WCSox

Meh, I guess this sort of makes sense with Vizquel being a utility guy and a "fielding coach" to Alexei. As long as they don't pay him much over the league minimum. But, man, I just don't see the logic in dumping both Nix AND Getz this off-season and replacing them with "meh" players who aren't going to get any better. Nix and Getz both have nice skill sets (albeit very different ones), and I thought that one of them could've been a nice long-term option for us. Kenny *could* keep Nix as an extra bench guy, but I'm not sure that's going to happen if Flowers is in the mix.

I've always felt that the Trib gave more extensive and positive coverage to the Cubs. But the motive for that (vested financial interest vs. catering to a much larger fan base) has never been clear to me. At the very least, I never believed that the Trib was blatantly unfair to the Sox. And a certain disgraced sportswriter for their major competitor was the most anti-Sox person in town. In general, I don't think that it's healthy that the a major newspaper own a sports team in the town that they're based in. Especially in this day and age, where media outlets all over the country are clearly "in the tank" for various organizations.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 05:13 PM) When people stop reading newspapers, money is lost. When people stop reading blogs, what exactly is lost except someones (often) anonymous reputation? These consequences are not the same. And as for your second sentence, it's basically enforces what I stated earlier. If you're paid for your work, are you willing to throw out something in the chance that it's accurate? What risks do bloggers assume here? If they're right, awesome; if not, well, it was just a rumor and the blog exist to give fans everything as they hear it. Most successful bloggers make money via advertising revenue. So, yes, money is lost, as is the livelihood of somebody who's willing to work hard doing something that they really enjoy in their spare time for not nearly enough money to live on. And even if newspapers lose readership from irresponsible reporting, since when are professional media are held accountable for spewing inaccuracies? Have you read some of the Sox-related conjecture that Cowley has been absolutely dead-wrong about? Yet, he still has a job covering a professional sports team for the second-largest newspaper in the fourth-largest city in America. A blogger with Cowley's track record could only dream of that level of professional and financial support. The only differences between professional sports journalists and highly-reputable bloggers are salary and access. And, in this particular case, maturity. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) You would think a guy who beat cancer and gets paid to do what he does would be wound a little less tightly. Or would at least have a more mature perspective on life.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 04:42 PM) I know one of the arguments made by newspapers against bloggers is that there's no accountability. That when a story falls through or is proven false, there's no recourse. Conversly, when a source proves accurate the blog receives all the praise. They're only upset because it's the perfect world -- all of the benefit with limited risk. That's a poor argument on behalf of the newspapers. Like newspapers, bloggers will suffer the same consequences when their readers realize that they're given bad information: they'll stop reading. As for the "all of the benefit with limited risk" part, bloggers tend to not get paid nearly as much money as professional journalists who work for major media conglomerates. Most bloggers have a separate full-time job as their primary source of income.

QUOTE (HeGone33 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:48 PM) Over the last 24 hours, the Score has been reporting this trade rumor on its regular updates, what does that say? And what does it say that a bunch of Sox fans who cover the team AS A HOBBY scoop Cowley on stories?

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) Other people who aren't in your dying industry have sources, face facts. Get off your high horse and stop being such a smug know it all snob. You're a dinosaur and you're close to being extinct. Nobody wants your job, they don't want to be unemployed and s**t out of luck in 5 years. Zing! The only thing that Cowley has over anybody here is access, and that comes from Cowley's employer, not Cowley's skill set.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:25 PM) Completely understood and I hope my comments dont make it out to be me saying that. Ditto

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:20 PM) Ugh, its a disgrace to journalism. "Journalism" has been disgracing itself for years. It's a dying field, and Cowley is just the tip of the iceberg.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:16 PM) I think a lot of these writers have a hate for the blogs -- largely because it's taking their jobs. The SunTimes is near folding, the Trib is basically holding on til that happens. Lots of truth to this. Honestly, what skills does Cowley have that the average college graduate with a passion for baseball doesn't? Well, that's the entire point of blogs: they're independent. The media conglomerates have a presence on the internet as well, but that doesn't mean that they control the medium.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 02:11 PM) What is this referring to? I didn't hear this. From Wikipedia:

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 01:57 PM) I really liked Cowley pre-Twitter/Score. I remember his articles in the Southtown being pretty solid. I stopped reading it after the merger, but always appreciated the Southtown's sports columnists (Gleason, Arvia, etc.).

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 01:04 PM) After getting his response, I understand exactly what you are talking about. I'm not going to even going to put it up, but it makes his initial comments look mature. I would send that unprofessional e-mail to his boss at the Sun-Times.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 12:12 PM) Yes. He finished 20th out of 25 qualified 1B in wOBA last year and these are numbers that will likely decline next season. And yet he's the 8th highest paid 1B in baseball. Yes, yes it is. 5 of the top 6 hitters in terms of wOBA in 2009 were first basemen. That's because you generally have one of your top 2 hitters playing that position since you don't have to be a great athlete to play the position and defense at 1B isn't greatly valued. No, no he didn't. He provided below average offensive production for his position and barely out produced the likes of Magglio Ordonez. He's a pretty solid defensive 1B, there's not a ton of value in that. The good organizations typically look to get their money's worth when paying out 'decent' salaries, the chances of this happening with a 34 year old, $12M Konerko are slim It's ok to be a fan of a player, you just have to realize when he's hit the downside of his career and is no longer worth what he's being paid or failing to match the production you'd expect from someone that plays the most important offensive position on the diamond. Sadly, Paulie is currently one of about three people in the lineup who would likely post an .800 or higher OPS. If they do deal him this winter, they're going to need to get an impact hitter in return (or sign one via FA). If I had to guess, my money would be on him playing 1B for the Sox in April.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 10:44 AM) These people who went to school for journalism are threatened by people who can get the same info as them. Most sports journalists are snobby a$$holes. Most sports journalists are also mediocre writers, which speaks volumes about the value of a journalism degree.

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 10:33 AM) There is no way the Angels have any interest whatsoever in PK. None. Didn't Vlad just file for free agency? I imagine that a competitive team with deep pockets like theirs might be interested in a one-year stopgap at DH. Given Paulie's price tag, they wouldn't have to give up much for him.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) The Padres would move him with two years left on the deal to accomplish one thing -- to bring in a giant load of prospects. Without Floyd or John Danks outgoing, I dont know if we can compete with another team's offer. Sadly, I agree. And given that Mark is probably not going to get another contract from the Sox, moving Floyd or Danks would be a bad idea. I imagine that the Padres would demand both Hudson and Flowers, plus others.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Nov 16, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) We're also talking about the 2011-12 offseason here, and IMO that's too far away to really speculate on. If some dude came on this board around this time in 2005 and stated that the Tigers would give an 8 year, $152M contract to Miguel Cabrera in 2 years, I doubt anyone here would have believed him. Two years from now the Baltimore Orioles could look like the next juggernaut for all we know. Fair enough.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Nov 16, 2009 -> 05:29 PM) how is 18 mil unrealistic for him? It's perfectly reasonable until he wants a 7- or 8-year deal at that rate. If the Yankees and Red Sox aren't in the market to pony up $150+M for a slugger, who is going to give Gonzalez that kind of money? The only remaining teams with anywhere near that spending power are the Mets, Angels, and maybe the Dodgers. Given the economy and the lack of teams that would be willing and able to wage a nine-figure bidding war, I don't see him getting anywhere near what Tex got last winter (unless the Red Sox pass on re-signing Bay this off-season).

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 16, 2009 -> 05:05 PM) They'll pay him his market value later on. We'll have cheap talent for awhile here. At that point you have a payroll of... Peavy, Rios, Floyd and not much else as we stand currently. If the Red Sox give Bay a huge deal this winter, there may not be a suitor to give Gonzalez a Texiera-type deal next winter. Don't get me wrong, Gonzalez will get paid a lot... just not Texiera money.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 16, 2009 -> 03:14 PM) He had a bounce back year, but after that '08 slump - you're pretty much at best going to dump that contract for middling prospects, or do some kind of lateral move where maybe you get a slightly better guy on a more problematic contract. If that's the case, you have to hold onto him. Unless the Sox bring JT or JD back (or pull off a deal for Gonzalez), somebody has to hit behind Quentin. I can't imagine how bad this offense would be with Quentin and Beckham being the only .800+ OPS hitters in the lineup. That said, I absolutely understand the logic behind dealing Paulie. He's overpaid in this market, prone to nagging injuries that kill his production, and while still productive, he's not the same .900 OPS guy from 2004-2006.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) Cowley was bouncing around the Jenks and Danks for Carl Crawford thing. I sure hope that he was talking about Jordan Danks.

QUOTE (SockMe @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) I would love Bay, Damon, Byrd, Winn, Ankiel, Matsui or Reed Johnson. No way that I want Damon and his noodle arm in RF. Matsui is a DH at this point in his career and I don't think that he has the arm to play RF either.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 12:30 PM) Even if he can be average, I want better than that for a change. It would be nice to go into opposing ballparks and catch the ball. I can't argue with that logic.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 12:00 PM) Boers and Berstein are talking about how Pods wanted a 2 year 15 million dollar deal. Sadly, some GM might be dumb enough to agree to that.

I've read speculation here that Godzilla is either retiring or heading back to Japan. Many in the media think that he's most likely to go to Seattle to play with Ichiro.