Chisoxfn

Ok....if news like Weiters accepting a qualified offer is going to get burried in this thread, I'm going to close this thread. Real news shouldn't be embedded within here and this is turning into a gigantic catch all that is difficult to follow.

In terms of Cutler, we are going to know a whole lot after the Thanksgiving game. 2 straight games against elite d's (Rams & Broncos) and then a team who has historically given him fits in the Packers (on the road). If we see Jay continuing to stay poised and this offense continue to build, I think at that point, we can start to say he truly is part of a longer-term future. All this said, I think we go 1-2 / 0-3 during this stretch but to me it is more about how we play vs. the end result at this point.

In regards to Bulls cap space, I answered my own question. Evidently not that much. Noah and any other free agent leaves and you either trade Taj or Pau opts out. That gives you enough to go max (based upon where the cap is supposed to go). All that said, I don't really think Durant would want to come play here but him and Butler on the wing would be fantastic.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 10:41 AM) Struggled? Not sure how winning 4-2 is a "struggle." Already this year they've beaten western playoffs teams by 20 (Rockets), 14 (Pelicans), Grizz (50!!!), Clips (4), and the Grizz again (16). Yes, it's early. Yes, they could still lose. But there's really no reason to think they've lost anything from last year and they seem to be even BETTER now. The reigning MVP also appears to be better. Not sure how they aren't the favorites. We can all keep saying "Lebron cuz Lebron" but statistically he's likely to get there and lose, not get there and win. I never said they weren't the favorites. I just said I'm not going to anoint them champions right now.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 10:28 AM) Not sure why not. Last year wasn't a fluke. They beat everyone they played. They're a better team this year with Ezeli starting. Cavs, IMO, are worse with Love given his defensive issues. It'll be tougher to get out of the West, for sure. Spurs will eventually get it together. OKC is going to be tough. Though it looks like the Clips and Rockets are/were vastly overrated. Clips still have the same problems as last year, and Houston, I dunno what is going on there. They struggled against a completely run down Cavs team and had the rest of the west collapse from injuries. Yes, they won and yes they are a great team (and were a deserving champ) but the only team's I ever annoted pre-season were basically the Jordan era Bulls and the Shaq / Kobe Lakers (and that was a poor mans domination) and mistakenly the big three of the Heat.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 10:22 AM) Offensively? Yes. Defensively? He'd be an atrocity. He'd get pick and rolled to death and be forced to play defense in space. Shaq was too big for that. Hakeem and D-Rob would have no problems defensively today. That's fine, pick and roll all you want...Shaq would still be taking the higher percentage shot every single time.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 10:19 AM) The Warriors are definitely beatable, the Spurs and Cavs and maybe a healthy OKC team can get them, the Bulls not so much but I love your optimism, Gage. It all depends on the team, but I still think we match up well against the top teams in the league. If I look at the Warriors, they are deep, but so are we. We are more physical in the interior and have better interior defense, they are more skilled on the outside and better shooters with the biggest differential being Curry >>>> Rose. That said, the Rose that has played vs. elite point guards has been pretty good and I still think we are going to see the best version of post-injury Rose this year and Butler is a good match-up against Thompson. I certainly wouldn't favor the Bulls but I wouldn't call it the biggest upset in NBA history either (plus, you never know what each teams health will be at that point...I'd hope that the eastern conference team that makes it to the championship game would have really only had one true test...i.e., Cleveland).

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 09:20 AM) This. Saladino can be just as good as Aybar for the minimum salary. Some of you are delusional. Aybar has consistently been an above average shortstop and now you are saying Saladino can be as good. Please. Saladino is most likely a solid utility guy but to take the leap to being better then Aybar, one of the better shortstops in the game, come on. I am not saying we should trade for Aybar, but I'm also not delusional to think that Saladino is better. I think Aybar is a good player and would make the Sox a better team, that said, he's older and I am not sure strategically where the Sox are headed this year (contention vs. rebuild).

By the way, I'm still not annoting the Warriors. It is freaking November...you don't win championships in November. The Spurs are adjusting, the Cavs are hurt (but should get healthier), the Clips seem to be ascending, and of course I'm a homer whose always optimistic and the Bulls clearly are still in the early ages of a new system and have played well against the better teams in the league. Oh and Doug Mcdermott is looking like the most improved player in the league.

So if at the end of the year, the Bulls wanted to change direction and make a run at Durant, could they do it and if so, who would have to move? I know Noah expires but we obviously have other costs. Can it be done while keeping Rose/Butler on the roster or does Rose have to go? I am more asking for pure curiosity but I imagine if things don't work out this year, the Bulls will get aggressive to move Rose and this would be the right off-season to make a move. Or do the Bulls really not have a play until Rose's contract comes of the books (at which point I presume you hope Westbrook hasn't signed an extension and go that route).

I'm fairly certain, a player like Shaq could be an absolute monster against a team like the Warriors. Problem is, Shaq is one of a kind.

I bet Jeff turns into one of the better FA signings in all of baseball this year. In fact, I still say, I'd be thrilled if he somehow decided to take his qualifying offer with us and we can spin him at the deadline.

Why is this in the filabuster?

Braves should get something good for Aybar when they spin him.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 12, 2015 -> 02:53 PM) Does the lender even make money off of PMI? I'd imagine that's going to some 3rd party insurer. I don't know if they pocket any of the cost, but the PMI ultimately gets insured by a 3rd party insurer. AIG and Genworth are two large insurers who have a big Mortgage Insurance business.

And Greg, I am absolutely cheap, meaning I try to use a coupon when I can, live below my means, etc. That doesn't mean I don't tip and when I do use a coupon, I tip based upon my pre-coupon bill.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 12, 2015 -> 01:04 PM) Sure, in that my employer pays out a bonus on top of my salary/wages. I don't get a bonus from the customers. I pretty much tip a similar amount, unless someone goes above / sucks. If they suck I give zero tip. On average, probably tip 20%...only for dine in. I do not tip out takeout / carry-out. Delivery I do tip (obviously). I didn't realize that if someone no paid, the driver got stiffed. That seems downright illegal.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 12, 2015 -> 04:06 AM) How does the rest of the world manage to survive without tipping? Both service sectors in other countries and people with non tipped jobs here. Does a tip differentiate from a bonus?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 12, 2015 -> 09:04 AM) 1) If your sole purpose is to remove the PMI, contact your mortgage lender and explain this. They will explain to you what the process is for doing so. They will only use certain appraisals, so don't go get one on your own; ask them how the process works and follow it. Generally, if you agree to refinance your loan (and pay them closing costs) the process is more forgiving than if you simply want to remove the PMI. They are crooks. 2) If you'd like to refinance and take some cash out, sometimes the lender will actually pay for the appraisal themselves. We did this for our kitchen remodel. We went to US Bank, and they paid for not one, but two appraisals. They will ask you what renovations you have done since you bought the house. Make a list of anything you have done and give it to them when they arrive. You can also provide them comps, although they won't necessarily consider them. Yes...this, if you are going to do it with your bank, you need to go through their process (and just pay whomever they would use anyway). If you go with someone else, the lender is still going to have to do an appraisal and will not rely on yours. Basically put, just paying for your own appraisal is pretty worthless (unless you just generally want to know what the value of your house is for some reason or are trying to at least push something along). Not like it used to be. Unless somehow laws in California around appraisals differ from Illinois (could be...hell if I know...but I thought all lenders went to this standard / were required after the housing mess).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 12, 2015 -> 08:44 AM) Yeah, that hasn't changed at all since the bubble burst. Now the appraisal process is entirely different. If I recall, banks don't even know who is going to get the appraisal. Used to be you could really influence process. Might still happen a bit but it is more of a lottery at this point. Much more segregated then previously and in our area it is actually very common that appraisals come back failing (due to some skyrocketing prices over the past 1-2 years).

Best of luck. I don't know of any but hope the surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery!!!

Any word on how serious?

QUOTE (shipps @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 01:19 PM) This would be awesome if this is the case but I don't think anyone has really seen enough of him to make that proclamation. What has he really done so far other than not get exploited out there like the past decade of Bear Safeties? I am seriously asking because maybe he has done more than I have seen. He's getting a lot of love. Shea has also gotten a lot of love from the analytical peeps (on an unrelated note). Amos though is legitimately playing like one of the top 10 players at his position. He needs to take steps forward though and our defense needs to start making plays. We lack a consistent pass rush and partially due to that (also largely due to a craptacular secondary), lack turnovers / big plays. However, add an impact FA and ideally an impact draft pick or two (along with other guys taking steps forward) and that could change relatively quickly. Porter is the one corner we have who seems to make plays. Ball is awful and it makes me sad everytime I see him cause I think of how we could have Peanut, who would just be a great vet to have around these kids. Not saying Peanut is good at this point (he did have a pick last week), but he is arguably my favorite defensive player in franchise history.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 01:13 PM) Then again I feel the same way about the Dem primary. I honestly, would rather vote for Hillary then Trump or Carson. In reality, I'd vote independent (or write-in one of the other republicans who I did like) because I do agree, I don't like anything I hear from the democrat side, but that is more a fundamental disagreement with their policies. When it comes to Trump / Carson, I not only disagree with their poppycock, but I have extreme concern over just their general ability to run this country (Carson) and in Trump's case, I have a general fear that he could blow up the world (seriously...I have no idea how he'll handle / manage foreign affairs). I think Trump probably has an excellent ability to get advice / listen to his advisors (would presume he has to given where he is and what he's done)...in the case of Carson, no way....all those skills would be totally learned on the job.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 01:04 PM) This is the base that the Republican party has cultivated over the years. I don't think a lot of these voters are coming from the "base" per say. I do think it is more a statement against the establishment vs. anything else. And I think to some extent, the same thing exists in the democratic party from all the Bernie Backers. Now if the republicans actually nominate Carson or Trump, well then I will change my tune and I'll personally vote independent. However, I still think at this point, the nomination is Rubio's to lose.