ Dec 8, 2011 -> 05:52 AM) The problem with this trade Kenny Williams seemed to focus on one team to trade with and that's Toronto. That's not being a smart GM. Santos was a hot commodity due to lack of milelage on throwing arm, ability, and friendly contract. Many teams have come out and said they wished they knew Kenny was making Santos available . Also, on the Boston front their are a lot better prospects than Anderson and Reddick. Lowrie has been with major league roster the past 2-3 years and isn't even considered a prospect anymore at the Age of 27. Kalish, Middleton, Wilson could of have been great additions to the farm system that are almost major league ready. Kenny Williams should of received more than one prospect in this deal. We should of received another prospect with a high ceiling. Well, it seems like a smart GM would actually scout the specific prospects he is targeting, they're not all fungible. The Sox must have really liked the guy they got, which is why they focused on Toronto. Time will tell if they blew it. I would have expected more than one guy in exchange for a good, cheap closer like Santos, but for all I know, this guy could be the next Danks, Floyd, etc., or better.

Might as well include Werth in this discussion too. Dunn had an awful, awful season, but if you had your choice today of Dunn's, Crawford's, or Werth's contract going forward, who would you take? Dunn's is probably the best of the bunch, at least it's shorter.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 02:44 PM) Rumor yesterday is that it was Stanton we asked for Yeah, and Ozzie asked for an extension and KW's firing. You can ask for anything you want. Doesn't mean much. Pretty good haul considering we easily could have fired Ozzie and owed him a year on his contract.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 25, 2011 -> 07:32 AM) And I think we all agree that Ozzie is near the end, the only question really is are these his last few games or will it be these last few games and a year. There is no way I see an extension coming Oz's way. We may see Oz managing on an "out year". I really hope it doesn't come to that. Regular Ozzie is hard enough, I can't even imagine what Lame Duck Ozzie would do.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Sep 20, 2011 -> 05:12 PM) Given Ozzie's close relationship with JR and his referring to Reinsdorf as 'God' in the past I'm sure that's just Ozzie's broken english comming through. That's how I read it. The Tribune reports the quote as: "The future? Only two gods know: Jerry (Reinsdorf's) God and the real God know what my future is going to be here." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...,0,537263.story "Reindorf's" was apparently the paper's addition, so Ozzie apparently said "Jerry God and the real God." There's a big difference between "Jerry God" and "Jerry's God." And it certainly makes sense to say that only two know -- JR and God.

Ozzie's strength isn't in-game decision-making. It just isn't. For a while, I bought that he was at least a great motivator who would get the most out of his players. It was certainly easy to buy that line after 2005. But after the team and the players have generally underachieved ever since, especially in the last 3 years, what's left? What is he bringing to the table? I don't get it.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 01:54 AM) Do you realize what you are saying? To bench Rios and Dunn with the money they are making? You don't magically pretend Adam Dunn does not exist. You can keep playing them as long as they have a reasonable shot at turning things around and being productive MLB players, but you don't keep playing them just because of their contracts. I'm all for giving Dunn a chance to start fresh next year, but the decision to bench him this year came a good month too late.

QUOTE (tonyho7476 @ Aug 31, 2011 -> 11:55 AM) He tried to kill the rally after Minny went up 3-0...but the s***ty-Twins can't field this year. There should have been a double-play before DeAza hit the homerun. I think Rios got a hit for it. Did he really get credited with a hit for that? It was a routine double play grounder to third.

With Viciedo, De Aza, and Flowers in the lineup, this team is actually fun to watch for the first time since opening week. Now if we could just get Quentin back so Rios can return to the bench...

I don't think Dunn will be this bad next year, but I don't see him going back to 40/100 any time soon. What worries me most isn't even the K's, it's when he does make contact, he just doesn't seem to have the same bat speed/power. I'm not sure that can suddenly just reappear, even if he starts making better contact.

We seem to be very good the past few years at being the "contender" with the worst record for waiver claims...

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 24, 2011 -> 10:48 AM) I'm actually pretty happy the Sox claimed Thome. The team is on the brink, chances of winning the division are dwindling fast, but it is not quite over yet. Besides, Thome being there will put more butts in the seats, which helps the team's payroll situation (partially offsetting his cost). And Thome has said he enjoyed his time with the Sox. So the only reason to hesitate, really, is the whole thing with getting Jim a shot at a ring. I can understand that, I'd love to see him get a ring, but it isn't exactly a known thing he'd go somewhere else and have a better shot anyway. And if Jim doesn't want to come here, he can just say no. Acquiring Thome at this point would have no measurable effect on ticket sales.

I like Danks but I wouldn't pay him $17M/year. If the Sox are going to spend that kind of money on a pitcher, he better be a legitimate ace, and that's not Danks. He'll be very good for a while but at this point I don't see him taking his game to a new level.

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Aug 15, 2011 -> 03:33 PM) Welp, I see no one has spoken their reason why Sale should stay in the pen yet (I was the first to vote pen earlier today) so I guess I'll air my reasoning. I love Sale's stuff and I think he can (and possibly will) be an awesome starter. The reason I said he should stay in the pen is because of his frame and delivery and risk of injury. My fear is that he is going to be at risk for a career worth of injury with his small frame and long limbs whipping with his delivery. And now that he's conditioned to come out of the pen, I think he'll be at an even greater risk of injury as we stretch him out, no matter how slowly we move with him. We can't afford to waste a young arm like this by having him injured often as his innings pile up. This may just be an irrational fear from my youth that that we're going to break our toy but I am very content with him in his current role. Can anyone allay my fears on this? PTatc? You can say pretty much all those things about Lincecum (apart from the bullpen experience), imagine if the Giants never game him a chance to start. I think you have to give Sale that chance. Starting pitching is just too valuable, especially for a potentially elite guy who can anchor your rotation not just in the regular season but in a playoff series. If he flops for whatever reason, you can move him back to the pen. And if it is any consolation, we seem to be one of the better organizations at protecting our starting pitching from injuries.

I was just excited that we scored 7 runs yesterday. I think that counts as fun bad...