CanOfCorn

Here are the franchise tag payment rules simplified. So, if the Bears wanted to be jerks, they could possibly hold him for another year for about $8 mil next year. They won't, but they could.

No Bueno

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 05:20 PM) Bruce Weber isn't recruiting this kid, Sampson is. Big difference. Yeah...Sampson cheats.

Alpha...this guy showed up after almost 30 years!!! C'mon, man. I'm not a religious man, but I do believe that God helps those who help themselves...except replace God with, well, anyone. If he was clean, working, but needed some help to pay his rent, then MAYBE I give him money. But, just asking for cash...fergit it. I don't blame Obama and I wouldn't blame a Republican for doing the same thing.

Shows you what we know. Iowa to talk to Pearl

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 09:52 AM) This is a business decision and not some sort of agenda. The Bears have an opportunity to get something equivalent to the #16 pick if this trade goes thru. They can pick up an impact player using the pick, or parlay it into multiple first day picks to add depth and fill needs. It would be ridiculous for them to just keep him for one year just to get nothing for him a year from now. This move would also free up 7 million on the payroll for other key re-signings and other FA aquisitions. Angelo offered up the chance to go to free agency next year. They turned it down. He's going to make a guaranteed $7.2 million this year if he signs. Can he get injured? Sure he can. Can he have a down year? Sure he can. But he can also have another year like last or even better, possibly get back to the Super Bowl and maybe even win it. HOw will THAT affect his next contract that the Bears definitely won't match. Look, I'm just saying that the #6 pick isn't enough. I wouldn't draft a safety that high, I don't think there are any impact LB that deserve to go that high and the impact players will go 1-5, like Thomas, Brown or Johnson. I'm saying the #6 and maybe a third-rounder would be good. The Bears already got kinda screwed on draft picks with the Thomas Jones trade. The Bears have the leverage. They should get more and make the 'Skins overpay if they really want him.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 09:48 AM) More from ESPN.com: Of course, it's a win-win situation for you, Drew. Either way, your gettin' paid. Idiot.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 02:51 AM) Gillespie would be an idiot to go there. Arkansas fans are morons, it's a much harder place to win at than Texas A&M (compare recruiting bases and expectations in each local area) and Gillespie should wait for a top, top job before he leaves A&M. As for Heath, the writing on the wall has been there for a while that he was toast after this year. I think he's a good coach and they sholdn't have done this but hey, Chris Lowery should be warned.....Heath is another in a growing list of mid major coaches who jumped at a "big" job ASAP and failed. I know it's about the money, but I'm just saying.... This isn't a step up job. It's a lateral move. I'm not going to rip on the fans, cuz I don't know how they are, except in football. But, Arkansas is not a destination job, like Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, etc. Neither is A&M, for that matter. I think Gillispie is going to wait for a big time job in a big time conference...that cares about basketball more than football. And if he keeps winning, that will come in the next couple of years. PS...It's Gillispie, not Gillespie. FYI.

Until the bring back Mike Patrick...this is a hole-plugging move.

The only way I would make that trade is if the 'skins added in either a second, first day pick or a conditional 1st next year (if they can do that in the NFL). Otherwise, let him sit. Let him come back for 6 games...and then deactivate him. If he walks, he walks, but he's not going to get the huge contract he wants if he sits the year. Shoot, if you de-activate him for the final six games, you can say it's for his own protection. We don't want him to get hurt since he missed all of training camp and the first 10 weeks. Hold firm, Bears...hold firm.

QUOTE(shoota @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 05:37 PM) Thome's had a little 1B experience too. I'd MUCH rather lose my backup catcher than my starting DH. And his back is to iffy to put him there. Hall's injury was a freak accident. One tweak to Thome's back and it affects him for the year.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 05:16 PM) I was responding to a post, if you don't like it don't read it. I'm not going to avoid responding to a direct statement because you can't handle it. I don't mean to be an ass but I just don't get why you did that. Wiki Gonzalez is 33 years old and has been given quite a few chances, failing miserably each time and I've been thoroughly unimpressed with Molina's play in Spring Training as well as his minor league production. Nothing about either of them indicates they could produce at the major league level. As for possible replacements, there aren't a lot out there. I'd absolutely love Damian Miller but outside of that I can't think of many other names. It isn't one post...it's a conglomeration of the hateration (yeah, that's right, I rhymed) that has been going on. Look, I can handle it well. Last year, when the Sox were not-a so good int he second half, I joined right in. I just don't understand why everyone is so down on this team IN SPRING TRAINING?!?! And it's getting old and wearing thin. Jeez, at least give them 10-14 regular season games before we freak out about a torn labrum or 4th outfielder. HOw many teams out there would love to have these problems instead of doling out $55 mil for a crap pitcher or $300 mil for a team that still can't pitch?

Why even make a prediction? What's the point? No one predicted the Sox to win in 2005. MANY predicted the Sox to win in 2006. (Not us, but these so-called pundits) No one thought an 83-79 team would win teh World Series, but...look what happened...they did. The Sox and Tigers had pretty good first halves, and kinda tanked in the 2nd half. The Twins had an average first half and blew up in the second half. Let's look at Prospectus and Baseball America and find out EXACTLY what the Sox are going to do this year. On March 26th, I don't care if they say the Sox are going to go 162-0 or 0-162...it doesn't matter to me at all...and it shouldn't matter to anyone else except statheads who believe OPS+ can tell the true value of any player.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 05:07 PM) '06 Vs Lefties: .292/.333/.500/.833 '05 Vs Lefties: .302/.331/.403/.734 '04 Vs Lefties: .294/.339/.431/.770 All while playing above average defense. Since he'll basically only be facing lefties these numbers impress me quite a bit. Let's just keep harping on it...maybe all of the negativity will heal his labrum faster. He's gone...possibly for the year. Let's find an alternative or suck it up with Wiki or Gustavo. Not comparing, but anyone remember Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig? Sometimes all you need is a chance. It's a new year and we haven't even hit Opening Day.

This is Spring Training, right? I mean, isn't this the time that you SHOULD be sending players out to different positions to try them out? Even as the 6th or 7th option? Personally, I'd rather see our back-up catcher at 1st base than Thome, who, if the same thing happened to him, I think we'd all be a little closer to that edge. Is the back-up catcher important? Of course it is...but I'd rather have Hall, Perez or Rogowski be the one at 1st than Thome or Erstad who are going to play everyday (sorry, Erstad haters, but it looks that way).

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) Which part do you disagree with? We've argued at length about whether or not it was Ozzie's fault, and I can see how people would agree/disagree with it. If you're arguing about it not being a big blow to the team, then I would have to severely disagree with you. Well, let's see...Eduardo Perez' calf was stiffening up again, so they didn't want him to be hurt more...Toby Hall might have played some 1B this year anyway...he was diving for a ball, which is the effort you want out of any player...Hall gets hurt. Yeah, I can see how it's Ozzie's fault.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 03:17 AM) I got it right, but so did like everyone else. I hit it too, but the good thing for me is that living in Austin, LOT'S of people picked Texas to get to the Final Four...or Texas A&M for that matter. Not bad picks, but obviously, didn't quite work out for them. Yay me.

I had a crappy first and second rounds, but am 4/4 in the Final Four. I'll be wearing my "I've Got Wooden" t-shirt to make some fat cash.

AT LEAST one. Hopefully more.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 08:29 PM) If Mencia is funny, then every one of us Latino kids was just as funny. I remember standing around calling people "stupids" and making the 'der der der' noise..... but I was in 5th grade at the time. Some of these comics make themselves look sillier by 'outing' him. Ever notice that just about every black or Latino comic talks about race during their entire routine? Anyone seen George Lopez's HBO routine? All he does is make fun of white people. It gets tired. We can't fault any comedian for making fun of race. Look at just about any comedian...If they are fat, they make fat jokes. If they are Jewish, they make Jewish jokes. If they are Catholic, they make Catholic jokes. Blacks and Latinos make race jokes, either way. Shoot, even Jim Gaffigan makes pasty white guy jokes. They all do it, because that's what they know. And that's also why comedians like Seinfeld, Cosby, Pryor, Stephen Wright, etc. are better, because they don't have to make the easy joke. It may be part of the joke, but it isn't the punchline and that's the rub. An example, it's not from his stand-up, but it's from his TV show. FATHER: That's a kneeler. JERRY: Oh. (Adjusts accordingly) FATHER: Tell me your sins, my son. JERRY: Well I should tell you that I'm Jewish. FATHER: That's no sin. JERRY: Oh good. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley. I have a suspicion that he's converted to Judaism just for the jokes. FATHER: And this offends you as a Jewish person. JERRY: No, it offends me as a comedian. And it'll interest you that he's also telling Catholic jokes. FATHER: Well. JERRY: And they're old jokes. I mean, the Pope and Raquel Welch in a lifeboat. FATHER: I haven't heard that one. JERRY: Oh, I'm sure you have. They're out on the ocean and, yada yada yada, and she says, "Those aren't buoys." (Father starts laughing) Father... FATHER: One second... Well, if it would make you feel better I could speak to Dr. Whatley. I have to go back and have a wisdom teeth removed. JERRY: You know the difference between a dentist and a sadist don't you? FATHER: Um... JERRY: Newer magazines. FATHER: Now if you'll excuse me.

IF this were to happen, which it won't, but: A-Rod - 3B Fields - LF Uribe - SS Crede - He Gawn.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 11:23 PM) Which, honestly, we have enough of. If Williams deals an additional veteran next offseason for a package anywhere close to the Garcia deal I may lose my mind. Especially if it's similar to this year where a comparable pitcher commands a far better return. I don't know how you can say that...Freddy ain't exactly lighting up the Grapefruit leagues right now. I think you need to remember that Gio was probably the cornerstone and Floyd was the throw-in. Plus, Floyd's still young, still has potential, and if he can even get CLOSE to maybe a Javier Vazquez line, someone will want him based on "potential."

Besides trying to talk to United, I think you need to send a letter to your Congressmen and the FAA. At some point, someone is going to have to answer for these things. AND, as SOON as you get on the phone with someone in Customer Service, ask for a supervisor...I would just inundate them with letters until they get something done. As for your luggage, there's probably nothing you can do, unfortunately. Sorry Bob, that really sucks.

Who is this...Kalapse? Happy B-day!

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 08:44 PM) I have this persistent sinking feeling that either Floyd begins the season in the bullpen, or begins in AAA and is immediately promoted (regardless of success in Charlotte) once someone begins to struggle. Answer this for me -- how does Williams answer the question of trading Garcia, and the perceived benefits it was supposed to provide the 2007 White Sox? He mentioned it on numerous occasions when media members were wondering whether such a move was a precursor to rebuilding. His only saving grace would be if Garcia is injured and requires a large amount of time on the disabled list. Now, because someone is bound to misinterpret what I'm saying, I believe dealing Garcia was necessary. Problem is, when the general manager mentions himself a trade was configured for our short-term and long term success -- and there's no 'short -term' option to speak of -- you're going to look rather foolish. Flash, hindsight is 20/20. And Arizona isn't the best place to prove your pitching prowess. At the time, Floyd was a good choice for the 5th starter. Just like Sirotka was for the Blue Jays, Benson was for the Orioles, etc. You can't live in the past andput every trade under the microscope based on a short amount of Spring Training time. You just can't. GM's are like quarterbacks...they get too much credit for a good trade and are ripped too much for a bad one.