Balta1701

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 06:09 PM) Well, she was effective. You never specified good or evil. In that case, Usama Bin Laden is clearly the most effective celebrity activist in the world.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 06:06 PM) Okay, now I'm confused. I thought the option in his contract went away when he hit 10/5? Or does it just not vest automatically anymore? It can still be picked up? As far as I know, he has a $15 million team option next year that would have vested if he was traded prior to this year. The team can still choose to pick up his option to keep him for $15 million next year if they want. Because he's a 10/5 player, he also has every right to veto a trade...and he also has the right to say "I'll veto any trade unless my option is picked up", which is a very common thing for players to do.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 06:03 PM) Especially if he felt there was zero chance of him being back in Chicago in 2012. Which, if they came and tried to trade him, would probably be true. If he pitches the whole year, I don't think they'll pick up his option, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they did, and I'd be even less surprised if they got an extension done somehwo.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 05:52 PM) Where is the assumption coming from that MB would accept a trade? Has he said as much somewhere? If Mark is interested in pitching beyond this year, getting his contract option picked up would be big time motivation.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 05:54 PM) Oprah does quite a bit and can convince a lot of people of just about anything. ANd sometimes...what she chooses to use her power for winds up killing people.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 05:50 PM) The Bears didn't show up, why should the fans? The fans get 30 minutes to boo.

Fortunately the Bears season isn't hanging on this one.

So, can the Pats pitch the shutout?

Don't shortchange the Patriots. They win games by being great at things other teams fail at...like the short passing game with runs after the catch.

LOUrLacher.

The Bears special teams are usually not this bad.

I still really think the Bears normal defense is the worst possible matchup for the Patriots. The Bears D has been predicated on forcing the opposing team into the short passing game over and over, that's how they beat the Eagles, that's how they beat the Packers. The problem is that the Patriots win exactly that way. The short passing game, topped off with good run after the catch plays and an improving zone blocking/running scheme.

Bad football, perhaps

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 05:21 PM) Well now we know all of the doubters who felt the Bears weren't a top team were right all along. You know, I certainly feel like the Bears have better football in them than they're playing right now, and I'm pretty sure we can't say that about the Patriots.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 04:18 PM) I don't even know how we can tell if somebody gets a first down, lol. First down you can always measure. touchdown...that's the hard one.

You probably aren't going to be happy with how the Raiders defense held together at the end, BS.

H. Christ. CBS just did a gamebreak look-in at Soldier Field. You could barely see Cutler from like 10 feet away.

Xanadu!

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 03:36 PM) Well, yah. But still. It'd be really nice to not need to win that game @ GB to end the season (then to go out there and do it anyway).

Very weak effort though. You know there has to be 1 person in particular you'd go for.

QUOTE (scotty22hotty @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 03:27 PM) Plus he has an option for 15M in '12 if hes traded. (guess not any more) Again...as a 10/5 player, he's fully within his rights and within precedent to ask for a team to pick up that option in exchange for approving a trade.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Dec 12, 2010 -> 03:27 PM) people here don't know how to drive in the snow so there would be tons of wrecks and people getting stuck off the road. That's the real reason.

Time to repeat the first grade.

But...the only reason why those set of trades would make us a better baseball team is that the Rays gave up a very, very valuable piece in exchange for Viciedo.