fathom

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 05:34 PM) ...and IMO, they were "always there...always" because of where they played. I repeat, their single greatest advantage over the Central is now gone. Their single greatest advantage now is that they have 2 of the best hitters in all of baseball.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 05:34 PM) Even if you believe that, Damon isn't going to propel the Sox to a pennant and the Sox aren't going to want him for more than one year. Looking at the big picture, Damon isn't all that valuable. If the Sox surprise during the first half and look like they can actually compete with the Yankees, Red Sox, etc., guys like Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez will likely be available. Both are higher-impact players than Damon and the Sox have enough young talent to trade for them. You'd also have to give up a fortune to get those guys (we have some young talent, but if we trade those, our farm system would be beyond empty). Crawford's going to be looking for a huge contract, and in a few seasons, Gonzalez is easily looking at top 10 money. Why not just sign Damon and keep the few prospects we have left?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 06:16 PM) Yeah, they do break the rule sometimes, the multi-year deal to MB and the PK deal they went an extra year or two that I think they normally would. One could also argue that with his defense taken into consideration Rios can bounce back and still be a valuable player... still overpayed? possibly yes, but while they're not a mega payroll team, the Sox still have a high enough payroll to have a few overpayed guys on it. and again, I will point to the JR quote above, if the Sox thought either was a difference maker they would have found the money. The thing I'll counter about Rios is that KW and JR knew what their finances were going to look like this offseason. I can't believe they went ahead and took on all of Rios' contract with the knowledge they'd have so little money to spend.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 06:10 PM) JR has done nothing in the past with the White Sox for me not to believe this. Now does this mean he's going to break the bank and overspend? No, but just because many people believe that Damon is the player that fits this description doesn't mean the organization does. I completely agree, and while he's a good player, he's not someone you break the bank for. If he's getting a 2 year deal from Detroit, or even a 1 yr/9 mil contract like I heard yesterday, then you wish him luck and hope he sucks.

It's got to be the Tigers. I can't wait to hear KW say something clever about only having 50 cents to spend instead of a dollar. It's times like this where I'm sure glad we're wasting so much money on Rios.

Rick Barnes is doing a pathetic job coaching Texas this season.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 03:02 AM) I don't think anyone should start getting excited about Damon coming here just yet. Since Boras is involved I think Damon ends up anywhere but here. It would be very exciting if the Sox did land him since most of us hate the idea of Jones and Kotsay getting too may AB's. Well said

QUOTE (everafan @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 03:59 AM) Mid year 2005 he said KGJ was a done deal - went so far to say he was on his way to Chicago for a physical. Well, it was a done deal pending Reds owner signing off on it.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 02:48 AM) Maybe it's just me, but Levine holds about as much weight as Cowley does. He's terrible. Shouldn't Levine be at the Cubs camp talking about how great Hendry's offseason was?

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 02:47 AM) I don't know how much this would actually play, but here me out: does it make sense for Boras to have Damon come to Chicago being that he will likely take away the majority of Jones, another one of his clients? Does something like this have any affect on an agent's dealings? No, not when you're someone like Boras with so many employees.

Bruce Levine doesn't know anything, and never really has. Getting JR involved in the negotiations definitely isn't status quo.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 12:33 AM) I don't think this is going to happen. No playing time for either Kotsay or Jones. You're right, cause Carlos Quentin is reliable and healthy at all times!

Gotta love the Celtics getting Nate Robinson. One of the most unlikeable teams ever adds another piece of s***.

My lineup would be (knowing that Ozzie would never bat Pierre 9th) Pierre Beckham Damon Quentin Konerko Teahen Rios AJP Ramirez

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 07:43 PM) Im so sick of this crap, no player in mlb is going to draw fans solely on their name with the exception of Ichiro because he brings in the Japanese population. The only thing that will bring in fans otherwise is winning. You don't think Damon jerseys would be a hot seller?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 06:12 PM) I've been scooped that there is "alot of running around" being done in the Sox front office. They are either working on an offer, or tweaking an existing. So you're more optimistic today than you were yesterday?

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 06:09 PM) I mean, if the Sox really want him, why wouldn't they just pony up the extra 3-4 million bucks. I mean that is nothing in the grand scheme of things if they really want him. We have to be more than 1-2 million away from Detroits offer. I agree, especially for a one year deal. Damon's actually the rare player that will generate merchandise sales. Also, it's a pretty sound risk. If the team does well, he'll likely earn whatever money you give him. If we struggle, you know there will be teams out there willing to trade for him.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 04:32 AM) Wall got a goaltending to be called a clean block in OT. It's just brutal how badly refs officiate good teams. That entire OT was a joke with regards to officiating.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 05:25 AM) Sounds like DePaul wants him really bad. Crossing my fingers. Craig Robinson is choice 1, 1a, and 1b

UNC is just ungodly bad. Anytime Ga Tech beats you easily, you're not very good.

More good news, as it sounds like Indians might be close to signing Branyan.

Sounds like Damon is closing in on signing with the Tigers http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-offseason-buzz-012010

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 08:37 PM) I like that Heyman still has us as players in this. It's a spot of encouraging news after Merkin and Robothal tried to downplay this. Or cause Boras knows how to manipulate Heyman?

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 08:16 PM) I love the rotating DH..........as long as the options are viable hitters. Jones may be but Vizquel, Kotsay and Nix are not. Sorry, that's exactly what I meant before, but you stated it a lot better than I did. It's the cast of characters we're looking to play at the DH, and not the actual rotating DH idea. If we were using Branyan and Gomes as our rotation DH, I would be extremely happy with that.

QUOTE (MattZakrowski @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 07:35 PM) Because it's stupid, and doesn't help the Sox win. It's amazing to me that some people are actually buying into the rotating DH philosophy.