illinoisredsox

It was a black hole both offensively and defensively early on. Marrero stabilized it defensively early on; Sox third sackers were on a pace to make something like 100 errors at one point. Marrero at least stopped that, but it was still a lost cause on offense. Devers ended the offensive drought (at the cost of some D) Both did what was asked of them.

Yeah he was; did you see those things? He just acted on what every member of the White Sox was thinking that day.

It's not strictly up to Dave. Pedey is a 10-5 guy, he can veto any trade. That's not to say Pedroia wouldn't waive it in the right circumstance or for the right price, but it's not the same as Nomar was.

The jock I knew best was Rob Martinovich (starting OL for 2 years) as we were both Chem E's. Great guy; last I knew, he was the CEO or CFO of an oil company in Oklahoma. Had Hanklik in a couple of Calc classes. Engineering wasn't exactly brimming with jocks. Steve Cichy lived down the hall from me; he was a dick. His roommate, Kevin Griffin (?), started on the DL his last couple years and was a super nice guy. We probably ought to get this back to the hot stove league though.

Names don't ring a bell, but then the overall structure of the place didn't exactly lend itself to knowing many people on other floors.

I was almost as far away from Fisher as you could get, Flanner. Flannerites were well acquainted with Ross Browner and especially Al Hunter (great fun loving guy). There was a guy I grew up with (he was a year ahead of me throughout all our school years back in Oxford, CT) named Bob Mazaika who who lived in Fisher. True story, when I was moving in my freshman year, my dad and I were moving stuff to the elevator. Ross Browner saw us, came over and picked up my trunk with one paw and took it inside for us.

Having attended ND the same time you did (76-80), those are the figures I remember. Having a son who just graduated from there last May, I can say that the $65K figure is also correct. However, if you don't make too much money, they are much more forthcoming with aid than back in our day. My son got through for about 1 year's cost, maybe a little higher, having received quite a bit of need based aid. (I make a good salary, but it's not that good). Students now pay for football tickets (about 1/2 the cost, which I think is ridiculous). Basketball (and hockey) tickets are free on a per game basis, but you have to reserve them ahead of time, and you need to get a couple to early season clunkers if you want to have a shot at a North Carolina or Louisville type game. No problem with this, as stuent atendence has been poor for years for all but the biggest games.

Did you mean put Puig in LF? Otherwise, what are you doing with Mookie?

Let's just hope the Marlins don't turn into the late 50s Kansas City Athletics, who basically served as a major league farm team for the Yankees

Report I saw was that he would consider a trade to the Yankees, Astros, Cubs or Dodgers, who just happened to be the final four in 2017. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-hot-stove-rumors-stanton-would-approve-trade-to-yankees-dodgers-cubs-astros/

There are "cliffs" and there are "cliffs": Sox 2012-15 were 69-93, 97-65, 71-91 and 78-84 Cubs 2011-14 were 71-91, 61-101, 66-96 and 73-79 Astros 2011-14 were 56-106, 55-107, 51-111, and 70-92 The Sox worst recent season was far better than the Cubs and Stros at their respective recent nadirs. The last time the Sox had a season comparable to the Cubs 61-91 was 1965 (62-100). The last time they rivaled the Astros' from 2011-13 was 1932 (43-111). Just saying it could have been worse.

He's been told he will have to waive his no-trade or else: https://www.thescore.com/news/1433898 However, does it make sense for the Sox to go after him if he really doesn't want to be here? Expensive is one thing, expensive and disgruntled is another.

No, it's been around since at least 2004. Now, there are a few "veterans" here who would just as soon see all the BDC expatriates go away, but that's a different story.

We know that Hanley handle first base (so long as he's healthy and so long as he doesn't have to throw the ball anywhere). We have no idea if Martinez can play the position , or if he's even willing to try.

There's also a huge difference between an 84 loss season (which will rarely net you last place) and stringing 3 consecutive seasons of 106, 107 and 111 losses.

Meh. Pass on Davis. People here complained about Pedroia's .760 OPS last year, Davis managed a .732 and that's with hitting 26 homers. Heck, Hanley put up a .750. Davis also has a contract that runs through 2022 at an average value of $23Mper ($161M for 7 years) and he's trended down offensively the last couple years. This one will end very ugly. The Sox can do better.

Cora has begun naming his coaches: • Ron Roenicke has been named bench coach. • Tom Goodwin will serve as the club's first-base coach and outfield instructor. He will also coordinate baserunning instruction. • Carlos Febles has been named the club's third-base coach and infield instructor. • Dana LeVangie will return to the Major League staff as bullpen coach. He will also continue to serve as the club's catching coordinator and assist in advance scouting. Hitting and Pitching Coaches yet to come. http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/260459976/red-sox-announce-additions-to-coaching-staff/

I saw several of their players here in the Quad Cities when they were in A ball. Correa, McCullers and Davenski were all here in 2013 while Bregman, Musgrove and Fisher passed through in 2015. There were a couple others who played a few games with the Astros this season; they could have been late season call-ups though.

A mode that would never be tolerated in Boston.

1. Terry Francona (no question) 2. Joe Morgan (2 divisions with not a lot of talent, who can forget "these guys aren't as good as they think they are" after he was let go) 3. Jimy Williams (went back and forth between him and JF, in the end, the 2 last place finishes knocked Farrell down) 4. John Farrell (1 title is a big plus) 5. John McNamara (2 mediocre seasons sandwiched around what should have been the year) 6. Darrell Johnson (1 pennant and lost to the Big Red Machine, but he never should have pinch hit for Willoughby in Game 7) 7. Kevin Kennedy (1 unexpected division title) 8. Don Zimmer (would have been higher had the wild card existed, who knows what could have happened) 9. Grady Little (blew the 2003 pennant) 10. Ralph Houk (defined mediocrity) 11. Butch Hobson (ranks above the other 2 only because of the talent he had, see Joe Morgans comment above) 12. Bobby Valentine (disaster with a very good team on paper) 13. Joe Kerrigan (the fact that he only lasted about 40 games says a lot) I limited my list to guys I actually could judge (I remember Dick Williams and Eddie Kasko, but I really have no basis on which to judge them, Williams caught lightning in a bottle in 67 but did little else, Kasko = Ralph Houk as near as I can tell). Guys like Pesky and Eddie Popowski, who managed but a handful of games, don't count.

It may work out(it probably will) but this is overmanaging by Roberts.

Excellent point about his avatars. Kimmi and other female posters could certainly claim they show a hostile posting environment. And our recently fired manager was about as white as wonder bread; articulate is not an adjective that comes to mind when describing John Farrell.

These pens suck. Talk about choke (both ways).

This is why you don’t take your starters out too early. If I’m Hinch for game 6, Verlander goes until his arm falls off (and Vetlander is liable to refuse to come out if Hinch tries to take him out).

I want to say it was 1970 but it may have been 1971, the Orioles had 4 20 game winners. Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson.