Balta1701

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 05:26 PM) If the Sox wanted him, it really wouldn't have been hard to exceed what the Brewers offered. The Jays with moving Lind, rumors of MB on the block, counting on Smoak yet still wanting to bring him to arbitration - they may be going on the cheap again. Lind was purely a platoon hitter last year. That may be a reason Sox might not have been interested. There have been several reports that the Blue Jays want to keep Melky Cabrera but they are close to tapped out on salary with the big deals they have & couldn't make anything long term for Cabreroid work unless they cleared some money.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 01:27 PM) Exactly. I think, for the Sox to make this team a contender it will take a combination of smart trades as well as one or two key signings in FA but the Sox cannot afford to do only one or the other. They don't have the farm for trades only and trying to fill all the holes through FA is insanely costly and still does not guarantee contention as the Yankees have proven. If the Sox were to add something like 40M+ this off season, it would put the payroll somewhere around, what, 100-110M? That's not unreasonable for a team that had a 128M payroll just a few years ago. If I remember right, Rock said the Sox are ready to spend for the right players so I'll wait and see what Hahn comes up with. Seeing as how the off season just got started, its too early to dismiss any possibilities. A $40 million payroll boost takes us pretty darn close to $100 million, maybe a tiny bit over.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) Its cool, I was curious is all. Agreed. Its not like the payroll would rise to uncharted territory. If Hahn signs and trades for the right players to make this team a contender in 2015 I can see it happening quite easily. Seeing as how the off season just got started, I'll wait and see what Hahn comes up with before deciding yes or no on anything. I actually agree with you guys on this, if the White Sox find the right fits, they could absolutely justify adding $40 million or so to the payroll, but the key is going to be getting something done successfully via trade first because $40 million spent solely in FA doesn't make this team a contender unless someone over-performs.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 10:13 AM) Excluding his dismal postseason(s), Shields is still not an "ace" and has had only 1 season where he pitched like one (and that was only sort-of). He tops out as a 2. Sure some teams will/have used him as an ace, but that's not what he his. Yes, with the Sox, he would fit nicely as a #3. But he wants #1 money and while I don't think he'll get it, he'll get solid #2 money (15-20 mill per). We can probably get the same with McCarthy at 60% of the price, although without the durability. On the other hand, Shields is 32 and that wear from heavy use may be showing. Signing pitchers is always risky - who knows? I'm sure he wants $25 mil per year but I doubt they'll even ask for that because silly?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:02 PM) And tomorrow night the fresher Bulls team will have a huge task on their hands somehow. F*** THIS ACCURATE POSTER.

GIVE THE BALL TO SOMEONE WHO CAN SHOOT THE 3 TAJ

F*** THAT F***ING F***

HOW ON EARTH DID YOU NOT GET THAT REBOUND.

SOMEONE DO SOMETHING WELL

Would any other team in the NBA have gotten that set of calls in their favor?

2 STEPS AND A SHOT ARE ALLOWED AFTER A FOUL? SERIOUSLY?

NO WAY THAT COUNTS.

THERE'S ONE MORE GUY YOU PISSED OFF. HIS NAME IS KIRK.

There are no strings to hold us down

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 07:37 PM) Yeah, I think his starter days are over. But I think he could be something in the bullpen. He's still young, 29 I believe. Anybody know what he has been throwing mph wise lately? He pitched 0 big league innings in 2014, in 2013 his max fastball hit >93, but still down from when he was peaking at 95+ as a starter.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:00 PM) damn. Sucks because I didn't really want him getting more than 12 per, sucks that he may get 14 with a weird poison pill contract. If and when he gets $14 mil per, that means he had a good campaign this year and stayed healthy. I'm ok with him getting a bonus for that, and he literally can't get more than like $17 mil in a single year as a poison pill which will hurt that year but isn't a killer by any means since we're under the tax level and not facing any repeat offender penalties.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 05:57 PM) You can say that about all teams though take example the Cubs. Will they have "much" of a system once Soler, Baez, Braynt, and Russell graduate? The prospects ranked 11-20 on teams prospect list will usually be utility player or low end starters/relievers. Last year Erik Johnson was our number 1, and before his implosion, he was looking like a #3 solid starter at worst, so you can't put much stock into that either. My point is, if Rodon, Montas, Anderson, Adams, Hawkins become serviceable MLBers than we have nothing to worry about because the core will be young enough that the system could take a hit for a few years and build it back up through the draft. Heck, if we just get a couple of those guys as solid above-average MLB players, that will open up the team to be able to fill their remaining gaps through free agency - but a couple of those guys have to succeed and then we need to avoid buying a huge FA bust. Combine those and at the least we're competing for the division.

That's a fair offer for the Bulls to make at this point, and it's fair for Jimmy to reject it. Seriously, I don't mind him being an RFA, it's going to be really tough for anyone to poison-pill the Bulls with the rising cap.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) I am one of Hahn's biggest fans. This is encouraging to see as we all know we have promising young players coming up soon. The proof is going to be the big league team in a couple years. If they're still a 73 win team in 2016 then Rick Hahn will have made some serious mistakes, and it's too early to know how some of his moves will work out.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 04:26 PM) I think Maddon qualifies as a minority by age. Joe Maddon is 60 years old. That's not even retirement for a normal office profession.

I'm not going to wager any guess on what a Cavs/Bulls matchup will look like come the end of the season since both teams have so much growing to do, but I will continue to say that those 2 rosters at the start of the season are head and shoulders above everyone else in the East and the only thing that will change that is trades and injury. There's no team that could even develop enough where they ought to be a conference finals contender against those 2 teams. If that's not your conference final then either someone got hurt or there's a major upset.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 11:01 AM) White Sox were interested in Josh Johnson last year. I'd sign him to a 1 year deal for $3 million with an option for 2016 for innings pitched or something. I don't think I'd guarantee him that much money when the Padres wouldn't give him $4 mil.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:15 PM) Maybe the Heat. That'd be hilarious. LeBron leaves Miami to go back to Cleveland, only to get beat by Miami in the second round. I could get why its possible, but let's remember that the Heat have had a huge disruption in their style of game as well. But of course, if Wade has a knee healing miracle they're a solid roster.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:29 AM) http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/...me-in-the-game/ The Cubs almost have to admit they pursued Maddon illegally to make him not look bad. If there's one thing I have utmost confidence in the Cubs to accomplish it's making their manager look bad.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:16 PM) The quote from this movie screen shot is perfect for this moment. Also perfect is that Brian is one of the few who will probably know the quote immediately upon seeing the picture... Do you want the full text of the scene from memory? "I don't know whether to congratulate you or not Jim. I wouldn't. We volunteered? There is an old vulcan proverb, only Nixon could go to China. How could you vouch for me? That's arrogant presumption My father requested that I open negotiat- I know your father's the vulcan ambassador for heaven's sake, but you know how I feel about this. They're animals" Jim, there is an historic opportunity here Don't believe them, don't trust them. They are dying Let them die. Has it occurred to you that this crew is due to stand down in 3 months? We've done our bit for King and Country. You should have trusted me" ... Enterprise this is SD 106 approach to space dock over...