greg775

It really would be smart/nice to trade Alonso to SD right now for some minor prospect and trade John Jay to SD if they'd even take him for future considerations. I mean seriously. Having them here will be good for nobody. Negative vibes each and every time they step to the plate. Is there any way we could deal them or am I dreaming?

One way to rebel would be to draw 10,000 on opening day. That's the one day the outrage would be noticed (unless there's snow/ice/misery in the atmosphere). That would be way better than a newspaper ad that Cub fans would cherish.

I know winning cures everything and they are banking on the fact (probably) that in 2020 the Sox will likely begin a run of contention and all will be fine. But ... I feel like we've been awful so long that unless there's total Eloy-mania starting with his first at bat, the losing has been so constant that this year will truly be a setback for the Sox in all areas. I truly believe Eloy-mania will save interest and our attendance and relevance won't be much worse than last season, but .... the Sox are close to the point they need to do something dramatic for the fans, hence my free parking suggestion. I'm probably totally full of it, front office probably doesn't care at all. They are saving as much $$ as they can during the rebuild. Starting next year they feel the park will be packed for our division title team and they will be more aggressive in signing free agents.

I think if I were a talk show host I'd take the angle of "were the Sox ever really that serious about signing Manny or Harper?" They provided some hints that they were, but proof is in the pudding and the way this thing ended was awfully anticlimactic.

I haven't been reading much about Harper. But after the Padres allegedly swept in and nabbed Manny late, why don't the Sox who have a low low payroll, swoop in and do the same in the Harper sweepstakes? While I still am not mad we lost out on Manny, the devil's advocate of my emotions wonders if this was a ploy all along to occupy our fans' minds all winter (re. Manny and Harper), say 'ah shucks we didn't get either' and now we go ahead and play the season with a ridiculously low payroll and Jerry and the partners laughing all the way to the bank (i.e. 'if we gotta stink we might as well make a lot of dough') I still say: "The Anger Will Pass" should be team motto this year. But if the Sox do have a 50 million buck payroll and are out of it in mid May again, it'd be nice to give some of that money back to the fans. How bout free parking this season??

My new motto: This anger will pass. Trust greg (who is also mad: Alonso/Jay).

I respect you BA but don't do it. Don't give Cub fans the satisfaction we are mad at our team. This anger will pass (Eloy).

Actually you are wrong. In those "mediocre" years that I'm supposed to be ashamed at myself for wanting (in my way of building a team, not by tanking) we won a lot of games in a lot of consecutive years. The Sox only during this current stretch have really been pathetic. Not since the Bill Melton 70s have we been this bad. But during my "mediocre" years, we won a lotta games with Robin, Hurt, Ozzeroo, Buehrle, Paulie, Dye, et. all.

Off topic, but you did pick a nice city at least. My young nephew attorney moved his fam to Nashville and they love it and it is known as a growing, great city. CWS ... don't worry about not getting one player. Just as one player alone didn't ruin Ozzie's Sunday lineups (it took 3-5 of them) one player will not determine the success of our rebuild. Trust Greg ... Manny isn't worth the angst.

I hear you loud and clear. Please read my post on my take on Manny in the "moving out of town to Nashville" thread. Thank u.

Didn't know which thread to put my thoughts. Don't move to Nashville over this. It's just one ballplayer. FIRST MEA CULPA: Nobody probably remembers, but I thought all along we'd get Manny. Why? I could not fathom not getting him if we signed John Jay and Alonso, two horrific players. I think Avi is way better than those two but that's a different day. I was convinced in my mind we were going to get him at 8 years but I was hoping for 7. I figured the reports were correct at about an average of 30 million a year. I wasn't trolling. I thought we'd get him. I figured with similar $$s he'd appreciate us signing his brother in law and pal John Jay and would wear the Sox colors. SECOND, REALITY BITES: Deep down I thought the NYY might swoop in and steal Manny. Little surprised it's SD but so be it. THIRD, DON'T JUMP OFF THE LEDGE: He's one ballplayer. He'll get very little publicity in San Diego since they aren't ready to win anything. I wish Manny good health, I do, but if we're going by SIMPLE ODDS, the odds say in the next 10 years he will get injured, he will have some lousy years. He could pull a Pujols and look old before his time. Odds are in a few years we'll be talking how SD has this "bad contract." Remember Manny can opt out in five years, but if he wants to keep making this money, the Pods can't opt out. Call me a troll, but TRUTHFULLY I'm more upset I have to watch Jay and Alonso on my mlb.com than not getting to watch Manny. Eloy is going to make you all very very happy this season, folks. Don't worry. Be happy. FINALLY: Am I mad at all? Well, I'll be happy if we get Harper (I wanted him more than Manny), but am I mad at the front office? No. I probably should be mad because today's quotes that we couldn't afford him seem bogus to come out now and not weeks ago (when some fans were buying season tix for Xmas gifts). But I can not be mad at the Sox failing to land ONE PLAYER. And this is a player whose behavior has angered me in the past. I am upset that our team is projected to blow chunks again this season, but IMO it's more because of starting pitching. And yes our lineup will be missing the big bat that Manny allegedly would have provided. IS GREG UPSET?: Not over this. He's one player, folks. Stuff happens. And you wait and see. Manny will be a horrific contract for the Pods in a few years. GO SOX! Manny ... enjoy playing in SD where you won't be getting much attention nationally.

I'm not devastated. Hang in there, Sox fans.

But comment on my list. Those guys IMO woulda been good. Right now even if we add Manny we don't have the starting pitching.

Yes sir! I despise the rebuild.

Moustakas plus Grandal and Nelson Cruz on my wish list (no Alonso, no Jon Jay) Then ... Keuchel, Corbin, JA Happ (obviously not all, but some). And on the cheap Gio and Wainwright.

You don't mess with Chicago's finest. They want to interview Jussie Smollett again I pity Jussie if he indeed made up/set up the attack he alleges. Chicago police have by all accounts that I've read done a fantastic job absorbing the details of the alleged attack and they want to question Jussie about perhaps fabricating the whole thing or hiring the brothers to assault him. Just the fact the Chicago police were able to locate the two brothers so quickly (and find out about the brothers) ... nice work! Say what you want about Chicago police ... I think they are badboys (in a good way) and I applaud them. And I would never want to run afoul of them. Chicago cops, who else thinks they deserve a toast??

Starting pitching.

I don't think it'd be that big a gut punch. It is sad it's taking this long because I am of the opinion we coulda tried to win the pathetic Central Division if we added some key pieces through free agency. Eloy is going to be THAT good and Moncada is ready to break out. Timmy should have his best year ever and starting busting through to stardom IMO. I'm not a penny pincher but Machado has enough red flags I think it won't be a 'disaster' if we don't sign him. Maybe he'll be worth the cash and the years of cash going to him, but I think he'll be quickly forgotten if we don't get him. As far as cleaning out the front office if we don't get Manny and/or Harper or both ... I think a more egregious sin woulda been not immediately being able to contend after signing Manny. You have Manny and Eloy and Abreu and Moncada and Anderson, cmon, get some pitching and win the fricking division NOW and years to come. That's the only fireable offense. My odds: Sox 50 percent to get Manny. Yankees 45 percent. Others: 5 percent. Gut feeling.

New Yorkers are outraged. There were going to be jobs galore, high paying jobs and other jobs jobs jobs. The neighborhood business owners are crushed; the real estate people are crushed. You give a big company tax breaks because of all the jobs created and ensuing money dumped in the neighborhoods. It's pretty simple. Socialists like AOC don't want to play hardball with companies. A lot of people are upset in New York as they continue to seek work. This would have helped the economy big time. Read this take. AOC has some explainin' to do. https://nypost.com/2019/02/14/smug-politicians-scammed-nyc-out-of-amazons-hq2-and-ruined-it-for-everyone/

Sure. I value Chili. I appreciate Chili.

Chili u are a wise man IMO. You are Dr. Phil personified. I like your commentary.

That would really be bad. I mean, cmon pick a team and start counting your money ... and counting your base hits.

What happened at your Wednesday meeting? The key is how YOU feel about having a child. She made it clear that she doesn't want you involved at all. If you can live with that, and letting your child be raised by others, it seems cut and dried. Someday perhaps the child will want to meet you and you can decide if you want that. In the interim, if you don't really want to help raise your child (or would be OK with mom and her family raising the child without you), it seems cut and dried. I'm glad you are seeing a lawyer because at some point mom might want you to foot half the bill. As we all know, it's expensive to raise a human being (food, clothing, shelter, medical). Best wishes. Glad u are seeing an attorney and talking to badger. Only you can decide how you will handle this. Nobody can tell you what to do. BTW, will you tell your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, friends bout this?

I think it's pretty obvious we are getting Machado. I've always felt that way. I sure hope he arrives before the end of next week though. It'd be dumb for him to sit out any more of ST than that.