At the meetup, LT told me that I need to contribue more.  He is right.  Although he was smiling when he told me that, part of me is frightened of him and I decided I should contribute right away.

On Saturday, Alex Rios stole a base and hit another home run.  That brings his season totals (thru 40 games) to 8 home runs and 13 stolen bases.  So far, 2010 has been a stark contrast to the 2009 version of Rios that White Sox fans saw.  In 41 games for Chicago last year, Rios hit 3 home runs and had 5 stolen bases.  He also had an OPS of .530.  This year? .912 OPS. 

Obviously, most of you are already aware of this.  You are also aware of the fact that he plays Center Field and is very good at it.  All of these are reasons to get excited about Alex Rios.  Need a reason to get even more excited?  I can't think of the last White Sox player with the skill set of Rios.  

I know projections can be silly, but Rios is on pace for 32 home runs and 52 stolen bases.  I can't remember ever watching a player in this franchise that has that combination of Power and Speed, can you?  Luckily, we have Bill James' Power/Speed formula that we can use to compare Rios 2010 projections to previous White Sox players.

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Finding a leadoff man is difficult. It's not a position, but it is a spot in the lineup that requires a certain set of skills. The ability to get on base and run are the two most important skills of a leadoff man. The 2009 Chicago White Sox have had an interesting group of guys try their hand at lead off.

Dewayne Wise

Origins: Before he was the man behind preserving a perfect game, Wise was the Opening Day leadoff hitter for the White Sox. That experiment lasted two games. Coming in to the season Wise was a 31 year old journeyman outfielder who played pretty well late last year for the White Sox. He didn't exactly earn the lead off position, but as you will see, there weren't that many other options.

Stats: .193 BA .235 OBP .312 SLUG 40 OPS+

Currently: Defensive replacement for White Sox.

Chris Getz

Origins: Getz won the starting 2nd baseman job out of Spring Training. He profiled as a light hitting 2nd baseman with a good eye. He primarily hit lead off for Chicago during April & May, but eventually was replaced by Scott Podsednik.

Stats: .266 BA .323 OBP .369 SLUG 79 OPS+

Currently:He lost his spot on top of the lineup, but has continued starting at 2nd as a Rookie.

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November 30, 2005: Paul Konerko signs with the Chicago White Sox (Age 29)
- 5 years / $60 Million

He was coming off a 136 OPS+ season along with his World Series Game 2 heroics.

Age 30: 134 OPS+
Age 31: 116 OPS+
Age 32: 78 OPS+

Is there a contemporary player we can compare Konerko to?

December 15, 2004: Richie Sexson signs with the Seattle Mariners (Age 29)
- 4 years / $50 million

He was coming off an injury-shortened 126 OPS+ campaign, but the year prior put up a 140 OPS+.

Age 30: 144 OPS+
Age 31: 117 OPS+
Age 32: 84 OPS+
Age 33: 88 OPS+ (Released)

So, is this another example of old player skills? Bill James defines the old player skill set as: power, walks, low average, lack of speed. Konerko definitely fits the bill on three of those, but low average is a little trickier. His BA has ranged from as low as .234 and as high as .313. He's a lifetime .277 hitter. Sexson appears to fit the old player skills more so than Konerko since his lifetime BA is .261 and there isn't as much variance in his range of season long BAs.

I've looked at Sexson's and Konerko's Pitch Data and nothing really stands out to me. Konerko's Contact % is down this season, but everything else looks in line. (Note, someone else might see something I missed).

The one wild card to all of this is consistency. I alluded to this above in regards to Batting Average. In Sexson's career (before his drop-off), he was consistently above 120 OPS+. With Konerko, we've gone thru this before with his 03 season. Much like this season, he was dismal with a .234/.305/.399 line. He rebounded with 4 good seasons.

So, will Konerko rebound and fulfill his last 2 years of his contract with 120 OPS+ seasons (and perhaps even rebound in time this year), or will he suffer a similar fate as Sexson?

I thought we need some offday funs (since right now gamedays aren't even fun).

Anyways, list your starting line up of active players consisting only of your favorite players (not necessarily the best).

Mine:

C - Brian McCann:  underrated b/c of Mauer
1b - Julio Franco:  This was tough, but whenever I see him at this age I am amused.
2b - Ray Durham:  He was one of my favorites with the White Sox, and I didn't know who else to pick.
SS - Jose Reyes:  Easy.
3b - Joe Crede:  Easier.
LF - Carl Crawford:  I'd be fine if the White Sox overpayed for him.
CF - Bill Hall:  God.
RF - Vladimir Guerrero:  I was a bigger fan when he was with the Expos and still had his speed.
SP - Pedro Martinez:  Truly dominating and I really hope he can regain that form.

A thoroughly honest game-show host has placed a car behind one of three doors. There is a goat behind each of the other doors. You have no prior knowledge that allows you to distinguish among the doors. "First you point toward a door," he says. "Then I'll open one of the other doors to reveal a goat. After I've shown you the goat, you make your final choice whether to stick with your initial choice of doors, or to switch to the remaining door. You win whatever is behind the door." You begin by pointing to door number 1. The host shows you that door number 3 has a goat.

Do the player's chances of getting the car increase by switching to Door 2?

NOTE: Explanation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_hall_problem/

("Do you see what happens, Larry?")

Introduction
Since there is very little baseball news, I thought I'd start a discussion.  Lets compare Prince to David Bowie to find out which artist is more valuable.  I will break it down to try to make it as objective as possible.  

Tale of the Tape

David Bowie
1967 - Present
Studio Albums:  25
Albums Sold Worldwide:  140 Million +
US #1 Singles:  2 (5 in the UK)
Best Selling Album:  Lets Dance
Musical Instruments:  13
4-5 Star Albums:  10  (5 Five Star Albums)

Prince
1978 - Present
Studio Albums:  25
Albums Sold Worldwide:  100 Million +
US #1 Singles:  7
Best Selling Album:  Purple Rain
Musical Instruments:  Over 24
4-5 Star Albums:  9  (4 Five Star Albums)

Analysis
As you can see, it is very close.  Bowie has three different dominate periods (70-73, 76-77 & 80-83).  Whereas Prince has one longer era of dominance (80-87), including the best peak year of the two (1984).  Bowie has, for the most part, been consistently solid both critically and commercially for his entire career with 3 notable peaks.  Whereas, the majority of Prince's critical/commercial success occured in an 8 year span.

Complicating even more so, is the intangibles of each artist.  Bowie has a better filmography, even though Prince has the biggest Box Office hit.  Also, Prince was a joke for about a decade due to his name change to the symbol, then back to Prince.

Finally, they both probably took illegal substances that may or may not have affected the outcome of their work.  While these substances are illegal, the music industry has yet to have a rule outlawing their use.

So, who is more valuable?  If we agree that their influence is similiar, do you take the peak or consistent career?

My friend and I play a lot of Mario Superstar Baseball on Gamecube, so this is a story of last night's game.

It was a day game at Mario Stadium between Donkey Kong's team (my friend) and Diddy Kong's team (myself).  On the mound for Donkey Kong was the best pitcher in the game, Waluigi.  Diddy Kong countered with King Boo.  Through 8 innings, Donkey Kong was up 5-1 boosted by Bowser's 2 solo shots.  The only run for Diddy Kong was a solo shot by King Boo.  Donkey Kong was playing good defense, specifically Birdo (3b) & Magikoopa (SS) and was able to keep any more runs from scoring.

In the bottom of the 9th, Waluigi was going for the Complete Game.  Before Donkey Kong knew it, there were runners on 3rd and 2nd with Luigi up.  A bases clearing Double cut the lead to 5-3.  Shortly after that Luigi came around to score and Diddy Kong scored another run to make it 5-5.

With 2 outs, down by 1 and with King Boo at 2nd, Waluigi hit a struggling Hammer Bro to bring up Shy Guy.  Now, Shy Guy is a smooth fielding 3rd baseman, so he has earned the nickname, Joe Crede.  Well, Shy Guy lined a shot over the 3rd baseman and King Boo came around to score.

Game Over.  6-5 Diddy Kong.
MVP:  Shy Guy

So, anything can happy especially with Shy Guy (Joe Crede).
http://www.mariomonsters.com/shyguy/Shyguy01.jpg

from The Birmingham News

`Thanks, Crony'
Thursday, July 06, 2006
DOUG SEGREST
News staff writer

The UPS package, thrown in with the monthly paychecks, was addressed simply.

It had Chris Cron's name as recipient. The return address only had a name - "Joe Crede."

It arrived July 1 at Mobile's Hank Aaron Stadium as part of a box load of correspondence needing the attention of Cron, the Birmingham Barons manager.

 "I'm a golfer and I knew from the shape of the package that it was a sleeve of Callaway golf balls," Cron said. "So I set it aside on my desk while I went about my work."

As Cron began sorting paychecks for distribution to his team, his curiosity got the best of him. What had Crede, the Chicago White Sox's star third baseman sent him and why?

So he opened the package to find a walnut case with the Sox's World Championship logo embossed on the top above Crede's name.

Inside the case? Not a single solitary golf ball.

Instead, there was a sparkling, Tourneau watch, with 10 diamonds on each side of a black face featuring another Chicago World Series logo in silver.

On the inside of the watch was an inscription: "Thanks, Crony - Joe."

Ever seen a 42-year-old man weep?

 "I was shaking like crazy, I could barely open it. Then my eyes teared and I must have cried for five minutes," Cron said. "You get to a point in your life or your career where sometimes things aren't the way you want them to be and you're away from your family all the time.

"Then you open something like this ... it touches you immediately. It touches you deeply."

Cron and other managers in the White Sox organization received World Series rings following Chicago's 2005 sweep of the Houston Astros.

 "I'm grateful for that. It was the organization's way of saying thank you. But this watch means more, because it's from an individual."

Cron wasn't the only one to enjoy Crede's goodwill. The Sox star also bought a championship watch for another former Barons skipper, Nick Capra.

"This was a memento from me to them," Crede said Wednesday before Chicago played Baltimore. ``It was my way of saying thank you for everything they've done for me."

A fifth-round draft choice in 1996, Crede was going nowhere fast in Low-A Hickory. He struggled around the Mendoza line for much of the first half of his first full season and wondered how quickly he would need to find a real job.

"I didn't think I was good enough to play at that level, much less in the big leagues. I figured I'd play in the minors a year or two, then go somewhere else. But Crony kept putting me in the lineup every day," Crede said.

"It was such a huge step for me, from high school to the minors, and he taught me so much - not just about baseball, but life. He took me under his wing."

Cron said if Crede didn't consider himself special, everyone else did.

 Sure, he had talent, but he also had a demeanor, mixing humility with maturity beyond his years.

And he became a favorite of Cron's because of the way he played ball between the lines and the way he treated Cron's kids away from the field. If Cron's young kids came to the ballpark, Crede willingly provided the entertainment.

The player and mentor moved up the ladder together - to High-A Winston-Salem in'98 and to Double-A Birmingham in '99, where Crede firmly established himself as a big-league prospect.

 A year later, with Cron managing Triple-A Colorado Springs, Crede played for Capra before a late-season call-up and his White Sox debut.

"Cappy made it very fun to play for him," Crede said. "He kept the clubhouse loose and his players relaxed."

The championship watch won't stay in Cron's Hoover Metropolitan Stadium office. He's taking it home to Phoenix for an all-star break vacation today to share with his wife, Linda, and his three children.

"This is what kind of guy Joe is ..." Cron said, reminiscing about the World Series. Cron flew his entire family to Chicago, just before the opener at U.S. Cellular Field.

"We're walking into the hotel to check in and there's Joe Crede coming out of the elevator, headed to the ballpark," Cron said. "He spends 15 minutes talking to us, like he doesn't have a care in the world, and poses for a bunch of pictures with my kids.

"I've had a lot of good kids play for me, but Joe Crede's in a different ballpark altogether. When I saw the gift he sent, I would have gotten the same satisfaction if he'd sent me a Hallmark card.

"But that gift thought brought me back," he added, looking at the watch while dwelling on the sentiment. "This is the reason I do what I try to do in this game."

Tonight, Pablo Ozuna went 3/5 with 2 runs and rose his average to .438.  He also made a nice defensive play in the 9th inning.  I know his .400 BA will not last, but I've been saying this for a long time now.    I'm glad Ozzie continues to find ways to get him in the game.

Jose Contreras struck out a career high 13 batters, but still was roughed up for 5 runs.  Many people, myself included, look at K/9 IP as a way to evaluate pitchers, but tonight Jose showed us why it isn't always the best indicator.  Strikeouts normally take more pitches than any other out, resulting in higher pitch counts, less innings pitched and more work for the bullpen.  In that regard, not having a true strikeout ace benefits the White Sox.

Speaking of defense, Cincinnati helped the White Sox a lot in this win.  In the 6th inning, Paul Konerko would have been thrown out at the plate had Ryan Freel not foolishly cut the ball off.  Also, a botched Double Play in the 9th resulted in the 2 go ahead runs for Chicago.  Both balls were hit by Joe Crede, proving the magic that his bat possesses.

Finally, outside of Bobby Jenks shaky 9th inning, the bullpen for the White Sox continues to improve.  I continue to be amazed at the development of Matt Thornton.  His progress made Javier Lopez expendable.

After a 4-0 lead, Freddy Garcia had all of us calling for his heads in the first inning when he gave back 3 runs.  He was throwing junk and couldn't hit 90 mph on his fastball.  After that he settled down and pitched an effective game.  He wasn't perfect by any means, and he got away with some hangers, but he seemed to attack the zone and increase the velocity on his fastball.

I have to admit that I've been too rough on Garcia this season, while making excuses for Jon Garland.  A look at their comps (Garcia & Garland), and it appears that Garcia is having the same problem as Garland.  His K & BB rates have remained the same, but he is giving up more flyballs, resulting in more HRs and less ground balls.

Some Notes:

Brian Anderson
As of 6/7:
.162 BA / .243 OBP / .299 SLUG / .542 OPS

JJ Hardy
Pre ASB 05:
.187 BA / .293 OBP / .267 SLUG / .560 OPS
Post ASB 05:
.308 BA / .363 OBP / .503 SLUG / .866 OPS

Both were top prospects in the organization who struggled with the bat.  They also both showed value with their gloves.  Perhaps BA will have a 2nd half similiar to Hardy's 05.

Since we are all fans of the game, I imagine each of us own and/or have owned baseball gloves.  I am curious what "Signatures" have been on your gloves.  My first glove that I used in Little League had a "Graig Nettles" signature.   My girlfriend now uses that glove since I outgrew it a long, long time ago.  The glove I've used since has a "Jose Conseco" signature.  Also, my friend has a "Fernando Valenzuela" signature on it.  I was wondering if anyone can beat a Conseco or Valenzuela glove?

I was wondering if John knows anything about Boone Logan.  Nothing special until last year when he was switched from a starter into a reliever and posted the following line in Great Falls (Rk):

35.1 IP / 29 Ks / 4 BB / 1 HR

Not only did his switch to the bullpen help, but he started using a 3/4 delivery.

He impressed Chicago in minor league camp this Spring when he K'd Mackowiak and Thome.  He was invited to the Major League camp and has been scoreless in 4 games.  

It looks like he might end up making the team Opening Day as one of the arms in the bullpen.  I was skeptical (and to a certain degree, still am), but I saw him pitch yesterday and he did look impressive.  He throws nothing but strikes and gives up nothing but groundballs.  He also was hitting 93 with his fastball.

Any thoughts on Logan?  How rare is it for a guy to go from nobody in Rookie ball to Opening day roster?

I don't know if you guys are aware of this, but Samuel L Jackson has a movie coming out this summer titled:  Snakes on a Plane.  The title tells you all that you need to know.  The story is that Jackson took the role without reading the script because the title amused him so much.  Half way through production it was suggested to change the title and Jackson protested.

Here is the link to the trailer this incredible film.

http://www.buzznet.com/video/featured/play/5598/

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This is just an idea for discussion.  Post some Single Season accomplishments that impress you.  They can be obvious (Ruth) to fluke seasons.

I was just looking at Eric Davis in 1987.

In 129 games (474 at bats), he he posted the following:

120 runs
37 home runs
100 rbis
50 sb (6 cs)
.293 BA
.399 OBP
.593 SLUG
.991 OPS
155 OPS+
Gold Glove

http://www.newvideo.com/productdetail.html?productid=NV-AAE-74722

Chicago White Sox, The: 2005 World Series Collector's Edition
With unprecedented prowess, stellar pitching, heroic and timely hitting, the selfless, team-oriented players of the Chicago White Sox conquered the Baseball World. After battling through three rounds of competition, the White Sox claimed the World Series championship for the first time since 1917.

The White Sox were the first team to clinch all three rounds with road victories. This spectacular one-of-a-kind DVD collection includes the complete game broadcasts of the final road wins against the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Angels, and all four dramatic victories over the Houston Astros--more than 18 houyrs of pure "Pale Hose" pleasure is packed into this remarkable DVD collection.

Intensify your viewing with Sleeve Stats: the perfect companion to the ultimate baseball DVD experience, offering official stats, trivia, and game summaries right on each DVD's package.

Now, all the timeless moments of relief, pride, and ecstasy of the historic 2005 postseason that came to a glorious conclusion are preserved for you in this exceptional set.

2005 World Series Clubhouse Victory Celebration;Official Trophy Presentation; Parade Footage and Player Speeches; Exclusive Interviews: Ozzie Guillen, Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye, Scott Podsenik, A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Buehrle, Aaron Rowand, Don Cooper, Kenny Williams; Special Game Footage: White Sox Clinching American League Central Division; Final three outs of the 2005 World Series

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I'm upset it won't include all the ALCS.  With that said, it comes out March 28 and is under $50 at Amazon.