SoxFan562004

Mods, if you want to merge this with the othe threads please do, I just think this may deserve its own thread. KW is now getting 100% of my support on the Maggs situation. -Maggs and his agent themselves are saying he will be 75-80% at the start of spring training. (Seems to contradict what he said about his health about a month ago) -NOBODY has seen him work out, including the Tigers -All the Tigers have seen is Alan Trammel (SP?) viewing Maggs run. This running does not include jumping or sliding. -He was only cleared for "baseball related activity" a few weeks ago.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 11:00 PM) D'Backs trade Casey Fossum for Jose Cruz Jr. http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/NASApp...s_mlb&fext=.jsp The DRays also brought back Travis Lee. I really like both those moves for the D'Backs... Fossum is a "potential" guy who has shown very little to nothing on the ML level...

This is just a sad ending. Maggs is still bitter that he turned down a guaranteed 70m from the sox, the Tigers contract sounds great, but if his knee is not healthy it's void after this year. I was neutral before this on whether I would boo him or not, now I am going to make sure i get to the first Tigers series at the Cell and boo him until my throat hurts. Unreal. Completely ignoring the fact the Sox offered him fair contracts (and I don't want to hear the defered money excuse from him or his agent, Beltran had more defered money in his deal with little to no interest). The fact he's crying that the Sox didn't offer him arbitration is insanity. Yeah sure Maggs, you had out of the country surgery, which is NOT approved in the U.S. (although Couch seems to think it's great because it's "becoming more accepted" in the U.S.) and your agent wouldn't show the Sox medical reports. So you expected them to give you 12-15m dollars for a player they couldn't look at? s***, I even take the Cubs side on this one. He's hurt the Cubs didn't pursue him hard enough? Hey, you fooled one team into giving you a long-term deal, don't cry that it wasn't the team you wanted it to be. And before the local Chicago media starts slobbing Detroit's knob about "improving" please look at their pitching staff... especially since Urbina's status is still up in the air with his mom's kidnapping.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 4, 2005 -> 06:37 PM) So how is that useful? For when Billy Beane wants to get "kinky"

Eagles- 27 Pats- 21 MVP- McNabb (Huge, huge, legendary day) Eagles end up getting a solid pass rush which turns the game

QUOTE(Brian @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 03:00 AM) Wow, Detroit owners have balls. not anymore, I'm pretty sure Boras got the left one in the I-Rod deal and the right one in the Maggs contract

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 02:56 AM) 3. (Bonus question) when do Cub fans start saying the Cubs were never very interested in Maggs and start downgrading him as a player (much like they did with Beltran)? it's funny because it's true

I have two big questions about his stint with the Tigers 1. What is the deffered (SP?) money situation? -this was a major bone of contention that Maggs had with the Sox last offer -although it turns out Beltran's contract with the Mets has a lot of deffered money, more than the Sox offer to Maggs 2. Is there any talk of him playing substantial DH this season? -whether he's healthy now or not he's coming off a major injury which isn't very common -Comerica Park has HUGE outfields, and I imagine it's going to be hard for him to cover that right field 5-6 games a week. 3. (Bonus question) when do Cub fans start saying the Cubs were never very interested in Maggs and start downgrading him as a player (much like they did with Beltran)? -actually I'm going to go hang out with my friend the Hawk who is a big Cubs fan, so I'll see if it started already

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Feb 5, 2005 -> 11:07 PM) well their staff is good enough that they should of pursuid a hitter or closer instead of mulder i can see that explanation. I guess, but they ended up with no improvement in hitters or a closer. I think if you could of thrown a rotation of: zambrano wood Prior maddux Mulder (obviously not in that order) you have to make an effort to do make that happen, especially since St. Louis didn't give up a ton to get him... I don't think you're major offseason accomplishment can ever be "The other teams in our division got worse" You can argue St. Louis and Houston took some hits, but the bottom of the division got a little better. I'm not saying the Brewers or Reds are going to make a run at the division, but those 18-19 games against those teams got a little harder.

I forgot the one odd bit from this conversation... it was about Maggs -Sullivan basically says the Cubs kind of got left out in the cold by the Tigers insane offer, they were really high on Maggs and thought they were going to get him for a one year, Nomar like deal. -Then Sullivan says he talked to Maggs in November and was sure he was going to the Cubs, but Boras must have talked to him, and he thinks he should still sign with the Cubs for one year because, and this is a quote, "he would have more fun" -now, I'm all for fun and think athletes should care about winning, but it's insanity if you've already turned down 70m from the Sox to turn down a guaranteed 12m this year and a possibility of a 5-7 year deal if you're healthy, for a one year deal from the Cubs. the whole interview had a weird tone to it, it seemed like all the Cub people were expecting Maggs to sign with them and when looking at their off-season it seems people are kind of shocked that they didn't improve. (Am I crazy with how weird this interview was Nokona or anyone else who heard it, or was i just in a work related haze?)

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 02:31 AM) So basically if he's healthy, the Tiggies are stuck with him until he's 37. Bora$$ does it again. This contract has "future Yankee" written all over it

At work so can't listen to the link right now... but is anyone familiar with Phil Hendrie's work? If it's a fake, it may be him

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ Feb 5, 2005 -> 05:07 PM) Did anyone hear how the workout for the Tigers went this week? I would say that they must feel he looks good... or they are just feeling the need to add a player to their team. Didn't hear how it went, all I heard was after hearing what Boras wanted Cubs and Mets didn't even try to schedule or attend a workout

OK, bear with me... I am forced to work Saturday mornings at my job which basically involves filing and doing nothing else. So I was listening to WSCR and Paul Sullivan was a guest, since he covers the Cubs that's obviously where the conversation went. some of the "highlights" -a caller calls in sounding like he was on the verge of tears complaining that "the Cubs have Prior this year" and they'll be different since he's one of the "top 5 pitchers in baseball." Seriously, this guy was on the verge of a breakdown. Now, Prior is a phenomenal talent, but it's only his third year, and he had serious health issues last year, so let's not act like he's a 100% guarantee. -Sullivan actually said something anti-Cub (he should look for the memo from the Cubune brass soon). He basically called out Kerry Wood and said the guy really needs to step up this year both on the field and in the clubhouse. He said he really lives off his reputation from his first year, and since his injury he hasn't lived up to the hype he gets. -Also added that the Cubs minor league system "isn't great" -The oddest part was when someone asked him why the Cubs didn't pursue Mulder. Sullivan said "there's no room at the inn" meaning there's no place for him in the rotation. Really? Last time I checked the Cubs plan on running out a rookie or Rusch for the 5th starter spot... Rookies are always shaky, and Rusch in the bullpen would help a glaring weakness of the team. They didn't just dismiss the callers idea, they acted like it was the dumbest idea they ever heard... well with the great health of Wood and Prior, Maddux's age and the fact that Zambrano pitched a significant amount of innings last year, it wouldn't hurt to have a Mark Mulder on your staff. sorry this is long, but I'm bored and got paid to sit here at work to do it!!

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 5, 2005 -> 12:42 PM) So much for Illich doing the smart thing and waiting for Maggs' price to go down. I get a feeling the $75 million is important to Maggs and Boras. Sox were offering $70m, now they can say they got more money for leaving the Sox.

Just so people know, if you order the wristbands from the White Sox themselves it takes about a week to get them...

my favorite part of the article is the ending. Basically says the teams are a push, then gives the Sox the nod in speed and defense and the Cubs the nod in pitching, thus giving the Cubs the theoretical edge... Problem with this "logic" is it completely ignores that the real reason the Cubs lost last year was the fact they couldn't play defense or generate runs (which speed/stolen bases helps with). Cubs played a lot of games down the stretch last year in extra innings when they had runners in scoring position, but couldn't move them along. The 2nd biggest joke is that the Sox barely have an edge in the bull-pen, that's just plain insanity.

You're lucky you didn't catch a beating

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Feb 3, 2005 -> 08:16 PM) I think Dave Wills is going to try to use this as leverage to get a promise that the Rooney position will be his in a year or two, presumably when Hawk retires. That is just my opinion on the whole thing. I see hawk as dying in the booth, I don't see him quitting anytime soon (of course now that I've typed this we will hear an announcement that he's retired!)

answering an earlier question... I believe Farmer grew up a Sox fan and Rooney grew up a Cardinals fan... when you play baseball or are involved in broadcasting the only fair thing to your family and yourself is to treat it as a business... Jody Gerut grew up a Sox fan, now plays for the Indians, a big rival for the Sox at one point... but what was he supposed to do, say no?

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 3, 2005 -> 07:35 AM) I still wouldn't be shocked to see Magglio wearing Cubby blue next year. I agree, a lot of people act like signing Burnitz is it, but looking at what they would put on the field on opening day as of now in the outfield isn't very good

I just heard a quote from Alford about the situation that basically said "Pierce put the university and program in a bad position and caused it embarassment" (not an exact quote, but something of that ilk) That is one of the most shameful disgusting quotes I have heard in awhile... no Mr. Alford, you put the program in this position. You are an adult, Pierre Pierce is/was a troubled youth who had no respect for women. Instead of taking action against the kid when you had an opportunity, you only saw his potential on the court and used your power to bully and strong-arm the victim and local authorities. You set this predator loose on the public, you should be immediately fired to save the Iowa program some face. Many people say it is the money that is ruining sports. I disagree, it is the way that many athletes are allowed to live above the law and how many completely ignore their victims. This situation makes me sick.

QUOTE(Yossarian @ Feb 3, 2005 -> 12:38 AM) Sammy minus cork and steroids is barely a shadow of his former self. yeah, when I was watching the press conference it's obvious he has lost some weight

This is where the NCAA/Iowa have to hold Alford responsible too. He gave this guy a second chance after a vicious assault (Boers and Bernstein have talked about the police reports, and it's sickening). This is a sad situation that should have never happened, but Pierce probably thought he was entitled to act like this since his coach and university would stand by him like they have in the past...

Did you see Sosa at the press conference? He's the incredibly shrinking man!! on WSCR the Cubs fans are beginning to whine about how little the Cubs got for Sosa, also Hendry stiffed them saying he would come on the radio then backing out. I think if the Cubs don't get Maggs the Cubs fans will start howling!