[Peavy Rejects Sox Offer; Deal Now Dead]

More from KW about the Peavy trade and just being a badass GM in general:

http://scottmerkin.mlblogs.com/archives/20..._unplugged.html

 

The link didn't work for me... here's the full link: http://scottmerkin.mlblogs.com/archives/20..._unplugged.html

[Levine: Sox Could Reconsider Beckham Timetable]

The reason he was not among the names is that he can't be traded until after the June draft. Duh.

 

There were reports that the Sox consider Beckham "untouchable" and would not trade him for Peavy straight up. Also, there were reports that Beckham was NOT in the trade package (one source of this was Gammons). I think it is pretty safe to assume that Beckham would not be going to SD for Peavy, though we clearly can't be 100% sure.

[Films Thread]

Meh, old Bill Murray, fat Dan Aykroyd, and past-her-expiration-date Sogourney Weaver just don't add up to a good Ghostbusters installment.

 

These kinds of sequels (ones done well after the original movies) have a much greater chance of being bad than good (don't get me started on Blues Brothers 2000). However, it could be interesting if they hand it off to a new group of ghostbusters, and the writing is good.

 

In the article posted earlier, it sounds like the original cast might not be the focus of the entire movie.

 

Aykroyd would like to see Ivan Reitman or Harold Ramis direct and is hoping to introduce a new generation Ghostbusters team with female members.

 

"I'd like it to be a passing-of-the-torch movie. Let's revisit the old characters briefly and happily and have them there as family but let's pass it on to a new generation,” he said.

 

I'm still skeptical but slightly optimistic (...or is that nostalgia creeping in?)

[Sox vs Pirates, 5/22/09, 7:11 PM]

With how he's been pitching lately...I wouldn't send him back out there for the 8th if it was 8-0. I want him to walk off the mound tonight knowing he pitched 7 scoreless 2 hit innigns.

 

It seems he's coming back out for the 8th. Maybe Ozzie knows G's brain better than I do.

 

Ozzie certainly made the right call there... quick inning for Gavin.

[Sox vs Pirates, 5/22/09, 7:11 PM]

SPEED.

 

SPEED giveth and SPEED taketh away.

[Sox vs Pirates, 5/22/09, 7:11 PM]

Got a link to this?

 

I haven't read about it, but Gammons talked about it yesterday morning on ESPN while evaluating the Sox staff during "Peavy-gate." He said the Sox thought Gavin was tipping pitches and should have it corrected by his next start (today).

[Peavy Rejects Sox Offer; Deal Now Dead]

From Verducci'sarticle:

 

But no, the White Sox were in no position to convince Peavy to leave his home and his preferred league. The White Sox have the worst offense in the AL, and are too slow and old. When Scott Podsednik is in center field they have five guys in the lineup between 32 and 38. They actually began the year with Jose Contreras, 37, and Bartolo Colon, 36, taking up 40 percent of the rotation. They have no home runs out of the second base and center field positions. Their 1-2 hitters have a combined OBP of .277. They have scored two or fewer runs in 16 of 40 games. So what exactly would be the attraction for Peavy?

 

Soxfan562004 - you should have also pointed out that Verducci's inference that the Sox are bad because they are "old and slow" also isn't true. While the Sox are old and slow, it is the "old" guys (Konerko, Dye, Thome, and AJ) that are producing while the "young" guys are struggling. Furthermore, he doesn't account for injuries as guys are starting to come back (e.g., BA). I know it was a short paragraph, but he could at least try to get it right. He's a better writer than this.

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!!!!]

Since this thread has become "Floyd-talk," I'll put this here. While talking about Peavy-to-the-Sox on ESPN this morning, Gammons said the Sox believe Gavin is tipping his pitches and should be able to fix it before his next start. I've been at a conference all week, but I hadn't heard or read that before.

[Is Josh Fields a bust?]

Dick, you are the Walker expert on this board. I think everyone agrees, he's great with sluggers. Could you list a couple players that have blossomed into more high contact type hitters? Look at golf as an example, Dave Pelz made a career out of helping just the short game. It is not an insult to Walker to say he is not as effective with guys trying to develop into high contact, high average, type players.

 

What players have the Sox had that either prior to coming to the Sox or in the minor leagues had that high contact skill set? Walker can't completely remake players into something they weren't before.

[The Democrat Thread]

The problem I have with Obama here and the whole "torture" issue (among others), is he says one thing - which gets all the far left people jizzing in their pants excited (YES! GET THAT EVIL BASTARD BUSH!!! or YES! EVIL ASSHOLE AIG f***ERS AND THEIR BONUSES or YES! GET THOSE RICH ASSHOLES MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY or you get the pattern) and then after two or three weeks, they quietly let the issue just sort of die off and they say they won't bring charges, or they won't tax 90% of AIG bonuses, or they won't be as pressing on compensation levels... they create this persona of placating the far left and let them get all excited only to quietly turn on that original word. Get some balls and stand for something up front instead of having the appearance of giving in to the left and then "giving in" to what is "right". It's like they want to see what the real reaction is and then they just sort of let these issues go.

 

Kap, I know you aren't a Bush supporter, but that's exactly what Bush did as well. I think it was especially true with his placating the religious right.

[Ozzie Tells Lillibridge What Is Up]

Right or wrong, Ozzie tends to keep his starting players in their everyday positions. When injuries occur, he puts the backups into the injured players' positions and pretty much keeps everyone else in their normal spots. That's actually the opposite of micromanaging, in my opinion. Unless a guy is going to be out for several weeks, I agree with Ozzie - don't move guys all around the field if you don't have to.

[Sox vs. Tribe 5/13 @ 11:05]

i wonder about two things, when it comes to the hitters/hitting coaches.

 

1) Who scouts these opposing pitchers in the minors? It seems like whenever a guy is making his big league debut, or first outing against the Sox, he dominates. Are the guys getting bad info on the pitcher, are they getting no information???

 

2) Whenever the Sox fall behind early, it seems like they pack it in. No motivation or drive. Fall behind 4-0 in the 5th, and you see guys either swinging for the fences, first pitch swinging constantly or dogging the run to first base. No one wants to work a count or hustle.

 

Point 1 does seem to be a Sox problem, although teams in general tend to struggle the first time they see a guy. Clearly, the Sox appear to have a worse record in that regard than other teams, but I don't follow any other teams enough to say for sure.

 

Point 2 is more complex. First, all teams look bad when they fall behind by several runs. Sure, some team or teams every year will be comeback kids and end up with 20 come from behind wins, but most teams look bad when behind by 4 or more runs. Second, the Sox have a lot of HR hitters. Of course they are going to look like they are swinging for the fences. I don't think Point 2 is a "Sox" problem. It's just the way things are, especially on a team that is struggling to pitch, hit, and field.

[Did Ozzie really fart on the umpire today?]

I was unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) stuck at work today and unable to follow the action of the game. However, a friend is trying to tell me that Ozzie was ejected for farting on the home plate umpire. The recap on espn.com states it was for arguing balls and strikes....and makes no mention of flatulence. Can someone please confirm or deny whether Ozzie passed gas in the general direction of the home plate umpire resulting in his ejection? Thanks.

 

You never know what you are going to read on Soxtalk!

[Jim Thome]

Thome has been a major dissapointment since joining the sox, with exception of his homerun vs the twins. I think this will be his last year, he is just no where near the caliber of player he used to be. Same problem as griffey, the bat speed just aint there anymore. I would like to see JD resigned and put in as our new DH. I am of the belief that your teams best athletes should be all your outfielders, ala the twins or rays.

 

Ummm, no.

[Official 2009-2010 NFL Thread]

IF Favre could be a game manager (like Elway with Terrell Davis), the Vikings would be the favorites. I honestly don't believe that Favre can play that role, assuming he's healthy enough to be the 'gunslinger' that he always has been. In my opinion, Favre would ruin the Vikings chances as he'll take them away from the team's strenghts: playing good defense and running it down the opposition's throats. I didn't watch much of Favre on the Jets last year, so maybe Favre toned it down (when healthy) last year, but I'll believe it when I see it. Until then, I think Favre doesn't help the Vicodins that much (another if...if he signs with them after all).

[ETA: YOUTH MOVEMENT?]

It's been so long since we have seen a real "youth" movement (or a "the kids can play") that some people seem to forget how bad it will be for at least a couple of seasons. Young players rarely come up and dominate. They have growing pains, which we are seeing right now with some of the "young core" of the team. Not only that, but young players tend to be pretty inconsistent as they work to adjust to a new level....yet people think the big club now is too inconsistent!

 

Plus there is no guarantee that the Sox will only suck for a couple of seasons no matter how good we think the AA team is going to be as major leaguers. It's not easy to completely rebuild, and the MLB landscape is littered with failed attempt after failed attempt. The Sox are doing it the right way right now - mixing veterans with youth and staying competitive. This is true even though the first five weeks of the season have been extremely frustrating. Trading more than 1 or 2 of the veteran core (e.g., Dye, Konerko, Thome, Jenks, etc.) would be a huge mistake.

[Spring of '09 television season thread]

I just caught the end of How I Met Your Mother last night and I swear i hear the Bob Saget voiceover say soemthing to the effect of '..and that's how i met your mom' and then it showed

Ted running into Stella!

 

 

If anyone else saw it...did I interpret that right....are they saying that she is the 'mother' in question??? i wish i recorded it. i didn't realize it was a new one last night.

 

 

Yes, it appears that

Stella

is the mom

 

I interpreted it the exact same way. Really an out of nowhere revelation!

[OK, put the cell phones down for a second!]

People who talk on bluetooth in public, when they're not in the Car, or at some pressing business function, need to be imprisoned.

 

Even worse are people talking on speakerphone in public areas. Seriously? We don't want to hear your damn conversation!

[5/3 Games]

D Lucy: 2-3, BB, 3 R, threw out 2 of 3 attempted basestealers.

 

Are we done with Corky yet?

 

Lucy looked really good yesterday. I'd never seen him play in person before, and I was surprised how lean he was (big guy but not as "stocky" as most catchers). Also, his catchers helmet is a Sox helmet instead of a Knights one.

 

A few other random moments from yesterday's Knights game:

- The Knights made Gustavo Molina (now playing for Syracuse) their "k" player of the game... Molina responded by hitting a HR.

- The Charlotte fans were really picking on Gary Glover calling him Gary Glover Girl. Gary didn't seem to appreciate it.

- Adam Russell looked really average.

- I used to be a big Wasserman fan, but I've soured on him somewhat. Although it was only one game, the only thing that Wasserman had going for him yesterday was the funky motion. It doesn't seem like enough to be successful in the majors.

 

Lots of interesting players on the field yesterday including ex-Sox farmhands Molina, Glover, and Eldred, who got some nice cheers from the home team fans. Also, Corey Patterson looked deliciously horrible, and Lastings Millegde did not seem enthused to be playing in AAA.

[4/25 Games]

Lets get one thing straight... the dude is pretty ugly.

 

But he's a good ball player, and that's all that matters... but seriously, that face is not easy on the eyes.

 

Not every ballplayer can be as heaven sent as Ryan Sweeney.

[Ozzie's vendetta continues....]

Managers almost always say this when a player gets hurt. The conventional wisdom is that you do not lose your job because you got hurt. Of course, we all know that if the guy replacing you plays better, you really do end up losing your job. I don't see anything wrong with Ozzie saying the same thing that managers always say. The reaction on here is hilarious.

[Catch-All Anything Thread]

Im going to go with, thinking about being with another man.

 

 

Exactly what I'm thinking as well

 

Wait... you're thinking about being with another man? Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[White Sox (7-6) @ Orioles (7-7) 6:05pm CDT on WCIU]

Let's Go SOX!

 

 

I haven't seen lineups posted yet.

[Rays should be contracted...IMMEDIATELY]

I'd be more worried about bringing more of the guys currently filling AAA rosters up in to the big leagues. There's been enough dilution so far, I think.

 

True... there are business and baseball reasons not to expand!

[2016 Olympics Discussion]

And its gotten a lot worse in Rio the last year or two, so those numbers will jump further. Security/crime issues are what will likely kill off Rio's chances.

 

It is extremely difficult to envision the IOC giving Rio the games considering the potential for violence (not necessarily to the athletes but certainly to tourists). Even if security was extremely high, the cost of the secuirty would pretty much make the games prohibitively expensive for Rio.