All Access: Gordon Beckham (via CBS), hat-tip Daniel Berlyn

My God...

what a tool.

by SSH2005 on Jun 13, 2008 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he doesn't seem Chicago Tough...

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HA HA HA!

by Seymizzle on Jun 13, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno if y'all play guitar he-ro?

That’s the result of a good hit baseball right ther’...

Bunch of hick frat boys… basically the new Nick Swisher, less crazy, more southern.

by Daniel Berlyn on Jun 13, 2008 12:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I had no idea metal bats cracked/broke like that.

When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...

by Chiburb on Jun 13, 2008 12:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

metal fatigue

They bend and flex each time you hit a ball

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jun 13, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same after listening to old Metallica for hours on end

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ride the lightning, you pu$@y!

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL.

You know why I love this site? Because it is the 5th most entertaining part of my life on a daily basis.

High praise, indeed.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what the hell is 1-4?

biiiiiitch

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just a guess.

1. think lester burnham in the opening scene of american beauty: “this will be the high point of my day; it’s all downhill from here.”

2. poppin the cap off of the night’s first bottle of boone’s.

3. cruising down the highway during commute blaring either “more than a feeling” or “come sail away.”

4. watching DVD of self leg out seeing eye single against craig grebeck at white sox fantasy camp.

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my turn

4. Checking the obits for his name (and not seeing it).

3. Finding that his 4th wife hasn’t left him yet.

2. Seeing the words “AARP Discount” in the store window.

1. Popping the evening Viagra (even when alone).

When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...

by Chiburb on Jun 13, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you guys are awesome

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, they are.

Especially Toonder’s #4.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I vote for Chi's #2

3 was awesome too!

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chi's hit close to home, the MF'er

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my finest moment was breaking one of those things with a pitch

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

16th round pick tells sox to go fuck themselves

By Mark Gonzales, 8:05 p.m.

The White Sox apparently have wasted little time in signing some of their top draft picks.

According to Baseball America, the Sox have signed third-round pick Brent Morel, a third baseman from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, and fourth-round pick Drew O’Neill, a pitcher from Penn State.

Morel signed for a $440,000 bonus, while O”Neill received $260,000, according to Baseball America.

Negotiations with top pick Gordon Beckham of Georgia cannot start until Beckham has completed his junior season. Beckham’s Bulldogs play Miami on Saturday in the double-elimination College World Series.

Meanwhile, 16th-round pick Brett Basham, a catcher, announced he will return to

Mississippi

for his senior season.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/06/quick-signings.html

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 1:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great interpretation, Esq.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hotty toddy!

i’ll never say that again. i really wish that wasn’t so fucking popular at ole miss.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 13, 2008 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You wish you'd never grad-e-ated from Ole Miss

It’s too easy.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not ivy league, but i don't know that that's a bad thing.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 13, 2008 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you a North-of-the-Mason/Dixon line-born-and-bred

guy?

Then you know. My biggest (learned) prejudice, growing up as a North-Sider, was thinking anyone educated (?!) in the South was dumb.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lived in chicagoland my whole life, then went to ole miss.

i naively thought that the weather would be the biggest difference. the culture shock was something i never truly adapted to. i may be as urban-minded a city dweller as there is. oxford, ms is no place for a man like that.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 13, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of mr. beckham

Top College Draft Picks Splitsville for the Pros
Thanks to College Baseball Splits, we can analyze the statistics of college hitters and pitchers better than ever before. Powered by play-by-play logs, founders Kent Bonham and Jeff Sackmann have sliced and diced the data to develop extensive splits and situational statistics (through draft day) for 350 NCAA teams.

...

Gordon Beckham | SS | Georgia | Chicago White Sox | #8
       AVG   OBP   SLG
TOT   .403  .512  .798 
RHP   .408  .514  .846 
LHP   .350  .487  .600 
HOME  .408  .516  .808 
ROAD  .378  .515  .770 
FRI   .354  .500  .646 
Gordon Beckham was, by far, the premier batsman among all college baseball middle infielders in this year’s draft. There is little not to like, particularly when one considers the fact that the University of Georgia home field played to a park factor of 79 from 2004-2007, meaning it suppressed runs by 21% during this period. Including Regional and Super Regional action, Beckham is tied for the most home runs in the country with 26 in only 252 AB. He also led the Cape in homers with nine and was third in slugging average when he hit .284/.370/.529 for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, a team that also featured fellow first rounders Buster Posey and Juan Castro.

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/06/top_draft_picks.php (1-46)

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

forgot to put this before the numbers

Using the links provided for college players selected on the first day of the 2008 amateur draft, I have cut and pasted the overall rate stats, as well as those vs. RHP/LHP, Home/Road, and on Fridays (which is generally against the ace of the opposing team), for all of the hitters chosen in the first and supplemental rounds last week. I have also added comments about the player to each entry.

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well that's good news

I think he’s going to have to make some adjustments with his swing. It looked to me like one that’s the result of having a wide margin for error thanks to being so much better than everyone.

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll be nice to have a 1.310 OPS at short for the next 12 - 14 years.

Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game

by ballyb on Jun 13, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

a conservative estimate, clearly

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox

do you know who was the best player the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox ever had feisty?

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tony Conigliaro?

When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...

by Chiburb on Jun 13, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's above 78

Freddy Garcia threw 65 fastballs and changeups Thursday at “Hardball,’’ an indoor facility near his Miami home, about 15 minutes south of where his old Phillies teammates were playing the Marlins. He was reported to have hit “85 mph,’’ not too far from his velocity while helping the White Sox clinch the pennant in 1985. Garcia is aiming to showcase himself as a potential second-half savior for a contending team by early next month. He’ll be a good catch for someone.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/06/13/heyman.griffeyrays/1.html

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 2:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

1985?

and seriously, Freddy is so toast.

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was a nice

little trade.

by palehose67 on Jun 13, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not as toast as Loaiza, apparently...

How did Sweaty Freddy lose so much velocity over the years? Does weed ruin a pitcher’s arm?

by SSH2005 on Jun 13, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he got old and injured?

his is not exactly an untrodden path for a pitcher.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Freddy just turned 33...

I never thought of him as being old but I guess he is getting there. Probably just the innings and arm/shoulder injuries mounting up.

by SSH2005 on Jun 13, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

velocity declines for most pitchers well before then

largely for the reasons you cited.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

velocity declines rapidly after age 29

there was a THT article, iirc, that showed fastball velo relative to age. You add marginally from like 24-29 and then the precipitous drop…keep an eye on Buehrls for that

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

why, don't you remember the 1985 pennant?

kids!

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

now get off my lawn

:p

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 13, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

85 in his El Camino

on I-95.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

white sox' rumsfeld number

the Rumsfeld Number is an accounting of the percentage of a team’s plate appearances given over to players who are below replacement level in VORP.

White Sox (17.5): If you had said at the beginning of the year that Paul Konerko would be providing half of Chicago’s Rumsfeld Number, chances are you would not have expected that they would also be in first place. With precious little contribution from their first baseman, though, the Sox are prospering. They will also shoot up this list when Konerko’s performance gets more normal (for him). He’s just barely under replacement value as it is, so taking him off the Rumsfeld role will make the team’s number look a lot better. Juan Uribe is the other big "contributor" on the list. Just over the dividing line, Nick Swisher is close enough to be a concern, but one would expect him to improve as the season goes forward, rather than going in the other direction.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7662

this number ranks the sox 6th in the AL

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 2:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I do believe this was the path I hoped they could take

Depth at key positions and Alexei’s breakout should allow them to maintain this.

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ridiculous...

When did they legalize anal sex and giving golder showers to minors?

by SSH2005 on Jun 13, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they didn't. it wasn't r. kelly. we all know that. watch the tape. i know you want to.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the jurors couldn't get enough of it.

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9USqGsV9gk8

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are incorrigable, sir.

And I am shut out at work. Tonight – watch the Sox or R. Kelly? Hmmmm.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.videovat.com/videos/929/dave-chapelle-jury-duty.aspx

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's my robert. always peeing on people. get her hair, robert.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss Chapelle - gotta get the DVD's

The Steve Blass of comedy.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Blass? He's been killing his stand up for like 20 yrs

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Blass where TV is concerned.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

also the letter a doesn't usually make an appearance in the word "incorrigible"

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Jun 13, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I sense the sarcasm...

but my wife is a teacher and she works with one of the witnesses. He knew the girl and says it was definitely R. Kelly in the video.

by SSH2005 on Jun 13, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i guess he should have been a little more persuasive, then, eh

and i’m glad you finally purchased the sarcasm detector.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, he "sensed" it

He didn’t “detect” it. I bet it’s a purchase in waiting.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it wasn't a mole. Cubs tat.

When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...

by Chiburb on Jun 13, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what's the correlation between

reasonable doubt and delays of 5+ years?

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm going with

high

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

seriously, though

this must have been some sort of cause celebre in the state’s attorney office. don’t have the alleged victim. don’t have the alleged victim’s immediate family. have three members of her family say it isn’t her. have just one witness who alleges a tawdry relationship between r. kelly and the victim. don’t have the original tape. 6.5 years have passed. this was an obvious loser.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm sure the asa who actually fell on his/her sword...

...was thrilled at having to continue with this prosecution to ensure, you know, that the good people of cook county understand that celebrities don’t get a free pass.

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was a she

and, iirc, one of the reasons for the delay was one of her pregnancies.

by larry on Jun 13, 2008 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

from what i see...

the pregnancy issue didn’t even come up until august 2007, well after the defense (rightfully…don’t get me wrong) filed its ~30 motions. some of the things were outside of anybody’s control (judge falling off ladder and rob’s appendix busting a move), but his lawyers were smart and represented him how all of us would want to be represented.

Half Dome is my bitch. Shasta is next.

by Toonderstrook on Jun 13, 2008 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i saw r. kelly and his entourage strolling through my neighborhood a week or so ago.

that guy is such a clown. i had a hard time supressing a smirk as i walked past him. what a goon!

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 13, 2008 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you whizz on him?

Poetic justice if you did.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i doubt i could have gotten it out in time before his bodyguards would have rolled my ass.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 13, 2008 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shhesh.

The Clintons strike again. First Vince Foster, now this. All because of some innocent questioning at a debate.

Don’t EVA cross Bill and Hill. NEVAH!

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if they could strike people down

Russert would be way down on the list of those about to be stricken.

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on Jun 13, 2008 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They are sneaky that way

and Russert represents all the misogynists of the media.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nordy, from ther WSJ this eve:

A powerhouse in Washington political circles, Mr. Russert built a reputation as one of the toughest questioners in the press corps and one of the most influential newsmen in political journalism.

All of the major presidential candidates appeared on “Meet the Press” during the primary season. Mr. Russert moderated five of the 2008 presidential primary debates, including one of the more memorable forums with Democratic candidates on Oct. 30, 2007 in Philadelphia. Mr. Russert pressed Sen. Hillary Clinton on whether or not she supported then Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in the state.

In a well-chronicled moment, Sen. Clinton flubbed the answer, appearing to come down on both sides of the issue and opened herself up to attack from her opponents. “Well, I was confused on Senator Clinton’s answer. I can’t tell whether she was for it or against it,” responded Sen. Barack Obama. The moment spiked the ire of the Clinton campaign, who felt Mr. Russert had pressed her too harshly on the issue.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 13, 2008 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs