SoxFan562004

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 09:52 AM) 2011 Cubs Slogan: Screw this season, we have a chance at Pujols! I still can't see this happening, as Cards would trade Pujols at the deadline if they're out of it and know they can't re-sign him. well he would still be a FA at the end of the year, unless they do a trade contingent on a 48 hour window for an extension. I do agree with you that it's curious people keep mentioning the Cubs with Pujols and completely ignoring that the team is having some cash flow problems at the moment, even with some contracts expiring, and again, if he leaves it will be for money, so it's not like the Cubs are going to get some sort of discount with him.

encouraging news, but I really hope they don't rush him. I would rather have a month or so of a bad AAAA pitcher than Jake pushing it and being gone for the rest of the year. Especially since first month or so of the season they have some days off so it's easier to go with a 4 man.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 10:53 AM) http://www.albertcountdown.com/ eh, these deadlines get extended all the time, Pujols people would just say we're making progress

QUOTE (zenryan @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 02:14 PM) MMArising.com had an article the other day saying the plans for Japan have been scrapped. mixed stories on that, Josh Gross has a tweet a day earlier than that article saying a venue in tokyo was finalized, working on TV... not it's possible Showtime balked at a tape delayed, but I don't think it's been settled quite yet

QUOTE (zenryan @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 11:06 AM) What if Fedor tears through the the GP? I do think whoever wins the SFGP should be the number 1 ranked heavyweight in the world as long as there are no pull outs due to injuries. yeah, forgot to mention him. it depends on how the GP shakes out, but likely, yes, whoever wins it barring injuries or other complications should be considered #1 HW, however, having the 2nd card of it with AO/Werdum and Barnett take place in Japan in April already has me leery of how this thing is going. I am looking forward to the potential of it, but between injuries and other potential roadblocks, etc, I am in a big wait and see mode with it. At least as fans we are going to get the first 2 very good cards out of it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 11:29 AM) I'm not saying you or anyone has come up with a figure as to what is a lot of money to lose for JR. I would suspect losing $50 is a lot of money for JR to lose, and making $10 million is probably making a little as he is not accustomed to losing cash. I guess my thing is they have been talking about how they have basically spent every last dime they have taken in for so long and cried poor for so long, how come now its different.? He spent in 1997 for Belle and Navarro, the team was mediocre and fans didn't show up. JR has always operated fairly conservatively and many years ago was quoted as saying he will not lose money to win games. I just don't see how JR suddenly is going to stick his neck out on the line in a poor economy and expect fans to come out win or lose. Its very strange to me. I will buy he and many of his partners are getting older and realize time may not be on their side and this may be their shot. But no one will be holding any tag days for these people if the Sox tank and attendance if off again. it depends on what you mean by "lose" money. For what they paid for it and what it's worth now they are in one of the better positions of baseball. So maybe they lose it in the value of the team because they take some debt out against the value, but I don't think JR and team are writing checks out of their personal bank accounts. Again, I don't want to act like losing something like 10-20m in a year for anybody is easy or something they're looking forward to, but for different owners it means different things. the Deadspin documents show great examples of "hidden" revenue, especially for bigger market teams and they do a great analysis of owning teams, the key being how the holy grail is having a lot of equity in a team, which the White Sox do.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 06:27 PM) Ricketts is completely handcuffed by the horrible contracts and cub fans are agitated that he isn't pumping money into this Titanic of a baseball roster. He's getting the label of being a cheap-ass but there's really nothing he can do but wait it out. With the potential revenue of the cubs year in and out, Pujols is a very legit target for Ricketts. If cub fans really think Ricketts isn't going to try to win with the cubs they're delusional. He's a cub fan, but he's just laying low during this necessary purge. I expect Ricketts to make huge moves once he is able to... as his livelihood depends on putting butts in those seats. Pujols would be perfect and it scares the crap outa me that he could actually do that. We'd become completely meaningless if Pujols signed there. oh come on, what is your next post, the sky is falling? The White Sox would not become completely irrelevant if Pujols signed with the Cubs. The Cubs are already a far more popular team in this city and the White Sox have won divisions and a World Series in the last 20 years of the Cubs gaining momentum. There wasn't a hotter/bigger story in summers sports than the Sosa/McGwire stuff and not a harder ticket in baseball to get than Cubs tickets, but somehow the Sox survived. To portray Ricketts as some sort of bottomless pocket owner who is biding his time with some bad contracts and then it's bonanza time for the Cubs is not the reality IMO. He bought the team basically at the worst possible time, at the peak right before the economy hit, he was scrambling for celebrity investors to finalize the deal. Forbes has that team worth roughly 10% less than it was worth when he bought it, he has an aging stadium in a state that has zero interest in helping him pay for upgrades or the money it takes year in and year out to just keep the status quo there. Spiegel on WSCR was saying his payment on his loan for the team before dime one is spent on the stadium or the the team is something like 30m a year. Let's look at a realistic scenario, even favoring the Cubs some if they can ink Pujols in the offseason. He will be 32 at the beginning of 2012, in an era of better testing and it will only be getting better if anything (please note I am not getting into the Pujols PED debate, I'm just pointing out we will likely see players age in a more appropriate way in the future instead of guys having monster years in their mid 30s.) They have a few deals coming off this year and they can move a good portion of Zambrano's deal. OK, so if Pujols hits FA he is going to the highest bidder because it will be about the money at that point, so the Cubs aren't getting a discount in money and years or even significant deferrals. His reported starting point is 10yrs at 300m, but hey, that's negotiating, but if he leaves Stl, it's realistic he's looking at 10 and 26-28 or 8 at 240, something in that neighborhood. So, let's put him at averaging 28m a year, realistic since that's about what A-Rod's deal is I believe and if he leaves Stl it's going to be for an A-Rod type deal for a per year basis. Cubs then need a roster around him. As it is they'd have an aging A-Ram, Soriano's deal for 3 more years and a few nice younger players with some potential, Castro being the one with the highest ceiling who's seen MLB action to this point. Let's say they got a good deal in Pena this year, he becomes completely out of the picture if they sign Pujols. Then the pitching staff after Garza for 2-3 more years of control, they reportedly have some good arms, Kashner being one of them, but they are prospects at this point and some decent aging vets. It's not like they will be able to sign a top of the rotation pitcher or two and Pujols. Yes, if he signs with the Cubs it will obviously be an instant boom for Cubs, there is zero doubt about that, but the White Sox have weathered a major Cubs boom before, and I don't see how Pujols with what the Cubs have now and would potentially have with him, make them a top WS contender year in and year out. I think you can make a realistic argument that if Pujols is looking for a mega deal at 8-10 years and you're not Stl and losing him or a Bos/NYY who can eat mega deals at the end, it wouldn't be the best baseball move. The baseball and economic impact of the first 4-5 years of that deal have to be weighed against the potential albatross the last 4-5 years of that deal could end up being.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 07:29 PM) How did the Sox offer to Danks compare to what Johnson/Verlander/Gallardo and crew got? I dont expect them to offer him a nine digit contract that free agency will get him, but if they offered him something similar to the comparables, then you cant be too upset, it will be on him. If they didn't, then it kind of sucks, I'm not aware of what their actual offer was. if you're going to compare it with other pitchers, not only money has to be looked at but what years of arbitration and FA were bought out.

fights weren't electric, but that's going to happen once in a while with UFC cards because with a handful of exceptions they are the top fighters in the world being matched up, not paper mismatches, so the guys are far more evenly matched. IMO it's why they added the 145 and 135, those tend to produce more exciting fights (although Torres seemed to fall to the Tristar Gym's style) Just how timing of other things work out, but that cemented to me Anderson is the best fighter in the world as of now, and as far as 2011 goes the only 2 I can see possibly dethroning him are, obviously, if he and GSP fight and GSP wins or if Overreem absolutely tears through the HW GP in SF.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 04:14 PM) I think the Yankees would be thrilled to spend 10/$300 on that DH. I'd do that if I were Cashman. I think the Angels would consider doing so, if they could move him to CF. Boston could also be in the game; David Ortiz's contract is up at the end of this year, although their resources are a little more limited. that's taking a major leap that Pujols would be OK DH'ing for the rest of his career... I haven't seen any hint of that. But I do agree, if he is willing to be a DH then NYY and Bos are in play.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 01:57 PM) I don't know why Pujols would come down off that price. Maybe like 10/$280 as a discount for signing today, but other than a small discount, I don't know why he'd have anything to negotiate. It's really the correct contract for him based on where the market has been for that level of player at that age. market has to do with timing when you're a FA as well, not only what's already on the books. With the 2 NY teams and Bos not really in on him there has to be teams that are going to give that to him. At this point who will? Possibly the LAA, maybe the Cubs if they can dump Zambrano and get some of their cash flow situation straightened out. He can't sit on that and expect it if a there's 3 teams seriously in on him and highest they'll go is like 8 and 28 a year.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 01:37 PM) It's a negotiation. There is no way Pujols doesn't re-sign with the Cardinals. I agree that it is aggressive negotiating by both sides, basically because many of the big market teams, specifically NYY, NYM, Bos and likel LAD unless their ownership situation shakes out won't be in it. If asked today, I think it's likely he resigns with the Cards, however I don't think there's no way he doesn't. Even with the Wells deal I think the LAA will make a serious run at him if he hits free agency as well as if the Cubs can get some stuff straightened out they will. However, if he leaves it will be for top dollar, so it's not like the Cubs or another club can expect some sort of discount or even all things being equal with a Cards offer. If he hits FA, it's about money, and he'll have to get more than Stl is offering to leave. Will be interesting. Also, I could see the ST deadline coming and going and him still resigning.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 10:28 AM) One of the best cards ever on paper if you didn't watch them yet, grab an on-line video of the weigh-ins, really cool atmosphere. With the WEC merger and their tip guys, outside of Cain, being healthy, they some great cards coming up... 129 has Shields/GSP, Aldo/Hominick, Machida/Couture, 130 has Maynard/Edgar III, Rampage/Thiago Silva and Mir vs. Big Country. 127 and 128 look good to, mixed with some good SF cards, great time to be an MMA fan

Really exciting card tonight. Silva vs. Belfort with a lot of great pre-fight hype between the two. Griffin/Franklin in a fight that has potential to be exciting. Torres vs. Buanelos (i know that's likely horribly misspelled) and Jones/Bader it what is an exciting match-up where the winner jumps into 205 title picture and loser has a longer road. Cerrone on the undercard who normally brings it. Also, Kid Yammamoto's UFC debut on a facebook stream.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 10:17 AM) Schilling is a much more interesting and possibly viable candidate than Pettitte. There were times when you could say that Schilling was one of the top pitchers in baseball, you couldn't say that with Pettitte. I agree with that thought, I actually wouldn't mind Schilling getting in, certainly feel if Pettitte ever gets in than certainly Schilling should. I honestly don't mind the notion of post-season performance having more meaning, or other factors. I'm a big supporter (was a big supporter? Don't think he's eligible anymore) of Tommy John getting in due to the fact he was first to make a significant comeback with a radical new surgery. My main gripe with that article is it completely ignores the PED factor, which basically is an established factor that many HOF voters are taking into account.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 10:10 AM) Good point, it just made me laugh going back to the trade deadline threads from last year. I like Scott a lot, not sure what their respective contract situations are, but everything being equal, due to his health issues at times, I wouldn't mind having Scott over Q at this point. Kind of a close call, both had over 500 abs last year, but Scott is a better defender, IMO.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 05:38 PM) Pettite was a pretty nice pitcher, but if he's a HOF, HGH or not, they need a big expansion in Cooperstown. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writ....html?eref=sihp here's an SI article that will lay the groundwork for how he will eventually get in, the "increased importance on postseason." That will be the new tag-line for east-coasters to try and push fringe guys in. Just wait 10 years or so when the east coasters tsk tsk people for Jeter not getting 100% of HOF votes. Notice how that article tries to establish the postseason effect but completely ignores the admitted PED use factor. I e-mailed the writer, see if I get a response. I imagine he'll say it was a stat based argument, but using the increased importance of post season. Schilling had more dominant seasons during the regular seasons outside w/l and he had the crazy Arizona post season and obviously the Boston run. He will be an interesting case when he comes up.

QUOTE (thedoctor @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 09:49 AM) looks like they have a good fake try going on. which is better than not trying at all, i suppose. I'm not sure why you're labeling it a "fake" effort. They went for major FAs and were told no, so were the NYY, did the NYY also give a fake effort? They went with Plans B, C, D, etc. in places and improved their offense, pitching is extremely hard to upgrade.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 01:54 AM) That's not the point. Last season was last season. Now a bunch of no- names that came outta nowhere have to do it again. If you have Lee, you have a lot more margin for error if there is some regression. Which most agree is imminent. Unless you're one that can honestly look at that rotation on paper and be confident of a repeat. In which you would definitely be in the minority. and I'll also make the unproveable argument that even though he didn't contribute in his starts in Texas in 2010, just the mere move of obtaining that caliber of player boosted the rest of the team and contributed to their success... again, it's something nobody can prove, but I would argue it was somewhat of a factor, especially in a divison that was dominated by the A's and Angels. Possibly a bold move by management shook the locker room a fraction and pushed them over the top.

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 05:28 PM) Somehow the Orioles look like a legitimate team now.. Too bad they're in the AL East yeah, but their line-up improvement will just expose the NYY rotation even more this year, will be interesting to see if they beat each other up so much that wild card comes out of west or central

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 09:54 AM) I'm saying imo. I have no clue what the hell the voters are going to do. Andy Pettitte was never an elite pitcher and belongs no where near the HoF imo. I agree with you on this, but he's a NYY so he'll get in eventually IMO. My favorite part of covering for Pettitte is when HGH is brought up and defenders just say "oh he admitted it and came clean" well that may be partially true, but to me guys who used it once and admitted it could have used it multiple times and are just picking when to admit to. Like the A-Rod deal, he admits to it when he was in Tex playing for bad teams but then uses the excuse of pressure and being young... except to me I just think, well didn't you have pressure when you went to the NYY? And being young? maybe agewise, but he was already a seasoned vet of MLB, enough to earn enough service time to be a FA, and accept the most lucrative contract of all time, you can't have those things then just hide behind "I was young" IMO.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 02:18 AM) youre sayin youd rather have brent morel and mark teahen over a guy making $850,000 whos averaged 18/83/37(doubles).274 the last 3 years( the team ranks from last year would put him tied for 5th with lexi in HR, 4th in RBIs, 1st in doubles by 7, and one point behind pierre for 4th in BA) and thats including last season where he only played 127 games...yes he'll strike out 100 times more than likely but with that kind of production coming from a guy whos making so little and would bat 7th or 8th i think itd be foolish to say he wouldnt make this team a lot better....i just read that fangraphs article on lexi...talk about underrated if he gets a majority of time at 3b it's going to be because he is playing plus defense and basically locking down the left side of the infield with Alexi... so with this line-up, yes I would rather have Morel playing great 3b and not being terrible offensively.

Kris Benson retired and Ian Snell signed with the Cardinals

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 12:41 PM) Teahen, Castro and Omar are already set for the bench, barring a trade. So that leaves one spot open for Milledge/Lillibridge/De Aza. That is, unless Ozzie opts for a 6 man pen instead of 7, which I doubt occurs. OK. i obviously was impressed with what Omar did last year and would be great if he could duplicate that as a back-up this year, but just a little nervous about that.

QUOTE (dmbjeff @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 12:39 PM) I really don't see the use in trying to help a Wild Card rival. With the way things look right now, the Yanks will be in the WC chase along with the Sox,Twins,Tigers, Rays, etc, no reason to help them at all. good point, I may be overacting a little, but with the rotation that NYY are trotting out at this point, it's not as much of a lock that wild card comes out of AL East this year.