ThunderBolt

QUOTE (balfanman @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 04:12 PM) I always viewed home runs as more of a rally killer. Aren't rallies usually over when someone hits a home run? As Ed Farmer says "let's keep the line moving". Home-runs are the most efficient way of scoring runs for a lineup. I see nothing wrong with modeling an offense to optimize these chances. I'm not suggesting we get a bunch of guys to swing for the fences, instead, we need to surround these people with players who can get on base and be driven in.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 03:24 PM) And he was so impressive down the stretch he got benched, for the second year in a row. That's odd because according to Baseball Reference Swish played 27 of the last 31 game of the season from September to October. In fact, he missed one game during the last two weeks of the season. That was a game on the 23rd of September against the Angels if you're curious. He was pretty dodgy in the playoffs, but that’s an issue of sample size. Would you care to back up your statement?

Pretty solid list. I see the argument on tools alone for Mitchell being #1 and i always love to see my boy Holmberg getting some love.

QUOTE (Gregory Pratt @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 03:14 PM) Joe is the best writer in baseball. He really is fantastic.

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 11:45 AM) Wish they'd give Kroeger a real shot I wish someone would give him a chance too. He's still young enough to do some good somewhere.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2010 -> 11:12 PM) LOL What? What do you really know about Gavin Floyd outside of what you see on TV. Nothing. What a lame comment, I expect better from you Thunderbolt. Nah, i'm just screwing around. Gavin gets such a bad rap for being an emotionless robot, and it's a false perception, but hilarious to think about it if it was real.

I wonder who went. I just can't imagine Gavin having that many friends... or human emotions for that matter. Good for him.

Heck, of a day for Uconn. It's great to finish out the year the way we did.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 2, 2010 -> 01:07 PM) Isn't there an open roster spot? I count 40 with Dolsi.

I’m getting a little concerned that this Kotsay-Visquel-Jones rotating DH thing isn’t the smokescreen that I want it to be. At first, I thought it was Ozzie pontificating now I’m getting a bit worried.

Why is Brenneman calling a game with Tebow in it? Did no one learn from last year?

My dad scored my brother and i tickets to Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. Sadly, he couldn't go due to a meeting and we had a family friend go in his place. Still it was the greatest experience of my life.

Amy Acker. She's got this nerdy/sexy thing going on. Perfection. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0009918/

My major concern with Vlad is that he can't move anymore. If you think Kotsay's knees are bad, i'd bet anything that Vlads' are in shreds.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 28, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) I'm hoping we trade for Kila Ka'ahuie, and move Paulie to DH. Seemed like KC had a crowd at 1B, maybe not as much anymore, but Kila has nowhere to go at the moment. Should be able to be had without giving up the farm. Similar to how we acquired TCQ. Gives Paulie more rest for the hip. I really like this idea. At his worst i see Kila projecting out to be a Nick Johnson-esque player, but i could honestly see him hitting about 25 homers a season with great OBP skills.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Dec 28, 2009 -> 12:41 PM) Carlos Quentin Yeah, if Andruw really is going to be an everyday starter for this team, i want him in RF and TCQ at DH.

I like that the Bulls are stewing on this. I really don't think Bickerstaff or Myers could do any better.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Dec 27, 2009 -> 04:16 PM) We had high hopes for Rios when he came to get us some hitting and it didn't happen, he can't totally wear the collar for last year. JD's second half had a lot more to do with how it went down last year then Alex Rios did.

He's a good prospect. I'd say put him in AAA, and there's a decent chance that he jumps Torres and Hynick and becomes are second closest pitching prospect after Hudson.

I only post on this one, but I like to check some of the SB blogs and BaseballPrimer.com. A lot of the SB blogs are garbage with little to offer and a lot of people trying to break the Deadspin record for cynical commentary, but there's a lot of good stuff to be had at AthleticsNation, DraysBAy, Lookout Landing, Minor League Ball, and Beyond the BoxScore.

It's bouncing around the net that the Mets and the White Sox are the favorites to land him. I believes he's throwing in the DR soon, so action on that front will hopefully come sooner rather than later.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 26, 2009 -> 11:37 PM) Howry ought to have fun rotting in AZ. It's not a bad place to rot. Especially, for a guy who seemed to enjoy his time in Chicago.

Honestly, unless Doug Collins, Byron Scott or Avery Johnson are willing to sign on the dotted line, right now, i'd let VDN ride it out. I don't see any of the interim guys doing any better.

I got a nice collection of White Sox stuff this year. Gordon Beckham Jersey Gordon Beckham Rookie Card Dewayne Wise Rookie Card (my brother's a sick man) Charlotte Knights hat Misc: There Will be Blood DVD Watchmen Graphic Novel ETC/

QUOTE (qwerty @ Dec 26, 2009 -> 04:02 AM) You probably don't even know what uzr stands for. It’s Ultimate Zone Rating and while the math behind it isn’t perfect it’s a lot more intuitive then a lot of people seem to think. Sabermetrics isn’t about a bunch of people holed up without a TV doing algebra in their basements. It’s about people who watch the game, and look deeper into it then the average fan. Hell, UZR and the fielding bible come from people who watch EVERY defensive play, and categorize it into statistical “zones.” It’s not like they ignore the action on the field if anything they add a heck of a lot more importance to it.