Community Projection Results: Carlos Quentin

by The Cheat on Feb 20, 2008 2:38 PM CST in News Comment 43 comments

I screwed up on the entry form, so we don't have any games played projection. Quentin said his shoulder was "90 percent" yesterday and should have elected to have surgery when he was initially injured. So I'm a bit worried about him being able to reach this projection.

Participation is starting to wane. Do we want to continue doing these? If so who's next? (poll after jump)

***** In other news, (wizard)

Carl's latest 'Palehose 8' comic strip: In Which the Monkey and Don Guillote Discuss Their Plans for the Summer.
Jim on the Colon rumor and Danks appearances.
Baseball-Reference PI's new feature: Batting Count Summary (hat-tip BBTF).
StatSpeak: A modest proposal for the use of closers (hat-tip Tango).

Poll

Next community projection?

AJ Pierzynski

1 votes

None -- We're done.

6 votes

Mark Buehrle

1 votes

Javier Vazquez

1 votes

Jose Contreras

2 votes

Bobby Jenks

1 votes

Orlando Cabrera

9 votes

Paul Konerko

4 votes

Jermaine Dye

5 votes

Jim Thome

3 votes

33 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 43 comments

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Comments

woops

jumped the gun.. Posted before I made a poll

/forthcoming.....

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 20, 2008 2:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think these are great and should continue.

by BoKnows on Feb 20, 2008 2:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's continue!

I didn't participate in the last two but I like these projections. For Carlos, the medians are lining up nicely with the means, did you exclude any samples for this one?

Going back to the previous projection, you provided super valid reasons for excluding the outliers. But unless there is actual error (I think there was one), I would suggest presenting results with and without the outliers if any exist.

by onlysoxfaninboston on Feb 20, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Machts nichts

I just want the season to start.

Jeff Cox: I'm going to call you "FN".

by winningugly on Feb 20, 2008 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

alles ist egal

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

by colintj on Feb 20, 2008 5:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

/forthcoming?

what's forthcoming?

by ChiSox08 on Feb 20, 2008 8:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe this is just me

but, if the sox want to get anything out of sisco, perhaps they should figure out whether they want him to be a starter or reliever. and then stick to the decision for, i don't know, more than a few months.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/02/pitching-roles.html

by larry on Feb 20, 2008 3:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ughhhhh!

Geez leave him as a starter and leave him the phuck alone. Why is that so hard?

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America."

by Tdogg on Feb 20, 2008 3:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Colon is holding out for a major league deal

after seeing Byung-Hyun Kim get one from the Pirates and now Shawn Chacon getting $2 million from the Astros.

Astros signed RHP Shawn Chacon, who had been with the Pirates, to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Chacon is probably the favorite to act as the Astros' fifth starter, though they might be better off with him in a setup role and Chris Sampson starting. As is, Sampson appears destined for middle relief, barring an injury. Chacon is a long shot to have fantasy value as a starter.

by SSH2005 on Feb 20, 2008 3:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oops, nevermind on the Chacon comment...

I didn't realize that Chacon had a decent season last season (other than his WHIP). I was thinking of his 2006 stats.

But still, if Byung-Hyun Kim can get a major league contract, I don't see why Colon couldn't get one.

by SSH2005 on Feb 20, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Colon to the White Sox?" is now...

MLB.com's front page story.

by SSH2005 on Feb 20, 2008 3:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sloooooooooow

news day, man.

Jeff Cox: I'm going to call you "FN".

by winningugly on Feb 20, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the headline:

"Is there news to report? We don't know..."

by HulkSmash on Feb 20, 2008 4:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I really like these and think they'll be really

useful and interesting, especially if we can do the whole team. I'd like to see how we do against PECOTA and ZiPS that's for sure.

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

by colintj on Feb 20, 2008 3:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

speaking of useful and interesting

You finished with Season 2 of The Wire yet?

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 20, 2008 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Finished through 4th ep of Season 4.

Man I love this show. You guys were right about 2nd Season being awesome. Third was a really good coda for 1st and so the story arc for 4th makes perfect sense and I don't feel like they are abandoning something to go in a new direction.

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

by colintj on Feb 20, 2008 5:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

You're tearing right through this thing, bittorrents ?

You're lucky to be able to go through all the seasons in one shot. These characters keep popping in and out all the time so it's a lot easier keeping track of the cast watching it like that. Plus you get the full force of the narrative washing right over you, that's a pretty intense way of experiencing this show. Glad you're enjoying it.

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 21, 2008 6:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Part of the "taking the semester off"

experience is being indulged certain things. So I actually own all four seasons, if you can believe it.

But I really do get a lot from the show. It's really eye opening and difficult to criticize. It seems like Simon and Co. really do a great job outlining the moral situation (both sides) as best they can. I suspect this is part sheltered upper middle class white kid talking, but it seems like the guys who actually live this sort of thing go "yeah, this is what I see." In this interview, Simon admits that his deepest fear is getting called out by someone for the show's inauthenticity. He wants to represent the truth as best he can, and I really respond to that inclination. I love that interview, btw. I recognize a lot of myself in his attitudes and desires, though he's clearly got experience where I lack it almost entirely.

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

by colintj on Feb 21, 2008 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

amazing show

"He made me see things -- things." [Joseph Conrad] It still astounds me that it ever got made, it's so far out of the mold of the usual shit that makes it onto TV. I've read that Hornby interview before, that's good stuff.

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 21, 2008 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I pimp it basically everywhere

because I respond to it so much. He's obviously a little crass, but if we ever end up back in a situation where we have intellectuals we look up to and what not, then I hope he's the leader of the pack.

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

by colintj on Feb 21, 2008 5:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you been following Season 5?

Entertaining but not as great as Season 4. Only two episodes left, all bets are off with how its going to end.

by onlysoxfaninboston on Feb 20, 2008 8:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been a rabid fan for a year or so.

Season 5 definitely can't live up to season 4, but it's still very good. It feels a little rushed and crammed with too much storyline, but it's been picking up pace and I know it's going to end with a bang. After this show ends, I'm going to be sad. I don't know what I'm going to watch until Battlestar Galactica starts up. Probably Breaking Bad.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Feb 20, 2008 11:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

spoiler alert!!!

no peeking Colin.

My favorite part of the show has always been the characters, how they're not just one-dimensional stock. Good example is Rawls, he's pretty much a one note a**hole but then they gave him that great scene after Griggs got shot when he sat down with McNulty and told him not to feel guilty about it. That really rounded him out, so no matter what else he did after that you couldn't dislike him too much - he's just doing what he has to do, in his mind, to advance his career. Same thing with Landsman, usually he's a bureaucratic toadie but then on occasion he'll surprise you.

This season's been a bit of letdown for me because the characters are just straight black or white with no shades of gray. Maybe it's a function of fewer episodes, but the characters seem a lot more one-dimensional and cartoonish. Except for Senator Clay Davis of course - the scene on the courtroom steps with him holding Prometheus Bound was my favorite part of the season so far, "I can not tell you how much consolation I find in these slim pages."

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 21, 2008 6:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boy was I angry

when i heard the final season went from 13 to 10 episodes and the whole Media aspect really bores the shit out of me. I enjoyed the Union in season 2 but the media is just boring in my opinion.

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Feb 21, 2008 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree WITH SPOILER

The union characters are much more complex than the characters representing the media this season. Nick's reappearance in Season 5 was most fitting (same with Johnny 50).

My only complaint regarding the union depiction in Season 2 is that they could have emphasized (more) on the union organizing that doesn't succumb to corruption (even if its for ensuring its own survival).

by onlysoxfaninboston on Feb 21, 2008 2:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

spoilers again

The first season was incredible, and the second season seemed pretty tame in comparison when it started out. I remember being disappointed for the first half of S2 but it really built up powerfully and packed a real wallop. Season five, it just seems too contrived compared to how organic the story lines were in all the other years.

I think it's these pure saints (Gus, Alma) and bad guys (Scott Templeton, the bosses) in the newsroom that are bugging me. Compared to Frank and Nick and Ziggy Sobotka, these guys at the newspaper are total cardboard cutouts.

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 21, 2008 5:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm the most optimistic

I think he'll get on base a lot and hit for a high average.

MrROFL.com

by shaftr on Feb 20, 2008 4:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Debbie Downer time

I just don't see him playing too much. No matter what comes out of Ozzie's mouth about OBP and for getting on base, he is still prone to the leadoff stupidity formula that states only a bantam weight track star can be your leadoff hitter. This was what he saw in Florida, what he attributes success to here and what he will wind up going with. Owens should be in AAA tearing up the speed record down there, while Quentin starts here and Anderson is the 4th OF. You know an actual defensive guy who can come in late in the game. Having Owens come in to have 2 people cut the ball in the 8th inning is not going to fly. Owens starting is just a mess plain and simple.

by southsideirish71 on Feb 20, 2008 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

old dogs, new tricks and so on

I'm really curious to see how Ozzie handles this team. The roster that KW's given really doesn't suit the style that Ozzie likes to play at all. If you were to describe OGs ideal team, it would look like 2005 - strong pitching and defense, with some speed and grinderball on offense. This year you've got mediocre at best pitching, the league's worst defense, and a station-to-station softball team on offense. If he tries playing Ozzieball with this it should be truly comical.

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 20, 2008 5:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i'd argue

this team is more to ozzie's liking than last year's. he's got a heck of a lot of toys in the bullpen - and almost all of them are designed for short outings. he's got more speed/baserunning ability than last year - full season of owens, cabrera isn't shy (and is considered one of the best baserunners in the game), and people seem to forget that fields likes to go, too (and should be able to now that he's healed up). you've got some leadlegs out there but KW, while maybe not adding plus speed, has added some intelligent baserunners.

by larry on Feb 20, 2008 5:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

gavin and jose

Wednesday marked the first day that the White Sox's pitchers threw to hitters in the batter's box.

Jose Contreras looked rusty at the outset, but his control improved during the second round. He also threw a couple of impressive split-finger fastballs. Contreras was saved by the protective screen after breaking the barrel of Jerry Owens' bat that sailed near him.

But compared to Contreras, Gavin Floyd resembled a young Bob Welch with a lively fastball and big-breaking curve. Floyd threw hard to both corners of the strike zone, and his curve froze a few hitters.

"It's always hard when you come up for the first time, no matter who is pitching to look good," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But it was pretty impressive. Gavin Floyd was looking pretty good. He continues to throw the ball well."

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/

by larry on Feb 20, 2008 4:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

joe cowely rites well

Outfielder Jerry Owens checked into camp on Tuesday, sounding, and looking, like he was all business. He's sporting 10 pounds of muscle,

wow. ten whole pounds.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2008/02/cowleys_top_5_1.html#more

by larry on Feb 20, 2008 5:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

and on danks cutter

[cowley]:

Turn the Page - Pitcher John Danks pitched like, well, a rookie the second half of last season, but is poised to have a breakout year. Why? The southpaw has been working on a cutter similar to Buehrle's since late last year, and now seems to have it mastered. Case in point: On Wednesday, facing live hitters, Danks squared off with spring roommate Josh Fields. "He keeps telling me about this cutter,'' Fields said, before the showdown. After the seven-pitch at-bat, Fields seemed impressed. "Wow, I guess he wasn't kidding,'' Fields added. "It was nastier than advertised.''

by The Wizard on Feb 20, 2008 5:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard Danks on The Score...

he was making his cutter sound Buehrle-esque.

by SSH2005 on Feb 20, 2008 6:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

now that's some good news

Prior to this, I thought the Danks' cutter was something Larry made up. ;)

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 20, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i will second that remark

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

by colintj on Feb 20, 2008 7:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and another thing...

i'd be more impressed with an endorsement from somebody who can hit something other than a hanging breaking ball.

"They say that blood is thicker than water. What we have is thicker than blood."

by Toonderstrook on Feb 20, 2008 7:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So much for the virginal optimism

of spring, Toonder. Jeez, at least wait until the first ST game to poop on the parade.

Fer Chrissakes, already.

Jeff Cox: I'm going to call you "FN".

by winningugly on Feb 20, 2008 7:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

as i noted when i posted this on the danks

thread: this is coming from a guy who obliterated lefties last year.

by larry on Feb 20, 2008 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

sounds like eldred is keep going deep

[Scott Merkin]:

Gavin Floyd once again earned high marks from the manager, as did Jose Contreras. Mark Buehrle and John Danks worked in the same group, with Buehrle hearing it from the second-year pitcher when non-roster invitee Brad Eldred took him deep.

"At least I didn't give up the first one," Danks said.

Buehrle also had a humorous interaction with Jermaine Dye, who hit against him. Dye drove a fastball from Buehrle deep to right at the close of Buehrle's first session, causing the left-hander to joke that Dye couldn't get around on his heater.

Dye also broke his bat on a pitch from Buehrle, leading to some playful taunts and Buehrle asking Dye to sign the bat. Dye, who has a .391 career average against Buehrle, along with four home runs and 10 RBIs, had a quick retort.

"You finally got me out," the veteran right fielder said.

Danks had been throwing to hitters a bit before his arrival in Tucson, but still enjoyed the early competition.

"It's fun to be back out on the hill," said Danks, who also was taken deep by Eldred. "I threw some cutters that worked well, and for the most part, I was able to keep the ball down."

by The Wizard on Feb 20, 2008 5:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs