CanOfCorn

QUOTE(ScottyDo @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 01:01 PM) anybody whose name is aardvark is cool with me. Also, his name comes very first on the alphabetical list of people who have ever played baseball. That distinction belongs to the SOX now!!! Free advertising! Too bad he's not a locksmith or a company that boards up windows...although if he keeps pitching like this.......

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 11:54 AM) As self rewarding as it would be to make him sit out it will hurt our team overall. We still can get value for him in a trade and thats what we should do instead of keep trying to stick it to him. This also makes our organization look bad and could really detour free agents from wanting to sign here. Why would they when they see stuff like this happening. Because many players will never see 7 years/$33mil. I mean, c'mon, you can't tell me that there aren't players that are saying, "You offer me that contract and I'll play for you." His posturing makes Lance Briggs look bad. 6 or 7 years at $33 mil is a good contract. I'm assuming that would be about $3 mil per year with $15 mil guaranteed signing bonus...sound right? That's a DAMN good contract. Someone is in his ear saying he's as good or better than the top tier of linebackers in this league. While he's good, he's not as good as Urlacher, Merriman, Ray Lewis, and maybe even Zach Thomas. Personally, I say, let him sit...let's see what Rod Wilson or Jamar Williams has. Or draft Pozlusny and see what he's got. But let him stew. The Bears did what the players agreed to...the franchise tag. Deal with it.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 11:50 AM) i hear a lot of what you're saying here and on many points i agree with you. but i really don't think that what 101 said was that far off base. his opinion is that outside of gordon illinois and indiana's classes are very, very similar. i'd agree with that. indiana's class illinois's class now this is based entirely on star rankings, which is really the only objective way we can look at players we've mostly never seen play before. as an illinois fan i think their recruits can be great, just as you feel the same way about indiana's. but at the end of the day, we don't know. this could be the class that gets erases the "weber can't recruit" belief, or it could be the one that gets him fired. time will tell on that, but for now the only way we have to judge these kids is by their star rankings. and in that vein, the rankings of the team's recruits are similar. And one thing that Illinois' recruiting class has is size. Indiana's recruits are excellent, that's for sure, but it looks as though Illinois' is more well-rounded. That's not necessarily better, it's just different.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:53 AM) It's all posturing. There is absolutely no way Lance sits out the year. For one he not only forgoes his salary, but I think he is penalized for not coming to practices etc... as well. and two he will not get a contract bigger than what the Bears offered him last year if he sits out a whole year. The only interesting thing he said id that the bears offer was 7-33 mill when it was reported everywhere as 6-33. I'm curious what the truth is on that. I think it's more than posturing. Most times, players threaten. They don't make these HUGE ultimatums. And that's just what he is doing. "I'll never take another snap for the Bears." That's more than posturing to me. It's being completely unreasonable. And as 2k5 said...I wish someone would insult me for $7.2 million.

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 11:02 AM) IMO, as this team stands, the Sox won't see the post season. If they added Leiber and Rowand, I think they would win the divison. However, I wouldn't give up a whole lot for them. The divisional race is going to be very close but the difference for the Sox will come down to the 5th starter and another outfielder. If they could get Rowand cheap, then I would send BA down to Charlotte. That's all I have to say about that.

Why is Rowand unhappy in Philly? Because he basically lost the job as starting CF. Sooo, why would he want to come here and possibly platoon? Just because he's friends with Joe and AJ? I think there's something bigger happening here, if at all. I'm not going to speculate, because I'm not going to start one of them there Eric Chavez threads. This could also be a "just in case" scenario. Just in case Erstad gets hurt, Anderson can't hit, etc. It doesn't have to happen now...it could be talks for the trade deadline. One never knows.

Could it be a three-way trade, where we get Rowand to a place he can start? Or to replace a CF we may be getting back? Just a thought.

I just love how he's saying that he's going to take out loans to make it through the year if he doesn't play. Enjoy that, Lance. He's got to be getting some really bad advice from somewhere. I mean, $7.2 million GUARANTEED AND I doubt the Bears would franchise him again, because they will either draft or scout potential OLB free agents next year and pounce. What an idiot. He's just making it worse for himself.

Two words, Bob Huggins. If it was some no name coach, not a chance. I still think Tech makes it too.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) Game over. Sox fall to 2-9 in Spring Training. Fixed.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 01:35 PM) and the rock chalk chant is playing in oklahoma city...the nation's best team is thru the quarterfinals. UCLA didn't win, Jimbo.

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 11:51 AM) Rowand will get us more pie. Felix Pie?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 10:48 AM) Some interesting tidbits I know that Haeger's knuckler doesn't knuckle in Arizona very well. Does that apply to curves, sliders, any other pitch that moves? I mean, if Floyd is having a rough time because his curve isn't curving as much as it normally would, should people worry yet?

Improved - Vazquez. He's happy. He's comfortable. He's going to be around for awhile. He'll surprise. Disappointment - Contreras. I think he's on the wrong side of 50. Whoops, I mean 30. He'll still win at least 10 games, but I don't think he's the number 1 starter on this team. All those years on the Cuban National Team is going to catch up. X-factor - Sox bench. Hall, Mack, Ozuna, Cintron and 4th outfielder are going to have to spell the starters and produce.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 10:36 AM) He's a lot better than Pods at bunting. Pods SUCKS at non bunt for hit bunts (aka sacrifices). As for stolen bases....your right to an extent, but if your going to get caught 20 times like Pods, your killing the purpose. It's not the amount of times you get caught, it's the percentage. If he steals 100 bases, but gets caught 20 times, I'll take that. The problem with Pods isn't speed, it's technique and timing. I don't think he gets a very good jump off the pitcher. If Erstad could still steal 20 bases, but only get caught 5-8 times, I'll be happy.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 10:32 AM) I like my leadoff hitters to be capable of stealing bases a little more often. Here is a question - how is Erstad at bunting? Not of huge importance, just wondering if anyone knows, and if he still has enough speed to try them occasionally for hits. I still think Gooch would be a good leadoff guy. Kevin Youkilis says hi.

I see A&M over Texas. I'll take a senior leader in Acie Law over 4 freshmen every day. And I'm going to pick the "upset" of A&M over KU. And 101...give me a conference that is stand out this year? There really isn't one. Big East will have a lot of teams in, but maybe 1 that is FF worthy. Pac 10 - I would've said them until UCLA got beat by Cal. SEC - It's Florida and the rest. ACC - Mmm, not so much. Conf USA - Nope.

Those who can...do. Those who can't...work for ESPN.

If Rowand is on the Sox when they break Spring Training, I'll eat my Sox hat. Not that I don't like him, or think he'll help, or anything, I just don't think Kenny will pull the trigger on that. No reason to. Rowand and Erstad are basically the same type of player. Not fantastic, but gritty.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Mar 8, 2007 -> 05:59 PM) /recovers from f***ing heart attack The problem is Penn State could go out and have fun. If they win, great. If they lose, whatev. Indiana has a little more to play for. Yes, they are in the tourney, but they are playing for seed and location. Illinois is playing for their lives. I expect a very tight, low scoring ugly game.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 8, 2007 -> 01:39 PM) +1 Ozzie wasn't responsible for his team's erratic-to-poor starting pitching last season. His mouth and inability to get along with young players are a far greater concern. I'm not so sure about his inability to get along with young players. It's that fact that he wants them to work hard and listen to the coaches. To me, players like Danks are going to be fine with Ozzie because, just according to what I've seen him say, he just wants to work his butt off to make it to the big leagues, and if not now, he'll go to AAA and do what he needs to do. THAT'S what Ozzie wants. And there is NO WAY Ozzie resigns...unless he's forced to. He's not the quitting type.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Mar 7, 2007 -> 10:09 PM) Add in the fact that this was, bar none, the most astonishing offseason for mediocre starters, and the fact that the Sox aren't going to offer the moon even in a 3-year deal, and...scene! Two things: Who is Buehrle's agent? And, do you guys think Buehrle is more of a stability guy or a money guy? And when I say stability, I mean, same team, not more years. I think he should go on the open market, UNLESS he loves the White Sox, and sees the team staying competitive for the lifetime of a 3 or 4 year contract.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Mar 7, 2007 -> 09:49 PM) Specific team or best program that hasn't won? I meant best program...if you want to change the topic title, that would be fine.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 7, 2007 -> 05:51 PM) Doesn't this title formally belong to the University of Illinois? The answer is the University of Illinois. A small, but powerful argument could be made for Ray Meyer's DePaul teams. But, the answer is the University of Illinois. No question. I would say that, but I was just seeing if anyone had a differing opinion. If we all agree on Illinois, who's next?

I'm not going to make this a poll, but I'll throw out a few names: Illinois Purdue DePaul Temple Utah Western Kentucky Missouri This is based on program status, not necessarily recent results. Feel free to add or discuss.