spiderman

QUOTE(beck72 @ Nov 12, 2006 -> 10:46 AM) The Rockies are in the market for a CFer who can hit leadoff. Pods isn't perfect but he could be a fit for them. The Rockies have two rooks already to step in to start 07--Jimenez and Corpas. Jimenez is similar to Morillo. To get a leadoff hitter, they may cut ties with a bullpen guy like Morillo. We'll see. Pods will be a team's property for two more years when he can become a FA. He has value in the trade market. If the Sox get a deal for Pods done soon, then they don't have to worry about offering him arb. Why let him go when the sox can get something for him? I just don't think that a team with a limited payroll is going to take on a player who struggled last season, and now is due for arbitration where he's going to get some sort of raise.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Nov 12, 2006 -> 09:54 AM) Why would we pay him 3 million to be a backup? That's the big reason why it most likely won't happen. Playing devil's advocate though, if the OF consists of Sweeney, Anderson, and Dye, you might decide to have another veteran player around, whether it be Pods or someone else, to have as insurance.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Nov 12, 2006 -> 09:44 AM) Why exactly would the Rockies do this move? Pods is a worse option than what they have. Why would they give up someone who throws that kind of heat. The Rockies are always looking for pitching. Realistically, nobody wants Pods. I don't know that a team like Colorado is going to trade for a guy who's eligible for arbitration...I think the White Sox will just wash their hands of him, and let him go. Personally, although I know they're going to allow him to become a free agent / trade him, I am still not opposed to bringing him back, and letting him compete with Sweeney/Anderson/Fields for playing time. The guy does have something to prove, and he would give provide depth at worst.

The White Sox are not going to sign JD Drew. Forget about it. As it has been mentioned, Drew is going to want more than the 3 years/33 million he walked away from, meaning a 5 year deal, and probably something starting at at least 13 million a year. No thanks! Besides adding another Dave Roberts type player, I really don't think the White Sox are going to upgrade their offense much in the OF. Scott Podsednik is probably gone as they probably won't offer him arbitration, and Brian Anderson may get another year in CF with Dye in RF. Ryan Sweeney is probably the front runner for LF, and could challenge in CF should the Sox want to get Josh Fields up on the big club.... I think most of the available money the White Sox have will be spent on the bullpen.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Nov 10, 2006 -> 08:37 AM) Renewal rates blew my mind. A week after the seaon it was 95%. Also the increase in attendance from last year makes up for missing the playoffs. I think all the other stuff will keep us at right around $115M for the year. Liriano being out I think let's KW spend a little more this offseason as the post season chances have improved on this alone. Kenny is going to be agressive no matter the health of other teams, IMO.

Do MLB teams get extra revenue from the new CBA that was just signed ? How about money earmarked to improve the team at the trade deadline - they really didn't add much payroll with MacDougle - I have no idea if they had $4 or $5 million sitting around to take on a Soriano for the rest of the season, but maybe extra money not spent could be carried over... I know they're moving the press box to down the right field line for extra seats behind the plate - that's extra revenue, not to mention higher ticket prices, and a high renewal rate, and the new 7-11 deal.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Nov 9, 2006 -> 12:13 PM) If history is any guide we should see something around the $120 million mark. If we finished last season right around $100 million, I have to assume we'll increase it, given the attendance from last season, and expected goals for this season, ticket price increases, possibly increased $$$ from the new CBA (is this true ?) and the 7/11 deal....Why do you say that number ? I'm kind of frustrated that we're not far from the off-season starting, and we've seen Williams in the papers over the past week or so, and we haven't even seen a quote from him not answering the budget question.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Nov 9, 2006 -> 10:40 AM) Here is the Payroll with best guess estimates for the Arb players: 2007 Payroll M. Buehrle - 9.5 J. Conteras - 9.0 J. Garland - 10.0 J. Vazquez - 12.5 F. Garcia - 10.0* B. McCarthy - 0.5 M. MacDougal- 1.5 Arb M. Thornton - 1.5 Arb N. Cotts - 0.5 C. Haeger - 0.4 B. Jenks - 0.5 D. Hermanson- 0.5 Buyout Total -$56.4 A. Pierzynski- 5.50 P. Konerko -12.00 T. Iguchi - 3.25 J. Uribe - 4.15 J. Crede - 5.00 Arb J. Thome -14.00 J. Dye - 6.50 B. Anderson - 0.50 LF - ??? Total -$50.9 P. Ozuna - 0.60 R. Mackowiak - 2.75 R. Gload - 0.75 Arb A. Cintron - 2.0 Arb Backup C - ??? Total -$6.1 Team Total - $113.4 w/2 positions open (LF, Backup Catcher) Vazquez/Thome- $9 Million, estimated savings from trades applied to 2007 Final Total - $104.4 w/2 positions open (LF, Backup Catcher) *Also note that this is without moving a Starting Pitcher (Garcia $10 Million) which would bring it down to $94.4 Million. Thanks for the good information! For all practical purposes we are really at $94.4+ (+ is what salary they add back in a trade, but I'm really just expecting maybe a relief pitcher, and prospects) since a starter will be traded, and the DiamondBacks/Phillies are paying some of Thome/Vacquez. Has Kenny Williams indicated how high he will go with the payroll ?

Can someone break down the White Sox payroll for the upcoming season OR point me to a thread that's talked about this already ? The Chicago Tribune had reported that the payroll already had 12 players and $99 million committed to it - I believe this was before raises for Crede as well. Now I know that McCarthy, Sweeney, possibly Fields and Haeger, Anderson, a backup catcher, Gload won't make much money next season, but that only puts the Sox up to about 16 or 17 players. What will be a reasonable guess at the payroll to start the season ? If they ended last season right around $100, can we expect $115 ? More ? Less ? I realize that we're going to move about $9 million with a starting pitcher, and who knows if they can find a way to include Uribe ($4.5) in a deal, but if the payroll doesn't account for adding difference making players, I don't see how they are going to improve, outside of trades involving players on their roster. Given their payroll issues, I can't see them adding any impact free agents, and maybe just one reliever on their $$$ terms. Thoughts on the Payroll for the upcoming season are welcome!

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 8, 2006 -> 01:10 PM) As a repub I'd love for Newt Gingrich to run. I think he's an absolutely brilliant man and politician but I also know he'd stand absolutely no chance at winning, even though I think he'd make an oustanding president. I prefer him over McCain and Rudy. Why is Newt a better option that McCain or Rudy ?

Last second notice here, but I'm going to the U of I game this weekend with the Ohio St. Buckeyes coming to town, and need a hotel for just the one night - a friend of mine is looking but says nothing is available in Champaign.... Can anyone recommend or give me a link to some hotels in Champaign so that I can double-check or give me some hotels just outside of Champaign ? Thanks for any help!

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 09:20 AM) A 3rd team could be involved in the deal, or the Marlins could just then on trade Garland to another team for prospects. Either way, if Willis and Cabrera are going to be moved, Beinfest will want to get the best deal possible in terms of prospects, so he may have to get creative. He'd have to get creative because I don't see anyway he'd take on the salary, even for a 1/2 season.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 07:10 AM) Interesting read; So would you trade Garland as part of a deal for Willis, and who would a young quality SP be to make you think about dealing Jon? Why would the Marlins, with their $14 million payroll, take on J.Garland who makes $9 million a season for the next few seasons ? If we want to add Willis, we're going to have to trade McCarthy, and prospects.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 07:33 PM) Has any player in baseball fallen off more in the second half of the season than Jim Thome? He's paid to hit homers (that's all he swings for, at least) and he's done very little of that this half. I have a feeling that after the season ends (yes, no playoffs), we're going to hear that Thome's wrist was more seriously injured than let on. Still, no excuses....he still gets on base often enough to score runs, but the hitting has been pretty bad in the 2nd half. For next season, I think Ozzie has to limit Thome to about 120 games....I hate to rest the regulars as much as Ozzie has this season, but I think it's imperative to get Thome healthy this off-season, and get him 1 to 2 off days a week, especially against lefties. It turns out that as well as he played in the 1st half, he just wasn't able to contribute much in the 2nd half, and as we've seen with the struggling offense, a top performance by Thome would have been huge in the 2nd half.

Link to Chicago Tribune Article The percentage of Illinois voters who call themselves Democrats is at its highest pre-election level in more than a decade, posing a problem for Republicans trying to win the governor's mansion and key congressional seats, a Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows. The poll found 43 percent of voters identified themselves as Democrats while a little more than a quarter of the voters identified themselves as Republicans. The 17 percentage point difference ranks among the most polarized partisan spreads in more than 16 years of Tribune surveys taken prior to an election day. Chris Mooney, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said the poll findings reflected recent dissatisfaction with President Bush's administration and anti-war sentiment on top of the state's longer-term demographic trend toward the Democrats. "The population has become more and more urban, it's become more and more non-white," Mooney said. "This [national] short-term bump toward Democrats is exacerbating the long-term trend." The most recent Tribune poll found that even in longtime Republican-leaning regions, the GOP no longer might have the upper hand. In the collar counties, 31 percent of voters aligned themselves with Republicans while 29 percent identified with Democrats. Outside the Chicago metropolitan region, voters split equally at 36 percent between Democrats and Republicans. **** You'd think that with nobody really like Blago, you might see some life from the GOP ?? Guess not...

I live in Orland Park, and need to get High Speed Internet. Comcast is usually the default choice, but I hear people mention other companies that work just as well, and are cheaper. Do you guys use a different service ? Anyone companies you want to recommend is much appreciated! Thanks!

QUOTE(cgaudin @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 10:38 AM) That type of injury will shelve him for 7 to 10 days minimum. I've heard, both on WSCR/ESPN Radio, that he probably won't be back until next Tuesday vs TB

QUOTE(AbeFroman @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 11:35 AM) I would say that most people expect that a house will sell between 5 and 10% less than the asking price. If they are asking 209, I see no harm in an offer that is in the 190's. In fact, if they are asking for 209, it means they probably really want about 200. I would not exactly say that 6.75% is a great rate on a 10 year interest only. I would think that lower rates are out there. Obviously, fixed is safer... I won't criticize you for taking an interest only... its simply a question of how risk averse you are. It is a more risky loan. Also, don't forget that your interest on your home is tax deductible. If you are a single taxpayer, the government will return a percentage of your interest on your tax return. So if you make > 29,000 annually, you'll get 15% of your interest back... 25% if you make 29,k - 70k, 28% for 70k to 146k and so on. If you are married, simply use the married tax brackets. If I make about $60,000 a year....how much would I expect back ? I think there may be a 6.625% out there right now for the 10 year...Does that sound more in line ?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 14, 2006 -> 10:32 PM) You'll get better responses from others, but one thing I can say is if it's not fixed right now, there's going to be a LOT of volitility in the markets over the next 3-5 years as the mortgage adjusts. If you don't lock in, good luck - a short term vs. long term issue - just be very careful to not be too shortsighted. If you can't pay for it now, there's probably a reason. What kind of interest rate would I receive for a 80-15-5, where the 80% is fixed on a 30 year ? The townhome that I am considering costs $209,000, and, some similar ones are going for about $214,000 or so....Do you still suggest an offer below $200,000 ? QUOTE(spiderman @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 11:16 AM) Those mortgage rates seem a tad high to me. If I were to do an interest only 10 year, and a fixed mortgage on the smaller loan for 15 years, what interest rates do you think I could get for those ? A friend of mine with great credit, recently bought a home in Mt. Greenwood for 260,000, and had a 6.75% interest rate on his 10 year interest only loan, and 8.325% on his 15 year fixed rate... QUOTE(spiderman @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 11:21 AM) A ten year product is probably fairly safe. I agree with Kapkomet that 3-5 looks uncertain. With a 10 year mortgage, you give yourself the chance to refinance if interest rates appear headed for 12%... or even sell before the rate resets. So the risk is really your choice. This was my thought process in thinking about going with the interest only loan. If the rates start to rise, I could always get it fixed, and, at the same time, I can pay off the more than the amount due on the fixed 15 year deal because the amount will be low each month.

Question about a home purchase. I am considering a few different townhomes currently, and am looking at one that is priced as follows: Town Home Price: $209,000 Taxes (Yearly): $3,564.00 Assessment: $120.00 Here is my situation - I would like to obviously keep my total mortgage payment as low as possible, and understand there is some risk with interest only loans. I don't want to take on some much risk that it blows up in my face, but is there anything you could suggest that could help me. My goal would be to have a mortage payment in the $1500-1600 range, if at all possible. For this place, I would be putting 5% down ($10,495), and, as of now, would be doing the 80-15-5, where 80% goes to a 10 year interest only loan at a rate of 6.625% (I've been told that this rate should be about right), and the 15% goes to a fixed loan for 15 years at about 8.325%. I have figured that this would cost me $1,723.57...$944.55 for the 80% loan, $306 for the 15% loan, and then $297 monthly for taxes, along with $120.00 monthly for assessments. Any ideas on how to make this more affordable without taking on a ridiculous amount of risk. If so, can you please offer up suggestions - I am learning my financial options, but, am hardly an expert in this. Thanks in advance!

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 03:11 PM) Where is Izturis going to play? If it's SS, then they just wasted more than half of the season with Cedeno over there. At least they have Neifi to fill in at 2B/SS if needed. I think Izturis should play SS...I see Cedeno as a 2B.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 03:08 PM) That wouldnt be a bad transaction for them. This is a positive move for the Cubs...

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 03:02 PM) I didnt say it was a dumb move. I said I liked the Pirates end of it. Who's Perez ?

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:59 PM) This team is very talented, but they're not very good right now. They have some holes that could have been fixed with an acquisition or two. They could have improved their roster, there's no doubt about it. Saying that, I still believe!

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:56 PM) Chacon for Wilson official Another example of why Pittsburgh is in such bad shape.