RockRaines

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 26, 2008 -> 12:25 PM) Extending Jenks would be foolish; I hope he's telling the trooth. Why would that be foolish? Top caliber closers dont exactly grow on trees. I think its more foolish to extend Ocab, I would like those draft picks that he should bring.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 02:25 PM) I doubt Richar's range will be better than Uribe's. Uribe is solid in all respects at short; Richar will never be able to handle it at the ML level, that's why he was moved. Read it again, I meant 2nd base, as thats what this thread was about.

QUOTE(Soxy @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 02:52 PM) I think Baltimore gets an unfairly bad rap--I really enjoyed it. I like it, but there are rough areas. I actually think that DC gets an unfair bad rap, the downtown area is nice, and the Georgetown area is one of the more beautiful parts of a city ive ever seen.

QUOTE(Pants Rowland @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 03:41 PM) I agree. With cars, the market is typically more patient. With housing, however, the sellers are typically far less sophisticated (even with broker representation) and constrained by personal deadlines. That is a great point on a short term closing. If you have the means to close on a deal in 2 weeks or less, you possess a significant advantage over many other buyers. There is a good chance you can knock more off the price by eliminating that extra 3-4 weeks of uncertainty associated with a conventional closing timeline. When did you close on your home, Rock? I closed in Nov of 2005. Knocked off almost 25k of an identical unit that had been sold a few months before.

QUOTE(Pants Rowland @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 03:36 PM) Nationwide. I work for a real estate investment firm that acquires, develops and loans on various property types. I am responsible for selling the product when the time is right so I frequently talk with commercial brokers and investors from all over who look at various types of commercial real estate investments. Although I do not necessarily focus on residential product, the housing industry and the subprime lending crisis has been at the forefront of most discussions and continues to impact all real estate in one way or another. I have been hearing the same thing over and over recently that many condo developments or conversions are sucking wind. Many investors are already willing to get out at 60 to 80 cents on the dollar in some markets with many more holdouts likely to capitulate as the economy continues to plod along. The consensus is if you have some funds stashed away, you can pick up some nice product later this year and next at significantly reduced prices. Ah ok, i understand. Yeah some of the large commercial developments especially in the south loop have been basically stalled by bankruptcy, and lack of buyers. Its pretty brutal, but not as bad as other areas in the nation. I saw some of the larger cities in Texas and some of the devs in Fla have been dropped dramatically. Even in the commercial market, I know my company is looking to eliminate office space and build a mobile workforce.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 01:58 PM) Why would he ever claim that? It's blatantly obvious that it was 2005 and I'd even take 2001 over 2002. Its actually a funny exchange, he thought I was criticizing him from an email I wrote him on his article that I didnt think was totally well researched, and he snapped at me and said 2002 was clearly his best season ERA wise, and I corrected him.

QUOTE(Soxy @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 11:33 AM) To be honest, I think The Fall ruined Amsterdam to me. It will forever just be equated to Dante's concentric circles of hell. Although I did have a good time there. Yeah, its a good time, not for everyone though. Europe as a whole is a tough pill to swallow for many Americans, its just a different culture, more relaxed in some areas, and some people just cant handle it. For me, my rankings are hard, and I keep changing them Heres my US/Canada list 1. Chi-best city in the world 2. San Diego-just awesome, burbs on the ocean are the jewels, OB, PB, Encinita 3. San Fran-amazing 4. Vancouver 5. Denver/Austin-tie both are just plain cool, with good people 6. Baltimore/DC area. Great drinking and eating towns. 7. Salt Lake City-actually a pretty good drinking area, I like that the best ski towns are 20 min away 8. Phoenix-just love the overall feel, although there is WAAAAAAAAYYYYY too much driving around 9. Dallas-good town, good food. people are a bit weird sometimes. 10. Cincinnati-great sleeper town- Mt adams area is a diamond in the rough. 11. Boston-people are annoying as hell, great drinking though, good pubs.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 01:25 PM) Just like buying a car...be prepared to walk away. If they want to sell it that bad...they will come to you. Thanks for the advice, Pants. You have even more leverage in housing I think. From a personal standpoint, when I bought my house I got a great deal because 1. I knew the couple had just purchased another place and couldnt afford the dual mortgages, 2. I offered to close in 10 days, and 3. the winter is a lousy housing market. I walked away at least 10 times before we reached an agreement, and still had some trouble when the docs had to be signed, but eventually they did what their only option was to do, sell it to me.

Richar put up basically the same if not better numbers than Uribe offensively in his first appearance in the bigs, to play Uribe over a young improving player is asinine. Richar's range should prove better than Juans as well. Juan is a backup whether he likes it or not. He has been a decent play in a supersub role.

Pants, do you generally do real estate in the burbs or in the city?

I had a pretty solid argument with Chris DeLuca via email the other day, he clearly doesnt do much research when he told me 2002 was the best pitching season Buehrle ever had.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 12:32 PM) I don't wear glasses nor reading glasses and have 20/20 vision. 20/10 for me. Maybe you should also be super human.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 10:33 AM) Just two weeks ago he wrote that the interest in Brian Roberts was a joke and the Cubs should steer clear and ripped the organization for even thinking about it. Perhaps check your facts. link And that has what to do with what I said? Last I checked Roberts was on the O's and had nothing to do with the players mentioned in the report nor any of the ones I mentioned. In fact Marriotti wrongly states that it would hurt the Cub's integrity, which is a joke since they were a clear clubhouse full of juicers. Maybe you should check YOUR reading glasses.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 09:52 AM) yep, every Sox article needs to include stuff on the Cubs or else it just isn't important. Just like all the other writers. Point is, if you are going to write an article about a steroid fueled team in chicago, the #1 focus should be the cubs. Their long time face of the franchise, several players named in the mitchell report, and their pitching messiah are all more important to the team than cansecos short stint here.

So, Poreda has hit 100, and Samardzija has hit 98?

Typical Marriotti, no facts, all opinion, lying about converstions with players, ignoring the already established steroid den on the north side. I remember when people had jobs based on merit and ability.

Lynch's report has been called overly negative and not realistic by several other sources. Also the chicago market, like LA, SF and NY do not neccessarily follow the rules.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 12:08 AM) That's why you get a carfax report and then there's no worries. Yeah...IF it was reported to Carfax. You ever been in a fender bender, or an accident and then not reported it to the cops?

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 10:52 AM) Note for the casual followers: He is the #1 QB prospect for 2009 I heard about him awhile back and could not figure out why there was no mention of him on Rivals or Scout's rankings. Turns out I was looking in the wrong year! Yeah, Pryor is the #1 for 2008. He was pretty much a lock for USC from the start. ESPN reviews the Big Ten recruiting classes. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/...&id=3211866

QUOTE(almagest @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 12:13 AM) Like the proposed "Express Section" that goes around the normal tracks for passengers headed up to O'Hare? I doubt that happens, especially with the budget issues the CTA has right now. Even the other repairs they've been making haven't introduced much of an improvement, and they've been working for a while now. Wholeheartedly agreed, and I've traveled a fair amount around the US, Canada, and Mexico. The only place I've been to that's even come close is San Diego, and that's mostly due to the weather. I'm headed to San Fran this year to catch the Sox in May, and I've heard good things about that city, so perhaps there'll be a new #1 contender. San Diego is one of my favs, and SF is freaking awesome. Both are good. SD is becoming sort of a minor league LA which sucks but the burbs like OB and PB are freaking cool. SF is really really in a class of its own and unique. The food is amazing.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 02:18 AM) Lol Idonno... Ive lived in the suburbs all my life and dont think I could do the city. I think my entire life Ill probably live in a town like Schaumburg... or If I go to the east coast maybe somewhere like Daytona or Virginia beach I grew up in DG and always thought I was a more spread out suburbanite, or maybe even the country, until I moved down here. Now I dont think I could move farther away than Oak Park.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 09:39 PM) Absolutely. If at all possible, one thing EVERYONE should do is live in the City for a year or two. It's unlike anything the suburbs can offer, and it's probably one of the best cities to live in in the entire world. I moved there for a year while I was in law school, and absolutely loved it. Moved back to the burbs to sort of help a friend out (he bought his own place and needed a renter he could trust), and to save a little money myself, but I am 100% intending to move back for at least a few years before I get married and have some sort of actual responsibilities. I agree more than anything. I traveled around 140k miles last year all around the country, and regardless of where I was I still feel that Chicago is the best city ive ever been to. its really an experience that I feel everyone should experience.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 10:23 PM) Actually, they are. they need to, that thing is garbage.

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 07:26 PM) Sorry guys. My internet has been jacked up the past few days thanks to Comcast. Thanks to a new modem though we are back and running. Like I said in a previous post, I appreciate the info on all this. I wouldn't be opposed to renting for a while with one of my buddies. I would really like to live in Chicago for a while. However, my job is out in Schaumburg so I would want to find a place that is a reasonable drive. Rock, you are right. I've been out for a little over 2 years and would like somewhere with more of a night life and people closer to my age range. Also, I have around 15K saved up as I said earlier. I invested a large amount of money in an IRA and some other funds earlier this year which is why I am a bit short on a down payment right now. Living at home is nice as I don't have a rent to pay and can save up. However, I am at the point where I would really like to be on my own. Seriously, not to be down or disrespect any of the people that live in the burbs, or love the burbs, but the best life decision I EVER made was living in Chicago from my early 20's and now moving from my middle to my late 20's. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it twice.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 12:05 PM) Useful pieces? Useful for what? What use do the O's need to get out of CF and SS, other than a warm body? RIGHT NOW, the O's have no shot at the playoffs for 2008. Without Bedard-Roberts, they should probably have a top 3 pick next season. Look at it from their point of view. If you were a O's fan, and you had two very attractive pieces to deal, you aren't going to move them for Jenks and a bunch of throw ins. If they trade Bedard-Roberts together, they need to at least get one "franchise" type player back, because without those two, they are going to be bad for a long time. It would have to be something like Danks, Fields, Jenks. Two young players with upside, one proven player. That would be about the most attractive thing we could offer, and still would probably be beat by other teams. Swisher could enter the conversation as well.