RockRaines

QUOTE (wilmot825 @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 12:42 PM) I just saw on Sportsday that Jon Garland turned down the Angels arb. offer and that today he declined the $4m deal by Arizona. Does this mean he really does want to come back to Chicago or is he living in a fantasy world about an A.J. Burnett offer? I know his stats are better but there has to be something we are all missing, and I would love him back in Chicago as a #2 or 3. Since we have 3 pitchers better than him, he would be AT BEST #4

QUOTE (scenario @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 03:03 PM) Except that Pie is 3 years younger than Brian. Seems bizarre that the Cubs would stick a fork in the guy at 23 years old. There was a whole article about it in the paper today. They basically came out and said he couldnt hack it like Theriot and they are moving on. Pie will be released, and we should pick him up ASAP.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 10:38 AM) I really hope I can get myself a nice little deal on a 52"inch lcd tv. They marked everything up then discounted it. Amazon is still your best bet for TV's. Cheaper price, free delivery and no tax. I bought 2 sammys from them this year and it has been a perfect experience.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) Eh a S maybe, but it's not an immediate need, not more than DE anyway. The secondary was horrible mainly because of the anemic pass rush. Without that the entire defense is worthless. The Bears have never had world-beater corners, and they have Corey Graham and Trumaine McBride who are adequate for now. I would have to disagree here, I think the secondary was horrible because they are horrible. We dont have a pro-bowl DB in the bunch and our defense would be that much better if the QB ignored one half of the field.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/vide...10&c_id=cws

I think some of the people in this thread need to take a look at Bartolo's starts last season on MLB.com. He really looked pretty good until he hurt himself BATTING.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 08:25 AM) Hmm... get that 5th starter and leadoff hitter we need? Doesn't seem all that complicated to me, but what do I know. I'm not a businessman, but all I know is that the payroll is way too high for what this team has to show for it. And BTW, it's not like I'm in a minority with my opinions at ALL. The 5th starter is already on the team guy. A young guy will be filling that role with Bartolo/Freddy taking the 4th spot.

I dont like the pick, but Robiskie isnt exactly a slow WR, he anchored the OSU 4x100 team and should break 4.5 in testing for the NFL. I also dont see the Bears picking a DE in the first round, they have much bigger needs moving forward at DB, LB, WR, and OL.

More years of this direction? Get out of here, its not that hard to find another mediocre GM with a chance of him making good decisions. This team and front office needs to be gutted.

Thank you for mocking my very valid arguments and the personal insults in this thread so far. I am of the opinion that Mods should hold themselves to a higher standard than regular posters and should lead by example, its clear you do not feel that way. Ill try to refrain from posting in threads like this, because once again you have taken it competely of the beaten path by using circular logic, putting words in people's mouths and finally insulting someone and their viewpoint. QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 07:48 AM) The population will not become healthier. Productivity will not increase. We will not see an increase in intellectual breakthroughs. The only benefits will be financial, and if those benefits where that important, people would have already voted the higher taxes necessary. So we really do not place that high a value. It's just an excuse to get high and watch the tube. My last point is this: Based on your "checklist" above for what criteria we should look for in establising a product or service for the benefit of the country, what actually DOES satisfy you? Does even your Boy Scouts satisfy those points? How about any other drugs or procedures that have been legalized? Vigra, Botox, Propecia, breast enhancements? I guess then they all are worthless to society. Financial benefits are societal benefits IMO. You say that intellectual breakthroughs would not be aided by marijuana. Well lets take your county for example. If 40 million dollars is injected into your governement without increased taxation and only 10 percent is alocated for schools, do you think that the level of education may improve? They may build a better computer center, they may be able to fund a better library, these are all residual benefits of the financial windfall of legalization of this substance. People wouldnt have to vote to increase taxes because the governement wouldnt need as much cash influx as they do today. Its really basic math. I do appreciate the not so subtle insult that we just want to get high and watch the tube, but there is a clear benefit to the decriminalization, regulation (which takes revenue from both illegal orgs like gangs and possible outside countries that grow such as mexico and central american entities), and medicinal useage of the drug. These are all supported by clear economic and scientific studies that have taken place over the course of the last 5 years. For example, if Marijuana useage could equal the tax revenue of Cigarettes, we would see an influx of cash into our governement almost to 12 BILLION dollars, thats a pretty hefty piece of change. Also when talking about the dangers of MJ-related deaths, its true that impairment may have caused some number of unrecorded deaths in the last year, but it is such a small number that reasons such as satellite radio, cell phone useage, and mechanical failures have dwarfed the number to the point of obscurity. I really hope you step out of your box and look at the ACTUAL use of the drug by individuals that use it for both medicinal and recreation uses and compare the dangers to substances we already have legalized and taxed today. I understand the stereotypes that you have inaccurately placed on the user community and I bet you understand the ones placed on the BSOA that are not entirely true either. The best approach is to back away, take a look at the pro's and cons and make an informed decision with empirical support. Have a good one.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 10:57 PM) I agree there is a financial benefit. I agree that is the single best reason to legalize it. The death question is fine. You believe if someone dies high in an accident, it is not pot related. I disagree. Just like a drunk driver fatality is alcohol related death, so to is a fatality from driving high. Now tell me no one has ever gotten in an accident when high. You believe pot is a miracle drug. You can't wake someone pretending to be asleep. So I am done. Rock's plan to fix schools and roads? We need more poeple drunk and stoned in this country! Dammit! Get high and support school kids!! Wow, total garbage response. Once again cementing your unwillingness to put aside your personal feelings to look at another viewpoint. Its pretty obvious that your lack of experience in the issue is clouding your judgement.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 09:39 PM) You gonna youtube this thing, Rock? If I knew how. Only a few people I know saw the nipple pop out, it was clear as day. Hilarious. Oh and that beatdown was fun. I officially ordered a Ben Eager tshirt jersey, that dude is nails.

Really? Just totally glossed over the fact that girls tit popped out? I got it on DVR.

I saw nipple. The girl who made the shot from the red line's nipple just popped out when celebrating.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 07:10 PM) my friends in college swore by a B-complex vitamin. Pedialite for me.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 07:35 PM) http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.j...10&c_id=bos thats a vid of colon...you can never trust radar guns but he's hitting 95 in there...still has some of that 2 seam action he always had before as well...even if hes throwin 92, with solid movement like that he can still be effective if healthy If he throws that well with the Sox and doesnt throw out his back hitting like he did last season, he will be a VERY solid piece of the puzzle.

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 06:17 PM) I'd rather go with a young arm then Colon, it worked out with Danks and Floyd. Well, we dont have another arm like that in our system, so its either go with a former Cy Young type guy coming off an injury or CR/AP. We NEED another Vet to eat up some quality innings and I like Fatolo of Freddy to fill that role.

I'm curious how many people on this board who live in chicago would be opposed to legalization of Pot if it meant better highways, tollways, trains and El system.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 05:12 PM) I also have to laugh as if there's something wrong that provides financial benefit to the ENTIRE COUNTRY. Why do you think towns set up riverboats? What does gambling have to offer society besides tax dollars to the local government? Morally I don't think it's OK to spend a great chunk of your paycheck at the slot machine, but hey, why should that be any of my god damn business what you or someone else spends their money on? People need to put their personal morals aside with political issues. While we're at, we should legalize prostitution. We are paying public officials our tax money to prosecute non-violent offenders. Why should we really care that John Doe paid $50 to be pleasured sexually yet we can pay people cash to work on our lawns or do other personal favors for us? Why can't we set up licensed spas to provide sexually pleasure? It'd create jobs and more tax dollars, less of the court's and police's time will be spend going after these folks or setting up stings, it would protect prositutes from violent crime on the street, and it can protect the customers with HIV/STD testings. Put your personal morals aside, and ask yourself if this would actually benefit society. Heres something for you: If the city of Chicago legalized marijuana useage and taxed accordingly, Im betting taxes would not increase even in the event of the Olympics. In fact, the roads, public transportation, public schools and hospitals could be vastly improved with the tax dollars. I wonder if it would be very hard to convince people in Chicago that their quality of life would improve in those areas without increased taxation if they would vote for legalization.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 04:11 PM) My experience comes from watching society for almost 50 years and what is, and is not, allowed, and how those changes come about. If you think I also need to smoke pot to understand, I disagree. People still get high and die. No change in my opinion. If you are high, and get in an accident, that is a pot related death. The same as if your were drunk. You disagreed. No need to rehash that. I clearly stated my gateway argument again, I'm not going to disagree with you. You clearly have more experience with terrorist sponsored (something you added) pot dealers and their inventories. I assumed your local pot dealer would have more than just pot. My mistake. And I see you are agreeing with me, the only benefit is financial. So you are asking society to allow another substance that has no health benefits to individual in exchange for cash. I agree it makes financial sense. Plus, we have sold out our values for a lot less. But as long as we are on a swing where we are being more restrictive on cigarettes (higher and higher sin taxes and less places to smoke) and tougher on alcohol (again higher and higher taxes) I do not see pot being legal anytime soon. It seems that you consider pot a vitamin, I'm not ever going to change your mind. I honestly think that having an opinion on what is dangerous, what is pot-related danger, and what are the differences between pot and other drugs depends entirely upon first hand experience. Also if you can find some statistics on marijuana related deaths then there is your proof, its not exactly a debate. Does it impair your ability to drive? Sure, but about as much as having the flu, taking Day-Quil, or any other very simple parts of life. Regulation of use and a warning is the way to get around that. Talking on your cell phone is more dangerous these days. As far as the gateway part, there isnt a magic drug dealer store, each product comes from a different part of the world, different countries, different sources, its not exactly easy to find a wal-mart of illegal substances. And a financial benefit to the country, city, state, and county is a societal benefit. If a 10 year old gets to go to a school with better facilities and is taught by a teacher who has had a better education because of taxes collected on marijunana sales, then it DOES benefit society without being a user. Not sure about your "vitamin" comment. Marijuana has been proven to have medicinal purposes if that was your question. Also even though you cant smoke in a handful of cities or states across the country indoors, it wouldnt exactly harm the user base since walking down the street would be a huge boon for the industry anyway.

To be honest. You bring in Freddy and Fatolo and I feel alot more comfortable with the rotation going into next year. If ONE of Colon/Garcia pitches decently we could have a pretty good chance at the division.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 01:04 PM) But...he was also coming off a season where he hit a whopping .240. There were a lot of questions about whether he'd be a decent leadoff man for any team if that's the way he was going to hit in what was basically his 2nd full season. There really werent that many questions, we traded one of the best hitting LF'ers in baseball for him, he had a TON of value. We arent even going close to those types of guys at this point. Think spring training invites.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 01:00 PM) The entire "gateway" debate is silly. What difference is there between Gate > coffee > cigarettes > alcohol > pot > cocaine or coffee > cigarettes > alcohol > gate > pot > cocaine Since people seem to use this path, where do you want to place the gate? Does it really make a difference? I do not think so. It's a silly term and ultimately means nothing. Now, those that keep thinking pot is illegal from bad science and stuff. That just is not as much of a factor today. Today it is factors like the alcohol lobby and the lack of non-financial benefits to society. Complete this Society will benefit from more people getting high because . . . All of the benefits to society, and it is society that has to change the laws are financial. So far we have been willing to spend the money, stupidly in my opinion, to keep pot illegal. We have seen the negative effects of cigarettes and alcohol and have been making it harder, not easier, to use those substances. Why would society then reverse that trend and make another drug legal? Those are the kinds of forces that keep pot illegal. Mostly the gate argument is silly becuase there is no chemical reaction in THC that happens in the brain that makes a person more likely to want to try and become addicted to other drugs. There is no "gateway drug" that does not induce heavy addiction and phyical reliance. Genetics and social factors play a much larger part in drug use and abuse. The government doesnt give two s***s about how society will benefit. The government will benefit by increased regulatory control, decrease in revenue moving outside of the united states and greater tax income. Wrap your mind around how society would "benefit": In DuPage county ALONE, a 1 dollar a pack increase in cigarette taxes brings in 40 million dollars in additional revenue to its government. Do you think that non-smokers could POSSIBLY benefit from that money? Cig taxes have brought in around 12 BILLION a year to the federal government for programs that are clearly earmarked for that money including health care for the uninsured. In a time of a growing federal deficit, the legalization of marijuana could help put more money into both the economy as well as programs such as education. How has society really benefitted from more people smoking? We have sacraficed 500k people a year to gain this additional revenue, think about how much better the ratio of zero deaths to tax money collected for marijunana legalization would be. And both cigarettes and alcohol have much worse physical side effects than marijuana. Both are more highly addictive, both have higher long term risk, and both contribute to more deaths per year. THATS why they have been trying to regulate the consumption of those substances. The only reason cigs havent been walked down the path towards illegality is because of the governement revenue associated with purchase as well as the money flowing in from the organizations that distribute the cigs.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 12:45 PM) That it should be legal based on financial and eliminating a potential gateway to other illegal drugs? I didn't think that was old fashioned? Come on Tex, we've been at odds on this subject for awhile. I couldnt find the thread from March where you constantly cited different viewpoints on the subject, most of them being of the "gateway" variety which is an old standard for arguing against marijunana useage. I have several PM's stored from other members discussing the subject on that date. Maybe you have changed your tune here in this thread, but I am under the opionion that alot of your viewpoint comes from less experience in the realm, and if I am wrong I apologize.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) I agree with that observation. Pods is a great example and in 2005 he filled the role we needed and filled it very well. I would love to see the big splash made in signing a free agent, but in reality one player most likely isn't going to make a winner out of a team. You need 25 players all working together and filling their roles. If we sign or trade for anyone they must fill the need and not just be the big name. Pods was a pretty decent name back then, he was a fairly prominent lead off man. We arent even targeting THOSE guys.