The Colossal Burden of Expectations
by U-God on Jul 28, 2011 2:00 PM CDT
in White Sox Business
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PrintMark Teahen never actually stood a chance. Not with the White Sox, not with the Royals, not with the Athletics, and most likely not with the Blue Jays either. And it's not his fault.
"The next Jason Giambi". Lofty words of praise heaped on the young St. Mary's College product. I don't know if Billy Beane and Michael Lewis knew what would happen to the players they wrote about in Moneyball, but those players were doomed with insane expectations. The next Jason Giambi? At the time, that was one hell of a bar. Fortunately for Mark, he wouldn't have to try and accomplish it in Oakland. Instead, he was doomed to disappoint another fan base after being the main cog in the poorly-balanced Carlos Beltran trade.
The hope was there. So was the hype. But somewhere along the way the numbers stopped showing up. That magical breakout 2006 season couldn't be repeated. Sub-average hitting and an inability to hold down a true defensive position isn't what the casual fan expects out of a first round (supplemental part) draft pick. But that's what he became.
He came over to the Sox for a failed first rounder who now plays in Japan and a china doll from Michigan. I remember being confused by the trade. It made little sense, but whatever. And then Kenny gave that extension. And yet another GM damned Mark to being hated by his fanbase. Which sucks. By all accounts, he's a likeable guy. He even has a Twitter for his dog! But his hitting and his defense never got it together enough to be anything more than unlikeable, but only on the field.
It was never personal Mark, trust me on that one. You were doomed from the start through no fault of your own. It sucks for everyone involved that it didn't work out for you in Chicago, but mostly for you. You seemed to really like it here. I guess this meandering column could be called an apology for things working out, but that doesn't seem right either. Best of luck in Toronto.
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So this is the eulogy page.
You want a friend? Buy a dog. You sucked hope from us like a Charlie Sheen whore. At the end we begged for your removal from this team. Good luck in the remaining years of your career, Teabag. And hopefully you can comfort yourself knowing you have earned more than the GDP of Latvia and only had to show up to do so.
Best memory? 25-5 after you went on the DL last year. Says it all.
by winningugly on Jul 28, 2011 2:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 3 recs
I hate to say it,
But that’s my favorite memory of Teehans as well.
by ScottyPods Ver2.0 on Jul 28, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I will always enjoy your 2010 season of futility as I self-mutilate myself
by Rhubarb on Jul 28, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
that's ok just so long as you don't self-mutilate someone else.
"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck
seems you skull fucked the hell out of that thought
"The words "becorned can" just beminded my fuck." - SkanchoDanza
so ridiculous.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Mine was so lazy but came out pretty funny I thought
THis solidifies it…new Designated Hitler this year. It is going to be a close call between Rios and Dunn…so far.
yours looks like a freaky alien Nazi
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
and rec'd.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions
you, my friend, have a much larger issue with gogosox than I do
My negative leanings are towards soxfanCT and bobpuller.
Now, now, there's plenty enough hate in the world for all three.
No need to pick favorites.
by FlyingSpaghettiMonster on Jul 28, 2011 5:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Craig is my kind of guy
Very classy comparison. Thanks
Didn't you read above...
He has a dog… and it’s on Twitter.
Little Bighorn. Classic small sample size. -Skancho Danza
by keystone connection on Jul 28, 2011 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I concur. I wish Teahen the best.
Stark says the Sox are dangling Dunn, tho. With him and Rios, yes, its personal.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 2:15 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Nice article Mark
When Teahen first came here I was fine with it. He was only going to be with the Sox for a short stint, just a stop gap. Than the extension came and that changed everything. I heard from a friend who said that Teahen dated his friends sister or something like that and said that the guy was a dickhead. But I believe that to be false. Everywhere he has gone he was involved with charity groups. Not just donating, but planning and sponsoring events.
On the field he never really amazed us. He had the occasional big hit, including that huge three run homer in the 9th (and than we lost the game), but I totally that his contract basically ruined him here.
bye teahen. best of luck.
just remember who had your back towards the end of your stay in chicago!
"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck
just watch him destroy the AL east!
"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck
It disheartened me but I almost got onboard with it
because it seemed like the only solution at the time.
Possibly the best thing you've written here, certainly in the top10.
Trying to score runs with Juan Pierre as your leadoff hitter is like trying to suture a wound in a moving car. You might still be successful -- but why make it so hard on yourself?
his entire choose your own adventure is 1-10. Everything else is outside that, including this.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I was hoping a link would take us through Toronto's storylines.
I am disappoint.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Something just always kind of resonated with me about the guy.
Hearing all that hype about himself and not getting a big head from it. How the hell does that happen in this day and age? Every time I try to rewrite it or get a better grip on what I’m trying to say about him and his whole situation, I stumble at it. I don’t like disliking Mark Teahen. I downright hated watching him come up to the plate and expecting him to fail or watching him play third and figuring the ball had no chance of reaching Paul Konerko. But that’s how I felt and I can’t really change that. All I can do is try to write a nice goodbye to a man I’ll never meet and hope it somehow atones for it.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
by U-God on Jul 28, 2011 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs
I really wanted him to be like Herbert Perry
Not a superstar, but a guy who could play baseball, and figure it out.
It’s like the guy was okay, and wound up over his head, unable to adjust, or was Rios, and was too busy doing whatever to hone his craft.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions
needs moar green
So fast he could hit a ball up the middle and it would hit him in the ass sliding into second.
+2
Trying to score runs with Juan Pierre as your leadoff hitter is like trying to suture a wound in a moving car. You might still be successful -- but why make it so hard on yourself?
Teahen's UZR/150 thru ~200 innings at 3B this season: +16.8 (UZR of 2.3 in 28 G)
Yeah, sss and all that, but it’s the only positive period at 3B in his career spanning 3,629 innings at the hot corner.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
We sold high.
Nothing wrong with that.
by winningugly on Jul 28, 2011 2:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
//
@jaysonst: Other teams now say White Sox would “absolutely” move Quentin in right deal – but “not bound & determined to move him.”
"The words "becorned can" just beminded my fuck." - SkanchoDanza
foolish, but whatev.
even if Viciedo is out for a period of time it’s not like WS couldn’t move De Aza or Rios to RF if he’s traded, or play Bridge out there.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Foolish?
Depends on what they think the “right” deal is. If we’re ripping someone off, let’s do it.
by Grinder in Training on Jul 28, 2011 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions
a gm would need to be bending over for kenny.
the team is only 3.5 games back from a poor tigers team, it would have to be one hell of an offer.
foolish in the sense that kenny would have to rip someone off blatantly to do it, and foolish for another team to be ripped off so blatantly.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions
If that team has parts to spare
And there are no other RF’s out there as good as Q, and they’re trying to win a world series I wouldn’t consider it foolish. Sometimes you gotta overpay.
by Grinder in Training on Jul 28, 2011 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
all sorts of conflicting information
The package would probably have to be berry berry goo to move Q
Boat Drinks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPUiXWFtB4
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
I was referencing the gretting/way to say goodbye from Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
hm. I like mine better.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Go watch the movie.
It’s streaming on Netflix now.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
The immortal Mark Trumbo needs a single for the cycle
by Yinka Double Dare on Jul 28, 2011 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Trumbo is my boy! Has been since I saw him hit a towering homerun in ST
I think against the Cubs. Sucks Morales is out for the season but gives that monster, Trumbo, a chance to thrive.
I also like he was an 18th rounder
check out his minor league stats…iam aware of PCL being a hitters league. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=trumbo001mar
whenever i hear trumbo i think of this
boxcars boxcars boxcars
by soxshenanigans on Jul 28, 2011 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
meanwhile in the punchyouinthedick news
allen is 1-1 so far with a 2 run shot, intentional walk and a stolen base
"The words "becorned can" just beminded my fuck." - SkanchoDanza
add a bases loaded walk in there now
"The words "becorned can" just beminded my fuck." - SkanchoDanza
JESUS CHRIST, SELL! SELL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by larry on Jul 28, 2011 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
No Jesus keep up
Fire sale coming up ask Bless you boys!
"Rooting for the Twins is just a roundabout way of rooting for a first-round playoff bye for the Yankees." by big_fun
Jesus is into relationship selling.
He does the “soft” close. Like dying for you!
by winningugly on Jul 28, 2011 7:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
And the winner is....... (I thought it was but way wrong) on the first use of Tea-bag in reference to well Teabag is...
Is Tea-bag really going to play 3rd?
by winningugly on Nov 22, 2009 1:30 PM CST on This Month in White Sox Minor League Baseball
The White Sox, major-league sources say, are considering a wide variety of possibilities, knowing they can move Teahen to first base or right field. Sox GM Ken Williams, however, said Friday that he &…
"Rooting for the Twins is just a roundabout way of rooting for a first-round playoff bye for the Yankees." by big_fun
Teahan was a better nickname
a VERY AVERAGE Sox Machine refugee
im sad cockpot never took off
Joe Buck is just White Noise to me. It’s like the game is being called by a CD of whale songs. - mechanical turk
by blackoutsox on Jul 28, 2011 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Hideki Irabu found dead in CA, apparent suicide.
Links all over.
Trying to score runs with Juan Pierre as your leadoff hitter is like trying to suture a wound in a moving car. You might still be successful -- but why make it so hard on yourself?
Tragic
but go figure.
When he threw his glove at the ball that one time, he seemed ill-fitted for the game.
Poor guy.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Probably a bad place for this, but
Joelsherman1 Joel Sherman
Among scouts/execs seems momentum now #Whitesox Quentin will be dealt and team I hear as frontrunner most is #Braves
Football recruiting guy for Hammer and Rails
Lead blogger for 5 other sites.
Follow the Twitter for all the details
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Riles23
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Big10RantPurdue
Hmm. I like Quentin and would miss the Q!, but I'm curious to see what we'd get from Atlanta
Our manager wears 13, we were supposedly cursed, and we wear black. Let's play.
by ChiSoxRox on Jul 28, 2011 6:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Wha?
I thought for sure that Q would not be dealt…. doesn’t make much sense, especially with Viciedo’s thumb owey
It's crap. Unless Kenny is convinced he has enough offense with Viciedo.we don't, but we don't matter.
Plus, even if true, doesn’t mean he’s done wheeling/dealing.
Trying to score runs with Juan Pierre as your leadoff hitter is like trying to suture a wound in a moving car. You might still be successful -- but why make it so hard on yourself?
i'm trying to think of a trade deadline where anything ideal happened in years.
i’m not coming up with anything except maybe charles johnson in 2000, who manuel misused anyway. i know i’m forgetting a lot, but i can’t find a kw transaction history for some reason.
by obnoxious american on Jul 28, 2011 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
heh,
i guess geoff blum worked out ok.
by obnoxious american on Jul 28, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
wondering why you think charles johnson was misused?
.326/.411/.607, 10 homers, 36 RBI’s in 44 games? seems pretty good to me.
Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.
Contreras, no?
Reporter: I was wondering if at any point in my lifetime the Cubs weren't going to be run by a guy who didn't immediately remind me of failure, confusion, or imminent death
yup
July 31, 2004: Traded by the New York Yankees with cash to the Chicago White Sox for Esteban Loaiza.
Reporter: I was wondering if at any point in my lifetime the Cubs weren't going to be run by a guy who didn't immediately remind me of failure, confusion, or imminent death
yeah, overall, but what i meant by ideal is what the team desperately needed at the time.
i don’t think any of us thought that deal would work out as well as it did, heh,
by obnoxious american on Jul 29, 2011 3:08 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah that was pretty good,
they needed pitching at the time. winner here.
by obnoxious american on Jul 29, 2011 3:17 AM CDT up reply actions
saying hes untouchable drives up the price
doubt hes dealt, but if we keep saying we arent trading him yet field calls, that price goes up and up
"The words "becorned can" just beminded my fuck." - SkanchoDanza
The most interesting name I saw mentioned on Talking Chop was Prado.
Braves fans hate the idea, and I’m not super-keen on it either but it would put someone at third. Prado and Viciedo is probably an upgrade over Morel and Quentin, and Prado is team controlled for one year more than Q. Plus Ozzie loves versatility. It’s not a holy shit do it now before they change their mind kind of trade (if it’s being talked about at all- pure specurbation really) but I guess it would make sense. (Except for Atlanta, who would crowd their corner OF and have to play Chipper full time at third.) (So really, none of this makes any sense at all, but the more words I type the smarter I appear. Right? RIGHT?!?)
by mechanical turk on Jul 28, 2011 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not your fault, Mark.
It’s not your fault.
It’s not your fault.
"If you are looking for a good and quick treat, mosey on over to Hardees or KFC." -Jessy S
and the same goes for teahen, too.
I love seasons too. That's why I live in a place that skips the shitty ones.
by thatshortkid on Jul 28, 2011 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't eff with me.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions
single wu stays up late!
So, I say this more with admiration than anything else: I love that Kenny Williams went out and acquired the two worst players in the American League so far this year. - Joe Posnanski
Mobile from the Disney Strip Club!
"If you are looking for a good and quick treat, mosey on over to Hardees or KFC." -Jessy S
So... A blank green square by capital Greenlight getting over 3,000 Canadian recs (U.S. equivalent is 17).
In the future. And who’s Hilter?
"If you are looking for a good and quick treat, mosey on over to Hardees or KFC." -Jessy S
Just practicing for a new business venture,
producing and selling counterfeit recs. I need more practice.
White Sox 2011: The season of extraneous body parts.
Update from Cowley (which means it could be crap)
cst_Cowley cst_Cowley
Disappointing to hear, but was just told that KW doesn’t really believe in this team and is looking to ship more bodies out
Football recruiting guy for Hammer and Rails
Lead blogger for 5 other sites.
Follow the Twitter for all the details
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Riles23
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Big10RantPurdue
I thought his next updates were especially telling:
cst_Cowley cst_Cowley
Sources tell me KW also hates both puppies AND kittens, but likes to pretend to adopt children and cancel at the last minute, (cont.)
cst_Cowley cst_Cowley
occasionally showing up with a car full of a family and all the things they desire, requesting that they open the locked car doors. (cont.)
cst_Cowley cst_Cowley
when they fail, he tells them “I guess you don’t really want a family after all, I guess I’ll have to kill these puppies” and drives away.
Sounds like a white flag trade to me.
by mechanical turk on Jul 28, 2011 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
is cowley trying to act like he didn't get that from a family guy scene?
this fucking guy.
by obnoxious american on Jul 28, 2011 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions
seriously, wtf.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Of Course Cowley is starting to pull back
Told Quentin isn’t the only player being shopped, and if KW doesn’t get a deal he likes now he is willing to wait until offseason.
So Joe, you are telling us that Kenny Williams is willing to make a trade and that anyone is available for the right price? Amazing.
I think Konerko is untouchable personally.
Kenny Williams toying with stabbing various White Sox
and then intercoursing the wounds.
Might not do it if he decides that Joe Cowley is the awesomest dude on the planet.
Get it? If KW stabs and rapes players, Cowley wins….
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Cowley trying to stir up the meatballs? Shocker!
I have no idea why the Score keeps paying the guy. It is the only thing that makes him look legitimate at all. You know if he wasn’t on the Score the hosts would be going after him all the time for shit like this, especially Boers and Bernstein.
he wasn't the only one floating the 'sox officials say they don't like their team' idea.
seen a couple of official media twitter feeds saying the same.
here's one:
The White Sox could decide that while they may have enough to win a weak AL Central this year, but not enough to compete in October.
“They just don’t like their team,” said one baseball man who speaks regularly with White Sox officials.
http://danny-knobler.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/8590096/30952018
the suggestion prior to the (one scout says) quote is ridiculous. pitching is what you need to win in october and if they don’t like their pitching they are idiots who don’t deserve their jobs.
If the Phillies are willing to give up Brown
Than I can see it being done. Its hard to understand why they would move Quentin with this division looking very winnable. I guess a win tomorrow and or good series would really help things. If this team wouldn’t have lost that game to the fucking Royals…
a coin
and some hand warmers are all you need to win in october.
So fast he could hit a ball up the middle and it would hit him in the ass sliding into second.
this
Jim Thome sponsor(s) this page.
Highly underrated, Mark Kotsay became the best defensive designated hitter in American League history in 2010.
by onlysoxfaninbasel on Jul 29, 2011 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions
tell that to the Twins
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 29, 2011 7:55 AM CDT up reply actions
Giving up so soon on j bougeois
Was criminal. He is number three hitter at .374 and 18 swipes for that star studded stros team.
by stanchar on Jul 28, 2011 8:45 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
maybe someone can finally answer the question why Teahens cheeks looks like they've been
slashed repeatedly by a rusty serrated fishing knife
Joe Buck is just White Noise to me. It’s like the game is being called by a CD of whale songs. - mechanical turk
Popped zits with fingernail clippers he found in dung-heeps.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 28, 2011 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
dude, wtf.
you hittin the sauce tonight?
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Jul 28, 2011 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
i could see lillibridge as holden.
or beckham, he seems to have issues with our gay brethren.
by craigws on Jul 29, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Or Beckham was trying to make Getz feel better about himself.
Reminding him he was a gay, happy guy, and should focus on the happiness he feels for himself and others.
sideways smiley face
by TasteeFreeze on Jul 29, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
a nice good bye UG
Joe Buck is just White Noise to me. It’s like the game is being called by a CD of whale songs. - mechanical turk
playing taps
and laughing all the way to bank saying bye.
We need a resolution...
by pierzynskirules on Jul 28, 2011 11:58 PM CDT reply actions
i don't know i'm still split on the jackson trade.
im up at 2 in the morning pondering it. i like that we got rid of teahen’s money… but its a shame we had to use a nice player (or bargaining chip) like jackson just to move teahen.
that extension was a gross mistake.
Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.
Of course that extension was gross- we knew that the second it happened.
Trading Jackson was rough.
I liked him a lot, and I don’t trust Peavy or Humber.
On paper it checks out, but so should Dunn and Rios.
So, I say this more with admiration than anything else: I love that Kenny Williams went out and acquired the two worst players in the American League so far this year. - Joe Posnanski
What has Humber done to you?
Has he broken his promises to you? Not gotten you the birthday present you asked for? Slept with your Mom?
I believe Peavy has earned your mistrust, as I have it on good authority he’s done all 3.
10 earned in 16 1/3 innings this month
his record of failing his entire career up to this season.
asking me to lump him in with Buehrle, Danks and Floyd is asking a lot.
So, I say this more with admiration than anything else: I love that Kenny Williams went out and acquired the two worst players in the American League so far this year. - Joe Posnanski
His FIP and xFIP
in those starts is 3.17 and 3.31.
A .423 BABIP can do that. Humber will be fine.
"Rooting for the Twins is just a roundabout way of rooting for a first-round playoff bye for the Yankees." by big_fun
anyone see sports nite tonight?
Frank introduced his newest venture.
Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.
summer shandy's and BL Limes no more!
I’ll take a Big Hurt Beer please.
Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.
by KenWo4LiFe on Jul 29, 2011 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
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