Balta1701

I wouldn't mind him back, but I really don't want to pay more than $2-$3 million with the kind of BS we got from him last year. I want him to be a bargain if he comes back.

QUOTE (smalls2598 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 12:04 PM) Per Rotoworld: Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports that the Diamondbacks are set to acquire David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio from the Orioles for Mark Reynolds. Without knowing anything about the prospects...I like that move from the O's perspective. Fills a void, good fit for that ballpark, something of a risky player but with a really high ceiling.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 11:28 AM) So I am trying to plug my external hard drive in and the computer isn't recognizing that it is there. Every once in a while, this computer does this to my camera as well. I know it is working just fine, but for some weird reason it doesn't pick it up. How the heck do I get it to recognize it? Is there anything wrong with the USB Port itself?

Xavier Henry should have been drafted by the Sox.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 10:31 AM) Except your version of punishing them, would do exactly what you are saying shouldn't be done. If I go out and paralyze 4 people while DUI, I clearly shouldn't go to jail, because punishing me would also punish my family and others who rely on my work and income.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 10:22 AM) I still think it was Cowley doing a favor for AJ by just throwing out something to try and force our hand a bit... I still think there was probably some chatter between the Jays and the AJ's. The sox just swooped in and matched whatever was on the table at the end.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 10:40 AM) Another case of the Nats bidding against themselves? Rizzo sure is stupid. Lotta the other GM's are supposedly pissed about this. Sandy Alderson said something on the record along the lines of "I thought Washington was trying to get rid of the deficit". That said...I said this earlier in the thread. When the 2003 Tigers wanted to start grabbing FA's to rebuild, they had to massively overpay because no one wanted to play there if they didn't. So, guys like IRoid and Ordonez got contracts that were vastly above what they would have gotten otherwise. Washington's in the same boat here. They've got a lot of talent on the way up, but no credibility with FA's, so if they want to add a veteran to their team, they have to overwhelm them.

The Sox's issue with this is that they already have a person to fill the role that Crede would fill. By that, of course, I mean Dallas McPherson. If Joe Crede wants to come back, here's his road. He's going to have to find a team that doesn't have a logjam of 3b prospects at AA and AAA. He's going to have to accept a non-roster invite to Spring Training. He's going to have to keep his mouth shut when he's reassigned to minor league camp in late Feb./Early March. He's going to have to play well, on both offense and defense, against minor league competition, for a period of months. He's going to have to prove his back won't give out after 8 swings, and that his back won't screw with his throwing motion from 3b like it did when he had all those errors in 2006. And, he's going to have to sit there and hope that either the 4-5 guys ahead of him on the major league depth chart suffer from a series of unfortunate injuries, or some other team has enough injuries that they're willing to give up a 26 year old, single-A reliever for him in a trade.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 03:38 AM) He'll be back unless the two sides had different ideas for the contract. The other benefit to having a 2nd team like Baltimore involved is...there's someone else out there who's helped set his market value.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 04:56 AM) Joe's first full year with the White Sox AVG .261 OBP .308 SLG .433 OPS .741 OPS +92 I think we can expect similar out of Morel, maybe down on the power numbers.. Joe's hit 19 HR , I say Morel hits 10. I caught a bit of Morel in action last year in the minors, and what I noticed was that no matter who was pitching to him or what they threw, the ball just flew off of his bat, and everything, whether it was a fly ball or a double, landed right in front of the wall. You're probably right that he'll have a sub-10 HR total next year. I think though that once he spends a year or two with an MLB-level physical training staff, he's got 20+ HR power in him if he can learn to hit big league pitching. Everything flew off that bat solidlyl.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 10:47 PM) And then will be sold later to Larry Ellison. Watch. What connection does he have to NOLA, or to other cities that might want an NBA Team? I thought Oracle was mostly Bay-Area based

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 03:08 AM) Dear Biology Teacher My god you suck at teaching. Not only do you teach our material after you require us to do the assignment, I am currently writing an essay about "My Day in Chicago". This is an AP Biology Class, not a 7th grade science course. This is why my paper is sarcastic. Sincerely, Dropping your class next semester. Dear Quinarvy Be creative. Write the essay about the wide variety of bacteria and viruses you're exposed to on a typical day in Chicago. Sincerely -Balta

QUOTE (Jbabs34 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 06:20 AM) I could be wrong about this, but i thought i remembered reading something about him switching agents to boras. if so, that could give us a glimpse of his future here...especially if he puts together a couple of monster years. he could get expensive - im probably getting a little ahead of myself but whatever Yes, his agent is currently listed as Boras. However, even if he makes the team out of spring training next year....he won't be a free agent before 2016.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 08:45 PM) Another thing to consider about this signing is that it may behoove the Sox to trade for another pitcher ASAP. Fairly certain that Boras will get Jackson a big contract somewhere else after next year. Good, at least that would mean Jackson pitched well enough to earn a big contract and the Sox walk away with 2 picks.

Useless. The rest of you are useless. 2 full days.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 07:25 PM) Indy's probably gonna miss the playoffs. Wow. With everything that they've lost to injury, and picking in the middle of the first round next year, if there is a next season, they've got a shot to be right back on top.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 06:43 PM) In my offseason plan for another site, I suggested trading Viciedo to Seattle. The Mariners were last in MLB in both batting average and slugging, Vicideo's two main skills. They might be able to use him in their rebuilding process. The AL West has a ton of LH pitching talent (especially if the Rangers re-up Lee) which Viciedo absolutely mashes (.960 OPS this season vs. LH). Seattle declined the option on Branyan, so their DH spot is open. They also just traded 3B Lopez, but it'd be hard to imagine a strong defensive-minded team experiment with Viciedo there. Your big problem is...The M's just traded for Justin Smoak, who takes the spot that you'd want Viciedo at in an ideal world, 1b.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 06:56 PM) Anyone think that Boston might offer to Konerko? He did grow up early on in Rhode Island. I believe 14 has suggested that's not a spot for him. IIRC it was one of the couple teams on his NTC list.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 06:40 PM) It won't be worse than Soriano's. Werth can actually play defense, and has one of the best OF arms in all of baseball. Still bad. Surprised they didn't just offer a similar 6 year deal to Lee. This might well be one of those "Detroit 2003" type cases where they're regularly mired in last place, and if they want a FA to actually go there, they need to over-do it.

What a F***ing day by Reggie Wayne.

That was a spectacular catch by Reggie Wayne.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 04:51 PM) Peyton Manning: 9 INT in 3 games -- including 3 INT RET TD. Indy looking like they are going to miss the playoffs. *Cue Jim Mora Sr. Rant* Make that 10/4.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 05:47 PM) Dunn is far superior offensively, and we signed for $4 million less per year and three less years. ROFL. I wouldn't say he's "Far superior", 120-130 OPS+ for Werth, 130-140 OPS+ for Dunn, career wise, so he's somewhat better...Werth though gives something quality on defense.

If I'm reading this right, the 1st and 2nd tiebreakers for the #1 pick are the conference and division records. So, if Carolina beats Seattle today, that should put the Bills back in the lead for the #1 pick, with 0 division wins and 1 conference win. Am I wrong here?

Anyone else thrilled to know that ESPN's headline on this game is