NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 02:21 PM) Green? Whenever there is an appreciation or positive-by-nature thread like this, there is inevitably a poster or two who wants to get in some comment like that to get extra attention. It worked.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 12:46 PM) Happy bday to my Mom!!! easy one to remember. I know the feeling.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 12:50 PM) It is just about time to dust this thread off for real. Too early! Not until he signs somewhere, dammit.

there is still a slim chance that KW pulls off a trade in the next 24 hours to get loose of more salary... and if he does, I'd bet they call Mark and make a competitive offer, and get him. But as I've said for months, if they can't move enough salary in enough time, it won't happen. I was wrong though, in that I really did think the Sox would manage to move at least some of Danks/Floyd/Quentin/Thornton by now, which is why I was optimistic about re-signing Buehrle. But apparently the Sox are not getting the offers they want for those players, so, here we are.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:42 AM) JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN Mark Buehrle has reduced the teams he's going to sign to 3 and decision expected to be made within 24 hours 10 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply If it indeed does happen in the next 24 hours, given that the Sox haven't moved enough salary yet, that probably means he is gone.

Regardless of what you think of the trade... Sergio did something very impressive, and that few people do. After a failed 6 year minor league career as an infielder, he converted to pitcher, managed to make the Sox roster a year later, became a strong reliever, and eventually a decent closer. That is nothing to sneeze at. And by all accounts, he's a good kid. Thank you for your services, and best of luck in your future career (except of course when you play us).

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:53 AM) That's sort of true, but San Jose doesn't even seem to have a coast. I've never been there, but Monterrey is supposed to be nice.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:52 AM) San Jose, but that's about it. He said "on the coast".

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:50 AM) He has a job in Chicago for 2012 if he wants it. And I'm willing to bet that if the Sox offer is even in the ballpark of what other teams are offering, even if notably below, he'll take it. Problem is, no one knows if that is the case. In fact, indications seem to be its not, at least not at this time.

Los Angeles has good weather, usually. And its big enough that you can get whatever you want. Beyond that? s***hole. One great big festering neon distraction. A giant, never-ending blob of plastic suburbia. Like San Diego but with 10x worse traffic, 10x more pollution, 10x more crime and 10x more people. No thanks.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:43 AM) Mark Buehrle has mentioned retiring about 10 times a year for the last 5 years. If neither one of his top teams can sign him, then he can retire and make his dream come true at last. If he decides that he wants to continue playing, he can find a team as close to St. Louis as possible that will offer him a fair salary, as he's stated that being close to home and spending time with his family is of the utmost importance to him, and I'm fairly sure he's mentioned that he's made more money than he'll ever need. Those things make him a hypocrite. And while this stuff happens every year in baseball (guys signing anywhere as long as the price is right), the vast majority of those players don't go out of their way to harp on the issues that Buehrle repeatedly does. I guess I just don't see it. For one, he's never said "I will never play outside CWS and STL, I'd retire first". Show me where he said that. Second, even if family is important to him, and even if he does want to be in STL or CHI or nearby, if the choice is retirement or still have a job... I can't fault him either way. Why do you think its impossible for it to be true that his family is important to him, AND he wants to keep pitching?

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:37 AM) I still have no idea why KW decided to pick up Frasor's option if we're blowing things up. Well, for one thing, we may not be blowing things up. In fact, I think it is a lot more likely that Kenny is attempting to get younger and cheaper - a semi-rebuild - while keeping the talent level on the team at least as good as it is right now.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:28 AM) I've clearly stated my opinion in PHT recently. I think it's a perfect time to let Buehrle walk, but he'll only be proving himself a complete hypocrite if he signs somewhere far from St. Louis for a huge sum of money/years. I'd like him to somehow land with the Cardinals. If he doesn't return to the Sox, I agree that I'd like to see him with the Cards, which is clearly a dream for him. But here's the thing... if the Cards don't have room for him, and the Sox make only a piddly offer... and he has other offers on the table... what choices does he have? He can either retire - while still pretty young and with lots of playing years left - or he can take the best offer. All things equal, or even slightly less than equal, I have zero doubt that Mark would play for the Sox or STL if that is possible. But if its not, while I'll be sad, I can't see how that makes him a hypocrite.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:15 AM) Many Sox fans have grown up with Buehrle, have seen him pitch here for over a decade, and now they can't take the possibility he is leaving here for more money (judging from Cowley's remarks) or perhaps changing his remind on retirement. Yes, I understand Cowley has his agenda; but even if his source is correct it doesn't change my view of Buehrle. My position is, so what if he does? What more does he owe this organization or its fans? All too often fans become attached to someone and feel they should never leave. I'm honestly reluctant to open up the Aaron Rowand thread.... This is a good post. I'll miss Mark if he goes, which looks increasingly likely. One my my favorites. But you are right, I think a lot of reactions here, one way or the other, are being driven by emotional attachment. Like the phases someone goes through when a relationship ends.

Denver can be a lot of fun. LoDo (Lower Downtown) has really been built up the past couple decades, tons of good eats, bars, galleries, stuff to do. That's the place to be in the evenings.

I see the inevitable has begun. A hearsay-hearsay rumor published by a guy we all know to hate KW, says supposedly a guy told a guy that the Sox won't match an offer. This was taken as bible (when it probably isn't even true), and then we've somehow also preternaturally seen that Mark will sign for the most money with some distant team. And that in turn has become, he's obviously an asshole who only cares about money. Seriously, some of you guys are like paranoid girlfriends. Maybe we should... I don't know... wait to see what actually happens? Instead of going down this road based on friggin Cowley's double-hearsay rumor?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 02:45 PM) Robin Ventura. Don't trip. Took me a minute to figure that out. Ah, makes sense, thanks.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 02:38 PM) RV said wait this week and find out who our closer will be... I wonder if we are going to make a trade for a closer Who is RV?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:48 PM) He's a cheap closer. He's 29. He's good, not great. You have a ML ready replacement waiting in the wings. I'll give KW credit for at least recognizing the value of a 60 inning reliever. I agree J4L. Santos was cheap and controlled, and a decent but not spectacular closer. With the re-pick of Frasor, plus Crain, Reed and others, one of the few areas the Sox had a surplus was good or better RH relievers. And in that crowd, Santos is the one most likely to get you this kind of return. I think I like the move. But I also think we'll need to take the entire offseason en masse into view before really knowing how well KW did with his plan. At this point, we still don't really know the plan.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 09:58 AM) If it's 4 years in the 13-14 per year range, I would really hope the White Sox would match that If the current offers are 3 years (or less), and in the $12M-$13M/season range, then for 4 years, $12M per should do it. Or even 3/$39M with a 4th year option, given that he gets an NTC with the Sox.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 09:30 AM) I have those -- and the worst part about them is they charge slow, too...so I'm pretty skeptical that they could even come close to being charged up a reasonable amount by some infancy solar charger tech. Best idea I've found with these is just carry an extra fully charged battery in a waterproof bag...ends up being less space taken for just about the same amount of weight seeing as that you don't need a solar charger + the cord. I've found, in my vast camping experience, that most people abuse GPS units (and for that matter other portable technology while out in the woods), by using them when they're not necessary, messing around with the two way radios too much, etc. Put the tech away until you actually need it... And if you can't, a simple extra battery is more than sufficient. That's exactly what we do, on the longer trips. I just bought an extra battery pack, and charge it before we go. Weighs less than the charging cord and solar cell would anyway. I just wush Garmin had designed the unit a little better, to where the already-existing USB port could also charge the battery. Would have made things easier.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 09:15 AM) That's pretty use specific. Most campers don't do walk-in/hike-in camping. So for the backpackers out there, it may be useful...but I say "may" with a bit of gusto. As someone who has backpack camped, the last thing you want to do is add any more weight or bulk (or fragile technology) to your pack. Most pocket GPS's can last upwards of 7 days with constant use. WTF are people doing with their tech that it's running out of batteries? Stop abusing it and you wouldn't have to worry about such nonsense. I mean...your backpacking...put the f***ing technology away. This kinda crap is ruining camping. 7 days? We use Garmin Rino HCx's, they are GPS units (map-capable) with intergrated 2-way radios (which come in handy when you have large groups). If we keep them on during daylight hours, and use them occasionally, we get about 3-4 days per charge on the battery. So, we're fine for short trips, but start to have issues on week-long ones. That's why I have been considering solar chargers. Problem with these Rinos is, even though they have a USB port, that is only used for data transfer. To charge it, you have to use the wall plug, which includes a cord that (irritatingly) has one of those giant resisters at the plug end. Weighs a ton. That's where my issue is.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 08:14 AM) The only work under the best of conditions, mostly. And the biggest issue with them is how long they take to charge. Do they work? Yes. But who wants to be sitting around for 8 hours while a camera charges under the sun? Leave it and you risk someone stealing it or a huge rain/wind storm coming around, etc. Also, like you mentioned, space/weight they take up. I'm sure they'll get better over time, but from what I see, they're mostly only usable in the best of conditions. Well, you can somewhat address the time issue by putting it on the top or back of your back (or on the front on the shoulder strap, depending on sun direction). So things can charge while you hike. I even saw recently, a backpack with a solar cell built right into it. But I agree, the technology (portable, personal use solar cells) is still in its infancy, or toddlerhood at least.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 07:59 AM) Unless the Sox have given up on trying to re-sign Mark, I don't see any trades going down until they find out whether or not he's back. That's probably the first domino that has to fall. I'm thinking the opposite. They can't sign Mark until they move some salaries.

I'm starting to see them pop up in the backcountry, seeing backpackers with them. Some use a single-panel thing they clip onto their pack. But they also have lightweight, flexible sheets that you can lay over the top. But here is the other thing... the panel(s) itself may not weigh much, but, the cord you have to use might. If it can charge via USB, great, do that. But make sure the charger has a USB capability. Which brings up the other thing... some devices - such as some GPS units - have to charge via normal 12V plugs, like you put in a wall. Some solar stations may not have that, and even if it does, the charger cord probably weighs more than the GPS unit. Basically, if you are looking at these... bring your actual equipment into an REI, and see what it takes to actually get them plugged together.