Spring Training Game #21: White Sox @ Brewers (SS) -- Javier Vazquez vs. Carlos Villanueva

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 2:49 PM CDT in Game Threads

Time: 3:05 p.m. CT, TV: CSN, MLB.tv, Radio: MLB.radio (Live Boxscore; MLB Gameday)

Sox: Ozuna, SS; Ramirez, CF; Swisher, LF; Fields, 3B; Anderson, B, RF; Richar, 2B; Hall, C; Eldred, 1B; Vazquez, J, P

Brewers (SS): Escobar, SS; Cameron, M, CF; Gross, LF; Fielder, 1B; Hall, 3B; Kapler, RF; Nunez, 2B; Villanueva, P; Kendall, C

***** Walker is aboard the Swagger Express:

''What I'm seeing this year is they didn't like it,'' Walker said of the Sox' bottom-feeder numbers. ''And I'm seeing a different look in their eyes. We are a deeper team than we were last year offensively, but we've still got our question marks. We're not a perfect team -- not that anybody is. But the biggest addition are these two guys [Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera] who are professionals. They bring swagger. They bring attitude. And they're really good players. That's something we missed here last year.

***** In other news,

Jim has a conversation with a Royals blogger and previews Gavin Floyd (whose confidence is at an all-time high).
FJM grant's Rick Morissey's wish.
Robothal says "the White Sox want to sign their new shortstop, Orlando Cabrera, to a contract extension before he becomes a free agent at the end of the season."
StatSpeak: When practicing Sabermetricians meet up with fantasy players.

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looking for a way to beat the winter blues?

[WTAP]:

If you're looking for a way to beat the winter blues next year you might consider taking a Caribbean cruise with a former Big Red who is now in the big leagues.

Chicago White Sox player Nick Swisher is hosting his first Swish's Wishes charity cruise next January.

The seven night Carnival Cruise in the western Caribbean will raise money for kids needing medical or childhood care.

Swisher and his family will be onboard the ship.

Prices start at $740, excluding airfare.

You can contact US Tours, Inc. if you are interested.

by The Wizard on Mar 17, 2008 2:52 PM CDT reply actions

Swisher Charity Cruise

Call Amy or Kim at U S Tours at 888-393-8687 if you are interested in signing up for the cruise.

by travelgirl48 on Mar 20, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions

We need more Cubans!

Well, if I'm reading Walk correctly the problem last year was a lack of embarrassment. Thank God we added some much needed swagger, we got that fixed!

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 3:04 PM CDT reply actions

So what's the Sox record this spring?

Not that it matters, but have they surpassed their win total from last spring?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 17, 2008 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

almost

by larry on Mar 17, 2008 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I believe last year was 9 and 20

Pls correct me if I'm wrong

So instead of a big splash, there were ripples -- enough to change the tide, Williams believes

by Brush Back on Mar 17, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

i think they broke into double digits

at 10.

by larry on Mar 17, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Bear Stearns

Someone taped this $2 bill to the revolving door in Bears Stearns lobby:

Has anyone bought or sold any real estate the last six months? I just spent the weekend in Indy looking at houses, this RE market is totally crazy. Total buyer's market, it's wild.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

Tell me about it

I just bought 3 city blocks of Detroit for a for a half-eaten whopper and a pair of left-handed scissors.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 17, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Does the sofa on the front lawn come with it?

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

It did

But the sofa's a total loss. Was on fire when we were in closing, ashes when we were finished.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 17, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

How about an example or 2, Pete?

Was that a ground out to 2nd for Owens?

by ballyb on Mar 17, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Are you familiar with Indy?

Meridian St. is a very good address. A lot of old 1920's stately manors line the road on the near north side of town, and then as you move further north there's more modest - but nice - houses mixed in. In this market, I want to make sure I play it safe and by the best location I can for my budget so I'm looking for a Meridian address. It's kind of like Sheridan Road in Evanston, nice old houses with mature trees on big, deep lots.

We found a nice ranch house right on Meridian, needs some updating but good bones. Has a new roof, new HVAC. The owners have already moved, so they're paying two mortgages and sitting on an empty house. They want $125/sqft, but a similar but larger house sold last June for $100/sqft. These sellers have had it on the market since last August and have already dropped the price 30%. I'm not paying a penny more than the comparable sale down the street, so that means they have to drop down another 20% from their original listing before I buy. My realtor already checked, if they accept the offer I'm thinking of making it will be just enough to pay off what they owe on their mortgage and that's it. The Germans have a saying, "Tut mir Leid, aber nicht weh". If they don't like my offer, there's another 6 houses that I'm also interested in.

You do NOT want to sell your house now if you can avoid it. I've got 20% cash down payment in hand and I'm pre-approved with no contingencies, I can cut pretty much any deal I want because I'm one of the few qualified buyers walking around out there. If you're selling, you've got to deal with people like me who don't want to overpay a penny more than they have to - because if I overpay now, then I might be left holding the sack when I want to unload 7 or 8 years from now. Even if I get the deal I want now I'm looking at this Indy market and wondering if I'll make anything when I'm ready to sell. You don't want to be selling into a market like this, that's for sure. The mortgage market needs to sort itself out.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Dropped their price by 30%

and still no interest.

Ugly.

The real estate / stock market paper wealth that's evaporated is staggering.

Was that a ground out to 2nd for Owens?

by ballyb on Mar 17, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I dunno

IMO that 30% is artificial, that's the whack you have to take if you're forced to sell now. But the realtor is telling me that a big lump of foreclosed properties that didn't sell at auction are going to hit the market in May when the banks start dumping their inventory.

It's a real mess, I feel really bad for these sellers. There's a few real nice houses that I'm looking at where the sellers will make zero profit selling at current market prices even after sitting on it for 8 years. I'm sure things will bounce back after they sort themselves out, but it doesn't do you much good if you have to sell right now. But I can't assume things will bounce back when I make my offer, I've got to buy at a price where I can get my money back out if something happens and I have to sell sooner than I thought. It's a real mess, the next president is going to have a fun job sorting this crap out.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Bad time for the debacle. Election year.

These politicians will do anything to stay in office (Barney Frank, Luis Gutiérrez)

Uncle Henry used to say,

"they'll take your eye out, put a grape in there and tell you it looks better."

Was that a ground out to 2nd for Owens?

by ballyb on Mar 17, 2008 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions

big frank baum fan, huh

by larry on Mar 17, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

May you live in interesting times

There is great chaos under heaven, and the situation is excellent.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 17, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Article in Barron's over the weekend

From 1979-1995 residential real estate, adjusted for inflation, was flat.

It ain't comin' back for awhile. Everyone I know (except me) has a house for sale. Everyone (well, damn near). The music has stopped, as poor Charlie Prince discovered.

Enjoy your leverage as a qualified buyer, Pete. You're correct - hardly anyone can bring cash to the table and a FICO score above 680.

Hey man, this game is a bunch of front-runners. If you're good, they kiss your butt. If not, you're horse s---.

by winningugly on Mar 17, 2008 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup

Interesting times, our markets are in complete disarray right now. We could be witnessing the United States ceding the throne of world domination. This is the same way it played out for Great Britain, a hugely expensive war (WWI) turned the country from a net creditor to a massive debtor - it was all downhill from there. London is currently making big inroads on NYC as a the global finance capitol, this lack of confidence in Wall Street firms won't help the situation.

My main hope for the US is the continuous influx of new vigorous, ambitious people via immigration. This has always recharged our economy and I'm looking for things to turn around - unless these idiots decide to slam the door shut on immigration for political reasons. I'm optimistic about our economy's ability to heal itself, and I'm still betting on it. We shall see, we shall see...to be continued.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 18, 2008 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions