Buehrle>Wood

Has to be burdi right?

Orioles are still talking to teams about machado but sources say there’s no expectation/belief MM/agent would grant negotiating window for acquiring team at present. So would be 1 year player. Heyman

#Tigers select double-A OF Victor Reyes from #Dbacks with first pick of Rule 5 draft. Commotion at front table. Draft grinds to a halt. #Rule5Drama

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2017 -> 06:45 PM) Are you kidding me? Look at his numbers. He was horrible the first half of 2017, but if he isn't a middle of the order bat, the team you have must win 145 games. I meant as in a premier hitter. I dont think hes proven that yet. Most everyone to get the money he will has hit on another level compared to him. Obviously his contract will become closer and closer to the norm for stars as the years go by, but man it just seems like everyon e is willing to fork over one of the biggest contracts in sports history no questions asked.

I still feel like I must be taking crazy pills that I'm the only one weary of giving Machado who hasnt come close to being a bonafide middle of the order bat a 300 million dollar contract.

Getting low level teenagers (not quite top 100 types even) would be just awful return for Abreu. You cant trade prominent, under control all star level talent for that.

Yeah Underwood has the 3rd best record ever of anyone in his first 4+ years. He going to be awesome.

Per heyman

Refs update: in a game at the mgm grand, Illinois gets called for school record 36 fouls in 1 game resulting in 33 more free throws (r8 Total!!!) for UNLV

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 07:28 PM) Over the last 3 seasons, .840 OPS, 35 HR/year, 35 2b/year, 92 RBI/year. What's the issue? All of it? I mean I've seen the projections on him between 300-400 million for 10 years. Or by far the biggest position player contract in baseball this side of Miggy (and Harper soon). That OPS would take him 46th in baseball last season or 82nd judging just by the season he had last year.

Anyone else worried about Machados lack of proven ability as a middle of the order vs the amount he's going to seemingly get?

Ghostridethewhip.mp4

Catcher list looks very interesting. Don't think there's a need there though. Don't get protecting Basabe (or a few other names) over Guerrero at all. Nestor Cortes has some great numbers for a loogy. No idea what his profile actually is.

Alabama got in because they're Alabama. Period. If they were South Carolina they wouldn't get mich consideration. Their resume is hardly different than Wisconsins.

Can't say I've ever been asked if I'm a white sox fan outright when I tell people I'm from chicago. Plenty of Cubs referrals though. I'm surprised there was so much pushback to that comment. White Sox fans themselves thought it to be true for years.

We should go after Rondon. Live arm, big(ish) name. Definitely a turnaround candidate that could fetch something

If this was 2012 I would agree. But Leachs public perception has done a massive 180 since then. He's become a big time media darling and a man of the people. Still a big personality sure but I think it would work out quite well. Harbaugh is the comparison personality wise and that's worked out fine for Michigan (if not on the field).

I think you can make a case Justin Holiday intentionally threw the game tonight. Those last 3 plays were hilarious

Then we can only hope they get competent one day.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 29, 2017 -> 08:45 AM) No fan base takes it to the Illini fan extreme. The Illini get screwed every game. Their opponents never do. That's great. They should complain as much as possible.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 29, 2017 -> 05:06 AM) Why do Illini basketball fans spend so much time complaining about officiating? It isn't just a couple. I grew up with them, and have watched games since I was a little kid. I would figure they would be just about undefeated in my lifetime if it wasn't for incompetent officiating. Because cbb refs are awful at their job and largely deserve criticism at every oppurtunity. Its the Jay Bilas line of thought. Last night for example, two plays went to the monitor that are unreviewable, overturning calls on the floor. The refs decided to institute full on replay randomly in a game for reasons known only to them. Nothing, of course, will come of it. Unlike the other 5 major sports leagues, there is no oversight committee or conferences that will come down on it.

QUOTE (Da_Goob @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 10:34 PM) I'm wondering if Underwood is going to have to change his defense with these new rule changes. Getting called for a million fouls completely changed the flow of the game and let Moore stay out there for long stretches. Also stopped the transition points the Illini were getting early because they were inbounding the ball after made free throws on every possession. I love that Underwood is on the REFS!!! train. Embrace it baby. Great quote on the officiating tonight: "I won't get into it so I won't get suspended for the Big Ten games" Here's Wake Forest six point play Somehow only the 2nd worse call tonight aside from the one where foul calls with 17 minutes left are apparently reviewable now. As are inadvertent whistles.

I have 0 idea how Illinois is even in this game.

Is there replay in college basketball now? Legit confused what just happened there. What are the "26 new rules"?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 21, 2017 -> 06:55 PM) I hope I didn't come off as dismissive there. I was curious if I was misunderstanding something. That being said, I don't see why these guys already having a payday would make a difference to the players as they hit the free market. Do you think their agents and/or managers care these guys already got paid a little bit (by baseball standards) a few years ago? These guys are going to get paid as much as they possibly can in more cases than not. If any one of these guys sign with the Sox it's because they are the caliber of prospect, at this moment in time, who is only worth 300K at the most. Aren't they being restricted in how much they can be paid? Though I read that.