Contreras in trouble with the law

by The Cheat on Apr 11, 2007 7:06 PM CDT in White Sox News

There was a rumor that started here in the comments thread last week that Jose Contreras' poor start and erratic mound behavior on Opening Day was a direct result of being served with divorce papers just hours before his start. That theory got some credence with some bizarre Ozzie Guillen quotes about him not being focused, but seemed to be debunked by a lexisnexis search turning up nothing in the court records.

Today, however, comes the news that Contreras was allegedly involved in a plot to pay money to smuggle his family into the US. The official accusations came Tuesday, but you have to wonder if Contreras wasn't informed of the allegations (possibly by subpoena) back on opening day, making our rumor false but not completely unfounded.

[LA Times] -- Contreras implicated in smuggling case

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Comments

Rumours

was a good album in 1977.

I'm watching the Sawx/Mariners - Hernandez looks completely differen from last year - totally in control, filthy, mature (what is he, 21-22?). A #1 pitcher.

Still wish we had a lights-out starter....

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

He's a once every 25 years talent

nobody has been this good, this young since Gooden.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 11, 2007 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions

if you're a baseball fan

you may want to tune into the game on espn2. don't say i didn't let you know.

by larry on Apr 11, 2007 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions

NOW

Man is he fun to watch.

by asinwreck on Apr 11, 2007 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Butterflies

and I could give a crap about the 2 teams playing - man, I love this stuff.

Dice-K looks decent.

Oops - there it goes.

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

damn

Still an amazing performance.

by asinwreck on Apr 11, 2007 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

oh man

rooting on it

by Tdogg on Apr 11, 2007 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Quote of the day

"In Felix's 1st 50 batters this season, 4 have reached the OF. Not thats dominance."

Man I wish we had a Felix.

by Tdogg on Apr 11, 2007 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions

We should just be glad

Liriano's arm fell off.

by Dongfang Hong on Apr 11, 2007 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

okay

broken up. don't need to tune in anymore.

by larry on Apr 11, 2007 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Watching

him command the two seamer at 98-99 reminds me of my better days playing MVP on the PS2.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 11, 2007 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL!

Yeah, you are the master of your own joystick, bro.

Ichiro just hit that one literally off the ground. Would he not be great patrolling our OF next year?

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions

High AVG, low power,

"fundamentals" reputation, high price tag, and decent-but-overrated defense? I'm surprised Ozzie hasn't kidnapped him yet.

by Dongfang Hong on Apr 11, 2007 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Since when

is Ichiro's defense overrated? He has the best arm in the league and top of the line speed. Theres a reason he gets Gold Glove after Gold Glove...

by Jbasic89 on Apr 11, 2007 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Ichiro's defense is wildly overrated.

He wins Gold Gloves, yes. That is why he is overrated; he's little more than above-average with a glove. Ichiro had 5 FRAA in CF last year, and 2 FRAA in RF.

Last year, Brian Anderson had 11 FRAA.

by Dongfang Hong on Apr 11, 2007 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

And as for his arm,

(though this is a nearly-useless statistic), Ichiro had 9 assists last year. Michael Cuddyer of the Twins had 11.

by Dongfang Hong on Apr 11, 2007 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, as you say, that's a real good stat

you want to tell me how many soriano had last year. hmmm, why could it be that ichiro doesn't have that many assists?

the man still has a gun for an arm and his speed allows him to reach most anything. is he the best RF/CF? probably not; he seems more conscious these days of avoiding injury so he doesn't dive or run into the wall with nearly the aplomb he used to. he's still one of the best.

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

You can't

use assists as a measure of how good his arm is. He only had nine because thats how many people were stupid enough to run on him. People figured since Soriano was sucha bad fielder that they'd run on him which made no sense because he has a cannon.

by Jbasic89 on Apr 12, 2007 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

ichiro's best comp

doesn't even come from his own sport. it's deion sanders. no one runs on ichiro. heck, when he was in RF, hitters changed their approach in sac fly situations to make sure they didn't hit it to him. and if anyone actually was stupid enough to run on him - you know, to check to see if he was now only "little more than above average" - he'd gun them down with a one hop ace to the plate. i'm one of the biggest, if not the biggest, BA supporters on this site. comparing the two, and then suggesting BA is better, to boot, made me laugh out loud. unlike offense or pitching, you can't just look at stats for defense. you still have to watch the game.

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

You're making invalid comparisons

Ichiro only played 39 games in CF last year. Brian played more than 100. If you're going to compare them in CF you need a rate not a raw number. Fortunately BP has that. It's called rate2. 100 is average. BA had a rate2 of 112. Ichiro was 115 in CF. I'd say that's about right. BA is an excellent CF. Ichiro is exceptional. I think most statheads felt Ichiro was overrated in the past, but I think most feel he is properly rated now. He is the rare case where "he does all of the little things" actually applies.

Exceptional fielder. Exceptional baserunner (he stole 45 bases and was caught just 2 times last year!). That's very valuable as opposed to the podsman whose 40 SB, 20 CS is at best worthless and is probaly harming the team. Exceptional bunter. Would love to have Ichiro.

The question is how much are you willing to spend? I'd go as high as 5/80 million. That will probably only be enough to get you in the conversation. With the Red Sox out there with CoCo Crisp in CF and the Mariner's japanese ownership I'm thinking it's gonna take 5/85 at least.

by bhoov on Apr 12, 2007 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

As Richard Pryor said in "Silver Streak"

"Pay the man." I'd rather have him than Soriano. So would Gooch.

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

a few days past his 21st bday

-Jeeves Sweet Home Sports

by jeeves on Apr 11, 2007 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Felix Hernandez is going to make me

look like a fantasy genius this year.

by chrome on Apr 11, 2007 8:27 PM CDT reply actions

heh

Me too. He is so much fun to watch. Two games, 17 innings, still yet to give up a run...or look like he was going to give up a run.

by asinwreck on Apr 11, 2007 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions

For anyone interested,

it looks like McCarthy isn't going to pitch in next week's series at the Cell. Fiddlesticks.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 11, 2007 8:41 PM CDT reply actions

so who is making their plans for milwaukee

this weekend? weather looking bad in cleveland all weekend. not looking all that good for here, either, so flipping series may not be an option.

by larry on Apr 11, 2007 8:46 PM CDT reply actions

I'll be there

Saturday or Sunday if they move it.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 11, 2007 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Looks like Saturday would be the only

washout (ie snowout) if they switch it to Chicago. Sunday's forecasted at 51 and sunny, so they should be able to play two that day if need be. This will be interesting to see what happens.

I couldn't imagine being a Clevelander (ite?) right now. The weather's miserable enough here. To think of spending two weeks with weather even worse...and compound that by the fact you live in Cleveland? That's just asking too much of a man's soul.

by chrome on Apr 11, 2007 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Or a woman

My wife is affiliated with a large REIT that was just bought by an Australian company that owns a "lifestyle" property in Cleveland. She has been "assigned" the property from a marketing perspective. Thus, she's got to go there twice a year now. They don't call it "The Mistake By the Lake" for nuthin'.

Yecch.

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Good switch to Twinks/Spanks

by ESPN2. Felix the Cat was too quick tonight.

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 8:54 PM CDT reply actions

Orioles-Tiggers

scoreless in the 12th...O's on their EIGHTH pitcher.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 11, 2007 9:28 PM CDT reply actions

Verlander looks like

he's the 2nd coming of Felix - no ERA for the year so far.

I seem to remember when we were discussing who really has a lock-down #1 starter (since we don't). Pretty good start with those two kids...

by winningugly on Apr 11, 2007 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

re: lack of dominant starter

I seem to remember when we were discussing who really has a lock-down #1 starter (since we don't)

Cleveland -- C.C. Sabathia
Minnesota -- Liriano/Santana
Detroit -- Bonderman/Verlander

The White Sox and Royals are probably the only two teams within the division without a legitimate #1. I worry whether this will be exposed in the upcoming years when the division grows even tougher.

If Vazquez establishes more consistency he could be the White Sox version, but who knows with him.

by TheKMan1 on Apr 11, 2007 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions

KC has...Gil Meche!

'Nuff said!

Which is why we got Floyd this year and traded for Javy last - they do have the "stuff" that can dominate when "on".

Rub your Rosary beads. We and hope and pray they grow up.

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 5:12 AM CDT up reply actions

so, what can happen in such a case? (contreras)

what if jose paid $ to get his family out of cuba?

is there a man of the law in the house?

by The Wizard on Apr 11, 2007 10:13 PM CDT reply actions

what could happen?

he could be charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, smuggling, various other violations of federal law. what's likely to happen is nothing more than perhaps a fine - if that.

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

u cant compare

Bonderman to Felix Hernandez...

by Jbasic89 on Apr 11, 2007 10:32 PM CDT reply actions

Right now it looks like

there are very few pitchers you could compare to Felix.

by Dongfang Hong on Apr 11, 2007 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Adam Russell.....

6 shoutout IP last night with 8Ks....

by stanchar on Apr 12, 2007 6:18 AM CDT reply actions

Let's recap...

Sox are 4-4 after games against Indians (picked by many to win division in 2007), Twins (division winner in 2006) and A's (division winner in 2006).

Team BA is .223
Best hitters are Pods (.364) and Uribe (.320)!

Other starters: Thome-.250, Konerko-.250, Erstad-.240, Crede-.200, Gooch-.176, Dye-.160, A.J.-.115

The Sox have faced some very tough pitching. The team BA will go up quickly.

Team ERA has plummeted to 3.89 after A's series.

I'll take 4-4 after the dismal start at the plate and seeing the real potential from the pitching staff.

by thekever on Apr 12, 2007 8:04 AM CDT reply actions

Also

in 2 of those losses, the Sox were winning late in the game. So they could be 6-2 right now with very similar stats.

April was going to be a tough month, but if the Sox survive (above .500), they will be in good shape for the rest of the season.

by RME JICO on Apr 12, 2007 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Caveats:

Twins and A's ain't what they used to be, and the A's always suck in April.
Cleveland finally looks ready to live up to high expectations and smacked us in our house!

4-4 is better than the 0-2 start, and the pitching looks MUCH improved. However, I'll keep it in my pants for the time being.

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Your remark...

about keeping it in your pants (please do) reminds me of a quote that comes to mind every time the Sox win a game this April: "Well, let's not start sucking each other's dicks quite yet, gentlemen." --Winston Wolf

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 12, 2007 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

I spit my coffee, Toonder - thanks.

What a wise man! However, it begs the question "Is there ever an appropriate time to BEGIN sucking....etc.?"

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

when you've got the ring on your cock

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

PS

Is it "Wolfe"? As in Tom? Or is the silent "e" just a Wikipedia fluff piece?

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

According to the

script I found online, it's Winston Wolf AKA "The Wolf."

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 12, 2007 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Without knowing for sure,

I think that character would be named "Wolf" - nothing more feminine than the silent "e".

As opposed to Pods, whose "E"'s are broadcast through the screaming speaker of SSS! Anything BUT silent.

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Edited for TV

Let's not give each other bulldogs yet.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Apr 12, 2007 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure

anyone happy with taking 2 of 3 in Oakland and being 4 - 4 after a dismal start is ready to start dishing out bjs, so slow down a bit. There's nothing wrong with celebrating the fact that the Sox have rebounded greatly from opening day, the bullpen looks solid, and the rotation has made a trip through with quality starts all around. There's a lot to be positive about here. As for being premature, well, everything is premature right now--we're on game 9! Good or bad, it's still early. No changing that.

It's okay, Sox fans, to be optimistic other than on parade day.

by southsider80 on Apr 12, 2007 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Also by Mr. Wolf:

"You know what you two look like? Like a couple of guys who just blew off somebody's head. Stripping off those bloody rags is absolutely necessary."

by southsider80 on Apr 12, 2007 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Sox in Milwaukee?

Anybody hear anything other than Sox fan conjecture? If it were to happen, I'd be out there Friday and Sunday, and would do my best to get off work and make it for all three games.

by CWSKeith on Apr 12, 2007 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

We probably won't hear anything...

Until this afternoon. They'll try everything humanly possible to get the games in in Cleveland - every home date the Indians lose costs them lots of money.

FWIW, here's the weather forecast for Cleveland, according to the weather channel -

Friday - Morning snow, partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 44, low 33.

Saturday - Cloudy and cold, overnight rain/snow mix. High 37, low 33.

Sunday - Some chance of rain/snow, High 40, low 36.

In short, cold and miserable. That doesn't mean they won't try to get the games in, however - it probably depends on the condition of the field more than anything.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Apr 12, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

And perhaps

the Indiana won't want to take too many chances, seeing that at least some reports I read blame Victor Martinez' injury on poor playing conditions.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Apr 12, 2007 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Additionally

Sox are in the same division, so they'll be making two other trips to the Jake this year. Without looking at the Tribe's schedule, the Angels being out of division and not necessarily returning had to have played a role in the decision to move that series.

by The Past Tense of Grinder is Grounder on Apr 12, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

true, of course

but with the indians already having at least two off days taken for the mariners make-ups - and it's only april 12 - MLB and the indians have to make sure the indians have some flexibility in their schedule down the road for the inevitable other make-ups. say you lose another two games this weekend (and monday, a mutual off day, doesn't look any better). that's likely a doubleheader in the each of the sox next two visits - both of which are in the middle of a bunch of games without an off day.

personally, i think you're going to see something unprecedented (at least in my memory) - i think baseball is going to have the indians and mariners use the all-star break to make up the games (or at least some of them).

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

long-term consequences

Supposing the Indians lose revenue from moving several home dates and fail to make it up with a playoff appearance. Will this affect their ability to keep or extend their young talent?

As a northern Ohio resident, this is the only silver lining I can see in our skies filled with dark clouds.

by asinwreck on Apr 12, 2007 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

doubtful

we're not talking about a huge amount of money here. early april games aren't the cash cows summer games are. at any rate, we're probably talking about losses in the hundreds of thousands right now; would creep higher if they lose another series. but not very much in the grand scheme. and they're still getting a piece of the action from these milwaukee games [i'd imagine the split is something like gate to the indians with concessions and parking completely or mostly to the brewers] - if the sox game gets moved to milwaukee, the gate will still be very good.

and if other postponed games (i.e. mariners) get moved to more favorable summer dates - even if it's a doubleheader - they'd probably end up with more revenue than if they were two april dates.

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Milwaukee - I'm not sure

that's where they'd switch to. It would be way too pro-Sox. I think they would look at Cincinnati or some other more neutral sight.

by ballyb on Apr 12, 2007 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

weather ain't much better in cincy

one of the reasons they switched to milwaukee was because of the dome. i'm sure they'd like a more neutral site but there aren't that many options out there.

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of weather

my sister in Mundelein called and said they had 5 1/2" of snow dumped last night. Can you concur? And, if so:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 80 and sunny down here!

by winningugly on Apr 12, 2007 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

blog to add to your reading list

curt schilling's blog is awesome. i don't know how long he'll keep up this copious blogging pace but his Q&A's are great - unvarnished, just like you'd expect. i love his snippy answers to stupid questions/comments.

http://38pitches.com/

by larry on Apr 12, 2007 1:01 PM CDT reply actions