CanOfCorn

Ah, the Festival of Lights. A happy one to all of the members of the tribe.

I noticed that the Red Sox offered Gabe Kapler arbitration. But, he has already signed with a Japanese team. Does anyone know what happens here? Do the Red Sox get a compensatory pick? If he comes back next year, is the arb. hearing then? What if he comes back next year and signs with another team? Do the Red Sox get compensatory pick then? My God, somebody help me!!!

If they can backload the deal...they can always trade him midway through the contract. I say...if were are going the FA route for RF...go for Drew first. What the hell? I know it is, but it shouldn't be about the agent and the GM, it should be about the player and the team. Then go get a SP and RP in a trade. If possible.

My sentiments exactly. Also: Steroids don't affect eyesight and probably would affect bat speed negatively, being that bulked up. As someone said before...you still have to put a cylindrical bat on a round ball. Mark me up to cheer. For the accomplishment, not the man.

Wow. i agree. We have to keep at least Sweeney and BMac. What about some other B prospects for Graves. Whew.

Sure the Sox put a spin on it. So has Boras. I have no problem with going to Vienna for surgery, whether the name was supplied by the Sox or not. I DO have a problem with Magglio and Boras not allowing his current employer not allowing a look at the knee. I don't think ballplayers only get payed when they are playing...i would imagine they spread the payments over the year, since they are doing offseason work for the club. Therefore, if he's still getting paid, why can't he get that knee checked out. That's spin. I don't think he's an asshole, but he's definitely not the person I thought he was.

who would you trade for Graves, Pierre and Castillo?

How is Boras giving paperwork instead of an actual workout helping Magglio? He'll be lucky to get the 1 year/$8 mil Nomar got. if a team signs him for more than that, I'll be shocked and amazed.

Trade.

They could still sign Renteria and move Uribe to 2B.

3E8...was that from rotoworld?

Me neither, but it's fun to talk about. And again...I would LOVE Figgins in a Sox uni.

Burke outplayed Alomar and Davis last year. Davis is a better defensive catcher. Alomar is the better teaching catcher and Burke is the better hitting catcher AND can play multiple positions if needed.

I would be we'd have to take Eck over Figgins. Figgins is cheaper and can play IF AND OF. I would LOVE to have Figgins/Donnelly/Kotchman, though. Erstad would be ok...we know KW has a hard-on for him. IF this happened...where would Gload go?

Pbththbthbth!!! Only if he can handle being a spot starter/long reliever. I say NO to SCHO!!!

Only if they give him the Full Metal Jacket treatment first. If he survives, sign him.

Garland wasn't on Arizona's list of pitchers they wanted the Yankees to trade for and send on to AZ, if I remember correctly. Take that for what it's worth.

How about this for a cheap replacement. Todd Hollandsworth. I saw him play down here against the Astros and he had an excellent game. Plus, before the game we were watching batting practice and this left handed batter planted one over Tal's Hill, over the flag poles in straightaway center. Who was it? Todd Hollandsworth. This guy has gotten a bum rap since leaving the Dodgers. He had a pretty good year last year as a 4th outfielder and took Soso's place pretty well. Cubs are also dumping Ben Grieve. Might be an option as a 5th outfielder.

Three more words... Seven. Inning. Pitcher. If we could have gotten him a couple of years ago, then i would be all for it. But personally, don't want him. He'll be back with the Red Sox next year. He needs Manny to rub heads with. Although I would love to see little Pedro in a White Sox uniform. Maybe he can walk around with Southpaw...kinda like Mini-Me.

Where else would Zook go? Of the other jobs that are open, Illinois is one of the best. ND is arguably more pressure packed than Florida. Stanford wants a west coast guy. Washington is in Seattle (Zook is a small town guy according to an article in the Sun-Times) BYU has no coffee, pop, sex without a sheet, etc. Also, people are expecting every coach to be LaVell Edwards. Indiana and Ole Miss have had less success than Illinois through the years. Utah is still Mid-Major, no matter what they did this year. Then there are a bunch of other Mid-major jobs out there. Illinois has good recruiting bases in Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit. Illinois has good traditions (need to use these more, even if some a cheesy). Illinois is the best team with a coaching vacancy in the best conference. Well, maybe Ole Miss is 1a. Or Illinois is 1A. Illinois needs a defense minded head coach. But most importantly, Ron Zook is a fantastic recruiter and according to Tom Lemming, this gives the Illini instant cache with recruits. After all, this is the guy who recruited Chris Leak. Hopefully, he'll bring some of his assistants and recruits with him. Won't be a top 25 team next year, but could be 6-5.

let's see how he does without the Shadow of The Ball Coach. He doesn't have to win right away, if he could get to 5-6, without the 45-0 games, people will fall in love with him. for a couple of years anyway.....

It says "a source in Chicago." Basically, it says the Warriors are looking at Curry. wondering if Dunleavy, Sr. is overrating Dunleavy, Jr. and the Bulls would be better if they had Wilcox at the 4 and Chandler at the 5.

Maybe, with the young talent that is already there (P. Thomas, EB Halsey, Justin Harrison, etc) and with some of the Florida talent he'll bring with him (/crossing fingers), Illinois is closer to being a good program than we all think?

Bulls get: Bobby Simmons and Chris Wilcox Clippers get: Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Warriors get: Eddy Curry

How do you know this? I think the Illini Nation would take a 7-4 year and a bowl game. Plus, we'll see who his assts are. Then we can make a judgment.