Balta1701

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 08:23 AM) Is Crain the closer and not Thornton going into 2011? Until we sign another lefty, that's a possible but unlikely scenario.

This is a classic Red Sox/Bill James type move. The numbers on Jenks last year say that his fastball was still there but he got hit hard. Yet, he got hit hard by a high BABIP, one of those numbers that supposedly comes out random. Everyone who actually watched the Sox saw him just unable to focus whenever he came in as anything but the closer, and on top of that, punctuated closing performaces with stinkers like the one that killed our season against Minnesota. But the number say he wasn't as bad as the guy we saw on the mound. I wouldn't want him back at this price after what I endured last year, but if the Red Sox want to believe the numbers will even out, more power to them.

QUOTE (G&T @ Dec 17, 2010 -> 08:40 AM) It's a $2M difference. At the least, he can make up a decent chunk of that deficit and play for the team he wants to play for. I don't think it's that far fetched. Compared to finding a couple car dealerships in northern New Jersey to advertise for?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 05:53 PM) Even after having made almost $70 million in the last 12 years or so? In that case, perhaps not, but you didn't qualify that earlier.

Hey, that $100 billion thing still doesn't work!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 05:49 PM) If Sarah Palin offered you triple your current salary to work for her, would you desert your current position? Yes.

QUOTE (The Critic @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 05:46 PM) I like the fact that Wood has loyalty towards the Cubs and accepted a lower offer from them. He's got more cash than he'll ever need, he's still crazy beloved by their fanbase, and the Cubs were always very helpful with Kerry's charitable efforts. It's actually a nice story, except for the part where he won't be on a serious contender in 2011. If they're smart they will still trade him before the deadline.

Can their announcers discern zebratic emotions?

And how exactly do you know that?

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 05:24 PM) I think Gio has a break out season for the A's. 15-9 record and 3.23 ERA last year in 200 innings don't count as a breakout season? Then what does?

They're going to use every trick in the book to keep the Senate from finishing anything. This threat is back. If the Omnibus bill or at least a continuing resolution doesn't pass by Saturday, the government shuts down.

The Enemy (aka Rondo) will miss a couple weeks with a sprained ankle.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 04:49 PM) The Celtics may pose a bigger threat. Right now, the Magic and the Celtics both have the Bulls' number.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 02:40 PM) So then defense, social programs, or infrastructure offer a worse place to spend tax dollars? What if we didn't have interest to pay? What would we do then? I'd borrow until people stopped lending me free money.

After last year, I'd rather gamble on Crain for less money.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 02:03 PM) Was he the guy on the Twins that was suspended for PEDs a couple years ago? I forget. Juan "Steroids" Rincon.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 01:54 PM) I'm saying there's no evidence to suggest what the result would be. Let's see them play a game first eh? He's offering up an opinion based on the way the Heat are currently performing. His opinion may be wrong, but to simply say "There's no evidence for it" is just silliness. Of course there's no evidence, it's an opinion.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 01:52 PM) unless you're the twins. I really don't understand how they weren't buyers at the winter meetings. They should've been the ones bidding on Dunn to replace Thome, they should've been making a push for another starter and to bolster their pen. Instead they've taken all the progress made with their new stadium and watched their team get weaker. I realize that the off season is far from over and that they could easily trade blue chips like Valencia for some solid pitching, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them end up with Greinke (they've expressed interest), but so far they really leave me shaking my head. I would think they would be looking to add elements to push them over the top. I think the Twins have already spent their revenue boost. Mauer goes from $12.5 million to $22.5 million next year. They have $58 million committed next year to Nathan, Morneau, Mauer, and Cuddyer. There's $6 million in guaranteed salary boosts for Kubel, Blackburn, and Baker compared to last year. Based on B-R's arbitration projections, without signing anyone, their commitments this year are about $101 million, while they spent $101 million last year. And they're probably committed to something on the order of $98 million in 2012 already.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 01:34 PM) Zero evidence to back up this claim. Exact same amount of evidence to say that it's wrong.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 01:10 PM) What we can say is that they seem to be finding a lot of coinage in between and underneath those seat cushions! Put a winning team on the field and the revenue will come.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 01:09 PM) That's why I wondered about Haslem. That's such a big loss. And I never said the Heat were perfect. But we're not exactly the '99 Spurs when it comes to interior defense, either. And yet right now, the stats say the Heat have one of the most effective defenses in the league.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:25 PM) Wow, this may actually pass? Good, the country needs to move on and the bigots need to get out of the way. Not necessarily. They're running up into the Senate Calendar and there are still many, many options for delay if the minority chooses to use them. If they don't pass some sort of budget resolution before Saturday the government shuts down, and the Republicans hate (republican-inserted) earmarks in the omnibus bill option. After that comes START 3. And if the House passes any changes to the tax cut package, there's another vote required there. Each of those votes is subject to several 30 hour cloture vote delays if they use them.

Btw, we still haven't seen the Heat with Mike Miller.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:53 PM) Didn't work. I think the Refs had something to do with that.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:51 PM) You make some good points. But they've won every game but one by double digits. They're not just squeaking by teams. They're dominating. And they did kick the s*** out of the Jazz (as you mentioned), Hornets and Hawks. The Hornets have been falling apart since that hot start. They're 3-7 in their last 10 games.