HIS name is RIOS and HE dances on the sand

[CyAcosta41]

 

Paraphrasing Duran Duran: "HIS name is RIOS and HE dances on the sand."

(and it pains me to paraphrase that group because nobody hates hates Duran Duran more than I do).

 

The season is far from over, but Gordon Beckham is wrong -- he said "that might be the play of the year." That WAS the play of the year.

 

Fundamentals; hustle; playing hard every moment. As the games become more important, little things matter -- big-time.

 

Most people pooh pooh momentum in baseball, saying cute things like "momentum is only as good as tomorrow's starting pitcher." And indeed, momentum can be overstated. And have a short shelf-life. But gosh darn-it ... the Rios play should absolutely energize these guys in the same way a playoff caliber team is energized when an accomplished hitter gives up an at-bat to advance the runner to third, or when El Duque galvanizes the 2005 team when he pitched his inning for the ages and retired the Red Sox without allowing a run.

 

It won't guarantee wins and losses from this point forward, but I'd love to see "The Takeout Slide" be a springboard for virtually non-stop hustle and intensity until 2012's final pitch!

[Quin]

Ok, I need to stop this Duran Duran spoof real quick.

 

YOU ARE ALL GETTING IT WRONG.

 

I did it either in 2010 or 2011 and it was "His name is Rios and he dances on the paths"

 

That is all.

 

Found it: http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/lofiversion/...t79387-250.html

Edited September 18, 2012 by Quinarvy

[ptatc]

 

Paraphrasing Duran Duran: "HIS name is RIOS and HE dances on the sand."

(and it pains me to paraphrase that group because nobody hates hates Duran Duran more than I do).

 

The season is far from over, but Gordon Beckham is wrong -- he said "that might be the play of the year." That WAS the play of the year.

 

Fundamentals; hustle; playing hard every moment. As the games become more important, little things matter -- big-time.

 

Most people pooh pooh momentum in baseball, saying cute things like "momentum is only as good as tomorrow's starting pitcher." And indeed, momentum can be overstated. And have a short shelf-life. But gosh darn-it ... the Rios play should absolutely energize these guys in the same way a playoff caliber team is energized when an accomplished hitter gives up an at-bat to advance the runner to third, or when El Duque galvanizes the 2005 team when he pitched his inning for the ages and retired the Red Sox without allowing a run.

 

It won't guarantee wins and losses from this point forward, but I'd love to see "The Takeout Slide" be a springboard for virtually non-stop hustle and intensity until 2012's final pitch!

 

Who would have characterized Rios like this last year? What difference a year makes. Who says players can't change from year to year. The baseball card doesn't say everything.

[southsider2k5]

Who would have characterized Rios like this last year? What difference a year makes. Who says players can't change from year to year. The baseball card doesn't say everything.

 

No joke. I don't know that I can recall a player not only changing his stats, but also changing his reputation so much in a year.

[CyAcosta41]

Ok, I need to stop this Duran Duran spoof real quick.

 

YOU ARE ALL GETTING IT WRONG.

 

I did it either in 2010 or 2011 and it was "His name is Rios and he dances on the paths"

 

That is all.

 

Found it: http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/lofiversion/...t79387-250.html

 

 

Absolutely. Kudos to you, dude. I know that somebody has been doing the Duran Duran Rios thing for awhile now, but couldn't remember who it was.

 

In no way was I trying to steal your thunder. Rather, with the sand of the sliding pit right there, and with the importance of that play, YOUR Duran Duran Rios thing has never been more apt!

[CyAcosta41]

No joke. I don't know that I can recall a player not only changing his stats, but also changing his reputation so much in a year.

 

I've been a Sox fanatic since I was 5 or 6 -- so we're talking '64 or so -- and I know I've never witnessed such a talented player changing his m.o. (or at least what APPEARS to be his m.o. -- and that might be a lot of it) in all that time. Not talking stats, talking about his entire approach to the game.

 

It's as if, the 2012 Alex is the "good twin" for the former "evil twin." I mean, Alex seemed like the poster child for the uber-talented, all-tools player NOT going all-out and just collecting his paycheck, and now, 180 degrees later, he's the 2012 poster child for giving his flat-out all on everything: hitting, base running, fielding, and throwing.

[kitekrazy]

No joke. I don't know that I can recall a player not only changing his stats, but also changing his reputation so much in a year.

 

He is my favorite player this year. I guess putting a player in a position where is more succesful can have a lot to do with it. This isn't the first time they try to turn everyone into a CF. Plus look at what Manto has done. A big reason why the Sox are in first is because of Manto.

[greg775]

Rios has done what he needed to do to shut up all those people like me who despised him ... excel. You play well and you shut everybody up. Case closed. Same with Dunn. Hit like Dunn has this year and it shuts up all naysayers.

Good job, Rios. He's been so good I am not even against his contract right now. Pay the man. He's earning the money.

[TaylorStSox]

Outside of 1 or 2 plays, I've never seen Rios dog it. I'm not sure why he got that reputation. Meanwhile, AJ and PK dog it on nearly a daily basis, at least once, and have the reputation for playing hard. Baseball's a strange sport, I guess.

[greg775]

Outside of 1 or 2 plays, I've never seen Rios dog it. I'm not sure why he got that reputation. Meanwhile, AJ and PK dog it on nearly a daily basis, at least once, and have the reputation for playing hard. Baseball's a strange sport, I guess.

 

He used to drop fly balls and had so many lousy wasted at bats. This smooth stroke of this season came out of nowhere. But that's the past. He deserves credit for what's going on now.

[Rowand44]

Outside of 1 or 2 plays, I've never seen Rios dog it. I'm not sure why he got that reputation. Meanwhile, AJ and PK dog it on nearly a daily basis, at least once, and have the reputation for playing hard. Baseball's a strange sport, I guess.

Alex has dogged it on a number of occasions.

 

And just because I want to take one last shot at the asshole in Miami, there has been quite a culture change with the team this year and with no one has that been more apparent than with Mr. Rios.

[iamshack]

My Man (spoken in his best Denzel from American Gangster)!

[TaylorStSox]

Alex has dogged it on a number of occasions.

 

And just because I want to take one last shot at the asshole in Miami, there has been quite a culture change with the team this year and with no one has that been more apparent than with Mr. Rios.

Specific examples? I remember a couple times when he seemed like he was moving in slow motion in CF, but nobody has ever proven to me that he wasn't trying. Contrast that with AJ and PK who never run out pop ups and grounders, but it's never brought up. Or, when Lillibridge lost us a game in CF last year, and he was a cult hero. My point I guess is that some guys unfairly develop reputations they don't deserve. Hell, Rowands a great example too. He had a reputation for his effort, but it was the result of being a bad CF. He was diving all over the place because he never got a read or broke the wrong way. Sorry for rambling. I like Alex Rios.

[knightni]

10 pages!

[sunofgold]

Clutch hr. This isn't the Alex Rios I used to know.

 

[knightni]

So, he's doing well this year...

 

Would anyone have traded him on July 31 like people griped about the last few years?

[Nokona]

It's amazing what confidence can do for a player.

[The Ultimate Champion]

So, he's doing well this year...

 

Would anyone have traded him on July 31 like people griped about the last few years?

I've been a huge Rios fan since he came into the league and I was excited as hell when we got him. I've said so many times he could be our next JD and hit bombs here. He's one of the few 5-tool types out there and now it seems he may finally be becoming the player he was always supposed to be.

 

That said, I'd listen to offers on both Rios & Dunn in the offseason no matter what. You just can't count on a guy who has shown in the past that he can take a whole year off mentally. Maybe this Rios is the real Rios, or maybe this is the second part of a Javy Vazquez-like good year-bad year-great year-s*** year cycle. It's a lot of money to gamble on & if another GM wanted to offer up enough to make the gamble worth avoiding, I'd avoid it.

[greg775]

So, he's doing well this year...

 

Would anyone have traded him on July 31 like people griped about the last few years?

 

No cause it's not my money. Besides he's earning his money this year unlike last year.

[sunofgold]

No cause it's not my money. Besides he's earning his money this year unlike last year.

Oh mio dio Rios

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

 

Absolutely. Kudos to you, dude. I know that somebody has been doing the Duran Duran Rios thing for awhile now, but couldn't remember who it was.

 

In no way was I trying to steal your thunder. Rather, with the sand of the sliding pit right there, and with the importance of that play, YOUR Duran Duran Rios thing has never been more apt!

That would be me in the game threads .His name is Rios and he dances on the sand . skip a line then " and when he shines he really shows u all he can "!

[iamshack]

No cause it's not my money. Besides he's earning his money this year unlike last year.

There were plenty of people who would have traded him at this deadline just for the salary relief.

 

I don't think there is any way in hell you move him this offseason unless you actually get a really nice package of young players.

 

We acquired him so we could win. Now that we are winning, and he is showing you what you knew he could, you don't move him unless someone makes you.

[greg775]

There were plenty of people who would have traded him at this deadline just for the salary relief.

 

I don't think there is any way in hell you move him this offseason unless you actually get a really nice package of young players.

 

We acquired him so we could win. Now that we are winning, and he is showing you what you knew he could, you don't move him unless someone makes you.

 

Quite frankly, KW won't be getting any offers for Rios. That contract is just too big. If he plays like this again next year, we'll all be happy in keeping him. It's not our money and Jerry isn't going to lower prices regardless.

[iamshack]

Quite frankly, KW won't be getting any offers for Rios. That contract is just too big. If he plays like this again next year, we'll all be happy in keeping him. It's not our money and Jerry isn't going to lower prices regardless.

I vigorously disagree about the contract.

 

Did you just see the Dodgers eat almost $250 million?

[greg775]

I vigorously disagree about the contract.

 

Did you just see the Dodgers eat almost $250 million?

 

I don't think any team would risk paying that kind of money for Rios with his past history of alleged laziness. He's having a great year. He'll remain a White Sox IMO with no offers coming KW's way. We just should be happy he's turned it around. Look at Cubs' Soriano. He's been a waste for years making all that loot. Rios hopefully has reinvented himself. That swing is a thing of beauty now.