Steve9347

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 02:29 PM) To be fair, I think a lot of people thought his legs wouldn't hold up over the full length of the contract as a catcher, but the thought had to involve using 1b or DH as the backup position, perhaps once he was in his 30's. Oh yeah, I agree. They signed that contract assuming he wouldn't be playing catcher for the life of it, but with the stats he put up, who cared? Now that he's just a walks machine that plays catcher a couple times a week, the contract is awful.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 02:07 PM) Well why on earth did they sign him to this deal in the first place then? It isn't like most people didn't see this coming... At age 26 Joe Mauer put up a 1.031 OPS with a .444 OBP and 28 homers. The Twins, like many other folks, saw that as his coming out party and locked him up for a long-term deal that at $23 million per would keep him out of the Yankees' hands and carry him through his prime. He responded the next season by hitting 19 fewer bombs and getting on base way less. He then suffered through a 2011 where he missed half the season and his OPS sat .300 points below the insane MVP season. This year he's bounced back a bit, but still has no power. No one really saw that coming; I'm pretty sure most saw that age 26 season and thought they were looking at an all-time great. Injury and a ballpark move sapped his value. If claimed, the Twins would absolutely let him go.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 02:01 PM) I don't think so...I think it would be a very difficult decision for them to make. The average fan doesn't believe or care about financial ramifications. They just want to see their favorite players stay in uniform. Those fans buy lots of tickets. Look at you, for instance, you just posted you don't care how financially irresponsible it is to bring back Mark, you'd do it in a heartbeat. $138 million for a player showing decline vs $43 for a player who doesn't need a fastball. Again, apples to oranges. Also, the average fan is smarter than you give it credit for... and the "don't care fan" isn't making a decision to go to a Twins game because Joe Mauer sells shampoo.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 02:00 PM) BS. If they won't let Mourneau walk, they aren't going to let Mauer walk. Having $14 million remaining on a contract vs having $138 million remaining is apparently not a factor in your brain.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 01:58 PM) Oh, I think there is some reason for doubt. I don't disagree with your logic, but I really think Mauer brings a lot more to that franchise than just his on field production. They would laugh and drive him to the airport.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 29, 2012 -> 01:51 PM) If I'm Ryan, I'd let him walk also but not to the White Sox. If you let him go to the White Sox and he's a great player, you just killed your fanbase for a very long time. Thank God you don't run the team. You'd claim him, and then he'd be on our roster needing to play 1b or DH every other day to save his knees, and we'd be screwed. If Mauer got claimed, he'd be let go. There is no doubt about that.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 11:31 PM) Every teacher should make 6 figures This is one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

I don't care how fiscally irresponsible it would be, Mark Buehrle coming back to the Sox would make me masturbate and give us a much better chance of winning a World Series title this year. Also, Jake's gone this offseason anyway, so 2013 would look better, too.

Nice, no local TV blackouts.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 10:30 PM) Serious question for all you republicans. If you don't want to pay teachers a good salary(and you don't if you want to get rid of their unions) how the hell can your keynote speaker stand up there and talk about making sure the teachers are the best of the best and having standards and evaluations they must meet? Making sure the students come first etc etc. Here's how to fix education. Pay teachers what they're worth and the best people will become teachers. Anyone with any kind of talent is going into other professions because they wont make as much if they're a teacher. Make teaching a respectable profession and pay them like it and you will have good teachers. Edit: I'm a first year teacher who just graduated college and want to know the answer to this question. This is such a common mis-perception. Teachers get paid plenty and work 75% of the year. Maybe teachers should stop gaming the system, getting 15 master's degrees, and pricing themselves out of positions.

The final product is much better than the demo.

The Newsroom is f***ing terrible.

I would just like to say that halfway through last season I said Scal would be a bench coach with us next season. I want my props. Also. Derrick Rose will return to greatness, so f*** you all.

QUOTE (Cali @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 04:05 PM) Are my eyes playing tricks or are they scheduled to play a 4 game series vs. Boston with the first two games in Boston and the last two in Philly? The White Sox and Cubs play one 4-game series next year, 2 games at the Cell, 2 at Wrigley.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 28, 2012 -> 03:17 PM) He's only got one more year left on his deal and he's got 17 HRs. I wouldn't give him up for free. He gets $14 million next year and will be 32. They should have let him walk.

pls win

Time to go pick up Madden.

He's cheaper than Manny was, and certainly an area of need for the White Sox. He just had an excellent start. The White Sox have 3 days to get an arm; here is one.

Erik Bedard was released. I expect him to be signed in a couple of days.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 27, 2012 -> 02:55 PM) You wrote all of those without including "Game Over"? GAME OVER MAN GAME OVER

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 27, 2012 -> 02:45 PM) I had wondered myself. Did not know the Cardinal was the Illinois state bird. I knew it, I just didn't make the connection.

Aliens "We're dead! we're dog meat pal!" "They mostly come out at night... mostly." "You heard the man and know the drill. Assholes and elbows!" "THey're comin' outta the God damn walls!" "How could they cut the power MAN? They're animals!" A lot of them are Hudson, because he's classic. That's all I got off the top of my head.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 27, 2012 -> 01:08 PM) Spaceballs: "I knew it--I'm surrounded by assholes." "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." "When will then be now?" "Soon." I bet she gives good helmet.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 27, 2012 -> 02:33 PM) http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/symbols/bird.html That's stupid. I, however, like it.