Rex Hudler

HSC got tired of the bulls*** and decided to take a break from here. That's all I know.

Do you actually think the Sox would draw appreciably more fans if they lowered ticket prices a buck or two? Not happenin'. There are lots of things wrong with the Sox organization and some of what you point out is valid. Lowering ticket prices sends the wrong message, however. Now holding tickets prices for three or four years running is a different story.

No, Laumann ran our drafts the past few years. Unfortunately, he is gone too. Not getting a first round pick is no big deal. Their is no way the Sox could have afforded the bonuses for three first rounders (their own, Colon and Gordon), two supplemental picks and one second round pick. Of course there was already another thread today with damn near the same title that covered all of this. LOL

Being humbled is good...... as long as you don't run away and hide. Come back often, just know this can be a tough audience. LOL

I have an idea I would like to run by those who buy ST's every year and aren't happy.

You made a different point I have been trying to make elsewhere with that statement. I believe a $60 million payroll is reasonable given many factors. It is how it is spent that causes problems. Throwing more money at the problem doesn't fix it, it only allows you to make the problem bigger.

Keep in mind that we got the big name we wanted last year and everything looked great going into the season and that didn't work. Perhaps going into the season in a bit more low-key a manner will work instead?

Let me be the first to say that not getting a first rounder from the Yankees or Angels will be a good thing for the Sox. Let's look a little bit beyond the obvious and think about reality. Currently, assuming the Sox don't sign a free agent that would cause them to lose their first roung pick (which would not be the end of the world), they will have the following: 1. Their own 1st round pick 2. Two supplemental picks between the 1st and 2nd rounds 3. Three second round picks. That totals six picks. If the Sox had three first rounders and two supplemental picks, there is no way in hell they would have the budget to sign all of them. In this case, they will have the opportunity to look for and draft more players like Jeremy Reed and Ryan Sweeney and have a better opportunity of signing all of them. They can focus on finding good baseball players that have talent, rather than just drafting "high ceiling athletes". In the real world of budgets there is no way the Sox would spend $7 or $8 million dollars on their first 5 or 6 draft picks. Might they budget $4 or $5 million? I think that is much more likely.

I think gauging everything by what happens in New Orleans will be reacting too soon, as well. Remember the Colon deal didn't go down until January last year either. Josh, I guess my advice is relax, have a beer and wait it out. Hell, faith may not be necessary. We might just get lucky! LOL

He completely misunderstood the paragraph he posted from the article.... And to top that, he hasn't been paying attention! Send him to his room without any supper!

You've got to be kidding me. Boy Genius Billy Beane gave Terrence Long $8.1 million dollars? Keep making decisions like that and Beane will quickly go from being considered the best to being known as the worst. That's ridiculous.

I don't get this........ aside from the mathmetical answer, can anyone tell me the difference between $39 and $42 million dollars when it comes to lifestyle? Is there really a f***ing difference?? If there is anyone here that lives a lifestyle based on that kind of money (and is not headed for jail within the next 2 years), please comment.

Quick, everybody buy stock in Huggies today!

The Winter Meetings have not even arrived yet and everyone is freaking out and speaking of doom and gloom for this season. Yes, losing Colon was a blow, but there are still many other ways a team can be put together. Granted, the Sox do not have the margin for error like the Yankees or the Red Sox and they will need their players to perform as expected or better, but many other teams are in the same boat. Just because this team is not coming together the way everyone would have liked, doesn't mean it can't or won't win games. Sometimes things aren't easy. Many things are unpredictable. Players exceed expectations (Loaiza), they perform worse than expected (most of the Sox team in the 1st half in 2003) and some get hurt. Last year should have taught us that a team that looks great on paper will not always win on the field. So why not, be patient, let things develop and see what happens? And root for the Sox in the process, rather than predicting the end of the world. Perhaps this is too rational an approach for many here, but it was just a thought.

Whatever you or anyone else thinks he deserves means nothing. He will get premium dollars whether you like it or not.

Keep dreaming....... he'll get his $12 million, or damn close to it

Keep in mind that will change if and when we sign other team's free agents.

It is pretty obvious that is not the case. If they were close, things must have fallen apart.

That is true, Jason....... I can't believe that the Braves didn't offer him arbitration.

Yes, you are correct. It is one or the other. Jason and Cheat are correct... The past few years the owners have won something like 11 of 13 cases. The number of players actually going to arbitration is very low because no one wants to go through the process. The players generally do get a raise in arbitration (most clubs aren't dumb enough to offer up a number that would equate to a paycut. If Everett went to arb this year, he would likely get between $9 and $10 million based on his season last year. If the Sox didn't feel they were close to a multi-year deal with Sullivan, then they had to let him go. They don't have the luxury of being on the hook for $3 million or more for a reliever unless they move salary somewhere else.

I don't see the Cubs having enough $$ to sign him either, unless they just want to kiss Kerry Wood goodbye next year. And I wouldn't consider Pudge greedy since all he was doing is trying not to take a paycut. Granted Boras was asking for 4 years, but the Marlins never even offered him the $10 million a year for two years.

Maggs is due $14 million. He wasn't offered anything. The whole point of trading Maggs would be to use that money elsewhere, not just replace him with another player making the same amount. We would be no better off.

Agreed, but how much will he cost?

No need to think for yourself ishmookie, just come here and you will find what you need to know. LOL

Everett isn't "starting to decline". To "start to decline" you have to have maintained a certain level and Everett has never done that. He has had three good seasons (including 2003) and a bunch of mediocre ones.